The group was so frightened by Danial's appearance that they started to intensely sweat. The one who had demanded everyone kneel before the queen was trembling in fright, but with trembling lips, he still managed to say, "W-why are you not kneeling before the queen?" Danial, concentrating on calming his internal energy, hadn't even heard them enter. When he finally registered the noise and turned his head, he saw the group and a girl in an elegant black skirt leading them. He asked in a hoarse voice, "Who are you and what do you want?" Danial was incredibly tired, having exhausted his internal energy, and needed time to recuperate. The caller, incredibly frightened, was about to speak when the girl raised her hand to silence him. In a voice as sweet as it was commanding, she said, "Hello Danial, I have heard great things about you." Danial couldn’t muster the energy to respond. He slumped from his previously straight posture, and the steam slowly began to subside. His fatigue was ev
Danial sat cross-legged, eyes closed, as the soothing flow of his internal energy began to replenish his strength. The fatigue from his rigorous training ebbed away, leaving him more centered and focused. Feeling rejuvenated, he reached for the scroll Marvin had entrusted him with: Titan's Endurance.As Danial unrolled the scroll, his eyes traced the ancient characters, absorbing the nuances of Titan's Endurance. The technique focused on the meridians—channels within the body that guided internal energy. By widening and strengthening these pathways, the technique promised enhanced energy storage and control.To his surprise, Titan's Endurance was deceptively simple. Unlike the complex techniques reliant on the System, this method was straightforward: circulate internal energy through the meridians, applying gentle strain. This strain caused minor damage, which would heal over time, resulting in stronger and more capacious meridians.Settling into a meditative posture, Danial initiated
Danial entered the secret realm and found himself standing on a vast grassland. Hills, trees, and tall grasses swayed gently in the breeze, stretching as far as his eyes could see. He was taken aback by the unfamiliar surroundings. Panic began to set in as he thought, "Why am I here? What is this place? This was supposed to be the realm of the Three Musketeers." His heartbeat quickened, and sweat began to bead on his forehead.Scanning the horizon for anything recognizable, Danial spotted a towering tree in the distance. Deciding to approach it, he hoped it might provide some answers. As he got closer, he noticed Master Balthazar and Master Yamato sitting under the tree, engrossed in a game of chess. Master Abhaya stood behind Balthazar, hands clasped, watching intently.Danial sighed in relief, realizing he was still in the realm of the Three Musketeers and not some unknown place. He approached them quietly, observing Yamato’s beads of sweat and Balthazar’s smug expression. Abhaya sa
The waiter led them to a table by the large transparent window, offering a stunning view of the cityscape. The four of them took their seats, with an extra chair remaining vacant. Danial, ever curious, glanced at Maria and casually asked, "Is there anyone you are waiting for, Maria?"Maria smiled mysteriously and replied, "Yes, I am waiting for someone."Danial initially thought Maria might be expecting Leonard, who was notably absent. However, he was unaware that Leonard was still in the medical room. As the waiter handed out the menus, Pavan opened his and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. The prices were exorbitant, with a single bottle of water costing a hundred somer dollars. Pavan closed the menu comically and waited.Danial also saw the prices and felt a twinge of discomfort. He looked at Maria and said, "Are you sure we want to dine here? It's so expensive."Maria gave a sweet smile and reassured him, "It's alright, this is nothing."Danial finally understood what it mea
Danial smiled and said, "Yes, Miss Kirk, I’ve decided. I’ll agree to teach you how to control the fire element, but I have a few conditions."Miss Kirk raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his boldness. "Oh? And what might those conditions be?"Danial took a deep breath, steadying himself before he spoke. "Firstly, I want full autonomy in how I teach you. I won’t be micromanaged or dictated to in this process."Miss Kirk smiled but said nothing, her silence encouraging him to continue."Secondly, I want to know why you want to learn the fire element so badly. Could there be another reason behind this?" Danial's gaze was unwavering, searching for any sign of deceit.Miss Kirk's smile faltered slightly, and her expression grew more guarded. "Danial, I want to learn because I want to get stronger."Danial didn’t believe her, but he had no concrete way to challenge her statement directly. Her answer felt too vague, too rehearsed. Something didn’t sit right with him. He thought for a moment, an
The thought of finally having a way to control the Frostborn Physique—a condition that had tormented her for years—was almost too much to comprehend. She had spent so long in pain, her life dictated by the whims of her body, and now, this man claimed to have the answer she had been searching for.Her gaze fixed on Danial, she tried to steady her thoughts, her mind racing with possibilities and doubts. Could she really trust him? The weight of his claims pressed down on her, and she realized just how much was at stake.With trembling eyes, she finally spoke, her voice laced with a mixture of hope and fear, "Danial, do you understand the weight of those words? Do you have any idea what would happen if whatever you said is not true but false?" Her tone was sharp, almost accusatory, To be perfectly honest, Danial did feel intimidated. The enormity of what he was offering wasn't lost on him. But he took a steadying breath, drawing strength from the knowledge that had been passed down to h
He had a singular goal in mind: to learn more about the cultivation techniques he desperately needed. His thoughts were focused on Marvin, his mentor, who always seemed to have the answers. Determined, Danial quickly got ready and set out to find Marvin.After a quick breakfast, Danial left his dorm and made his way toward Marvin's quarters. The academy grounds were still relatively quiet, with only a few early risers moving about. As he approached the main entrance of the academy, he noticed something unusual—a large crowd had gathered. Drawn by the spectacle, Danial veered off course to see what was happening.The crowd was thick, and Danial had to navigate his way through, finally finding a spot where he could get a better view. A path had been cleared, forming a walkway through the center of the crowd leading towards the academy's main gates. It was clear that someone important was expected. Danial's curiosity was piqued as he wondered who they were waiting for and what the gathe
The representatives of Emsgate, alongside their entourage, moved with a sense of purpose as they headed directly to Hall Alpha. This hall, the most prestigious in the academy, was reserved for only the most significant events and visitors. Elysia and Oliver had personally come to welcome the delegation, understanding the importance of showing respect to these foreign representatives.Elysia, known far and wide as the God of War, was determined to keep her composure. As she walked beside Oliver, her mind was already working to suppress her irritation. She could sense the arrogance emanating from the Emsgate representatives, but she knew better than to let her emotions dictate her actions. "I must control my temper in front of them," she thought, her expression remaining calm. "Their personalities are arrogant to the core, but I will not give them the satisfaction of seeing me lose control."Upon reaching the stage in Hall Alpha, Elysia took the lead. With a warm, yet formal smile, she
Santigo leaned back in his chair, the flickering light casting long shadows across the room. His smile stretched wider, full of mockery and malice, as his gaze shifted lazily between Danial, Pavan, and Crystal. "Took you long enough," he drawled, tapping his fingers on the armrest. "I was almost about to start another session with Kuro, but you arrived on time. Tsk tsk, what a pity."Danial’s eyes darted to Kuro, his chest tightening at the sight of his friend slumped over, bruised and barely conscious. Rage bubbled beneath his calm exterior, his fists clenching so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. He knew what "session" meant—and judging by Kuro’s state, it was far worse than he’d imagined.Gritting his teeth, Danial stepped forward, his fists clenching at his sides. “What do you want from us, Santigo?” His voice was low but edged with anger. “We’ve never crossed paths. We have nothing to do with you. So why drag Kuro into this?”Santigo waved his hand dismissively as if bru
The trio made their way through the desolate industrial district, their steps echoing faintly against the cracked asphalt and rusted pipes that sprawled across the ground. The Lapanzo Foundry loomed in the distance—a massive husk of steel and concrete, its faded name barely visible on the old factory’s rust-eaten board. Broken windows and gaping holes in the walls stared back at them like the hollow eyes of a corpse, and the air was heavy with a metallic tang mixed with an unexplainable decay that clung to their senses.There were no birds, no stray dogs, not even insects. The silence was unnatural, almost suffocating. Each breath they took felt too loud as if the factory itself might hear them.Pavan looked around, his face pale and his voice just above a whisper. "Yeah, this is the place where I’m going to die."Danial shot him a sideways glare. "No one is going to die." His voice was steady, but his jaw was clenched.Ahead, the board with “Lapanzo” scrawled in faded letters jutted
Danial sat on the edge of the bed, his fingers interlocked and his face stoic, though his mind churned with conflicting thoughts. Pavan, pacing back and forth like a caged animal, threw his arms up in frustration. "Danial!" Pavan snapped, his voice rising. "Are you even listening to me? How can you sit there so calmly when Kuro’s life is on the line? And Crystal—she’s a target too!" Danial finally looked up, his eyes sharp and cold. "Calm? Do I look calm to you, Pavan? I’m just not panicking like you are. If we lose focus now, Kuro’s as good as dead. And if Crystal gets caught in this... it’ll be worse." Pavan stopped pacing, running a hand through his hair. "Then tell me, what’s the plan? What are we doing? Because I can’t just stand here waiting for them to kill Kuro." Danial leaned back, exhaling deeply. "We can’t afford to act recklessly. Whoever this is, they’re not some common thug. They know Kuro’s strength, and they still managed to take him down. That tells me this is pers
Santigo paced around Kuro, his leather boots thudding against the cold, damp concrete floor. The dim overhead light flickered sporadically, casting ominous shadows across the room. The sharp edges of Santigo's features seemed exaggerated in the erratic glow, giving him an almost predatory appearance."Ah, cousin," Santigo drawled, his tone mockingly sweet as he circled Kuro. You look so pitifully tied up like this. I must say, it suits you—a star brought down to earth, groveling in the dirt."Kuro's wrists were bound tightly behind his back, and his legs were shackled to the chair he was forced to sit on. His clothes were torn, and his breath was ragged, but his eyes burned with a fiery defiance that refused to be extinguished.Santigo crouched down to meet Kuro’s glare, his grotesque grin widening. "Tell me, cousin," he whispered, his voice laced with venom, "how does it feel to have the tables turned for once? To be... insignificant?"Kuro’s chest heaved, his breath shallow but stead
Pavan’s hands shook uncontrollably as he processed the words he had just heard. His friend’s life was hanging by a thread, and the weight of the situation bore down heavily on him. His normally composed demeanor was in tatters, replaced by fear and anxiety.Danial, though visibly calmer, felt a storm brewing within. His sharp mind worked through the possibilities, piecing together how this could have happened. Kuro is strong, far stronger than most people realize. For someone to have captured him, this isn’t just about strength—it’s planning, manipulation… or something far worse.Pavan’s voice broke through Danial’s thoughts. “D-Danial, we can’t handle this on our own. We need to go to the authorities, to someone who can—”Danial interrupted, his tone firm but low. “We can’t.” His eyes locked onto Pavan’s. “You heard him. If we go to the authorities, Kuro’s life is the first thing he’ll take.”Pavan clenched his fists, frustration, and helplessness written all over his face. “But… wha
The emissaries from Emsgate couldn’t hide their broad smiles as Tanya descended the arena steps. Their demeanor was almost triumphant, as though Tanya’s victory over Viktor was a personal affront to Somerland. Tanya, however, walked with a quiet pride, ignoring the subtle gloating. Behind her, the terrain of the arena shifted and morphed back to its original flat state, the transformation accompanied by a low rumble.Viktor, meanwhile, trudged down the steps on the opposite side, his head hung low. The sting of defeat gnawed at him, and the weight of representing Somerland felt heavier with each step. In his heart, he felt as though he had disgraced his homeland.Waiting for him near the entrance was his master, a tall man with graying hair. The master’s sharp eyes softened as Viktor approached, clearly burdened. Placing a hand on Viktor’s shoulder, he spoke firmly yet kindly:“Viktor, just because you lost does not mean you failed to prove your worth. Your worth is measured by how ha
Elyisa put her hand into the ballot and took out two folded paper slips. She unfolded the slips with an air of authority. “Tanya from Emsgate and Viktor from Somerland,” she announced, her voice echoing throughout the stadium. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the audience as she reached into the twist and terrain ballot. Unfurling the next slip, she declared, “They will be fighting in a mountainous area. They will have to complete the fight in under four minutes, or both participants will be disqualified.”The crowd erupted in a cacophony of cheers and startled whispers.“Four minutes? Is that even enough time for a proper fight in such rugged terrain?” one spectator exclaimed.“And they’ll both be disqualified if no winner emerges? That’s brutal,” another muttered, shaking their head.The tension was palpable as Tanya, seated among the participants, felt a pang of nervousness grip her chest. Her hands balled into fists on her lap as she stared at the giant screen displaying her name
As the first rays of sunlight graced the sprawling Capital, a vibrant energy filled the air. The second day of the Tournament of Sovereign Might had arrived, and the anticipation was palpable. Crowds thronged the streets, surging toward the massive stadium like waves, eager to secure their seats. Yesterday's attendance had been monumental, but today, it seemed to have doubled. Vendors called out, selling snacks and memorabilia, while children tugged at their parents, buzzing with excitement. The tournament fever had gripped the Capital, and all eyes were on the arena.Inside the stadium, the atmosphere was electric. Spectators filled the stands, the din of their chatter building into a crescendo. The VIP sections gleamed with luxury, reserved for the most influential figures in society: the Greatest Families. Clad in their signature styles, representatives from these families arrived in a display of opulence and prestige, each taking their place in the exclusive area.In the Kirk fami
Maria’s fingers gripped the arms of the chair tightly as she stared at her grandfather. Her usual composure wavered, replaced by a mix of shock and unease. It was rare for her to confront Quintan like this, but the stakes had grown too high. She needed clarity, not half-truths or vague reassurances.Quintan tapped his fingers rhythmically against the polished wood of the desk, his expression unreadable as he studied her. Finally, he leaned forward, his gray eyes sharp and piercing.“What questions do you want to ask, Maria?” he asked, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of weariness.Maria didn’t hesitate. She had been holding this in since the mission’s disastrous conclusion. “Grandfather, I want to know what’s going on with the Demonic Cult. Why are we conducting reconnaissance missions on them instead of mobilizing the Gods of War? They would annihilate the cult without a second thought. Why hold back? What is the status of Rowan and Lysandra? And what about Nina?" Her fis