Danial slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the brightness that flooded his vision. His eyelids felt heavy, and his eyes watery, as if they hadn’t been open in years. He tried to gather his thoughts, willing himself to wake up fully, but before he could even lift his head, pain surged through his body like lightning.“Urgh… what the—” he groaned, his body stiffening as the sharp, unfamiliar ache crept from his toes all the way to his neck. Every muscle screamed at him."AH—!"His body jolted, instinctively pulling away from the agony. Big mistake. As soon as he shifted, his back hit the hard hospital bed, sending an even stronger wave of pain surging through every part of him.“Yep… I’m dead. I have to be. This can’t be life," he grumbled through clenched teeth, desperately trying to keep himself from moving even an inch further. "I died. That Curse King must’ve killed me, and now I’m being punished in the afterlife. Tortured for eternity. That’s the only logical explanation."Dan
As Danial’s friends continued to chatter around him, his world began to blur. Their voices faded into a distant hum, mere background noise to the storm raging inside his head. His eyes locked onto the doorway, where Sophie stood—the moment stretched, his thoughts spiraling into a deep, uncontrollable vortex of worry and uncertainty.What do I say to her? Danial thought, his mind racing. About Dad? About this academy? About everything that happened?His breath quickened. He hadn’t even come to terms with his father’s sudden reappearance, the battle with the Curse King, the injuries, or the secrets. And now, here stood his mother, her face pale, eyes wide with worry. She seemed as out of place in this strange world as he felt when he first arrived.How can I explain all of this? The weight of the truth, buried under layers of half-lies and omissions, crushed him. He feared what would happen if he exposed everything, yet the web he had spun around himself was growing too tangled to maint
As soon as Sophie’s stern voice filled the room, Gloria’s eyes narrowed. Her voice was cold but restrained as she said, "Miss Sophie, I request you speak with respect. Master Marvin is a highly respected and powerful figure in the academy."Sophie didn’t even flinch. Instead, her voice only grew louder, filled with raw emotion. "I don’t care about your so-called Master or his power. The only thing I care about is my son!" Her voice trembled slightly, but her gaze remained fixed on Danial, her face twisted with fear and anger. Pointing at him, she nearly shouted, "Look at him! If your Master is so powerful, why couldn’t he have protected my son from all of this? Why is he lying here like this, covered in bandages and barely able to move?"Gloria was taken aback, momentarily stunned by Sophie’s outburst. She clenched her fists and muttered, "It’s... hmph." Her frustration was evident, but before she could say more, Marvin raised a hand, signaling for her to hold back."Miss Sophie," Mar
Danial sat in silence, mulling over everything Marvin had just told him. The Curse King, the blacklist, the Ancient Ruins expedition—all of it weighed heavily on his mind. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was still more to the story, more than anyone was telling him. As he replayed Marvin’s cryptic words, trying to make sense of it all, a soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.He looked over, and there, peeking through the slightly ajar door was Sara. Her head hovered just above the door frame, her wide grin making the moment almost comical. Danial sighed, letting out a tired breath."Sara, you don't have to spy like that," he said, shaking his head with amusement. "Whatever you want to say, just come in and talk."Sara chuckled as she pushed the door open and stepped inside, her usual energy radiating from her despite the somber setting. She wore her usual outfit, with her saber hanging conspicuously at her waist. Danial raised an eyebrow, glancing at the weapon."D
Danial watched Sara leave the room, the door clicking shut behind her. A sigh escaped his lips as he slowly lay back down, staring at the ceiling. His mind raced with everything Sara had told him—about the Curse King, the Grandmasters, the Ancient Ruins. The thoughts swirled in his head, refusing to settle. He closed his eyes, trying to calm the storm of ideas, but sleep eluded him. The weight of everything was too much.And then, as if to make matters worse, his stomach growled."When will the food arrive? What is going on?" he muttered under his breath, frustration creeping into his voice.Right on cue, the door creaked open, and a nurse entered the room, pushing a trolley filled with food that immediately filled the room with a mouth-watering aroma. Danial’s eyes lit up as the scent of freshly cooked vegetables, chicken, and meat wafted toward him. He sat up straighter, almost salivating at the sight.The nurse caught his enthusiasm and chuckled softly. “Excited, are we?”Danial gr
Danial gestured for Sophie to sit on the bed while he took a nearby stool, placing it directly in front of her. Sophie hesitated for a moment, glancing at him before sighing and sitting at the edge of the bed, her hands resting tensely in her lap. Natasha, standing beside Sophie, looked equally concerned. Sophie reached for her hand and pulled her down to sit beside Danial, though Natasha gave him a sympathetic glance, clearly understanding the weight of the conversation that was about to unfold.Danial took a deep breath, rubbing his face with his hands as if trying to gather his thoughts. He locked eyes with Sophie. "Mom, fire away. I won’t hide anything."Sophie narrowed her eyes, her voice thick with concern. "Danial… what is going on?" She looked around as if the entire academy perplexed her. "This place has kids fighting with swords and spears, some even throwing fire and water like magic. What is this academy, and how did you get caught up in all of this?"Danial sighed again, r
Sophie’s eyes pierced through Danial as she sat on the edge of the bed. Her voice was steady but carried the weight of every mother’s fear. “Now to the main question,” she said, her tone brooking no evasion. “Why were you so injured? What happened, and most importantly, who attacked you?”Danial’s chest tightened. He’d been preparing for this question, but now that it was out in the open, he found himself at a loss for words. How could he explain the battle with the Curse King without revealing everything? Without unraveling the complicated web of secrets that involved the Academy, the Cultivation world, and the System that guided him?“Mom,” Danial started slowly, choosing his words carefully, “it’s better if you don’t know. It’ll only make things harder for you to understand. Trust me, it’s not something you need to worry about.”But Sophie wasn’t having any of it. Her face hardened, her determination radiating through her every word. “I don’t care how complicated it is. Do you have
Danial stepped out of the room, taking a deep breath as he adjusted to the commotion just outside. His eyes landed on a familiar scene that made him both smile—and cringe. Pavan was in the middle of an animated conversation with Sophie, his mother, gesturing wildly with his hands. Maria stood nearby, seemingly engaged in a polite yet strained conversation with Natasha. There was a certain tension between the two—a quiet rivalry that seemed to flicker just beneath the surface.Danial’s stomach dropped as he approached his mother. He could feel disaster brewing, especially with Pavan in the middle of it.“Danial!” Sophie called out the moment she spotted him. “Why didn’t you tell me you had such good friends?” Her tone was light, but her eyes were filled with curiosity. There was warmth in her smile, but also the unmistakable glint of a mother digging for more information.Danial forced an awkward smile and threw a quick glare at Pavan, hoping his friend would behave. But Pavan, always
Danial’s mind raced as the hooded figure’s words echoed in his ears. “Fine meal? What does that mean?” A chill ran down his spine. There was no time to dwell on fear. His gaze shifted to Kuro, slumped and barely conscious, and a surge of determination coursed through him. No matter what, I’m getting us out of here.He glanced at Crystal and made a subtle hand gesture, signaling her to prepare. She caught his movement, her eyes widening in surprise, but she quickly composed herself. Taking a deep breath, she began circulating her internal energy, her frosty aura intensifying as she prepared for whatever was to come.Danial turned back to the hooded man, mustering every ounce of courage he had. His voice trembled slightly, but he managed to ask, “W-what do you mean? And who are you?”The hooded figure tilted his head, his hidden gaze boring into Danial. “You are not qualified to know,” he said, his voice low and dismissive. Without further ado, he raised his hand, which began to glow a
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