《Reality of Black and White: Fushinakai》


 Chapter 1: Chance Encounter

    In the streets of a residential area, a young man with skin as white as the light illuminating the streets could be seen. The young man had brown hair and emerald-green eyes.


    ¡ª(Another attack by the Vestiges... they''ve become more frequent these past few weeks... but nothing the government can''t handle... or at least I hope so)¡ª Shoun turned off his phone and looked at the streets bathed in moonlight. Despite his outward calm, inside he felt a growing sense of insecurity and fear due to the increasing conflicts with those monsters.


    The young man wore a white coat over a sleeveless denim jacket, paired with blue pants and sneakers.


    ¡ª(It''s getting late, I should head home now)¡ª Shoun stood up from his seat and grabbed his skateboard to head home. As he rode, he consciously pushed his worries to the back of his mind. He knew his concerns were pointless because, in the grand scheme of things, he was useless. Yet, he couldn''t help but recall the events of that fateful day. Anything related to the Vestiges inevitably triggered a strong sense of fear in him.


    ¡ª(Tch... I really don''t want to think about that right now. I don''t even know why I watch the news when it was obvious I''d come across something like that)¡ª As he continued his mental complaints, the young man skated carefree through the streets. He was now leaving the park, surrounded by tall buildings on either side.


    He still had a few minutes of skating before reaching his neighborhood, so he allowed himself to relax, feeling the wind brush against his body. But as he skated, lost in thought, he couldn''t shake the growing sensation that the atmosphere was becoming more and more suffocating.


    Earlier, the air was abundant, and his hair moved freely, but now that wasn''t the case. The further he went, the more evident it became, until Shoun had to stop to shake off the discomfort.


    ¡ª(How strange, it''s supposed to be spring. Why did this place suddenly become so dry?)


    The young man looked up and couldn''t help but be shocked. Everything around him had taken on a gray tone. The buildings and houses, once vibrant with color, now seemed stripped of any hue other than white, black, or gray.


    ¡ªWhat the hell!?¡ª The young man couldn''t help but shout aloud at the strange and potentially dangerous situation he found himself in. But he quickly regretted that decision when he heard something dragging itself from a nearby alley. A sharp screech echoed, caused by what seemed to be claws scraping against the pavement.


    Shoun''s back was instantly drenched in cold sweat, and his heart began to race. Driven by pure instinct, he grabbed his skateboard and quickly ran into an opposite alley to hide behind a trash bin. Despite the foul smell, he ignored it given the gravity of the situation.


    ¡ª(Shit, shit, shit!)¡ª He quickly set aside his self-pity to assess his current situation. He was supposed to be in the streets where he grew up, but they were different now. Besides the lack of color, they were missing something¡ªthe very essence that made them familiar to Shoun.


    ¡ª(Is this the work of a Vestige?)¡ª This was actually a good question. Vestiges are monsters known for their strangeness. They come in various shapes and sizes, almost never following a logical pattern between species, and possess all sorts of bizarre powers. But this was the first time Shoun had seen one capable of manipulating space to such an extent, though it wasn''t like he had encountered one with similar abilities before.


    ¡ª(In any case, whatever did this is something I definitely can''t face).


    The world was cruel to the inhabitants of Earth, forcing them to face the monstrosities known as Vestiges. But at the same time, it was fair, as those who defeated Vestiges gained special abilities to fight them on equal footing.


    Shoun was one of those people. He was born with the ability to control electricity, something not common among humans but possible nonetheless. After that night when he killed his first and only Vestige, instead of gaining a new ability, the one he already had was enhanced.


    With a thought, he opened his status window.


    [?Name: Shoun Foster?


    ?Age: 17?


    ?Rank: Seeker?


    ?Title:...?


    ?Ascension Points: 1/100?


    ?Abilities?


    ?Electric Flow: Your very essence has been touched by electricity since birth, allowing you to control and use it to your advantage?


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ?Basic Electric Core: A part of your being, it exists and doesn''t exist, both in your physical and spiritual body. It is where all your electricity is stored and generated, and it also allows the user to absorb electricity from other sources?]


    Aside from the convenience of this screen, after a quick analysis, Shoun reaffirmed the obvious: he was no match for this Vestige. The best he could do was run and find a safer place.


    After that night, he had avoided Vestiges like the plague. For that very reason, he rejected all government recruitment efforts. But that didn''t mean he became careless in learning how to deal with them. He had read every manual on what to do in situations like this from cover to cover.


    Despite all this, he didn''t have time to plan anything. Before he could react, a powerful blow sent him and the trash bin he was using as an improvised shelter flying through the air.


    ¡ªAhg!


    He scrambled to his feet as best he could, but the indirect hit left him in bad shape. It felt like he had fallen from the top of a bunk bed, but a thousand times worse.


    Terrified, Shoun looked up, inspecting the Vestige before him. Immediately after, his face turned as pale as a ghost.


    ¡ª(A Brute...)


    The Vestige facing Shoun was a Brute, two ranks above his own. It stood nearly three meters tall, with completely black skin. Its legs were miniature compared to its torso, but to compensate, its arms were each a meter and a half long. Its entire body seemed incredibly muscular, to the point where it looked more like it was covered in tumors and protrusions than muscles.


    Like all Vestiges, its skin seemed to have interference, as if it were a television with no signal. Shoun, who had been staring at it for a while, already had a headache just from this fact.


    ¡ª(I''m screwed, I''m definitely screwed)¡ª Trying to remedy his situation, he anxiously looked around. The alley he was in was a dead end, reflecting his lack of foresight when hiding.


    Facing it wasn''t an option either. A Brute could easily crush him. Without meticulous preparation, it was impossible to even think about fighting it.


    ¡ªGRRR!


    The thing growled and began to approach Shoun, using its massive arms to drag itself closer to its prey, as if playing with its food. On the other hand, Shoun kept backing away until he couldn''t anymore, hitting the wall.


    The nerves and fear inside him slowly began to consume Shoun, but he wouldn''t go down without a fight. He began gathering all the electricity from his core into his fist.


    The Vestige sensed the danger. With a roar, it lunged at Shoun, who barely managed to raise his hand, now glowing with an intense blue light that occasionally sparked. Aiming at the Vestige, Shoun released all the electricity in a powerful blue lightning bolt.


    ~Bzzzt Bzzt~


    The Vestige took the full brunt of the lightning, forced to retreat. The condensed bolt had dealt substantial damage at the cost of all Shoun''s electricity, evident in how the Vestige''s arm hung lifelessly from its body.


    ¡ªAaaah....aaahh¡­¡ª Shoun felt suffocated. He had used everything in that one attack. Though he had dealt significant damage, he was still defenseless, especially with no electricity left in his core¡ª(T-this is how I''m going to die).


    After that night, he had been forced to think more about his mortality. He lived daily with fear, knowing that dying at the hands of a Vestige was a real possibility, and not a small one. But he hadn''t expected it to happen in this strange place.


    Shoun had no choice but to surrender as he watched the Vestige quickly approach, enraged by the loss of its arm.


    The young man saw his life flash before his eyes. It wasn''t particularly exciting, apart from that night, which only made him angrier. He wasn''t just angry about his situation or being killed by a Vestige¡ªhe was even more angry with himself.


    Until just moments ago, he had lived a peaceful life, ignoring the world he lived in, where the possibility of dying every day wasn''t far-fetched. He had promised himself and his family that he wouldn''t be so useless again, that he wouldn''t be in that situation again. But he had become complacent with himself and the lifestyle he led. He had let himself be consumed by the sadness and fear of that night, which had left him scarred for life. If he had another chance, he would definitely kill that Vestige and any others that crossed his path... but those thoughts were useless now that he was about to die.


    ¡ª(Shit... I don''t want to die... this world is shit... the Vestiges are shit... the damn government that''s supposed to protect us is shit... but most of all, I''m shit for not being able to face them).


    After his mental complaints, he closed his eyes, unable to do anything but accept his death. But before he did, he directed a few final words at the Vestige.


    ¡ªGo to hell!.


    ~Click Click~


    In an instant, the sound of wind being cut echoed, and with it, the Vestige''s head hit the ground with a dry thud, rolling to Shoun''s feet.


    ¡ªW-what... who-


    The Vestige Codex chimed, and a small screen appeared before Shoun''s eyes.


    [You have slain the "Infected," a Vestige more powerful than you. Difficulty bonus obtained.]


    Before he could finish his question, the rest of the Vestige''s body fell lifelessly, revealing a masked young man standing behind it.


    The young man had spiked hair, black on the right side and white on the left. His mask was also divided into black and white, but opposite to his hair. Each side had a dot for an eye, with the white side having an additional black dot above where the eye should be.


    He wore a black robe that covered most of his body, except for his pale arms, which now rested on a katana sheathed at his waist.


    The masked man looked at Shoun for a few seconds, then glanced at the Vestige''s detached arm before returning his gaze to Shoun and finally speaking.


    ¡ª...Good shot.

 Chapter 2: The mirror world part 1

    [You have slain the "Infected," a Vestige more powerful than you. Difficulty bonus obtained.]


    Shoun re-read the message from the Codex. He still couldn''t believe that, in an instant, the Brute that was about to kill him was now dead.


    In this world, there are different ranks. Depending on how many Vestiges you kill, the higher your rank becomes. When you kill your first Vestige, you unlock the Seeker rank, along with the Vestige Codex, which allows people to view their status window and access various other functions.


    Humans have so far reached up to rank 5. The ranks, in order from 1 to 3, are Seeker, Apprentice, and Dominator. Ranks 4 and 5 are a bit more complicated.


    Each rank requires more points to ascend, meaning more Vestiges must be slain. Additionally, the Vestiges must be of equal or higher rank to count.


    As far as Shoun knows, the first five ranks of Vestiges, which correspond to human ranks, are Grunt, Wretch, Brute, Executor, and Overlord. There have been sightings of stronger Vestiges, but those are outside inhabited territories and are beyond what humanity can currently handle.


    Shoun turned his gaze to the masked man, who was also observing him. Shoun used a function of the Codex called Inspect, which allows you to view the rank of the person or Vestige you target. This function can only be used on individuals of a rank lower than yours, equal, or up to two ranks higher. Shoun had already used it on the Brute he had just encountered.


    ¡ª(He''s an Apprentice... How could he kill that thing in one hit?)¡ª Shoun quickly thought of several explanations. After all, neither he nor the Vestige had sensed the masked man''s presence until it was too late, which spoke volumes about his skill.


    But the main clue was that sword. When a Vestige dies, there''s a chance it leaves behind parts of its body, which can be exchanged for artifacts. Clearly, the higher the rank of the Vestige, the better the artifact. So Shoun thought it was likely that the sword was either a Brute-level artifact or an Apprentice-level one with a very special ability.


    The Vestige''s body began to dissolve into the air until nothing remained. The masked man watched this and commented, his tone as monotonous as ever.


    ¡ªWhat a shame... I had a good feeling about this one. It''s been a while since I got a new artifact.


    After those words, silence fell again. Shoun had exhausted all his electricity and was drained, but he didn''t dare let his guard down around the masked individual. After all, he could probably kill Shoun if he let his guard down.


    It wasn''t uncommon for some humans to kill others for points. Just like with Vestiges, you could gain points by killing someone of equal or higher rank. This was clearly illegal, but you could never be too careful.


    ¡ª(Though... I''m of a lower rank, and he saved me. I don''t think I should be too distrustful... not that much).


    Shoun got up from the ground after catching his breath and looked at the masked man before speaking.


    ¡ª...Thank you for that. You saved my back there.


    ¡ªDon''t worry about it. That thing was my prey anyway.


    Shoun tried to thank him, but the masked man dismissed it as if it were nothing. He turned and began walking out of the alley, stopping at the exit.


    ¡ªAre you coming? ¡ª The masked man asked. Shoun didn''t dare disobey and hurried to follow him. He wasn''t in a position to refuse.


    As mentioned earlier, Shoun had no electricity left. Normally, a Vestige Codex user would have a core filled with spiritual energy, but in his case, his ability made him store electricity. While he could still activate artifacts or technologies using his electricity, just like a normal person would with spiritual energy, this fact came with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.


    One example of this was that if he couldn''t absorb electricity from somewhere or take the time to generate it himself, as was the case now, it wouldn''t passively regenerate like spiritual energy.


    ¡ªWhat''s your name?¡ª The masked man asked bluntly as they continued walking, snapping Shoun out of his thoughts.


    ¡ªMy name is Shoun, Shoun Foster. What''s yours?


    ¡ª...I''m Kaze. Nice to meet you.


    ¡ª(Just a name? What kind of name is Kaze anyway?)


    Shoun scratched his head in confusion. After a moment, he considered that Kaze might be using an alias. After all, he was wearing that strange outfit and mask, though the reason for using a fake identity eluded him.


    ¡ªNice to meet you... Kaze... Could you tell me what this place is? It''s very similar to the city, but at the same time, it''s nothing like I''ve ever seen before. Is it the ability of a Vestige?¡ª Shoun finally asked what had been tormenting him since he arrived in this place. The fact that it was familiar yet unfamiliar gave him a deep sense of unease, and the possibility that it was the ability of a Vestige scared him even more. If that were the case, what rank would a monster capable of recreating an entire city be?


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    ¡ªThis place... I call it the Mirror World. As you said, it''s like the city, but without color¡ªonly white, gray, and black. It''s full of those things, and most of the rules you know often don''t apply here.


    ¡ªWhat do you mean by that last part?


    ¡ªWell, let me give you a practical example. After that fight with the Vestige, you should be feeling a bit tired. Do you feel thirsty or hungry, for instance?


    Shoun thought for a moment but quickly shook his head. Though he couldn''t see it, Kaze imagined the response and continued.


    ¡ªIn many areas I''ve been to, like this one, basic human needs are eliminated. In others, gravity becomes much weaker. Things like that are normal here, so you always have to be prepared for the unexpected... As for what this place actually is, I have no idea.


    ¡ª(This is insane. I can''t believe a place like this exists... except I''m standing in it right now.)


    Shoun lamented his situation internally once more and asked a question that was, at the very least, urgent.


    ¡ªEverything you''re telling me sounds problematic, to say the least. How do we get out of here? Do you even know how?


    Shoun tried to keep his tone calm, but at times he failed. It was understandable, considering his lack of strength at the moment and his not-so-friendly past experiences with Vestiges.


    ¡ªDon''t worry. I know this area. As long as we don''t venture too deep, we''re relatively safe. But to ensure that, you''ll need to follow my rules from now on. Is that okay?


    ¡ªNo problem. As long as I get out of here, I''ll do whatever you need.


    ¡ªGood.


    After that exchange, Kaze suddenly stopped, causing Shoun to nearly bump into his back.


    Kaze began channeling his spiritual energy. Gradually, the air around him started orbiting at high speed, forming a dome of air. From his perspective, you could see the air swirling around him, but from the outside, it was almost invisible.


    ¡ªWith this, they won''t be able to see or hear us. Unless we get too close or run into an Executor, but that won''t happen. The ones I know are far from this area.


    Shoun felt a cold sweat run down his back at the mention of a Vestige stronger than a Brute. Executors, rank 4 Vestiges, were known for being ridiculously powerful. While it was possible to take down a rank 3 Brute if you were one or two ranks lower under special circumstances, an Executor was a completely different story for many reasons.


    ¡ªPerfect... Can we keep moving, please?


    ¡ªNo problem. From now on, I need you to move quickly with me. I can''t maintain this forever. Also, try to recover some of your energy. I more or less know what moves around these parts, but who knows what fate might throw at us later.


    Without waiting for confirmation, Kaze started running, catching Shoun off guard, but he quickly followed.


    Shoun could barely keep up with Kaze, who clearly wasn''t running at full speed but was still much faster. This was due to two factors: the first was Shoun''s lack of electricity in his core, and the second, more important one, was the difference in rank.


    When you become a Seeker, you gain the Vestige Codex, your two basic abilities, and the capacity to use the spiritual energy residing in your newly formed core. But aside from that, Seekers still have a human constitution. Of course, there are abilities that specifically enhance that aspect, and Seekers can use spiritual energy to strengthen their bodies, but this energy is a limited resource.


    ¡ª(Damn, I haven''t been able to recover any of my electricity in this time. I need to do something... but there doesn''t seem to be any electricity in this place.)


    Shoun glanced around for a moment. There were no lights on or anything else that could indicate the presence of electricity. Although the city was illuminated by a white glow that made it look even more unnatural, he couldn''t sense anything electrical.


    In those brief moments of observation, Shoun noticed that certain parts of the Mirror World were disintegrating, as if turning to dust or ash. Small pieces of buildings or structures floated away with the wind without any provocation, remaining suspended in the air indefinitely, and sometimes they would rejoin as if nothing had happened.


    But what unsettled him the most was the interference that occasionally appeared in certain parts of the city. It was in small areas, like benches or parts of buildings, but it was omnipresent, similar to the interference that every Vestige had.


    ¡ª(I definitely want to get out of this place as soon as possible... I never practiced this, but I have no other choice)¡ª Shoun focused inward, feeling his core. It felt dull, empty. But quickly, the young man tried to fix that. With all his being, he generated a spark, then two, then three, slowly recharging his core as he continued to follow the masked man. Though, due to multitasking, Kaze had to adjust his pace to avoid leaving Shoun behind, something the latter didn''t notice.


    After running for a while, Shoun managed to partially refill his core. It wasn''t much, but it was enough to rid himself of that uncomfortable feeling. He turned to Kaze and asked.


    ¡ªWhere are we going?


    ¡ªWe''re heading to one of my safe zones. If we want to get you out of here, we need to reach a safe place first.


    Shoun simply nodded at Kaze''s explanation, who had been speaking in the same monotonous tone the entire time. But what bothered him wasn''t the tone¡ªit was a question he hadn''t had time to ask himself before.


    ¡ª(How did I even end up in this place in the first place!?)¡ª That question made him cautious around Kaze, as he associated his arrival with the stranger. He tried to relax, though, as he felt Kaze didn''t have bad intentions toward him. After all, if he did, why would he be helping him?


    ¡ª(Being so distrustful is a bad habit of mine... He doesn''t seem like a bad guy. He just seems like a weirdo, not a criminal. Now''s not the time to make accusations.)


    As Shoun pondered the situation, Kaze suddenly stopped again, causing Shoun to nearly crash into him. He wondered if stopping abruptly was a bad habit of the masked man.


    ¡ªWhat''s wrong?¡ª Instead of answering, Kaze simply pointed toward a small group of three Vestiges, which Shoun quickly inspected. ¡ªThey''re just Grunts.


    At that moment, Shoun relaxed noticeably. Kaze was a full rank above those Vestiges, and with his artifact, he should be able to take them down easily. But after a few seconds of neither of them moving, Shoun grew confused and asked Kaze.


    ¡ª...Is something wrong?


    ¡ªHmm... Not really.


    ¡ªThen why aren''t you going to kill those things? Or should we go around them?


    ¡ªOh, you mean that. Well, those Vestiges are right in front of my safe zone. They''re just Grunts, so I won''t get anything for killing them. That''s why I''m waiting for you to take care of them.


    ¡ªHuh?


    After those words, Shoun was genuinely confused. His first thought was that it was a joke, and a very bad one considering the situation.


    ¡ªSorry if I''m not laughing, but I''m not in the mood for jokes. I really want to get out of here, so would you mind handling it?


    Kaze didn''t respond and just stared at Shoun¡ªor at least that''s what Shoun thought, since he couldn''t actually see Kaze''s eyes. Curiously, the mask didn''t have any holes, making it a mystery how the young man could see through it. After a moment, Kaze responded in his usual monotone.


    ¡ªI already told you, I won''t get anything for fighting those things. You, on the other hand, will. So the most logical thing is for you to kill them and clear the path.


    If it weren''t impossible at that moment, Shoun''s jaw would have dropped to the ground.

 Chapter 3: The mirror world part 2

    ¡ª(If I didn''t need him, I''d definitely kill him, and in a very ugly way too.)


    Shoun, in his thoughts, angrily referred to his companion, Kaze, who had forced him to kill a group of Grunt-rank Vestiges. Deep down, Shoun knew that Kaze''s line of thinking had some logic to it¡ªa very small and messed-up kind of logic. But he definitely wasn''t happy about having to go along with it.


    ¡ª(I really want to strangle him!)


    Inside the wind dome, the two stood side by side, staring at the Vestiges. The creatures were a black so deep it made you question if they were even there, if not for the white glow that enveloped the city.


    ¡ªI don''t even know how I''m going to kill those things. I don''t have a weapon.


    ¡ªHmmm... that''s true.¡ª Without saying much more, Kaze drew his katana from its sheath. The blade shimmered slightly and quickly transformed into a medium-sized dagger, which he handed to Shoun without a word.


    ¡ªThanks...¡ª The gratitude was half-hearted, but who could blame him for being ungrateful in this situation? With a blank expression, Shoun decided not to delay the inevitable any longer and began to think about how to approach his fight with the Vestiges. ¡ª(Four legs, with long, powerful claws at the end of each toe, a long tail with a dagger-like tip... that massive jaw with equally large teeth must be just as dangerous.)


    Shoun analyzed the Vestiges carefully. Slowly, his back began to sweat again. The mere idea of facing a Vestige was already terrifying him. But he really had no other choice¡ªat least not right now.


    Accepting this fact, Shoun slapped both cheeks to snap himself out of it and focused on planning a strategy to handle the situation. He didn''t completely push aside his fear¡ªthat was impossible for him¡ªbut he forced himself to move forward.


    ¡ª(I have very little electricity. That little experiment of mine barely filled 5% of my core.)¡ª After thinking of a solution to this problem, he turned to look at the masked man. ¡ªHey, Kaze, how long can you keep this dome up? I need to recharge my core a bit.


    ¡ª...You have five minutes.


    The masked man didn''t seem bothered by the request and simply stated what Shoun wanted in his usual monotone voice. Shoun didn''t waste any time and began focusing on recharging.


    The process itself was as natural to him as moving his limbs, but it wasn''t something he needed to do often, so he had to concentrate. Before he knew it, the five minutes were up, signaled by Kaze gesturing for him to hurry.


    Shoun shot Kaze a dirty look and glanced at the dagger in his hand. It was likely an Apprentice-rank artifact, something that should be quite useful for killing Vestiges.


    ¡ª(I have about 20% of my core filled, an Apprentice-rank artifact... I hope that''s enough to kill those things. For the sake of this stupid masked guy, it better be, or I''ll haunt him from the afterlife.)


    Not daring to delay any further, Shoun picked up a stone from the ground and threw it in the opposite direction from where they were standing. The noise caused the monsters to turn their heads. At that moment, Shoun enveloped his legs in electricity, making him noticeably faster. In just a few seconds, he was close to one of the Vestiges.


    One advantage his electricity had over spiritual energy was that it was significantly more potent in the enhancements it provided. According to someone from the government, it might even rival the enhancements of an Apprentice-rank individual. Personally, Shoun didn''t put much stock in that claim, but he never had¡ªand probably never would have¡ªthe intention of testing it.


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    As he reached the side of the Vestige, Shoun refused to waste the initiative. Enhancing his right arm, which held the dagger, he slashed at the creature''s neck. The cut was far from polished, but thanks to the rank of his weapon, it sliced through the creature''s neck like butter, splattering purple blood on Shoun and his clothes.


    ¡ªGraaaaar!


    The Codex sent him a notification, but Shoun ignored the distraction and focused on the remaining creatures, which were now charging at him, growling in anger. Despite some semblance of teamwork, they were still noticeably uncoordinated, pushing and attacking through the same path¡ªa mistake Shoun wouldn''t let slide.


    Quickly, Shoun ran toward the creatures, feinting to the right and narrowly avoiding a swipe of claws and a tail strike from one of them. Without hesitation, he repeated the motion, cutting off the head of another Vestige.


    But not everything went according to plan. Due to his lack of skill with the dagger, his cut didn''t fully sever the neck, forcing him to put in extra effort to finish the job. That small delay allowed the creature to retaliate slightly before dying, stabbing the dagger-like tip of its tail into Shoun''s lower back.


    ¡ªAggggh!¡ª Shoun felt his thick blood spill over his clothes and the pavement. Pain flooded his mind, but he refused to let himself go blank from the agony.


    The last Vestige let out another growl and charged at him, pouncing on top of him. Due to his injury, Shoun could only twist slightly to avoid the dagger in his back from being driven deeper.


    As the monster landed on Shoun and began clawing at him, the young man protected himself with his enhanced arms. But little by little, the claws left increasingly severe wounds, causing Shoun''s mind to grow hazy from the pain.


    ¡ª(Damn it... Damn thing, just wait a little longer, and you''ll join your friends!)¡ª Shoun was in a desperate situation. Every second, he wanted to succumb to fear and pain, to scream for Kaze''s help. But he knew at this point it was useless. He decided to channel the rest of his electricity into his legs. With a quick movement, he planted his feet on the creature''s stomach and pushed with all his might, finally launching the thing off of him.


    Shoun, with what little strength he had left, stood up and pulled the dagger from his back. He was exhausted¡ªnot just because his core was empty, or from the blood loss, which would definitely cause him problems even if he won. It was mainly because of the fear¡ªfear of pain, fear of death. It was something that constantly screamed at him to run, to survive. But Shoun was tired of surviving, of giving in to his fear, of becoming complacent. That was why he ended up in this situation in the first place, and this time, he definitely wasn''t going to make the same mistake. He wanted to live, and the first step to that was killing this Vestige.


    The young man ran like never before, lunging at the Vestige. Now their roles were reversed. Shoun began stabbing the monster in the chest repeatedly. He didn''t care about anything¡ªeven as the creature clawed at him or struck him with its tail, he didn''t stop.


    He stabbed and stabbed with blind fury, covering himself and his clothes in the Vestige''s purple blood, but he still ignored everything around him.


    It wasn''t until he felt a hand on his shoulder that he stopped. Turning, he saw Kaze saying something, but Shoun couldn''t understand him¡ªhis ears were ringing. In that brief moment of calm, he regained some sense of himself. His entire body ached, especially his arms and lower back.


    ¡ªAgg!¡ª Without warning, Shoun lost consciousness. Before he could hit the ground, the masked man caught him. Kaze picked up Shoun and carried him away from the Vestige''s corpse. He took the dagger from Shoun''s hand¡ªeven unconscious, the young man was still gripping it tightly.


    Throughout this process, Kaze reflected on Shoun''s performance during the fight.


    ¡ª(He was quite capable. It doesn''t seem like he has any training, not even basic, given how he handled the dagger. But still, most of his decisions were correct. Then there''s his abilities... It seems he doesn''t use spiritual energy, as I couldn''t sense any during the fight. But that "electricity" of his seemed quite powerful... I see potential in him.)


    Kaze looked at his blood-covered weapon. Without a word, he cleaned it with his robe and returned it to its original form before sheathing it. Then he glanced at Shoun. The young man was slowly bleeding out, but that didn''t really worry Kaze. He would take him to his hideout and heal him.


    Before picking up Shoun again, Kaze took one last look at the Vestiges, which were now disintegrating into ash. The sight surprised him.


    ¡ªWell... that''s a pleasant surprise.

 Chapter 4: Problems

    Shoun slowly began to wake up, though still somewhat confused. As he regained consciousness, he looked around and quickly realized that Kaze was with him, sitting on the other side of the small room they were in.


    The room had a wooden floor and walls covered with white tapestries. It wasn''t particularly large¡ªjust big enough for both of them to stretch their legs facing each other. As for lighting, there wasn''t much. A small crack let in a faint light from outside, but that was it.


    ¡ª...Where are we?¡ª Shoun asked, his tone reflecting his groggy state.


    ¡ªUh... you''re finally awake. It took you a while. Do you remember we were heading to one of my hideouts? Well, this is it. Unfortunately, it''s not the most comfortable place.


    ¡ªIt''s fine. How long was I out?


    ¡ªA few hours. It''s hard to tell how time passes in this place, but it''s almost nightfall now¡ªor at least what you could call nightfall. Soon, this place will be completely dark, so don''t be startled when it happens.


    Shoun simply nodded at the information. He then tried to sit up, wincing as his body protested. After managing to sit through the pain, he began checking his wounds.


    His arms had noticeable scabs, and what little he could see of his lower back was also relatively healed, though he could still feel the lingering effects of the ordeal.


    But what hurt Shoun the most wasn''t his injuries¡ªit was seeing the state of his clothes, especially his denim jacket. It was a limited edition piece from his favorite band, The Red Phoenix. Inside, he was crying, even though he had twenty more just like it at home.


    Right now, Shoun was wearing a white t-shirt that had been under his jackets, and his jeans had been cut into shorts that ended just above his knees. Kaze had probably made these adjustments to treat his wounds more easily. The remains of his clothes were piled in the corner of the room, alongside what looked like the remnants of his phone and keys, now reduced to scrap metal after his recent battles.


    ¡ªThanks for healing me... I probably wouldn''t have made it without you.


    ¡ªNo problem. You saved me the trouble of killing those things myself. By the way, this is yours.


    After the half-hearted thanks, Kaze tossed something to Shoun without much explanation. Shoun barely managed to catch it and was about to complain when he realized what he was holding.


    ¡ªWait a second... Is this what I think it is?


    ¡ªIndeed. It''s an artifact¡ªor rather, the material that becomes one. It dropped from one of those things. You killed them, so whatever they drop is yours.


    What Shoun held in his hands was a material that Vestiges could sometimes drop. It could be exchanged in the Codex for an artifact of a rank equivalent to the creature that dropped it. In this case, the resulting artifact would be of the "Seeker" rank. It was oval-shaped and primarily black, with purple streaks running along its sides.


    These materials were extremely valuable. Aside from the obvious fact that they could be turned into artifacts, they were also the most efficient way to trade for them. Once exchanged, an artifact was tailored to its user, so while it was possible to transfer artifacts, it couldn''t compare to selling the raw material. This didn''t apply to ranks above Dominator, though. These materials were worth more than Shoun had ever had in liquid assets in his entire life, and now he casually held one in his hands.


    ¡ª(...I think I better not get too excited about this. I could exchange it or sell it... The money wouldn''t hurt, but I''m getting ahead of myself.)


    Shoun set the material aside for a moment and focused on Kaze, who was "looking" at him¡ªor so Shoun thought. At that moment, Shoun also noticed that Kaze''s mask wasn''t attached to his face in any visible way, making it a mystery how it stayed on.


    ¡ª(Well, I guess that''s another question for later, but it''s not as urgent as this.)¡ª Shoun organized his thoughts before finally asking¡ª Kaze, you said that once we got here, you could get me out of this place... So, now that I''m awake, can we leave?


    ¡ª...There''s a problem with that... Have you wondered how you ended up in this place in the first place?


    ¡ªA lot, but considering everything else, it wasn''t a priority.


    ¡ªWell, let me explain. One of my abilities is called [Being of Two Worlds]. Its description says something like, ''Being of Two Worlds: You have the ability to cross dimensions and bring people with you to a new world, one plagued by great dangers and equivalent rewards. As an inhabitant of both planes, you can travel between them, but to bring your companions out, they must earn their exit.'' That''s what the Codex says. Basically, when I activated my ability in the park, where you were probably nearby, I ended up dragging you into this place... Sorry about that.


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    Shoun clenched his fists tightly. Now that he knew Kaze was responsible for bringing him to this horrible place, he had a good reason to punch him. But he held back, kept his cool, and spoke.


    ¡ªWhat does ''earn their exit'' mean?


    ¡ªI have a theory that it''s like one of those rank-up trials. We''ll have to face an enemy that both of us have a chance of defeating.


    At that moment, Shoun confirmed his worst fears. He slammed his fist on the floor, glaring at Kaze, and shouted:


    ¡ªDo you realize the situation you''ve put me in? I didn''t ask for this! You''re strong¡ªyou can handle this place. But me? I''m going to die!


    Shoun yelled angrily at Kaze. If Kaze weren''t stronger than him, Shoun would have beaten him to a pulp. In response, Kaze spoke in his usual monotone voice, though there was a slight hint of... sadness? Shoun couldn''t quite tell what emotion tinged his words.


    ¡ªAgain, I''m sorry for that. I didn''t mean to bring you here without your consent. I''ll do everything I can to get you out of this place alive... even if it costs me my life.


    Shoun didn''t respond immediately. He clenched his fists even tighter and gritted his teeth, but he managed to regain his composure. He took a deep breath, exhaled, and gave Kaze a tired look before speaking.


    ¡ªI''m angry, but I''m also really tired... Let''s talk about this later.


    Without waiting for a response, Shoun leaned back against the opposite wall of the small room to think. Kaze simply nodded in acceptance.


    Shoun was furious with Kaze, but even he was surprised at how calm he managed to stay. Maybe it was because Kaze himself was willing to sacrifice himself to give Shoun a chance to escape. Still, he was on edge because of the situation. The fear he had pushed aside was slowly creeping back in.


    As a distraction, Shoun began replaying his fight with the group of Vestiges in his mind, thinking about the mistakes he had made. While he knew he couldn''t go back and avoid those mistakes, he could at least learn from them and try not to repeat them.


    ¡ª(At that moment, my ability failed... In another, I was too slow... In another, I got distracted... Damn it, I could have done so much better. I had every advantage and a powerful artifact¡ªit should have been an easy fight. But I still almost died... I''m really weak.)¡ª Shoun didn''t want to fall into pessimism over his lack of skill. That wouldn''t help him get out of this place. He simply took another deep breath and exhaled.¡ª(Anyway, the injuries I had back then couldn''t have been minor. He must have healed me, but does he really have a specialized healing ability? If so, that''s kind of cheating. After all, he already has cool wind abilities and now healing on top of that.)


    Despite his childish complaint, it gave him a chance to consider how his body worked. He was a Seeker. Seekers were still fairly human in terms of physical ability. It was only as they gained points that their bodies and powers improved gradually. One or two points didn''t make much of a difference, but ten or fifteen were something to take seriously.


    While Grunts were equivalent to large animals like tigers or lions¡ªstrong but still manageable with traditional weapons¡ªif they weren''t, it would have been impossible for humanity to unlock the Codex in the first place.


    Shoun glanced at Kaze, who seemed to be asleep based on his rhythmic breathing. As an Apprentice of rank 2, Kaze had an extra ability, and his body was already far beyond what any normal human could aspire to.


    Dominators of rank 3, upon reaching their rank, gained a significant physical boost, allowing them to topple houses or buildings without the need for any abilities.


    This showed the advantage humanity had over Vestiges. It was much easier for humans to improve¡ªthey just had to keep killing stronger Vestiges. Meanwhile, Vestiges had to do the same, killing humans or stronger Vestiges to rank up. But that was their problem¡ªthere were far fewer humans than Vestiges.


    This advantage humanity had was almost completely nullified by the sheer number of Vestiges, which outnumbered humans two or even three to one.


    In any case, Shoun knew that wasn''t really the issue right now. After all, he had to work with what he had to get out of this place. With a thought, he opened his status window.


    [?Name: Shoun Foster?


    ?Age: 17?


    ?Rank: Seeker?


    ?Title:...?


    ?Ascension Points: 13/100?


    ?Abilities?


    ?Electric Flow: Your very essence has been touched by electricity since birth, allowing you to control and use it to your advantage?


    ?Basic Electric Core: A part of your being, it exists and doesn''t exist, both in your physical and spiritual body. It is where all your electricity is stored and generated, and it also allows the user to absorb electricity from other sources?]


    He looked at his status window and saw there wasn''t much difference, aside from now having 13 points. That should make him slightly stronger than before, though with his injuries and empty core, he still felt like crap.


    ¡ª(In any case, I should fill my core. Who knows what might show up in this place suddenly.)


    Shoun spent the rest of the time before nightfall recharging his core to 100%. He also tested the limits of his abilities. While his ability was quite potent in enhancing his physical abilities and firing lightning bolts, his body was still very human, so there had to be a limit.


    After some testing, he concluded that once he channeled about 10% of his electricity into his body, it started to hurt¡ªnot paralyzing pain, but still annoying. This only increased the more he pushed, to the point where around 20%, the pain became unbearable.


    So he quickly decided that in his next fights, he would channel a maximum of 5% into each limb. That would give him a noticeable boost while keeping the strain manageable over time, and he still had room to push further if needed.


    Shoun had no idea if 5% was good enough, though. After all, in his last fight, most of the work had been done by Kaze''s weapon. But without a proper test dummy, he had to settle for his estimate.


    ¡ª(Though I could use him as a test dummy... I don''t think I''d hurt him much, and it''s his fault I''m in this situation anyway, right?... Yeah, he definitely wouldn''t find that funny.)¡ª Shoun quickly dismissed the idea and turned to the next task on his list. He picked up the material to exchange for his artifact, ready to see what his new weapon would be.

 Chapter 5: Companions

    Shoun was feeling a bit nervous at that moment. Whatever his new artifact turned out to be could mean the difference between survival and death. But he didn''t delay any longer. With a deep breath, he infused the mineral with his electricity.


    At that moment, Shoun felt isolated from the outside world. Whether Kaze was moving or not was irrelevant¡ªhe was entirely focused on his artifact and the process.


    Slowly, the material in his hands began to glow with a white light. Kaze, noticing this, turned his head and watched as the object in Shoun''s palm grew brighter and brighter, until the light suddenly vanished.


    Now, in Shoun''s hands and before Kaze''s eyes, was a new artifact. It had a black hilt, a guard of the same color, and a pale white blade that emitted a faint glow, reminiscent of the white light that illuminated the Mirror World during the day. The blade was double-edged and straight, ending in a sharp point¡ªan unusual design for what seemed to be a dagger.


    ¡ªWoah... that felt...


    ¡ªGood?


    ¡ªYeah... I think so. It felt like I was in my own world¡ªjust me and the artifact.¡ª Shoun had naturally read up on the process of creating an artifact for a Seeker. Even though he hadn''t expected to ever claim one, it didn''t hurt to dream a little. On paper, the idea of being isolated from the world for a few seconds seemed terrifying, but surprisingly, it felt good¡ªeven uplifting.


    ¡ªWhat''s its ability?¡ª Kaze asked, snapping Shoun out of his thoughts. It was only then that Shoun used Inspect, causing a screen to appear with all the information about his new weapon.


    The artifact was named "Stinger." Its enchantment caused the dagger''s cuts to have a venom-like effect, gradually weakening and slowing down whoever was struck. The effect could stack with each additional cut.


    It was only then that Shoun connected the artifact''s design to his previous enemies. He had overlooked this detail when recalling how artifacts worked. Most artifacts, when materialized, took on characteristics of the Vestiges that dropped the material.


    ¡ªIt has a paralyzing venom effect. It should slow down and weaken enemies, and the effect can stack.


    ¡ª...Interesting. You won''t need to borrow my weapon anymore, though it''s still more useful if I use it, considering the enemies we''ll be facing.


    Kaze''s last words left a bitter taste in Shoun''s mouth. He knew he wasn''t as strong as Kaze. The rank difference alone gave Kaze a significant advantage, and on top of that, Kaze seemed exceptionally skilled.


    ¡ªAnyway, what''s your plan?¡ª Kaze asked in his usual monotone voice. Shoun couldn''t see him, but he could hear the floor creak as Kaze adjusted his position, likely to "look" more directly at Shoun.


    ¡ª...I want to get out of this place. I really do. But facing that trial right now would be suicide... The truth is, I''ve been a Codex bearer for seven years, but I never killed another Vestige after obtaining the Codex until today. I have no experience other than the fight earlier.


    Kaze listened attentively to Shoun''s explanation. The masked man considered it for a moment before responding:


    ¡ªI think you did well. Your inexperience showed in your fighting style, but you had the will to keep going and not give up. Against Vestiges, you can''t afford to make those kinds of mistakes, and at least you didn''t.


    ¡ªThanks.¡ª Shoun''s gratitude was curt. The resentment he felt toward Kaze for forcing him into that fight was still there, but that wasn''t the main reason. The truth was, Shoun found it hard to believe Kaze''s words because of how he spoke. In the short time he''d known him, Kaze had always spoken in the same tone, with the same expression, the same emotion¡ªor lack thereof. The only exception was when Kaze apologized for dragging him into this situation, and even that was questionable because it was so subtle.


    ¡ªI have a recommendation for what to do in your situation. Do you want to hear it?


    ¡ªI''m all ears.


    ¡ªBecome my companion.


    ¡ª...What does that mean?


    ¡ªRight now, you''re at the very bottom in this place. In the trial, we''ll at least have to face a Wretch. At the very least, you need to gain some points and practical experience to stand a chance. I''m responsible for your current situation, so it''s my duty to take care of you. But for you to get out of this place and grow stronger, you need to become my companion. That way, you can trust me to watch your back, and I can trust you to watch mine... It''s reasonable, don''t you think?


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    Shoun struggled to decide. Part of him said he couldn''t trust Kaze¡ªhe was an unreliable stranger who had dragged him into this strange world, forced him to fight, and gotten him hurt. But another part of him knew there was no other way out of the Mirror World. So he had to accept reality.


    ¡ªFine... I''ll trust you. But if you betray that trust and I end up dead, I''ll drag you to hell with me.¡ª After those words, Shoun extended his free hand for a handshake.


    ¡ªAlright. I expect the same from you.


    ¡ª...


    ¡ª...


    ¡ª...Hey, Kaze...


    ¡ªYes?


    ¡ªWhy aren''t you shaking my hand?


    ¡ªWhat''s that?¡ª Kaze asked innocently, tilting his head to the side.


    ¡ªWell... it''s a gesture people make when they reach an agreement with someone. How do you not know that?¡ª Shoun replied incredulously, squinting at Kaze.


    ¡ªWhy?¡ª Kaze asked again, dodging the question. Shoun explained, but he made a mental note that Kaze had actively chosen not to tell him something that might be important. He was already doubting the "trust" they were supposed to place in each other, and now that feeling grew stronger.


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª


    The next morning, Shoun woke up. Once again, the room was illuminated by the white light. Thanks to the light, he could now see his body and his "new" clothes more clearly. Surprisingly, there were almost no scabs left from his previous fight.


    ¡ª(I''m not supposed to be that far beyond a normal human''s capabilities, but I still heal pretty quickly from those kinds of injuries... I wonder how long it would take to heal a broken limb.)¡ª After that random thought, Shoun rubbed his eyes and looked at Kaze, who was already watching him.


    ¡ªGood morning.


    ¡ªGood morning, Kaze. How long have you been awake?


    ¡ªNot long. I was watching you, waiting for you to wake up. You sleep a lot.¡ª Kaze said the last part without much consideration, which slightly annoyed Shoun, but he let it slide. He was always a bit grumpy in the mornings anyway.


    ¡ªWell, I guess you don''t have a bathroom or anything, so let''s get to the point and share our abilities.¡ª Shoun said as he approached Kaze and sat down across from him.


    ¡ªLet me start. You already know my first basic ability. The next one is my sword. It''s called Cutting Wind. It can take different forms, as you saw earlier, though I''m most comfortable with its current form. Besides changing shape, it allows me to shoot wind gusts and manipulate the wind, though the latter isn''t very flexible. Lastly, there''s my Apprentice ability. It''s rank B-


    ¡ªRank B?!


    ¡ªCorrect. Is there something wrong with that?


    ¡ªKaze, that''s the third most powerful rank of abilities! Do you have any idea how rare it is to find someone with an ability above rank E or D?!¡ª Shoun was shocked. He hadn''t even heard the effects of the ability yet, but based on its rank, he knew it had to be incredibly strong.


    When you reach the Apprentice rank, you''re granted an ability that essentially shapes your path as a Codex user, becoming your cornerstone and primary weapon. Abilities range from F to S, from weakest to strongest. The higher the rank, the rarer the ability, with ranks E and D being the most common. Even a rank C ability was considered lucky.


    ¡ªHuh, I didn''t think having an ability of that rank was such a big deal. I guess I got lucky.¡ª Kaze said nonchalantly, shrugging. Shoun could only internally facepalm at that reaction.


    ¡ªHave you been living under a rock your whole life? How do you not know something so basic?... You know what, never mind. Just tell me what your ability does.


    ¡ªAlright. Basically, it allows me to manipulate the wind more effectively. It''s conveniently called Wind Cloak. It''s the thing I used to let us move stealthily through the city. That''s not its main use, but it works for that too. What it does is, while I''m surrounded by it, I become much faster. I can stop, accelerate, and change direction without losing any momentum. It also makes me much harder to detect. That''s how I got close to that Brute and saved you without it noticing me. The only downside is that it drains spiritual energy the more I abuse its acceleration and braking effects.¡ª After hearing Kaze''s explanation, Shoun didn''t think the ability sounded that powerful at first. But after reflecting on it, he realized the potential of such a flexible ability. With its speed and freedom of movement, it made Kaze unpredictable in any situation.¡ª Lastly, I have one artifact.¡ª After those words, a glow lit up Kaze''s palm. When the glow faded, an amulet with golden contours and a green gem in the center appeared.


    ¡ªWhat''s its rank? What does it do?


    ¡ªIt''s an Apprentice-rank artifact. It can heal wounds, though only minor ones. If you lose an arm, this artifact won''t help. Thanks to this thing, you didn''t bleed out earlier. That''s all from me.


    ¡ªWell, at least we have the assurance that we won''t die that way... I guess now that you''re done, it''s my turn.¡ª Shoun told Kaze about his Electric Core and his powers over electricity. He also mentioned that his enhancements were much more potent than those of normal Seekers. According to someone in the military, he could even take on Apprentices.


    ¡ªThere''s something that doesn''t add up. How are your abilities so powerful if you''re just a Seeker?


    ¡ªI had powers before obtaining the Codex. Supposedly, the Codex amplifies and develops those abilities for people who already have them. That''s why my abilities are stronger than those of a normal Seeker.


    ¡ª...That makes sense. Thanks for telling me. I didn''t know that.


    ¡ªHmm? Don''t worry, it''s supposed to be common knowledge.¡ª Shoun was starting to worry about how little his masked companion knew about such basic things, but he dismissed it to focus on more important matters.¡ª So, what are we supposed to do now, Kaze?


    ¡ªWe''re going hunting, obviously. What else would we do?

 Chapter 6: Hunting part 1

    Shoun found himself on one of the streets of the Mirror World, in an area resembling a residential zone, filled with small buildings no taller than five meters and two-story houses. The young man was scanning his surroundings, extremely alert. It wasn''t until Kaze landed beside him that Shoun allowed himself to relax.


    After leaving the safe zone, Kaze had shown him how to navigate the area. The masked man usually used his agility and ability to climb buildings, allowing him to move safely and keep watch. But Shoun wasn''t Kaze. He couldn''t keep up with his pace or climb buildings like him. To scale even a small building, Shoun needed to expend half of his core''s energy to compensate for his lack of technique.


    Seeing that following Kaze''s usual style was useless in this situation, they decided that Kaze would use his height advantage to scout for enemies as usual, but then they would both move quickly on foot to avoid further complications.


    ¡ªWe have some ideal targets nearby, but we need to move fast to catch them by surprise from an ideal position.¡ª After saying this, Kaze started running through the streets without waiting for a response from Shoun. By now, Shoun was starting to get used to his companion''s eccentricities, so he didn''t mind too much.


    ¡ªWhat kind of Vestiges are they?


    ¡ªKind?


    ¡ª...You don''t know about the different types of Vestiges?


    ¡ªWell, let''s just say... not really.¡ª At that moment, Kaze stopped and looked at Shoun, who had already stopped beforehand.


    ¡ªAn Apprentice who doesn''t know the types of Vestiges... unbelievable.¡ª This time, Shoun didn''t hold back his disdainful comment. His patience for dealing with people had been worn thin by Kaze a long time ago, so he stopped trying to be polite.¡ª Okay, look, there are three types of Vestiges: physical, magical, and spectral.


    ¡ªHow do they differ?


    ¡ªI''m getting to that. Don''t interrupt me. Physical Vestiges, as the name suggests, have very strong, fast, and resilient bodies. The last two Vestiges we''ve seen fall into that category. Magical Vestiges don''t focus as much on their physical strength¡ªthey''re even weak in that regard¡ªbut they have powerful abilities, almost like magic. And finally, spectral Vestiges... it''s hard to describe them without having seen one, as is my case, but from what I''ve been told, they can''t be touched unless you interact with them using spiritual energy.


    ¡ªHmm... in hindsight, the characteristics of each type of Vestige are kind of obvious based on their names.


    ¡ªI guess that was the point... but they really didn''t put much effort into naming them. Anyway, what are we up against this time?


    ¡ªIt''s hard to tell just by looking at them. They''re definitely not spectral¡ªI''m sure of that. At first glance, I''d say they''re physical, but based on certain characteristics, I think they''re some kind of magical Vestiges.


    ¡ªSigh... alright. Let''s just get there, and we can come up with a better plan once I see them.


    ¡ªAlright.¡ª Without another word, Kaze started running, and Shoun followed. The latter was becoming more and more surprised by his new companion. First, Kaze didn''t know the types of Vestiges despite being an Apprentice¡ªthat was basic knowledge anyone who went to school would know, and even those who didn''t would likely be aware of it. Another thing that surprised him was how Kaze listened attentively and respectfully. Sure, he still spoke in a monotone voice and was rude at times, but he always listened carefully to Shoun''s suggestions and treated him as an equal, even though Kaze was clearly stronger and held a higher rank.


    ¡ª(Maybe he really does see me as a companion...)¡ª Shoun wanted to believe that thought, but he couldn''t. After all, it was obvious that Kaze was hiding information about who he was. One way to lie was by omitting information, and a relationship built on lies was destined to fail. So, Shoun decided to take everything Kaze said with a grain of salt.


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    ¡ªWe''re here.¡ª Kaze whispered as he peeked around an alley. Shoun joined him and saw that, two streets ahead, there was a group of Vestiges. They all resembled deer, with completely white bodies. Their heads were strange and grotesque¡ªthey looked like skulls with no flesh, long fangs, and bulging eyes. Their antlers were enormous, each a meter long, but twisted in impossible ways for a normal deer.


    ¡ªThey''re definitely magical types. You can tell by their bodies. If they were physical, they''d look much more muscular... There are four Grunts, four Wretches, and one... Is that what I think it is?¡ª Shoun whispered the last question as he pointed to a larger deer among the group.


    ¡ªYes, that big one is definitely an Alpha.¡ª Shoun was more surprised that Kaze actually knew what an Alpha was than the fact that they had to face one. An Alpha was an especially strong Vestige known for commanding others of its weaker kind. This one, in particular, was a Wretch, just like the other deer but much larger. Its legs were a golden color, making it look... fascinating.


    ¡ªSo... what''s the plan?


    ¡ªCan''t you just shoot a lightning bolt at the Alpha from here and take out the biggest threat?


    ¡ªI don''t trust my aim from this distance. It would be pure luck if I hit it from more than two meters away, and even if I did, that wouldn''t take care of the other eight Vestiges that would come after us.


    ¡ªAlright... then we''ll just have to take them by surprise. You go in first, draw the attention of the Grunts, and I''ll handle the Wretches.


    ¡ªWhat if the Alpha joins the fight right away when we start the attack?


    ¡ªIt''ll prioritize me. Since I''m stronger, it''ll ignore you until it deals with me.


    ¡ªHmm... well, we don''t have much of a choice.¡ª After agreeing on the plan, they both took their positions. The group of Vestiges was at the end of a closed-off street. On the more open side were the eight Vestiges, grouped in fours, and further back was the Alpha.


    Shoun found himself watching them from a nearby alley. He looked across the street and saw Kaze. They exchanged a signal, and the masked man activated his Wind Cloak, disappearing from Shoun''s sight.


    ¡ªAlright... let''s start this plan before I change my mind.¡ª At that moment, Shoun pushed aside his fear. He was determined to get out of this place, and the first step was to grow stronger. This group of Vestiges wasn''t going to stop him from achieving his goal.


    The young man enhanced himself, channeling 5% of his core''s capacity into each limb. With his weapon in hand, he dashed toward one of the Grunts and aimed for one of its bulging eyes, driving his dagger deep into it. The Codex sent a notification, which Shoun ignored, and he quickly moved to the next Grunt. From his peripheral vision, he could see that the Wretches had also risen, but they were busy with the invisible enemy harassing them.


    This time, Shoun didn''t allow himself to be distracted and focused on his fight. He saw that the other three Grunts had already risen and were lowering their heads in his direction, as if bowing. But that was far from the truth. From their antlers, several fireballs formed and shot rapidly toward Shoun. The young man saw the projectiles coming and quickly dodged to the side, avoiding them all.


    But before he even finished landing, the Vestiges were already charging more fireballs. With no other option, Shoun charged forward. When they fired another coordinated volley of fireballs, he simply increased the electricity flowing to his legs. With his newfound speed, he easily closed the distance to the three Vestiges. He approached the one on the far right first, quickly stabbing it in the eye. But Shoun knew exactly that the Vestige in the center would attack him as soon as it had the chance, so he used his free left hand to touch the middle deer while stabbing the one on the right, delivering a powerful shock that paralyzed the middle Vestige. Meanwhile, the Vestige on the left tried to attack, but Shoun used the middle one as a meat shield.


    Shoun pulled the dagger from the right Vestige and stabbed it into the eye of the middle one. With a quick motion, he removed the dagger and threw the middle Vestige onto the left one. As the remaining Vestige tried to avoid the corpse of its companion, it didn''t see Shoun coming to finish it off the same way he had killed the others.


    ¡ªHaaah... haaah¡­


    After pulling his dagger from the last Vestige, Shoun stood still for a moment to catch his breath. Less than a minute had passed since the battle began, but he had already killed four Vestiges and exhausted half of his core''s electricity. The worst part was that the battle wasn''t over yet.


    As he wiped the sweat from his forehead, he glanced over to see how Kaze was doing. Surprisingly, Kaze was faring worse than Shoun had expected.


    Two Wretches were already decapitated and disintegrating on the ground, while Kaze was still fighting the other two.


    The masked man was invisible to Shoun and the Wretches. Kaze was fast¡ªvery fast¡ªbut at the same time, he wielded his katana with elegance and precision, even though he was invisible to everyone else.


    To the Vestiges, it was as if the wind itself was fighting them. Every time a gust of wind passed, more and more cuts appeared on the completely white bodies of the Vestiges. But at that moment, something changed on the battlefield.


    Only a minute had passed, and they had already killed six Vestiges. But they hadn''t faced the most dangerous one yet. Shoun felt a chill run down his spine. The Alpha Vestige, with its snow-white skin, golden antlers, and the characteristic static of the beasts, finally rose to join the battle.

 Chapter 7: Hunting part 2

    The Alpha Vestige finally grew tired of watching its subordinates being slaughtered. After rising from the ground, the monster let out a piercing screech so loud that Shoun was forced to cover his ears to protect himself.


    ¡ª(This is looking really bad... Kaze won''t be able to handle the two Wretches and the Alpha. Tch, looks like I''ll have to deal with it too.)¡ª Shoun quickly thought of a solution to their predicament. The only viable option he could come up with put him in even greater danger, but there was no other choice.¡ª Kaze, go for the Alpha! I''ll handle these two!


    Without waiting for a response from Kaze, Shoun channeled another 5% of his total energy into his limbs and sprinted toward the Wretches.


    Fighting these two would be much harder compared to his previous opponents, obviously due to the difference in rank.


    Thanks to his ability, Shoun was much stronger than the creatures he faced, which was why he could easily decapitate the Vestiges or pierce their eyes. But this would be nearly impossible against a Wretch.


    Their bodies were far more resilient. Even if Shoun used all his electricity to enhance his body¡ªsomething he couldn''t do at this point since he was already halfway depleted¡ªhe still wouldn''t be able to cut off their heads or pierce their eyes. After all, he couldn''t enhance his weapon in the same way. But all was not lost¡ªhe still had a trump card.


    As he ran toward the Wretches, he noticed that both were already staring at him. Each had three fireballs the size of bowling balls ready to launch at any moment. Using the same trick as before would be difficult, especially since he didn''t have much electricity left. If he won, he''d still have to help Kaze with the Alpha.


    With no other choice, Shoun enhanced his arms a bit more and did the unthinkable¡ªhe threw his weapon at one of the Wretches. The dagger flew past the creature, creating a new cut, before disappearing into the air.


    Shoun''s strategy was to take advantage of his weapon''s enchantment, which would progressively slow down his enemies, allowing him to finish them off with brute force. That''s why he deactivated his weapon and recalled it as soon as he could. But that would take a few seconds, and he didn''t have that kind of time¡ªthe six fireballs were already closing in on him.


    With a quick movement, he dashed backward, narrowly dodging the fireballs. But as soon as he looked up, the Wretches were already charging another six fireballs while running toward him.


    ~Click Click~


    [You have slain the "Profane Antlers." Difficulty bonus obtained.]


    But before they could take another step, the sound of wind being cut echoed through the air. Both Wretches'' heads rolled to the ground as the Codex sent a notification. Interestingly, Shoun still received points for killing one of the two Vestiges, likely the one he had wounded with his dagger.


    ¡ª(I guess as long as I do my best and participate, I''ll still get a reward.)


    ¡ªThanks for distracting them.


    ¡ªShouldn''t you be dealing with the Alpha?¡ª Shoun asked, looking in the direction of Kaze''s voice.


    ¡ªAt first, yes. But that thing hasn''t moved since it got up, so I thought it''d be better to come help you so we can deal with it together.


    ¡ªAlright, lead the way.¡ª With his weapon in hand, Shoun began running toward the creature. The wind beside him shifted, so he assumed Kaze was running alongside him, invisible, heading toward the monster. But just then, the Alpha sprang into action.


    The deer''s antlers began to glow green. The ground around the battlefield started to tremble, and massive roots shot out from the ground, blocking Shoun and Kaze''s path to the Vestige.


    Many more roots erupted from the ground directly beneath them, forcing them to dodge to the side.


    ¡ªChange of plans. You keep going this way while I flank it.¡ª Kaze''s voice echoed as he began to move away.


    At first, Shoun was more focused on avoiding being impaled by the roots, so for several moments, he concentrated solely on dodging. The young man tried to find openings to approach the Vestige, but most paths were blocked by roots ready to shoot toward him at the slightest misstep.


    His electricity levels were dropping rapidly, so this fight needed to end soon if possible. Shoun realized he couldn''t attack from his current distance. He could see gusts of wind being fired at the Vestige from the air and various angles.


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    This was obviously Kaze''s doing, trying to inflict as much damage as possible on the Vestige. The creature sometimes blocked the wind gusts with its roots, other times dodged them with agile grace, but occasionally, the Vestige was hit. Its white fur was now stained with its purple blood.


    Shoun could see that the Alpha Vestige was truly focused on Kaze. Knowing this was his chance, Shoun began to inch closer while dodging the roots. It wasn''t until the deer turned its head that it was too late¡ªShoun was already behind it, dagger in hand, ready to plunge it into the creature''s back, using a significant portion of his remaining electricity.


    ¡ªKiiiii!¡ª A pained screech escaped the Vestige''s mouth. It became much more violent, unleashing even more roots. Seeing this, Shoun and Kaze decided to retreat momentarily to avoid the onslaught of roots raining down on them.


    Shoun barely had time to breathe. He was already exhausted and couldn''t keep fighting for much longer. It was then that he noticed a root growing rapidly in his direction, forcing him to dodge. He planned to dodge to the right, which was momentarily free of roots, but before he could act, he heard Kaze''s shout.


    ¡ªJump to the left!¡ª Shoun quickly registered the words and turned to his left. All he saw was a cluster of roots on the ground, waiting to grow and impale him if he got too close. The young man couldn''t understand why Kaze would urge him to put himself in danger. Then, something clicked in his mind, giving him a quick answer¡ªKaze wanted to use him as bait!


    Shoun, offended and angered by this thought, ignored Kaze''s instruction and jumped to the right. At first, it seemed like he was safe, but suddenly, a root outside his field of vision pierced his lower back, thankfully missing any vital points.


    Pain flooded his mind, but only then did he realize something¡ªKaze had been trying to protect him. In that moment, Shoun snapped out of his distrust and saw a gust of wind striking the roots near the spot Kaze had told him to jump to.


    ¡ª(I couldn''t see this root, but Kaze could. He must''ve known he couldn''t protect me from these but could from the others... That''s why he told me to jump.)¡ª Shoun quickly concluded as more roots shot toward him. He couldn''t move or defend himself¡ªhis dagger was still embedded in the Vestige''s back, and he hadn''t had time to deactivate its summoning.


    But Kaze didn''t let him die. He appeared in front of Shoun, deactivating his Wind Cloak. Every root that came close was swiftly cut down by Kaze''s katana. The masked man never complained about Shoun ignoring his orders¡ªmaybe he didn''t find it necessary at the moment, or maybe it didn''t bother him. Shoun couldn''t decipher Kaze''s true feelings, but it was clear that his intention had always been to protect him.


    ¡ªI''m sorry... I''m sorry for not listening to you.


    ¡ª...¡ª Kaze didn''t respond. He was too busy dealing with the roots. He didn''t have much spiritual energy left either, and their situation was dire. When he saw that Shoun hadn''t listened, he simply acted accordingly. He didn''t get angry, didn''t complain, didn''t feel anything¡ªor rather, he didn''t feel anything he could identify. He only knew he had to protect Shoun, and that Shoun rejecting his help hurt¡ªnot physically, but in a way he couldn''t comprehend.


    ¡ªLeave me here. Go kill that thing.


    ¡ªThe roots will kill you.


    ¡ªI''ll cut them with my dagger.¡ª Shoun said as his artifact reappeared in his hands. He had taken advantage of the moment Kaze was protecting him to deactivate and resummon it.¡ª Besides, I know you can kill that thing. I trust you to do it.


    Kaze didn''t respond to Shoun''s words. He simply reactivated his Wind Cloak and disappeared from sight.


    For Shoun, who had suffered so much in his life, words without action meant nothing. After all, what good were the government''s apologies when they couldn''t bring his family back to life or undo what had been done to him?


    That''s why it was so hard for him to accept Kaze''s help. Kaze was the one who had put him in this situation, the one who had forced him to get hurt. But at the same time, Kaze had promised to save him¡ªsomething Shoun had initially doubted. It wasn''t until he suffered for that distrust that he finally realized Kaze only wanted his well-being. After all, Kaze had been watching over him in the middle of a fight that was unfavorable for them.


    ¡ª(When he said we had to trust each other''s backs, he meant it. I agreed, so I have to hold up my end of the deal.)¡ª Multiple roots shot toward Shoun just after Kaze left. He hadn''t even had the chance to remove the root impaling his back, but he still defended himself as best he could, cutting like never before. But there was a limit¡ªShoun knew that at some point, he wouldn''t be able to block.


    And that moment came quickly when two roots launched at him simultaneously. Shoun chose to block the one aimed directly at his heart, but the other had already pierced his thigh by the time he reacted. This repeated multiple times until Shoun had three more roots impaling him. By now, he could barely think through the pain, and in a few minutes, he would bleed out and die.


    Shoun briefly turned his head toward the fight between Kaze and the Vestige. Both seemed to be at a stalemate. The Vestige had multiple cuts, while Kaze''s figure flickered in and out of visibility, a sign that his spiritual energy was nearly depleted.


    The situation looked grim for both of them. They would definitely lose and die if something didn''t change soon. So Shoun stopped defending himself from the roots shooting toward him. Many pierced his right arm in that brief moment, but Shoun didn''t care. He simply raised his left arm, shaped his hand like a gun, and fired a lightning bolt with the last of his electricity at the Vestige.


    The bolt flew swiftly through the roots and struck the Vestige. At that moment, due to the low amount of electricity, it only paralyzed the creature for a second¡ªbut that was all Kaze needed.


    ~Click Click~


    The Vestige''s head fell to the ground, and the Codex quickly displayed a notification to Shoun.


    [You have slain the "Profane Antlers." Difficulty bonus obtained.]


    At that moment, Shoun smiled. They had won¡ªat the cost of severe injuries to his body, but he had brought that on himself by not trusting his companion. He cast one last glance at Kaze, who, without his Wind Cloak active, was running toward him to help with his artifact. But Shoun didn''t see much more¡ªhe lost consciousness shortly after.

 Chapter 8: The awakening

    Shoun woke up on the floor. Night had fallen in the Mirror World, so the young man couldn''t see where he was, but he felt the wooden floor beneath his fingers, leading him to assume Kaze had brought him back to their safe zone.


    ¡ªKaze?¡ª Shoun asked cautiously. After a few seconds, he heard something move, and shortly after, Kaze''s voice responded.


    ¡ªI''m here.


    ¡ªGood. How did the fight go after I passed out? Are you okay?


    ¡ªI killed that thing. No new artifact dropped. I''m fine¡ªbarely got hurt, unlike you. Without my artifact, you''d be dead by now.¡ª Hearing Kaze''s words, Shoun felt a heaviness in his body. It was true that he no longer felt pain and his wounds were closed, but it wasn''t good to be so close to death two days in a row.


    ¡ªI''m glad... Let me check my status before we continue this conversation.¡ª Kaze didn''t respond, so Shoun assumed it was fine. With a thought, he opened his status window.


    [?Name: Shoun Foster?


    ?Age: 17?


    ?Rank: Seeker?


    ?Title:...?


    ?Ascension Points: 26/100?


    ?Abilities?


    ?Electric Flow: Your very essence has been touched by electricity since birth, allowing you to control and use it to your advantage?


    ?Basic Electric Core: A part of your being, it exists and doesn''t exist, both in your physical and spiritual body. It is where all your electricity is stored and generated, and it also allows the user to absorb electricity from other sources?]


    ¡ª(26 points... That''s double what I had before the hunt. Four must be from killing the four Grunts, another four from killing one of the Wretches, and I guess the remaining five are from killing the Alpha.)¡ª Shoun took a moment to accept that he should now be much stronger. Though he was also surprised that the Codex counted his help in killing the Wretch. Still, he assumed it followed the widely accepted belief about how the Codex distributed points: participate to the best of your ability.¡ª Alright, I''m done. For me, it was a total of thirteen points.


    ¡ªThat''s a good number. I only got about eleven.


    ¡ªOnly eleven? It really does get harder to earn points as you advance¡­


    ¡ªYeah. When I was a Seeker, I could get a lot more points per hunt. But now that I can''t earn points from Grunts, it''s a bit limiting.


    ¡ªRight... Kaze, about what happened earlier in the battle¡­


    ¡ªWhat happened?


    ¡ªYou know, when I didn''t listen to you and put us both in danger.


    ¡ªThat? It''s nothing¡ª


    ¡ªIt is something! I put us both in danger. It''s serious. I promised to listen to you, to be your companion, but I almost got us killed!


    ¡ª...


    ¡ª...Sorry for yelling. It''s just that I''m angry¡ªnot at you, but at myself. I hate breaking my word... but I always end up disappointing myself.


    ¡ª...


    ¡ªYou know, when you told me what to do in that fight, I thought you were trying to use me as bait. I didn''t consider that you wanted to protect me. I was too caught up in myself. Even during my fight with the Grunts, I only focused on fighting, but you were probably watching over me... Am I wrong?


    ¡ªI promised to protect you, even if it costs me my life.


    ¡ªThat''s what I mean. You keep your promises, but I betrayed your trust and my own word... all because I didn''t trust you.


    ¡ªYou don''t trust me?


    ¡ªI didn''t before. You were a stranger who dragged me into a strange world full of Vestiges, and you even dodged some of my questions. I knew you were hiding things from me, so I closed myself off. I didn''t dig deeper, and I let my prejudices about you cloud my judgment and logic¡­


    ¡ª...What questions did I dodge?


    ¡ªWell, everything related to why you don''t know simple things, like a handshake or the types of Vestiges. I really don''t know anything about you. I even thought it was possible that Kaze wasn''t your real name to begin with. I couldn''t trust you if you were hiding things from the start.


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    ¡ª...If I reveal what I know, will you be able to trust me?


    ¡ª...Normally, I''d say I already trust you. You''ve shown me you can keep your word. But I''d be lying if I said that you hiding things wouldn''t harm our partnership. So yes, if you reveal who you are, it''ll be easier to trust you.


    ¡ªAlright... It''s a bit disappointing, but Kaze is my name¡ªthough that''s not entirely accurate. My title is "Kaze," but I don''t actually know my real name.


    ¡ªHuh? How is it possible that you don''t know your name?


    ¡ªThree months ago, I woke up in a forest near the city with no memories of anything. A Vestige appeared, chased me, and I killed it. I got the Codex, and that''s how I learned my title.


    ¡ªI think that leaves me with more questions than answers... Could you tell me more about exactly how that happened?


    ¡ªSure. It all started on a rainy night...


    ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------


    On a rainy night, a young man with half-black, half-white hair woke up on the wet ground. He looked up at the sky and felt raindrops falling on his face, but he didn''t feel anything as they landed.


    The young man didn''t know who he was, where he was, or what he was doing there. Slowly, he got up from the ground and began walking aimlessly through the forest.


    There was no drive behind his actions¡ªhe simply walked for the sake of walking through the dense forest. The only sounds around him were the rustling of leaves in the rain, the rain itself, and his own footsteps.


    At one point, he came across a lake illuminated by the moonlight. He leaned closer to the water and saw his face covered by a half-black, half-white mask. He also noticed his spiky hair, split into the same colors. The rest of his body was completely naked, free of any clothing.


    He simply stood there for minutes, feeling no urge to do anything else.


    It wasn''t until something moved in the water that the masked man reacted. He stared intently at the movement until, slowly, a head emerged from the water.


    It resembled a crocodile, but its skin was completely smooth and black, visible only because of the moonlight reflecting off its body. Its legs had large claws, and, as expected, static surrounded its body. In several places, purple blood oozed from its wounds. Several claws were missing from its legs, and it was even missing an eye, indicating that this Vestige had narrowly escaped a fight but not without severe injuries.


    The masked man stared at the Vestige. It growled and approached him, and for the first time, the masked man felt something¡ªfear. He didn''t know who he was, what that thing was, but he knew that if he didn''t run, it would kill him.


    So the masked man turned and ran. He didn''t seem used to movement, so he was clumsy and made a lot of noise. The Vestige wasn''t about to let its prey escape, so it chased after him.


    The Vestige was gaining on him, getting closer and closer, swiping at his heels and trying to bite his feet. But the masked man narrowly avoided those attacks.


    Both of them moved through rocky terrain, areas filled with sticks that tore at their skin, but neither cared. The masked man ran because he knew he would die if he didn''t, and the Vestige wanted to kill its prey.


    It wasn''t until the masked man''s body began to fail that the dynamic changed. His mind could keep going¡ªafter all, he felt nothing but fear¡ªbut his body couldn''t keep up. As he got scratched and bled, his body grew weaker. Both he and the Vestige had been running through difficult terrain for hours at that point. Both were injured, but both were determined to achieve their goals¡ªto kill and to survive.


    The masked man fell to the ground. His legs wouldn''t respond, but he still tried to keep running, getting up and falling in the process. Then the Vestige finally caught up to him.


    The monster pounced on the masked man and began slashing at him, aiming to kill. He couldn''t run, so his fear transformed. It no longer told him to flee¡ªit told him to fight. Only one of them would walk away from this encounter.


    Grabbing a large rock nearby, the masked man smashed it into the Vestige''s head. Before it could react, he struck again.


    They attacked each other relentlessly. The Vestige slashed and tore at the masked man''s torso, while he struck back with the rock. Neither was willing to back down. It was kill or be killed.


    Neither of them cared about the pain¡ªthey didn''t feel it, after all. The only thing that mattered was who would come out of this alive. And the winner was the masked man.


    With a powerful strike, he managed to push the monster off him. Then he switched positions, now on top of the Vestige. With all his strength, he struck and struck the beast''s skull until it stopped moving and fighting.


    A notification appeared before the masked man''s eyes.


    [You have slain a Grunt-rank Vestige. You are now officially a Seeker.]


    Without warning, the masked man''s body began to glow, repairing his previously damaged body and clothing him. When the glow faded, the masked man began to inspect himself.


    Now he wore a black robe, with a shirt and pants of the same color underneath. His shoes were also black, contrasting with his snow-white skin.


    ¡ªWhere... am I?¡ª he said in a hoarse voice. He wasn''t used to speaking at all. The masked man continued to look around, now more aware of himself.¡ª (It''s a forest... Am I near the capital of the human nation?)


    The masked man consciously decided not to speak, not just because of his lack of voice at the moment, but also to avoid another encounter with Vestiges. He was now a Seeker, but he didn''t truly understand his abilities.


    Following his newly acquired memories, the masked man wanted to open his status window. With that thought, it appeared before him.


    [?Name: ????


    ?Age: 16 years?


    ?Title: Kaze?


    ?Rank: Seeker?


    ?Ascension Points: 1/100?


    ?Abilities?


    ?Being of Two Worlds: You have the ability to cross dimensions and bring people with you to a new world, one plagued by great dangers and equivalent rewards. As an inhabitant of both planes, you can travel between them, but to bring your companions out, they must earn their exit.?


    ?Cutting Wind: A sword whose name has been forgotten by those it protected, but the wind it cut will never forget. You are the wielder of this sword, and it grants you basic control over the wind.?]


    ¡ª(Kaze...)¡ª Now the masked man¡ªno, Kaze¡ªknew what defined him, but he was still missing many pieces of the puzzle. He turned his attention to his abilities. After reading them, he willed a katana into his hands. It felt as natural to him as his own body, so he naturally sheathed it at his waist.


    He was a bit confused when he read his second ability, but he quickly activated it, disappearing from the forest as if he had never been there in the first place.

 Chapter 9: Seeker

    When Kaze finished telling his story, Shoun had to stay silent for a few seconds to process everything.


    ¡ªYou''re... surprisingly good at telling stories.


    ¡ª...? Thanks.¡ª Kaze didn''t understand where the compliment came from, but he simply accepted it without questioning much.


    ¡ªThough I have a couple of questions about things that weren''t clear to me. To start, how exactly did you feel when you first woke up?


    ¡ªHmm... it''s hard to describe. It''s closer to saying I felt nothing.


    ¡ªWhat do you mean by nothing?¡ª Kaze didn''t answer his question and instead gave Shoun a light tap on the forehead.¡ª Ow! What was that for!?


    ¡ªI didn''t feel that. I didn''t feel cold, heat, or anything like that. I also didn''t see colors¡ªjust white, black, and gray. To make it clear, I didn''t even have the same cognitive capacity I have now. What I did, I did out of instinct, or so I think.


    ¡ªI see... I think you mentioned something about this, but did you recover some of your memories when you became a Seeker?


    ¡ªSomething like that. To start, at that moment, I began to feel sensations. I remember it was cold that night, but it''s not like I remembered much. For example, I knew how the Codex worked, the ranks of Vestiges and humans, and how human society functioned. I also knew that elves and demons exist, but I don''t know much about how their societies work. Not much more than that, aside from basic things.


    ¡ªI see... What was your first time here like?


    ¡ªUnlike you, I didn''t run into a Brute. I was careful and explored little by little. It took months, but I eventually made a mental map of the areas I could and couldn''t go. From that point on, I was able to ascend more calmly. I didn''t mess with Brutes, and whenever I saw one, I stayed away. That was a wise choice. When I became an Apprentice, I learned that most Brute zones border Executor zones. In total, my first trip to the Mirror World lasted three months. It was during that time that I ascended to Apprentice. That was no more than two weeks ago.


    ¡ªHow many times have you been to the real world?


    ¡ªWell, a few times. I don''t have a place to go, and I don''t have money or anything to buy food or a place to sleep, so it''s more convenient to live here, where I only need to stay alive.


    ¡ªI see...¡ª Slowly, Shoun began to understand Kaze''s situation better. The conversation had gone on so long that the light was starting to return to the Mirror World. Shoun could see that his upper body was wearing a heavily torn and stained shirt¡ªit was a miracle it was still intact after everything that had happened. And his body, despite being healed, now had scars on his abdomen. When he tried to get a better look at them, he made a wrong move and felt pain in that area.¡ª Ow!... That last fight really messed me up... Now that I think about it, how long was I out?


    ¡ªHmm, about two days.


    ¡ªWhat!?


    ¡ªWell, the wounds you had were more serious. I assume your body needed more time to recover, even with my artifact.


    ¡ªDamn... How many days have I been in this place?


    ¡ªAbout 3 or 4, but it''s hard to tell. I''m not sure if the days here last 24 hours. I know my previous trips lasted three months based on the times I briefly went to the other world.


    ¡ªAt this rate, someone will notice I''m gone... Kaze, do you think we''re ready to face the trial?


    ¡ªWe''re supposed to be. The trials are never something we can''t handle. Even if the enemy we face ascends, it''ll adapt to that. We already went hunting so you could get used to fighting, so whenever you''re ready.


    At those words, Shoun leaned back against the wall. Remembering his previous fight, he knew he had done well against the Grunts, but against the Wretches, he could barely do anything¡ªhe was more of a distraction than anything else. And when they faced the Alpha, he was practically a liability.


    More than anyone, he needed to understand his own capabilities. He knew his abilities were powerful, but he could wait and keep hunting with Kaze. However, that wouldn''t make the trial any easier.


    ¡ªI''m not sure... Do you think I''m ready?¡ª At that question, Kaze stayed silent for a few moments. It was similar to the question Shoun had asked earlier, but also very different. With his limited understanding of others, Kaze responded with another question.


    ¡ªDoes it really matter what I say?


    ¡ªWhat do you mean?


    ¡ªYou only doubt yourself, not my abilities. It doesn''t matter what I say because, in the end, it''s all in your head. So only you can know when you''re ready.¡ª Kaze''s words were spoken in his usual monotone voice, but even though Shoun thought it was a rude way to say it, he knew Kaze was right.


    ¡ªSigh... It''s hard to trust others. Why does trusting myself have to be so hard too?¡ª Kaze didn''t respond to that question and simply stared at him. Shoun, unsure whether to fight or not, remembered that night¡ªthe night he always tried to push away whenever it came to mind, the night that shaped who he is today but that he still tries to pretend never happened, the night he became a Seeker.¡ª ...I know how you became a Seeker. It''s only fair that you know how I became one.


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    Without giving Kaze time to respond, Shoun began to recount that night.


    ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------


    A young boy, no older than 10, was running on a starry night. Nearby, a loud alarm was blaring. On the streets he passed, people were rushing into their homes, barricading every entrance they could.


    The boy didn''t take long to reach his home, where a woman was waiting at the door. She was no older than 40, with long brown hair that reached her waist and a simple dress. With visible relief, the woman let the boy inside.


    ¡ªPhew, when the alarm went off and we realized you weren''t here, I almost had a heart attack. Luckily, you didn''t take long to get back, sweetheart.¡ª The woman said as she closed the door and locked all the bolts.


    ¡ªS-sorry for being late, Mom. I was talking with some friends after my¡ª The boy tried to explain, his face showing clear anxiety, but before he could continue, his mother hugged him calmly to soothe him.


    ¡ªIt''s okay, sweetheart. Your father and sister were really worried too. Come with me.¡ª She took his hand warmly and led him to the kitchen of their home. It wasn''t very big, but it was enough for the family of four. At the round table sat a man around the same age as the woman and a young girl about 15 years old.


    ¡ªShoun!¡ª The girl shouted as she got up to hug the boy. He returned the hug without saying a word. The man stood up and placed a hand on his wife''s shoulder and another on the boy''s back.


    After that, the family didn''t say much more. They all knew the situation they were in¡ªafter all, it wasn''t the first time. A rift had opened near their location, and Vestiges were pouring out. The authorities were already working to contain the threat, but it would take a while, so it was vital for everyone to stay in their homes until further notice.


    The father and mother stayed by the kitchen counter, listening to the radio while waiting for more news about the situation. Meanwhile, Shoun sat at the table with his sister. Seeing her younger brother worried, the girl tried to cheer him up, even though she wasn''t doing much better herself.


    ¡ªHey, how were your combat classes, little one?


    ¡ªI told you not to call me that... They were normal. They still don''t want to introduce metahuman combat.¡ª The boy answered with a tone of frustration in his voice.


    ¡ª...Shoun, you have to understand that you''re special. There are few humans who have powers like yours... outside the Codex, obviously.


    ¡ªI know, Chelsea, but right now, I wish I could fight to protect you, Mom, and Dad.


    ¡ªHey, that''s our job... I mean, I can''t let the school know my little brother saved my butt.¡ª The girl replied as she ruffled Shoun''s hair. He quickly brushed her hand away in annoyance.¡ª ...How about this? Red Phoenix just released a new album. When this emergency is over, do you want to listen to it with me?


    ¡ªAlright.¡ª The young Shoun didn''t understand what his sister saw in that rock band. Not that he knew much about music, but in his opinion, the band was average at best.


    Time passed, and the alarm blaring in the streets slowly faded. Everyone in the family visibly calmed down, until they heard a scratching sound at the back door, which led to the kitchen where they were all gathered.


    At that moment, everyone in the family began to sweat. With a determined look, the father glanced at his eldest daughter. She understood and picked up little Shoun in her arms. The mother followed behind as the man grabbed a knife from the cupboard and slowly backed away.


    The sound of scratching from the door gradually filled the silent house. The family huddled in a corner until the sound stopped.


    Even after a few seconds of silence, the family didn''t let their guard down or breathe. Only after a full minute did they finally relax a little. The mother stood up and walked to the window.


    The woman moved the curtains slightly to look outside, but before she could react, something jumped from outside and shattered the window. With its immense strength, the monster landed on the woman.


    Everyone froze in shock, but that brief moment allowed the beast to end the woman''s life with its sharp, deadly claws.


    After slashing the woman''s throat, the beast stood on two legs. Its body resembled a leopard''s, but the claws at the end of its paws were the size of a human head. Its entirely white body was stained with red human blood, but on its right side, there was a deep wound dripping purple blood. The creature''s face was alien-like, completely different from anything any of these people could recognize, but that face was also stained with even more purple blood due to the loss of one of its eyes.


    Without hesitation, the creature pounced on the closest person¡ªthe father. The man quickly snapped out of his shock, enraged by his wife''s death, and fought back. He was a professional boxer, a champion of several titles. Using his body, he feinted the creature and pushed it onto the kitchen table. This exchange caused the knife the man was holding to fall near his two children.


    ¡ªGet out of here now!¡ª The man shouted as he ran back toward the creature. It didn''t take long for the beast to react and pounce on the man, knocking them both to the ground and starting a struggle. Chelsea didn''t take long to snap out of her shock. With little Shoun still in her arms, she grabbed the knife from the floor and ran to the door, which was locked with multiple bolts.


    With the knife still in hand, Chelsea set Shoun down and handed it to him. Nervously, the girl began unlocking the door as quickly as she could, but her nerves were making her fumble.


    ¡ªGrrr¡ª The growl made both children turn their heads toward the creature. It looked more battered than before, but its fangs were dripping with fresh blood. Limping, the creature quickly approached the two children. Chelsea, under all the pressure, finally managed to open the door, but it was too late.


    The creature slashed at her fiercely with its claws, tearing through her clothes and skin. Coldly, the beast pounced on her and began clawing at her until it took her life¡ªall in front of Shoun''s eyes.


    The boy was paralyzed with fear. He looked into the creature''s eyes¡ªcompletely black and devoid of any light. The beast slowly approached the boy, perhaps wanting to savor its last meal of the day.


    Shoun backed away little by little until he hit the wall. At that moment, the creature finally reached him. Out of pure instinct, before it could kill him with a swipe of its claws, the boy placed his hands on the creature''s forehead. Countless blue electric sparks flew toward the beast, scorching it and causing it to fall to the ground, stunned.


    The boy knew the creature wasn''t dead yet. Snapping out of his daze, he saw the knife he had dropped near the beast. Quickly, the boy ran to it and lunged at the creature, stabbing it repeatedly in the spot where its eye had been.


    Shoun stabbed and stabbed until something finally broke, but the boy didn''t care. He was in shock, and the only thing he could think about was killing the creature. It wasn''t until a notification appeared before his eyes that he realized the creature was dead.


    [You have slain the "Bearer of Chaos," an Alpha Vestige of Grunt rank. You are now officially a Seeker.]

 Chapter 10: Trial part 1

    ¡ªIn the end, I stabbed that thing in the eye until it died... and for a while even after it died. Shortly after, the authorities arrived and took me to the hospital¡ªAlthough Shoun''s story wasn''t told in as much detail as Kaze''s, the sadness and regrets the young man still carried were clearly visible on his face.


    ¡ª...¡ª Kaze thought about commenting on how Shoun seemed to have a habit of beating Vestiges even after they were already dead, but even he didn''t think that was appropriate. Silence filled the room until Shoun spoke again.


    ¡ªSince that day, I''ve regretted many things... I could''ve done something to help, but I know that''s also an absurd thought... In the end, no matter how much I regret or hate myself, they won''t come back. There''s really nothing I can do.


    ¡ªThat''s a lie.¡ª Shoun visibly froze at Kaze''s response, but the masked man didn''t give him time to reply.¡ª Every time you''re cornered, you can only fight back... It''s the same here. When you hit rock bottom, the only thing you can do is climb back up.


    ¡ª...Heh, thanks, Kaze.¡ª Shoun replied as his previously sad expression softened.¡ª Though if you say that, it only means I have no choice but to face the trial.


    ¡ªI''ll be by your side.


    ¡ª...I know.¡ª After that exchange, the two began to plan how they would face their unknown enemy. There wasn''t much to go on, but they needed to do something while Shoun''s pain subsided.


    Some time later, the two young men stood under the white light in the same place where Shoun had first arrived in the Mirror World. Nearby was the park, though unlike the one in the other world, all the leaves on the trees were a dull gray. The surrounding area was mostly empty, leaving a large open space between the park, the street, and the buildings for the fight.


    ¡ªDo you usually come here?


    ¡ªWell, when I leave the Mirror World, it doesn''t really matter where I am¡ªI always appear in the same place I entered from. But I don''t know if it''ll be the same for you. Besides, it''s a secluded area, so if we appear in the middle of the day or night, we won''t draw attention... or so I hope.


    ¡ªGood.¡ª Without much more dialogue between them, the two prepared. Shoun summoned his dagger, and Kaze unsheathed his katana. With a tacit understanding, Shoun nodded at Kaze, who seemed to activate the trial, as a notification appeared before Shoun''s eyes moments later.


    [?Residence Trial: Face the trial alongside your companion to freely enter and exit this world. The trial consists of killing the Vestige.?


    ?Accept?? ?Yes/No? ?1/2?]


    With a thought, Shoun expressed his approval, and the screen before both young men marked a "2/2." A few seconds later, a red dome sealed the two inside an area of approximately 20 square meters.


    At the opposite end of the dome, the previously nonexistent wind began to stir. The surrounding dust was swept up into a small tornado, gradually taking shape and becoming darker.


    A powerful roar dispelled the remaining wind and dust, revealing the true form of the creature¡ªa hydra. The five-headed monster stood four meters tall and three meters long, its body covered in black scales that shimmered brightly under the white light. The hydra''s heads moved in sync, hissing with their snake-like tongues at the two young men. As the hydra materialized, a notification appeared before their eyes.


    [Vestige: Twilight Hydra?


    ?Characteristics: Alpha Wretch. Each time one of its five heads is cut off, a new one will grow. Each head has its own attacks.]


    ¡ªAn Alpha Wretch... Tch, lucky us.¡ª Shoun muttered briefly to Kaze as he continued analyzing the creature. The hydra''s scales looked incredibly tough, likely indicating it was a physical-type Vestige. But seeing that each of its heads had its own attacks, he thought it might also be a magical-type Vestige.


    Almost as if it knew they had finished reading, one of the five heads began gathering fire in its mouth before launching powerful fireballs at both of them. Shoun, with electricity already coursing through his limbs, and Kaze, with his Wind Cloak, dodged the attack effortlessly. But this was only the beginning.


    ¡ªHow are we supposed to kill this thing?¡ª Shoun asked as he maneuvered to dodge the fireballs. A few seconds later, Kaze appeared beside him and shrugged. The hydra didn''t give them much time to talk, as it had already charged more fireballs and launched them at the two.


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    Both dodged again, moving to the side and maneuvering, but their margin for error was shrinking as they got closer to the Vestige. Kaze, in a risky move, used his Wind Cloak to quickly close the distance to the hydra. With his sword, he thrust at the creature''s belly from its right side, but the scales rendered the attack ineffective. Enraged, the hydra turned its closest head to try and bite Kaze, but he dodged, reactivating his Wind Cloak and evading.


    Thanks to that brief exchange between Kaze and the hydra, Shoun noticed a couple of things. First, the hydra could barely move, making it impossible for it to attack with anything other than its heads. Therefore, Shoun concluded that the only way to kill the creature was by cutting off its heads, but at the same time, that would also make it more powerful.


    ¡ªDamn it... Kaze, the only way to kill it is by cutting off its heads, but you know what that means!¡ª Shoun shouted as he jumped to the side to dodge the fireballs. A few seconds later, Kaze reappeared beside him.


    ¡ªThen we''ll just have to cut them all off at once.


    ¡ªTch... I''ll try to give you an opening. It''ll probably take a few seconds for it to regenerate all its heads, so you might not have to cut them all at once.¡ª After those words, Kaze briefly nodded and disappeared. Shoun, without delay, ran straight toward the hydra. Two of its heads prepared fireballs to launch at the young man. The attack covered all directions Shoun could run, so the only thing he could do was turn back, but that would go against the plan of giving Kaze an opening to cut the heads. Therefore, Shoun decided to approach it differently.


    At the cost of a significant amount of electricity, he formed a lightning sphere the size of a soccer ball in his hand and shot it at the fireball heading straight for him. The collision of the two attacks created a screen of smoke. Taking advantage of this, Shoun ran, using more of his electricity and effectively dodging the other fireballs.


    The young man was now just a few meters away from the creature, which was preparing to bite him by lunging its two left heads toward Shoun. But a powerful gust of wind appeared and severed both heads mid-strike. In the next moments, Kaze appeared near the middle head, ready to cut it.


    But Shoun saw the creature slowly reacting. The time they had wasn''t enough to take out all the heads, so seeing that he wasn''t the center of attention, he approached one of the severed necks. Despite only a few seconds having passed, it was already pulsating, indicating its imminent regeneration.


    Shoun gathered a substantial amount of electricity in his palms and made contact with the severed neck, delivering a powerful shock that paralyzed the Vestige and gave Kaze the opportunity to cut the middle head.


    Blood gushed, and another head fell. Not long after, Kaze himself also touched the ground. He needed the firmness of the ground to launch another attack, but unfortunately, the two young men had run out of time.


    One of the first severed necks finished convulsing, and two new heads grew from it. They quickly lunged and, with a swift motion of their necks, sent both young men flying with a powerful blow.


    ¡ªAgg!¡ª Shoun groaned as he crashed into the ground. Not far away was Kaze, who was struggling to get up. That direct hit had left them in bad shape.


    Ignoring them, the two heads on the hydra''s right side began charging a new attack. Gradually, purple smoke poured from their mouths and filled the entire dome, especially the areas where Shoun and Kaze were.


    Shoun, for his part, could barely understand what was happening. Unconsciously, he inhaled the purple smoke and began to feel suffocated. His throat dried up, his eyes watered, and he felt something tightening around his lungs. With wide eyes, he tried to find fresh air, but it was useless. Slowly, his vitality began to fade.


    The young man tried to get up and flee the area, but his body wouldn''t respond. Gradually, he grew more desperate and tried to fight harder, but his efforts only yielded negative results, as he inhaled more and more smoke.


    When all seemed lost, Kaze appeared beside him. The masked man used his Wind Cloak to expand a dome of wind around both of them. As he coughed, it became clear that the hydra''s attack was slowly dissipating. The creature had already regenerated its heads and grown the corresponding ones. Now, the two central heads were preparing a powerful attack aimed at the two young men.


    ¡ªCough cough!¡ª Shoun coughed and coughed until all the harmful smoke was replaced by fresh air. Kaze did the same and deactivated the wind dome. Both saw the hydra aiming its new attack at them.


    ¡ªCough! Sh-Shoun... I''ll handle that thing. You cover yourself.¡ª Kaze said between coughs, but Shoun understood the true meaning of those words. He could see Kaze, on his knees, with little spiritual energy left¡ªa result of saving them and using his Wind Cloak throughout the fight.


    With those words, Kaze was essentially saying he would sacrifice himself to kill the Vestige, fulfilling the promise he made during his apology the first time they were in his safe zone.


    ¡ªCough! No, I can''t let you do that!¡ª Shoun shouted, his voice choked with emotion. The memory of his family sacrificing themselves so he could survive inevitably came to mind. He didn''t want more people to die protecting him, especially now that he had the strength to stop it.


    ¡ª...It''s my duty.¡ª Kaze said calmly as he struggled to stand. Finally, the hydra finished charging its attack. Two powerful electric beams shot from its mouths toward the two young men. Kaze planned to redirect and endure the attack, then sacrifice himself to kill the creature, accepting his own death. But in an unexpected twist, Shoun stood up and placed himself in front of Kaze, taking the full brunt of both attacks with his body. The force sent both young men flying to the edge of the red dome.

 Chapter 11: Trial part 2

    At the moment of impact, Kaze tried to get up quickly. He was supposed to protect Shoun, but instead, Shoun had protected him from the attack. As he stood up, he turned his gaze toward his companion and showed concern.


    ¡ªShoun! ¡ªshouted the masked man as he got up and ran toward Shoun. The young man had already gotten up on his own and was still staring at the Hydra¡ª. Are you okay?


    ¡ª...Okay? Hahahaha! I feel better than okay ¡ªsaid Shoun with clear amusement. When he turned to face Kaze, his playful expression and slightly crazed eyes were visible¡ª. Hahahaha, how lucky that thing had such a nice gift for us.


    When the lightning struck Shoun, he instinctively absorbed it with his ability, filling his nearly empty core in the process. He even left an excess of electricity that could have endangered him due to core overload, but he simply redirected it evenly throughout his body, surpassing the limit he had set for how much electricity he would allocate to each limb. He had no other choice.


    ¡ªHahahaha! ¡ªAs he looked at the beast, he couldn''t help but laugh even louder. Kaze was confused by this reaction until he looked at the Hydra, which now had six heads.


    ¡ª...Shouldn''t it have eight heads? ¡ªIt was at that moment that he realized something important: the neck that had been electrocuted by Shoun hadn''t regenerated the Hydra''s heads, revealing the true way they were originally supposed to kill the creature.


    ¡ªSame tactic, I''ll go ahead, you cut off its heads. Don''t worry about it regenerating; I''ll handle it! ¡ªShoun declared as he started running. Kaze didn''t respond, simply wrapping himself in his cloak and disappearing from sight. As he ran, his own situation became clear: his body hurt, it hurt too much. While the creature''s attack had made him more powerful, it had also brought him dangerously close to being unable to move due to the pain, leaving him in a half-crazed state to endure it. It was either laugh or cry.


    But none of that mattered much to Shoun. The only thing he wanted was to kill that thing. Ignoring the spasms and sharp pains in his body, he ran toward the creature, reaching it in a few seconds. Due to the young man''s speed, the creature didn''t have time to prepare an attack, so it decided to bite him with two of its heads.


    Shoun responded to this attack by lunging forward. Moments before being crushed by the creature''s teeth, he feinted to the right and delivered a powerful punch to the head''s face.


    On the left side of the creature, Kaze approached stealthily and cut off one of the heads that was charging a fireball. Seeing Shoun''s actions, he quickly deactivated his cloak and ran toward his companion. The young man understood and ran beneath the Hydra''s heads, which couldn''t react to their speed.


    Both did their job: Shoun discharged electricity into the severed neck of the Hydra, and Kaze cut off another head that had regenerated. They ran again to change positions, and at that moment, the Hydra finally reacted.


    Kaze, running to the left, was intercepted by a Hydra charging a fireball. When it launched the attack, Kaze was too close to dodge, so he decided to gather wind around his sword and deliver a strong slash, cutting the fireball in two. At that same moment, Kaze tried to cut off that head, but another head prevented him by launching another fireball, forcing him to reposition. Overusing his wind slashes would drain the little spiritual energy he had left.


    On the other side, Shoun was intercepted by a Hydra with purple smoke slowly pouring from its open mouth. Knowing that Kaze was running out of strength, he thought the best course of action was to stop the Hydra at that moment. Using his left hand with the dagger, he stabbed the upper part of the creature''s snout, causing it to close slightly. Then, with his right hand, he delivered a punch to the creature''s jaw, forcing it upward. When the creature''s mouth was closed, he placed both hands on the dagger''s hilt and pulled down with all his strength. A few seconds later, the dagger pierced through the Hydra''s mouth, preventing more purple smoke from escaping.


    This had all happened in just a few seconds, but when Shoun looked to the side, he saw that the neck Kaze had severed was already starting to regrow. Not daring to delay any longer, he approached and placed his palm on the creature''s body, sending electricity into it. Shortly after, the neck stopped moving. Shoun looked around and saw Kaze retreating, so he hurried to his side.


    ¡ªTwo down! Only four left, hahaha ¡ªhe said with a big smile on his face, though his body was visibly twitching, with one cheek slightly sunken and his eyelids rapidly opening and closing.


    ¡ªYeah... one can shoot fireballs, two can shoot lightning, the last one¡­


    ¡ªShoots smoke! Though I closed that big mouth. What can I say? It had terrible breath, and I didn''t want to be rude by pointing it out! ¡ªKaze would have given him a strange look for those words if he hadn''t been focused on his opponent, planning his next move. But the now talkative Shoun interrupted him¡ª. Let''s kill the fire-shooting one first, then the electric ones. They can''t hurt me, but I think if I take another shock, I won''t be able to handle it! Jijiji ¡ªShoun''s body was gradually releasing electricity through exertion, but this only worsened the pain he felt. Knowing that Kaze wasn''t in much better shape, they had to end this fight quickly.


    Kaze didn''t respond, simply nodding and starting to run. Shoun followed behind. The fireball-shooting head did just that, while the electric Hydras began charging their own attacks. Meanwhile, the smoke-shooting Hydra thrashed and slammed against the ground, trying to remove Shoun''s dagger.


    Shoun knew that thanks to his weapon''s effect, the creature was gradually slowing down, but they still had very little time to finish it off. Both young men continued running forward. Kaze cut the fireball with his katana, clearing their path. When they reached the creature''s neck, Shoun immediately began discharging electricity into it, while Kaze took advantage of the momentary paralysis to cut off the fire-shooting neck, which was then eliminated by Shoun''s electricity.


    ¡ªThree more! ¡ªBoth turned at the same time and ran toward the central head that shot lightning. Both heads fired simultaneously, one shot aimed at each young man. Kaze, seeing the lightning bolt approaching, partially activated his wind cloak. He dodged to one side, but surprisingly, the lightning followed him. So, Kaze began moving side to side to evade the bolt.


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    The lightning gradually closed the distance between the masked man and himself. Kaze, almost out of energy, had to make a quick decision on how to escape the situation. At that moment, he saw that the head that had fired the lightning still had a blue sphere sparking in its mouth.


    In that instant, Kaze realized he had no other choice. He fully activated his wind cloak and gathered wind around his sword. He made a sharp turn, but thanks to his cloak, he didn''t lose any speed or momentum, reaching the creature''s neck in moments and cutting.


    ~Shink~


    The head fell to the ground along with purple blood. Kaze, now completely out of spiritual energy, let his cloak deactivate naturally, but before that, he jumped to the side, narrowly dodging the lightning bolt that finally crashed into the red dome.


    On the other side, the head aiming at Shoun fired at the same time as the one aiming at Kaze. The young man had understood since being struck by those bolts that while they could charge his core thanks to his ability, they could also kill him due to core overload. And unlike Kaze, he couldn''t dodge lightning bolts, so he had to think of a solution to the problem.


    In the time that had passed between those two events, he barely had time to think of anything given his current state, but he came up with an idea that might work to repel the lightning and kill the creature... or kill himself.


    ¡ªIf this doesn''t work, I''m definitely dead! Jiji ¡ªShoun raised his left hand in front of his chest, taking the creature''s attack head-on, once again activating his ability and allowing his body to absorb the attack. As this process unfolded, his face shifted from absolute ecstasy to absolute suffering. His face contorted, his legs trembled, and his ears bled. He was gradually succumbing to his core''s overload, but Shoun had anticipated this.


    His right hand, which he had set aside, was charging the electricity in his core into a blue sphere. The electricity he used to create it was almost instantly replenished by the attack, continuing to feed the sphere.


    This was a difficult process, not only because of the physical pain of enduring it but also because of the effort. Gradually, he felt his feet wanting to lift off the ground, but if they did, he wouldn''t be able to kill that head. So, this had become a battle of endurance.


    Little by little, drops of blood began to trickle from Shoun''s nose and eyes as he continued to receive the attack. When Kaze cut off the head that was attacking him, it presented Shoun with the perfect opportunity.


    The head that had been firing at him stopped and showed visible fatigue. Shoun released the sphere in his hand, firing his own lightning bolt at the creature''s body. The direct impact decapitated the head that had been attacking him, while the neck Kaze had recently severed stopped trying to regenerate.


    At that moment, only one head remained: the one that released smoke. After many strikes against the ground, it finally managed to remove the dagger that prevented it from using its powers. Thanks to that last strike, the dagger broke and fell out of the creature''s snout. A notification appeared before Shoun''s eyes.


    [Your artifact "The Sting" has been destroyed.]


    But the young man couldn''t care less. At that moment, he felt as if his body had been put through a shredder. His core was still full of electricity; after all, to release that shot, he had only used the electricity he absorbed and the residual energy in his limbs. But it seemed that all the pressure he had put on his body had taken its toll.


    Saying he was at his limit was an understatement. Theoretically, he could keep fighting, but he believed that if he channeled even a little electricity into his legs, they would explode. He also felt phantom pain coming from his core. Because of all this, he saw that it wasn''t feasible to use his electricity for the rest of the fight.


    Shoun watched as the last head gradually charged a ball of smoke in its mouth. He turned and looked at Kaze, who was lying on the ground, panting and struggling just to stay conscious. He, too, had pushed past his limits and overused his abilities.


    ¡ª...No... I-I can''t... move... ¡ªKaze confirmed in a monotone voice between gasps. The masked man watched as the Hydra charged its attack, and Shoun did the same. The masked man could see Shoun''s body gradually giving out, evident in how his legs trembled. It was already surprising that he could even stand in his current state¡ª. ...Shoun... I can''t protect you. I''m sorry ¡ªhe said with a hint of regret in his voice. Despite it being the first time he had heard clear emotion in his companion''s voice, Shoun had to ignore it and focus on getting them out of this situation.


    ¡ª(If that thing fires, we''ll die from the smoke. I can''t move my electricity, Kaze can''t move, and cutting it myself... besides, I don''t have my weapon... damn it) ¡ªThey were so close, too close to finally escaping that hellish place, but now the final obstacle stood in their way¡ª. (No, I won''t give up, not when I''m this close to getting out of this damn place. I''ll kill you, you and any other remnant that gets in my way!) ¡ªWith a determination never before seen in his eyes, Shoun moved his hand back and shouted¡ª. Kaze, the sword!


    The masked man took a moment to understand but finally got it. With some difficulty, he grabbed his katana by the blade, cutting his palm slightly in the process, but he didn''t care. After getting a firm grip, he decisively threw the katana toward Shoun.


    ¡ªSorry to leave it in your hands ¡ªhe commented briefly as Shoun caught the katana.


    ¡ªDon''t worry, I''ll handle getting us out from here on out ¡ªShoun said as he adjusted the sword in his hands. With a firm grip, he began taking small steps toward the creature. He could feel his body begging him to stop, causing him even more pain. The time a child had scratched his arms or when he had been pierced by the attacks of the Profane Antlers couldn''t compare to the pain he felt now. But still, Shoun pressed forward. The remnant looked exhausted, both from the fight and the poison now coursing through its blood. That''s why it took so long to charge its final attack, but it was finally ready. Purple smoke began to pour from its mouth, soon filling the entire dome.


    Shoun began to run. He was very close to reaching the area where he could cut the neck. There was a reason he had waited for the monster to release its smoke¡ªa detail both of them had missed during the entire fight: the heads didn''t move while attacking!


    With determination and terrible technique, Shoun made a cut toward the creature''s neck, but he didn''t manage to cut it completely. Shoun applied more force and tried again, but he still couldn''t cut through.


    ¡ªDamn it! ¡ªThe smoke began to reach his surroundings. Soon, he wouldn''t be able to breathe. He had to hurry. He tried again, cutting and cutting, but he was still only halfway through¡ª. (Why can I never achieve what I set out to do? Why do I always fall short?) ¡ªThe young man asked himself as he continued trying to cut the neck. He remembered how he had always been protected¡ªby his family and now by his companion Kaze. But when it came time to return the favor, he always failed, over and over¡ª. (I''m just a disappointment... I can''t... I can''t... I can''t... grr, enough of "I can''t"! That''s the past, and it doesn''t define my future. I''ll kill this thing, and then I''ll go eat with Kaze to celebrate our freedom. No one and nothing will stop me¡ªnot this remnant, and most importantly, not myself!) ¡ªWith determination, the young man cut into the flesh again, gradually making progress but struggling to keep going¡ª. Screw you!


    At the last moment before the dome was completely filled with smoke, Shoun cut with all his strength. The neck fell, severed from the body. With no more heads left, the body couldn''t regenerate, and a screen appeared before both young men''s eyes.


    [?Residence Trial: Completed?]

 Chapter 12: Quiet night

    Shoun stared in disbelief at the notification in front of his eyes. Slowly, tears began to fill his eyes, and his body finally gave out as he fell to his knees.


    ¡ªI''m... I''m... free¡ªhe whispered, trying to wipe away the tears streaming down his face, but it was difficult because they wouldn''t stop. His emotions were at their peak.


    After a few seconds of Shoun crying, he heard something dragging. When he turned his gaze, he saw Kaze crawling toward him, using only one arm to pull himself closer.


    ¡ªKaze!¡ªAt that moment, Shoun grabbed Kaze''s katana and limped over to him. He didn''t let Kaze move any further and gently laid him on his own aching knees. Kaze''s katana was sheathed and set aside by the masked man¡ªHow are you feeling?


    ¡ª...I have no spiritual energy left in my core... I''m utterly exhausted... I won''t speak while I recover my energy.


    ¡ªAlright¡ªShoun tried to make his companion as comfortable as possible. After about ten minutes, Kaze sat up with Shoun''s help.


    ¡ªHow did you end up so drained?


    ¡ªI overused my abilities and my spiritual energy... Our bodies grow stronger when we ascend, but at the same time, they become more dependent on spiritual energy. That''s why I could barely move.


    ¡ªOh, yeah, I think I heard something about that. It''s like being dehydrated or starving. Little by little, the body starts to fail without water or food. Spiritual energy makes Codex users less dependent on those things, which is why we suffer without it, though lower-ranked users feel it less¡ªAfter that pause, Shoun and Kaze fell into silence. It wasn''t an awkward silence like when they first met. Shoun felt comfortable with him, and Kaze seemed to feel the same¡ªThis was... definitely an experience.


    ¡ªYou mean this fight?


    ¡ªNot exactly. I mean coming to this place. Saying it was hard to survive would be an understatement, but I think I learned a lot too.


    ¡ªI guess the description was right.


    ¡ªDescription?


    ¡ªWell, my ability says this place is dangerous but equally rewarding.


    ¡ª...Huh, I hadn''t thought of it that way¡ªAt that moment, Shoun stood up and extended his hand to Kaze¡ªShall we go?


    ¡ªYes, that would be the right thing to do¡ªKaze replied, taking Shoun''s hand to help himself up.


    ¡ªBy the way, what do we do with that thing?¡ªShoun asked, pointing at the remnant''s corpse¡ªI mean, it''d be a shame to just leave another one of those lying around.


    ¡ªDidn''t you say it''d be hard to explain where we got it?


    ¡ªI stand by that, but what if we hide it? When I figure something out, we can sell it and split the profits.


    ¡ªI guess that sounds fine.


    From that moment on, Kaze and Shoun spent half an hour moving the corpse to a small ditch in the park, covering it with branches and leaves.


    When they finished, Shoun finally took the time to check his status screen:


    [Name: Shoun Foster?


    ?Age: 17?


    ?Rank: Seeker?


    ?Title:...?


    ?Ascension Points: 31/100?


    ?Abilities?


    ?Electric Flow: Your very essence has been touched by electricity since birth, to the point where you can control and use it to your advantage?


    ?Basic Electric Core: A part of your being, it exists and doesn''t exist, both in your physical and spiritual body. It''s where all your electricity is stored and generated, and it also allows the user to absorb electricity from other sources?


    ?Visa: Congratulations! You can now enter and exit the other world.]


    ¡ª(What a simple description...)¡ªShoun thought, somewhat puzzled as he looked at the description of his new "ability," the key to his freedom¡ª(In any case, I have 31 points now, and I only had one when I arrived... This is definitely a land of opportunities).


    ¡ªShall we go?¡ªasked the masked man as he looked at Shoun. The latter closed his status window and nodded, so Kaze clasped his hands in front of his chest. A few seconds later, a screen appeared before Shoun''s eyes.


    [Interworld Travel activated. Accept?]


    Without much thought, the excited Shoun agreed. A few seconds later, unlike his arrival in the mirror world, the world began to spin around both young men. White, black, and gray blended together, giving way to colors.


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    The trees regained their brown tones, the leaves and grass turned green again, and the sounds of cars going back and forth could be heard in the distance. The unnatural white light disappeared, replaced by the warm glow of the moon.


    At first, Shoun felt a bit dizzy, but after a few seconds of feeling the breeze on his face, he managed to calm down.


    ¡ªUgh... I''m back¡ªJust saying those words brought tears to Shoun''s eyes, but this time he managed to hold them back.


    ¡ª...I guess this settles our debt.


    ¡ªHuh?... What do you mean?


    ¡ªWell, I''ve fixed my mistake. I got you out of the mirror world and brought you back here. There''s no reason for me to protect you anymore.


    ¡ªI guess that''s true...¡ªAt that moment, Shoun found himself at an internal crossroads. It was true that Kaze was only rectifying his mistake, but Shoun felt bad not thanking him. In the end, Kaze had taught him a lot. To Shoun, he was no longer just a stranger who had dragged him into an unknown world. He was something more¡ªa companion, maybe even a friend? Still, Shoun hadn''t forgotten that Kaze had put him in danger, but he decided to follow his instincts and made a proposal¡ªI know you were just keeping your word, but... would you like to stay at my place? At least for tonight. I''d feel bad if you had to go sleep in that ugly room you call a "safe base."


    ¡ª...Alright¡ªKaze agreed with the idea. After all, his body hadn''t fully recovered yet. He planned to take a few days off from fighting anyway, and he didn''t mind spending those days at Shoun''s house.


    ¡ªPerfect! Follow me. We''re not too far, but we need to be quick. I don''t want anyone seeing me shirtless¡ªHe added that last part with some embarrassment. After the battle with the Hydra, Shoun''s poor shirt, which had endured three fights, finally gave out and was reduced to threads, leaving Shoun''s torso exposed. His toned body revealed his athletic and sporty nature.


    Kaze simply nodded without saying a word and followed Shoun on a quick walk through the empty streets. There weren''t many people near the park at night, though neither of them could tell exactly what time it was.


    Soon, they arrived at a residential area with many houses, some two-story but mostly single-story. All had a small backyard and a garage. The street in general looked clean and well-kept.


    The two young men stopped in front of one of the few two-story houses. Shoun approached a specific rock in the garden and pulled out a key from a hidden crevice, then calmly opened his door. The young man still remembered with frustration the things he''d lost when entering the mirror world. Luckily, he hadn''t been carrying his wallet that night.


    ¡ª(Now that I think about it, what about my skateboard?)¡ªHe briefly wondered before dismissing the thought. It wasn''t that important, and considering his current situation, it was the least of his worries¡ªTake off your shoes before coming in¡ªShoun said as he removed his own. His shoes were dirty and slightly torn, but they had held up surprisingly well during the excursion.


    ¡ªWhy?


    ¡ªIt''s a custom. Plus, it means I don''t have to clean whatever you bring in on your shoes¡ªKaze found that explanation reasonable and removed his shoes, revealing his bare feet. For some reason, the masked man didn''t wear socks.


    Shoun just saw it as another one of Kaze''s quirks and didn''t pay it much mind. He turned on the light, and the living room of his home came into view. The decor was simple: several bookshelves filled with books, a TV mounted on the wall, a couch and a small coffee table in front of it. What stood out the most was a giant championship boxing belt displayed on the table beneath the TV. Kaze pointed at the belt and asked:


    ¡ªWhat''s that?


    ¡ªIt''s a trophy my dad won. I don''t know if I mentioned it before, but he was a boxer¡ªa really good one, too. Thanks to his achievements, we were able to buy this nice house¡ªShoun replied with a hint of melancholy in his voice¡ªI''m going to change. Do you need a change of clothes?


    ¡ªI''m fine. This outfit repairs itself.


    ¡ªHuh?¡ªIt was at that moment that Shoun took a closer look at Kaze''s clothes. Among his companion''s oddities, this was the most normal, but upon closer inspection, after multiple battles, they looked as good as new¡ªIs it from an Alpha?


    ¡ªI don''t know. It just appeared when I became a Seeker¡ªKaze replied with a shrug. Shoun, on the other hand, simply suppressed his envy and went upstairs to his room.


    His room was quite tidy. It didn''t have much besides a desk, his bed, and a closet, but it was filled with posters of various bands, especially his favorite, The Red Phoenix.


    As Shoun changed into a fresh set of clothes, he began to consider the whole topic of special clothing. These special outfits, also known as "Bearer Uniforms," were one of the possible byproducts that could be created from an Alpha''s body.


    They could interact with the spiritual energy in the air, naturally absorbing it. This effect was minimal, and as far as Shoun understood, it was difficult to exploit for anything too ambitious. However, this minimal effect worked perfectly for clothing that allowed a Codex bearer to fight safely.


    In the end, it was primarily made of fabric. It was durable but not as much as armor. Still, many bearers preferred it for its comfort and because their own bodies were already highly resilient, making heavy, uncomfortable armor unnecessary.


    When he finished changing, he found Kaze sitting on the couch, staring into nothingness. Shoun took his seat and turned on the TV, switching to the news channel to check the date and time.


    ¡ªPhew, only four days. If it had been one more, I''d have had trouble coming back¡ªShoun was referring to the fact that he had to return to school tomorrow. A few weeks ago, a loose remnant had damaged some infrastructure, and they''d been given those weeks off while repairs were made. Meanwhile, Kaze watched the TV before asking Shoun:


    ¡ªWhat''s that?


    ¡ª...You mean what''s on the TV?


    ¡ªIf you mean what''s on that square thing, then yes.


    ¡ª...It''s similar to a Codex screen, but instead of tests and information, this is something created by humans mainly for entertainment. This, for example, is a news channel. This one shows movies, this one is for sports...¡ªShoun spent a while explaining how the TV worked until he got hungry and went to prepare something in the kitchen¡ªDo you want something to eat?


    ¡ªYes¡ªKaze replied, his eyes still fixed on the TV, remote in hand.


    Shoun didn''t pay it much mind and quickly made something for both of them. After a while, they were sitting at the table, each with a plate of pancakes in front of them.


    ¡ªWhat''s this?


    ¡ªIt''s food¡ªThis time, Shoun didn''t even bother trying to explain it to Kaze. He simply started eating, waiting for the masked man to follow his lead.


    And he did. Kaze slightly lifted the lower part of his mask. What lay beneath remained invisible to Shoun''s eyes, but he could see Kaze taking portions of food and placing them under his mask, then removing them and repeating the process.


    Both ate until they were full. Kaze didn''t say much, but by the way he ate, it seemed he enjoyed the taste of the pancakes.


    ¡ª...Kaze, I''d like to talk to you about something.

 Chapter 13: The agreetment

    At Shoun''s words, the masked man sat up straight and gestured for the young man to continue.


    ¡ª...Why do you always go back to the mirror world? Unlike me, you''ve always been able to enter and leave freely from the start. So why do you keep going back?¡ªShoun asked with a calm expression, but his voice betrayed that facade.


    ¡ª...I''m nobody. I don''t have a past, a home, or a family. This place is just as strange to me as the mirror world. When I became a Seeker and when I ascended to an Apprentice, something changed inside me... It''s hard to explain, but now I feel more... human. Before, I couldn''t understand emotions or feel them. Now, I think that''s slowly changing. So, I believe that if I keep ascending, I''ll be able to figure out who I really am. And the only way I can do that quickly is through the mirror world.


    ¡ªThat... sounds like a good motivation. If the mirror world is as good an option as joining the guild or the government... Look, I almost died in the mirror world... many times. More than I can count.


    ¡ªIt was only three times.


    ¡ª...Okay, only three times, but that''s not the point. What I''m trying to say is that after what happened with my family, I never wanted to feel helpless like that again. When you dragged me into the mirror world, I always felt helpless, but I also grew stronger... I''m afraid that something might threaten my life again, and I won''t have the strength to defend myself¡ªShoun looked at the cup of coffee in his hands, staring at his reflection in the black liquid, hesitating over his next words.


    ¡ªWhy are you telling me this, Shoun?¡ªKaze asked in his monotone voice, tilting his head. He didn''t mind Shoun rambling, but it was also obvious that the young man was going off on a tangent.


    ¡ªI''ll say it directly: I want to keep going to the mirror world with you. It''s the best way for me to grow stronger without having to submit to the government or join the adventurers'' guild. Plus, if we go together, we''ll have a better chance of overcoming the remnants with our combined strength. It''s something that benefits both of us. Are you willing to let me come with you?¡ªAs he said these words, Shoun looked directly at Kaze. He now knew more precisely that his masked companion could barely feel emotions, so he thought appealing to his rational side was the best way to convince him.


    ¡ª...I don''t have a problem with it. You didn''t tell me much about the ability you got after the trial, but I think you''d be able to enter even if I weren''t there. So, it''d be safer for both of us to stick together from now on. Therefore, yes, let''s keep being companions¡ªThis time, Kaze finished his sentence by extending his hand to Shoun. The young man understood and shook it.


    ¡ªHahaha, I guess you''re a fast learner.


    ¡ªCorrect. Anyway, Shoun, I have a couple of questions. Why don''t you want to join the government or the guild? I know they''re both... more or less, the two human organizations that fight remnants. They should know better than I do the potential you have, so you probably wouldn''t have trouble getting accepted. Unlike me, who doesn''t have an ID.


    ¡ª...It''s complicated to explain my reasons right now. Just trust me when I say they''re not exactly as good or as clean as they seem. For my part, I prefer to stay away from those guys¡ªShoun spoke with a clear tone of disgust in his voice, though the reason for it escaped Kaze''s understanding.


    ¡ª...What does "clean" mean?¡ªKaze asked, tilting his head to the side.


    ¡ª(It seems he uses body language to express himself... I guess it''s because his voice never changes, and his "expression," if you can call it that, never changes either)¡ªAt this point, Shoun and Kaze were permanent companions, so Shoun made the effort to fully understand Kaze. He spent the next few minutes explaining the meaning of the expression to Kaze, though he left out the details of why he believed the organizations weren''t clean¡ªAlright, that''s it for today. Tomorrow, we''ll organize the details of how we''ll handle our trips to the mirror world.


    ¡ªAlright¡ªBoth got up from the table, and Shoun started washing the dishes. When he noticed Kaze watching him, he instructed him to help with the task. In the process of learning how to wash dishes properly, two cups and a bowl were broken, but it was better than nothing. When it was time to sleep, Shoun was still thinking about where to let his companion sleep. He considered his parents'' or sister''s old rooms, but he hadn''t set foot in those places since their deaths. He felt uncomfortable letting someone sleep there, so he let Kaze sleep on the couch. The latter didn''t mind and comfortably lay down on his new bed.


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    ¡ªIt''s an upgrade from the hard floor, don''t you think, Kaze?¡ªShoun said with a laugh, watching the masked man twist his body, searching for an even more comfortable position.


    ¡ªYes¡ªKaze replied in his monotone voice, though by the way he moved, Shoun could clearly see he was quite comfortable.


    ¡ªGood night, Kaze.


    ¡ª...Good night, Shoun¡ªKaze whispered, careful not to move and lose the comfortable position he was in.


    The young man went upstairs to his room and lay down on his bed. As he stared at the ceiling in the solitude of the night and the darkness of his room, he finally began to process everything he had experienced in the past few days.


    ¡ª...I think I''m crazy for wanting to go back to that place... but I''d be an idiot if I didn''t and stopped trying to get stronger. Or if I joined the guild or the government. I really hate them¡ªGrumbling, he adjusted himself and prepared to sleep, but after a moment, he jolted¡ªThe Sting!¡ªJust before falling asleep, he remembered he had lost his only artifact. It hurt more to lose the chance to sell it than the weapon itself.


    ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------


    ¡ªAlright, Kaze, I''m heading out. While I''m gone, don''t break anything. Do you remember how to use the TV?


    ¡ªYes¡ªKaze replied, his eyes fixed on the trashy show he was watching.


    ¡ªI''ll be back around 2 or 3 in the afternoon... And please take a shower before I get back. You stink!¡ªShoun added, slamming the door behind him. He wasn''t worried about Kaze not knowing how to use the shower, as he had instructed him earlier.


    He had left early to buy a new phone and have time to set it up before class.


    The streets Shoun walked through were well-maintained. People were going about their daily lives¡ªgoing to work, going to school, street vendors selling all kinds of goods, and so on.


    Shoun lived in the human nation of "Rendell," more specifically in its capital, "New Caven," founded less than 50 years ago. As the main bastion of humanity in the fight against remnants, it was heavily protected by large white walls separating the outside from the relative safety within.


    The young man moved naturally through the streets; after all, he had lived his entire life there. The chances of traveling between cities were slim, considering remnants roamed the outskirts constantly.


    Surprisingly, as he walked, he saw a girl with brown hair and pointed ears walk past him, indicating she was an "Elf."


    ¡ª(I wonder what she''s doing around here... Normally, they''d only be in the upper districts)¡ªHe thought for a few seconds before continuing as if nothing had happened. The distance between the elven nation of "Amalor" and the human one was vast, requiring crossing large stretches of land and even the ocean to travel from one to the other. This, of course, wasn''t safe even with a team of Codex bearers protecting the journey, so the barely functional teleportation system was used. It was very expensive to activate, requiring large amounts of energy, so the few elves who came to New Caven were either wealthy or possibly members of Amalor''s military. In any case, Shoun only noticed her because her beret had pins of The Red Phoenix¡ª(I must say, that girl has good taste¡ªhe thought proudly that his favorite band had reached the far corners of Amalor.


    Soon, Shoun arrived at the phone store and bought a relatively new one, hoping it would last him a long time. He spent a whopping 550 Crestos on the phone and other services.


    ¡ª(I still have 3,000 left for the rest of the month... If I don''t go crazy buying stupid things, we should be fine)¡ªHe thought, calculating his monthly expenses. The currency of Rendell was the "Cresto," with coins in denominations of 1, 5, and 10, and bills of 20, 50, and 100 Crestos. The minimum wage was around 2,000 Crestos, which was what the lower class typically earned, while the middle class earned between 5,000 and 10,000 Crestos. Shoun, having a house in his name with everything paid off and a trust fund from his parents'' life insurance totaling 300,000 Crestos, which gave him 5,000 Crestos a month, lived comfortably and better than the average middle class¡ª(Counting my savings, I must have around 10,000 Crestos, though that''s for my future, and I''d prefer not to touch it... If only I could''ve sold The Sting...)¡ªHe thought, slightly frustrated, as he set up his new device.


    A Seeker-level artifact was worth between 3,000 and 5,000 Crestos, depending on how useful its enchantments were. It was the same amount Shoun received monthly or what an average person earned.


    ¡ª(That''s without considering I could''ve sold the raw material directly... I could''ve made a lot of money)¡ªEven though the young man wasn''t exactly lacking money, the greed and luxuries it brought were very tempting to him¡ª(I still can''t believe Kaze has one of those uniforms... On top of that, the Codex gave it to him. It''s a shame there''s no complaint button for injustice)¡ªThe uniforms were made from Alpha remnant bodies. Seeker-level ones didn''t go for less than 10,000 Crestos, and if it was a custom design like Kaze''s, it would be even more expensive.


    As Shoun continued thinking about money, he eventually arrived at his school without realizing it. The building was quite ordinary, with large windows at the front and pristine white paint that stood out among the other buildings.


    ¡ª(...I guess here we go again).

 Chapter 14: Back to school

    As Shoun entered the school, he ignored the stares from some of his classmates. Despite studying there for several years, many still felt curious about the Rank 1 Seeker who was also a student. Shoun, now accustomed to the attention, headed straight to his locker.


    ¡ª?Shoun!¡ªA high-pitched voice echoed from the end of the hallway. It belonged to a boy with bright yellow hair, so light it could almost be mistaken for white. The boy wore a white shirt and gray pants, neatly dressed for school. He ran up to Shoun and raised a fist¡ªWhere''ve you been? I called you all weekend!


    ¡ªSein, I told you to stop yelling. Now everyone''s staring¡ªShoun whispered, covering his face with one hand while bumping Sein''s fist with the other¡ªI couldn''t answer. My phone broke.


    ¡ªOoh¡­ sorry for shouting.


    ¡ªIt''s fine. Just try not to do it again.


    ¡ªOkay! Shoun, come with me to buy something! And give me your new number. I wanted to invite you to a movie last weekend, but you never answered!¡ªSein ignored Shoun''s request and kept talking loudly, prompting a sigh. Shoun was used to Sein''s energy¡­ to a point.


    Sein was a student at the same school, two years younger than Shoun. The age gap hadn''t stopped them from becoming close.


    ¡ª¡­So I kicked the ball and¡ªboom!¡ªa goal! We won thanks to my epic skills.


    ¡ªLast time I saw you play, you had two left feet. I don''t believe you pulled that off.


    ¡ªI''m serious!¡ªThe two bantered about random things as they walked to the cafeteria, until a person with long green hair blocked their path.


    ¡ªHi, Shoun. Hi, Sein~¡ªRobin greeted in a magnetic voice. They wore a green shirt with a purple tie, a dark green sweater tied around their waist, black jeans, and matching sneakers. Glasses and bright purple earrings adorned their face¡ªHow''ve you been? It''s a shame we couldn''t meet these past few weeks¡ªthey added with feigned sadness, slinging an arm over Shoun''s shoulders.


    ¡ªI''ve been great, Robin!¡ªSein replied excitedly.


    ¡ª¡­Do you have to act so much, Robin?¡ªShoun asked, visibly uncomfortable as he shrugged Robin off¡ªJust say what you always come to say and leave.


    ¡ªUgh, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed {as usual}¡ªRobin muttered while rummaging through their pockets¡ªAnyway, Shoun, as you know, the military''s always recruiting. It''d be an honor if you joined, blah blah blah¡­ you know the drill¡ªthey tossed Shoun a business card, which Shoun immediately crumpled and threw into the nearest trash can¡ªWell, that''s my job done for today. See you later! Have a nice day!¡ªRobin waved cheerfully before walking away.


    ¡ª¡­Was it necessary to treat them so harshly?¡ªSein asked, pity in his voice.


    ¡ª¡­If you were in my shoes, you wouldn''t be so kind, Sein¡ªShoun replied flatly before resuming his walk to the cafeteria, Sein trailing behind.


    Shoun quietly opened his front door to find Kaze sprawled on the couch, watching a samurai movie.


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    ¡ªI''ll save you¡­ for my honor!¡ªthe actor onscreen yelled before launching into a fight. Shoun stood behind Kaze, who only then noticed his presence.


    ¡ªOh, hi Shoun. I didn''t realize you were back¡ªKaze said monotonously, turning off the TV¡ª¡­that scene reminded me of our time in the mirror world. Don''t you think?


    ¡ªExcept I''m not a girl, and you''re not a samurai. Totally the same¡ªShoun replied sarcastically, plopping onto the couch.


    ¡ªI knew it¡ªKaze said proudly, still oblivious to sarcasm.


    ¡ª¡­Whatever. How are your injuries?


    ¡ªMy core''s full, so I''m better. We could even go hunt vestiges.


    ¡ªI have class tomorrow. I don''t want to explain a black eye or something. I get enough attention as it is.


    ¡ªWhat do you mean?


    ¡ªHow often do you think people see Codex bearers?


    ¡ªAll the time.


    ¡ªHalf-true. Most only see government or guild officers. They work at entrances or high-security zones, so people rarely meet them. When they do, they''re idealized as super-powered heroes. People like me¡ªbearers who aren''t official¡ªget¡­ side-eyes. I don''t know how to explain it. Anyway, there''s another problem.


    ¡ªIs it bad?


    ¡ªYeah. The military''s eyeing my growth potential, so there''s a recruiter in my class.


    ¡ªRecruiter?


    ¡ªRobin. They''ve been a bearer since they were 15. Right now, they''re finishing school before joining the military full-time. They''re supposed to keep tabs on me and recruit me. Imagine this: someday soon, I''ll become an apprentice.


    ¡ªSo Robin''ll notice when you ascend.


    ¡ªExactly¡­ and there''s no avoiding it¡ªShoun sighed¡ªI''ll figure something out. Let''s make lunch¡ªhe said, heading to the kitchen.


    ¡ªWhat if we create an alibi?¡ªKaze snapped, pointing at Shoun. His tone was flat, but you could tell from his body language that he seemed excited.


    ¡ªAlibi?


    ¡ªAn alibi is¡ª


    ¡ªI know what it is!¡ªShoun cut in¡ªWhere''d you learn that?


    ¡ªA movie.


    ¡ª¡­


    ¡ª¡­


    ¡ªLook¡­ I''ll skip the jokes. What''s your idea?


    ¡ªMake it seem like you''ve been hunting vestiges elsewhere. That way, Robin won''t suspect anything.


    ¡ªThat doesn''t solve the core issue¡­ I''ll think of something. I''m hungry¡ªShoun stood up to cook while Kaze resumed watching movies. At the table, they ate rice, beef, and a vegetable salad. After finishing, Kaze asked:


    ¡ªThought of an alibi?


    ¡ªIt''s only been an hour¡­ but yeah. I don''t love it, but it''s better than nothing. I''ll register as an adventurer.


    ¡ªDidn''t you say you wouldn''t join the guild?


    ¡ªI''m not. Anyone can be an adventurer if they meet the requirements. Guild adventurers are called "Hunters"¡ªthey sign contracts for perks and duties. I''ll pretend to be an adventurer to cover our trips¡­ but there''s a problem.


    ¡ªFeels like every solution creates a new problem.


    ¡ªJust shows how messed up this is. To leave the city as a Seeker, you need at least two people. And you don''t count.


    ¡ªI assume you''ve thought of a fix.


    ¡ª¡­Sort of. Asking someone to join as cover means revealing your existence and the mirror world. Even if they come along, they''ll notice my progress is faster than normal. So I need someone trustworthy¡­


    ¡ªYou don''t have many friends?¡ªKaze''s blunt question made Shoun stare incredulously at the mask''s blank eyes.


    ¡ªSubtlety isn''t your thing, huh?¡ªShoun snapped, confusing Kaze¡ªUgh, never mind. Back to the point: there''s one person, but I''m conflicted. I know they''d join, but I don''t want to put them in danger.


    ¡ªWhy?


    ¡ªHis name''s Sein. He''s 15¡ªbarely old enough to be an adventurer. His parents died in a vestige attack, and his grandma raised him¡­ He''s a good kid. Trusting, optimistic. I don''t want him to die because of me. I don''t know anyone else who''d agree¡­ What do I do, Kaze?¡ªShoun''s voice grew heavy.


    ¡ª¡­Shoun, I don''t know Sein. But if you trust him, believe he''ll rise to it. Didn''t you say in the mirror world that you just need to rely on your comrades?


    ¡ª¡­True. But he''s just a kid. He can''t fight, and¡ª


    ¡ªThen teach him. Problem solved. If you''re scared he''ll die, protect him with your life¡ªlike I did for you. Train him well, and he won''t need protection¡ªKaze wasn''t pushing Shoun to recruit Sein¡ªhe was nudging him to act.


    ¡ª¡­You''re right¡­ Overthinking''s exhausting¡ªShoun leaned back¡ªI need time to decide. We aren''t hunting until the weekend anyway, right?


    ¡ªYeah¡­ about that. Can we go to the mirror world tonight? Just to test your new Visa skill¡ªKaze had been curious since Shoun mentioned it.


    ¡ªIf we''re not fighting and just testing¡­ sure. Let''s go tonight.

 Chapter 15: The base

    Shoun and Kaze walked under the moonlight through the city streets. The pedestrians passing by glanced at the masked figure for a moment before continuing on their way.


    ¡ª(I thought they''d stare longer... but I guess considering Codex bearers have all kinds of strange appearances, Kaze is just the strange within the strange).


    After a while, the two arrived at a secluded spot in the park¡ªthe same spot where they had appeared yesterday after returning from the mirror world.


    ¡ªOkay, we''re here. Can you tell me why we had to come to this specific spot?¡ªShoun asked curiously, looking at his companion.


    ¡ªI remember telling you at some point that the mirror world is strange. You''ve only seen a part of it¡ªthe part I consider the least problematic to explore and hunt in. I usually choose this spot to enter because I''m sure the equivalent location in the mirror world is safe¡ªor as safe as it gets in the mirror world, you know? The thing is, I''m not sure what we''d find if we entered from, say, your house. We might end up in a nest of vestiges or the lair of an Executor. So, better safe than sorry¡ªKaze explained in his usual monotone voice.


    ¡ªThat sounds reasonable. But before we go, let''s make sure no one''s around. I don''t want to end up in the same situation as a few days ago, but this time as the guilty party¡ªShoun said, scanning the area. Kaze did the same, checking the opposite side. After a couple of minutes, they confirmed no one was within activation range¡ªGood. I''ll activate my ability now.


    Shoun channeled his electricity, and instantly, a screen appeared in front of Kaze''s eyes.


    [Interworld Travel activated. Accept?]


    Naturally, Kaze confirmed. The space around them distorted and contracted, colors faded, and the mirror world opened before their eyes.


    ¡ªAnd we''re back here... Did you get a notification to accept the travel?


    ¡ªYes.


    ¡ªHmm. When you dragged me here the first time, I only realized we''d traveled between worlds when I looked around. It seems having this ability makes us aware of these changes¡ªShoun concluded, glancing at his surroundings.


    ¡ªWe also confirmed that you can drag people into this place, though I''m not sure if you can activate a trial. We''ll have to wait until we bring Sein to test that¡ªKaze said, also scanning the area for vestiges.


    ¡ª...I''m still not sure about bringing Sein here¡ªAs he spoke, Shoun began walking through the gray bushes, searching for something. After a moment, he finally found what he was looking for¡ªSurprisingly, this thing is still here.


    ¡ªWhy wouldn''t it be? There''s no one else around who could''ve taken the corpse.


    ¡ªVestiges kill each other when there are no people around. If the losing vestige is an Alpha, they eat it too. Didn''t you notice that before? I mean, you literally lived in a place full of vestiges for months¡ªShoun explained, incredulous.


    ¡ªNow that you mention it, I never saw a group of vestiges made up of more than two species.


    ¡ªThat''s because of the territorial wars that probably happen here. It''s confirmed that vestiges, like us, grow stronger by killing each other, though the effect seems greater if they kill people. That''s why they group up with their own kind or with others that synergize well to grow stronger... unless they have an Overlord nearby¡ªShoun continued explaining as he hid the Hydra''s corpse.


    ¡ªWhat do you mean by that last part?


    ¡ªWell... I don''t know much personally, but obviously, Rank 5 Overlords are among the strongest vestiges, if not the strongest. No one can compare unless it''s another Overlord. That''s why they naturally take over and try to claim the territory of others. Within that territory, weaker vestiges can exist. Since they can''t grow stronger from them, they just let them exist to defend their territory from other weaker vestiges.


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    ¡ªFascinating. I thought those things were just mindless beasts that wanted to kill people.


    ¡ªThey are. After all, if an Overlord sees a Seeker, they''ll kill them because they can still grow stronger from it... which honestly terrifies me because, based on everything I just told you, it''s almost certain we''re in an Overlord''s territory¡ªShoun said, looking directly at Kaze''s mask. A hint of nervousness was visible in his eyes, but he had already accepted the risks of coming to the mirror world for expeditions knowing this information¡ªKnowing all this, we need to be sure of where we''re going from now on. If an Overlord notices us, it''s over.


    ¡ªDon''t worry. Vestige groups are heavily divided. In this area, we''ll only find Whelps and Wretches. Brutes are rare around here, and their zone is farther away. I don''t know where most Executors are, and obviously not the Overlords either. But as long as we don''t venture beyond the Brutes'' zone, we should be fine¡ªDespite not knowing the information Shoun had just shared, Kaze had logically decided not to venture too far into the mirror world. After all, until a little over a month ago, he was just a lowly Seeker¡ªthe bottom of the food chain.


    ¡ªAlright, I trust your judgment. Either way, it''s better to get out of here¡ªShoun began channeling his electricity to activate his ability but was stopped by Kaze.


    ¡ªWait a second... I notice something different about my ability that lets me travel here.


    ¡ªAnd you''re mentioning it now? What is it?


    ¡ªI didn''t mention it earlier because we were talking about something else... and honestly, I''m not sure what it is. But it seems like a new aspect of the original ability. Let me test it¡ªKaze fell silent and began analyzing his ability and his own being. There was something new, something calling to him. After a few seconds, a small burst of light exploded near them. Both shielded their eyes to avoid being blinded. When they opened their eyes, they found a door without a handle in front of them, seemingly leading nowhere. Beside it was a panel.


    ¡ªWhat the hell? Is this a result of your ability?


    ¡ªIt seems so...¡ªShoun, incredulous, approached the door and looked behind it, finding no handle and, logically, no exit. He then carefully approached the panel and touched the screen. Instantly, it turned red, and white letters formed the words "Access Denied." After reading the message, Shoun withdrew his hand and looked at Kaze.


    ¡ªThis... I think you should try¡ªShoun stepped aside and let Kaze approach. The masked man touched the screen, and it immediately turned green. The phrase "Administrator registered. Welcome to the ''Base''" appeared. A hissing sound of steam followed, and the door opened on its own, revealing an interior resembling a house. Shoun peeked behind the door again and saw nothing on the other side. The two young men exchanged glances. Kaze took the lead, stepping through the doorframe with his hand on his katana''s hilt, ready for any contingency. Shoun followed closely behind.


    Kaze entered without issue. Inside, he saw a foyer like that of a normal house. The walls appeared to be made of concrete painted in an immaculate white, and the floor was made of firm wooden planks. When Shoun tried to step through the doorframe, an invisible barrier stopped him, and a Codex screen appeared in front of Kaze''s eyes.


    [Someone is attempting to enter the base. Allow access?]


    ¡ªUh... I can''t get through¡ªShoun said after bumping into the invisible wall.


    ¡ªWhat now?¡ªKaze asked after confirming. Shoun placed a foot inside, and this time, no invisible wall stopped him.


    ¡ªWhat the hell was that?¡ªShoun asked, frustrated, with his arms crossed.


    ¡ªIt seems I''m the administrator of this place... You can''t enter unless I allow it¡ªKaze replied simply.


    ¡ªOh, well, that makes sense. What else can you do?


    ¡ªI''m not sure. Let''s explore this place first before seeing what else I can do¡ªShoun agreed and fully entered. As he stepped inside, the door closed behind him, this time with a handle.


    Both understood they could leave whenever they wanted. Kaze began walking down the hallway, followed by Shoun. The hallway had a coat rack and a small wooden table, but otherwise felt empty and somewhat unnatural.


    Without delay, the two approached the door at the end of the hallway. Carefully, Kaze opened it little by little. What they found on the other side surprised them both.


    On the other side was a room with white walls. The floor, unlike the foyer, was made of white ceramic tiles, and the warm lighting gave the room a cozy feel.


    Near the entrance were various items, such as a white sofa, a rug, and a large TV. Beyond that space was a kitchen with its appliances, and there were other rooms closed off by wooden doors.


    ¡ªUh... I wasn''t expecting to find something like this here... It looks so... cozy¡ªShoun commented, looking around the room.


    ¡ªIt''s a bit like your house.


    ¡ªNot really... I''d say it''s more like a common living room and kitchen. There aren''t any personal touches like photos or decorations beyond the essentials.


    Before Kaze could respond, a sudden activation sound echoed through the room. Both young men fell silent, anticipating what was about to happen. Soon, a slightly masculine robotic voice began resonating from every corner of the room.


    ¡ªGreetings, Administrator and Guest. Welcome to the Base.

 Chapter 16: The codex

    As the voice finished speaking, the two young men exchanged glances, unsure of what to do next. The situation they found themselves in was certainly unfamiliar to both. Shoun hesitated for a moment but eventually took the initiative:


    ¡ªHmm... Hello? Who are you?


    ¡ªHello again, Guest. I am the Logistics Intelligence Assistance Multifunctional, or Liam for short¡ªreplied the robotic voice, apparently named Liam.


    ¡ªLiam, nice to meet you¡ªKaze responded quickly¡ªCan you tell us what this place is?


    ¡ªOf course, Administrator. This place is known as the Base. It is a space for you and your guests to relax after your explorations in this world. It includes various facilities to meet your needs, such as a kitchen, resting rooms, a living room, a training hall, and an operations center.


    ¡ªOperations center?¡ªShoun asked, intrigued by the meaning of that specific place, as its function wasn''t as clear as the others.


    ¡ªAdministrator, am I permitted to answer the guest''s question?¡ªthe robotic voice asked with apparent politeness, which struck both young men as odd.


    ¡ªYou can... Why wouldn''t you be able to answer Shoun''s question?


    ¡ªTo answer your question, Administrator, "Shoun," the guest, is just that¡ªa guest. You might not want him to know certain things. Now, regarding the operations center, it is a place where specific missions are assigned to the Administrator and other individuals selected by them. These missions offer significant rewards¡ªBoth young men processed this information. To speed things up, Shoun suggested Kaze ask the questions, as Liam might require confirmation for each "confidential" query, which would take too long.


    ¡ªCan you give an example of the rewards these missions might offer? And is there a way to let Liam answer Shoun''s questions directly?


    ¡ªAnswering the first question, an example of a possible reward would be access to the Base''s Refinery. Regarding the second, you are the Administrator. You can grant your guest a higher rank, but it is at your own risk¡ªthe robotic voice warned. Before asking about the Refinery, Kaze focused on his ability, and a new tab opened shortly after.


    [Base Administration:


    Current Administrator: ??? Title: Kaze.


    Guest: Shoun Foster, Title: ¡ª]


    After reviewing this screen, Kaze saw he could modify Shoun''s guest rank. Unsure of what it entailed, he decided to ask Liam first. Meanwhile, Shoun made himself comfortable and leaned back on the sofa. After all, it seemed there was no danger in conversing with Liam, and since this place appeared to belong to Kaze, he simply decided to relax.


    ¡ªWhat ranks can I give Shoun? And what is a Refinery?


    ¡ªThe guest "Shoun" can be given the ranks of Guest, Resident, and Secondary Administrator. At his current rank, he can only access the places and services you allow. As a Resident, he can participate in missions and use the Base''s facilities without prior approval. A Secondary Administrator has access to everything a Resident does but can also ask me questions freely. As for the Refinery, it essentially allows the processing of Alpha vestige corpses¡ªLiam explained in detail. At this last point, Kaze considered it a good thing, while Shoun, upon hearing it, was so startled he fell off the sofa.


    ¡ªWhat!?¡ªhe shouted, quickly getting up from the floor.


    ¡ªIs there a problem?¡ªKaze asked briefly, looking puzzled at Shoun.


    ¡ªDo you have any idea how rare it is for people to refine Alpha corpses? Doing it with a machine in the other world is very expensive. Having access to a machine like that... I wasn''t paying attention earlier, but give me higher access. We''ll go on one of those missions to claim that machine¡ªNormally, Shoun wouldn''t act like this, but his greed for the machine overwhelmed him. After all, the biggest hurdle in recruiting Sein was not being able to protect him. If they had that machine, they could craft uniforms and weapons to defend the young man more easily. They could even sell the excess for profit, but they needed to establish another alibi.


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    ¡ªAre you sure? You said we''d just take a look because you have class tomorrow.


    ¡ªThat doesn''t matter! Let''s do it!


    ¡ªAlright¡ªKaze replied simply in his monotone voice. He looked at the Codex screen in front of him and wished to modify it. He granted Shoun the rank of "Secondary Administrator." He didn''t believe Shoun posed any danger to him¡ªafter all, he was the only person he could trust in both worlds, his companion¡ªLiam, can you show us where the operations center is?


    ¡ªOf course¡ªA door opened on its own. Both young men assumed it was Liam''s doing and walked through it. Shortly after, they found themselves in a room with the same white ceramic floor. In the center was a large round table surrounded by numerous chairs.


    ¡ªSo, Liam, what are the details of the mission to unlock the Refinery?¡ªShoun asked as he calmly sat in one of the chairs. Kaze followed suit and sat beside him.


    ¡ªI mentioned the Refinery as an example of a possible reward, but there is a mission that unlocks it¡ªthe AI clarified quickly. Soon, a hologram projected in the center of the table, displaying the following:


    [Initiation Mission: Search for the Remains of the Chaos Bearer


    Details: Chaos was born one day and, like a plague, spread across the world. An ancient Chaos Bearer caused irreparable destruction. Find their remains and claim them.


    Difficulty: Seeker.


    Reward: Alpha Grunt vestige corpse, access to the Base''s Refinery.]


    Seeing the mission details, both young men found it quite straightforward¡ªsomething they could likely complete quickly. But something about it bothered Shoun.


    ¡ª(Chaos Bearer... that sounds familiar... but where from?)¡ªhe wondered to himself. He considered asking Kaze and Liam if they knew anything but decided against it, as it probably wasn''t relevant.


    ¡ªWhat are the remains of the Chaos Bearer?¡ªKaze asked in his monotone voice.


    ¡ªYou will know if you accept the mission, Administrator¡ªLiam replied simply. Shortly after, a Codex screen appeared before both young men.


    [Accept mission? 0/2]


    The two exchanged glances and nodded, each accepting their respective screens.


    Upon accepting, a wave of knowledge filled their minds. First, they were told what the remains they were searching for were, and second, they were given the approximate location of those remains, which caught their attention.


    ¡ªThe remains are actually the body of the vestige we have to kill... but the location... isn''t it?


    ¡ªYes... it''s very close to my house¡ªShoun interrupted Kaze. At that moment, Shoun grew more alarmed. He had ignored the term "Chaos Bearer" earlier, but now, with this new information, he felt something was wrong¡ªGive me a moment, Kaze¡­


    With a thought, Shoun opened another Codex tab¡ªthe very section that gave the system its name: the Codex of Vestiges. This was where all the information about the vestiges defeated by the Codex Bearer was stored.


    This function wasn''t used much, as it was essentially a small library of the bearer''s achievements. But it had served its purpose in naming the mysterious system that people had suddenly gained one day.


    Shoun quickly scanned his Codex. Until recently, it only had one vestige, but he didn''t rush and went through them one by one.


    [-Twilight Hydra: Wretched Alpha. The sunset stained the world with the arrival of the new nature. The Hydra, which once served, rebelled and sought to extinguish all traces of light.


    -Profane Antlers: Wretched Alpha. With change came new life¡ªerratic, tainted by madness and destruction.]


    Shoun briefly reviewed his last two kills. He found it interesting that both vestiges were described with "change" as a central theme, but that wasn''t what he was looking for at the moment. He skipped over the Wretched Stags and Whelps that followed their Alpha and moved on to the next two.


    [-Spawn of Chaos: Grunt. Small pests that sowed confusion and disorder among the ancients.


    -Infected: Brute. Chaos spread little by little. Death was the easy way out.]


    Shoun read the descriptions and finally found something he was looking for. These two vestiges had the word "chaos" in their names or descriptions, though other things caught his attention as well.


    ¡ª(Who or what were the "ancients"... I''ve never heard a term like that)¡ªhe briefly pondered the unfamiliar concept but set it aside to focus on his current investigation¡ª(Death was definitely the easy way out if you could end up like that thing... yuck)¡ªHe briefly recalled the Brute that greeted him upon his arrival in the mirror world¡ª(Anyway, this chaos seems to have been very dangerous)¡ªShoun moved on to the last vestige in his Codex, leaving him speechless at its contents:


    [-Chaos Bearer: Alpha grunt. In the times of the ancients, it dedicated itself to spreading chaos¡ªnot just in its purest form, but also bringing destruction, madness, and disorder.]

 Chapter 17: Initial mission

    After reading the last description, Shoun was momentarily confused. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. Kaze noticed this and asked:


    ¡ªIs something wrong?


    ¡ª...The Chaos Bearer is a vestige I¡¯ve already killed.


    ¡ªWhat?¡ªKaze exclaimed in his monotone voice, though internally he was confused.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s exactly as I said. I checked my Codex, and it¡¯s the first vestige I ever killed¡ªthe one that turned me into a Codex user... Also, reading other entries, I realized the "chaos" seems to be more significant than I thought¡ªShoun explained bitterly. The Chaos Bearer had ruined his life the one time they met, and now its remains seemed to haunt him even after death. Seeking answers, Shoun looked around the room¡ªLiam, what is the chaos? Who were the ancients?


    ¡ªNeither of the administrators has sufficient clearance to know the answer to that question.


    ¡ªWhat!? What the hell do you mean we don¡¯t have enough clearance!¡ªShoun shouted, slamming his fist on the table. It would have toppled over if Kaze hadn¡¯t held it down.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s exactly as I said, Secondary Administrator. You do not possess the necessary security clearance to know.


    ¡ªThen tell me how we get the clearance to know!


    ¡ªYou do not have the clearance to know that.


    ¡ªDamn it!¡ªShoun went to punch the table again but was stopped by Kaze.


    ¡ªStop it¡ªKaze demanded, firmly gripping Shoun¡¯s wrist. Shoun hesitated for a moment but then sat down.


    ¡ªUgh... sorry about that, Kaze. It¡¯s just that thing was¡ª


    ¡ªI know, but I don¡¯t think getting angry at Liam will help. I think the best thing is to complete the mission and see what new information we can get.


    ¡ªThat... sounds good. Let¡¯s do that¡ªShoun replied, a bit more composed.


    ¡ªBy the way, you mentioned something about "chaos" and "ancients." What are they?¡ªKaze asked in his monotone voice.


    ¡ªI¡¯m not sure, but both terms were mentioned in some of the descriptions of the vestiges recorded in my Codex. I¡¯ve never heard those terms outside the Codex, and considering what the mission is asking for, I think they¡¯re relevant.


    ¡ªI see. Let me check mine for a moment¡ªKaze spent a couple of minutes reviewing the descriptions of the vestiges he had killed alongside Shoun¡ªThe chaos is definitely present in the Brute we killed, but I didn¡¯t find any mention of the ancients in the descriptions.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s because it¡¯s in the description of the Grunt vestiges you forced me to kill when I first came here¡ªShoun explained briefly, with a hint of irritation. He still held a bit of resentment toward Kaze for that, though not much.


    ¡ªOh, that explains it. When we get back, I¡¯ll check some descriptions, but for now, let¡¯s focus on completing the mission¡ªKaze said as he stood up, followed shortly by Shoun.


    The two left the base, finding themselves back in the park. As Shoun stepped out, the door and panel glowed and disappeared.


    Neither of them said much about it and began walking toward the mission¡¯s location.


    ¡ª...Kaze, have you been to the place we¡¯re heading before?


    ¡ªNo. It¡¯s not far, but back then, that Brute was around here, so I just went in and out quickly. The fastest and safest route was through here, so I never really explored it.


    ¡ªHmm... Let¡¯s be careful. Even though it¡¯s only a Seeker-level mission, the path might still be dangerous¡ªNeither of them spoke further and continued walking toward the objective. Shoun still felt uneasy about the whole chaos situation, but he knew Kaze was right. The only way to uncover anything was to complete the mission.


    As they walked, they began to notice changes in the terrain. First, a black dust, similar to ash, started floating in the air, becoming more abundant as they approached.


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    Second, many buildings began to show black stains. The metal beams looked corroded, and the stone crumbled at the slightest touch.


    Faced with these environmental changes, Shoun covered his face with one hand, while Kaze continued walking normally. The black dust didn¡¯t seem to harm them, but Shoun preferred to avoid it.


    ¡ªMy house should be two blocks away. The objective shouldn¡¯t be far¡ªShoun commented, looking around. The buildings were now completely black, not as if painted that color, but as if the blackness had seeped into them, almost alive. Just looking at it sent a shiver down Shoun¡¯s spine.


    ¡ªYeah... We shouldn¡¯t linger in this area. Something feels wrong about this place¡ªShoun didn¡¯t argue and began scanning the surroundings for the objective. Soon, they heard the sound of rapid footsteps. Emerging from a curtain of smoke was a vestige. At the sight of it, Shoun clenched his fists tightly.


    The vestige was very similar to the one he had faced years ago¡ªthe same leopard-like body, the same alien-like face. The only difference was that now its claws weren¡¯t pointed forward but curved like hooks. From the side, they almost looked like gloves.


    Both analyzed the creature and saw it was an Alpha Grunt. Kaze looked at Shoun, signaling that he should handle it.


    ¡ªYou lost your weapon, right? I¡¯ll lend you mine¡ªKaze was about to draw his katana but was stopped by Shoun.


    ¡ªNo need. I want to do this with my own hands¡ªShoun said briefly, handing his jean jacket and hoodie to Kaze. Now, Shoun was in just a T-shirt and pants, but comfort was the least of his concerns at the moment.


    He looked at the creature, and the creature looked back at him. He thought about that night, how his life had changed after that. He felt immense anger toward every vestige because, thanks to them, humanity and other species were plunged into misery. But he felt particular anger¡ªand fear¡ªtoward this vestige.


    He had already killed it once, but that was when it was injured. He could still vividly remember that night, how it had easily slaughtered his entire family. If it hadn¡¯t been for a stroke of luck and the fact that it was already injured, he never would have killed it. Nightmares about that vestige had haunted him for years. But he was here now. He had no choice but to kill it. He had to face that nightmare again and put an end to it once and for all.


    ¡ª...¡ªShoun silently stared at the vestige before filling his limbs with electricity. In a burst, he shot toward the vestige, which did the same, charging at Shoun.


    When they were a meter apart, the vestige threw a straight punch. Shoun feinted to the left and delivered a punch to the creature, sending it flying several meters before it stabilized.


    Shoun quickly ran toward it, channeling more electricity into his fist and slamming it into the ground where the vestige stood. The creature contorted its body and twisted backward, narrowly avoiding Shoun¡¯s strike. When his fist hit the asphalt, it shattered, sending up smoke and debris.


    Emerging from the smoke, the vestige slashed at Shoun¡¯s chest, giving him no time to dodge. The hook-like claw tore through his T-shirt easily, leaving a shallow cut.


    ¡ªUgh!¡ªShoun staggered back from the attack. The vestige didn¡¯t stop and continued launching strike after strike at Shoun, who kept retreating but was slowly losing ground. As he watched the monster attack, memories of that night flooded his mind¡ªhis mother¡¯s bleeding neck, his father¡¯s torn face, the floor stained with his sister¡¯s blood.


    Fear began to cloud Shoun¡¯s mind. He started making more mistakes. Due to a misstep, he received a slash to his stomach and nearly lost his left hand.


    ¡ªDamn it!¡ªDesperate, Shoun tried to regain control of the fight, but all his attempts were thwarted by the ferocious vestige. Seeing this, Shoun glanced toward Kaze, who stood still, though with a hand on his katana, ready to intervene if necessary. Shoun thought about shouting for help, begging Kaze to save him, but he quickly realized his mistake.


    ¡ª(Haven¡¯t I been through this before? I¡¯ve killed more dangerous things than this... I¡¯m not alone anymore. I¡¯m not helpless. I don¡¯t have to be afraid. I need to trust Kaze... and myself)¡ªDetermined, Shoun watched as the vestige slashed toward his left shoulder. But he didn¡¯t dodge. The claws pierced his flesh and lodged into his right shoulder.


    Gritting his teeth to endure the pain, Shoun used his left hand to grab the vestige¡¯s left wrist and delivered a strong electric shock.


    ¡ªGrrr!¡ªThe vestige growled, paralyzed. Shoun didn¡¯t give it time to recover. He immediately launched a powerful punch to its face, sending it flying and tearing more flesh from Shoun¡¯s shoulder in the process.


    Shoun bit his lip to endure the pain. He watched as the vestige got up and charged at him again. Shoun continued to retreat, dodging the strikes of the now-injured vestige, but this time not out of desperation. He was simply being patient.


    At one point, Shoun formed his hand into the shape of a gun and fired an electric discharge from his index finger. The blast hit the vestige squarely, giving Shoun a few seconds. He took advantage of this to deliver a powerful kick to the creature¡¯s chest.


    ¡ªHaaah... haaah¡ªShoun panted, catching his breath as he watched the creature rise. Its chest and part of its stomach were caved in from Shoun¡¯s earlier blows, and its face was badly swollen. Meanwhile, Shoun had several wounds on his chest and stomach, and he had essentially lost the use of his left arm for the rest of the fight¡ª(This isn¡¯t the ideal situation... but I can do this)¡ªShoun thought calmly as he watched the creature charge at him with murderous intent.


    The vestige reached Shoun in seconds, its claws ready to slash him apart. Shoun waited calmly until it was close enough. Just before the claws struck, he grabbed the vestige¡¯s right wrist with his right hand and used its momentum against it, flipping it over his shoulder and slamming it to the ground.


    With the creature down and a clear opportunity, Shoun channeled the remaining electricity into his right hand and fired a bolt that completely obliterated the vestige¡¯s head. Naturally, the Codex spoke:


    [You have killed the Alpha Grunt "Remains of the Chaos Bearer."]

 Chapter 18: Refinery

    Shoun stared at the notification and the dead body of the vestige for a few seconds, conflicting emotions swirling in his mind, until the pain in his body brought him back to reality.


    ¡ªUgh!¡ªHe groaned, trying to stop the bleeding from his left shoulder by pressing his right hand against it. Not long after, Kaze arrived with his green amulet in hand, ready to heal Shoun¡¯s wounds¡ª...Thanks, Kaze.


    ¡ªNo problem¡ªKaze dismissed quickly after finishing healing Shoun¡¯s injuries, then tossed him his clothes.


    ¡ªHey, be careful with that! It¡¯s collector¡¯s edition!¡ªShoun caught the clothes quickly and brushed off the dirt, though he didn¡¯t put them on since they were still stained with fresh blood.


    ¡ªSorry... We have to carry this, right?¡ªHe said, pointing at the headless corpse of the vestige.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s what the mission said. You carry it; my whole body hurts¡ªShoun started walking without waiting for Kaze¡¯s response. The masked man didn¡¯t mind and hoisted the corpse over his shoulders, following Shoun.


    The two walked in silence for a while. When they finally started leaving the area of black smoke, Kaze broke the silence.


    ¡ªIn that fight... you fought well, but you acted a bit strange.


    ¡ªStrange?


    ¡ªFor most of it, you made more mistakes than you normally would. With your strength and cunning, I think that fight should¡¯ve been much easier than it was¡ªKaze said in his monotone voice, looking at Shoun. He could see his companion was in a complicated state but wasn¡¯t sure how to help, so he decided to be direct and ask.


    ¡ªWell... that thing brought back memories. Not just from that night, but also from what came after... I thought that after everything we¡¯ve been through, the opponent would be easier.


    ¡ªThen you were stupid.


    ¡ªHuh? Do you have to be so rude!?


    ¡ªI¡¯m telling you the truth. In principle, Seekers shouldn¡¯t be facing opponents above their rank. Just because we¡¯re special doesn¡¯t mean we should let it go to our heads. My artifact can heal you to a certain extent, but it can¡¯t bring people back from the dead.


    ¡ª...You¡¯re right. Thanks, and sorry for worrying you¡ªShoun apologized in a low tone. Kaze wasn¡¯t wrong, and after all, he had more experience, so it made sense to listen to him¡ª(Though it seems that outside of fights and survival, he¡¯s pretty clueless).


    ¡ªIt¡¯s fine. By the way, you mentioned something about "what happened after that night." What do you mean?¡ªHearing the masked man¡¯s question, Shoun looked away and lowered his head before answering.


    ¡ªI don¡¯t want to talk about it. Sorry¡ªThe memory of the night he became a Seeker haunted him constantly, but the years after that weren¡¯t much better. Every time he thought about those times, he felt chills. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t trust Kaze enough to tell him; he just didn¡¯t feel comfortable thinking about those times in general. While Kaze didn¡¯t understand why Shoun didn¡¯t want to talk about it, he let it go. After all, it didn¡¯t seem like something that would put them at risk or anything like that. Pressuring Shoun would only make him angry or worse.


    The two continued walking until they completely left the area of black smoke. Shoun suddenly stopped when he realized something.


    ¡ªKaze, where are we going?


    ¡ªWe¡¯re going to the base. Isn¡¯t it obvious?


    ¡ªYeah, but aren¡¯t you supposed to be able to summon that thing whenever you want?


    ¡ª...


    ¡ª...


    ¡ªI forgot¡ªShoun visibly facepalmed at his companion¡¯s stupidity, but after thinking about it for a moment, he just sighed.


    ¡ªLook, you know what? It doesn¡¯t matter. We were going there anyway. After all, we still have an Alpha Wretch¡¯s body ready and waiting to test our reward¡ªShoun said with visible greed in his eyes and voice, which oddly made Kaze shiver a little.


    After a while, the two arrived at the park area where the Hydra¡¯s intact body was.


    ¡ªBy the way, Shoun, can¡¯t you summon the base yourself? You¡¯re the Secondary Administrator, after all.


    ¡ªI thought about that too. I tried, but I don¡¯t feel anything different about that ability. Liam said I can only ask questions freely... this Secondary Administrator rank is a scam¡ªShoun said with visible frustration. He signaled for Kaze to open the entrance to the base. After leaving the clothes and the Grunt¡¯s corpse, they decided to move the Hydra¡¯s body inside before turning in the mission.


    ¡ªOkay... 1... 2... 3!¡ªKaze shouted as he lifted and pulled one end. Both slowly moved toward the door, which they thought would be the hardest part to get through, but surprisingly, it expanded enough to let the body pass. Kaze didn¡¯t stay long to watch, as moving such a large thing was exhausting for both of them. The last time they did this, it took even longer because they had to move it a greater distance.


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    ¡ªUgh... ugh, please let¡¯s not move something like this again for a while¡ªShoun said as he collapsed onto the sofa.


    ¡ªWe still have to move it to claim the reward.


    ¡ªThat won¡¯t be necessary. Administrators, would you like to turn in both corpses? If you do, they will be available for immediate use. For more information, visit the operations room¡ªLiam explained in his robotic voice. As if by magic, Shoun¡¯s face regained color, and he bolted straight to that room. Kaze, on the other hand, simply followed his companion after answering Liam¡¯s question with a yes.


    At that moment, both vestige bodies were in the foyer, but they disappeared as if by magic.


    The two sat back at the table and saw a hologram projecting in the center once again.


    [Congratulations, you have completed the initial mission!]


    After reading that phrase, a congratulatory sound played from all corners, and confetti and balloons fell.


    ¡ªCongratulations, Administrators, on completing your first mission!


    ¡ªThanks, Liam.


    ¡ªI hope we don¡¯t have to clean all this up ourselves¡ªShoun muttered while looking around for the Refinery¡ªLiam, where¡¯s the machine?


    ¡ªRight there, Administrator¡ªWith those words, a corner of the room opened up, revealing a large machine that rose and installed itself in the corner. It was orange, three meters tall, and one meter long. On the left side were various screens, while on the right was a white platform¡ªLet me explain how it works. On the left side, you can select specifically what you want to create with the available resources. Options range from clothes to weapons or amulets. Each corpse has a different size and characteristics, so what you can make will depend on the body. Once you decide what you want, it will appear on that platform. If you want custom clothing, stand on the platform so the machine can take your measurements. If you have any other questions, please don¡¯t hesitate to ask.


    Both young men approached and examined the machine more closely. The screen on the left asked them to first select the type of item they wanted to process. The options ranged from clothes, amulets, and weapons, just as Liam had said. It was at that moment that Shoun looked at Kaze and asked:


    ¡ªHow are we splitting the loot?¡ªDespite his greed, Shoun couldn¡¯t be inconsiderate of his companion, and it wouldn¡¯t be right to decide for him.


    ¡ªWell, you killed the Grunt. That body is yours to decide what to do with. As for the Hydra, we both need to agree on what to do with it since we both contributed to taking it down¡ªFaced with this logical explanation, Shoun had nothing to refute, so they both started thinking about what to do with the Hydra¡¯s body.


    ¡ªHmm... we could use part of it to make a uniform for Sein. We can¡¯t send him into battle without any protection.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s our reward. Maybe we should use it for ourselves. Besides, you don¡¯t have a uniform either, and mine is only Grunt-quality, so I¡¯ll need to upgrade it eventually. I think we should use it for that¡ªone for you and a new one for me¡ªShoun hesitated, but after thinking about everything they went through to kill that creature, he felt he deserved that reward. Plus, he could still make a uniform with the other body¡ªWe could even reuse this uniform and give it to Sein.


    ¡ªSein is much smaller than you. It wouldn¡¯t fit him... and your style is pretty unique¡ªKaze said the last part trying not to laugh, though he didn¡¯t understand why¡ªAlright, you convinced me. Let¡¯s do that. I wanted a uniform too¡ªShoun took charge of the process. He first selected the "Clothing" option and then chose the Hydra¡¯s body on the screen. Instantly, various options appeared, ranging from giant armor with black plates and spikes to lighter armor with similar black plates¡ª...Honestly, none of this appeals to me. It looks uncomfortable to wear armor.


    ¡ªI get what you¡¯re saying.


    ¡ªHey, Liam, can¡¯t you make something like this?¡ªShoun asked, holding up his hoodie and jean jacket.


    ¡ªOf course, Secondary Administrator. Stand on the platform with the clothes on, and I¡¯ll handle the rest.


    ¡ªReally? Can you make sure my shirt doesn¡¯t have this bloodstain or these tears?


    ¡ªNo problem¡ªAfter receiving confirmation, Shoun put on his clothes and stood on the platform. A few seconds later, a light filled the room and quickly disappeared.


    ¡ª...Are we done?


    ¡ªAffirmative.


    ¡ªPerfect! Where¡¯s my new uniform?


    ¡ªYou¡¯re wearing it, Administrator.


    ¡ª...¡ªAt that moment, Shoun, who was already off the platform, fell to his knees¡ªI thought you¡¯d make a copy... that outfit was collector¡¯s edition¡­


    ¡ªI apologize for the confusion, Administrator.


    ¡ªYou know what? It¡¯s fine¡ªShoun said, somewhat dejected, as he sat at the table. While he could feel that his clothes were definitely softer and more flexible¡ªsurely they wouldn¡¯t hinder him in combat¡ªKaze, on the other hand, watched all this and stood silently on the platform.


    ¡ªLiam, can you upgrade my current outfit to a higher grade with what¡¯s left of the Wretch?


    ¡ªI can do that. Would you like me to proceed? This will consume the remaining body of the Alpha Wretch.


    ¡ªYes, please¡ªKaze said politely. A moment later, he was surrounded by the same light, which quickly disappeared. After feeling his new outfit for a bit, Kaze nodded and sat next to Shoun¡ªNow what?


    ¡ªI guess we¡¯re done here for today. By the way, are you going to stay here or come back to my house?


    ¡ªI have no way of knowing when you¡¯ll come here, so I think I¡¯ll go with you.


    ¡ªYeah, I guess phones won¡¯t work between dimensions¡ªShoun commented offhandedly. They then tried asking Liam specific questions about the mirror world, such as "What is this world called?" "How much time passes between here and the other world?" "How do the different zones of the mirror world work?" But all these questions were met with "You do not have sufficient clearance to know that," so they stopped trying after a while.


    They didn¡¯t stay much longer. After saying goodbye to Liam, they left the base and returned to the other world, where it was still night. Upon returning home, they confirmed that several hours had passed, and there were only a couple of hours left before Shoun had to go to school. So, he went straight to bed, not without wishing each other goodnight first.


    Shoun set his uniform aside. He didn¡¯t want Robin asking when and how he got a custom-made one, after all. He¡¯d only use it when going to the mirror world. After changing, he lay down in bed and opened his status window.


    [Name: Shoun Foster?


    ?Age: 17?


    ?Rank: Seeker?


    ?Title:...?


    ?Ascension Points: 33/100?


    ?Abilities?


    ?Electric Flow: Your very essence has been touched by electricity since birth, to the point where you can control and use it to your advantage.?


    ?Basic Electric Core: A part of your being, it exists and doesn¡¯t exist, both in your physical and spiritual body. It¡¯s where all your electricity is stored and generated, and it also allows the user to absorb electricity from other sources.?


    ?Visa: Congratulations! You can now enter and exit the other world.]


    After thinking about it for a moment, he opened his personal Codex to look at the description of his most recent kill.

 Chapter 19: Recruitment

    The description of the vestige opened before Shoun¡¯s eyes, and it read as follows:


    [Remains of the Chaos Bearer: Alpha Grunt. As if it were undead, chaos and resentment pieced this creature back together, though now it is but a shell of its true self after being decimated by...]


    Reading this description, Shoun visibly frowned. He understood the first part¡ªafter all, the vestige was almost an exact copy of the one he had faced years ago. But the second part was confusing. Shoun had only faced two Alpha Grunt vestiges, and both had been nearly identical.


    He couldn¡¯t really judge the true strength of the Chaos Bearer. After all, he had only killed it after it had suffered significant damage and thanks to a stroke of luck. Meanwhile, the remains of the Chaos Bearer were of the same rank. It was definitely stronger than a normal Grunt, but he didn¡¯t know if it met the standards of an Alpha of that rank.


    ¡ª(Also... it says here that the Chaos Bearer was killed by someone. I¡¯m sure it was me, so why doesn¡¯t the Codex mention my name?)¡ªShoun thought it might be because he still didn¡¯t have a title. A title, as the name suggests, is a distinction provided by the Codex to its user. While the title itself doesn¡¯t serve a specific purpose, it represents the achievements and true essence of its bearer¡ª(Anyway, the titles provided by the Codex can sometimes be confusing... for example, Kaze. From what I found online, it literally means "wind" in an ancient language, but that¡¯s it. His title is just "Wind," which is accurate given his powers, but you¡¯d expect more from a title. Though, considering he curiously doesn¡¯t have a name, Kaze is relatively fitting. It would be funny if I had to call him "Silent Blood" or "The Last Bastion" as his first name)¡ªThe titles he referred to belonged to famous Rank 4 Codex bearers. After closing the Codex, Shoun hadn¡¯t learned much more about what chaos or the ancients were. In fact, he might have uncovered more mysteries because of it. But in the end, it wasn¡¯t that important. There were more pressing matters on his agenda, like getting enough sleep to make it to school on time, for example.


    <hr>


    ¡ªToday, I¡¯ll ask Sein to come over so I can explain the plan to him.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s... fine¡ªKaze said between bites. At his request, Shoun had made pancakes for breakfast¡ªBut didn¡¯t you say we¡¯d only go on the weekend? Today¡¯s Tuesday.


    ¡ªYeah, but we¡¯re not going to the mirror world today. First, Sein has to agree. Then we need to go through the legal process to make Sein a Seeker. After all, the whole point of this plan is to hide the mirror world. If Sein becomes a Seeker out of nowhere, it ruins that purpose... Also, I was wondering if you could be Sein¡¯s teacher.


    ¡ªIn what sense?


    ¡ªTeach him how to fight¡ªthe basics. Ideally, during his encounter with the vestige, he¡¯ll have your weapon, and no one knows how to use your weapon better than you.


    ¡ªI guess I can try.


    ¡ªPerfect¡ªShoun said as he started gathering his things to head to school. He was still nervous about the whole situation with Sein. He knew his friend would agree, but he was afraid he wouldn¡¯t be strong enough to protect him¡ª(I guess it¡¯s a risk I have to take... I have to protect Sein if he agrees. It¡¯s my responsibility).


    When he arrived at school, as usual, he ran into Robin. They didn¡¯t notice anything unusual, and after the usual recruitment spiel, they went on their way.


    ¡ª(Luckily, my body doesn¡¯t hurt as much anymore. Thanks to that, I can act like nothing¡¯s wrong and avoid getting caught... I really need to find a way to fight vestiges without getting hurt)¡ªThis last thought came to him as he remembered how he had let himself get caught by the deer¡¯s roots, how he had overloaded himself against the Hydra, and yesterday, when he let himself get hooked by the remains of the Chaos Bearer.


    While lost in thought, he suddenly felt a few taps on his back and saw Sein lightly punching him, imitating a boxing stance.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s a thousand points for me! If you don¡¯t step up your game, I¡¯ll end up winning our competition¡ªSein said with a smile. He was still wearing a white shirt and black pants, looking quite elegant and clean if not for his messy hair. Shoun knew with certainty that his grandmother forced him to comb his hair every morning, but as soon as he left, he messed it up again.


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    ¡ª...What the hell are you talking about?... It¡¯s obvious you¡¯ll never beat me!¡ªShoun quickly grabbed Sein¡¯s neck with his left arm and started ruffling his hair with his right hand.


    ¡ªAhhh! That¡¯s not fair... you¡¯re a Seeker¡ªSein whispered after breaking free from Shoun¡¯s weak grip.


    ¡ªListen, Sein... I need to tell you something, but it has to be at my house. Can you come over after school?


    ¡ªNo problem! But why can¡¯t you tell me now? I¡¯m really curious!¡ªSein said enthusiastically.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s a secret¡ªWith those words, Shoun started to leave for class, only to be followed by Sein, who kept insisting he at least give him a hint.


    <hr>


    ¡ªListen, Sein, I have to warn you that what you¡¯re about to see might scare you, but don¡¯t worry, nothing will happen to you.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s fine! I¡¯m not afraid of anything!


    ¡ªLast time we watched that puppet movie, you were covering your eyes.


    ¡ªThose things were staring into my soul!¡ªShoun could only shake his head at that response and opened the door.


    Just like the day before, Kaze was on the couch watching TV until he heard Shoun open the door. He looked over his shoulder, and his gaze quickly met Sein¡¯s.


    The boy felt his blood pressure drop as he saw the masked figure in the darkness of Shoun¡¯s house.


    ¡ªHi, Shoun. How was school?


    ¡ªGood, Kaze. Thanks for asking. Let me introduce you¡ªKaze, this is Sein. Sein, this is Kaze¡ªShoun dragged his friend over so he could get a good look at Kaze. Sein, realizing it was a person and not some strange entity, quickly lost his fear and enthusiastically greeted Kaze.


    ¡ªNice to meet you!¡ªSein said, grabbing Kaze¡¯s hands and shaking them as a greeting.


    ¡ªThe pleasure is mine¡ªKaze replied in his monotone voice.


    ¡ªWhy do you talk so weird?


    ¡ªIt¡¯s just how I talk.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s fine. It¡¯s different, but being different makes it special and cool!¡ªShoun could only shake his head again as he watched his two friends complement each other perfectly¡ªSein with his usual lively personality and Kaze being... well, Kaze.


    After the introductions, the three sat at the kitchen table, with Kaze and Shoun on one side and Sein across from them.


    ¡ªSo, Shoun, what did you want to tell me? I¡¯m guessing it wasn¡¯t just to introduce me to your new friend.


    ¡ªThat was surprisingly insightful coming from you, Sein.


    ¡ªThanks... wait, what does that mean!?


    ¡ªWell, I brought you here for a proposal, but before that, you have to promise not to tell anyone else. Can you do that for me, Sein?¡ªShoun asked, ignoring Sein¡¯s question. Sein hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded, agreeing to keep the secret¡ªGood... first, let me reintroduce Kaze. He¡¯s an apprentice who lost his memory, and his name isn¡¯t really his name¡ªit¡¯s his title.


    ¡ªWhat? How is that possible? You have a title!? That¡¯s amazing!


    ¡ªThanks.


    ¡ªUgh... this is going to take longer than I thought¡ªShoun complained a bit before continuing to explain Kaze¡¯s situation to Sein. After that, he explained how they met and the mirror world itself¡ªSo, after passing that test, I was finally able to leave.


    ¡ªThat sounds...


    ¡ªUnbelievable?


    ¡ªNo, I mean, yes, but mostly it sounds incredible.


    ¡ª...You know what¡¯s the worst part? I expected that response from you¡ªShoun couldn¡¯t help but sigh again. Kaze had stayed quiet during the entire exchange since Shoun had already explained everything well enough.


    ¡ªHehe, but I have a question. Why are you telling me all this, Shoun?


    ¡ªWell, you know about my situation with Robin. Our plan is to keep going to the mirror world, but eventually, I¡¯ll become an apprentice. We need an alibi, and I thought the best way is to pose as an adventurer. But I can¡¯t leave the city alone as a Seeker...


    ¡ªSo, you want me to become a Seeker?


    ¡ªYes... and to come with us to the mirror world... I¡¯m sorry to ask this of you, but¡ª


    ¡ªI accept!


    ¡ªSein, are you sure about this? I¡¯m the one asking, and I¡¯ll be responsible for you, but in the end, it¡¯s a dangerous world where no one is 100% safe. It¡¯s something that could kill you. Even knowing that, do you still accept?


    ¡ªOf course! I¡¯ve always thought about becoming a Codex bearer, but if I can do it while helping a friend, even better.


    ¡ªUgh, well, there¡¯s nothing I can do to change your mind. Welcome aboard, Sein. From now on, we¡¯re teammates¡ªAs soon as Shoun finished saying that, Kaze extended his hand and shook Sein¡¯s¡ªYou¡¯re learning, Kaze. But one more thing, Sein¡ªyou have to ask your grandmother for permission.


    ¡ªAhhh... alright...¡ªSein said, a bit reluctantly¡ªWhen can we start training?


    ¡ªWhen your grandmother says yes.


    ¡ªSein is 15, right? From what you explained, if a 15-year-old or older wants to become a Codex bearer, they can do it legally and be protected. So why are you telling him to ask his grandmother for permission?


    ¡ªI respect her a lot. I don¡¯t want to go over her head and not let her express her opinion on this decision.


    ¡ªI¡¯m sure my grandmother will agree!


    ¡ªLet¡¯s hope so.


    The young men spent the rest of the afternoon answering questions about the mirror world and trying to calm Sein¡¯s excitement about becoming a Codex bearer. It wasn¡¯t until the end of the day that a bold thought crossed Shoun¡¯s mind.


    ¡ª(Wait... now that I¡¯ve recruited Sein, doesn¡¯t that make me a better recruiter than Robin? Considering that idiot just hands out business cards...)

 Chapter 20: Sein the lucky one

    The next day after school, the three young men were in the backyard of Shoun¡¯s house. The yard had well-kept green grass and tall wooden fences.


    ¡ªThese fences should let you train in peace while keeping prying eyes away¡ªShoun explained as he sat on a plastic chair. According to Sein, his grandmother had agreed to let him become a Seeker, which took a weight off Shoun¡¯s shoulders.


    ¡ªAnd you¡¯re not going to train, Shoun?¡ªSein asked as he came out of the house after changing his clothes. Instead of his white shirt and black pants, he now wore a white T-shirt with a black sports jacket with white stripes, black shorts with star patterns, and white sneakers.


    ¡ªWhy are you wearing your soccer gear? And I don¡¯t use weapons... mainly because I don¡¯t have one, but my ability lets me fight hand-to-hand pretty well¡ªShoun and Kaze had already explained their abilities to Sein beforehand to avoid having to do it when they finally went to the mirror world in a couple of days.


    ¡ªYou said I should wear something comfortable that lets me move well. This is perfect when I play¡ªSein explained briefly before turning around¡ªThanks for training me, Kaze.


    ¡ªNo problem¡ªKaze drew Wind Cutter from its sheath and looked at Sein¡ªWhat form do you want it to take?


    ¡ªWhat forms can your weapon take?


    ¡ª...I think as long as I know what it looks like, it can take any form.


    ¡ªHmm... Then make it a Claymore!¡ªKaze didn¡¯t know what that weapon looked like, so after seeing an image online, he made his sword take the form of a standard Claymore. It was about 1.2 meters long, with a black leather-wrapped hilt, a crossguard with two large circles at the ends, and a long, straight double-edged blade¡ªWow! It looks just like in the movies!


    ¡ªI didn¡¯t know this type of sword was called that¡ªKaze held the sword by the blade and handed it to Sein, who took it with his right hand. The sword weighed two kilograms, and for someone as athletic as Sein, it wasn¡¯t too hard to move¡ªAlright, I know more about swords like mine, but I understand a bit about this type of weapon... I think. First, you need to hold the sword with both hands. Otherwise, it¡¯ll be hard to make quick movements when attacking.


    ¡ªOkay, let me try!¡ªSein held the sword with both hands and tried a couple of wide slashes. Due to his poor technique and foot positioning, the sword flew out of his hands on the second slash and embedded itself in the ground in front of Shoun¡¯s legs.


    ¡ªHey, watch where you¡¯re pointing that!¡ªShoun shouted angrily as he pulled the sword out of the ground and handed it back to Sein¡ªYou need to work on those butterfingers of yours.


    ¡ªSorry.


    From that moment on, Sein and Kaze worked on the basics so the former could learn to handle his sword for his first encounter with a vestige. As the hours passed, Shoun got bored but still had to keep an eye out in case Sein dropped the sword and accidentally cut off a limb, which almost happened a couple of times.


    <hr>


    The next day, after training for a few hours, the three young men walked through the city streets toward one of the guild¡¯s branches, specifically the one located near the middle-class area.


    In New Caven, the guild and the government, being the two most prominent Codex bearer factions in the city, divided the city in a 6/4 ratio, respectively. The government covered the upper and upper-middle-class areas, while the guild handled the middle, lower-middle, and lowest-class areas.


    This was because the government, being the more powerful faction, was preferred by the wealthier and more resourceful people. Another factor was that some guild-affiliated Codex bearers were hired as private security, leaving the less economically prosperous areas more vulnerable. In Shoun¡¯s family¡¯s case, while they earned a decent amount of money, they were nowhere near being able to afford living in the upper-middle-class area.


    ¡ªI¡¯m a bit nervous¡ªSein said as he walked ahead of the other two¡ªDo you think I can do it?


    ¡ªI taught you the basics. With my sword, you should be able to handle it.


    ¡ªIf you don¡¯t feel ready, we can wait longer. There¡¯s no rush¡ªShoun said this in an attempt to calm his friend. He himself had insisted on going to the mirror world as soon as possible, so they skipped classes that day and trained from early in the morning.


    ¡ªNo... I can do it. I¡¯m sure I can do it.


    ¡ªAlright, Sein. I believe in you, buddy¡ªShoun extended his fist to Sein, who bumped it.


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    ¡ªWhat does that mean?¡ªKaze asked, pointing at the gesture.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s a fist bump! It¡¯s a gesture friends do to show trust in each other. Here, let¡¯s try it¡ªAfter his brief explanation, Sein extended his fist to Kaze, who hesitated but eventually bumped it softly¡ªThat¡¯s it!


    ¡ª(Thankfully, I don¡¯t have to explain these things to Kaze anymore. It¡¯s good to have Sein on board)¡ªShoun thought as he looked at the building they were approaching. It was a large structure with many windows and a sign that read "Guild" above the entrance. The three walked through the door and found themselves in a well-decorated reception area with pristine white floors, comfortable waiting chairs, and paintings to add ambiance. After admiring the surroundings, they approached the counter¡ªGood afternoon. We have a 3:00 PM appointment to become Codex bearers.


    ¡ªLet me check... Yes, that¡¯s correct. Please pay the fee, and then head through that door¡ªThe receptionist explained with a warm smile. Since Shoun was the responsible one (and the only one with money), he paid the fee for the guild to supply a captive Grunt-rank vestige, provide facilities, and ensure safety in case something went wrong during the awakening. The total cost was a whopping 5,000 Crestos¡ª(This left me with only 5,000 Crestos in savings... Considering I now have to feed Kaze too, food and other expenses are going to eat into my savings... But this is worth every Cresto. Sein will be safe).


    After paying, the three went through the indicated door and waited in a white-walled hallway for a while. A few minutes later, a man in his early 30s appeared. He had brown hair with some gray streaks and wore a gray uniform with insignias. Kaze and Shoun inspected him as he approached and confirmed he was just an apprentice. But then Shoun realized a problem.


    ¡ª(Wait... What if he asks for our IDs? He¡¯ll see that Kaze isn¡¯t registered as a Codex bearer. Damn it! How could I overlook something so basic!?)¡ªShoun started to get nervous but was saved by Sein, who was oblivious to his worries.


    ¡ªHi, sir! Are you the one who¡¯ll supervise me during my battle?


    ¡ª...That¡¯s correct, kid. My name¡¯s Lawrence, apprentice and squad leader. Please follow me¡ªLawrence had already inspected Shoun and Kaze but was only there to do his job, so he didn¡¯t care who the young men accompanying the boy were.


    The squad leader guided them through various hallways until they reached a specific room. Inside, they found a large indoor arena with smooth concrete floors and bleachers on the sides. At the back of the room were several cages, from which the sounds of scratching and banging echoed as the creatures inside tried to break free.


    ¡ªI¡¯m going to release your opponent. From that moment on, you¡¯re on your own until you kill it, so get ready¡ªThe squad leader approached one of the cages and began opening it slowly.


    Sein, somewhat nervous, looked at Shoun and Kaze, but they simply nodded. The boy took a deep breath and drew his sword.


    ¡ªI can do this...¡ªSein positioned his feet as he had learned, gripping the Claymore with both hands in a ready stance.


    Finally, Lawrence finished opening the cage, but nothing came out. After waiting a moment, the squad leader got impatient and kicked the cage, causing a black figure to shoot out.


    It was about two meters long, with a vaguely humanoid but elongated shape. It had large black claws and a head covered in a thick black mane that also covered much of its chest. The only visible part of its face was a single glowing red eye.


    The beast scanned the arena and its potential opponents. When it saw Sein, it fixed its red eye on him as the weakest link. Without hesitation, the vestige charged at the boy.


    Sein watched as the creature ran straight at him. Without panicking, he realized he couldn¡¯t avoid its charge, so he adjusted his sword to hold it vertically in front of his chest, with one hand on the hilt and the other on the flat of the blade. He braced for the beast¡¯s impact.


    The creature¡¯s massive claws slammed into the sword, sending sparks flying. Sein dug his feet into the ground and pushed back, destabilizing the vestige. He adjusted his grip and swung the Claymore with both hands, delivering a powerful thrust to the creature¡¯s chest.


    The vestige didn¡¯t stay still. It crouched on its knees, and the sword passed over it. The creature counterattacked, lunging forward to strike Sein. The boy, due to his arm positioning and the close distance, couldn¡¯t attack or defend effectively.


    In this tough spot, Sein chose the lesser of two evils. He shifted his left leg slightly and leaned to the right. The creature¡¯s claws tore into Sein¡¯s left calf, but before it could do more damage, the boy brought the sword down with all his strength, smashing the flat of the blade into the vestige¡¯s head like a hammer hitting metal.


    The beast, stunned and injured, jumped back a few meters. Sein, on the other hand, had tears welling up in his eyes. His left leg hurt badly, burning and barely able to move.


    ¡ªI-It hurts... it hurts so much¡ªSein clenched his teeth. The fight wasn¡¯t over yet. He still had to finish this.


    The creature recovered from its confusion and charged at Sein again. The boy shifted his feet slightly, sending a paralyzing wave of pain through his leg, but he managed to position himself and swing. However, something unexpected happened¡ªthe sword flew out of Sein¡¯s hands due to his butterfingers.


    ¡ªHuh!¡ªEveryone in the room panicked at the sudden turn of events. Lawrence even started to intervene, but a miracle occurred. The flying sword spun through the air and struck the creature¡¯s right arm, severing it completely before embedding itself in the ground behind the vestige.


    ¡ªGraaa!¡ªThe creature writhed in pain from the lost limb. Everyone froze, but Sein was the only one who reacted. With tears streaming down his face, he lunged forward, driven mainly by his right leg.


    Before the now-hunched creature could react, Sein punched it directly in the eye, causing it to writhe in pain again. The boy ran behind the creature and pulled the sword from the ground.


    Gripping the sword with all his strength, Sein thrust it with all his might into the creature¡¯s head, piercing it from front to back thanks to Wind Cutter¡¯s power.


    Even with the sword embedded, the creature collapsed to the ground. As it died, it began to dissolve. A message appeared before Sein¡¯s tear-filled eyes.


    [You have slain the "Red-Eyed Monster." You have officially become a Seeker.]


    Without warning, the entire room was flooded with a bright light emanating from Sein¡¯s body.

 CHapter 21: The chosen one

    The light that filled the room quickly receded, revealing Sein, who was breathing heavily, hunched over and using the sword as a cane for support.


    ¡ªGreat job, Sein!¡ªAfter that shout, Shoun, followed by Kaze, ran over to their companion and congratulated him.


    ¡ªHaah... hahah, thanks, guys¡ªthe boy responded with a big smile on his face. Becoming a Seeker had healed his wounds, including his torn calf, leaving his body in perfect condition, though he was still tired from the intense battle.


    ¡ªThat was a good fight, kid, though you got really lucky at the end¡ªLawrence applauded Sein¡¯s performance as he approached¡ªYou really need to work on your grip. By the way, have you had any special training besides what your school provided?


    ¡ªYesterday was the first time I ever held a sword¡ªThe honesty of the boy left everyone stunned. While everyone acknowledged Sein¡¯s luck, it was clear that not everyone in his position would have acted the same way. Despite being reckless, the boy¡¯s fight was quite remarkable and showcased his innate talent.


    ¡ªI see... that sword of yours, what rank is it?


    ¡ªIt¡¯s Apprentice-rank. I borrowed it from¡ª


    ¡ªHey, Sein, what abilities do you have?¡ªShoun quickly intervened. He didn¡¯t want Sein to reveal more than he should. If Lawrence became interested in Kaze, it would be game over, so he had to steer the conversation toward Sein¡¯s new abilities. After all, it was something they had to report anyway.


    Every person who becomes a Codex bearer is required to report their abilities. They¡¯re also expected to update the regulatory authorities as they progress.


    This information is confidential to ordinary people. Only those with considerable rank within the guild or the government have access to it. After all, they need to scout the best talents and recruit them.


    ¡ªHmm, that¡¯s true. Come with me. You two can come as well, but please stay quiet so we can properly examine Sein¡¯s abilities¡ªLawrence explained briefly before leading them out of the room. After a short walk, they arrived at an office equipped with a lie detector¡ªFrom the moment I finish this explanation, you will need to report all the information included in your status window. Hiding information or attempting to lie is useless and could result in fines. Let¡¯s begin. Name? Age? Title?


    ¡ªSein Harrow, 15 years old, no title¡ªAfter the boy finished speaking, the desk Lawrence was leaning on turned green. At that moment, the team leader continued with the questions.


    ¡ªFirst basic ability?


    ¡ª...It¡¯s called "Touch of Rebirth." It¡¯s used to heal the wounds of others and myself... It can also cure infections, ailments, and to some extent, poisoning. From what I understand, the healing has a calming effect and brings comfort to the recipient. Lastly, it has a passive effect that gives me greater resistance to poison, paralysis, burns, and curses.


    ¡ªGood¡ªWith the desk¡¯s confirmation, Lawrence continued with the final question, slightly surprised by how comprehensive Sein¡¯s ability was¡ªSecond basic ability?


    ¡ªIt¡¯s called "Eternal Light." From what I understand, it¡¯s simpler. It¡¯s a beam of light I can shoot. Against my enemies, it causes damage, while for my allies, it provides a boost.


    ¡ªAlright¡ªLawrence, seeing the desk light up again, stopped writing on his tablet and prepared to try to recruit Sein¡ª(This kid has talent. Plus, his abilities seem useful. He¡¯d definitely be a great addition to the guild. I need to act fast before the government snatches him up)¡ªHe thought briefly before organizing his words and looking at Sein with a warm smile¡ªWe¡¯re done with this process. You can leave if you want, but I¡¯d like¡ª


    ¡ªWait a second! I still have another ability.


    ¡ªWhat!?¡ªEveryone in the room shouted, including, surprisingly, Kaze, though his surprise was more monotone than anything.


    ¡ªHow is that possible? Seekers are only supposed to have two abilities!


    ¡ªBut I have three...¡ªEveryone was stunned, especially when the desk confirmed he wasn¡¯t lying.


    ¡ªAlright... then please describe your... third ability¡ªLawrence said, picking up his tablet again.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s called "Golden Sword"... this is a bit confusing... according to this, it¡¯s a millennia-old sword that only appears to the chosen ones and is meant to subjugate evil... It has power equivalent to the bearer¡¯s rank plus one, so I think it should be Apprentice-rank, right?


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    The entire room fell silent as the desk lit up green again. No one could believe what was happening.


    ¡ªThis is unheard of... no one in history has ever had three abilities. Plus, that last ability of yours is even more special. Sein, I want you to know that the guild is very interested in you. I know it¡¯s just this team leader saying it, but I know what they¡¯ll say about you. Are you interested in signing a contract with us?¡ªLawrence imagined Sein¡¯s potential. He was a diamond in the rough. If Sein became a Dominator, his sword would be Rank 4, and if he reached Rank 4, his sword would be Rank 5... So, what would happen if he reached Rank 5? No one had ever come close to even touching Rank 6. Someone with a weapon of that caliber could shake the world. That¡¯s why Lawrence was almost desperate to recruit him.


    ¡ªUh, I¡¯m flattered, sir, but I already have other plans. Thanks for the help, but I¡¯m not interested!¡ªWith some nervousness, Sein handed Wind Cutter back to Kaze, who simply dismissed it. Before Lawrence could make a counteroffer, Shoun grabbed Kaze and Sein and bolted out of the facility. Since the mandatory process was over, no one stopped them on the way out.


    After escaping and getting outside the building, Shoun looked at Sein.


    ¡ªSein, that guild offer is just the beginning. You¡¯re truly special. You probably won¡¯t lack resources if you join them or the government. Are you sure you want to stay as our companion?


    ¡ª...I can¡¯t lie, it¡¯s tempting. But I already made a promise. Plus, that mirror world seems really special. I¡¯m dying to see it!¡ªThe talented boy explained with excitement. Shoun didn¡¯t try to argue, so they all headed to Shoun¡¯s house. When they arrived in the backyard, they started testing Sein¡¯s abilities. After all, the Codex descriptions were rather vague, and practical testing was always best.


    First, they tested the healing capability of Sein¡¯s first ability. Kaze used Wind Cutter to make a small cut on the boy¡¯s palm. Sein placed his right hand over the wounded left palm, and a small golden light illuminated the area. When he pulled his hand back, the left palm was completely healed.


    ¡ªHow much of your spiritual energy did that use?


    ¡ªA little. The cut was small and shallow¡ªLike all Seekers, Sein found it natural to use his abilities and manipulate his spiritual energy, though he still needed experience to use it in a real fight.


    Next, they tested the light beam. Sein pointed his palm forward and shot toward Shoun. After a couple of missed shots, the light beam finally hit Shoun with the "ally mode" activated. Shoun felt himself become slightly faster, and he could think more clearly and fight longer.


    On Kaze, the effect of the buff was more moderate, though he did feel slightly faster and sharper.


    Then they tested the "enemy mode" of the beam on Kaze himself. Sein clenched his fist slightly and shot the beam at Kaze. Kaze felt his entire body burn, though the sensation was slightly paralyzing. It wasn¡¯t something that could harm him just by being hit.


    After some testing, they realized Sein could keep the beam active in both modes to improve its efficiency, though this logically consumed more spiritual energy. To the point where giving a significant buff or damaging someone of Kaze¡¯s rank required almost half of Sein¡¯s energy.


    ¡ªUgh... this is... exhausting¡ªSein sighed from the ground, completely drained.


    ¡ªYou need to get used to managing your energy. You can¡¯t just spend it carelessly. After all, you still need to use it to enhance your body. Remember, battles are more like marathons than sprints¡ªShoun explained concisely, though he himself had a serious problem of spending too much electricity in every battle. Kaze, like Sein, was lying on the ground in pain, as being the test dummy still took its toll¡ªAnyway, show us that sword of yours. After that whole "chosen one" introduction, you can¡¯t leave us hanging, can you?


    ¡ªRight!¡ªSein responded excitedly. He got up, ignoring his fatigue, and searched within himself for the sensation of his last ability. Finally, he found it and activated it. A sword began to form in his hand. It was similar to a claymore, measuring 1.20 meters. The pommel and hilt were like a claymore¡¯s, but the guard was square-shaped, adorned with magnificent engravings and a red gem in the center, perfectly protecting Sein¡¯s hands. The blade was long and sharp on both sides, with engravings in a language none of them understood. The entire sword was a magnificent golden color, radiating majesty to anyone who looked at it.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s a... beautiful sword.


    ¡ªYeah¡ªEven Kaze marveled at the beauty of the Golden Sword. Sein, who wielded it, tested it with a few movements.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s comfortable. I think it feels much better than Wind Cutter... It¡¯s definitely the perfect sword for me¡ªSein said, admiring his reflection in the blade.


    ¡ªObviously, since you¡¯re "the chosen one"¡ªShoun said mockingly as he approached Sein¡ªLet me feel it. I¡¯m curious how it feels in my hands¡ªShoun reached out. Sein held the sword by the blade and offered the hilt to Shoun. Shoun placed his hand on the sword, but the moment he tried to hold it, he felt a burning sensation¡ªUgh!


    The sword fell from Shoun¡¯s hands. Looking at his hand, he saw it was red and smoking.


    ¡ªWhat the hell!¡ªShoun glared angrily at the sword, which reflected his image mockingly in its golden blade. Kaze, still on the ground, tried to grab the sword, but the result was the same¡ª...Looks like no one can wield it except you, Sein.


    ¡ªOf course! After all, I¡¯m "the chosen one"¡ªSein teased Shoun with a big smile as he picked up the sword again. In response, Shoun grabbed him by the neck and rubbed his head with his free elbow¡ªAh ah, I give up, I give up! Please stop!


    <hr>


    The next day, Shoun was at school, putting his things in his locker. It was Friday, and that night, the three of them were going to the mirror world.


    ¡ªGood morning, Shoun!¡ªSein ran up to him. Instead of his white shirt and pants, he was still wearing the sports clothes he¡¯d been using for training and fighting the past few days.


    ¡ªGood morning, Sein. Are you going to wear that every day now?


    ¡ªI¡¯m a Seeker now, Shoun. I need to be ready to face vestiges at any moment¡ªSein replied excitedly, watching as Shoun put his things away.


    ¡ªSigh... trying to change you won¡¯t work. Anyway, ready for tonight?¡ªBefore the boy could answer, an angry shout echoed through the hallway, coming from a familiar voice.


    ¡ªShoun!¡ªAt the end of the hallway, they could see an angry Robin, quickly approaching both young men.

 Chapter 22: Argument

    Before Shoun could greet Robin, Robin quickly grabbed him by the shirt and slammed him against the lockers behind him.


    ¡ªUgh¡ªShoun responded to Robin¡¯s action by glaring defiantly.


    ¡ªWhat were you thinking!?


    ¡ªHey, Robin. Looks like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t mess with me!¡ªRobin punched the locker next to Shoun¡¯s head, veins visibly popping on their forehead from anger¡ªHow could you do something so stupid as making Sein a Codex bearer!?


    ¡ªRobin, that was my choice. Calm down¡ª


    ¡ªYou shut up! I¡¯ll deal with you later... Well, Shoun? Did your brain get filled with crap one day, and you came up with this brilliant idea?


    ¡ªYou¡¯re making a scene right now¡ªOnly then did Robin realize that everyone in the hallway was staring at them. After a sigh, Robin reluctantly let go of Shoun¡ªSein was aware of the risks. He didn¡¯t take unnecessary dangers during his fight, so you can¡¯t say anything to me.


    ¡ªNo, I can. You know what you got him into when you decided to make Sein fight.


    ¡ªYou say that like you haven¡¯t spent the last year trying to recruit me.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s different. Your situation is different. You didn¡¯t have to give a child such an important choi¡ª


    ¡ªI was a child too!¡ªThis time, it was Shoun who raised his voice. At his outburst, both Robin and Sein, who had been trying to intervene, fell silent¡ªYou know what I went through that day, and what they did to me afterward. Don¡¯t come at me with your moral high ground when you¡¯re still here every damn day with your stupid little card.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s my job, you kn¡ª


    ¡ªNo! I don¡¯t know, and if you¡¯ll excuse me, I have class... See you later, Sein¡ªWithout saying much more, Shoun grabbed his things and walked away from the scene. Both Robin and Sein stood in silence until the recruiter turned to the boy.


    ¡ªSein¡­


    ¡ªWhat Shoun said is true. It was my choice. I knew the dangers... He even made sure I had a proper weapon and knew how to use it.


    ¡ªI know that, damn it... But you¡¯re just a kid. Just because the law allows you to become a bearer doesn¡¯t mean you should.


    ¡ªI won¡¯t be a kid forever, Robin. I want the strength to protect people. Even if Shoun hadn¡¯t given me the chance, I would¡¯ve found a way eventually.


    ¡ªTch... Sein, there are things you don¡¯t understand yet. Becoming a bearer will affect your life more than you think... especially considering your uniqueness¡ªRobin, having an appropriate rank within the government and being assigned to the school, was fully informed about Sein¡¯s abilities. The government and the guild were eyeing the boy like hungry wolves.


    ¡ªI know, Robin. I¡¯m ready for that¡ªSein said bravely, looking Robin in the eye.


    ¡ª...I hope so¡ªWithout further regret, Robin was about to leave but was stopped by Sein.


    ¡ªBefore you go, Shoun mentioned something in your conversation. Something about them doing ¡°something¡± to him. What did he mean?¡ªAt that question, Robin hesitated for a moment before finally answering:


    ¡ª...I¡¯ve already stuck my nose where it doesn¡¯t belong too much. It¡¯s better if you ask Shoun and let him tell you... I¡¯ll just say it¡¯s not pretty¡ªAfter those words, Robin walked away, leaving Sein confused.


    <hr>


    After school, Sein went to Shoun¡¯s house. Finding the door open, he walked right in. Kaze was watching TV, and Shoun was lounging on the sofa.


    ¡ªWhat¡¯s this? You didn¡¯t wait for me to come here together, Shoun?¡ªThe boy left his things at the entrance. He had told his grandmother he was staying at Shoun¡¯s house for the weekend as a sleepover, a clear excuse to explain his absence.


    ¡ªI was tired and wanted to come here first to rest a bit before tonight¡ªShoun explained briefly before making room for Sein to sit.


    ¡ªI see... That argument you had with Robin was ugly.


    ¡ªYou had an argument?¡ªKaze asked, pausing what he was watching. Recently, he had become quite good at handling technology, even managing to use a washing machine without ruining most of the clothes.


    ¡ªJust verbal... and I don¡¯t want to talk about it now.


    ¡ªI get it, but I have a question about something.


    ¡ªShoot.


    ¡ªAt one point, you mentioned that they did ¡°something¡± to you. What did you mean?¡ªAt that moment, the room fell into complete silence, quickly making the situation uncomfortable. After a few moments, Shoun sighed and spoke:


    ¡ªSigh... Sooner or later, you were bound to find out. I need a coffee before talking about this. Do you want anything?


    ¡ªI¡¯ll have a coffee with milk and bread¡ªKaze answered.


    ¡ªA hot chocolate!


    ¡ªYou two are going to ruin me at this rate¡ªAfter preparing the snacks, the three young men sat at the kitchen table¡ªIt¡¯s definitely hard for me to talk about this. You both know how I became a Seeker, right?


    ¡ªYeah, I still remember¡ªSein responded affirmatively. Shoun had confided that secret to him some time ago.


    ¡ªWell, I was only 10 at the time. When someone 15 or older becomes a Codex bearer, they¡¯re legally considered an adult. Since my situation was special and I was under the minimum age, I was taken to a government orphanage until I turned 15... or that was the initial idea¡ªShoun paused to take a sip of his black coffee and consider his next words. Sein had barely touched his drink, while Kaze, though attentive, kept eating¡ªAs you probably know, my two initial abilities did two things. The second one allowed me to control and manipulate electricity¡ªa classic electrokinesis that made me more powerful. My first ability, however, is more unique. It makes it so I don¡¯t have spiritual energy and instead manage electricity in my core. But it has another function: it makes that electricity in my core interact like spiritual energy with objects that require it... To continue, do you know how travel between the elven land ¡°Amalor,¡± the demon realm, and human territory works?


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    ¡ªA bit.


    ¡ªI saw it on TV, but I didn¡¯t understand much of what they were saying¡ªKaze replied, lowering his mask back to its original position after finishing his bread.


    ¡ªWell, let¡¯s start with the fact that Amalor is far from all human territory, and it¡¯s dangerous to travel on foot or by vehicle due to the vestiges. The demon world is even more unusual. Sein, you probably know this, but I¡¯ll explain for Kaze. Basically, the demon world is similar to the mirror world in that they coexist on this planet but can¡¯t be reached by ordinary means.


    ¡ªWhat do you mean?


    ¡ªSimple. No one can walk or drive to the demon world. It¡¯s like the mirror world in that sense. While it¡¯s logically connected to our world, we can¡¯t just come and go. That¡¯s why portals exist to maintain a trade line between the two nations. They¡¯re expensive and mainly used to transport goods since they don¡¯t require as much energy to activate.


    ¡ªHow expensive is it to transport a person?¡ªKaze asked.


    ¡ªWell, it consumes much more energy, and therefore Crests. To give you an idea, I think it¡¯s around 10,000 Crests per person. This changes if the person is a Codex bearer, since you could say we¡¯re composed of a greater amount of energy. So, transporting a Seeker would cost around 20,000 Crests. That¡¯s the net individual value. Ideally, more than one person would travel through a portal, which costs even more, and so on... As you can see, it¡¯s all very costly.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s true. That¡¯s why all nations constantly invest in portal research¡ªSein explained to Kaze.


    ¡ªExactly. The most efficient way to make a portal work is with spiritual energy, but the amount in the air is relatively small, and using the energy from a bearer¡¯s core is far from enough. So, they use energy sources like electricity or nuclear power to supplement it. That¡¯s where I come in. Since my electricity functions like spiritual energy, it can be used to power a portal with the same efficiency. And if I run out of electricity, they just feed me an external source. Basically, they used the same electricity but spent less because it was more potent.


    ¡ªSo, the government forced you to power portals?


    ¡ªPartly, but they didn¡¯t stop there. They wanted to find a way to better harness electricity to power portals without relying entirely on me. So, they experimented on my body¡ªShoun recalled what he went through during that time but held back, gripping his coffee cup tightly to avoid exploding¡ªThe experiments pushed my body and core to the limit. I was overloaded more times than I can count. They used me as a conductor... among other horrible things.


    ¡ªShoun... I had no idea¡ªSein¡¯s heart filled with pity for his friend¡¯s situation. Kaze, on the other hand, also looked somewhat downcast.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s because I didn¡¯t tell anyone about it. Robin probably knows because of their position in the government and because I¡¯m the recruitment target at school. But otherwise, the experiments they did on me are classified¡ªShoun explained with little enthusiasm before taking another sip of his coffee¡ªThose years... were torture. Overloading my core causes me incredible pain... That¡¯s why I avoid talking about this. It¡¯s painful.


    ¡ªSorry for asking, Shoun. I didn¡¯t think it was such a serious situation.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t worry. Like I said, it was something you were bound to find out eventually.


    ¡ªI have a question¡ªsaid the usually silent Kaze, who had barely spoken during the entire conversation.


    ¡ªShoot.


    ¡ªHow did you get out? If they experimented on you, it seems strange they¡¯d just let you go when you turned 15.


    ¡ªWell, you¡¯re right. They didn¡¯t at first. But thanks to a good person who happened to be in the right place at the right time, I got out¡ªShoun replied with a smile on his face¡ªYou both should know him. He was famous before, but now he¡¯s even more so. Alex Valen, ¡°The Last Bastion.¡±


    ¡ªAlex Valen!?


    ¡ªThe Rank 5?


    ¡ªThat¡¯s the one. As you probably know, he¡¯s recognized as a hero of our nation. He always punishes evil and helps the innocent. When he found out about my situation, he came and personally got me out of the labs where they were keeping me. He also helped me organize things like getting this house functional and my return to school. I owe him a lot. Sadly, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been able to talk to him, but I¡¯m forever grateful for his kindness. He¡¯s probably the only person in the government I truly respect¡ªShoun said, a bit more animated.


    ¡ªI¡¯ve heard stories about him too. Is he as amazing as the news says?¡ªSein asked excitedly. Since he was little, he had grown up admiring the defenders of humanity and the world, of which The Last Bastion was a part.


    ¡ªWell... he¡¯s more humble than he seems...¡ªShoun began to share what he knew about the famous Rank 5, somewhat relieved to change the subject. What they did to him during his time in the orphanage left a permanent mark on his body and psyche, almost as big as the day his family died.


    <hr>


    After hours of talking, night finally fell. The time to go to the mirror world had arrived. The three young men walked to the usual spot in the park and began making sure no one was around.


    ¡ªHey, Shoun, about this morning... I think you should apologize to Robin. They were harsh, but you weren¡¯t exactly kind either. You know they didn¡¯t mean any harm¡ªSein said as he checked the area.


    ¡ªSigh... You might be right. It¡¯s just that their hypocrisy annoys me...


    ¡ªShoun, didn¡¯t you yourself hesitate to invite me?


    ¡ªWait, you hesitated to invite me?


    ¡ªWell... more like I doubted my ability to protect you. Robin wasn¡¯t lying when they said becoming a Codex bearer involves more than it seems from the outside.


    ¡ªShoun... you¡¯re strong. You don¡¯t have to worry about protecting me. I¡¯ll protect myself, you, and Kaze. That¡¯s a promise!¡ªSein responded with great enthusiasm.


    ¡ªHaha, alright, I¡¯ll take your word for it. But to keep that promise, I think you¡¯ll need this¡ªThey had finished checking the area and were almost ready to go. Shoun approached Sein and pulled something out of his pocket, handing it to the boy.


    ¡ªGloves?


    ¡ªYep. They¡¯re for your butterfingers. The sword is deadlier if it¡¯s in your hands at all times. It¡¯s a gift from me, so take good care of them.


    ¡ªThank you so much, Shoun! I¡¯ll cherish them with my life!¡ªSein said excitedly before hugging Shoun.


    ¡ªAlright, alright. Put them on so we can go.


    The boy put on his new gloves. They were black and covered Sein¡¯s hands completely. Once he adjusted them, Shoun and Kaze exchanged a glance and nodded, activating the journey to the mirror world.


    The world contracted and began to distort, gradually losing all color¡ªfrom the perspective of the young men. From Sein¡¯s perspective, nothing seemed to be happening at first. He only gradually became aware of the lack of air in the space, noticing step by step the changes brought by the interworld travel.


    ¡ªThis... so this is the mirror world. I think if I hadn¡¯t known about it beforehand, I would¡¯ve been pretty scared.


    ¡ªLike Shoun when he first came here.


    ¡ªHey, he didn¡¯t have to know about this!¡ªBefore they could continue arguing, they heard the sound of footsteps approaching their location. Quickly, the three prepared for a possible fight.


    ¡ªHmm, this place looks quite interesting. Tell me, guys, what is it?¡ªFrom behind a tree, a young man appeared. He had black hair and eyes of the same color. A gray beret rested on his head, casting a shadow over part of his face. He wore a gray coat and a white shirt with a few holes, along with black pants and elegant black shoes.


    What surprised the group the most was that when they used ¡°Inspect¡± on the mysterious young man, it revealed that he was a Codex bearer¡ªan Apprentice, no less.

 Chapter 23: Deuz

    The entire place was filled with a tense silence. Each person was lost in their own thoughts, and the group of three was especially puzzled as to how they hadn¡¯t noticed this person. Each of them had been certain that no one else was around when they began their journey.


    ¡ªWho are you?¡ª Shoun asked, taking the initiative. He also positioned himself directly in front of Sein in case something unexpected happened. As always, the young man was cautious around strangers.


    ¡ªI asked first. I think it would be proper to answer my questions first, don¡¯t you agree?¡ª the stranger explained politely, taking a step forward. This made the group of three even more tense. Sein was ready to summon his sword, visibly opening his hand. Shoun assumed a slight defensive stance, and Kaze placed his hand on his katana. All these subtle actions were noticed by the mysterious young man, causing him to smile even wider. The boy adjusted his beret so they could see his face better and spoke, ¡ªBut I don¡¯t mind answering your questions since I can see you¡¯re all a bit tense. My name is Deuz Hale, adventurer by profession.


    Hearing that Deuz wasn¡¯t affiliated with the government or fully tied to the guild made Shoun feel a bit more at ease, but he didn¡¯t let his guard down completely.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s nice to meet you, Deuz... I¡¯m Shoun Foster, the little one is Sein Harrow, and the masked one is Kaze...¡ª Shoun introduced briefly before returning to the main topic. Interestingly, Deuz didn¡¯t ask about Kaze¡¯s last name, simply noting it in his mind. ¡ªI suppose I should explain a bit about where we are. This place is, so to speak, a parallel world or dimension. We can access it thanks to the ability of one of us. We come here because there are many vestiges, and it allows us to grow stronger more quickly. Whenever we come, we make sure no one else is around to avoid accidentally bringing someone in. So tell me, how is it possible that we didn¡¯t notice you?¡ª Shoun deliberately didn¡¯t reveal who had the main ability. While it might seem foolish, Deuz could decide to attack Kaze in an attempt to escape the mirror world.


    ¡ªHmmm... interesting. Well, following this game of answering and asking, I suppose it¡¯s my turn. Basically, as long as I¡¯m in a shadow, it¡¯s very hard for you to notice me. For example¡ª Deuz took a step back and hid under the shadow of a tree. Surprisingly, even though they could still see the spot where the beret-wearing boy should have been, they couldn¡¯t see him at all. A few seconds later, he stepped out of the shadow. ¡ªDoes that answer your question?


    ¡ªYes...¡ª Shoun felt a bit helpless in the face of such an ability. When the mysterious apprentice used it, it was impossible for Shoun to sense him, leaving him completely at his mercy. While Shoun didn¡¯t believe he could defeat an apprentice in battle, as the government had tried to make him believe, he still had faith that he could at least defend himself or escape. However, meeting Kaze had somewhat shattered that belief, and Deuz¡¯s existence buried it completely.


    ¡ªGood, then it¡¯s my turn to ask. Although this question-and-answer game is getting quite tedious, let¡¯s finish it quickly. How do we get out of here?


    ¡ªFirst, you have to pass a ¡°trial.¡± It¡¯s similar to ascension in that you have to kill a vestige with power equivalent to the contenders and win.


    ¡ªInteresting, very interesting¡ª As he said these words, a smile grew wider on his face, which unsettled Shoun a bit. Sein, on the other hand, was nervous that Deuz might blackmail them to keep the secret or simply expose them. Kaze, meanwhile, was innocently thinking that they should help Deuz, as well as Sein, during the trial. ¡ªSo I suppose we¡¯ll have to cooperate to get out of here, right?


    ¡ª...Correct.


    ¡ªGreat! It¡¯s a pleasure to work with you¡ª Deuz¡¯s exaggerated smile quickly returned to a normal one, and he approached Shoun, offering a handshake. The young man hesitated but, with no other option, shook Deuz¡¯s hand. This interaction was repeated with Sein and Kaze, though neither of them hesitated as much as Shoun.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s nice to meet you, Deuz! When we get out of here, are you going to expose our secret?¡ª Sein asked directly, which annoyed Shoun a bit but was somewhat expected given the boy¡¯s personality.


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    ¡ªThe pleasure is mine, Sein. And I have no plans to expose you. After all, you¡¯re not doing anything illegal here, are you?


    ¡ªNot at all, just killing vestiges and that¡¯s it¡ª Shoun clarified quickly.


    ¡ªWell, then I don¡¯t see any problem.


    ¡ªThank you. We prefer to keep this place a secret because we don¡¯t want to draw attention.


    ¡ªMore than we already do?¡ª Sein asked innocently.


    ¡ªSein!¡ª Shoun quickly gave the boy a light smack on the head, making him wince in pain. ¡ªBesides having butterfingers, it seems you have a loose tongue!¡ª


    ¡ªCan you explain all that to me?


    ¡ªOuch! That hurt, Shoun!... Well, Shoun is a person with a lot of potential, Kaze is a titled person who suffers from amnesia, and I have three abilities as a seeker.¡ª


    ¡ª...I think I¡¯ll need you to explain all that better¡ª For the first time, the beret-wearing boy showed a visibly confused expression, completely different from his previously unshakable demeanor.


    ¡ª--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    ¡ªOkay, let me see if I understood this correctly. You were born with powers and then became a seeker, which gives you even greater potential, so the government and the guild keep a close eye on you.¡ª


    ¡ªCorrect¡ª Shoun only gave the superficial reason. After all, he didn¡¯t want to delve into his trauma twice in one day, especially this time with a stranger.


    ¡ªYou woke up one day in a forest feeling nothing, killed a vestige, and at that moment realized you had amnesia. But you believe you could recover your memories if you keep ascending. Also, ¡°Kaze¡± is actually your title, while you don¡¯t know your real name¡ª Kaze simply nodded to confirm Deuz¡¯s words.


    ¡ªAnd you became a seeker yesterday, and it turns out you have an ability that says you¡¯re ¡°the chosen one¡± of a supposedly ancient and very powerful golden sword.¡ª


    ¡ªYes.


    ¡ªWow... that¡¯s hard to believe, especially the part about Kaze and Sein.


    ¡ªDo you want to get burned by Sein¡¯s sword again to confirm?¡ª Shoun joked while leaning against a tree. Deuz had asked to see and touch the golden sword, but Shoun stopped his companions from warning him about the effect of touching it if you weren¡¯t Sein. This led to Deuz experiencing the very unpleasant sensation of being burned by the sword.


    ¡ªOnce is more than enough. You¡¯re definitely a unique group... I like that¡ª He said this last part with a big smile, though it didn¡¯t feel exaggerated this time. ¡ªSo, tell me, what¡¯s next?


    ¡ªWell, we were going to try that ¡°base¡± we told you about to make a uniform for Sein. I assume you already have one and don¡¯t need us to make you one.


    ¡ªSounds good. I¡¯m also curious about that refiner you mentioned. Have you thought about selling artifacts or clothes using it? You¡¯d definitely make a lot of money!¡ª Interestingly, Deuz made the same face Shoun did when talking about money, which made both Kaze and Sein take a step back. But Shoun appreciated that someone shared his eye for business.


    ¡ªYes, but it would be hard to explain where we got all those things. In the end, it would cause more problems than the money we¡¯d make. Anyway, let¡¯s go inside the base. We still have a long day ahead, and we¡¯ve already wasted enough time talking¡ª Shoun looked at Kaze, signaling him to activate the base. The door appeared, allowing Kaze and Shoun to enter without issue. After the masked man configured the new visitors¡¯ access as ¡°guests,¡± the other two were able to enter without problems.


    ¡ªThis place... it fascinates me more and more¡ª Deuz said as he calmly admired the entrance hall.


    ¡ªI expected this place to be worse based on how Shoun described it, but so far, it¡¯s been quite pleasant.


    ¡ª(That¡¯s only because you¡¯ve seen the nicer parts)¡ª Shoun thought as he guided the others to the operations room.


    ¡ªGreetings, Administrator, Secondary Administrator, and guests¡ª the AI greeted concisely.


    ¡ªHi, Liam¡ª Kaze greeted back as he took a seat. Deuz sat on the opposite side, while Sein and Shoun were at the refiner, making Sein¡¯s uniform. Despite the boy¡¯s complaints, Shoun had the machine transform Sein¡¯s current sportswear into a uniform identical to the original clothing.


    ¡ªI still think a shiny suit of armor would¡¯ve looked better on me!¡ª Sein complained as he stepped off the refiner. Despite his complaints, he couldn¡¯t help but excitedly admire his new uniform. Only now did he feel like a true Codex bearer, part of humanity¡¯s defenders.


    ¡ªAnd I¡¯m telling you, you¡¯d definitely be too slow to fight with it on¡ª Shoun took a seat next to Kaze, while Sein sat between Shoun and Deuz.


    ¡ªWhat are we doing now?¡ª the beret-wearing boy asked as he continued to admire the place.


    ¡ªNow we should ask Liam for a mission. We need to learn how to work as a team before taking on the trial. That, and let Sein get used to his abilities in a real fight¡ª Shoun explained briefly before addressing the AI. ¡ªHey, Liam, do you have a mission suitable for the four of us?


    ¡ªI¡¯m sorry, Secondary Administrator. I¡¯m afraid guests cannot participate in missions.


    ¡ªTch, that sucks. Kaze, can¡¯t you set their status to residents?


    ¡ªThat option doesn¡¯t appear. I assume it¡¯s because they don¡¯t have their ¡°visa.¡±


    ¡ªThen what are we going to do?¡ª Sein asked as he moved around to get a better feel for his new uniform.


    ¡ªI guess we¡¯ll have to do it the old-fashioned way... it¡¯s time to go hunting.

 Chapter 24: Team

    After deciding to go hunting to get used to working as a team before the big battle, everyone went off to do their own thing. Kaze left the base in search of potential targets. He was the most suited for the task due to his skills and general knowledge of the mirror world.


    Sein, on the other hand, went to try out the base¡¯s training room. Shoun was surprised by how dedicated the boy was to his training. He had always known that his friend wanted to become a Codex bearer to protect humanity, but he never expected him to put his heart and soul into it so completely.


    Meanwhile, Deuz found some books on the shelves and started flipping through them, having nothing better to do. Shoun, for his part, took it upon himself to keep an eye on their new "companion."


    While no one exactly had a problem with Deuz, it was true that he was an unpredictable variable in their quest to grow stronger without drawing the government¡¯s attention. Among the potential Codex bearers they could have dragged into this, the beret-wearing boy was at the top of the list in terms of good impressions. After all, he wasn¡¯t affiliated with the guild or the government. The worst-case scenario would have been dragging someone like Robin, who was loyal and affiliated with the government.


    But Shoun was still worried about their new companion. Now, his fate didn¡¯t depend solely on his own strength or actions, which made him feel completely powerless.


    ¡ªAre you worried?¡ª Deuz asked as he turned a page in the book he was reading. Both young men were sitting on opposite ends of the base¡¯s comfortable sofa.


    ¡ªWhy do you ask?


    ¡ªYou haven¡¯t taken your eyes off me since we met. You look like a predator stalking its prey.


    ¡ª...I guess I am worried. I mean, you could decide to sell us out to the government about this place and make a lot of money¡ª Shoun decided to be honest. He knew all too well what dishonesty could do to a team, and his priority right now was to get Sein and (to a lesser extent) Deuz out of the mirror world. What happened after could be dealt with later, but he didn¡¯t want any friction during a fight.


    ¡ªWhat makes you think I¡¯d tell the government about this place?¡ª Deuz asked again, closing the book and picking up another.


    ¡ªI don¡¯t know you well enough to say you wouldn¡¯t.


    ¡ªWell, I¡¯m happy to inform you that I¡¯m not on good terms with the government. The guild is just annoying, but I don¡¯t particularly like them either¡ª This new piece of information about their new companion caught Shoun¡¯s attention, so he decided to ask:


    ¡ªIf you don¡¯t mind answering, why is that?


    ¡ªThey don¡¯t protect people. They¡¯re the main reason why the mortality rate is higher in the poorer sectors. Plus, they¡¯re incapable of managing anything related to Codex bearers properly. You know how chaotic things get when two or more rifts of different levels open in the city¡ª Shoun had the exact same issues. In fact, recently during Sein and Kaze¡¯s afternoon training, he had ranted about it while bored out of his mind watching them fight for hours.


    From that moment on, Deuz and Shoun started talking about various things related to the guild and government¡¯s management of the city, vestiges, information about the mirror world, and other topics.


    ¡ª(In the end, this guy is pretty likable)¡ª Shoun thought as he listened to Deuz ramble a bit about his life as an adventurer. The young man had asked for advice on improving his alibi with Robin¡ª By the way, Deuz, what are your abilities? It¡¯s important to know if we¡¯re going to fight together.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s true, but I¡¯d rather explain it when we¡¯re all together. I don¡¯t like repeating myself¡ª Deuz explained kindly to Shoun¡ª During our conversation, I realized something... something potentially problematic.


    ¡ªWhat is it?


    ¡ªWell... obviously, you know about rifts. Anyone living in this world knows about them. No one knows where they lead, but whenever they appear, they bring a tide of vestiges with them. So I thought, what if the rifts are a gateway for the vestiges in this world to enter ours? I mean, this place seems like the perfect base for those abominations.


    ¡ª...I can¡¯t deny that I¡¯ve thought about that before, but I can¡¯t be sure, not with the information we have now.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s true, but there¡¯s a way to get more information about this world, one you should already know about.


    ¡ªThe missions?


    ¡ªYes. With all the chaos you¡¯ve told me about, I think this place holds many more secrets than we imagine. If we can unravel them by completing missions, maybe we¡¯ll even find a way to stop rifts from opening. And if that happens, the vestiges will inevitably go extinct on Earth one day.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡ª...that sounds too idealistic to be true.


    ¡ªBut it doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s impossible. With everything I know now, I¡¯d like to keep coming to the mirror world with you all to learn more. Does that sound good to you?


    ¡ª...that¡¯s not a decision I can make alone.


    ¡ªI¡¯m fine with it!¡ª Sein responded as he walked into the living room, drying off the sweat with a towel¡ª You seem like a good guy, Deuz. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be a great addition to the team.


    ¡ªI don¡¯t have any complaints either¡ª Kaze appeared out of nowhere in the room after removing his wind cloak.


    ¡ªHow long have you been there?


    ¡ªI just got back. I found some potential targets.


    ¡ªWell... about your request, Deuz, I guess you can keep coming with us. Welcome to the team.


    ¡ªHehe, I assure you, you won¡¯t regret it.


    ¡ªBefore we head out, are you sure you don¡¯t want a uniform? We still have one use left after making one for Sein.


    ¡ªI¡¯m already wearing mine.


    ¡ªOh...¡ª After those words, Shoun started examining Deuz¡¯s uniform more closely. The shirt had a few holes, and the pants and jacket had some stitches¡ªsomething impossible, since uniforms repaired themselves. Therefore, that had to be its base design¡ª (Wow... customizing that design must have cost him a lot of money... and yet he chose to dress like a hobo.)


    ¡ª--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Now the group of four began to venture deeper into the mirror world. The streets remained as lifeless as usual, though in the distance, something unusual could be seen: cars and other objects were floating in the air.


    ¡ªThis area seems to have a slight lack of gravity. Not enough to tear buildings from their foundations, but enough to make objects float. We¡¯re no exception¡ª Kaze explained as he stepped into the zone, starting to float almost immediately.


    ¡ªThis is so cool! It¡¯s like being in space¡ª Sein said as he followed Kaze¡¯s example and began floating in the zone.


    ¡ªNot having your feet on the ground during a fight can be dangerous. Isn¡¯t there a way to avoid floating?¡ª Deuz asked, looking at the edge of the zone where the other two were floating.


    ¡ªThere is. You just need to channel spiritual energy into your feet¡ª Kaze replied before landing firmly on the asphalt. Sein imitated him and landed on the ground¡ª Still, it¡¯s ideal to conserve energy before a fight, so we can float until we reach our targets.


    Shoun and Deuz stepped into the low-gravity zone, immediately starting to float. Surprisingly, it felt natural to them, and they began moving through the streets quite quickly.


    ¡ªI guess it¡¯s time to tell you about my abilities¡ª Deuz said, looking around for his companions¡¯ attention. Seeing everyone looking at him, he smiled and began to explain¡ª My first ability allows me to mold shadows. They can take any shape I want, of course, at the cost of spiritual energy, and there needs to be a shadow large enough to do what I want. For example¡ª Deuz moved his wrist slightly, and the shadow under his jacket began to move, gathering in his palm and finally forming a feather¡ª Thanks to this ability, I don¡¯t need to use artifacts. Everything I need, I can mold on the spot.


    ¡ªThat sounds pretty good for just a basic ability¡ª Shoun commented briefly as he looked at the feather.


    ¡ªIt is. I¡¯m very grateful to have been lucky in that regard. Moving on, my second ability is simpler. As long as I¡¯m in the shadows, my spiritual energy recharges much faster. Thanks to it, I rarely have energy problems. Lastly, my apprentice ability is rank B. It has two effects. The first, you already know¡ªwhen I¡¯m in a shadow, I become almost undetectable. The second is that I can become a shadow and "jump" from shadow to shadow. It¡¯s like a short-range teleportation, with a maximum range of about 20 meters. It¡¯s quite costly to use, though.


    ¡ª(His abilities are certainly quite strong. He probably received a lot of offers from the guild and the government to join them... though, knowing his opinion of them, it¡¯s no surprise he¡¯s still just an adventurer.)


    ¡ªYou¡¯re really strong, Deuz!


    ¡ªHahaha, thanks, Sein. I¡¯ll make sure we can defeat the vestiges without any problems.


    ¡ªBy the way, what are the vestiges we¡¯re up against?¡ª Shoun asked, turning his head toward Kaze.


    ¡ªThere¡¯s a brute among them. In total, there are seven: four grunts, two wretches, and the brute. Also, they¡¯re intangible... I think they¡¯re called specters.


    Specters are a special type of vestige. While it¡¯s important to remember that vestige types are classifications invented by Codex bearers to make it easier to categorize the abominations, the line between magical and physical vestiges is often blurred. But specters are more special. They aren¡¯t a major threat to Codex bearers, as they usually don¡¯t have great physical abilities, and their magic-like powers aren¡¯t particularly impressive at lower ranks. However, they are especially destructive to infrastructure and ordinary citizens.


    This is because specters can only be attacked using spiritual energy, which prevents ordinary people from defending themselves with firearms or tools.


    Fortunately for humanity, this type of vestige is much rarer than the other two types. But whenever they appear, they¡¯re almost guaranteed to be a nuisance, as they are very elusive in addition to all their previously mentioned traits.


    ¡ªI think I see them¡ª Sein mentioned, pointing at a group of floating creatures. The group of vestiges was elongated and had four legs. The grunts were between 1 and 2 meters tall, the wretches between 4 and 5 meters, and the brute around 6 meters.


    They all looked somewhat like weasels, but their skin was pure white with black accents in some places. Their eyes were black, making them look like empty holes. Finally, the feature that identified them as specters was that these creatures were almost completely transparent.


    ¡ªGet ready to attack¡ª Shoun ordered as he channeled electricity into his feet, followed by the others¡ª Sein and I will take the front. Kaze will cover us while taking the rear. That¡¯s what we planned earlier. What are you going to do, Deuz?


    ¡ªHmmm, you had it all figured out... Well, then I have no choice but to cover your backs¡ª The beret-wearing boy approached the shadow of a floating car. The shadow detached from the ground and began crawling toward his hand, eventually taking the shape of a beautiful black bow with winged accents on each edge¡ª Don¡¯t worry, I never miss a shot.

 Chapter 25: Battle Against the Abominations

    The four of them hadn¡¯t yet drawn the attention of the vestiges, so they still had the element of surprise on their side.


    ¡ªSo, do we just go in and kill them?¡ª Sein asked as he summoned the golden sword.


    ¡ªAre you an animal or something? If one of us rushes in recklessly, we might provoke the brute, and that¡¯ll be the end of us. The best option is to kill one of them and lure the rest over. Defending a position should be easier for us, while charging in headfirst is suicide¡ªexcept for Kaze. He can pretty much do whatever he wants on this battlefield.


    ¡ªI agree with your analysis, Shoun¡ª Deuz said briefly as he loaded his bow. Kaze didn¡¯t say anything but nodded, showing he agreed as well¡ª I can kill one of the grunts with a single shot. Given their position and resilience, I doubt I can kill a wretch in one shot. Let¡¯s say it¡¯s a 50/50 chance. I don¡¯t need to mention anything about the brute, do I?


    ¡ªIf you kill the grunt, we lose a point... Let¡¯s do this: you, Sein, and I will shoot at two grunts and a wretch respectively, all at the same time. Ideally, all three will die, but if not, at least one should go down.


    ¡ªSounds good. But before that, let me enhance you with my ability¡ª Sein approached each of them and spent a bit of spiritual energy to apply the enhancement. Since he hadn¡¯t used much energy, the enhancement was very light on Deuz and Kaze.


    ¡ªPerfect. Let¡¯s get into position¡ª Shoun positioned himself slightly to the left of the battlefield, while Sein took the right. Deuz stayed back with his bow loaded, and Kaze positioned himself at the front.


    Shoun positioned his right hand to mimic the shape of a gun and aimed at one of the nearby grunts. It was about ten meters away and seemed to be asleep.


    ¡ª(I¡¯ve never shot at something this far away. Missing would mean wasting a lot of electricity... I should¡¯ve practiced this when I had the chance. I can¡¯t afford to be lazy)¡ª Shoun took a deep breath and made sure he had the creature in his sights. He signaled to his companions¡ª On the count of three... one... two... three!


    A powerful bolt of electricity shot from his finger, traveling quickly through the air and striking the vestige¡¯s body. The bolt pierced through it, causing the abomination¡¯s body to convulse violently before it finally disintegrated into dust.


    [You have killed the grunt "Incorporeal Abomination"]


    ¡ª(I was aiming for the head... If that hadn¡¯t been a specter, which is super vulnerable to electricity, I might not have killed it... I definitely need to practice)¡ª After a moment of self-reproach, Shoun turned his attention to the battlefield. He saw that there were now three grunts and one wretch left¡ª (Looks like Deuz managed to kill his target, but Sein missed)¡ª He watched as a grunt and a wretch quickly charged toward Sein. He wanted to worry, but he remembered that Deuz was aiming at the remaining wretch. Besides, he had his own problems to deal with¡ª (Two grunts are coming my way. I can handle this.)


    Shoun had already used about 20% of his total electricity between that shot and keeping himself grounded. Knowing there was still a long fight ahead, he decided to stop channeling energy into his feet. Instantly, he began to float.


    The two abominations quickly closed in on Shoun. Unlike other vestiges, these two seemed to work together, moving in a way that limited Shoun¡¯s ability to escape. Noticing this, Shoun quickly came up with a plan. He kept retreating until he positioned himself on top of one of the floating cars.


    Once on top, he formed his right hand into a gun again and fired a bolt of electricity at the grunt on the right. The vestige saw the projectile coming and dodged by moving backward and to the side, then continued charging toward Shoun. Shoun had no confidence that the shot would hit, but he was almost certain it would slow the vestige down, which was his real goal.


    Moments later, one of the two specters appeared, crossing the entire car. Shoun, who had already enhanced his entire body, quickly approached and punched it with a right hook. The vestige convulsed before disintegrating into dust, but Shoun didn¡¯t pay attention to that. The remaining abomination was already behind him. With no time to turn around, he flexed his entire body and enhanced his head, then launched himself like a spring, easily piercing through the specter and causing it to disintegrate.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡ªHaaah... haah, these things can barely take a good hit. That¡¯s why they instinctively attack humans in groups... It seems the phrase "divide and conquer" is truer than ever¡ª Even though the creatures weren¡¯t a major threat to Shoun, he didn¡¯t let his guard down and used a reasonable amount of electricity to win. He decided to take a brief breather before rejoining the others.


    At the same time as Shoun¡¯s fight, Sein watched as two vestiges, including a higher-ranked one, approached him. When he fired his "Eternal Light" attack from the palm of his hand, he missed his target by a wide margin, alerting the vestiges and causing them to charge at him along with the remaining wretch.


    The boy didn¡¯t panic. He knew that in the middle of a battle, the most important thing was to focus on the objective. Regrets and wishes were for later. He got into a defensive stance and noticed out of the corner of his eye that Deuz was covering him, aiming at the wretch charging toward him.


    As he waited for the grunt to enter his attack range, he saw Kaze being chased by the brute in the background. The vestige caused destruction wherever it went, easily smashing through cars or swatting them aside to crash into nearby buildings. The masked man didn¡¯t have his cloak fully activated because his goal was to keep the brute focused on him until his companions dealt with the minions and could help him. In the process, Kaze launched wind slashes from his sword at the vestige. Most of them hit, but they didn¡¯t do much damage, as the specter¡¯s body parts were simply erased before regenerating.


    Watching Kaze launch wind slashes from his sword gave Sein an idea.


    ¡ª(What if I use my sword as a catalyst for my ability?)¡ª The boy didn¡¯t know why, but the idea gave him a good feeling. With no more time to think, he began executing his attack. He activated "Eternal Light," causing his hands to glow with a golden light. He tightened his grip on the golden sword and felt something different. Without fully understanding what it was and with no time to spare, he swung the sword forward.


    The result of Sein¡¯s improvisation wasn¡¯t what he expected. Instead of a slash, a golden triangle appeared in the direction of his swing. The two vestiges were already within the triangle¡¯s area.


    ¡ªGraaa!¡ª The grunt let out its final cry before disintegrating into the air. The wretch, on the other hand, could be seen losing parts of its body, but they regenerated at the same time. The attack wasn¡¯t powerful enough to finish off the vestige, but the beret-wearing boy was ready for that.


    Seeing that one of the vestiges had died and the other had been slowed by Sein¡¯s attack, Deuz didn¡¯t hesitate. He fired a fully charged arrow at the wretch. Upon impact, the arrow pierced through the abomination¡¯s body, leaving a black hole where the creature convulsed before disintegrating.


    ¡ªPhew, that was close! Thanks for covering me, Deuz!¡ª Sein sighed in relief before walking over to the beret-wearing boy for a high-five.


    ¡ªHehe, anytime, buddy. Let¡¯s go help Kaze¡ª Deuz said as he loaded another arrow into his bow. A few seconds later, Shoun floated down from above.


    ¡ªRight, killing that thing will be harder¡ª The three of them could see Kaze struggling to evade the vestige. Seeing this, Shoun began to think of a plan, but Deuz interrupted him.


    ¡ªShoun, I have an idea, though I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯ll like it.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t be mysterious, just say it quickly. We don¡¯t know how long Kaze can hold out.


    ¡ªI saw your shot earlier. It was pretty powerful. My idea is for you to be the bait while you¡¯re enhanced by Sein. Kaze and I will cover you. Between the three of us, that thing should go down.


    ¡ª...Why do I always have to be the bait?... Sein, hurry up and enhance me.


    ¡ªGood luck, Shoun! I know you can do it!¡ª The boy did as asked and used the rest of his energy to enhance Shoun with "Eternal Light." Shoun felt much more powerful.


    ¡ªYou¡¯d better not let me die.


    ¡ªIt would never cross my mind¡ª Deuz said before Shoun took off running. He was much faster now, reaching the area below where Kaze and the vestige were moving in just a few seconds.


    ¡ªKaze, hide! I¡¯ll be the bait!¡ª The masked man heard these words, but unlike usual, he hesitated for a moment. However, he finally disappeared by fully activating his cloak.


    The brute, having lost sight of its target, began searching for it but soon found Shoun on the ground. Being easier to spot than Kaze, it charged at him at high speed.


    Shoun enhanced himself with electricity and began running while being chased. He wanted to turn around and shoot with his ability, but he was surprised by a car flying rapidly in his direction.


    ¡ªShit!¡ª The young man jumped and narrowly avoided the explosion caused by the vehicle crashing into the pavement. Shoun quickly recovered¡ªafter all, he was being chased by a massive vestige. The brute was slowly closing the distance, but Shoun could keep it from catching him completely thanks to his enhanced speed from both his electricity and Sein¡¯s ability¡ª Deuz, you¡¯d better hurry up!¡ª After that shout, the vestige finally caught up to Shoun, but before it could attack, a large dark arrow pierced through its body, leaving a massive hole in its chest.


    ¡ªI told you I wouldn¡¯t let you die¡ª Deuz commented as he loaded and fired another large arrow, this time creating a hole in the vestige¡¯s stomach. Shoun didn¡¯t waste any time and quickly charged the rest of his electricity into a powerful shot that hit the vestige directly, blowing off one of its arms.


    In the next second, before the creature could react, Kaze appeared above it and sliced through its neck with a wind slash. Finally, the vestige convulsed before disintegrating into dust.


    [You have killed the brute "Calamity Abomination"]

 Chapter 26: Peace After Conflict

    ¡ªPhew¡ª Shoun sighed as he watched the vestige¡¯s body disappear¡ª That¡¯s the first brute I¡¯ve actively killed.


    ¡ªGreat job, everyone!¡ª Sein exclaimed while floating. Despite having no energy left in his core, he still maintained his cheerful attitude.


    ¡ªFor your second fight against vestiges, you did pretty well¡ª Deuz complimented as he began to float. Unlike the others, he hadn¡¯t used much of his energy. After all, he only had to manifest his arrows and bow, and even when he made larger arrows, it barely made a dent in his reserves.


    ¡ªLet¡¯s rest now. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea to keep hunting, especially since it¡¯ll get dark soon¡ª Unlike Deuz, the others didn¡¯t thrive in low-light environments, so no one protested. Kaze summoned the base, and everyone went inside to rest.


    Inside the base, there were numerous facilities designed to make life as comfortable as possible for its inhabitants. After all, within the base, any effects of the mirror world were nullified, so things like eating, breathing, etc., were necessary.


    The first thing the four of them did was head to the showers. The battle hadn¡¯t been too grueling, but they had still worked up a sweat. Each individual section had different water settings, and there was soap, shampoo, and conditioner of unknown origins, but everyone agreed they smelled nice.


    After that, they tried out the laundry room with Kaze¡¯s uniform. Not because it was dirty, but because Kaze hadn¡¯t washed it since he got it. It was a mystery why it had only started to smell bad now. While his clothes were being washed, the masked man wore a blue shirt and cotton pants. These were stored in a closet in the laundry room, and curiously, there were pairs in the sizes of each group member.


    Once the hygiene issue was sorted, everyone headed to the kitchen. It didn¡¯t differ much from the general design of the base. There was a round wooden table with chairs around it, and along the walls were various appliances like an electric stove, an oven, a refrigerator, and a microwave.


    ¡ªOkay... where did all this stuff come from?¡ª Shoun checked inside the refrigerator and found various ingredients like meat, vegetables, milk, etc. He also checked the shelves and, apart from finding utensils, he found dry ingredients and spices.


    ¡ªThe base provides all the ingredients for sustainable living. However, I must warn you, Secondary Administrator, that the provided ingredients cannot be taken outside the base. But if it¡¯s a prepared meal, there¡¯s no issue¡ª Shoun didn¡¯t try to question this. It was already too good to be true to have essentially infinite food, and he didn¡¯t want to tempt fate by having it restricted.


    ¡ªWhat do you all want for dinner?¡ª Shoun asked as he looked at his companions, who were watching him expectantly from the table. For some unknown reason, he had naturally been chosen to cook.


    ¡ªCheese toast!


    ¡ªPancakes.


    ¡ªA bit of coffee, please, along with some buttered bread. I¡¯m easy to please.


    ¡ªPhew¡ª With a sigh, Shoun started cooking. It didn¡¯t take him long to finish the meal and serve it: cheese toast for Sein, pancakes for Kaze, and coffee with buttered bread for Deuz. Despite the simplicity of the meal, everyone enjoyed it. As he watched the others eat, Shoun, who had no appetite, went to check his status window.


    [Name: Shoun Foster?


    ?Age: 17?


    ?Rank: Seeker?


    ?Title:...?


    ?Ascension Points: 45/100?


    ?Abilities?


    ?Electric Flow: Your very essence has been touched by electricity since birth, allowing you to control and use it to your advantage?


    ?Basic Electric Core: It is a part of your being, existing and not existing, in both your physical and spiritual body. It is where all your electricity is stored and generated, and it also allows the user to absorb electricity from other sources?


    ?Visa: Congratulations! You are now able to enter and exit the other world.]


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    ¡ª(45 points! I¡¯m almost halfway to becoming an apprentice!)¡ª Shoun thought excitedly as he looked at his status window¡ª (I had 33 before. Three of the new points must be from the grunts I killed. That means the remaining nine must be from killing a brute. It¡¯s really profitable to kill vestiges above my rank.)


    Vestiges gave fragments depending on their rank. Grunts of rank 1 gave 1 point, wretches gave 2, and so on. The difference came when killing a vestige of a higher rank than your own. This was called the "difficulty bonus," which gave additional points depending on the rank difference.


    For example, as a seeker, if Shoun killed a grunt, he got 1 point. But if he killed a wretch, he got 4 points¡ª2 base points plus 2 more due to the rank difference. The brute they had just faced gave Shoun 9 points¡ª3 usual points and 6 for the two-rank difference.


    Additionally, if the vestige was of the "Alpha" class, it gave an extra point. For example, an Alpha wretch would give Shoun 5 points¡ª2 for killing it, 2 for the rank difference, and 1 more because it was an Alpha.


    This was why it became harder to keep ascending as you climbed the ranks. Kaze and Deuz, the two apprentices in the group, only received 6 and 10 points respectively, while Shoun and Sein received 12 and 17 (the boy had helped in all stages of the battle, so he also received points for the other kills). The difficulty bonus became harder to achieve and less profitable.


    Of course, apprentices could try to kill an executor of rank 4 to get 12 bonus points, but they would inevitably end up dead. It wasn¡¯t possible to kill a rank 4 as an apprentice¡ªthere was no comparison. Everyone was aware of this. Even dominators of rank 3, who had all possible points within their rank, had little chance of defeating an executor. Only the most talented and skilled could cross that barrier. This was one of the reasons why there were relatively few humans of rank 4, even fewer of rank 5, and none of the theoretical rank 6.


    ¡ª(Even though I¡¯m halfway to becoming an apprentice, I don¡¯t feel that strong. Sure, my physical strength and speed have improved, but I clearly lack technique. It¡¯s not enough to have a lot of points. I need to practice my abilities and combat style. I can¡¯t rest on my laurels... not again. There¡¯s no excuse for being weak when I have everything I need to avoid it within reach)¡ª With determination, Shoun tasked his companions with washing the dishes and headed to the training area.


    This would be the first time the young man had been in that place. When he opened the door at the end of one of the many hallways, he found a room similar to where Sein had his first fight, except this one was entirely white. It measured about 200 square meters. At the end near the door were seats, and in front was a complex silver panel. When Shoun approached, he realized it was used to customize the training experience.


    ¡ªGravity increase... targets... moving targets... combat holograms... temperature increase or decrease. This place is really well-equipped¡ª Shoun wasn¡¯t sure what the facilities were like at the guild or the government, but he thought it was likely that the base wasn¡¯t far behind¡ª There are also training tools, weights, wooden swords... damn, this place is pretty big. I feel really lucky to be able to train here.


    Shoun quickly set the option for stationary targets. A designated shooting area lit up on the floor, and in front of it appeared holographic targets, each one farther than the last until the end. Shoun stood in the designated area and took aim.


    ¡ªSecondary Administrator, if you wish, I can change your training configuration for you at any time. Just say it out loud.


    ¡ªAlright, Liam, thanks¡ª Shoun wasn¡¯t surprised that the AI was watching him, nor did he care, so he continued with his task. He took a deep breath and calmed himself, aiming his thumb at the target 10 meters away¡ª (I didn¡¯t have the confidence to hit a target at 10 meters before. I want to see if it was luck or if I can actually hit a target at that distance.)


    The young man briefly gathered electricity in his hand and fired. Unfortunately, the bolt missed the target.


    ¡ªI knew it... ugh, it¡¯s not the end of the world¡ª After a sigh, Shoun aimed and fired again. It took him a few more attempts, but he finally managed to hit the 10-meter target¡ª I needed to adjust how I aim. My electricity isn¡¯t bullets; I don¡¯t need to account for drop. It seems I just need to consider that at some point, it¡¯ll disperse after traveling too far through the air.


    Thinking about that, he realized he didn¡¯t know exactly how far his projectiles could travel. So that became his next task. After asking Liam to help by expanding the training room a bit and measuring the distance, Shoun fired the same bolt he had used earlier at the targets. It traveled about 50 meters. Then he tried a more charged shot, one with enough electricity to kill a specter grunt without any issues. That shot traveled faster but dispersed at around 70 meters.


    Finally, he tried an even more charged shot, using about 20% of his total electricity. When he fired, he noticed the bolt was much more "unstable" than the previous ones, but it was also much faster. It easily reached 100 meters in the field but seemed capable of traveling even farther.


    ¡ªWhat are you doing?¡ª Deuz asked as he entered the training room.


    ¡ªI¡¯m practicing my shots.


    ¡ªI see¡ª The beret-wearing boy started looking around the training room while Shoun continued practicing with the targets. Eventually, Deuz approached the young man and asked¡ª Do you only use your ability in those two ways?


    ¡ªHuh? Well, mostly I use my electricity to enhance myself, and the shots are necessary for situations like today. Trying anything else would probably drain too much electricity to be worth it.


    ¡ªTsk tsk tsk, that¡¯s just a lack of imagination on your part. You¡¯re limiting yourself too much and only seeing the simplest uses of your ability.


    ¡ªWhat do you mean?¡ª Deuz¡¯s comment might have sounded a bit dismissive, but it was clearly meant to help, so Shoun didn¡¯t mind.


    ¡ªYour ability lets you shape electricity the way I can shape shadows. Sure, I can¡¯t enhance myself, but that doesn¡¯t make me any less lethal, nor was I any less lethal when I was a seeker... let me teach you, and you¡¯ll become a killing machine.

 Chapter 27: Conductor

    ¡ªAnd what do you gain from this?¡ª Shoun didn¡¯t fully distrust Deuz, but he knew that kind of offer usually didn¡¯t come without conditions.


    ¡ªEnsuring my own safety even further. From what you¡¯ve told me, the vestige we¡¯ll face will be at a level equal to the four of us combined. Sure, we just killed a brute, but it was a specter, and you should know that those things aren¡¯t a big problem as long as they¡¯re below rank 4. So this feat shouldn¡¯t go to our heads. Sein is a rookie being trained by Kaze in sword skills. You, on the other hand, are adrift, and I¡¯m relatively qualified to teach you. So, what do you say? Will you let me teach you?


    ¡ªHmmm, alright. I guess it doesn¡¯t hurt to hear what you have to say.


    ¡ªGreat. To start, do you know what electricity is?


    ¡ªIt¡¯s energy¡ª Shoun answered simply.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s a good answer if a science teacher is asking, but in this case, it¡¯s incomplete. Let me give you an example. When I became a seeker, I had to build my combat style from my first ability, which led me to ask: What are shadows?¡ª At that moment, Deuz extended his arm, and beneath it was his shadow¡ª Shadows are regions where light doesn¡¯t reach. They¡¯re not something physical or something you can touch, unless, of course, I make it possible¡ª The shadow under his arm began to move, transforming into a simple sword that Deuz took in his hand¡ª So, with all that in mind, I realized one thing: the important part of my ability isn¡¯t the characteristics of shadows, because there aren¡¯t any truly usable ones. What¡¯s important is knowing where I can get shadows to transform and shape them.


    ¡ªI get all that, but it seems useless in my case. After all, it¡¯s not like there¡¯s electricity lying around here, and I can¡¯t transform my electricity either.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s useless to do the same thing I did. Shadows don¡¯t have a real way to affect vestiges or people unless I move them. On the other hand, electricity by itself already has its own properties. It¡¯s energy, as you said. So if I ask you: What is electricity? Don¡¯t just think about where it comes from or what it is. Go beyond¡ª At that moment, Deuz pointed the sword in his hand at Shoun. The young man flinched and stepped back, but the beret-wearing boy had no intention of attacking. He maintained his stance while pointing at Shoun and asked again¡ª What is electricity?


    ¡ª...¡ª Shoun considered the question for a few seconds, then slowly looked at the dark sword pointing at him. It seemed to be made of a black metal that contrasted sharply with the white light illuminating the room. Curiously, the shadow-made sword had no shadow of its own, though that made sense. After all, it would be strange for a shadow to have its own shadow¡ª (Electricity... electricity is energy, but what else is it?)¡ª Shoun thought that Deuz pointing a weapon at him wasn¡¯t without purpose. Then, with a flash of inspiration, the young man found the answer. He placed his hands on the dark sword and generated an electric discharge. Instantly, Deuz nodded and let go of the weapon with a smile. It fell to the ground and dissolved¡ª The answer is that electricity is a conductor!


    ¡ªSorry to burst your bubble, but that answer is wrong. Though it¡¯s because you phrased it wrong... that shock did hurt. Did you go overboard?¡ª Deuz said while rubbing the hand that had been holding the sword earlier.


    ¡ªOh, sorry. I got excited about figuring it out. Do you need me to get something to treat that?¡ª Shoun said as he moved closer to check Deuz¡¯s injury.


    ¡ªRelax, I¡¯m fine. It wasn¡¯t strong enough to leave a mark. Let me continue explaining.


    ¡ªOh, right. You said my answer was wrong. Why?


    ¡ªBecause you phrased it wrong. Electricity isn¡¯t a conductor, because conductors are what electricity travels through. So electricity itself can¡¯t be a conductor. Though you were on the right track. One of the properties of electricity is the existence of conductors. Metals like copper or gold are conductors. Even the human body is a conductor. One way to make the most of your powers is to take advantage of conductors.


    ¡ªI see... though, to be honest, I don¡¯t know how to take advantage of that¡ª The concept of conductors wasn¡¯t foreign to him, especially considering everything he¡¯d experienced during his years at the orphanage. But it had never crossed his mind to actively use it in battle.


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    ¡ªThat¡¯s the next step. You know the property to take advantage of; now you just need to figure out how to use it. Think about it. We have time. The three of us decided that if you agreed, we¡¯d dedicate tomorrow to training so we could take the test the day after. Do you agree?


    ¡ªOh, yeah. Anyway, I have things to think about after this conversation... thanks, Deuz.


    ¡ªNo problem. Just don¡¯t stay up too late. I¡¯m going to sleep. I imagine Kaze and Sein are probably already asleep¡ª The beret-wearing boy quietly left the training room, leaving Shoun alone.


    The young man, with nothing else to do, continued his original training, thinking about the conversation he¡¯d had with Deuz.


    ¡ª(Conductors... How didn¡¯t I think of them before?... Tch, I messed up again)¡ª Shoun still couldn¡¯t consistently hit the target at 10 meters, so he was stuck¡ª (My strength increases their survival... that¡¯s true. I can¡¯t afford to be weak if I want to get everyone out of this place alive... I wouldn¡¯t forgive myself for not being able to protect the people I care about)¡ª Shoun felt responsible for Sein. He was the one who brought him into this world, so he saw him as his responsibility. Kaze was his companion. He hadn¡¯t known him as long as Sein, but he felt a deep connection because of everything they¡¯d been through together. Deuz was a stranger, but he already liked him, and to some extent, it was his fault for bringing him¡ª (My life no longer belongs only to me... I need to be stronger. I need to take advantage of conductors!)


    After making up his mind, Shoun ran out of the training room. It didn¡¯t take him long to reach his destination: the operations room.


    ¡ªLiam, I need your help.


    ¡ªHow may I assist you, Secondary Administrator?


    ¡ªI need a weapon, something that lets me take advantage of conductors. I have no idea what could work, and things like a sword or a spear don¡¯t fully convince me. You¡¯re an AI; you probably know much more than I do. So, please, help me!


    ¡ªOf course... Please look at the screen to see if the design I¡¯ve created for your weapon is appropriate. Keep in mind that the next use of the refiner will consume the Alpha grunt¡¯s corpse, and it won¡¯t be usable until more corpses are supplied.


    ¡ªUnderstood¡ª Shoun approached the refiner¡¯s screen, analyzing the weapon design Liam had created for a few seconds¡ª This... wow, this is truly ingenious. Even for a seeker-rank weapon, its effects are good... It¡¯s perfect, Liam. Please proceed.


    ¡ªAs you wish, Secondary Administrator¡ª The operations room filled with an intense glow, which quickly faded, revealing Shoun¡¯s new weapon.


    ¡ª--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Sein woke up early in the morning, thanks to Liam waking him after his eight hours of sleep.


    ¡ªGood morning, Guest Sein.


    ¡ªGood morning, Liam!¡ª Sein responded excitedly. He hadn¡¯t taken off his uniform, so he was already dressed as he got out of bed. He was in one of the base¡¯s many rooms, which didn¡¯t have much in them. They had a desk, a bed, a carpeted floor (with colors varying from room to room), and an attached private bathroom.


    After washing his face and brushing his teeth, the boy left the room and found Kaze and Deuz sitting in the kitchen.


    ¡ªGood morning, Sein¡ª Deuz greeted while reading a book and drinking coffee.


    ¡ªGood... morning¡ª Kaze greeted briefly in his monotone voice between bites of his pancakes.


    ¡ªGood morning, guys! Where¡¯s Shoun?¡ª The boy sat in an empty spot between Deuz and Kaze.


    ¡ªHe seems to still be training. Though before he went back to training, he left breakfast ready for us. Here¡ª Deuz replied without looking up from his book. Instead, a hand emerged from his shadow, grabbing a plate with two sandwiches from the microwave and placing it in front of Sein.


    ¡ªThanks... it¡¯s really good... What do you mean he¡¯s still training?¡ª Sein asked after tasting the food. It wasn¡¯t a coincidence that Kaze and Sein let Shoun do the cooking. He had great skills in that area, and Deuz, though he didn¡¯t know it at the time, simply went along with it.


    ¡ªHe¡¯s been training non-stop since yesterday... It seems my advice was useful to him.


    ¡ªDid you teach him?


    ¡ªA bit. I know Kaze teaches you, so I thought I could guide Shoun.


    ¡ªI... don¡¯t teach him¡ª Kaze said, setting aside his empty plate of pancakes, surprising both Deuz and Sein. After all, the masked man didn¡¯t usually participate much in conversations¡ª Not since he became a seeker. Right now, I¡¯m his training partner while his own sword teaches him.


    ¡ªIs that true?¡ª The beret-wearing boy looked at Sein for confirmation.


    ¡ªKaze¡¯s exaggerating. He still teaches me a lot, but it¡¯s true that since I got my sword, learning how to fight with it has become easier.


    ¡ªOur swords are special, Sein, and yours seems to be even more so¡ª Kaze added briefly before falling silent again.


    ¡ªSo your swords ¡°teach¡± you... interesting¡ª Deuz said briefly, putting down the book he was reading for the first time¡ª In any case, we should check on Shoun. He might have hurt himself and need our help.


    ¡ªAlright!¡ª Sein quickly finished his breakfast and went with the others to the training room. There, they found Shoun completely drenched in sweat, with an unknown artifact on his wrist that only he recognized¡ª What¡¯s that?

 Chapter 28: Iron serpent

    Shoun threw a punch at a blue holographic figure. The right hook pierced through the hologram¡¯s chest, causing it to explode into harmless little sparks.


    ¡ªLiam... ugh, turn off the training system¡ª At that moment, the young man was drenched in sweat. He was only wearing part of his uniform, having set aside his hoodie and denim jacket. Around Shoun¡¯s wrist was a chain, which, like a serpent, slithered up his arm and coiled around his chest¡ª Hey, guys.


    ¡ªSo that¡¯s your new weapon¡ª Deuz commented briefly as he eyed the chain.


    ¡ªAn artifact? How did you get it?¡ª Sein asked as he approached Shoun. The young man didn¡¯t resist and let the boy examine it. Kaze, on the other hand, stayed back with Deuz.


    ¡ªThere was one use left of the corpse, so I used it to create this chain. The artifact¡¯s name is "Iron Serpent." Basically, its ability is that it moves according to my will without me needing to dedicate part of my concentration to controlling it¡ª As he spoke, the chain coiled around Shoun¡¯s right arm at his command, allowing his companions to see it better. The chain looked very similar to a normal one, except one end resembled a serpent¡¯s head, while the other looked like a tail¡ª I think it¡¯s about a meter long, more or less, though it can grow if I inject it with electricity. Besides what I¡¯ve already told you, it should be durable, so besides attacking, it can also defend me a bit¡ª Shoun had consciously chosen to share all the information about his new weapon. It would be foolish not to, and he trusted them.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s so cool! Does it bite?¡ª Sein asked as he touched the "head" of the serpent with one of his fingers.


    ¡ªYes¡ª Shoun replied briefly before sending a small electric shock through the Iron Serpent to Sein, who jumped back more out of surprise than pain. After all, Shoun would never seriously hurt his friend¡ª Hahaha! It¡¯s an artifact; it¡¯s not really alive. So no, it doesn¡¯t bite unless I want it to¡ª The Iron Serpent, as its name suggested, was a conductor. Shoun had devised a way to throw it and trap his enemies, then generate a shock to paralyze them. That was still a work in progress, but it worked well against holograms for now. It wasn¡¯t that Shoun couldn¡¯t just generate a massive electric shock to achieve the same effect, but that would cost far more electricity than it was worth.


    ¡ªOuch, you¡¯re evil, Shoun!¡ª At that moment, Sein summoned his sword and attacked Shoun, though very slowly on purpose so the young man could react.


    From that moment on, the four of them began training in a rotation. Shoun trained with Sein while Deuz trained with Kaze.


    From what Shoun could gather from watching the two apprentices train, Deuz didn¡¯t have much trouble finding Kaze even though the latter was wearing his cloak.


    This happened because of the way the masked man moved his spiritual energy. As seekers, both Shoun and Sein didn¡¯t rely on it to survive, nor did they have great control or the ability to detect it effectively.


    Apprentices were different. They controlled it more efficiently and were more sensitive to spiritual energy, so if Kaze got too close, they could sense him to some extent.


    That was more than enough for Deuz to aim and fire some of his blunted arrows. They wouldn¡¯t kill Kaze, but they¡¯d probably leave a bruise.


    The two apprentices were relatively evenly matched. Kaze had no trouble getting close to Deuz and attacking, but Deuz could react quickly and counterattack with a barrage of arrows, all while repositioning himself with his ability.


    Meanwhile, Shoun and Sein practiced more theoretical things and didn¡¯t attack each other. That was because their attacks could seriously injure one another. After all, Shoun¡¯s electricity in large amounts was enough to destroy a physical brute¡¯s arm, while Sein¡¯s golden sword was apprentice-rank, making it dangerous in its own right.


    So Shoun focused on practicing with the Iron Serpent while Sein defended. Then they moved on to testing Sein¡¯s healing abilities more extensively than before, as it seemed similar to Shoun¡¯s electricity in that the more spiritual energy was poured into the healing, the greater the effect.


    ¡ªCut this¡ª Shoun pointed to a part of his left forearm, telling Sein to cut it. If the boy couldn¡¯t fully heal it, it wouldn¡¯t stop Shoun from fighting, as he was right-handed.


    ¡ªAre you sure? That¡¯s going to hurt a lot...¡ª Despite the obvious, the boy still pointed it out with some hesitation¡ª You don¡¯t have to go through that to test my powers.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s fine, Sein. I¡¯ll be okay. I can handle the pain¡ª The boy had an idea of why his friend had such a high pain tolerance, but he could only sigh before taking his sword. He didn¡¯t want to prolong the suffering, so with a simple, precise motion, the indicated part of the forearm was cut¡ª Ugh...¡ª The young man only let out a slight grunt as he bit his inner lip. Both his shirt and the white floor were stained with his blood. Sein set the sword aside, still disturbed by the sound of human flesh being cut, which kept replaying in his mind. Placing his hands over the wound, he poured a large amount of spiritual energy into his palms, which glowed with a golden light that faintly illuminated the surroundings. Slowly, the blood stopped flowing from Shoun¡¯s wound, and the flesh began to regenerate. After a couple of minutes, Sein stopped injecting spiritual energy and collapsed to the floor, exhausted. Shoun, on the other hand, looked at his body¡ª ...you¡¯re amazing, Sein. It¡¯s like I was never injured in the first place.


    ¡ªHehe... thanks... now let me rest for a bit¡ª Sein asked before closing his eyes and entering rest mode. Shortly after, both Deuz and Kaze approached, and Shoun explained what they had just tested.


    ¡ªThat was a bit reckless on your part. You¡¯re lucky it worked¡ª Deuz commented briefly, though he didn¡¯t seem upset¡ª On the other hand, it¡¯s good to know the extent of his ability. He might even be able to heal more, but testing that would be even more reckless¡ª He was clearly hinting that Sein might even be able to regenerate entire limbs.


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    ¡ªYeah, let¡¯s rest a bit and then continue training¡ª Shoun suggested briefly before sitting down. He had been training all night and part of the morning¡ª I can still keep going, but I need to sit for a while¡ª The apprentices didn¡¯t fully believe Shoun¡¯s words, but they trusted that he knew his limits better than anyone.


    After an hour, everyone had recovered and switched training partners. Sein practiced his swordsmanship with Kaze, while Shoun trained with Deuz in a similar way to how Deuz had trained with Kaze.


    The difference between the two training sessions was that, unlike Kaze, Shoun was learning to survive more effectively against a ranged enemy. After all, it wasn¡¯t like he expected to fight alone in the mirror world. They were a team, but he needed to be able to survive in those moments to create an opening for Kaze, Deuz, and Sein.


    The young man blocked the blunted arrows with the chain, but he couldn¡¯t do it every time or too often, as there was a risk of the chain breaking. So sometimes he dodged or blocked with his body, trying to take the hits in less debilitating areas for a long-term battle.


    The effects of all this training wouldn¡¯t be immediately noticeable. After all, it was necessary to internalize what they¡¯d learned and gradually incorporate it into their fighting styles. But everyone was putting in the effort to give their best in the test the next day.


    After a couple more hours, it was time for lunch. Everyone left their uniforms in the washer, including Kaze¡¯s, which had been washed and dried the day before. It was necessary after all the sweating they¡¯d done over the past few hours.


    Shoun prepared a simple lunch consisting of rice and beef, and he let Sein help by making a tomato and lettuce salad.


    Lunch went by with Sein leading and dominating the conversation thanks to his cheerful and extroverted personality. Everyone else participated, though Shoun less so, as fatigue and lack of sleep were starting to weigh on him.


    When they finished, each went their separate ways. Shoun went to sleep until around evening. During that time, Sein practiced his swordsmanship and techniques alone, Deuz read one of the books in the base (he mentioned that after skimming through them, he found they were mostly universal literature like Pride and Prejudice or A Thousand and One Spells). Kaze, on the other hand, sat on the couch with Deuz, doing nothing. Mostly because he didn¡¯t enjoy the readings Deuz recommended, nor did he feel like training at the moment. And since there was no TV, his only option was to sit around doing nothing¡ªbut the masked man didn¡¯t seem to mind.


    After Shoun woke up and Sein finished training, they joined Deuz and Kaze in the living room. Unlike the other two, they couldn¡¯t just sit around doing nothing until the next day, so out of sheer boredom, they started looking for something new in the base and found a drawer full of board games.


    ¡ªWow, there¡¯s even a Stellar Path here¡ª Shoun said as he held a box with a spaceship on the cover.


    ¡ªReally!? I haven¡¯t played that in years. My grandma and I used to play it a lot when the neighbors came over for tea¡ª Sein commented briefly before snatching the box from Shoun¡¯s hands.


    ¡ªWhat¡¯s Stellar Path?


    ¡ªIt¡¯s a pretty old board game. Its origin dates back to the arrival of the Codex. A Codex user took an even older game and redesigned it, adapting it with more fantastical mechanics... I have the name of that game on the tip of my tongue...¡ª Shoun explained briefly. Sein was already setting up the board and sorting the pieces before everyone could agree, but they went along with it and sat down.


    ¡ªThe game Stellar Path is based on is Parcheesi¡ª Deuz said as he started the game with his move¡ª Your turn, Kaze. For now, it¡¯s simple. You just have to...


    ¡ªI¡¯m surprised one of humanity¡¯s first saviors dedicated himself to designing this board game¡ª Kaze¡¯s surprise wasn¡¯t very noticeable in his tone, but the fact that he even showed it was enough for everyone at the table to believe he was genuinely impressed. Instead of announcing Shoun¡¯s turn, Kaze just looked at the young man, who understood and started his move.


    ¡ªWell, it¡¯s pretty normal. There are many people who, for one reason or another, end up becoming Codex bearers but don¡¯t want to work in that field. It probably wasn¡¯t much different centuries ago¡ª Shoun commented briefly, a hint of melancholy in his gaze as he made his move¡ª Your turn, Sein.


    ¡ªThe first saviors seem incredible to me. They managed to defend unstable humanity. Obviously, I also admire the elven and demon saviors, but I don¡¯t know much about them... I think I know what to research when I get back!¡ª Unlike the other players, Sein took an aggressive approach, causing one of Kaze¡¯s pieces to retreat. From that moment on, a fierce battle broke out between the novice Kaze and the veteran Sein over the next few turns¡ª Hahaha, Kaze, I¡¯ve got you right where I want you!


    ¡ª...¡ª The masked man didn¡¯t respond to the boy¡¯s taunt. He simply waited for his turn and, when it came, quickly dismantled Sein¡¯s strategy.


    ¡ªHuh?... What!? How is that possible!? Are you cheating, Kaze!?


    ¡ªSurprisingly, no¡ª Shoun commented as he held the game¡¯s rulebook. He already knew how aggressive and sore of a loser Sein could be during board games, so he had the rules on hand¡ª Did you really not know anything about the game before we explained it to you, Kaze? We¡¯ve got a Stellar Path prodigy right here!¡ª Shoun joked shamelessly, aiming to provoke Sein, which he succeeded in doing spectacularly.


    ¡ªJust you wait, I¡¯ll show you all my true power!¡ª The game continued for a while, eliciting laughter to varying degrees, mostly because it was fun to frustrate Sein, though even he had to laugh at times. The winner was Deuz¡ª How is it possible that you won?


    ¡ªWhat can I say? You got careless while dealing with Shoun¡¯s fleet, and you insisted on going after Kaze even though at this point he couldn¡¯t come back without a miracle. Staying quiet is also a strategy, you know¡ª Deuz explained briefly, smiling innocently at the boy.


    ¡ªI want a rematch!


    The four of them spent a fun evening playing and eating, perhaps trying to enjoy themselves more because of the challenge they would face the next day.


    Shoun lay back down in the bed of the room he had claimed as his own. It was the same as Sein¡¯s, except it had a gray carpet instead of a cream-colored one.


    ¡ª(I wish we could keep playing and having fun like this forever)¡ª Shoun remembered Sein¡¯s smile and frustration during the game. He cared deeply for his old friend. Then he thought about his companion, Kaze. As always, he had been more expressionless¡ªhe didn¡¯t laugh, get frustrated, or really get angry. But even so, he showed genuine concern for Shoun and Sein¡ª(They say actions speak louder than words, so I know Kaze cares for me just as much as I care for him)¡ª Then his thoughts turned to Deuz. The former stranger, now companion, left Shoun unsure of what to think. He couldn¡¯t trust him as much as Sein or Kaze, but he knew Deuz also had his own reasons for wanting their survival. He had seen it during their training and in other small interactions, causing that seed of affection he already felt for the others to grow for his new companion as well¡ª(...I don¡¯t want to feel powerless again. I want all of us to make it out of here alive, and I want to keep getting stronger... The vestiges are both the barrier and the gateway to my goal, so I¡¯ll kill every vestige that stands in my way.)

 Chapter 29: The Tyrant of Adversity

    The next day, the four of them left the base, finding themselves in the same zero-gravity zone they had been in before entering.


    ¡ªWhere should we do the test? This place seems a bit inconvenient¡ª Deuz commented briefly as the door to the base disappeared.


    ¡ªHmmm, maybe in the area where we entered. That¡¯s where we did the last test¡ª Shoun suggested. The others agreed, so they set off toward that location.


    ¡ªHey, Shoun... do you think we can pass the test?¡ª Sein asked in a low voice as they floated. Unlike his usual cheerful demeanor, there was a deep concern in his eyes¡ª I mean, we¡¯ve prepared a lot. You even got a new weapon. But what if it¡¯s not enough?


    ¡ª...¡ª Shoun remembered asking Kaze something similar just a week ago. In his memory, it already felt like a long time due to everything they¡¯d been through. Without answering immediately, Shoun flashed a big smile and looked at his friend¡ª Of course we can! Just trust in us and yourself!


    ¡ª...Alright!¡ª Shoun¡¯s confidence eventually rubbed off on Sein, and the boy regained his usual lively personality.


    The group didn¡¯t take long to leave the zero-gravity zone and reach their destination. After exchanging glances, they all nodded.


    ¡ªLet me try to activate the test... it should be ready now¡ª In front of the four of them, the following message from the Codex appeared:


    [?Residence Test: Face the trial alongside your companions to freely enter and exit this world. The test consists of surviving and defeating the vestige.?


    ?Accept?? ?Yes/No? ?1/4?]


    ¡ª(The message is a bit different this time... I guess since there are more of us, it had to change)¡ª Since Shoun was the one who initiated the test request, he didn¡¯t have to accept directly, though he could still see the option to reject the test¡ª(Does that mean I could choose not to participate?... Bah, I¡¯d rather die than leave my friends alone.)


    Without much thought, everyone accepted. Just like last time, a red barrier began to form in the sky, but unlike the previous test, this one covered a much larger area, engulfing many streets and buildings, as well as a large part of the park.


    In the next moment, a powerful wind began to fill the entire barrier, momentarily blinding the group. A few meters in front of them, the dust began to gather, slowly forming a black figure. At the same time, a screen appeared in front of everyone¡¯s eyes.


    [Vestige: Kalgoros, Tyrant of Adversity?


    ?Characteristics: Alpha Brute, born of chaos itself. Its name inspires terror and is a sign of calamity. Wherever it goes, only ashes and flames remain.]


    In front of the group, the dust continued to form a black figure. At one point, the dust turned into pure darkness, which moved with the strong wind, briefly being inhaled by the boys. The small gust of darkness sent chills down their spines, making their backs break out in cold sweat and giving them goosebumps.


    Eyes formed in the middle of the massive mass of darkness, and a huge black mane covered part of it as four enormous legs took shape. Finally, a large tail was created, dissipating the last remnants of the deep darkness.


    The black lion, Kalgoros, stared at them with lifeless yet ferocious eyes. The entire dome was dead silent until Shoun muttered a brief phrase.


    ¡ªA-alpha brute... Isn¡¯t that a bit too strong?¡ª His words echoed through the massive barrier. Without answering, the situation changed in an instant. Shoun was grabbed by the hood of his sweatshirt by Kaze, while Deuz did the same with Sein. Without a word, the two apprentices began running, dragging the other two with them¡ª Huh? What are you¡ª


    Before he could finish, a deafening roar silenced him. It made him feel small, as if it were forcing him to kneel before his new sovereign. Kaze and Deuz felt the same but kept running as if their lives depended on it¡ªbecause they did.


    Despite dragging Sein and Shoun, the apprentices quickly reached high speeds, fleeing as far as possible from their new enemy. After a few minutes, they looked at each other and stopped in a distant spot, still within the barrier. Exhausted, they dropped the seekers.


    ¡ª...What just happened? Why did you run?¡ª Sein asked from the ground.


    ¡ªThat vestige... it¡¯s too strong¡ª Kaze explained briefly in his monotone voice, though everyone could see his nerves from the slight tremors in his legs.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s definitely stronger than expected. Didn¡¯t you say you faced an alpha wretch in your last test?¡ª Deuz asked. Surprisingly, his usual calm smile was almost gone, and beads of sweat rolled down his face.


    ¡ªYeah, that hydra was the last thing that stopped us from leaving this place the last time.


    ¡ªBut it¡¯s just an alpha brute. We¡¯ve already killed a brute before. How hard could this one be?¡ª Sein asked innocently. Curiously, despite being the weakest in the group, he seemed the least nervous about the situation.


    ¡ªThere¡¯s no comparison between that specter and this vestige... Phew¡ª Deuz sighed, adjusted his beret, and seemed to regain his composure¡ª Let me explain. As you should know, vestige types are something we humans invented. Most of the time, vestiges have hybrid characteristics between multiple types, except for specters below rank 4. They¡¯re simply not a big threat to any spiritual energy manipulator. It¡¯s not like you or Shoun could beat it alone, but maybe together you¡¯d have a decent chance... That lion is another story. If it were just a brute, it would already be a tough opponent, but it¡¯s an alpha. It¡¯s almost impossible for us to kill it... Why did the Codex give us such a strong opponent?


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    ¡ªIs the difference that big? But Kaze, you¡¯ve already killed a brute¡ªthe one that was harassing me when I first came here! And you did it in one hit!


    ¡ªIt¡¯s different. That was the strongest opponent I¡¯d faced before. I only killed it because you gave me an opening by weakening and distracting it¡ª Kaze explained briefly, shaking his head.


    ¡ªDamn...¡ª Shoun leaned against a building wall and slid to the ground. He briefly recalled the aura of the vestige they were about to face. The sheer terror of looking into its eyes had already filled him with fear¡ª So, what? Is it impossible to kill it?... All our effort for nothing. Just looking at it made us piss ourselves.


    ¡ªDid it scare you that much? It just looked a bit stronger than a normal one¡ª The rest of the group exchanged glances before collectively turning to Sein. Was the kid crazy? How could he say that after everything they¡¯d just discussed?


    ¡ªWait, it seems the lion unleashed some kind of wave of darkness that scared all of us. So, Sein, it didn¡¯t affect you?¡ª Deuz asked as he approached the boy.


    ¡ªIt did that?¡ª Sein asked innocently. He had clearly seen the wave of darkness but only felt a slight discomfort, something he always felt when facing any vestige.


    ¡ªSo that¡¯s how it is... I think I have a theory¡­


    ¡ªWe¡¯re all ears. No need to be mysterious in this situation, Deuz.


    ¡ªWell, if I recall correctly, you said that hydra would always grow twice as many heads unless Shoun shocked it, right?


    ¡ªYeah, that¡¯s what happened. Kaze would cut them, and I made sure they didn¡¯t grow back.


    ¡ªThat confirms it. For both of you, that test was impossible to pass without the other. It was designed so that if you used all your abilities, you could win. This must be the same case, and the first piece of the puzzle is none other than Sein¡ª Deuz said, pointing dramatically at the boy.


    ¡ªHow am I the key, Deuz?


    ¡ªYou said it yourself. It didn¡¯t seem like a big deal to you... Doesn¡¯t one of your abilities give you passive resistance to curses? That wave of darkness might have been a curse, and if I¡¯m not mistaken, your enhancement might transfer some of that resistance. That¡¯s your role in this fight¡ªto give us the courage to fight!


    ¡ªThat... sounds amazing!¡ª Sein easily accepted his assigned role and raised his sword above his head¡ª Fear not, my companions! With me by your side, you¡¯ll never lack the courage to fight!


    ¡ªNo need to start talking like a knight, Sein. Anyway, now that you¡¯ve figured out Sein¡¯s role, what about the rest of us?


    ¡ªI don¡¯t have all the answers, Shoun, but if I had to guess... Hmm, well, the vestige¡¯s description seemed to hint at fire abilities. If it fills the area with flames, it¡¯ll be hard to breathe. So, Kaze, with your wind, you can clear the air and let us breathe. Can you do that?¡ª The masked man nodded in confirmation¡ª As for me... this place is big, and there are plenty of shadows. I can adapt and take on whatever role is needed at the right moment, though it¡¯ll cost a ton of spiritual energy... Ah, whatever.


    ¡ªAnd what¡¯s my role?


    ¡ªWell... I¡¯m having a hard time seeing your usefulness in this fight, Shoun. You can¡¯t provide utility like Sein, and one fireball from that thing would probably erase you from existence.


    ¡ªDid you have to be so blunt about that last part?


    ¡ªBut don¡¯t get discouraged. Thanks to this massive barrier, we¡¯re in your element. You won¡¯t run out of electricity.


    ¡ªWhat the hell are you talking about? In the mirror world, buildings and streetlights don¡¯t have electricity I can absorb!


    ¡ªSigh... Are you really that blind to the bigger picture?¡ª Before Shoun could protest, Deuz extended his arm, and a shadowy tentacle emerged from it. In moments, it stretched out to a car, opened the front, and pulled out a small box. The tentacle retracted, and the box fell into Deuz¡¯s hands.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s¡­


    ¡ªA car battery. Seriously, it never crossed your mind to use one of these? One might not fully recharge you, but this place is full of them. It¡¯s like an all-you-can-eat buffet, Shoun.


    ¡ªThat could actually work¡ª Shoun stood up and approached Deuz. Touching the car battery, he could feel the electricity within it¡ª I can recharge my energy. I have to say, when you put your mind to it, you¡¯re pretty useful.


    ¡ªThanks? Anyway, one of these won¡¯t be enough. Let¡¯s not waste time and gather as many as we can before that thing finds us.


    The four of them went through the laborious process of disconnecting car batteries from abandoned vehicles on the streets. Some cars didn¡¯t have batteries, and some batteries didn¡¯t have enough charge to justify carrying them, but they still managed to gather a total of 15 batteries. Shoun estimated that each battery would recharge about 15% of his core.


    In an act of consideration, Deuz used his shadows to create a portable platform on his back to carry all the batteries safely and within easy reach for Shoun.


    Before they could continue their search for batteries, they suddenly heard a loud roar coming from the end of the street. There, they saw Kalgoros, surrounded by pure darkness. The hunter had spotted its prey and quickly sent a torrent of darkness toward them. It wasn¡¯t going to let them escape this time.


    The darkness filled the entire street. This time, it didn¡¯t carry a foul stench, but the three older members felt their limbs failing them.


    ¡ªI-I can¡¯t move¡ª Shoun said, clearly nervous.


    ¡ªS-same here¡ª Deuz tried to maintain his calm demeanor but was failing. Kaze didn¡¯t say anything but seemed to be trembling.


    ¡ªTsk tsk tsk, seems like it¡¯s time to test my new technique¡ª This time, Sein stepped forward and raised his sword above his head¡ª I told you very clearly! As long as I¡¯m here, you¡¯ll never lack the courage to fight!¡ª As if they were the activation words of a spell, the golden sword served as a conduit for Sein¡¯s enhancement ability, forming a large golden circle that surrounded the four of them. Instantly, everyone felt a surge of strength in their bodies, completely nullifying the darkness that had threatened them.


    ¡ªAlright, guys, as we discussed. How about we dethrone this tyrant?¡ª Deuz said briefly as nearby shadows formed into his bow and arrows. The masked man nodded and drew his sword, while the Iron Serpent, coiled around Shoun¡¯s chest, moved to his right hand.


    The vestige watched as the ants it was about to crush defied its authority. As if this were the greatest offense it had ever suffered, the lion roared again. But instead of another wave of darkness, something different happened.


    The majestic mane of the tyrant burst into flames, along with the tip of its tail. Its eyes burned with fury as it stared at the four young men. Without further ado, the tyrant roared again, launching a massive fireball from its gaping maw straight at its prey.

 Chapter 30: Ants Part 1

    A powerful blast of fire shot from the lion¡¯s maw. The masked man didn¡¯t falter and stepped forward to fulfill his role. Gripping Windcutter tightly, Kaze stood in front of the massive wave of fire. Gathering a portion of his energy into the blade, he slashed just as the flames were about to overwhelm him. As if the wind obeyed his will, the fireball split in two and crashed into the surrounding buildings, extinguishing itself but leaving clear burn marks behind.


    The lion didn¡¯t attack again immediately after Kaze repelled its assault. It seemed to be studying their movements. The masked man activated his cloak and disappeared from sight, though Kalgoros could still sense him. However, the vestige couldn¡¯t attack because a black arrow was speeding toward its position. From its massive mouth, the lion fired another fireball, intercepting the projectile. The arrow, launched by Deuz, and the bow from which it was fired, were both apprentice-rank due to Deuz¡¯s level. Yet, they required only a bit of the lion¡¯s attention to be destroyed.


    At that moment, the vestige tried to resume its attack but was surprised to find its right front leg bound by a chain.


    Shoun, taking advantage of the chaos created by his companions¡¯ attacks, had sneaked through the abandoned cars in the streets until he reached an optimal position. Without hesitation, he launched Iron Serpent, which extended and wrapped around the creature¡¯s leg.


    Knowing he didn¡¯t have much time now that the vestige had noticed his trick, Shoun channeled a surge of electricity into Iron Serpent. The current traveled through the chain, momentarily paralyzing the creature.


    Sein and Kaze saw the opportunity to strike. They rushed toward the vestige. Just as Sein reached the front, Kaze briefly deactivated his cloak to signal the boy. Sein understood and ran to the right while the masked man went left.


    At that moment, Kalgoros broke free from the paralyzing effect of Shoun¡¯s attack. The first thing it did was exert immense force, snapping the chain. Shoun had anticipated this and had already detached part of the chain to avoid being dragged. He knew the vestige would now be more wary of him, making it impossible to repeat the tactic. But it didn¡¯t matter¡ªhe had already given his companions the chance to attack.


    While Kalgoros broke free from Iron Serpent, Kaze and Sein prepared their attacks. The boy raised the golden sword above his head, and it glowed with a golden light. Meanwhile, Kaze took some distance and imbued Windcutter with a significant amount of his energy. As if synchronized, they launched their attacks simultaneously.


    Kaze, with his cloak activated, lunged forward with incredible speed, thrusting his sword directly at the lion¡¯s chest. At the same time, Sein unleashed a vertical slash, sending a wave of golden light speeding toward the vestige.


    Kalgoros calmly assessed both attacks. Aware that it couldn¡¯t dodge both, it decided to take Sein¡¯s attack head-on and deal with Kaze¡¯s, which, due to its speed, was undoubtedly the more dangerous of the two. The lion moved its head and exhaled a powerful fireball, intercepting Kaze mid-flight. To its surprise, the masked man didn¡¯t falter. He continued advancing at full speed, so the lion prepared another fireball to finish him off if the first one failed. But moments before the fireball and Kaze collided, the masked man sharply altered his trajectory. Without losing any speed or momentum thanks to his ability, he had already planned to modify his attack. Instead of a thrust, what struck Kalgoros simultaneously with the golden light was a slash of wind.


    Smoke briefly filled the area, but as it cleared, two new wounds were visible on the lion¡¯s body. On its left side, a line of blood ran along its flank, while the right side had a deeper gash that stretched from top to bottom. If one listened closely, they could hear a sizzling sound, like a burn, still emanating from the wound.


    All of this happened in the small window of opportunity created by Deuz and Shoun¡¯s attacks. The four of them, standing before Kalgoros, were no longer mere ants. But even ants can devour giants when they work together.


    Rage consumed the vestige¡¯s mind. In an instant, hell broke loose. With a stomp, the ground cracked, and pillars of fire erupted from it. From its mouth, it unleashed another torrent of flames, this time like a flamethrower¡ªa continuous stream. It first targeted Kaze, who was behind it. Seeing this, the masked man had no choice but to reactivate his cloak and narrowly escape. Immediately after Kaze fled, Kalgoros redirected its attack toward Sein.


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    The boy didn¡¯t have time to run and take cover after his offensive. But just as the flames were about to reach him, a chain wrapped around his waist. It was Shoun, who, the moment Sein was entangled with Iron Serpent, yanked him to safety, narrowly avoiding the lion¡¯s attack¡ªthough not for long.


    ¡ªGet down!¡ª Shoun pushed Sein to the ground behind a car. In the next moment, they were engulfed by a sea of flames, barely escaping unscathed.


    Kalgoros had only launched one attack, and the entire street was now covered in flames. The ground was fractured, and the cars and asphalt melted under the tyrant¡¯s onslaught.


    The lion pushed the car shielding Sein and Shoun with one of its paws, slamming the molten vehicle into a building. Now, both seekers were under the vestige¡¯s gaze. Shoun stepped forward, Iron Serpent sliding into his hand. He was determined to protect Sein at all costs.


    Kalgoros launched a fireball at them. The distance was too short, and with no time to dodge, Shoun could only brace for the worst. Until Kaze appeared in front of them. Deactivating his cloak, he slashed, sending a wave of wind that shattered the fireball and created a momentary smoke screen.


    Deuz seized the opportunity, firing a massive arrow at the lion. The vestige responded with another fireball to counter it, but the arrow split into three mid-air, dodging the fireball and striking the lion in three different places: its right front leg, its left front leg, and finally, its left eye.


    ¡ªGRAA!¡ª The tyrant roared, momentarily paralyzing the seekers. But thanks to Kaze¡¯s proximity, they were dragged toward Deuz, reestablishing a safe distance from the creature.


    Now blind in one eye, Kalgoros unleashed its fury once more. In an attempt to put the ants in their place, the flames in its mane dimmed slightly, but in their place, a cloud of darkness gathered around the lion. When the cloud grew large enough, it filled the entire street in an instant.


    The young men, still recovering, couldn¡¯t do anything to resist the attack. They all knelt, powerless before Kalgoros¡¯ overwhelming authority. However, to the vestige¡¯s displeasure, one ant still resisted¡ªSein.


    ¡ªH-how persistent you are, trying to crush us, kitty¡ª Even he, despite his strong resistance to curses, had to exert a great deal of willpower to resist the lion¡¯s authority. Gripping his sword tightly, he poured a significant amount of his spiritual energy into enhancing his companions, who immediately began to regain their strength.


    It was at that moment that the tyrant realized why the ants could resist its power. Taking advantage of the fact that the others were still recovering, it channeled part of its essence into a quick and powerful attack. A fireball tinged with black shot from its mouth. In a few seconds, it would hit Sein. Kaze was too far away, and even if he activated his cloak, he wouldn¡¯t make it in time. Deuz was still recovering from the effects of the dark cloud. The boy wasn¡¯t fast enough to dodge the attack. He could only curl up and hope it wouldn¡¯t kill him instantly.


    But Shoun, who was right beside him, stepped in front of the attack. He used all the remaining electricity in his core to strengthen his right side and took the full brunt of the blast with his right arm.


    Time seemed to stop for the three young men as they watched Shoun take the hit. Even the vestige was somewhat surprised that he had intervened. But beyond the shock, it continued its assault. This time, however, Deuz and Kaze managed to recover and positioned themselves in front of the two seekers to defend them.


    Sein dragged Shoun¡¯s body back and got a better look at him. He looked bad¡ªreally bad.


    The young man lay on the hot asphalt. His arm was a charred mess, completely black with streaks of dried blood. The upper part of his uniform tried to regenerate but kept retreating whenever it reached his right shoulder. His lips were completely dry, and a burn stretched from his right cheek down to his neck.


    ¡ªShoun, you idiot! W-what were you thinking!?¡ª Sein, tears welling in his eyes, set his sword aside and placed his hands on Shoun to heal him. But Shoun stopped him with his one usable arm.


    ¡ªD-don¡¯t... don¡¯t do it¡ª His voice was hoarse and barely audible. At that moment, he could barely feel his right arm, let alone move it. The sensation was horrible¡ªa constant pain that kept him conscious but in a state close to torture¡ª You need to save your energy... I¡¯ll be fine.


    ¡ªBut, but¡ª Sein tried to protest, but Shoun stopped him by shaking his head. To endure the pain, he bit his lip, letting a trickle of blood run down his face. The boy could only watch helplessly as his friend suffered because he had saved him¡ª ...stay here. We¡¯ll finish this fight.


    Sein picked up his sword and, determined, ran to join Deuz and Kaze, who at this point were barely holding off the vestige on their own. But just as he reached Deuz, he caught a glimpse of the bloodied Shoun slowly making his way toward them.


    ¡ªHmm, I guess you¡¯re not ready to retire from the fight yet. I won¡¯t say no to an extra hand. Do what you have to do, masochist¡ª Deuz commented briefly as he brought the platform with all the batteries closer to Shoun. Sein wanted to say something about how it wasn¡¯t the time to mock the young man, but the jab didn¡¯t even seem to register in Shoun¡¯s pain-addled mind.


    Shoun looked at the batteries like a man in the desert seeing water. With his one good hand, he pointed at the batteries, and a massive storm of electricity shot from them directly into his core.


    When all the batteries were drained, they fell to the ground. Shoun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and flashed a wide grin, revealing his blood-stained teeth, before asking:


    ¡ªSo, how are we killing this bastard?¡ª His voice was filled with absolute excitement and madness.

 Chapter 31: Ants Part 2

    Sein didn¡¯t know what was happening to Shoun. His attitude was completely different from just moments ago when he had been injured. Kaze, glancing briefly at the young man, remembered their fight against the Hydra. It didn¡¯t surprise him that Shoun was acting this way¡ªafter all, he had been like this before. What was so strange about it happening again?


    Shoun, for his part, paid no attention to the looks from his companions. He moved forward and positioned himself beside them. After absorbing the equivalent of twice the capacity of his core, his body was bursting with electricity. Logically, he had to redistribute it more or less evenly throughout his body to avoid imploding from the overload. In exchange, he felt a persistent pain in every part of his body, a sensation that made him want to tear off his own skin just to release the energy. But he had no choice but to accept it to keep fighting.


    The only part of his body that didn¡¯t improve was his right arm. After all, it was now a charred, useless mass of flesh. So instead of sending electricity to that part of his body, he channeled it all into Iron Serpent. He had never given his new weapon this much electricity before, so despite being in the middle of a battle and in a semi-delirious state, Shoun was still curious to see what would happen.


    His curiosity was soon satisfied. As he injected such a massive amount of electricity, Iron Serpent underwent a surprising transformation. First, the artifact slithered up to coil around Shoun¡¯s neck. Then it began to grow, reaching two meters in length. The electricity emanating from the chain gradually formed a more tangible body. Now, Iron Serpent looked like a real serpent¡ªone made entirely of lightning. Its face, which had previously been barely recognizable, became more defined, with sharp-pupiled eyes and a pair of fangs made of electricity.


    ¡ªHahaha, now you look stronger, Serpent. Let¡¯s not waste any time¡ªlet¡¯s kill that thing!¡ª Naturally, the artifact didn¡¯t respond with words. Instead, it mimicked the sound of a hiss with the thunder generated by its mere existence. The now-overloaded Shoun began running forward, straight toward Kalgoros, with Sein and Kaze backing him up on either side.


    The lion, before being overwhelmed, decided to eliminate the weakest link among its enemies¡ªShoun, who appeared to be injured. It launched a fireball at him.


    Shoun, facing the lion¡¯s attack, simply glanced at Kaze, who returned the look. The masked man immediately understood what his companions wanted and unleashed a wind slash that dispersed the fireball. The young men¡¯s advance wasn¡¯t being stopped, but Kalgoros knew that launching multiple fireballs in quick succession wouldn¡¯t be effective due to Kaze¡¯s presence. So it tried a different approach.


    With a powerful stomp, two massive walls of fire rose and shot forward. The young men easily dodged the direct attack, but that was the vestige¡¯s intention. Now, they were all isolated from each other.


    Once again, Kalgoros tried to eliminate Shoun with a fireball. Faced with this, the young man could only laugh.


    ¡ªDo you really want to play with me so much, kitty? Come on, I¡¯m waiting!¡ª Shoun quickly formed his left hand into a gun shape and fired a powerful bolt of electricity that collided with the fireball, canceling both out¡ª (Kaze will take a moment to destroy these walls... I need to create another opportunity for a new offensive.)


    Making a quick decision, the smiling Shoun looked directly into the vestige¡¯s one remaining eye. Meanwhile, the supercharged Iron Serpent began to move along Shoun¡¯s body until it reached his right leg. Then, just a few meters from Kalgoros, Shoun kicked hard, sending the artifact flying toward the lion.


    The vestige had no choice but to redirect its next attack toward the approaching chain. After all, it already knew what would happen if the chain made contact with its body. A fireball was launched and intercepted Iron Serpent, which fell to the ground as its electric serpent form became slightly more transparent. Moments before, when Shoun kicked Iron Serpent, he quickly took position and aimed with his left hand, firing all the electricity from his left arm at the lion.


    With no other options, the tyrant flexed its body and leaped, narrowly dodging Shoun¡¯s shot. But in the moments it was airborne, three things happened. First, Kaze managed to dispel all the walls of fire. Second, Sein, seeing the lion in the air, quickly calculated where it would land and launched a thrust. The vestige saw this out of the corner of its eye and twisted its body mid-air to avoid the attack.


    But just as the lion thought it had dodged the entire offensive, the third thing happened. A massive black arrow flew across the battlefield and pierced the creature¡¯s right leg, leaving a gaping hole that spilled large amounts of the vestige¡¯s signature purple blood.


    ¡ªGRAA!¡ª The lion staggered. Unfortunately, despite its incredible body and vision, it couldn¡¯t detect Deuz, who was currently hiding under the shadow of a tree when he fired.


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    The brief moment was seized by Sein and Kaze, who launched their respective attacks, further deepening the wounds on both sides of the vestige¡¯s massive body. Meanwhile, Shoun took the time to retrieve the faltering Iron Serpent.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s okay, buddy. You did well. This will be over soon... Ugh!¡ª The young man gasped after giving even more electricity to his chain to repair it and restore its electric serpent form. He felt the full weight of the battle bearing down on his body¡ª (No, not yet!)


    Refusing to give in, Shoun redirected some of the electricity from his core to other parts of his body. This brought back the pain that had subsided just moments ago, keeping his mind awake but in constant torture.


    Finally, the lion regained control, launching fireballs and bursts of flame to push the young men back, even if only slightly. Seeing this, Shoun moved Iron Serpent back to his right leg, a move noticed by everyone present.


    Once again, the young man delivered a powerful kick. Kalgoros reacted instantly and fired to intercept the chain mid-air. But surprisingly, the fireball simply crashed into the ground¡ªafter all, Shoun hadn¡¯t fired when he kicked.


    The small momentum created by Shoun allowed everyone to unleash their pre-prepared attacks. Wind slashes, light cuts, and black arrows flew toward the creature, leaving it in a pitiful state. Kalgoros was exhausted. It had lost an eye, its right leg had a gaping hole, and numerous scratches were causing it to bleed steadily. The tyrant was being dethroned by a group of ants.


    The group, however, wasn¡¯t in much better shape. While Shoun was the only one visibly injured, the others were running low on spiritual energy. If they ran out before the battle ended, they would be practically useless. So everything would come down to the final offensive.


    This time, Shoun didn¡¯t bother trying to deceive the lion. Iron Serpent slithered up to his left arm, ready for action. Surprisingly, Kalgoros didn¡¯t waste time with ranged attacks. Instead, it charged clumsily but still at great speed toward Shoun. After all, he was the cause of most of its injuries. He was the one who had enabled the others to harm it. So if it was going to take one of them down, it would be him!


    The vestige ignored all attacks directed at it. Kaze and Sein fired everything they had, but the lion stubbornly continued its blind rage toward Shoun. Seeing this, Shoun stopped and let Kalgoros approach, a fearless smile on his face.


    10 meters¡­


    8 meters¡­


    ¡ªShoun, get out of the way!¡ª Sein shouted desperately as he tore into the vestige¡¯s flesh with a thrust.


    6 meters¡­


    4 meters¡­


    ¡ª...¡ª Kaze didn¡¯t shout, but he looked into Shoun¡¯s eyes as if asking, What are you doing? The young man didn¡¯t respond. He simply returned the look and turned his attention back to the vestige. Seeing this, the masked man trusted his companion but began launching slashes faster and more recklessly, even missing a few despite the vestige not dodging.


    2 meters¡­


    At this distance, Shoun couldn¡¯t dodge or get out of the way. In just a moment, he would be trampled and killed by the vestige. Yet, the young man simply kept staring at Kalgoros, waiting for the moment when the shadows would strike¡ªand it didn¡¯t take long.


    Black tentacles manifested from the shadows all over the street. Trees, cars, lampposts¡ªevery object with a shadow saw it vanish, only to reappear as tentacles shooting toward Kalgoros.


    ¡ªYou took your time¡ª Shoun commented briefly with a playful tone as all the shadows ensnared the vestige. Gradually, the tentacles subdued it completely, leaving it sprawled on the ground.


    Shoun had seen earlier, out of the corner of his eye, how Deuz made his bow and arrows return to his shadow while running toward him. Assuming Deuz had a plan, Shoun had simply lured the vestige in.


    ¡ªUgh!... Hurry up and kill that thing¡ª Deuz, who wasn¡¯t far away, was under immense pressure controlling so many shadows. They were breaking rapidly under the tyrant¡¯s strength, forcing the beret-wearing boy to constantly remake them and expend a ton of spiritual energy. He was even using the shadows under his clothes to keep the tyrant imprisoned.


    ¡ªYeah, yeah¡ª Shoun fired Iron Serpent, which latched onto the creature¡¯s snout like a viper and discharged all the accumulated electricity.


    ¡ªGRAAAA!¡ª Despite everything, the lion still managed to roar and writhe in pain. Gradually, the tentacles gave way under the vestige¡¯s strength, but thanks to Iron Serpent¡¯s discharge, they held on a little longer¡ªjust long enough for Shoun to prepare his final attack.


    Unsummoning Iron Serpent to keep it safe, Shoun aimed his left hand at the paralyzed lion. Gathering a massive amount of electricity, he fired at the creature¡¯s head, partially destroying it but leaving the vestige still alive.


    Naturally, Shoun couldn¡¯t pour all his electricity into his left arm¡ªnot unless he wanted it to explode. So he fired strong but brief shots.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t worry, there¡¯s more where that came from¡ª he commented as he fired the second shot, then the third, the fourth, and finally the fifth. The last shot finally pierced the creature¡¯s skull, destroying its brain and traveling further, causing much of the corpse to explode and shower everything nearby with viscera and purple blood¡ªincluding the nearby Shoun.


    [You have killed Kalgoros, Tyrant of Adversity. Difficulty bonus obtained.]


    [You have completed the Residence Test!]


    ¡ªPhew...¡ª The young man briefly glanced at the messages that appeared in front of him without saying a word.


    ¡ªWe won!¡ª Sein ran and jumped on Shoun, tears in the corners of his eyes, nearly knocking the young man over in the process¡ª We really did it! We killed an alpha brute!


    ¡ªWell... cough... good job, everyone... cough¡ª Deuz congratulated between coughs. That last trap had drained him of energy.


    ¡ªGood work¡ª Kaze also congratulated them, though in his usual monotone voice. He stepped in front of Shoun and extended his arms.


    ¡ªDo you want a hug from Shoun? That¡¯ll definitely hurt him! Let me heal him first!


    ¡ªA hug? No, what¡¯s happening is that usually this is the moment when¡ª


    ¡ªCough! Cough!¡ª The masked man¡¯s words were interrupted as Shoun vomited a considerable amount of blood onto the ground before collapsing, caught by Kaze, who had been prepared.


    ¡ªShoun!¡ª

 Chapter 32: Why?

    Slowly, in a dimly lit room, Shoun opened his eyes. The sight that greeted him left him quite confused. After all, the last thing he remembered was passing out right after completing the residence test for Deuz and Sein. But now, he was lying on a couch¡ªand not just any couch, but the couch in his own home.


    ¡ªOh, you¡¯re finally awake! How do you feel?¡ª Sein asked from the side, sitting on a chair. At that moment, Shoun could see the situation clearly. Deuz was sitting at one end of the couch, with Shoun¡¯s feet resting on his lap. Shoun tried to look for Kaze, and it didn¡¯t take long to find him. It seemed that while he was asleep, he had used the masked man as a pillow.


    ¡ªHow long was I out?¡ª Shoun sat up a bit and took a seat between Deuz and Kaze as he regained some mental clarity. Out of pure reflex, he moved his right arm and touched his head. When he realized what he was doing, he expected a wave of pain, but surprisingly, he felt nothing. He stopped to look at his arm¡ª It¡¯s healed¡­


    ¡ªYou should thank me! I don¡¯t think you could¡¯ve healed that without paying a fortune at a guild or government hospital¡ª Sein teased, watching Shoun cringe at the thought¡ª And to answer your question, you were only out for a couple of hours. Liam examined you and said you had internal damage, but healing you with my ability would be more than enough.


    ¡ªSince when can Liam do that?


    ¡ªA medical room appeared when we came back. We assume it¡¯s because the residence tests count as missions, so we were owed a reward, which was the medical room¡ª Deuz explained briefly, closing the book he had been reading.


    ¡ªOh... I guess that makes sense...¡ª Shoun simply stared at the TV in response to the explanation. Kaze was quietly watching a cowboy movie, seemingly engrossed in it. So it surprised Shoun when the masked man spoke up:


    ¡ªWhat you did was dangerous¡ª Kaze commented in his usual monotone, almost disinterested tone, though that wasn¡¯t the reality.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s true, Shoun. You were reckless.


    ¡ªVery reckless!


    ¡ªHuh!? What are you all talking about?¡ª Shoun asked, confused, as he looked at his companions.


    ¡ªTaking that hit and overloading yourself with all those batteries almost killed you, Shoun!


    ¡ªSein, I did it to save your life. Tell me, what the hell else was I supposed to do!?¡ª This time, Shoun stood up, a bit angry.


    ¡ªN-no, Shoun, don¡¯t get me wrong. It¡¯s just¡ª Deuz raised a hand to stop Sein, who, surprisingly, seemed a bit scared by his friend¡¯s anger.


    ¡ªShoun, let me be clearer than Sein. When he said, ¡°That would¡¯ve cost you a fortune,¡± he meant it very literally. You had internal damage to several organs. Your right arm was completely burned, losing all nerve connections. Even if it could heal on its own, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to use it. The most concerning thing was the state of your core. Liam¡¯s examination showed that it had developed a few cracks. A little more electricity, and boom¡ªno more Shoun. By my calculations, all that would¡¯ve cost around 40,000 Crests. With that, you could buy a rank three uniform, maybe even customize it with extra protections. The fact that Sein could heal all that with his ability and some minor treatments is nothing short of a miracle. So tell me, does it seem like an exaggeration to say that what you did was dangerous and careless?


    ¡ª...¡ª Shoun didn¡¯t respond immediately, overwhelmed by all the information. It was hard to accept that he had almost died, but even more so in this situation. After all, this time, most of the damage had been caused by his own ability, by his own will¡ª No, you¡¯re right. I was careless... I¡¯m sorry for yelling at you, Sein¡­ It¡¯s just that in that moment, I was desperate. I was hurt, and I didn¡¯t see any other way to finish off the enemy. That vestige was too strong.


    ¡ªThere was probably another way we could¡¯ve killed it. It¡¯s not like we were short on options... though you¡¯re right that the enemy was incredibly strong. The fact that the four of us managed to kill it is hard to believe for anyone who knows about these things. Did you read the Codex description of the vestige?¡ª Deuz asked after a brief pause. Shoun shook his head and proceeded to read the description of Kalgoros in his Codex.


    [Kalgoros, the Tyrant of Adversity: Alpha Brute. An old king watched as his prosperous kingdom fell under the yoke of a disease. Many went mad, some grew weak, and others gained powers beyond mundane comprehension. When the king was infected by the disease, he gained extraordinary abilities, along with a new, erratic demeanor. It was then that the experts of the time finally named the disease: ¡°Chaos.¡± The day the king contracted Chaos, he ceased to be called a king and was instead called a tyrant¡ªthe one who ultimately brought an end to his kingdom.]


    ¡ª...What?¡ª Shoun tried to process the new information from this description and connect it with what he already knew, but it only left him more confused than before¡ª What does all this mean?


    ¡ªWe¡¯ve already discussed it, and we¡¯re not entirely sure about the bigger picture. Of course, now we know what the ¡°Chaos¡± mentioned in some entries is¡ªa disease that ravaged an ancient kingdom, apparently inhabited by the ¡°Ancients.¡± But it¡¯s hard to connect it to the history of our world. With what we know now, the only plausible possibility I can think of is that the Ancients weren¡¯t from our world¡ª Deuz said, shrugging.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡ª...Isn¡¯t that kind of... obvious?


    ¡ªMaybe, but think about it for a second. If these beings were from another world or dimension, how did they end up here? And more importantly, why does the Codex recognize them as vestiges? Of course, there¡¯s also the possibility that the Codex itself turned them into vestiges, but to begin with, what are vestiges?


    ¡ªI think adding more questions to the table doesn¡¯t help clear up the mystery.


    ¡ªI know, I know!¡ª Sein didn¡¯t care about Shoun¡¯s concern and tried to answer Deuz¡¯s question anyway¡ª They¡¯re enemies of all living things. They¡¯re monsters that seek destruction.


    ¡ªUnfortunately, that answer is incorrect to some extent. While they are enemies of us humans, as well as demons and elves, vestiges don¡¯t actively seek to kill animals without consciousness or plants, though their actions often lead to their deaths anyway. So I think to solve these mysteries we¡¯re facing, we need to look deeper. The word ¡°vestige,¡± before the arrival of these monsters, was used for various purposes. One of them was to refer to the ¡°remnants of something.¡± So maybe the Codex called them that to signal that they were the remnants of something else. Maybe they¡¯re the spirits of deceased people from other worlds? Sigh... honestly, the more I think about it, the bigger the hole gets.


    ¡ªThat theory you mentioned... I think I heard it once in a history class. I¡¯m not sure¡ª While schools still taught history from before the arrival of the vestiges, it wasn¡¯t given much importance. After all, all races had to focus on preparing for any attack from these monsters¡ª Anyway, does your theory that vestiges come from other worlds rule out the possibility that their origin was in the mirror world?


    ¡ªNot necessarily. Think about it¡ªthere are too many similarities between that chaotic world and the vestiges. It might not be their homeland, but maybe when they arrive there, they finally become vestiges. In any case, it¡¯s not certain. I think the best way to solve the mystery is to keep going and keep killing.


    ¡ªSeems like the only option. Anyway, does that mean all vestiges originally come from the kingdom of the Ancients?


    ¡ªI thought about that too, though it seemed ridiculous at first. I mean, there are so many vestiges! Even if we count the populations of all the races combined, there would still be far more vestiges. But the only vestige I¡¯ve killed that didn¡¯t come from the mirror world also seems to indicate it¡¯s from the kingdom of the Ancients. What about you, Deuz? Do any of the descriptions in your Codex suggest something different?¡ª Sein finally asked, turning to the beret-wearing boy, who simply shook his head.


    ¡ªWell, it¡¯s been a fun weekend... I think. But I have other matters to attend to. Sein already gave me your number. We¡¯ll be in touch for our next trip to the mirror world. See you later!


    ¡ªTake care.


    ¡ªGoodbye, Deuz!¡ª Sein energetically waved his hand to bid farewell to the beret-wearing boy. Kaze didn¡¯t say anything and simply nodded in acknowledgment. Deuz gave a small bow and stepped into the shadows, disappearing from everyone¡¯s senses. Shoun was about to ask if he was still there, but then he heard the door open and close¡ª I think I should head out too. We have school tomorrow. Take care, guys!


    ¡ªGoodbye, Sein¡ª After the boy left, only Kaze and Shoun remained. Each sat at one end of the couch. Kaze silently watched the cowboy movie, while Shoun was lost in thought about everything they had experienced recently. Then, the masked man broke the silence:


    ¡ªWhy did you put yourself in danger on purpose?


    ¡ªHuh?... You mean when I overloaded myself?¡ª Shoun didn¡¯t think Kaze was referring to when he protected Sein. His question was answered with a simple nod from the masked man¡ª Well, we were in danger, so... it seemed like the most logical thing to do. Anyway, why bring it up again now?


    ¡ªThe topic got sidetracked earlier. Even knowing it would hurt you, why did you do it?


    ¡ª...I couldn¡¯t stand watching you all fight while I couldn¡¯t help... I didn¡¯t want you to get hurt just so I could stay alive. I can handle pain well, especially if it¡¯s to protect you all.


    ¡ªWhy can you handle so much pain? Is it because of what you went through at the orphanage?


    ¡ª...Yes¡ª Kaze knew Shoun didn¡¯t want to talk about his experiences during those years, so he didn¡¯t press further.


    ¡ªShoun, we can also handle pain if it means protecting you¡ª Kaze said briefly but firmly in his monotone voice. Despite that, his words deeply affected Shoun. The young man simply nodded and stood up.


    ¡ªI-I have school tomorrow. Plus, I need to wash this uniform. Having so much vestige blood staining it disgusts me. See you tomorrow¡ª Kaze nodded in acknowledgment as he watched TV. Shoun, on the other hand, did his best to keep the tears welling in the corners of his eyes from falling until he was out of the room.


    ¡ª--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Meanwhile, Sein was walking through the now-dark streets of the city, poorly lit by a few streetlights. Before, he might have been scared to walk alone at this hour, but now that he was a Codex bearer, he doubted a thief could even scratch him¡ªespecially considering his training.


    ¡ª(Anyway, I need to hurry. I told Grandma I was sleeping over at Shoun¡¯s place for a pajama party... I don¡¯t know how much longer I can keep up this lie)¡ª Sein had claimed that he had gotten his grandmother¡¯s permission to become a Codex bearer. Even though it wasn¡¯t legally necessary, Shoun still didn¡¯t feel comfortable making Sein a Codex bearer without his legal guardian¡¯s consent. Sein, on the other hand, had lied to his friend, making him believe he had his grandmother¡¯s permission. As for her? She wasn¡¯t even aware that her grandson was a Codex bearer¡ªand an outstanding one at that! So Sein had worked tirelessly to hide anything that could give him away, like letters from the guild or the government. The reason for these lies was that Sein knew his grandmother didn¡¯t have the best opinion of Codex bearers, always telling him to stay away from that profession¡ª(It¡¯s a miracle she believed the lie that some cables had fallen near Shoun¡¯s house, cutting off communication for the entire weekend).


    With a sigh, Sein entered a nearby park, more specifically the playground area. If he crossed it and walked a bit, he¡¯d be home in no time.


    ¡ª(Anyway, it¡¯s a nice night. I don¡¯t know what could make it better)¡ª The boy admired the stars for a moment before his gaze settled on a specific spot in the playground. It was the swings. On one of them sat a young girl with brown hair and pointed ears, indicating she was part of the elf race. On her head was a black hat with various pins, and she wore a large white coat. Underneath, she had a black skirt and shirt, and on her feet were large brown boots¡ª(Wow... she¡¯s... really cute)¡ª Driven by an impulse he didn¡¯t quite understand, Sein inspected the girl more closely and was met with another surprise¡ª(She¡¯s an apprentice!?)¡ª The boy was stunned for a few seconds, but before he could react, he realized the elf girl was looking back at him.

 Chapter 33: Joy

    Sein stood still, his eyes locked with those of the elf girl. Both young individuals remained silent in a tense atmosphere until the girl broke the ice.


    ¡ª...What are you looking at?


    ¡ªOh! I apologize, I didn¡¯t expect to see anyone here, let alone a Codex bearer at this hour.


    ¡ªWell... a rift appeared in this area, and I wanted to see if I could earn a few points, but by the time I got here, the government was already handling the situation¡ªthe girl commented in a soft voice, gently swaying on a swing.


    ¡ª...! Oh, right, the rift... I thought about going, but I¡¯m still a bit weak, so I decided to wait¡ªOnce again, the boy lied. Until a moment ago, he had no idea a rift had opened nearby¡ªAnyway... that symbol on your hat, isn¡¯t it from¡ª


    ¡ªThe Red Phoenix! They¡¯re my favorite band! Do you like them too?! What¡¯s your favorite song?! Who¡¯s your favorite member?! Mine¡¯s the vocalist, Delsin Macgraft!¡ªFor the first time, the girl seemed to lose her composure, speaking enthusiastically about the band for a while. Although the boy didn¡¯t understand much, he was somewhat used to it, as Shoun often bombarded him with the same intensity about the band¡ªOh... cough cough, I¡¯m so sorry, I got a bit carried away. I hope I didn¡¯t bother you.


    ¡ªHahaha, don¡¯t worry, you could say I¡¯m used to it¡ªHe dismissed the girl¡¯s concerns as he took a seat on the swing next to her¡ªI have a friend who¡¯s just as fanatical. I¡¯ve heard several of the band¡¯s songs, but I don¡¯t really understand the obsession. Their music is good, but all their fans seem so excited when they talk about it.


    ¡ªWell... that¡¯s because of their lyrics. Most of their songs are about loss and struggle. Many of the band¡¯s fans have lost family members because of the remnants. The music resonates with us because of that, or at least that¡¯s what I think¡ªThis time, the girl didn¡¯t speak as excitedly. Instead, her voice sounded melancholic, and she avoided Sein¡¯s gaze, looking up at the sky. Knowing what her words implied, Sein wanted to steer the conversation in a different direction.


    ¡ªHmm... I see. Anyway, we haven¡¯t introduced ourselves yet. My name is Sein Harrow! It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.


    ¡ªSein Harrow?... That name sounds familiar... Give me a moment¡ªThe girl extended her arms, which were momentarily illuminated by a blue light. When the light faded, a large book appeared floating above her hand. The pages began to flip on their own, as if moved by the wind. After a moment, the book stopped flipping, and the girl took it and read its contents aloud¡ª Sein Harrow... unusual Codex bearer with three abilities... high potential... Oh, so that¡¯s you! I thought your name sounded familiar!


    ¡ªHuh?! How do you know me? I haven¡¯t done anything noteworthy!


    ¡ªYour very existence is something to highlight. After all, there¡¯s no one in this world with three abilities who¡¯s a Seeker. You could say you¡¯re the talk of those who have access to the records¡ªAt that moment, Sein remembered that elves and demons who visited human lands were usually people with connections or of high status. After all, even for a rank 2 Codex bearer, visiting the territories of other races was expensive¡ªAnyway, it was rude of me to talk about all that. I¡¯m sorry. As for my name, I¡¯m called #&+@_.


    ¡ªWhat? Could you repeat that, please?¡ªFor a second, Sein thought something in his brain had short-circuited, as he found it difficult to even process what the girl had said.


    ¡ªHihihi, it¡¯s always fun to see humans¡¯ reactions to elvish¡ªDue to the lack of daily communication between species, whenever they spoke in their native languages, neither could understand the other, as it sounded like noise to them. This even applied to names, though it didn¡¯t apply to those who studied the other languages¡ªNow, seriously, if I had to translate my name into your language, you¡¯d have to call me "Sugar," which isn¡¯t very fitting for a 15-year-old girl. So while I¡¯m here, you can call me Joy. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Sein.


    ¡ªNice to meet you, Joy!¡ªAlthough the boy still thought Sugar was a nice name, he understood why she chose not to use it. It was common for demons and elves to adopt other names during their stay in other lands, as their names translated into the human language were usually random words. Interestingly, this didn¡¯t happen with human names¡ªWhat brought you to New Caven?


    ¡ªI have a mission to fulfill on behalf of my family... but besides that, I¡¯d like to visit many places. You don¡¯t always get the chance to try the cuisine or appreciate the sights of another nation.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡ªI see. I thought it might be because of The Red Phoenix¡¯s upcoming concert, though if you had come for that, it would be a bit early. It¡¯s still a while¡ª


    ¡ªThere¡¯s going to be a new Red Phoenix concert?!¡ªFrom that moment on, the two young individuals talked about many random topics, enjoying each other¡¯s company throughout the conversation.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s getting late... I¡¯m really sorry, but I have to go.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s a shame... Hmmm, can we exchange numbers? I had a lot of fun talking with you, and I wouldn¡¯t want to lose touch!¡ªJoy asked this with some embarrassment, as she understood that in the human world, asking for a number from the opposite sex could have certain connotations.


    ¡ªNo problem!... That should do it. Take care, Joy!¡ªUnaware of Joy¡¯s embarrassed thoughts, the young Sein exchanged his phone number with the girl and left the park, hurrying his steps, worried about what would happen when he got home¡ª(I have to hurry, or Grandma will kill me!)


    As Joy watched Sein run out of the park, she slowly got up from the swing where she had been sitting. She then proceeded to dial a number on her phone, which was answered almost instantly.


    ¡ªHi, Jack¡ªthe girl greeted briefly, only to be met by an angry male voice:


    ¡ªWhere are you, Joy?! You were supposed to be here an hour ago!¡ªThe voice was so loud that Joy had to move the phone away from her large ears.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t shout... You really need an anger management class, my friend.


    ¡ª...I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t lose my temper like that.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t worry. I didn¡¯t get here earlier because... I met someone.


    ¡ªYou met someone?¡ªThe male voice on the other end of the phone sounded confused. Did that mean Joy had met someone she liked?


    ¡ªYes, it¡¯s that boy with the three basic abilities. Maybe he can help us with... you know what.


    ¡ª...It¡¯s too dangerous to bring someone else into this... Let¡¯s talk about this when you get here.


    ¡ªFiiiiine¡ªthe girl sighed before hanging up, continuing her walk through the poorly lit streets.


    ¡ª--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    The week passed in the blink of an eye. The four young individuals gathered on a Friday night in the bushes of their usual park. They made sure no one else was around and entered the mirror world without any issues.


    ¡ªLooks like we don¡¯t have a stowaway this time¡ªShoun commented in a mocking tone as he looked at Deuz.


    ¡ªStowaway or not, you sure were glad he saved your ass last time.


    ¡ªI¡¯ve missed coming to this place!¡ªAs soon as Sein said this, everyone turned to look at him, including Kaze, who had been here the longest and never "missed" going to the mirror world¡ªWhat? I mean, I missed coming here to get stronger. I¡¯ll never get used to being in a place where I don¡¯t need to breathe.


    For them, in the mirror world, it didn¡¯t seem necessary to eat, drink, or breathe, but it still caused a strange reaction in their bodies and minds. This feeling only eased when they were in the base, the seemingly only truly safe place.


    Quickly, the four of them entered the base, warmly greeted by the robotic voice of Liam. Without much delay, they took their seats in the operations room.


    ¡ªSo, what¡¯s the plan?¡ªShoun asked calmly as he leaned back in his chair and looked at his status window.


    [Name: Shoun Foster?


    ?Age: 17?


    ?Rank: Seeker?


    ?Title:...?


    ?Ascension Points: 54/100?


    ?Abilities?


    ?Electric Flow: Your very essence has been touched by electricity since birth, to the point where you can control and use it to your advantage?


    ?Basic Electric Core: It¡¯s a part of your being, both there and not there, in your physical and spiritual body. It¡¯s where all your electricity is stored and generated, and it also allows the user to absorb electricity from other sources?


    ?Visado: Congratulations! You are now able to enter and exit the other world?]


    ¡ªKilling remnants, obviously. Now comes the question of how we¡¯ll do it. Do we hunt remnants ourselves, or do we accept missions? Now that both Sein and I are residents, the latter shouldn¡¯t be a problem.


    ¡ªI think the best option is to accept missions! After all, there doesn¡¯t seem to be a penalty for not completing them!


    ¡ªNow that I think about it, I never considered if there¡¯s a penalty. Is there a penalty for failing or rejecting missions, Liam?


    ¡ªThe only penalty for failing or rejecting a mission is that you will lose the rewards, and there will be no way to obtain them through the mission system. Now, I must clarify, secondary administrator, the only real way to fail a mission is if it¡¯s no longer possible to achieve the objective. If the objective is to kill a remnant, the only way to fail is if it kills you. There is no time limit or restriction on how you solve the problem. You can enter and exit this world as you please, and there will be no issues regarding that¡ªShoun was a bit surprised that Liam elaborated beyond what was asked.


    ¡ªEh, I guess it¡¯s good to know. So, do you want to go for the missions?¡ªThe young man looked at his companions and, after receiving a nod from everyone, proceeded to speak with Liam¡ªTell me, Liam, what missions are available for us?


    ¡ªOf course, secondary administrator. This is the available mission¡ªThe next moment, a projection appeared on the table, allowing everyone to read it. The content of the mission surprised them all, especially the reward:


    [Document Recovery: Retrieve the documents located in the City of Ashes.


    Details: In a sea of ash lies an ancient and forgotten city. The only remains of it are in a document inside the central building of the city.


    Difficulty: Dominator.


    Rewards: 10 ascension points for each participant and a rank 3 artifact].

 Chapter 34: City of Ashes

    After contemplating the rewards for a moment, Shoun turned to look at his companions, most of whom seemed surprised.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s a pretty... good reward¡ªDeuz said tentatively, returning Shoun¡¯s gaze¡ªThough the difficulty certainly seems higher than what we can handle. Could you ask about it?


    ¡ªSure... Liam, is the difficulty adjusted so that we can complete this mission with our current strength?


    ¡ªThe difficulty of each mission is adjusted to each rank in such a way that if you are at the indicated rank, it should be relatively easy or without many complications to complete. It is not personally adjusted to each participant in the mission.


    ¡ªI see... So, guys, what do you think?


    ¡ªThe rewards are good enough to take the risk. I vote we accept it.


    ¡ªI agree with Deuz. Besides, how hard could it be to retrieve some simple documents?¡ªIgnoring the fact that Sein had just jinxed them, Shoun turned his gaze to Kaze, who simply nodded.


    ¡ªAlright, it¡¯s decided. Liam, we accept the mission.


    ¡ªUnderstood, secondary administrator¡ªAfter Liam¡¯s words, a wave of new information flooded the minds of each participant. They all felt a certain pull toward a specific location in the mirror world.


    ¡ªAlright, it¡¯s time to head out. But before we do, should we use the Alpha Brute¡¯s body to create an artifact or upgrade some gear?¡ªAs soon as Shoun said this, the expressions of Sein and Deuz turned grim, while the masked boy just looked away¡ª...Guys, what¡¯s wrong?


    ¡ªWell... let¡¯s just say that after your attack, Kalgoros¡¯s corpse wasn¡¯t in great shape¡ªexplained the small boy. Seeing the confusion on Shoun¡¯s face, the boy with the beret added:


    ¡ªBasically, most of the body was unusable. There¡¯s not enough left to even make a simple amulet. But Liam explained that if we provide additional materials, they¡¯ll be combined with what¡¯s stored to create a stronger artifact¡ªAt this explanation, Shoun could only sigh. After a bit of self-pity, they all left the base and set out toward their new destination. It was a moderate distance from their current location, but the problem was that it passed through an area Kaze recognized as belonging to the Brutes, so they had to move slowly to avoid those remnants.


    ¡ªPhew... that was close¡ªAt that moment, the four of them were in an alley after having avoided a couple of Brutes roaming the area¡ªAnyway, we¡¯re just a few blocks away, right?


    ¡ªIndeed. How¡¯s your energy, Kaze?


    ¡ª...Give me a couple of minutes, and my core will be full¡ªThe easiest and quickest way to avoid any remnants they encountered was by using Kaze¡¯s Wind Cloak, though it drained a substantial amount of spiritual energy, forcing them to stop for a few minutes every now and then.


    When Kaze gave the signal, they all resumed their journey with their respective weapons in hand. As they advanced through the empty, faded streets of the mirror world, they began to notice small piles of dust gathering in certain spots, motionless due to the lack of wind.


    These piles became more frequent as they progressed, until they finally reached their destination. They all stopped in unison to take in the sight before their eyes.


    ¡ªThis... isn¡¯t this a bit too literal?¡ªBefore them stretched a path completely covered in ashes. Among the ashes were homes, similar to those in more rural towns, completely out of place with the architecture that characterized New Caven, making them think this place might have been copied from somewhere else and pasted into the mirrored version of the city. Additionally, the ground was covered in ash everywhere within the so-called City of Ashes.


    ¡ªWow, this place is pretty depressing!¡ªAt the questioning looks from his companions, the small boy quickly explained¡ªI mean, who would take the time to build in all this ash? It¡¯s like trying to build in a desert!


    ¡ªIt¡¯s certainly not the most efficient. This place is called the "City of Ashes," right? That could mean two things: either it was actually built on all this ash, or the ash came later and the name was given afterward.


    ¡ªIsn¡¯t it unnecessary to wonder about all that? The documents probably explain or have more information about this place anyway¡ªShoun questioned Deuz¡¯s thoughts, who simply shrugged.


    ¡ªI guess you¡¯re right. Sometimes I let my curiosity wander. Anyway, we should probably get moving¡ªShoun and Sein nodded at Deuz¡¯s words, so the three young men began to walk. However, Kaze, unlike them, stayed behind, admiring the City of Ashes. They quickly realized their masked companion wasn¡¯t following and stopped.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡ªKaze... is something wrong?...¡ªSeeing that the masked boy didn¡¯t react to his words, Shoun approached and touched his shoulder. Instantly, Kaze startled and noticed all eyes were on him.


    ¡ª...It¡¯s nothing... I just wanted to observe this place a bit more¡ªKaze dismissed the feeling the City of Ashes gave him and quickly joined his companions, who began to traverse the ash-covered path ahead.


    Walking through the ash was an... unpleasant experience for most of the young men. They had to stop constantly because Shoun couldn¡¯t stand the discomfort of having so much ash in his shoe.


    ¡ªSeriously, how can something that doesn¡¯t even move and barely qualifies as dust be so annoying! Damn thing...¡ªWhile the boy cursed incoherently, both Sein and Deuz began to admire the nearby houses.


    ¡ªDespite all this ash, it seems like it was a cozy place, don¡¯t you think, Deuz?


    ¡ªYeah... I wonder what they used to build all these structures¡ªBoth approached the various houses, looking for small details they might have missed earlier and touching them. It wasn¡¯t until they were about to enter a house with its door slightly ajar that Shoun stopped them.


    ¡ªHey, what do you think you¡¯re doing? It could be dangerous in there.


    ¡ªRelax, Shoun. When was the last time you got to see the architecture of what¡¯s probably an extinct civilization?¡ªThe boy with the beret quickly dismissed these concerns and entered the small house, followed by Sein, who added to Deuz¡¯s words:


    ¡ªExactly!... Though it¡¯s not like anyone here has seen architecture from anywhere other than New Caven.


    ¡ªUgh...¡ªGrumbling, both Kaze and Shoun stayed outside, waiting for the two to finish exploring. It was then that Shoun finally noticed how the masked boy kept turning his gaze, seemingly uneasy as he observed the City of Ashes¡ªAre you okay?


    ¡ªYes...¡ªAs if those words snapped him out of it, Kaze stopped looking around and waited with Shoun for Deuz and Sein to come out.


    ¡ª...You know, you¡¯ve been acting a bit strange since we got here... more than usual, at least.


    ¡ª...Maybe. I¡¯m not sure. I feel something... off.


    ¡ªHmm, do you think it¡¯s related to your lost memories?


    ¡ªMaybe? I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s that. It¡¯s just... I think this place unsettles me a bit¡ªDespite the lack of emotion in his voice, the boy was still surprised that Kaze openly admitted to feeling something.


    ¡ªI see... You didn¡¯t have to keep that to yourself, though. Remember, we¡¯re in this together. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve got your back.


    ¡ª...Understood¡ªAfter Kaze responded, both young men patiently waited for Sein and Deuz to come out of the house. When they did, they were covered from head to toe in ash.


    ¡ªCough cough, that was definitely not a good idea.


    ¡ªIt really wasn¡¯t!


    ¡ªDid you find anything useful?¡ªShoun asked as he watched them brush the ash off their clothes and hair.


    ¡ªNothing at all. The only thing in there was ash... I know the city¡¯s name already implies it, but seriously, did it have to be all ash?!¡ªSein complained to the air. When they finally resumed their journey, delving deeper into the City of Ashes, the more they entered, the more alien the mysterious city seemed. Soon, they arrived at a new building, more like an ancient mausoleum they had seen in movies.


    ¡ªIt seems the documents we came for are inside. Stay alert... it looks like our peaceful journey is coming to an end¡ªShoun announced as Iron Serpent coiled around his right arm. Slowly, they all entered the mausoleum.


    Unlike the rest of the city, save for the entrance, the mausoleum seemed almost free of ash, though that certainly didn¡¯t mean there wasn¡¯t plenty scattered across the wooden floor.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s going to be really dark in there. Do we have a way to make a torch or something?¡ªSein asked as he looked at his companions. Shoun didn¡¯t respond and simply injected a bit of electricity into Iron Serpent¡¯s "head," which began to glow, pushing back the darkness with its faint blue light¡ª...Nice.


    Without saying much more, they all fully entered the mausoleum, guided by Iron Serpent, which clung to Shoun¡¯s palm. Like the other houses and structures they had seen along the way, the only thing inside was ash, surrounding places where there had apparently once been furniture or even people.


    They all felt they were getting closer to their objective. Turning a corner, they found the frame that separated one room from another, but before the boy could take a step forward, a pair of bright eyes locked onto the group with a piercing gaze. Despite the darkness in the room, the eyes glowed faintly, intimidating the group of four.


    They all used Inspect on the creature at the same time, revealing the rank of the being hiding in the darkness.


    ¡ª(Alpha Brute)¡ªSwallowing hard, Shoun stared intently at the remnant¡¯s eyes, which stared back. Surprisingly, it hadn¡¯t launched an attack yet. Before Shoun could do or say anything, he felt a hand on his shoulder slowly pulling him back. Turning slightly, he saw it was Deuz, signaling for him to retreat. He didn¡¯t refuse and, without a word, backed away through the hallway before returning to the previous intersection, where they all ran out of the mausoleum¡ªHaaa... haaa... that felt... no, that was dangerous.


    ¡ªIndeed. Not even Kalgoros with his ability made me feel that intimidated.


    ¡ªEven I felt that way, so it wasn¡¯t a curse or something similar that intimidated us¡ªSein was drenched in sweat as he leaned against the mausoleum wall.


    ¡ªDamn, it seems that thing is exclusively guarding the archives. It also doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s going to move from there without provocation... Tch, no wonder Liam said this was Dominator difficulty. I don¡¯t think we can beat that thing... not yet, at least.


    ¡ªLet¡¯s not give up just yet. Kaze, can you get close to that thing and retrieve the documents?¡ªAt Deuz¡¯s question, the masked boy shook his head and explained.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s too close. There¡¯s very little space to try to evade. We have no choice but to kill it.


    ¡ªUgh, then I guess we¡¯ll have to put this mission on hold for now.


    ¡ªUntil when?


    ¡ª...I guess until you or Shoun become Apprentices. When that happens, depending on what ability you get, it might be feasible to kill the remnant. If that doesn¡¯t work, we¡¯ll have to wait until Kaze or I become Dominators.


    ¡ªBah... I guess the goal is the same as always, right?¡ªWithout even clarifying, everyone understood what the boy meant by his words, nodding in agreement¡ªAlright, let¡¯s go kill some Brutes. After all, I didn¡¯t walk all this way to leave empty-handed.


    And so, the group spent the entire weekend around the City of Ashes, killing remnants that appeared in the area. They repeated this the following week, and the week after that, all leading up to the Friday after their last hunt.

 Chapter 35: Ascension

    Shoun was distractedly putting things away in his locker, lost in thought, until a hand tapped his shoulder firmly. When he turned around, the young man saw Robin, who was smiling while holding a government card in their other hand.


    ¡ªHey Shoun, today¡¯s the big day, right?¡ªRobin said as the young man took the card and tossed it into a nearby trash can.


    ¡ªHi Robin, yeah, today¡¯s the big day¡ªNo matter how much he tried to hide it, Shoun was a bit nervous.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t tell you the test is easy, but if you¡¯ve made it this far, it means you have what it takes to pass¡ªOf course, Robin was referring to Shoun¡¯s ascension test. If all went well, the young man would become an Apprentice today.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s true, Shoun, you¡¯re more than ready!¡ªSein exclaimed excitedly as he approached the two. Seeing him arrive, Robin pulled another card from their pocket and handed it to the small boy, who politely accepted it and tucked it into his pocket. He¡¯d throw it away later, but not in front of Robin¡ªPlus, we¡¯ll be there to support you.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s right, we¡¯ll be there to cheer you on¡ªWhen Shoun heard the first part from Sein, he imagined that he and Deuz would be watching him fight, but it seemed Robin would also be there. Seeing Shoun¡¯s questioning look, Robin quickly clarified¡ªI¡¯m your recruiter, remember? For events like this, I have to be present and give you incentives.


    ¡ªAaaah, today¡¯s going to be a long day¡ªAfter saying that, everyone went to their classes. Nervously, Shoun kept checking his status window, even as he walked with Sein toward the designated government center.


    [Name: Shoun Foster?


    ?Age: 17?


    ?Rank: Seeker?


    ?Title:...?


    ?Ascension Points: 100/100. Start trial??


    ?Abilities?


    ?Electric Flow: Your very essence has been touched by electricity since birth, to the point where you can control and use it to your advantage?


    ?Basic Electric Core: It¡¯s a part of your being, both there and not there, in your physical and spiritual body. It¡¯s where all your electricity is stored and generated, and it also allows the user to absorb electricity from other sources?


    ?Visado: Congratulations! You are now able to enter and exit the other world.]


    It had been less than three weeks since they went to the City of Ashes. Due to their lack of strength to complete the mission, they had been hunting remnants around the park area, sometimes even venturing near the City of Ashes itself. But fearing the creature inside the mausoleum, they always tried to keep their distance.


    That is, until last night, when during a small nighttime excursion with Kaze, Shoun killed a group of Wretched and tgrunts, finally gathering all the points he needed.


    The two young men arrived shortly after at the large government building. It was a towering skyscraper that even from the outside looked quite luxurious. Outside stood Deuz in his usual attire.


    ¡ªHi Deuz, we didn¡¯t keep you waiting too long, did we?


    ¡ªHi Deuz!


    ¡ªDon¡¯t worry, I just got here... Are you ready?


    ¡ª...As ready as I¡¯ll ever be¡ªWithout saying much more, the three entered the government building. Since quite a few people would be monitoring Shoun during his test, they all agreed that Kaze should stay home. After all, technically, he was a criminal for being an unregistered Codex bearer. So, after the boy with the beret pointed it out, they decided not to take any risks this time.


    Upon entering and checking in at reception, they were quickly guided to a training hall. Unlike when Sein became a Seeker, they didn¡¯t have to pay anything, as the trials protected the environment with a barrier, preventing anything from entering or leaving until it was completed. Because of this, the government and the guild provided their spaces for these trials, so that if a Codex bearer failed their trial and the remnant was set loose, it could be quickly eliminated.


    The training hall was quite similar to an indoor sports arena, but you could see various panels and machines around. After all, these high-tech facilities were used by affiliated Codex bearers.


    Shortly after, a new person entered the hall, none other than Robin.


    ¡ªHi guys... Who¡¯s your friend?¡ªRobin asked, pointing at Deuz.


    ¡ªI¡¯m Deuz Hale, adventurer¡ªDeuz and Robin shook hands, and then the recruiter checked their tablet to confirm that Deuz was indeed an adventurer. Nodding, Robin looked at Shoun¡ªWe¡¯re ready. You can start whenever you want... Good luck, Shoun.


    ¡ªGood luck, Shoun!


    ¡ªThanks¡ªShoun thanked them as he took off his hoodie and denim jacket, handing them to Sein. He wasn¡¯t wearing his uniform because he didn¡¯t want Robin to know he had one, which, coincidentally, was also customized. So, he had to fight in his normal clothes: a white t-shirt and jeans.


    ¡ªBreak a leg, or better yet, break the remnant¡¯s leg¡ªShoun tuned out all the words of encouragement from his companions, focusing entirely on his goal. His life depended on defeating a Wretched completely alone, something he hadn¡¯t done before. As he prepared, Iron Serpent manifested, coiling around his right arm. It was normal for all Codex bearers to have at least one artifact, so he didn¡¯t bother hiding it.


    ¡ª...Fuuu¡ªTaking a deep breath and exhaling, the young man reopened his status window and focused on his ascension. He could feel the electricity inside his body stirring, expanding and contracting. He felt something was about to happen, but that feeling was quickly halted as a message appeared before his eyes.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    [Start ascension trial? Yes/No]


    Nodding and accepting the trial, a familiar red barrier covered the surroundings. Except for the edges, the entire court was instantly covered by the barrier. The dust in the environment began to swirl and gather at a single point in front of Shoun.


    ¡ª(Pretty similar to the Visado trials... I guess this is because both are trials facilitated by the Codex)¡ªHe thought distractedly as the dust began to form a remnant¡ª(It¡¯s now or never. Today¡¯s the day I become an Apprentice.)


    In the center of the training hall, a humanoid figure began to take shape. It was hunched over, with large, elongated limbs and massive claws at the end of each finger. The creature¡¯s skin was translucent, and the most striking feature of its expressionless face was the slits where its eyes should have been, which pulsed repeatedly.


    When the remnant¡¯s body was fully formed, you could see small yellow streaks running through its translucent skin.


    ¡ª(Does it have electric powers? Heh, then I guess this won¡¯t be so hard)¡ªThe young man was confident that if it attacked him with electricity, he could at least absorb it. Still, he didn¡¯t let his guard down. Recent experiences had taught him that remnants could have all sorts of strange abilities. Letting his guard down was an invitation to death.


    Without further delay, the young man charged his limbs and shot toward the remnant. Fearing the creature might share his ability to absorb electricity, he didn¡¯t charge Iron Serpent.


    When he was just a few meters away from the remnant, something unexpected happened. The creature¡¯s entire body began to pulse, just like its eye slits. The artificial lights inside and outside the barrier dimmed, and to Shoun¡¯s surprise, he felt the electricity in his legs and arms begin to fade. Before he could react, everything inside the barrier was blinded by a powerful flash of light emanating from the remnant¡¯s body.


    His world went white. He knew the monster was probably about to slice him apart, so he crossed his arms in front of his face to protect his vital organs.


    Just as he predicted, the remnant used its claws to slash at his neck, but they were intercepted by Iron Serpent. Still, the massive claws left deep, bleeding wounds on his arms. The blinding light began to fade, and knowing he wasn¡¯t safe yet, the young man kicked in the direction where the remnant should have been. Thanks to the sensory feedback, he could tell he had hit it.


    Gradually, his vision returned. He saw the creature had retreated five meters, its grotesque eye slits still pulsing.


    ¡ª(This thing absorbs energy from its surroundings, including the electricity outside my core. That must be how it generates its blinding light... That should be correct. So why isn¡¯t it attacking me?)¡ªTo test his deduction, Shoun took a step forward toward the remnant. It continued to pulse, and the light around the area grew dimmer. But the moment the young man stepped forward, the remnant took a step back in the opposite direction. This step didn¡¯t slow or stop the creature¡¯s energy absorption¡ª(Damn! So why isn¡¯t it attacking me? I need to think of something fast before it attacks again.)


    Unfortunately, Shoun was running out of time. The remnant knew where he would likely defend, so it was probable that when it unleashed its flash, it would attack an unprotected spot, essentially taking him out of the fight.


    ¡ª(...I don¡¯t think I can stop its burst... but maybe... I could do that... Yes, that should work)¡ªAs if struck by inspiration, Shoun quickly resolved the dilemma. He injected Iron Serpent with a ridiculous amount of electricity, forcing it to grow. He could feel the remnant absorbing the electricity from his artifact, but not fast enough, which was all Shoun needed.


    As the artifact took on a longer form, the young man spread it across the ground around him, keeping the "head" of his artifact attached to his wrist.


    Then it finally happened. A blinding flash of light enveloped the entire barrier. Blinded and in a terrible situation, Shoun still kept his guard up. It wasn¡¯t until he felt a sensation from Iron Serpent that he smiled, then dodged a strike from the remnant. He felt the air being sliced near his abdomen but couldn¡¯t see how. He ordered the "tail" of Iron Serpent to coil around the remnant¡¯s wrist as it attacked.


    Thanks to the chain connecting them, Shoun could more clearly sense where his enemy was, so dodging the other attacks wasn¡¯t a problem. When the flash finally subsided, without even giving himself time to adjust to the normal light, the young man charged both arms. With his right, he pulled the creature toward him, and with his left, he delivered a powerful blow to the remnant¡¯s chest, sending it flying into the barrier.


    ¡ªLooks like my theory was right¡ªShoun said calmly as he approached the remnant, which was bleeding a large amount of purple blood from its now shattered chest as it tried to recover¡ªYou don¡¯t actually absorb energy to create your flash. You absorb energy to power up your body¡ªShoun confirmed this thanks to Iron Serpent. By spreading it across the ground during the flash, he could feel where the remnant was because it was still absorbing electricity from his artifact¡ªThat¡¯s why you kept your distance from me. You needed to recharge your now useless body... What a shame¡ªShoun reached this conclusion thanks to his experience. He remembered that while remnants were beings with little intelligence, they were still good at combat. They knew their strengths and weaknesses. That¡¯s why, for example, the deer-like remnants Shoun defeated with Kaze during their first trip to the mirror world didn¡¯t attack him with their bodies, even though they were stronger than Shoun¡¯s. They didn¡¯t know how to fight with their bodies; they weren¡¯t good at it. They fought under the condition of keeping their distance. This didn¡¯t change even with the Alpha remnant of their pack.


    Without further concern, when he was close enough, Shoun fired the still elongated Iron Serpent at his enemy, which tightly gripped one of the Wretched¡¯s legs. Charging his entire body with a large portion of his core¡¯s electricity¡ªso much that the creature couldn¡¯t absorb it all at once¡ªhe dragged it within reach.


    ¡ªYou really didn¡¯t stand a chance against me¡ªShoun commented briefly as his charged right leg came down on the creature¡¯s skull, crushing it and scattering its meager contents across the sand. The Codex sang without delay:


    [You have killed the Wretched "Cursed Fulgor"]


    [You have completed the Ascension Trial. Congratulations, Apprentice!]


    As the red barrier dissolved, a flash of pure white light emerged from within. Shoun felt the electricity in his body fuse even more with his being, as if his core suddenly felt deeper, as did his very existence.


    ¡ªHaaah¡ªHe sighed briefly, enjoying the pleasant sensation. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t last long. The light quickly faded, revealing his "new" body, now healed thanks to the ascension.


    ¡ªShoun!¡ªSein quickly jumped on his friend, almost knocking him over¡ªYou did it, you really did it! Congratulations!


    ¡ªDamn it, Sein, be careful!¡ªEven with his now stronger body, Shoun still struggled to withstand the small boy¡¯s overwhelming charge.


    ¡ªSorry¡­


    ¡ªCongratulations, Shoun.


    ¡ªYou did well, Shoun. Sure you¡¯re not interested in joining the government? We could use someone who can fight like that¡ªRobin joked as the now Apprentice glared at them¡ªWell, let¡¯s get to the good part. What rewards did you get? I have to say, if it¡¯s less than a Grade C ability, I¡¯ll be disappointed¡ªRobin themselves had a Grade C ability, so knowing Shoun¡¯s talent, they expected nothing less.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s right, Shoun! What did you get?


    ¡ªAlright, alright, I¡¯ll tell you... I¡¯m supposed to be the one excited about this, you know¡ªShoun joked a bit as he opened his status window. A few seconds later, his expression froze, and he let out a groan.


    ¡ªWhat¡¯s wrong, Shoun?¡ªSein asked, looking at his friend. Meanwhile, Deuz looked around Shoun to see if he was hurt. Robin simply looked at him with a confused expression. Since the young man had frozen, everyone waited expectantly. It wasn¡¯t until he regained control that he uttered the following sentence:


    ¡ªI have a title... and a Grade S ability.

 Chapter 36: Adjustments

    The moment Shoun finished uttering that sentence, everyone froze in place.


    ¡ªExcuse me?... Did I hear that wrong?¡ªRobin asked, looking up from their tablet.


    ¡ªNo, you didn¡¯t¡ªShoun reiterated as he glanced at the new data on his status window.


    [Name: Shoun Foster?


    ?Age: 17?


    ?Rank: Apprentice?


    ?Title: The Conduit?


    ?Ascension Points: 0/200?


    ?Abilities?


    ?Electric Flow: Your very essence has been touched by electricity since birth, to the point where you can control and use it to your advantage?


    ?Intermediate Electric Core: It¡¯s a part of your being, both there and not there, in your physical and spiritual body. It¡¯s where all your electricity is stored and generated, and it also allows the user to absorb electricity from other sources?


    ?Visado: Congratulations! You are now able to enter and exit the other world?


    ?Endless Circuit, Grade S: All energy bows at your feet. You have the ability to transmute any type of energy into electricity?]


    ¡ªAre you serious!? What¡¯s your title!?


    ¡ªHaaah, don¡¯t get ahead of yourself... You said it was going to be a long day? Well, now thanks to this, I¡¯ll have to work overtime. I appreciate it, Shoun¡ªRobin simply shook their head and gestured for everyone to follow. They ended up in a room similar to the one where Sein had been registered as a Seeker¡ªYou should already know how this works. We¡¯ll know if you¡¯re lying, so answer truthfully... from now on.


    ¡ªAlright, first of all, my title is... The Conduit¡ªShoun declared. The reactions were mixed as the room¡¯s lighting confirmed he wasn¡¯t lying. Robin shook their head again while jotting it down on their tablet, Deuz seemed thoughtful, and Sein looked as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him. Even Shoun himself wasn¡¯t sure what to think about his own title¡ª(The Conduit... I guess I can¡¯t tease Kaze about his title anymore... Also, my second ability changed from ¡°Basic Electric Core¡± to ¡°Intermediate Electric Core¡±... I suppose it¡¯s because as an Apprentice, I should have more storage for spiritual energy, or in my case, electricity. So when I ranked up, my ability adapted to that... Yeah, I think that¡¯s normal).


    ¡ªVery few people get their title when they¡¯re Apprentices. You got one, and... it¡¯s certainly not something memorable, hehe¡ªRobin explained with a laugh¡ªAnyway, let¡¯s move on to your Apprentice ability.


    ¡ªAlright, my Apprentice ability is Grade S¡ªShoun waited a moment for the room¡¯s lighting to return to normal. The sudden changes in light were making him dizzy. As soon as Shoun finished speaking, Robin straightened up, waiting attentively for his words, while both Sein and Deuz had dismissed their thoughts about the young man¡¯s title¡ªBasically, it gives me the ability to convert any type of energy into electricity.


    ¡ª...Isn¡¯t that kind of... simple?¡ªSein asked, watching as the room¡¯s lighting confirmed Shoun¡¯s words once again. This time, no one answered his question as everyone seemed deep in thought. It wasn¡¯t until Robin finished writing on their tablet that Sein finally got an explanation.


    ¡ªNo, actually, it¡¯s the perfect ability for Shoun... Guys, how many people with Grade S abilities do you think exist in the world?¡ªBefore anyone could even try to guess, Robin quickly answered their own question¡ªCounting Shoun, there are currently only two humans with Grade S abilities. As for demons, the current Demon King also has one, and from what I¡¯ve heard, the elves have one too, though I can¡¯t confirm that last bit. With such a rare ability, you¡¯d expect something more spectacular and incredibly flashy, but as simple as it sounds, you should already realize the potential of your ability, right?


    ¡ª...You¡¯re right¡ªShoun confirmed with a lump in his throat, avoiding Robin¡¯s gaze. He was currently feeling very dizzy, his senses overwhelmed, especially his now enhanced energy detection. He forced himself to close his eyes to avoid sensory overload.


    ¡ªHey, stop talking in riddles! I still don¡¯t get it!


    ¡ªHaaaah... Look, Sein, to put it simply, thanks to his ability, it¡¯s now impossible for Shoun to run out of electricity in his core¡ªDeuz explained, looking at the small boy.


    ¡ªIs that so?


    ¡ªWell, Sein, there¡¯s energy everywhere, starting with spiritual energy. Roughly per square meter, there¡¯s enough energy to refill about 1% of an average Apprentice¡¯s core if absorbed. But why stop at spiritual energy? You¡¯re probably feeling a bit overwhelmed right now¡ªRobin said, then used their tablet to dim the room¡¯s lights, causing Shoun to sigh in relief.


    ¡ªWait...¡ªFinally, Sein was able to put two and two together and realize the scope of Shoun¡¯s abilities¡ªThat¡¯s why you look so bad. All this light must be overloading your energy senses, right?


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡ªSomething like that. Thanks for the help, Robin.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t worry, it was nothing... Guys, I¡¯d like to talk to our friend in private. Could you?¡ªBoth Sein and Deuz understood and left the room without a word. At that moment, Robin took on a more serious demeanor and spoke¡ªWell, this complicates things for you... Do you think you can remain unaffiliated now that it¡¯s known you have a Grade S ability?


    ¡ªNo... probably not for long.


    ¡ªExactly... This will be known soon in all Codex bearer circles. Many people will have their eyes on you, either because you¡¯re an opportunity... or as top-tier competition.


    ¡ªSo what? Are you threatening me to join the government so you don¡¯t reveal the information?¡ªShoun asked, his voice dripping with venom.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t get me wrong. Even if I wanted to, I can¡¯t not report this. That would get my head rolling on the pavement in a couple of days... Even if you join the government, you¡¯ll still be in the spotlight because the information will get out sooner or later... I know you don¡¯t have the best opinion of me after all these years, but I want you to know that I understand your situation and your desires. On behalf of the government, I¡¯ll try to control the recruitment as much as possible, using the excuse that I¡¯m handling it. But that¡¯s the most I can do for you from that side¡ªRobin said, placing a hand on Shoun¡¯s shoulder. After a few seconds of processing the information, Shoun responded:


    ¡ªThanks, Robin... Sorry for being so rude to you.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t worry. If it¡¯s any consolation, if it were up to me, I wouldn¡¯t be handing you those little cards every day¡ªAfter that moment, the conversation between Robin and Shoun extended for another 30 minutes as the two science enthusiasts began discussing the applications of Shoun¡¯s new ability. When Shoun finally left the room, he let out a big sigh.


    ¡ªAaaah, finally. What were you two talking about for so long?¡ªSein asked, getting up from a chair by the wall.


    ¡ªApplications of my ability. When Robin isn¡¯t talking nonsense, they¡¯re actually bearable to talk to.


    ¡ªI¡¯m pretty sure in any other situation, you two would be best friends!


    ¡ªNo way, I refuse!


    ¡ªOh, come on! You both love science. Didn¡¯t you say a few months ago that you were even thinking of studying something related?


    ¡ªWow, I didn¡¯t know that about you, Shoun. Why don¡¯t you tell us more?¡ªDeuz asked curiously, looking at the young man, who tried to cover his face.


    ¡ªLook what you¡¯ve done, Sein!¡ªAs the three young men chatted, they finally stepped outside the building. Shoun was bombarded by the massive amounts of energy in the surroundings, overloading his senses¡ªDamn... agh.


    ¡ªAre you okay, Shoun?


    ¡ªMore or less... I¡¯ll need time to adjust to this. Please help me get home.


    ¡ªI¡¯ve got you covered, buddy!¡ªThe small boy took Shoun¡¯s hand. Shoun wanted to protest but eventually gave up and let himself be led¡ªWatch out for that rock!


    ¡ª--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    ¡ªAnd that¡¯s everything that happened¡ªAfter several minutes of explanation, Shoun finally brought Kaze up to speed. Shoun was lying on the couch with an ice pack on his head, while the others sat around on kitchen chairs.


    ¡ªSounds like a productive afternoon.


    ¡ªSeems like it. Sorry, guys, but I don¡¯t think I can go to the mirror world today. I need to adjust my energy senses. After all, I don¡¯t want to live with this eternal headache!


    ¡ªHow¡¯s the ice pack working?


    ¡ªIt¡¯s helping, like we thought... Plus, I like the cold it gives off¡ªFrom a physical standpoint, cold is considered a lack or total absence of thermal energy due to the lack of particle movement. So, an ice pack on Shoun¡¯s head helps distract him from all the energy constantly surrounding him.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s for the best. Even if you adjust before tonight, I wouldn¡¯t suggest fighting much today. After all, in the mirror world, the density of spiritual energy is much higher than here¡ªDeuz explained while reading a book.


    ¡ªHow much of a difference is there?


    ¡ªWell... Unlike the government, this is more of a personal feeling as an Apprentice. If there¡¯s about 1% per square meter here, there¡¯d be between 3% and 5% there. You can confirm the exact amounts yourself, Apprentice The Conduit¡ªDeuz said the last part jokingly, prompting Shoun to throw a cushion straight at his face, though Deuz easily dodged it.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t call me that¡ªShoun pleaded, burying his face deeper into the cold ice pack.


    ¡ªWell, guys, how about we throw a little celebration party!? I mean, how often do you get to rank up? Plus, we¡¯re not going to the mirror world today. We can have a sleepover.


    ¡ªI¡¯m fine with that¡ªDeuz agreed, and Kaze nodded as well.


    ¡ª...I guess that¡¯s fine, but you guys are buying the stuff.


    ¡ªAlright!¡ªAfter making a shopping list and splitting the costs between Shoun and Deuz, the small boy and the beret-wearing young man went out to shop, while Kaze stayed home to look after the exhausted Shoun.


    ¡ª...How are you feeling?


    ¡ªI guess better than before.


    ¡ªI don¡¯t mean that. I mean, how do you feel about ranking up?¡ªKaze asked in his monotone voice. Shoun had to remove the ice pack to look at the masked boy, who returned his gaze.


    ¡ª...I can say it feels good to be stronger... How did you feel when you became an Apprentice?


    ¡ª...I don¡¯t know.


    ¡ªYou don¡¯t know?¡ªShoun had expected that answer but still questioned his companion about it.


    ¡ªIt wasn¡¯t glorious. It wasn¡¯t a celebrated moment. It was just me, admiring the moment... and I didn¡¯t feel anything about it. Maybe I thought I could kill stronger remnants more easily, but I don¡¯t remember¡ªKaze rambled a bit about his ascension in his monotone voice. Shoun didn¡¯t know for sure, but he could tell that, little by little, Kaze was starting to express more of what he felt. Could it be that spending so much time with them and watching movies had such an effect on the masked boy?¡ª...I think it¡¯s good that we can celebrate you today, Shoun. I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve become stronger. Let¡¯s keep getting stronger together¡ªRight after those words, Kaze extended his fist, which Shoun quickly bumped with his own.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s the spirit!¡ªShoun said, more animated than before. However, Kaze¡¯s words brought back the conversation he¡¯d had with Robin¡ª(Now I might be in danger... and by extension, they are too since they¡¯re connected to me. I don¡¯t want anything to happen to them... but joining the guild or the government isn¡¯t an option... It¡¯s not an option, right?).


    That question began to drill into Shoun¡¯s mind. His resentment toward both organizations hadn¡¯t faded after all these years. They were largely responsible for him losing his family. They hurt him. They harassed him. But now, they seemed like the only option to keep himself and those he cared about safe.


    ¡ª(Just thinking about it makes me feel like I¡¯m selling my soul to the devil)¡ªShoun thought. Faced with such a dilemma, he could only sigh. Shortly after, Sein and Deuz returned with the party supplies, but before they could start unpacking, Shoun spoke the following words¡ªGuys, we need to talk about something.

 Chapter 37: Oblivion

    Upon hearing Shoun''s request, everyone sat down in front of him. Meanwhile, the young man set aside the nearly melted ice pack. Little by little, he was getting used to the new range of his energy senses, though due to how overwhelmed he felt by all the energy around him, he had to reduce his total range to about 5 square meters, even though he could sense much farther.


    ¡ªWell... I wanted to talk a bit about the situation we¡¯re in now.


    ¡ªI figured as much. What did Robin tell you?¡ªDeuz asked with a serious expression.


    ¡ªHow do you know we talked about that?


    ¡ªLet¡¯s just say I expected things to change with your new ability, so I used one of my shadows to listen in on your conversation¡ªAs soon as he said that, everyone turned to look at him, visibly confused.


    ¡ªSince when can you do that!?¡ªSein asked, clearly unsettled.


    ¡ªSince always.


    ¡ªWe could¡¯ve used that before! With that ability of yours, we wouldn¡¯t need to use Kaze as a scout!¡ªShoun protested, angry at Deuz for hiding information.


    ¡ªLet¡¯s just say it¡¯s not very useful. I can only control shadows I can see or "touch." Shadows of people, remnants, or animals are off the table. So, to maintain control, my maximum range is about 5 meters. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t mention it before. I also don¡¯t like putting Kaze in danger. I regret not mentioning it earlier, and it won¡¯t happen again¡ªDeuz apologized humbly to his companions for his mistake. Shoun, who had been angry, quickly calmed down and, with a sigh, tried to steer the conversation back on track:


    ¡ªHaaah, you know what? It doesn¡¯t matter. Just don¡¯t make the same mistake... Let¡¯s continue where we left off¡ªShoun then explained how he was now a target for many people and organizations¡ªAnd that¡¯s the situation I¡¯m in now¡­


    ¡ªThere¡¯s something I still don¡¯t understand. Why does having a Grade S ability make you a target? Sure, you¡¯re valuable, but enough for people to want to kill you?¡ªSein asked, his tone laced with concern for his friend.


    ¡ªWell, let¡¯s put it this way. The government, the guild, and many others invest in people with high talent or potential because the fatality rates for Codex bearers are very high. So, they invest more in those who are more likely to return that investment. But it¡¯s also simpler than that. Kaze, tell me something. Assuming Shoun can control his ability and has the same number of points as you, do you think you could beat him in a fight?¡ªAll eyes turned to the masked boy after Deuz¡¯s words.


    ¡ª...I don¡¯t know the full extent of his ability, but the fact that he has almost infinite electricity doesn¡¯t give me confidence that I could win.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s the second reason. Generally, someone with an ability one grade higher ends up being more powerful than someone with a lower-grade ability. That¡¯s why, for example, the current Demon King was able to seize the throne in his time. The most powerful people have the power to shift the balance of society, and if that shift happens, organizations and certain powerful individuals want it to be in their favor.


    ¡ªDamn... haaah, I¡¯m sorry for dragging you guys into this mess, but honestly, I don¡¯t know what to do.


    ¡ªThe simplest solution is to join one of those big organizations. It doesn¡¯t eliminate the danger, but it minimizes it. Something you obviously already know. So, why are you so reluctant to take that option?¡ªDeuz asked. He knew how Shoun had become a Codex bearer, but that didn¡¯t fully explain his reluctance.


    ¡ª...The guild is guilty of not managing its territory well. It¡¯s painfully obvious how people with money pay them to privately protect their areas, as seen in the statistics showing how the portal-related death rate is higher in poorer parts of New Caven. They don¡¯t protect citizens... not all of them, at least. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t want to join them. But the government...¡ªAt that moment, Shoun began to get angry, evident in how he clenched his jaw and tightened his fists¡ªI¡¯d rather die than work for them. I don¡¯t like talking about this. Just remembering it makes me sick and furious, but it¡¯s only fair that you know the story... that you know what happened while I lived in a government-run orphanage¡­


    ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------


    On a cloudy day, a white car could be seen driving down the road. It traveled for a while before stopping in a somewhat remote area within the city, though still inside the great wall surrounding New Caven.


    A man in a black suit stepped out of the car and then helped a small boy out. The boy¡¯s face showed a neutral expression, almost devoid of emotion, though a clear sadness could be seen in it. This boy was none other than young Shoun.


    Shortly after arriving in the area, he was taken to a large structure. It was an orphanage that also served as a government research center. There, children in the same situation as him were brought¡ªchildren whose families had been killed by remnants and who, one way or another, ended up becoming Seekers. The number of children wasn¡¯t large; counting Shoun, there were barely 10, so the facility was mostly used as a research center.


    Young Shoun had spent several weeks in the hospital. While he hadn¡¯t been injured during the incident, he still needed to recover from the shock of the event.


    Upon entering, he was greeted by a researcher, who, unfortunately, was the one assigned to interview the boy¡ªa tedious and exhausting process that every researcher in charge dreaded. Due to the small number of children, the researchers occupied most of the space in the facility, interacting little or not at all with the kids.


    ¡ªAlright... Your name is Shaun Faster, right?¡ªthe researcher asked distractedly, barely glancing at the tablet with the boy¡¯s personal information.


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    ¡ªMy name is Shoun Foster¡ªthe boy corrected, somewhat embarrassed.


    ¡ªWhatever. Everything you say here will be monitored. In other words, we¡¯ll know if you¡¯re lying or telling the truth, so try not to lie to speed things up.


    ¡ªOkay...¡ªThe researcher smiled slightly at the boy¡¯s submissive attitude. It seemed her process would be easier than that of other researchers.


    ¡ªFirst, tell me how you became a Seeker.


    ¡ªHmm...¡ªThe boy hesitated, but under the researcher¡¯s stern gaze, he finally gave in. With obvious sadness in his voice, he began to recount what had happened¡ªA remnant invaded my home... my parents and my sister protected me... then that thing came for me. I gave it an electric shock and¨C


    ¡ªAn electric shock? I asked you to tell me what happened when you became a Codex bearer.


    ¡ªI was born with that ability¡ªAt that moment, the researcher couldn¡¯t believe it. There was always a chance that a child could be born with special abilities, but the odds were minuscule.


    ¡ª(Wow... this kid isn¡¯t lying)¡ªshe thought with a big smile as she reviewed the related files more carefully, confirming the boy¡¯s words¡ªTell me about your two abilities.


    ¡ªThe first one improves my ability to manipulate electricity. Now I feel like it would be very easy... My second ability is my core. I don¡¯t fully understand it, but it says it allows me to store my electricity and absorb more.


    ¡ªHmmm... That should mean you can¡¯t manipulate spiritual energy... But that makes me wonder, how powerful is this electricity of yours?¡ªLooking for a device, she began testing how much energy Shoun could transmit to various objects, discovering just how powerful it was. Even if he used electricity he had previously absorbed from a battery, it would still be amplified after passing through Shoun¡¯s core¡ªHehehe, looks like you hit the jackpot, kid.


    ¡ªHuh?¡ªShoun was confused, but he simply did as he was told. From that day on, he became just another tool for the researchers, who were quite pleased to have a much more powerful¡ªand, to some extent, limitless¡ªsource of energy. Shoun¡¯s very existence helped them test things they couldn¡¯t before due to the lack of power in their previous batteries. Once they confirmed that what they wanted to do worked, they built a specific battery for the device. Little by little, the team¡¯s contributions began to resonate within the corresponding government departments, earning recognition and, of course, money.


    Of course, the way they treated young Shoun improved. He received the best meals and was helped to stay healthy. All of this began to breed envy among the other children in the facility.


    ¡ªHey, you!¡ªSuddenly, a group of five children, aged between 10 and 12, surrounded the table where Shoun was eating¡ªWho do you think you are!? Why do you hog all the attention!?


    ¡ªI... I.


    ¡ªShut your mouth!¡ªshouted a different boy, who used his ability to knock Shoun to the ground. Before Shoun could react, he was hit again, this time with the tray he had been eating from. The physical assault continued for a few moments before one of the guards intervened. As they took Shoun to the infirmary, he could still see the other children glaring at him with hatred as they were scolded.


    Over the following weeks, the children became more cunning in their physical abuse of Shoun, doing it at times and in places where it would take longer for anyone to notice. After Shoun arrived injured multiple times, the researchers gave him a whistle to make it easier for him to signal when he was being hurt.


    This measure effectively reduced the attacks but left Shoun isolated. Everywhere he went, he felt unwanted. In the cafeteria and common areas of the orphanage, he saw how everyone looked at him with envy and avoided him. The researchers, on the other hand, loved having Shoun around¡ªbut not for who he was, only for his abilities.


    They never let him speak, even if he tried to start a conversation. They liked the previously submissive and quiet Shoun who cooperated without protest, and they wanted him to stay that way.


    Little by little, the boy¡¯s life turned gray. His sense of self slowly faded amid the indifference and hatred of his peers. But that changed one day.


    Two years had passed since Shoun arrived at the orphanage. Many children came and went, but all maintained their cold attitude toward him. Not many people tried to adopt orphaned Seekers, but those who did were never given the option to take Shoun.


    One day, he entered the TV room. The other children there almost immediately left when they saw him. Used to it, Shoun walked past and sat in front of the TV, flipping through channels at random until something caught his attention.


    It was a documentary about the band "The Red Phoenix," the same band his sister, Chelsea, used to listen to when she was still alive. Since her death, the band had exploded in popularity, especially thanks to their newest hit song, "We''re Still Here." Intrigued, the boy let the documentary, which had just started, play and listened intently.


    ¡ªYes, it¡¯s been hard... Just as we were starting to take off, a few months ago, my family died in a remnant attack¡ªexplained a young man, who couldn¡¯t have been more than 20 years old, with a lump in his throat and a clear expression of pain on his face. He had long black hair and was wearing a sleeveless denim shirt with the band¡¯s logo.


    ¡ªI¡¯m sorry to hear that, Delsin, but despite that horrible event, you still released music not long after. Can you tell us how you managed to keep going despite your pain?¡ªthe interviewer asked Delsin, who replaced his pained expression with a confident and cheerful one.


    ¡ªWell, it wasn¡¯t easy. My bandmates stood by me through it all. They hadn¡¯t suffered the same loss as I had, but they had friends who had. Thanks to them, I became interested in the families of the victims¡ªTaking a breath, the vocalist continued¡ªIt was hard, but I reached out to many of them. They told me their stories. Some became Codex bearers to "avenge" their families in some way. Others tried to live their lives as normally as they could, but the scars didn¡¯t fade with time. The number of people affected by the rifts only grows. There are even surviving children who were left orphaned... All of them were victims of the same enemy: the remnants, and to a lesser extent, the guild and the government. All those stories gave me the courage and motivation to keep going. Not only that, but I also felt the need to put it all into a song. That¡¯s how "We''re Still Here" came to be.


    After those words, the documentary cut to a completely different scene¡ªa concert with a massive audience. Just as Delsin took a breath, the song began, accompanied by the rhythm of the instruments.


    ¡ª"The ruins tell stories the world wants to forget, but our scars scream the truth in the dark!"¡ªThat powerful introduction left the boy on the other side of the screen stunned. He listened even more intently, captivated¡ª"The dust has settled, the flames have died, but our footsteps still echo on the land we were denied!"¡ªThe drums powerfully marked the song¡¯s strong rhythm, and the guitar added a layer of depth to the melody. But what resonated most with Shoun was something even simpler: the pain, the pain that was clearly present in the vocalist¡¯s voice¡ª"The authorities look the other way, they think time erased us, but here we are, roaring against oblivion! They tried to forget us, they tried to silence us, but the thunder in our veins erupts again! For every mark on the stone, for every scar on the skin, we swear again and again: we¡¯re still here!"


    It was at that very moment, with that line from the song, that something new stirred inside Shoun¡ªsomething that roared and burst to come out.

 Chapter 38: Rebellion

    The next day, Shoun was called to the room where various devices were being developed. At that moment, they were testing a new type of ultra-powerful megaphone, and they needed the boy¡¯s electricity to power the device.


    ¡ªOh, you¡¯re just in time. Here, power it up¡ªan older researcher demanded as he handed the megaphone to the boy. Shoun kept his head down, and due to his strange attitude and tardiness, the researcher grew impatient and asked¡ªWhat¡¯s wrong with you?


    ¡ª...Tell me something. I¡¯ve helped a lot in creating many new devices over the past few years, right?¡ªShoun asked, raising his head and challenging the researcher with his gaze. The researcher responded with a lump in his throat.


    ¡ªCough... That¡¯s correct, but what does that have to do with¡ª


    ¡ªThen all of you must have made a lot of money. So, where¡¯s my share?¡ªAt that moment, many researchers turned to look at the argument that was brewing. They had all used Shoun multiple times for their various projects, so they were very familiar with the boy¡¯s apathetic and subdued attitude. The fact that he was asking these questions easily threw them off balance.


    ¡ªYou¡¯re a child. We feed you! It¡¯s only natural that you give something back in return for our kindness!


    ¡ªBesides, you¡¯re just a battery. You haven¡¯t done more than that!¡ªOne after another, the researchers defended themselves. They knew that if they gave in now, they¡¯d lose money by having to share their earnings fairly with Shoun. They couldn¡¯t let him get his way!


    ¡ªHmm...¡ªThe boy simply let them all complain and defend themselves. After a while, the shouting stopped, and he was able to speak again¡ªSo, I¡¯m just a battery... I regret to inform you that¡¯s incorrect. I¡¯m a human being, just like you. You don¡¯t work for free, and neither will I. But don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t take a single crest from you¡ªThose last words gave many researchers hope, but the sharper ones noticed how Shoun was injecting electricity into the megaphone he was holding¡ªThat¡¯s why I quit!


    The boy shouted through the megaphone. Thanks to the device¡¯s enhanced power, his voice reached every corner of the entire facility, shattering countless windows and even making the weaker ones bleed.


    With his declaration made, Shoun dropped the megaphone and crushed it under his shoe, breaking it in the process before leaving the room.


    From that moment on, the entire status quo within the facility changed. Every time Shoun was asked to help with a research project, he refused. No matter how much they begged or even offered money, he simply wouldn¡¯t cooperate. Seeing that they had lost their power source and that he wasn¡¯t going to cooperate in the short term, they stripped him of many of the benefits he had¡ªwhich weren¡¯t many to begin with. He was given the same food as the other children, and his whistle was taken away.


    This led to the children, even more envious of Shoun, attacking him again. After all, he had everything handed to him on a silver platter to be liked¡ªand yet he refused? But this time, the boy wouldn¡¯t let them. Maybe it was the years of constant abuse or his newfound rebellious attitude, but he had become incredibly skilled at dodging and striking multiple targets. They always came in groups to attack Shoun, but at the very least, he inflicted the same injuries on them, all thanks to his powerful ability.


    Several months passed in this new normal, until a government inspector arrived. As he stepped out of the luxurious car with the help of the driver, his appearance became clearer.


    He was an older man, around 40 years old, with black hair combed back and visible receding hairlines. His eyes were gray, though his left eye was scarred. He wore an all-black suit and gloves of the same color.


    ¡ªIn-Inspector Rowe? What brings you here?¡ªasked the researcher nervously as he came out to greet the inspector.


    ¡ªRoutine inspection. I need to see how your progress is going¡ªRowe explained curtly in his deep voice.


    ¡ªOf course! Right this way¡ªThe designated researcher showed him everything they were currently working on at the research center. The inspector said nothing as the enthusiastic researcher tried to sell their new inventions. It wasn¡¯t until the inspector interrupted with a sharp question that the researcher stopped.


    ¡ªYou used to make truly useful things... Now you¡¯re just producing garbage... What¡¯s the reason for that?¡ªRowe asked threateningly, staring the researcher in the eye.


    ¡ªUhh... Aaam...¡ªThe researcher hesitated but finally gave in¡ªHaaah... It¡¯s because one of the children here served as a powerful battery. Now he refuses to cooperate.


    ¡ªLet me see him¡ªRowe demanded firmly. The researcher, with a lump in his throat, led him to Shoun¡¯s room. The boy was resting, sitting on his bed. When they burst in, they could see his bruised face and his nose with traces of blood. Earlier that day, he had gotten into another fight with a group of children. Once again, he had won. He seemed to be getting good at fighting.


    ¡ªThis is him¡ªthe researcher introduced. Shoun looked at them curiously. After he had refused to cooperate, the researchers rarely came to see him, and now they had brought a stranger. Rowe was flipping through a file detailing Shoun¡¯s abilities and his significant contributions.


    ¡ªTch... It¡¯s almost a sin that none of you reported this boy to the higher-ups sooner.


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    ¡ªS-sorry, sir.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t apologize. I¡¯m taking the boy with me. From now on, he¡¯ll work for us.


    ¡ªI don¡¯t agree with that! I¡¯ll never work for you again!¡ªShoun shouted, interrupting Inspector Rowe, who gave him a stern but calm look.


    ¡ªI¡¯m not asking. It¡¯s an order.


    ¡ªI refuse! You can¡¯t force me to work for you.


    ¡ªI can, and I will if you don¡¯t cooperate¡ªBefore Shoun could respond, Rowe appeared in front of the boy, placing his hand on his neck and squeezing.


    ¡ªArgh... argh¡ªThe boy began to thrash, trying to enhance his body to break free, but every attempt was futile. At that moment, he used one of the Codex¡¯s abilities, Inspect, revealing that Inspector Rowe was actually a Codex bearer¡ªa Rank 3 Dominator, no less. No matter how hard Shoun tried, he couldn¡¯t even move a finger of the man in front of him.


    ¡ªFrom now on, you belong to us. You¡¯re scum, and scum must be useful if it doesn¡¯t want to disappear like dust¡ªRowe declared before releasing Shoun, who was on the verge of passing out. From that day on, Shoun¡¯s torture intensified.


    He was taken to another research center, this time constantly monitored by Rowe. While it was a research center, it was also the main hub for portals in the entire nation. This facility always sought to improve this costly but profitable technology, and in Rowe¡¯s eyes, Shoun was key to all of it.


    ¡ªFrom today, you¡¯ll work by powering the portals and assisting the researchers with whatever they ask. Understood?¡ªThe boy, sitting in the corner of his new but dark room, didn¡¯t respond. Rowe approached and lifted his chin, forcing him to look directly into his eyes before repeating in an even harsher tone¡ªUnderstood?


    The boy again didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he spat directly in the inspector¡¯s face. Enraged, Rowe slammed him to the ground. Shoun, aside from some scratches and a bruise, was fine. This was because Rowe held back¡ªif he had wanted to, he could have turned the boy into pulp with that single blow. Both were aware of this fact, but Shoun didn¡¯t give in. He didn¡¯t stop his rebellion, even when Rowe or others beat him. He wouldn¡¯t stop.


    ¡ªFilthy scum¡ªShoun was bleeding on the floor. This time, it was Rowe who spat down at him¡ªIf you don¡¯t cooperate, I¡¯ll force you to cooperate... Let¡¯s see if you keep up that shitty attitude then¡ªhe explained before leaving the room, leaving Shoun on the floor, conscious but barely able to move.


    After a few hours, Rowe dragged him to a room filled with large cables and machines. Many people of various occupations moved around the room, fulfilling their respective roles.


    ¡ªHere¡¯s your battery¡ªthe inspector announced as he threw the boy in front of a machine connected to many cables¡ªYour job from now on is to power this machine and, in turn, supply energy to the portals. You start right now.


    ¡ª...¡ªShoun simply stayed silent, staring at him defiantly.


    ¡ªI said you start now!¡ªRowe kicked Shoun again, this time ¡°lightly.¡± The boy writhed in pain on the floor, but when he got up, he didn¡¯t look away from the inspector. Rowe continued kicking him. Many of the workers had to look away from the grotesque scene, but still, no one intervened¡ª...Why do you subject yourself to this torture? Wouldn¡¯t it be easier to just work and be done with it?


    ¡ª...You won¡¯t kill me. You know you can¡¯t because I¡¯m too valuable. I¡¯ll never work for you¡ªDespite his young age, Shoun fully understood his worth after the past few years¡ªThat¡¯s why I just have to endure until you get tired.


    ¡ª...You¡¯re right. I can¡¯t kill you, but I still have ways to make you do what I want. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you that this was the easy way. Bring that thing, boys!¡ªThe inspector forcefully grabbed the boy again. With the help of various devices, he chained Shoun¡¯s hands and feet to the machine he was supposed to power. Then he took a special cable¡ªthis one wasn¡¯t connected to any of the machines, and at its tip was a sharp needle¡ªFrom now on, you¡¯ll be injected with electricity. You might not know how horrible it is to overload your core, but you¡¯ll find out soon. I suggest you start powering that thing.


    Shoun didn¡¯t respond again, so without further delay, Rowe plunged the cable into the boy¡¯s back. Shoun clenched his jaw, enduring the pain. He could feel his clothes staining with the blood dripping down his back.


    Little by little, electricity began to flow from the cable. His body automatically absorbed it, and his already full core began to burn. The boy still didn¡¯t want to comply with the inspector¡¯s demands. Since he was chained to the machine, he couldn¡¯t release the electricity elsewhere, so he decided to enhance his limbs. This only lasted for a few moments, as his limbs also began to burn from the massive amount of electricity coursing through them.


    ¡ªHaaah... haaah¡ªHis skin began to burn, his muscles started to tear, and his core began to crack. It was only a matter of time before the boy died¡ªAgh! Stop! P-please stop!¡ªTears streamed down his face. With no other choice, he gave in and began to pour all the electricity into the machine.


    ¡ªGood¡ªRowe commented as he and a worker analyzed the metrics of the electricity the boy was releasing¡ªIncrease the power. Give the boy more electricity.


    ¡ªB-but sir, he seems to be in pain. Are you sure¡ª


    ¡ªDon¡¯t challenge me. It won¡¯t kill him. It¡¯ll just cause him pain. Besides, the more energy you have, the more you can improve our portals, right?¡ªThe worker didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he did as he was told and increased the electricity supply to Shoun.


    The boy slowly began to recover from the pain, but then a massive wave of electricity flooded his body. His body began to die again, and this time, no matter how much electricity he poured into the machine, the pain didn¡¯t stop.


    ¡ªStop! Please stop! I¡¯m giving you what you want! Why are you doing this to me!?¡ªThe boy cried and screamed, begging them to stop. The workers¡¯ backs were drenched in cold sweat as they tried to ignore the boy and focus on their work¡ªPlease! Help! Help!


    For what felt like days, the boy screamed until his throat was raw. Still, the flood of electricity didn¡¯t stop. It wasn¡¯t until several hours had passed that the electricity finally ceased. Rowe released him, but almost immediately, he was dragged back to his room, which now felt more like a cell.


    ¡ªThis will be your life from now on. You¡¯d better get used to it¡ªAs promised, the next day, Shoun was tied up and forced to power the machinery. No matter how much he begged or behaved, his treatment didn¡¯t improve. He was still tied up and subjected to that torture.


    So, Shoun returned to his rebellious attitude. Every day when Rowe came to get him, he kicked and fought, struggling with all his might to harm the inspector, though without success. Rowe simply looked at him with disdain.


    Despite his futile efforts, Shoun kept fighting. He kept rebelling because it was all he had left. The fact that he kept fighting meant he was still alive and wouldn¡¯t let anyone forget that. If he kept fighting despite everything, it meant he still had at least a sliver of a chance to escape that situation.


    Two years passed, and still, he fought with all his being, which little by little was fading. The daily torture had left him scarred. He had fought without forgetting who he was for so long, but how much longer could he keep it up?

 Chapter 39: Freedom

    Young Shoun sat in his cell, staring blankly at his status window.


    [?Name: Shoun Foster?


    ?Age: 15 years?


    ?Rank: Seeker?


    ?Title:...?


    ?Ascension Points: 1/100?


    ?Abilities?


    ?Electric Flow: Your very essence has been touched by electricity since birth, to the point where you can control and use it to your advantage?


    ?Basic Electric Core: It¡¯s a part of your being, both there and not there, in your physical and spiritual body. It¡¯s where all your electricity is stored and generated, and it also allows the user to absorb electricity from other sources?]


    A few days had passed since his birthday, though there was nothing happy about it. It was just like any other day in his monotonous life. Enduring immense pain for hours until Rowe or someone else dragged him out.


    Since he arrived, he had lost track of the days. He barely received any information except for singular events like rifts opening near the facility or official events. Still, his torture never stopped for more than a few days at a time.


    At this moment, he was contemplating his status window for one simple reason: to remind himself of his existence.


    ¡ª(Shoun Foster... that¡¯s my name... Does it even mean anything anymore?)¡ªHe watched as the memories of his earliest childhood faded. The faces of his family and old friends blurred in his memory. The time when he wasn¡¯t forced to power machines or subjected to other experiments felt distant¡ª(What do I like? What are my hobbies?)¡ªThose questions and hundreds more raced through his mind in seconds¡ª(I¡¯m tired...)¡ªFor a moment, he thought about taking his own life, but he immediately felt repulsed, and a burning anger surged within him¡ª"And let their deaths be in vain!?"¡ªIn a fit of rage, he grabbed his water glass and threw it against the wall. It shattered into pieces, scattering glass across the floor as the water cascaded down. Slowly, his anger subsided, and he fell back into apathy. As he stared at the mess, his thoughts returned.


    ¡ª(And all for what? For these damn powers? They¡¯re not even useful for killing that bastard Rowe)¡ªLooking at his palms, Shoun quickly dismissed the blame he directed at his abilities¡ª(No, I¡¯m not to blame for all this. They are. They have the power, and that¡¯s why they forced me to go through all this)¡ªHe directed all his rage and anger toward the government, which allowed scum like Rowe and the researchers to remain in their ranks. If he was forced to endure all this, who was to say there weren¡¯t others like him?¡ª(I don¡¯t know how much longer I can keep this up)¡ªDespite the years, he still fought Rowe every time he came for him. If it was someone else, he did the same. He still remembered the words of that song he heard years ago. He had to rebel. It was the only way to keep existing, to not fade into oblivion¡ª(I have to rebel even harder. Escaping is difficult with that bastard lurking around. Maybe if I cause enough of a stir, I¡¯ll attract the right attention... but what can I do?).


    The boy thought for a while until an idea came to him to draw attention from the outside. Just in time, as someone opened the door to his cell. To his surprise, it wasn¡¯t Rowe, though he quickly calmed himself.


    ¡ª(Actually, this is good. I couldn¡¯t execute this plan if that bastard Rowe was around. I thought I¡¯d have to wait a few days until he didn¡¯t come for me)¡ªAs he stood up, he inspected the person who had come to get him. It was an Apprentice wearing the government uniform, though it wasn¡¯t someone he had seen before¡ª(Perfect).


    Without further delay, he approached the Apprentice, who tried to grab him to put on handcuffs, but Shoun quickly dodged.


    ¡ªHey, I don¡¯t want to wear that crap!


    ¡ªThey told me you¡¯re trouble! You have to wear the cuffs to be escorted!


    ¡ªCalm down and lower your tone. I just turned 15. Would you mind giving me a break from that crap?¡ªHe approached again, and this time the Apprentice hesitated but quickly put the cuffs away. Then he stood behind the boy and gripped his shoulder with one hand.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t try anything funny... walk¡ªWith that, the two walked through the facility without incident¡ª(He doesn¡¯t seem as troublesome as they made him out to be)¡ªSuch a rookie mistake wouldn¡¯t be overlooked by Shoun. When they reached the machine room, the Apprentice released the boy¡ªDon¡¯t move.


    After those words, he stepped away to gather the necessary equipment to get things running. Everyone else in the room was used to seeing the boy there, so no one paid him any attention, let alone noticed that he was free and uncuffed. Without a word, he began gathering electricity in his hand. By the time the Apprentice noticed his actions, it was too late.


    ¡ªYou know, there¡¯s a difference between using my electricity to power your machines and using it to shoot¡ªWithout another word, a powerful bolt of electricity shot out, hitting the machine and destroying it in the process. The explosion sent those closest to it, including Shoun, flying into the nearest wall.


    Meanwhile, outside the facility, a luxurious car came to a stop. Inspector Rowe, curiously, stepped out first and then opened a second door, from which a man in his early 30s emerged. He had neatly trimmed black hair, and despite his tall stature and imposing muscles, his face wore a kind expression. Like the Apprentice, he wore a government uniform, though his was far more luxurious, adorned with golden details on the chest.


    ¡ªThank you, Inspector.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t mention it, Mr. Valen. It¡¯s an honor to have you at our facility¡ªRowe said with a much friendlier expression than the one he showed Shoun.


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    ¡ªI know you wanted me to see it in person, but could you tell me more about the creation of my artifact?


    ¡ªOf course, sir!¡ªThis man, who was treated with such respect, was none other than Alex Valen, better known to the masses as "The Last Bastion." A renowned Codex bearer with over 10 years of experience, he was currently Rank 4 but had already met all the requirements to ascend to Rank 5. All that was left was to complete his trial, and the government would have another powerhouse. For this reason, he had been given a super-rare Rank 5 material. The Last Bastion had decided to entrust it to a group of researchers to turn it into a custom artifact tailored to his needs, and that group was none other than the one under Rowe¡¯s command.


    ¡ªYou see, the progress is good. We¡¯ve managed to synthesize part of the artifact according to your specifications, but we¡¯re now at a point where we need your help to complete the process¡ªBefore Alex could respond, an explosion was heard from inside the facility. Without a word, both men sprang into action and rushed inside. The hallways filled with smoke from the explosion, causing many workers to hurriedly evacuate, though none appeared visibly injured.


    Tracing the source of the smoke, they eventually reached the room where the machine, now destroyed, was located.


    ¡ªWhat?¡ªRowe stared in shock at the ruined machine. As the smoke began to clear, it revealed Shoun lying on the floor, with the Apprentice who had escorted him on top, visibly striking the boy with hard slaps.


    ¡ªHow could you do this!? You could¡¯ve killed us all, you brat!¡ªThe Apprentice was suddenly stopped by a strong, muscular hand, which effortlessly pulled him off Shoun and sent him flying into the wall. The boy looked up and met Alex¡¯s gaze. Using Inspect, Shoun realized he couldn¡¯t identify the rank of his savior, concluding that he was someone above Rank 3.


    ¡ªWhat happened here?¡ªThe Last Bastion asked calmly as he helped the battered Shoun to his feet¡ªIs it true that you caused all this?


    ¡ªI-


    ¡ªIt¡¯s obvious it was you! You¡¯re always causing trouble!¡ªRowe shouted as he helped the Apprentice up. After supporting him, he wanted to rush over and hit Shoun, but The Last Bastion¡¯s stern gaze froze him in place.


    ¡ªI want to hear his story¡ªAlex said calmly, urging Shoun to speak. From his perspective, he had only found an adult harming a child without justification.


    ¡ªI... I did this, but it¡¯s because I want to leave. They¡¯re keeping me captive.


    ¡ª...Is that true?¡ªThis time, he asked Rowe, who felt the color drain from his face.


    ¡ª...He¡¯s one of the children under the government¡¯s care. That¡¯s why he can¡¯t leave-


    ¡ªI¡¯m 15 now! I¡¯m a Codex bearer. I have the authority of an adult, yet you refuse to let me go¡ªShoun interjected. This reignited Rowe¡¯s anger, but he held back, still under The Last Bastion¡¯s watchful gaze.


    ¡ª...¡ªSeeing this verbal confrontation, Alex simply observed, noting the numerous wounds on Shoun¡¯s body, many of which were clearly from before this day. Finally, he made a decision¡ªI don¡¯t have enough information, which is why I¡¯ve decided to take the boy with me.


    ¡ªB-but sir, he¡¯s the one who powers the portals. You can¡¯t-


    ¡ªWhat can¡¯t I do?¡ªAt this question, Rowe fell silent again¡ªRemember your place, Rowe. Here, I¡¯m your boss.


    Without further words, Alex escorted Shoun to his car. The boy cooperated, as despite not fully trusting The Last Bastion, he finally saw a glimmer of hope in the distance.


    Alex took him to his car, and they both got in without a word. As the driver started the car, the adult urged Shoun to speak.


    ¡ªTell me more about yourself and your situation.


    ¡ª...Where do I start... I guess it all began five years ago. I was 10, and my family was killed by a remnant...¡ªShoun held nothing back and recounted what he had endured over the past few years. Without realizing it, he began to cry at some point. Alex simply watched with concern.


    ¡ª...You¡¯ve been through a lot... I believe you. So don¡¯t worry, all of that ends now. From this moment on, you¡¯re free¡ªWithout another word, Shoun broke down in tears again. He was taken to The Last Bastion¡¯s home, a large, luxurious mansion. Despite being nervous about being locked up again, everything went smoothly. He was given new clothes and his wounds were treated. Unlike the researchers, Alex¡¯s servants were very kind to him, and during his stay, he was treated with a warmth he had almost forgotten.


    Meanwhile, The Last Bastion worked to sort out Shoun¡¯s legal situation, even clashing with his government peers. Everything Shoun had said was true, which was why the higher-ups didn¡¯t want to let him go. He was too valuable. Still, Alex couldn¡¯t stand by. Helping those in need was part of his nature. He would never leave anyone behind. In the end, thanks to his new authority as a pseudo-Rank 5, he was able to secure Shoun¡¯s freedom.


    Several weeks later, Alex himself took Shoun back to his old home, now restored thanks to his efforts.


    ¡ªHere¡¯s the number for a psychologist. If you¡¯re feeling unwell, you can call him. He¡¯s trustworthy. You also have my number if you need me. Don¡¯t hesitate to call¡ªAlex explained as he handed the boy a cell phone¡ªAlso, don¡¯t forget that classes start in two weeks... Are you sure you¡¯re ready to jump back into things so suddenly? The tutor I hired for you would be happy to continue teaching you.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s fine, sir. I think you¡¯ve already done enough for me by getting me out of that horrible place... I can handle the rest¡ªShoun thanked him with a small bow, and The Last Bastion chuckled at the gesture.


    ¡ªHehe, alright. But seriously, if you need me, don¡¯t hesitate to call. This month¡¯s bills are paid, and your fridge is stocked, though you also have 5,000 Crests in your bank account. Every month, you¡¯ll receive more thanks to your parents¡¯ life insurance and as compensation for all your work over the years.


    ¡ªOf course. Thank you again for your help¡ªThe two said their goodbyes, and as Shoun watched Alex¡¯s luxurious car drive away, he felt the new keys to his house in his hand. Hesitating for a moment, he entered his home, left his shoes at the entrance, and looked around his old house. Despite the years, everything was almost the same, even cleaner. He walked through every room, though he didn¡¯t enter his family¡¯s bedrooms. At his request, he knew no one had cleaned them. He didn¡¯t want anyone going in there... and he didn¡¯t want to go in either. So, he went to his own room¡ª...It¡¯s just as I remembered... though it¡¯s clear someone else tidied this place.


    The boy savored his newfound freedom from his bed. When he grew bored, he decided to start experiencing some of the things he had missed over the years. He went out and explored various popular spots in New Caven.


    ¡ªWhy is the public transportation system so complicated?¡ªthe boy grumbled as he walked down a commercial street. Despite the fun afternoon he¡¯d had, he still felt empty¡ª(I really miss them... How can I live my old life again without them here?)¡ªDue to the extreme stress of the past few years, he had almost completely ignored the deaths of his family. Now that he was starting to recover, the grief and loss hit him again¡ª(...No, I have to start my new life now, the one I have thanks to them... Maybe I could buy something new to symbolize that, but what?).


    As he continued walking, he finally came across a clothing store. In the display window, he spotted something familiar: a denim jacket with The Red Phoenix logo and other decorations. Excited, the boy entered the store.


    ¡ªGood afternoon, sir. Are you looking for something specific?¡ªthe saleswoman asked kindly, though deep down, she didn¡¯t believe someone his age could afford such expensive items.


    ¡ªYes, I¡¯d like this jacket¡ªhe said, pointing to the denim jacket with The Red Phoenix logo.


    ¡ªOh, yes. It¡¯s part of our collaboration with the band. It¡¯s an exclusive collection. We only have 30 units left, each priced at 100 Crests.


    ¡ª100 Crests?... Well, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll take all of them.


    ¡ªHuh?... What did you say, sir?


    ¡ªI said I¡¯ll buy all of them¡ªhe repeated, pulling out his card.


    ¡ªHuh!?

 Chapter 40: Morality and Ethics

    After Shoun¡¯s detailed explanation of everything he had endured, a tense silence fell over the group. Deuz simply lowered his gaze, Kaze stared intently at the wall, and Sein, clutching his head with both hands, asked with concern:


    ¡ªHow is this possible?... They¡¯re supposed to be the protectors of humanity... How could they do that to a child?¡ªThe small boy had grown up admiring Codex bearers. Even when Shoun briefly mentioned his past during his youth, Sein had still held onto that admiration deep in his heart. But the detailed account had shattered the bubble he had been living in. This internal conflict, combined with the sadness of his dear friend¡¯s situation, caused tears to form in the corners of his eyes.


    ¡ª...Sein... I didn¡¯t want to be the one to tell you this... but there¡¯s no such thing as ¡°protectors of humanity.¡± Humans are selfish to the core. In the end, they¡¯ll always pursue what¡¯s most comfortable for them¡ªDeuz explained with disdain in his voice. Before anyone could respond, he continued¡ªI mean, sure, there are people like The Last Bastion who are genuinely good and prioritize defending humanity, but they¡¯re the exception, not the rule. Even we aren¡¯t exempt. Sure, we do our part by killing remnants, but we don¡¯t do it to save humanity. We do it for our own benefit.


    Deuz¡¯s words brought another tense silence to the room. Everyone was thinking about the last part of his speech. For Shoun, Deuz was right¡ªthey were selfish. In the end, all Shoun wanted was the strength to ensure no remnant or person like Rowe could ever use him again. He wanted control over his own life. Kaze, on the other hand, wanted to recover his memories. Sein, meanwhile, had always aimed to become strong to protect others, but now he was doubting his goal.


    ¡ª(Is it really possible to be a protector of humanity?)¡ªThe small boy began to question himself. He knew he was selfish¡ªafter all, he had hidden the fact that he was a Codex bearer from his grandmother to avoid the hassle. He knew perfectly well he wasn¡¯t perfect. So, did that mean he would one day become as bad as Rowe? Shoun could imagine what his friend was thinking, so he quickly tried to cheer him up.


    ¡ªSein, it¡¯s true that most of humanity is like that. That¡¯s why people like The Last Bastion shine the brightest. They make a difference... Think about it¡ªwithout him, I wouldn¡¯t be here right now. We need more people with values, people who can put others above their own benefit¡ªIn his attempt to motivate the small boy, Shoun placed his hands on Sein¡¯s shoulders, forcing him to meet his gaze¡ªWe need heroes.


    ¡ª...You¡¯re right!¡ªRegaining confidence in his motivations, Sein returned to his usual self, making Shoun sigh in relief¡ªBut then, what will you do, Shoun?


    ¡ªRight, I told you all that story so you¡¯d understand why I don¡¯t want to join the government. As Deuz said, there are good people within the organization, but they¡¯re not the majority. If they were, my torture wouldn¡¯t have lasted as long. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t join the government... not without betraying myself. I apologize for causing you all trouble¡ªThe young man stood up and gave a deep bow, though everyone immediately gestured for him to stop.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s okay, Shoun. Don¡¯t worry. Even if you insisted on doing the opposite to protect us, I¡¯d stop you. After all, you already suffer enough for us!


    ¡ªI agree with Sein. We just have to be more careful from now on¡ªKaze didn¡¯t add much to Deuz¡¯s words, but it was clear the masked boy was nodding in agreement.


    ¡ªWell, with all that settled, let the party begin!¡ªEveryone began eating and drinking to their heart¡¯s content. They watched movies and played board games late into the night.


    ¡ªSein, I told you to be careful with the carpet!¡ªShoun shouted as he desperately tried to clean a soda stain.


    ¡ªSorry!¡ªSein replied, trying to help but only making the problem worse. In the background, Deuz was laughing, and Kaze seemed to be holding back his own laughter.


    Around 4:00 a.m., everyone collapsed from exhaustion. Due to the lack of mattresses, Deuz, Shoun, and Kaze ended up sleeping on a mattress Shoun brought down from his room, while Sein had the entire couch to himself.


    Shoun was still trying to get used to his enhanced energy detection. He felt he was making rapid progress, as the ability came from his own power, so mastering it was more a matter of time than skill. At this point, he could isolate certain energies to avoid detection. For example, he could now stop sensing light or spiritual energy that was constantly around him. He could also amplify his senses to focus on specific types of energy, like the thermal energy within every living being¡¯s body. However, he wasn¡¯t yet sure of the range of this ability.


    ¡ª(I guess I need to test it, but by tomorrow night I should have it figured out... Despite my disappointing title, I¡¯m happy with what I got from my ascension)¡ªShoun thought cheerfully as he stared at the ceiling. Slowly, sleep began to take over his mind, but his rest was interrupted by a voice calling out to him.


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    ¡ªShoun... Are you still awake?¡ªKaze asked from the other side of the mattress. Between the two young men was Deuz¡¯s body, but his head was facing the opposite direction, so their faces were near each other¡¯s feet. Oddly, both could still sense Deuz despite the darkness, likely because they were touching him with part of their bodies.


    ¡ªYeah... What¡¯s up, Kaze?¡ªShoun whispered, trying not to wake Sein and Deuz.


    ¡ª...Why did that inspector do all that to you?


    ¡ªWhy are you asking that?


    ¡ªI don¡¯t understand why he treated you like that. Sure, you refused to cooperate, but in retrospect, if he hadn¡¯t treated you that way, there was a chance you might have cooperated later. He traded long-term results for immediate ones. If he¡¯s a Dominator, and one with a high rank at that, I don¡¯t think he couldn¡¯t have seen the problems I noticed... Plus, it seems strange to me that he could treat a child like that without any remorse.


    ¡ª...It¡¯s certainly possible that he realized his methods would push me away, but his intention was to keep me in that facility forever... As for why he was like that, I have no idea. Beyond his name and rank, I know nothing else. But keep in mind that there are all kinds of twisted people in this world. There are sick individuals who even get off on making others suffer... I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the case with Rowe, though. He¡¯s probably just a jerk who took his anger out on others.


    ¡ªI see... The Last Bastion is a good person because he saves people. Rowe is bad because he harms them. But what about everyone else? How can I tell the difference between good and bad people?


    ¡ªYou¡¯re full of questions today... But alright, that¡¯s a complicated question... We use morality and ethics to distinguish good from bad. Our morality says that perverts and murderers are bad people. Ethics, on the other hand, vary from person to person. To you, someone who doesn¡¯t recycle might seem like a bad person, while I might not care. So, I can¡¯t tell you how to differentiate between good and bad people, but I can tell you to use morality as a foundation for forming your ethics.


    ¡ªBut what if someone kills for a good cause?


    ¡ªThat¡¯s called a moral dilemma. Again, it¡¯s not something I can answer for you. Some people think someone who only kills criminals is a hero, while others see them as just another criminal killing criminals. Some judge the action, others the intention. In the end, morality and ethics are as complicated as people. Think of it as shades of gray rather than black and white...


    ¡ªI see. I have one last question. What if someone has no choice but to be a bad person?


    ¡ªWhat do you mean?


    ¡ªI mean, maybe someone is forced to do bad things, to hurt innocent people. Maybe it¡¯s for a greater purpose or to protect the people they love. Would that person be good or bad?


    ¡ªI think that person is just unfortunate... I don¡¯t know if their intentions justify their actions, but I¡¯m sure of one thing: if that person did what they did for their goal, do you think they¡¯d really care if others considered them good or bad?


    ¡ªI don¡¯t think so... I¡¯m satisfied now. Thanks for answering my questions.


    ¡ªNo problem. Get some rest, Kaze.


    ¡ªYou too, Shoun.


    ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------


    The next evening, the group headed to the area equivalent to the City of Ashes in their world. They figured it would be easier than navigating a path full of dangers. After a long journey, they arrived at a plaza with a statue of New Caven¡¯s founder.


    ¡ªAlright, today we¡¯ll try to kill that thing... We have to be careful, guys¡ªEveryone nodded. Without further words, they made sure no one was around. Once they were sure, they activated their abilities, being greeted by the familiar yet alien City of Ashes¡ª...I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever get used to this place.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t worry. I don¡¯t think anyone will want to come back after killing that thing and completing the mission¡ªDeuz said with little emotion in his voice. Even the stoic Kaze seemed annoyed by the amount of ash getting into his clothes¡ªIn any case, how are we going to lure that thing out? I don¡¯t think fighting in such a tight space is a good idea.


    ¡ªI agree. Kaze, could you do us a favor?¡ªShoun asked the masked boy, who said nothing but nodded and disappeared after putting on his cloak¡ªBe ready, guys¡ªWith those words, everyone prepared in their own way. Deuz summoned his bow, Sein warmed up with his sword, and Shoun focused on his energy detection, confirming that there was indeed more spiritual energy in the area¡ªenough to refill his core by 3% per square meter. However, he also noticed something unusual¡ª(Why can¡¯t I sense the light energy?)¡ªThe entire mirror world was bathed in unnatural white light, yet Shoun couldn¡¯t sense or absorb it. The reason eluded him¡ªThat¡¯s weird... I can¡¯t sense the light energy in this place.


    ¡ªHmmm... Well, I guess it¡¯s just another one of the mirror world¡¯s oddities¡ªDeuz replied, glancing at the sky as if trying to find the source of the white light but giving up after a few seconds due to the futility of his search¡ªIf it¡¯s any consolation, I can¡¯t really take advantage of the night here either. In our world, there are plenty of shadows both day and night, but here there seems to be a total absence of light, and therefore shadows.


    ¡ªI don¡¯t get that. Aren¡¯t shadows supposed to be the absence of light?¡ªSein asked curiously as he stretched.


    ¡ªMore or less. Shadows are areas where light can¡¯t reach, but for them to exist, there has to be light in the first place. A total absence of light is what we call ¡°darkness.¡±


    ¡ªSo, a partial absence of light equals shadows... while total absence equals darkness. And you can only control shadows, so total darkness, like the night in the mirror world, essentially leaves you powerless.


    ¡ªExactly. Though I don¡¯t think I¡¯m completely helpless in this place¡¯s night. I mean, I can still use artificial light to create shadows. Otherwise, that was a good summary, Sein.


    ¡ªSkrrri!¡ªBefore they could continue their conversation, a loud growl echoed from the depths of the mausoleum. Shortly after, Kaze reappeared, standing beside the group and delivering a warning:


    ¡ªWe have a big problem¡ªBefore he could say more, everyone felt the ash beneath their feet begin to move. From the dark entrance of the mausoleum, they could see the sharp eyes that had terrified them before. That fear returned as they realized the remnant was gathering the surrounding ash. A hand made entirely of ash emerged from the mausoleum, followed by a massive mass of gray dust and another arm¡ªThat thing... can control the ash.

 Chapter 41: Balance

    Terrified, everyone watched as the vestige formed itself from the surrounding ash.


    ¡ª(Where did we go wrong?)¡ªShoun wondered as he tried to find a way out of the situation. But his limited time had run out. The gigantic hand made of ash came crashing down toward the four young men, barely dodged by all of them.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t just stand there, attack!¡ªSnapping them out of their trance, Deuz nocked an arrow and fired directly at the creature¡¯s eye. The vestige didn¡¯t even bother to dodge. The arrow hit its mark, but it was immediately swallowed by the ash. The eye reformed as if nothing had happened.


    Setting aside their fear, they all began to surround the vestige¡¯s body to attack from different angles. Shoun used his electricity to extend Iron Serpent, which he launched to ensnare one of the monster¡¯s legs, then delivered an electric shock. But it had little effect. A moment later, a massive shadow loomed over the young man, signaling that he was about to be crushed by one of the vestige¡¯s arms. He was saved at the last moment by Kaze, who completely severed the limb.


    ¡ªThanks¡ªThe masked boy nodded in acknowledgment. Moments later, a rain of ash fell over them, eventually settling on the ground, replacing the ash that had already been mobilized to replenish the creature¡¯s arm.


    Meanwhile, Deuz fired a couple of arrows, but they had no significant effect. Seeing the futility of his current weapon, he didn¡¯t get frustrated and simply changed strategies. His black bow transformed into two black daggers with winged details. Several ash tentacles emerged from the vestige¡¯s torso and lunged at the beret-wearing boy. He elegantly cut through each one, but for every tentacle he severed, two more appeared. Slowly, he found himself surrounded, and with no other option, he activated his ability, sinking into his faint shadow and reappearing a few meters away, just beneath the shadow of a rooftop.


    Sein, on the other hand, was struggling the most. Like Deuz, he was being attacked by a multitude of ash tentacles. His weapon had no trouble cutting through them, but they came in such numbers that he couldn¡¯t handle them without expending energy. Enhancing himself with his ability and charging his weapon with light, he resumed his attack, momentarily easing the pressure. But he was quickly overwhelmed again. His once-clean uniform was now full of tears, which tried to heal but were torn again by the vestige¡¯s fierce assault. Shallow cuts appeared on his arms, neck, and cheeks.


    ¡ªAgh!¡ªSuddenly, a gash appeared on his stomach. With no other choice, he used his second ability to heal himself, reducing his offensive capabilities at a critical moment. He was surrounded in an instant, and before he could counterattack, all his limbs were bound. A new wave of ash crashed over his small body, trapping him in a kind of prison that tightened more and more¡ªHaaaa!


    Noticing that the small boy needed help, everyone rushed to his rescue while dealing with the vestige¡¯s onslaught. Sein, who was being slowly crushed, began to lose consciousness. Under the pain and the horrifying sound of his bones being crushed, the small boy regained his determination. Releasing an insane amount of energy into his sword, a golden light burst from within his prison, exploding and freeing Sein, who fell to his knees, exhausted.


    The tentacles tried to attack again, but by then, the others had managed to reach Sein and defended him as he recovered from the attack.


    ¡ªSplitting up isn¡¯t working¡ªShoun declared as he analyzed their enemy. He had concluded that the vestige¡¯s true body had to be hidden somewhere within all the ash. He tried to detect it with his energy-sensing ability, but it was useless, as every grain of ash contained a tiny amount of spiritual energy-about 0.01%. But due to the sheer volume, it overwhelmed his senses.


    ¡ªOur attacks aren¡¯t working either... haaah... It¡¯s like fighting Shoun during a storm or Deuz during an eclipse¡ªSein exclaimed between gasps. He had already used 50% of his core¡¯s capacity in that first assault, and it didn¡¯t seem like the fight would end anytime soon.


    ¡ªWe need to change our strategy. Cutting its limbs isn¡¯t working. I can¡¯t feel its body inside that thing...¡ªDeuz reached the same conclusion as Shoun. As he cut through a tentacle that grazed his neck, he came to a grim realization¡ªI don¡¯t think we can win, but we still have a chance to complete the mission.


    ¡ª...You don¡¯t mean that, do you?


    ¡ªI¡¯m afraid it¡¯s our only option. Someone will go for the documents, then give us the signal, and we¡¯ll leave the mirror world.


    ¡ªThat sounds good. Who¡¯s going?¡ªSein asked as he rejoined the battle, taking his share of attacks. But when those words left his mouth, everyone stared at him¡ª...Why me!?


    ¡ªSein, that first assault proved this fight is much more dangerous for you than for us. You¡¯ll weaken us more if you stay here¡ªDeuz explained coldly as he took charge. The other two didn¡¯t protest the idea, so the small boy reluctantly agreed.


    ¡ªFine, you¡¯d better be safe while I¡¯m gone!¡ªSein quickly turned and ran toward the mausoleum. Noticing this, the vestige within the ash grew furious and tried to stop him, but its path was blocked by the others.


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    ¡ªDeuz, there¡¯s a flaw in your plan. What if we lure that thing into our world when we leave?


    ¡ª...I thought about that. At least it would be less dangerous than here, but it¡¯s definitely not ideal... Let¡¯s pray we find a solution before Sein returns¡ªWithout another word, the three split into three flanks to cut off all paths to the mausoleum. The vestige¡¯s attacks grew more aggressive. It wasn¡¯t just tentacles anymore¡ªif they didn¡¯t dodge or destroy them, they¡¯d be crushed.


    Shoun used his fists and Iron Serpent to destroy tentacles and waves. He used his electricity, as before, to enhance his body. But despite all his efforts, he could barely keep up with the vestige¡¯s attacks.


    Meanwhile, Deuz and Kaze were in relatively better positions. Both managed to counter the monster¡¯s attacks and even strike back.


    ¡ª(We should be almost equally strong now. Why am I falling behind?)¡ªThe young man began to reflect on how his two companions were handling this fight.


    Deuz, with his two daggers, cut through and countered the vestige¡¯s attacks. If he needed more hands, he created two sharp tentacles from the shadows of his clothes to assist him. When surrounded, he simply sank into his own shadow and repositioned, giving him the chance to attack the central body in brief moments. Kaze, on the other hand, seemed to suffer the least. Thanks to his cloak, he was never in a situation where he was surrounded, allowing him to attack with his sword or wind gusts far more often than the beret-wearing boy.


    ¡ª(Let¡¯s see... Both Deuz and Kaze use their basic abilities to defend themselves, creating opportunities they exploit to counterattack. To win this fight, I need to support them in that and create my own attacks... The three of us are Apprentices, but I¡¯m missing something)¡ªThe young man began to reflect as he defended himself. He wasn¡¯t really tired from the exchange. Despite constantly expending a large amount of electricity to enhance himself, his core remained full thanks to his Apprentice ability. In his opinion, he wasn¡¯t underutilizing it¡ª(Thinking about it... Am I limiting myself by using my new ability this way?... If we assume a situation where Kaze and Deuz were Seekers, they were limited by one thing: mobility. Deuz is highly flexible thanks to his shadow manipulation, able to fill almost any role in battle, but his lack of mobility left him exposed. That¡¯s why his Apprentice ability removes that limitation. As for Kaze, his problem must have been similar. Cutting Wind is a weapon that allows him to defend himself both at range and up close, but in many situations, the "close" aspect couldn¡¯t be used due to his lack of speed. That¡¯s why his cloak gives him precisely that).


    Shoun¡¯s analysis led him to a rather obvious realization: Apprentice abilities help compensate for a Seeker¡¯s shortcomings, allowing them to aspire to fight stronger opponents.


    ¡ª(In my case, applying this, I had a different shortcoming. I didn¡¯t lack speed or strength, but I did expend a ridiculous amount of electricity. That led me to develop a fighting style that allowed me to perform well throughout the entire battle without exhausting my core... It was useful at the time, but now it¡¯s more of a limitation than an advantage)¡ªAs he thought this, Sein finally managed to enter the mausoleum, causing the ash vestige to attack even more frenetically. Shoun was running out of time to solve his current problem¡ª(Damn... So, to summarize, simply putting 5% of my core into each limb isn¡¯t enough anymore. I can be stronger than before due to the new "quality" of my electricity, but that¡¯s not enough. My body is stronger now; it can handle more than 5% without worrying about pain or energy expenditure)¡ªQuickly, Shoun began to enhance his body even further. At the same time, as his electricity left his body, new energy replenished it thanks to his Apprentice ability. This allowed the young man to adapt to the vestige¡¯s more frenetic attack rhythm, but it still wasn¡¯t enough to counterattack¡ª(This isn¡¯t the end... I need something more)¡ªPunching a wave and shattering it before it could surround him, Shoun noticed the chain hanging inertly from his wrist¡ª(Iron Serpent... Right now, it¡¯s basically useless. I can¡¯t use it to defend myself against this ash, nor can I use it to paralyze this thing. I¡¯m sorry, old friend, but I¡¯ll have to set you aside for now)¡ªHe acknowledged that his artifact had been incredibly useful in every battle since he obtained it, allowing him to safely paralyze his enemies without expending much electricity. But now he needed to reinvent himself. Simply enhancing his body more wasn¡¯t enough. Using Iron Serpent as a conductor wasn¡¯t enough. So, he made it crawl toward his chest¡ª(I¡¯ve almost got it. I know I¡¯m close).


    Angered by its inability to stop the small boy from entering the mausoleum, the vestige shed parts of its artificial body. With all the extra ash, a massive number of tentacles and waves began to flood the three young men. Kaze calmly cut through each attack. If surrounded, he used his cloak to quickly escape the situation. Deuz did something similar, cutting through attacks and, if surrounded, leaping to another location with his ability, preventing the vestige from crushing him with its ash. But Shoun? He simply let himself be caught.


    Watching as a massive wave of ash isolated him from the world, the young man didn¡¯t defend himself at first. Slowly, the walls of his new tomb began to contract. Seeing this, both Deuz and Kaze tried to approach to help, but it wouldn¡¯t be necessary.


    For inside the tomb, the young man prepared a punch. On the surface, it didn¡¯t look different from the ones he¡¯d used to defend himself before, but it was different in Shoun¡¯s mindset as he prepared it. Feeling all his electricity constantly moving through his body, entering and exiting, he felt he was on the verge of overloading. And that¡¯s precisely what his new fighting style would focus on. His body and core couldn¡¯t handle all the electricity he could attract, but limiting himself to avoid using his full potential wasn¡¯t an option either. So, his new style would focus on a delicate balance¡ªa devastating yet calculated technique.


    In a split second, Shoun absorbed all the energy around him, converting it into electricity without fail. The accumulated electricity, plus the new influx, made his core creak, as it was now at 150% of its maximum capacity. But he wouldn¡¯t let his core suffer like that. Remembering his fight with the Hydra and how he released electricity while absorbing it, he prepared his punch and struck the walls of his prison.


    Balanced Voltage Strike!


    From his fist, a powerful surge of electricity shot out, directly hitting the walls of the tomb and completely shattering it, freeing Shoun in the process. But the movement didn¡¯t end there. The moment he struck, a massive wave of lightning burst from his fist, sweeping through and pulverizing all the ash in its path, clearing the space between Shoun and the vestige.

 Chapter 42: Exhaustion

    Little by little, the scattered ash began to fill the gap created by Shoun''s attack, who was currently recovering from the impact of his own strike.


    ¡ª(This... it''s still not perfect, but I can finally counterattack)¡ª thought the young man as he looked at his own arm. His new fighting style, "Balance Voltage," focused on one thing: balance. Entering an overloaded state was not an option; while it was more powerful, the pain simply didn''t allow him to think at his full capacity, and it also endangered his life in the long run. Limiting the amount of electricity he absorbed wasn''t an option either, so he decided that, as an apprentice, he would have to walk the fine line between overload and limitation¡ª(Maybe when I become a Dominator, I can take advantage of the overload... I''ll have to wait for that moment).


    The strike he had just executed, the "Balance Voltage Strike," used approximately 50% of his core. Since it was inefficient to operate at less than 100%, he had to keep moving the electricity as soon as he absorbed it. If he delayed even a little, it could take a toll on his body and his core. Fortunately, at this moment, he was only slightly paralyzed and could rejoin the battle almost immediately.


    ¡ª(I need absolute concentration; one small mistake and I''ll be crippled for an entire battle... I guess that''s the result of walking a tightrope)¡ª As for the punch itself, it basically involved charging his fist with the desired amount of electricity to release (in this case, 50%) and executing a punch where all the excess electricity would be discharged in a cone-shaped explosion.


    Soon after, the Vestige within the ash resumed its offensive, just in time for Shoun to rejoin the fight.


    ¡ªIs that trick new? It looks pretty powerful¡ª Deuz commented as he arrived next to the young man. The masked figure wasn''t far behind, nodding in agreement with Deuz''s words.


    ¡ªYou could say I''ve finally grasped an essential part of my ability... I think we might have a chance against that thing, though I''m not sure... Try not to distract me during this state, or I might hurt myself¡ª Without another word, the young man shot toward the monster within the ash. The others followed from their respective positions, and quickly, ash tentacles began to surround each of them. This time, however, the young man wouldn''t fall behind.


    As he began to absorb electricity, he struck any tentacle that crossed his path. Despite this, he was gradually being surrounded. He thought about using the Balance Voltage Strike again, but he felt it would limit his options for counterattacking. After all, it was an imperfect technique that required a lot of electricity, yet it was his most powerful attack. So, he decided to try something new.


    When the tentacles surrounded him, Shoun defended himself calmly. His core was already full, but he continued to absorb electricity, releasing it in a controlled manner through his limbs. At times, his electricity leaked into the air, causing his hair to stand on end from the static. At one point, he spotted a small opening between the tentacles, just big enough for him to pass through. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn''t have been fast enough to reach it, but of course, he was now beyond those old limitations.


    By slightly emptying his core, he allocated an extra 20% to each leg. The extra expenditure didn''t concern him, as his core would be refilled in the next few moments. Before his body could feel the strain of the overload, he expelled all the extra electricity beneath his feet, just as he jumped. All these actions combined created an overwhelming impulse that allowed Shoun to pass through the opening, momentarily freeing himself from the Vestige''s attacks.


    Balance Voltage Impulse!


    Landing softly on the ground, he noticed that both Deuz and Kaze had also managed to overcome the attacks in their own ways, opening the window for a counteroffensive.


    ¡ªAttack first! I need to be sure where that thing is!¡ª Without questioning Shoun''s demand, both apprentices followed the order. Kaze began cutting through the upper right side of the ash monster, while Deuz summoned his own shadow tentacles to slice through the lower left side. Both offensives revealed that the Vestige wasn''t in either of those places, so Shoun knew where to aim his destructive attack¡ª(Right in the middle... Isn''t that too predictable?)


    Without further delay, he began absorbing even more electricity while mobilizing it. The Vestige within the ash detected that Shoun was the greatest threat at that moment due to his previously demonstrated destructive power, so all the tentacles and waves of ash moved to block the punch he was preparing.


    ¡ªPredictable¡ª the young man declared briefly. His slightly hunched posture and the way he positioned his right arm made it seem like he was about to throw a punch, which was exactly what he wanted everyone to believe. In his current state, he wasn''t limited to a couple of moves. To win this battle, the only option he saw was to constantly evolve, and he was more than willing to do so.


    Instead of throwing a punch, he used the Balance Voltage Impulse again, but only lightly. With a small jump, he bypassed all the barriers set up by the Vestige. In mid-air, he began to spin his body, executing a tornado kick with his right leg, which was charged with an extra 50% electricity. The kick released a lightning slash that struck directly at the center of the ash monster.


    Balance Voltage Tornado Kick!


    ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------


    Inside the dark mausoleum, Sein could be seen running nervously through the ash, illuminated only by the glow of his ability. The little one ventured deeper and deeper into the abandoned structure.


    ¡ªCome on, come on, I''m close!¡ª Without much hesitation, the little one looked into the room previously occupied by the ash monster. Gripping his sword tightly, he entered with his guard up. Inside, there was only one thing besides the ash: an altar.


    The altar was located against the far wall of the room. It was made of a stone similar to the one used to construct the other buildings in the City of Ash. The altar had no special engravings or anything of the sort. On it rested a folder, which didn''t match the architecture of the city. Besides the folder, there were also yellow flowers on the altar, which, despite having been abandoned long ago, still looked as if they had just been picked.


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    ¡ª...There doesn''t seem to be any trap¡ª Cautiously, the little one approached the altar and took the folder, knocking many of the flowers to the ground in the process¡ª I need to hurry. I think it''ll be faster if I leave and come back¡ª Without further concern, Sein stored the documents inside his jacket and began to activate the visa. At the same time, the flowers that had fallen from the altar turned into ash, merging with the ash already on the ground. Unaware of this, the little one disappeared from the mirror world and returned to his own.


    ¡ª------------------------------------------------------------


    Everyone''s vision was slightly obscured by the ash that had been stirred up. Shoun fell to the ground, barely able to move momentarily due to his most recent attack. He was almost crushed by a wave of ash but was saved at the last moment by Kaze.


    ¡ªThanks...¡ª The masked figure didn''t respond, as he was focused on the monster within the ash. Indeed, the strike had hit the center of the creature, but the ash in that area hadn''t yielded to the young man''s attack, though multiple cracks could be seen in some parts.


    The Vestige began to undergo a metamorphosis. The ash that formed its shell became more diffuse, merging with the surrounding ash. The next moment, enormous ash tornadoes began to form within the city, creating a massive storm that severely blocked the vision of all the apprentices. As a follow-up move, a multitude of tentacles formed around them and immediately launched an attack.


    ¡ªDamn it!¡ª Shoun, who hadn''t fully recovered yet, couldn''t re-enter the Balance Voltage state, so he was overwhelmed by the increasing number of attacks, compounded by his obscured vision. Luckily, Kaze was by his side to cover him and help him withstand the first wave of attacks. Deuz wasn''t far behind, joining in to defend together.


    ¡ªThis situation... hasn''t it become too unfavorable?¡ª asked the boy with the beret as he destroyed a wave of ash with his daggers. Deuz was obviously referring to the fact that, like Shoun, the Vestige had adapted to their fighting style, making its body even more diffuse while increasing its attack power¡ª At this rate, we''ll have to retreat for real.


    ¡ªNo! There has to be a way¡ª Shoun shouted desperately, using all his mental capacity to find a way to win. He tried to detect the Vestige''s presence through his energy sense, but it was useless due to the small amount of energy present in each grain of ash. Trying something different, he attempted to sense how the monster absorbed spiritual energy from the air. The fact that certain types of Vestiges were classified as "magical" wasn''t random, as even before the Codex, the method invented by the elves to perform magic was to use the spiritual energy in the air and combine it with their own to cast a spell. Vestiges essentially did the same thing, but they didn''t need to go through the cumbersome processes that mages did. When he tried, Shoun realized once again that it was useless, as the Vestige never stayed in the same place, and the absorption was inconsistent, happening in very short intervals. He concluded that there was only one way to defeat this Vestige, a cumbersome and unrealistic one at that¡ª There''s one option... we have to exhaust it.


    ¡ªExhaust it?


    ¡ªI can absorb energy from about 30 meters around me constantly. That should be enough to cover the entire area where we''re fighting. Then, it''ll have to either move or keep depleting its spiritual energy. At that point, no matter what, we''ll be able to attack.


    ¡ªAnd do you think all of us can outlast an alpha brute in spiritual energy? I remind you that not all of us here have infinite spiritual energy¡ª the boy with the beret commented, half-jokingly, half-annoyed.


    ¡ªI know, that''s why I don''t think it''ll really work, but what other option do we have?¡ª Even Shoun knew he couldn''t outlast the brute. After all, absorbing so much electricity meant he had to constantly discharge it with the Balance Voltage, and since his technique wasn''t fully developed yet, it took a toll on his body. It wasn''t as severe as his overloaded state, but if the damage accumulated, he would eventually give out.


    ¡ª...Fine, focus on defending. Let''s cover each other''s backs and conserve as much energy as possible¡ª Deuz finally said, causing several of his tentacles to retreat into his shadow, leaving him with only his two dagas and two tent¨¢culos. Kaze deactivated his cloak entirely. Shoun prepared himself and finally gave the signal. His hair stood on end once again from the static.


    The areas immediately began to empty of all spiritual energy. Like an ocean, whenever a place was drained of spiritual energy, it was quickly refilled, but Shoun emptied it again just as fast. Shoun, who risked exploding if he didn''t release his electricity, began to use several Balance Voltage Impulses in rapid succession. Since his two companions had to limit themselves to conserve energy, he had to make up for their shortcomings, appearing whenever needed, destroying the ash, and disappearing just as quickly.


    The Vestige wasn''t stupid. It quickly realized what was happening. Its core began to empty, as it wasn''t cheap to turn the entire battlefield into its own weapon. Because of this, it began to attack even more fiercely, in more calculated and methodical ways. Using the ash flying from the tornadoes, it camouflaged tentacles from the apprentices'' spiritual senses. After all, the detection sense was like another pair of eyes for any apprentice. This forced Shoun to be in more places at once with an even tighter timeframe. His body began to feel the strain of the battle little by little.


    Deuz, for his part, was panting. His two tent¨¢culos looked frail. He still had a small reserve of spiritual energy, but if he kept using his tent¨¢culos, he would run out quickly, so he wisely decided to have them retreat into his shadow. Kaze, on the other hand, looked restless. His heavy breathing could be heard behind his mask. His sword, Wind Cutter, seemed to have lost its edge, its characteristic glow almost completely gone.


    The situation was, to say the least, unfavorable. They were achieving their goal of exhausting the Vestige, even if only a little. Everyone noticed how, in waves, there were sometimes fewer tent¨¢culos, and at times, some tornadoes spun more tightly, giving them a bit of their vision back. But despite all these small victories, it seemed like they would be the ones to give out first.


    Then, tragedy struck. A wave hit them head-on while tent¨¢culos covered their flank. With no other option, the young man prepared his fist and executed the Balance Voltage Strike. Knowing he would be momentarily paralyzed after using that attack, Deuz stepped back to cover him while Kaze handled the flanking tent¨¢culos for a brief moment. The battle had only lasted a few minutes in total, but every moment felt like agony. Their bodies and uniforms were battered, covered in their own blood. As Deuz prepared to withstand the tent¨¢culos, it turned out that they weren''t attacking¡ªinstead, it was a wave that had been right behind the first one.


    Time froze for everyone. They knew that none of them could destroy that attack at that moment. Shoun couldn''t move, while both Deuz and Kaze had minimal reserves of spiritual energy. Defending against that attack would leave them in an even worse position. They all knew it. They had lost. There was no other option but to attempt a retreat.


    ~Pew~


    A green shot crossed the entire battlefield and stopped the rapid advance of the wave, causing it to collapse into a pile of ordinary ash, effectively preventing the dangerous situation the young ones were in. The stunned apprentices turned to look at their savior, who was none other than:


    ¡ªRobin!?


    ¡ªFuuu¡ª Robin didn''t respond to Shoun''s call at first. They simply spun their gun and then blew smoke from the barrel before sticking out their tongue mockingly.

 Chapter 43: Victory

    Moments before Robin''s lifesaving entrance, in the other world, Sein could be seen appearing in a very hidden corner near a tree in the plaza.


    ¡ªFuuu¡ª The little one took a breath before preparing to activate his ability again. After all, he had to return to warn his friends. But before he could do that, he was surprised by a familiar voice.


    ¡ªHey Sein, smile for the camera¡ª When the little one looked up, he found Robin recording him with their phone. After seeing his confused face, Robin put their phone away and approached him¡ª Well, I saw you suddenly appear here. I have sources that told me they saw you here with Shoun and others, so I imagine you all have a lot to explain to me.


    ¡ªAaahhh... hmm¡ª Sein was in shock, not knowing how to respond to Robin''s questioning. Adding to that, he had to hurry back, so a lot of pressure suddenly fell on his shoulders¡ª Robin, I don¡¯t have time to explain anything right now! Shoun and my friends are in danger!


    ¡ªIs that so? In that case, take me with you. I can help.


    ¡ªAre you sure? It¡¯s a very dangerous place.


    ¡ªHa! I doubt it!


    ¡ªWell... you asked for it¡ª Without more time to explain, Sein activated his visa ability. The world contracted and changed color for the little one, though for Robin, nothing seemed to be happening. After a few seconds, Robin noticed how the entire environment changed, including the buildings and the ash on the ground.


    ¡ªWow, what is this place?


    ¡ªNo time to explain! Just help us kill that alpha brute, and then I¡¯ll answer your questions!¡ª Without further delay, the little one pointed forward, where in the distance tornadoes and small electrical flashes could be seen.


    ¡ªAlpha brute... you weren¡¯t lying when you said it would be dangerous¡ª Taking on a more serious attitude, the recruiter pulled a gun from the bag hanging on their shoulder¡ª Let¡¯s not waste time. Let¡¯s go.


    Both of them ran off, saving the group of apprentices at the last second, leading to the current situation.


    The entire battlefield had frozen due to the appearance of a new opponent, but that wouldn¡¯t last long, as the Vestige quickly adapted and resumed its offensive.


    Robin arrived next to the others, closely followed by Sein, who had a troubled look, avoiding Shoun¡¯s evaluative gaze.


    ¡ªSorry, guys... I had no choice but to bring Robin with me.


    ¡ª...We¡¯ll talk about this later¡ª Without saying much more, Shoun turned to Robin¡ª We have our differences, but if we don¡¯t work together, we won¡¯t be able to kill that thing.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t worry, Sein already promised to explain everything to me when we¡¯re done with this situation... You shouldn¡¯t be able to kill that thing because you don¡¯t know where it is... I assume you¡¯re trying to exhaust it, but those two are running out of fuel. A real shame¡ª With just the visual information, Robin had already deduced most of the situation Shoun and the others were in¡ª You¡¯re lucky I¡¯m here. I¡¯m exactly what you need in this situation.


    Only Shoun was paying attention to Robin¡¯s words. The others were more limited due to the brutal offensive of the ash monster, to the point that the young man quickly had to rejoin the fight. Robin, on the other hand, was rummaging through the bag on their shoulder.


    ¡ªHey, if you¡¯re here, you¡¯d better hurry up and help us!¡ª Shoun shouted as he destroyed some tentacles heading toward Robin, who seemed absorbed in searching for materials in their bag.


    ¡ªPatience is a virtue.


    ¡ªVirtue my ass!¡ª Ignoring Shoun¡¯s complaints, Robin finally finished confirming the materials in their bag.


    ¡ªThis should be enough... barely¡ª Taking an unknown orb from their bag, Robin used a bit of their spiritual energy to activate their first ability, which was very simple: it allowed them to disassemble and assemble any device. Quickly, the orb turned into a bunch of disconnected pieces, but they didn¡¯t fall to the ground. Instead, they floated, surrounded by a green glow. The next moment, Robin activated their second ability: a green hologram projected a design Robin came up with in a few seconds¡ª The problem is not being able to find that thing... The ash grains should be an impediment because they have a small amount of spiritual energy, so I just need to add a small filter and...¡ª While thinking of adjustments in real-time, the holographic design updated. Once Robin was sure of the design, they quickly activated their apprentice ability. It was C-grade, and its function was to automate the assembly process, giving them a couple of extra hands to finish faster or allowing them to fight while their devices were being created.


    Without stopping their work, Robin also began assembling their designs at the same time as their ability, finishing in a matter of seconds.


    ¡ªShoun, catch!¡ª The young man had just entered the Balance Voltage state, so in a calmer state, he turned and caught a pair of glasses¡ª Give them to whoever has the ability to trap a Vestige and to the one with the most destructive power¡ª Robin explained while adjusting their own glasses to have the same functionality as the ones they had just created. Without thinking too much, Shoun handed one pair to Deuz and put the other on himself¡ª If you press the button on the left side, it will activate a function that helps you detect spiritual energy. Since Shoun should be absorbing energy from the entire area, the other strongest energy source should be the Vestige¡¯s core. I added a filter to ignore small energy deposits, so don¡¯t worry about these little ash grains¡ª Robin explained fluently while putting their glasses back on and pulling out their gun again.


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    ¡ªI see. I¡¯m going on the offensive. Deuz, look for the opportunity to trap that thing with the rest of your energy. The rest of you, support Deuz when he gives the signal. We need to cut off its options and then attack it together as one united force. We only have one chance to kill it¡ª Taking the lead, Shoun barked orders that were quickly followed by the others. Without delay, he used a Balance Voltage Impulse to bypass the ash monster¡¯s offensive. Robin, surprised by Shoun¡¯s new trick, asked Sein about it:


    ¡ªHey, since when can he do that?¡ª Sein didn¡¯t answer, simply shrugging after struggling to destroy a wave of ash.


    Shoun, who had already activated Robin¡¯s glasses, could be seen quickly scanning the area in search of the Vestige. It didn¡¯t take long for him to spot a massive mass of spiritual energy moving across the battlefield.


    ¡ª(There it is. I need to get closer, but it¡¯s moving too fast... I need to cut off its path so Deuz can trap it, and then we can kill it)¡ª In the middle of his thoughts, he was surrounded by a myriad of tentacles. Knowing his body was near its limit, he couldn¡¯t afford to keep using Balance Voltage Impulse recklessly. So, continuing to test new techniques, he finally retrieved Iron Serpent from his torso and moved it to his right hand¡ª(Thanks for waiting for me, friend. I think I finally know how to use you so we can keep going together)¡ª Just as the tentacles were about to touch him, he injected a large amount of electricity into Iron Serpent, which took on the form of lightning. As the artifact hissed toward the tentacles, the young man extended it, and like a whip, it began to attack. Baring its fangs, Iron Serpent destroyed every tentacle in Shoun¡¯s path. Shoun could somewhat predict the Vestige¡¯s trajectory, so using a Balance Voltage Impulse to gain speed, he quickly approached it, cutting off its path. Before it could retaliate, the young man spun in the air and executed another powerful kick:


    Balance Voltage Tornado Kick!


    Shoun¡¯s attack destroyed all the ash in the vicinity, leaving only a massive block of ash, even darker in color.


    ¡ªNow, Deuz!¡ª Without hesitation, the boy with the beret summoned all the shadows in the area. His own tentacles trapped the massive block of ash.


    ¡ªHurry up and hit that spot!¡ª Deuz pointed while sweat dripped heavily from his face. He was pushing his limits just to keep the creature trapped for a few seconds.


    No sooner said than done. While Shoun prepared his attack, Kaze and Sein ran toward the block, charging their own attacks. Powerful wind slashes and light thrusts shot out from their swords. Little by little, cracks began to cover the shell. Robin, on the other hand, was preparing an upgrade for their weapon using their ability, aware that even if they broke the outer shell, the fight probably wouldn¡¯t end. At the same time, they were defending the others from the Vestige¡¯s attacks from a distance.


    ¡ªLet¡¯s end this¡ª Shoun declared firmly before executing his own attack. Gathering 50% of his current electricity, he released it in a powerful punch: Balance Voltage Strike!


    Finally, the block of dark ash shattered. The tornadoes that had obscured everyone¡¯s vision died down, allowing the white light of the mirror world to shine once again over the City of Ash. When the dust settled, everyone could see the new state of the battle.


    What was hidden inside the massive block of ash was none other than a mole-like Vestige. It had white fur, stained by the ash it inhabited. Unlike normal moles, this one didn¡¯t have a chubby build, as its ribs were visible through its scrawny frame. Its arms were long and just as skeletal as its torso, each ending in massive scissor-like claws, which seemed inefficient for typical digging. On the other hand, its face was very similar to a star-nosed mole, except the nose was essentially the creature¡¯s entire face. The mole was desperate, trying to dig back into the ash, but its attempts were stopped by a shot from Robin¡¯s upgraded weapon.


    Meanwhile, Sein, Deuz, and Kaze were on the ground. In that last exchange, they had exhausted all their energy reserves.


    ¡ªHaah... haah¡ª Sein was on the ground, gasping for air, suffocated by all the ash in the air. Deuz and Kaze were lying on the ground. As apprentices, exhausting their cores left them in a state where they could barely move.


    ¡ªLooks like it¡¯s our job to finish this¡ª Robin commented with clear amusement as they stood next to Shoun.


    ¡ªCover my back¡ª Without waiting for Robin to respond, the young man ran toward the confused mole.


    Finally adapting to its new situation, the Vestige commanded the ash again, overwhelming Shoun in seconds. Despite that, calmly using Iron Serpent in whip mode, he managed to make his way through. As he entered the Vestige¡¯s range, he was surrounded by something different from tentacles and waves¡ªthis time, the mole¡¯s scissor-like claws closed in on him. With no other option, he used a Balance Voltage Impulse to gain height and, with the momentum, delivered a direct kick to the Vestige¡¯s face. Forced to retreat by the ferocity of the attack, the mole failed to notice one key detail.


    With their modified weapon, Robin calmly aimed and began injecting energy. A large green orb formed at the barrel. When the right moment came, a powerful laser shot out, crossing the distance between them in an instant. The laser pierced the Vestige¡¯s left arm, causing it to fall into the fragile ash like a rose¡ªthough, considering it was a brute, ¡°fragile¡± was relative.


    ¡ªSkrrieee!¡ª A short but piercing screech echoed throughout the City of Ash. Without giving it time to rest, the moment Shoun landed, he released Iron Serpent, which coiled around one of the Vestige¡¯s skeletal legs. Discharging all its electricity into the creature, it paralyzed it again, giving Robin enough time to prepare another shot.


    ¡ªRest in peace, monster¡ª Without further words, Robin fired another green laser, this time hitting the creature¡¯s head directly, exploding it from the inside out. Purple blood splattered across the area as the corpse fell to the ground, alongside the exhausted Shoun. Ignoring these events, the Codex declared:


    [You have slain the alpha brute "Gardener of the Sanctuary of Flowers." Bonus for difficulty obtained.]


    ¡ªHaah... haaah¡ª The Balance Voltage state was already taking its toll. Feeling dizzy and with his body aching, Shoun had to kneel.


    ¡ªHey, don¡¯t kneel. This is your victory¡ª Robin confidently approached Shoun and extended their hand. Shoun hesitated for a moment but finally accepted it and stood back up.

 Chapter 44: Explanations

    Little by little, everyone began to recover. Robin and Shoun sat with them while this was happening.


    ¡ªI guess it¡¯s time for you to explain what this place is... I didn¡¯t ask before, but what is it? Could it be a dimension similar to the demon world? Is there ash everywhere usually?


    ¡ªThis place is special. Normally, it¡¯s a replica of the city, which is why we call it the mirror world. Though beyond New Caven, we don¡¯t know if it¡¯s the same. I¡¯ll explain the rest when we can get to the base.


    ¡ªBase?


    After a while, Deuz and Kaze finally regained most of their energy. Robin took back the glasses they had lent and disassembled them with a simple touch, storing each piece haphazardly in their bag. Without making them wait any longer, the masked man opened the door to the base. Most of them entered without hesitation, though Robin was left marveling, analyzing every corner of the base.


    ¡ªHow is this possible? It seems this place has spatial manipulation technology, far beyond what any of the races currently possess. I wonder, who created this marvel?


    ¡ªWe don¡¯t know. Liam refuses to answer that question.


    ¡ªLiam?


    ¡ªGreetings, Administrator, Secondary Administrator, residents, and guest¡ª greeted the artificial intelligence in its usual robotic voice. Robin¡¯s eyes lit up, and they began asking many questions about Liam.


    ¡ªAn artificial intelligence? Who programmed it? How intelligent is it? What can it do?


    ¡ªRobin, maybe we should focus on what¡¯s important first?¡ª Shoun asked with a serious expression. Robin adopted a similar demeanor, and everyone sat at the dining table. Despite being tired from the battle, they believed it was better to address what was about to happen¡ªSo, before I explain our whole situation, I¡¯d like to know how you ended up here.


    ¡ªWell, there are two answers to that question. The first is the simplest: I saw Sein appearing near a tree. He said you were in danger, and I offered to help.


    ¡ªIsn¡¯t that a bit too convenient?¡ª asked the boy with the beret after taking a sip of coffee.


    ¡ªIt is, which is why I said there are two answers. The second one explains that. Essentially, it¡¯s also Sein¡¯s fault. A couple of days ago, I had a text conversation with Sein. I asked him how many points he had, since I assumed he¡¯d have almost as many as Shoun¡ªaround 100. But it turns out he said he had about 70¡ª To confirm his words, Robin showed the conversation with Sein on his phone. Hearing this, Shoun facepalmed, Deuz let out a small sigh at his companion¡¯s stupidity, and Kaze simply shook his head. Even the masked man realized the problem, but Sein remained oblivious.


    ¡ªI don¡¯t get it. What¡¯s wrong with my answer?


    ¡ªBasically, both of you registered as adventurers on the same day. It was expected that your ascension would be close to each other since you should¡¯ve killed the same things. Sure, there could be a difference of a few points, but not 30. That made me suspect something was off with your case¡ª With Robin¡¯s explanation, Sein finally realized his mistake, shrinking back and apologizing to Shoun, who was glaring at him sternly¡ªAdding to that, your ascension was quite fast. It¡¯s not unheard of, and considering your talent, it was reasonable. But combined with Sein¡¯s inconsistency, it seemed odd. So, I decided to have your movements monitored. When my colleagues informed me that you two were with Deuz and a masked stranger who was also an apprentice walking near Founder¡¯s Plaza, I had to come check it out myself. That¡¯s when everything happened.


    ¡ªSo, in summary, it¡¯s all Sein¡¯s fault¡ª declared the masked man, causing the little one to lower his gaze and apologize again.


    ¡ªWith all that said, I think you owe me an explanation.


    ¡ªHaah, I guess. It all started a little over a month ago. I was in a park and met Kaze¡ª Shoun pointed to the masked man. Robin recognized him and gestured for Shoun to continue¡ªHe has a special ability that allows him to travel to this world. We call it the mirror world because, aside from certain exceptions like the City of Ash, it¡¯s practically identical in appearance to New Caven, as we already told you. Kaze is an amnesiac. One day, he woke up in the middle of the forest, killed a Vestige, and became a Codex bearer. From that moment on, he ascended and dedicated himself to exploring this place until I arrived here. Actually, Kaze isn¡¯t his name; it¡¯s his title. His real name is unknown, even to the Codex.


    ¡ªHmmm, I see. I assume that, due to all these abnormalities, Kaze shouldn¡¯t be registered in the system... which means he¡¯s essentially a criminal¡ª The crime wasn¡¯t becoming a Codex bearer; it was not registering as one under the law.


    ¡ªExactly. But he has no identification documents. It¡¯s likely that the guild... or even the government would take advantage of him in an unhealthy way. Even you can¡¯t deny that, in this particular case, it¡¯s the most probable outcome.


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    ¡ªI wasn¡¯t planning to deny it. Please continue.


    ¡ªWell, all this without considering the possibility that the mirror world is the motherland of the Vestiges. From what little you¡¯ve seen, even you could¡¯ve come to that conclusion, considering your intelligence.


    ¡ªI thought about it but didn¡¯t mention it, as I figured you, knowing more about this place, would bring it up eventually.


    ¡ªThere¡¯s not much to say. This world is still a mystery to us. We haven¡¯t found definitive proof that this is indeed where the Vestiges come from, but there¡¯s also nothing to prove the contrary. Let¡¯s say we¡¯re at a stalemate regarding that. In any case, to leave this place, you need to earn a "visa," which is a trial similar to an ascension, except this time, the strength of all participants is combined to create a Vestige that they can kill together. That¡¯s what you and Sein will have to do to leave here.


    ¡ªHey! Why do I have to be the one to help Robin leave!?


    ¡ªBecause it¡¯s your fault they¡¯re here. Besides, the rest of us are too tired to do it in a few hours. I¡¯m guessing you need to report back soon, right, Robin?


    ¡ªCorrect. In any case, we have a couple of hours before it¡¯s necessary, so we have time. I¡¯m curious, aside from you and Kaze, how did these two end up here?


    ¡ªAbout that... I needed an alibi for my ascension. I thought about becoming an adventurer, but I¡¯d need a partner, and Kaze wasn¡¯t an option. So, I asked Sein for help, and he agreed.


    ¡ª...That was irresponsible.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t remind me. But he had the right to do it, and he¡¯s still in one piece. As for Deuz, he, like me, was a stowaway. Except instead of skating around, he was stalking like a creep.


    ¡ªWhat¡¯s it to you if my ability works like that?


    ¡ªIn any case, the four of us formed a team. We come here on weekends and hunt Vestiges. Aside from Kaze, there¡¯s nothing illegal... What are you going to do about it, Robin?


    ¡ªWell... it¡¯s like with your apprentice ability. Not reporting it would get my head rolling on the pavement. The difference is, in this case, there¡¯s no way to hide it 100% safely. The problem is more about whether I want to do it...¡ª At that last sentence, everyone tensed up. Cold sweat ran down their faces, but finally, it was broken by Robin¡¯s laughter¡ªHahaha! You should¡¯ve seen your faces... Relax, I won¡¯t tell anyone about this.


    ¡ªReally?


    ¡ªReally. As you said, there¡¯s nothing illegal here except Kaze. But even I¡¯m aware that if his existence becomes known, what awaits him won¡¯t be pretty. So, I can turn a blind eye, but on one condition.


    ¡ª...What is it?¡ª Shoun almost expected Robin to blackmail them for money, but he knew their recruiter wasn¡¯t particularly interested in that. So, he had a dark premonition about the request.


    ¡ªI want to join you.


    ¡ªWhat!? Why?


    ¡ªOut of curiosity. If you¡¯ve read certain entries in your Codex, you should¡¯ve found things about a hidden history, unknown to any of the three races¡ªthe history of the ancients¡ª At the mention of that ancient civilization, Shoun couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard¡ªHeh, seems like your reaction confirms I¡¯m right. Adding to that, this ancient world holds things as interesting as the City of Ash, which makes me think it¡¯s the key to solving key mysteries in history. Like, where do the Vestiges come from? How are they born? Where does the Codex come from? How did the demon realm separate from our world?


    ¡ªWait, what do you mean the demon realm separated from our world?¡ª Sein interrupted curiously.


    ¡ªAccording to legends, all the nations of each race were once connected. They lived in the same world and coexisted in peace or war depending on the era. But then an event occurred that separated that piece of land and turned it into a separate dimension. This isn¡¯t a confirmed fact, but I¡¯m inclined to believe this legend, especially considering this mirror world. So, as long as you can come here, I¡¯d like to be here too. Thanks to solving all these mysteries, my career as a scientist will take off!


    ¡ªYou talk as if we¡¯ll have to stop coming at some point. Why?¡ª Deuz asked perceptively, causing Robin to look at him strangely.


    ¡ªBecause you¡¯ll be discovered if you become anything more than Dominators. Isn¡¯t that obvious?


    ¡ªWhat!?¡ª Most of the people at the table were shocked by this revelation. It was Sein who finally asked¡ªWhy!? As long as we don¡¯t make a mistake, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem!


    ¡ª...You¡¯re supposed to be adventurers. You should know that in the immediate outskirts, there¡¯s nothing above the Forsaken. All brutes and higher are quickly cleared out. The only real option is to join one of the two factions to keep ascending. Sure, you could go beyond the immediate outskirts, but for a measly rank 3, that would definitely be a death sentence. How come none of you realized this? Have you even left the city once?¡ª The looks on their faces revealed that neither Sein nor Shoun had ever truly used their adventurer titles, which this time didn¡¯t provoke laughter from Robin¡ªYou guys are unbelievable... But back to the topic, if you don¡¯t want to be discovered, the only one who can keep ascending is Kaze. The rest of you are limited by your identities. What you do with this information is up to you. If you need more advice, I¡¯m available Monday to Friday from 9 to 3.


    Everyone ignored Robin¡¯s joke due to the weight of the situation. They all wanted to grow stronger without relying on an organization, but the weight of reality crushed them like a hammer.


    ¡ª(...I don¡¯t want to be alone in this place again)¡ª Kaze thought with great sadness. He didn¡¯t want to stop hunting Vestiges with his friends. The mere idea of not being able to rely on them filled him with a deep sense of emptiness.


    ¡ªHaah... We can¡¯t solve this problem right now. I suggest we take it easy and review today¡¯s gains¡ª suggested the boy with the beret. With little enthusiasm, everyone nodded.


    ¡ªOh, right. What were you doing facing an alpha brute? I don¡¯t think your S-grade ability has gone to your head¡ª At that moment, Shoun explained the base¡¯s mission system and their reason for traveling to the City of Ash¡ªI see... This place intrigues me a lot. Hurry up, Sein, and take out the documents!


    ¡ªOf course!¡ª With renewed energy and pride, Sein pulled the folder with the documents from inside his shirt. The outer cover was clearly wrinkled and stained with sweat, but the documents inside seemed to be intact.


    ¡ª...You¡¯d better hope this thing can still be handed over to Liam¡ª With disgust, Shoun took the folder with tweezers and opened it to reveal the mystery hidden within the City of Ash.

 Chapter 45: Kinkafuzan

    ¡ªReport on the City of Ash¡ª Shoun read aloud, knowing not everyone could read the document from their position. The pages inside the folder were well-preserved, without any wrinkles or stains. Shoun skipped the title, and before everyone¡¯s eyes appeared the image of a golden flower, accompanied by a large amount of text¡ªKinkafuzan. Its name means ¡°Golden Flower that Grows Amidst Wind and Storm.¡± According to legend, it is ¡°the golden flower that binds destinies.¡± The legend tells of two lovers who, in the midst of adversity, planted these flowers together. Their lives were not easy, but they found solace in caring for these flowers side by side. Even when time and fate itself separated them, the bond they shared through the flowers never faded... even when all turned to ash.


    At this legend, everyone began to silently connect the dots, though the silence was soon interrupted by Sein¡¯s remark.


    ¡ªI saw those flowers on the altar where the documents were.


    ¡ªFascinating. It seems their love was so strong that even when most of the flowers perished, some remain... How cheesy¡ª Robin joked with good humor before urging Shoun to turn the page.


    ¡ªThe Garden of Beginnings. It was meant to be the starting point for building something new, for creating a new story. But it was abandoned, and its original purpose was corrupted¡ª On this page was an image showing structures everyone had seen in the City of Ash, except instead of ash, there was an insane amount of golden flowers. Practically everywhere you looked, they were present¡ªSo... the City of Ash was just a garden? That¡¯s kind of anticlimactic.


    ¡ªI was excited to find a clue about the ancient civilization right after joining you.


    ¡ªThere¡¯s still one more page, Shoun. Don¡¯t jump to being pessimistic just yet¡ª Deuz pointed out. The young man listened and turned to the next page. For the first time, the page contained only text, written in a blood-red, almost dripping font that sent chills down everyone¡¯s spines. Nervously, Shoun tried to read it aloud, but his throat suddenly tightened. He began to sweat and looked away, so he turned the paper around. Everyone positioned themselves to read its contents:


    Long ago, the Kinkafuzan shone like lightning in a sea of wind. Two souls planted them, promising to stay together¡ªa promise insignificant before time... and fate.


    Now, only ashes remain. The flowers, once alive, turned to dust centuries ago. But deep within the garden, something remains.


    It does not breathe.


    It does not feel.


    But it remembers.


    The promise it once made binds it, keeps it sealed. But... for how much longer will this hold true?


    This was never a story of two lovers. It is the story of an anomaly that gave birth to a singularity, destined to change the world. Of the Executor that waits beneath the ruins of what is now called the City of Ash.


    As they read the text, everyone froze. Nervously, they all reacted differently. Sein stood up and began pacing in circles, muttering something unintelligible. Deuz leaned back in his chair, head down. Kaze read and reread the document. Shoun held his head in his hands. And finally, Robin, who shattered any semblance of calm with a simple sentence:


    ¡ªI underestimated this place¡ª Everyone froze, turning their gazes to Robin, who was sweating profusely¡ªEven though it was brief, I got excited thinking this would be a simple journey of discovery... I fooled myself.


    ¡ªDoes that mean you¡¯re going to betray us!?¡ª Sein jumped to the worst possible conclusion due to his nervousness, but Robin quickly calmed those fears.


    ¡ªNo, no! Not at all... It¡¯s just that I thought this would be easy. I forgot how small we are¡ªfour apprentices and a seeker against the true power that resides in this world... Do you know how many people like us could kill an alpha brute at our level? Few. Only the most exceptional, those blessed by the heavens themselves with the right abilities, can aspire to that. But none of them, even if they all fought together, could defeat an Executor... That¡¯s why I say I underestimated the task ahead of us. Luckily, I was reminded of my place at a non-critical moment.


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    ¡ªYour place?¡ª Sein asked again.


    ¡ªYou should know that I¡¯m primarily a researcher. If I¡¯m an apprentice, it¡¯s to gain my apprentice ability. I¡¯m not that good at fighting. Even you could beat me if you didn¡¯t give me time to prepare... Though I also meant that, in general, we¡¯re weak... Is this the feeling that drives you to grow stronger?


    ¡ªYes¡ª For the first time, Shoun regained his composure, speaking to Robin with confidence¡ªWe don¡¯t back down from the magnitude of this task. I¡¯ll ask you one last time: Are you sure you want to join us?


    ¡ª...Who do you take me for? It¡¯s obvious your team needs a good scientist to watch your backs. Without me, you¡¯ll probably become statistics sooner or later, and I refuse to let my acquaintances¡ªpossibly future friends¡ªbecome just another number.


    ¡ªGood. Don¡¯t disappoint me. If I die because of your incompetence, I¡¯ll haunt you from the afterlife¡ª Shoun declared finally, extending a fist toward Robin, who naturally bumped it with his own¡ªAlright, team. It¡¯s time to move. I don¡¯t want to set foot in the City of Ash again knowing there¡¯s a potential natural disaster beneath our feet.


    With those words, they set off. Sein and Robin replenished their spiritual energy and discussed their abilities and capabilities with each other, while the others mentally mapped out the fastest way to leave the City of Ash once they exited the base. After all, no one knew when the seal on the Executor beneath the city would break.


    When everything was ready, the group cautiously left their only safe haven and were met with the lifeless sight of the City of Ash, almost the same as before except for one thing.


    ¡ªWhere¡¯s the brute¡¯s corpse?¡ª Sein asked. When they realized this, everyone began searching for the possible thief with their eyes. Shoun, on the other hand, extended his energy detection sense, avoiding the ground for obvious reasons. Finding nothing, he pointed out the following:


    ¡ªI hate losing resources, but I¡¯d much rather stay alive! So, for the love of all that¡¯s living, let¡¯s get out of here!¡ª Everyone agreed. Shoun hoisted Sein onto his shoulders, while Kaze carried Robin. With all their strength, they ran out of the City of Ash, with Deuz covering their backs. In the end, they all managed to leave the city without any issues¡ªa fact they weren¡¯t sure whether to be worried or relieved about.


    With more calm, they headed to the park area, where the prepared Sein and Robin would face their trial. In it, they would confront a Forsaken, a massive, decomposing corpse that seemed to emit a curse. Thanks to Sein, both were fighting well and had the upper hand, meaning it was only a matter of time before they could kill the Vestige.


    ¡ªHey, Shoun, I have a question¡ª The masked man asked, causing the attentive young man to turn his head. Despite his companions¡¯ advantage, Shoun remained watchful of their victory.


    ¡ªWhat is it?


    ¡ªWe were all scared when we found out we were near an Executor. I was scared because my abilities and tactics probably wouldn¡¯t work against it. Why were you scared? Was it for the same reason?


    ¡ªWell... more or less. Executors are incredibly powerful, but it¡¯s hard to imagine or explain just how powerful unless you know exactly.


    ¡ªLet me help with that¡ª The boy with the beret chimed in with his calm tone of voice¡ªKaze, assuming there were no Codex bearers or anything to stop you, how much do you think you could destroy in a city?


    ¡ªHmmm... I think a few buildings, and I guess a lot of people would die in the process.


    ¡ªCorrect. The three of us are very powerful, capable of destroying buildings and killing people. We could devastate an entire city, but it would take a long time. For a Dominator, it would be even easier because their body is more than enough to topple buildings, but it would still take a significant amount of time... A rank 4 individual could do it in minutes.


    ¡ªReally?


    ¡ªExecutors, in particular, are like natural disasters. Before anyone reached rank 4, nothing could stop them. Wherever they went, destruction followed. But that¡¯s not their most terrifying quality. What probably scared us the most is something very simple: their presence.


    ¡ªPresence?


    ¡ªDo you know how Codex bearers advance to rank 4?


    ¡ªMore or less. We need to find a ¡°stigma.¡± When we find it and overcome our trial, we can become rank 4.


    ¡ªHalf-correct answer. You¡¯re oversimplifying the process. It¡¯s not as easy as ¡°finding it.¡± It¡¯s more about earning the right to bear the stigma, to be worthy of walking the path of that stigma. There are many types of stigmas. The most common are the Warrior¡¯s Stigma and the Scholar¡¯s Stigma. Those who walk these paths are the living embodiment of them. The swords of those warriors are sharper, while the research of scholars is more thorough. For Executors, it¡¯s not so different, except all Vestiges share one. No one knows its name, but it¡¯s easy to understand: it¡¯s death itself. They seek the death of humans, elves, and demons, so their stigma manifests as death. Under their yoke, they are death itself.

 Chapter 46: New Mission

    ¡ª...I think I understand now why all of you were so scared¡ª Kaze said, lowering his head.


    ¡ªBetter to be a scared hare than a dead one. Don¡¯t be ashamed of being afraid¡ª Just as Deuz finished those words, the red barrier faded and disappeared. Robin and Sein emerged from it.


    ¡ªGood job, you two¡ª Shoun commented, giving both of them a high-five.


    ¡ªWho do you take us for? Of course, we were going to win together!


    ¡ªI agree with Sein. I¡¯m going to leave the mirror world for a bit. Wait for me at the base while I make a couple of calls.


    And so, everyone returned to the base. After a few minutes, Robin entered and sat next to Sein at the operations table. Unlike before, the table was now full, with all seats occupied.


    ¡ªEverything ready, Robin?


    ¡ªIndeed. I made up an excuse for my colleagues, and they¡¯ll leave me alone for the rest of the weekend. What do we get for my trial?¡ª the scientist asked Shoun, who simply shrugged.


    ¡ªLiam explained that we¡¯ve already exhausted all the rewards from these trials. We can keep bringing people in, but we won¡¯t get anything more from that front. He also said you¡¯ll get points for the mission, even though you weren¡¯t there from the start.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s 20 points in just one night of work. This place is really valuable¡ª Robin exclaimed, delighted, as he reclined in his chair.


    ¡ªSpeaking of files, here you go, Liam!¡ª Sein pulled out the crumpled folder again and placed it on the table. A few seconds later, it disappeared, and a pleasant sensation surged from everyone¡¯s cores.


    ¡ªMission accomplished!¡ª the robotic voice exclaimed with excitement. Seconds later, confetti and balloons shot out from the corners of the room¡ªYour Dominator-rank artifact is in the refiner. You may claim it if you wish.


    ¡ªDoes it always do that?¡ª Deuz asked Shoun, who shrugged tiredly.


    ¡ªIt did that last time too. Luckily, we won¡¯t have to clean¡ª


    ¡ªA refiner!?¡ª Before Shoun could finish his sentence, Robin darted toward the machine he had previously ignored. The young man simply facepalmed in exhaustion¡ªHow does it work!? Is that a 4th-generation materializer!? This material is outright illegal!¡ª Like a maniac, Robin began analyzing and touching everything he could, with Sein tasked with preventing him from breaking anything.


    ¡ªAaaah... this has been a very long night.


    ¡ªDo you want to rest?


    ¡ªNot yet, Deuz. First, let¡¯s figure out what we¡¯re doing tomorrow. So, please, you two, sit back down¡ª Shoun demanded with a stern voice, intimidating Robin and Sein, even though it wasn¡¯t directed at the little one¡ªAlright, guys. What do you prefer? Mission or hunt?


    ¡ªWe could check out the mission they¡¯re offering. If it¡¯s too hard, we can leave it for later¡ª At Robin¡¯s calmer suggestion, everyone agreed.


    ¡ªAlright, Liam. Show us the mission you have available.


    ¡ªAffirmative, Secondary Administrator¡ª With that, a screen appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes.


    [Core Search: Recent reports detect an overwhelming amount of energy concentrated in one location. Your mission is to find this point and bring it back to the base.


    Difficulty: Apprentice.


    Reward: Forsaken Alpha body.]


    ¡ªWell... at least this time the difficulty is appropriate¡ª the boy with the beret commented cautiously.


    ¡ªExactly! In fact, with just that Vestige, I should be able to ascend!


    ¡ªIt doesn¡¯t seem too hard. I vote we accept it¡ª Seeing that all his companions, including the silent Kaze, nodded in agreement, Shoun was no exception.


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    ¡ªAlright, we accept the mission, Liam.


    ¡ªOf course, Secondary Administrator. But before that, I need you to tell me something.


    ¡ªWhat is it?¡ª Shoun asked, surprised, as it wasn¡¯t usual for Liam to ask questions.


    ¡ªWhat is your team¡¯s name? Since you now have five members, this function has been unlocked¡ª At that question, Shoun could only sigh, turning to look at his companions.


    ¡ªTeam Dynamite!¡ª Sein suggested excitedly, but it was instantly dismissed.


    ¡ªLiam, we¡¯ll leave the team name for later, but we accept the mission.


    ¡ªAs you wish¡ª After Liam¡¯s solemn words, a surge of information flooded their minds, now knowing where they needed to search for the energy point.


    ¡ªAlright, that should be enough. I¡¯m sleepy, so I¡¯ll leave dinner to you guys...¡ª Without waiting for responses (or complaints) from his companions, Shoun headed toward the base¡¯s bathroom and laundry area. After a relaxing bath, he lay down in the base¡¯s borrowed clothes¡ª(...So, I can only be a Dominator).


    As he relaxed, his mind turned to his future problems. Before, he hadn¡¯t been fully decided on whether to keep ascending after becoming a Dominator. After all, for Codex bearers who don¡¯t die in battle, ascending to Dominator is more a matter of time than skill. Clearly, things change at rank 4, as it¡¯s not just about facing Executors¡ªyou also have to earn a stigma, something Shoun wasn¡¯t sure he was even capable of. But the fact that this option was being cut off left him adrift.


    ¡ª(Joining either of the two factions isn¡¯t an option. I¡¯m sure of that... I guess becoming a Dominator fulfills my first goal of becoming strong. Most humans and Vestiges at my rank probably won¡¯t be able to do much to me, and those of higher ranks I¡¯ll likely never encounter... I just hope that by the time that day comes, Kaze will have recovered his memories. Even if he doesn¡¯t, I¡¯ll keep supporting him¡ªmaybe not in battle, but in other ways... I¡¯m sure the bastard would be happy if my support was cooking him pancakes 24/7)¡ª Calming his thoughts, he tried to turn them to Sein, Deuz, and Robin, specifically what each would do after becoming Dominators. But he quickly concluded that wasn¡¯t his business. With a now serene mind, his eyelids closed, and he was delivered into the arms of Orpheus.


    The next day, the five young men set out on their mission. The mission area was within what Kaze called the Forsaken Zone. After a while of walking, they found themselves in front of a somewhat sinister building. Its walls were gray, as were its windows, which appeared fogged from the inside, giving them a slightly blue tint, different from the monotonous black and white of the mirror world. The main door was open, and cold smoke wafted out from inside.


    ¡ªHmm...¡ª Robin tapped his glasses a couple of times before saying¡ªThis smoke isn¡¯t dangerous, though I can¡¯t be entirely sure what it really is.


    ¡ªAlright, let¡¯s proceed carefully¡ª Shoun moved Iron Serpent to his right hand, being the first to enter, followed by the others. The interior of the lab was almost completely dark, with only the area near the door illuminated. The young man prepared to use Iron Serpent as an improvised flashlight, but Robin beat him to it.


    ¡ªIf I¡¯m not mistaken, this should be around... here!¡ª Unconcerned by the lack of light, the scientist approached one of the walls. After feeling around for a while, he found a hatch camouflaged with the wall. Upon opening it, he revealed a panel with multiple buttons¡ªIf I move this... change this and... Shoun, could you do Bzzt Bzzt here, please? I¡¯ll tell you when to stop¡ª Robin asked. Confused, Shoun infused electricity until Robin told him to stop. A few seconds later, a faint light illuminated the gloomy building, revealing the hallways destroyed by the apparent passage of time.


    ¡ªWow, how did you do that?


    ¡ªWell, this place is a government facility. I¡¯ve never been here, but usually, in these smaller buildings, the design tends to be similar¡ª At that explanation, everyone agreed and continued advancing through the hallways. The light illuminating them was dim, almost gray, adding a depressing air to the ruined place.


    After a while, the young men reached the end of the hallway. There were two doors on opposite sides. Thanks to the information swirling in their minds, they knew both led to the objective of their search.


    ¡ªIt seems both paths are correct. So, which one do we take?¡ª the boy with the beret asked.


    ¡ªI think we should split up¡ª Robin suggested. When everyone turned to look at him, he quickly explained¡ªIf both paths are correct, maybe we need to explore them simultaneously... that¡¯s what I think.


    ¡ªHmm... I guess that¡¯s reasonable. So, how do we split up?¡ª Shoun asked, but before anyone could think of anything, they were interrupted by Sein.


    ¡ªI¡¯ll go with Deuz! We hardly ever spend time alone together!


    ¡ªI¡¯m fine with that¡ª The idea didn¡¯t seem to bother the boy with the beret. Shoun wasn¡¯t worried, as he trusted that both could take care of each other.


    ¡ªDecided. But before that, let me do something¡ª Robin began pulling parts from his bag. After a couple of minutes, he had created two walkie-talkie radios, giving one to Deuz and keeping the other¡ªCall if you need help.


    ¡ªSure... I didn¡¯t know radio waves worked in this place¡ª With those final words, Deuz and Sein disappeared through the door on the right, while the others, without further discussion, went through the one on the left.


    ¡ªI find it very curious that the mirror world is so different in its basic laws compared to our world¡ª Robin commented as they walked through the hallway.


    ¡ªWell, I guess it¡¯s inevitable, given that it¡¯s a different dimension or world.


    ¡ªMore or less. I haven¡¯t been to the demon realm, but I know from reliable sources that it¡¯s basically the same as living in our nation or the elves¡¯, except for the red sky, of course. Though curiously, it hasn¡¯t been observed to affect anything in particular... Personally, I have a theory that¡ª Seeing Robin start to ramble about the topic, Shoun had to hold back a sigh.


    ¡ª(I guess when you put a coin in the jukebox, you have to listen to the whole song).

 Chapter 47: Together

    Shoun, Kaze, and Robin moved at a steady pace through the gloomy hallways of the lab. After turning a corner, they found a door sealed shut.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t worry, guys. I¡¯ve got this¡ª Robin began pulling various tools from his bag, but before he could even act, they watched as Shoun kicked the door with his enhanced leg, knocking it down in the process¡ª...I guess we could¡¯ve done that too.


    Without saying much more, the three entered the sealed room. Inside, there were numerous machines and screens. The screens were on but displayed a familiar static that sent chills down their spines.


    ¡ªCould this be a surveillance room?¡ª the masked man asked as he observed the static. He said this because the entire room reminded him of the kind of facilities shown in movies.


    ¡ªCould be. Let¡¯s keep going¡ª Before he could continue, they were interrupted by the sound coming from the walkie-talkie. Robin picked it up and pressed a button, allowing Deuz¡¯s familiar voice to come through.


    ¡ªAre you there? Can you hear me?


    ¡ªWe hear you, Deuz. What¡¯s up?


    ¡ªWe can¡¯t move forward. There¡¯s a heavy metal door blocking our path. No devices or switches nearby.


    ¡ªCan¡¯t you break it down?¡ª Shoun asked, joining the conversation.


    ¡ªWhat kind of brute would think of breaking it down first?... Well, it seems Sein¡ª Deuz said from the other side, watching as Sein fruitlessly struck the door with his sword. On the side of the three apprentices, Shoun lowered his gaze while Robin looked at him with a mocking expression.


    ¡ªWe¡¯re in a room full of machines right now. We¡¯ll see what we can do. Stay put.


    ¡ªAlright¡ª After Deuz¡¯s words, Robin approached one of the machines and began fiddling with the buttons. Meanwhile, Shoun and Kaze leaned against a wall and a chair, respectively.


    ¡ªHey, Robin, can I ask you something?


    ¡ªThat¡¯s already a question, but sure, Kaze. What do you want to know? Something about my great engineering skills, my talent for building devices, or maybe my brilliant mathematical mind?¡ª Robin replied playfully as he managed to activate the screens for proper operation. On one of them, they could see Deuz and Sein leaning against a wall. From the expression on the boy with the beret¡¯s face, it was clear he was suffering from whatever Sein was telling him.


    ¡ªAre you a man or a woman?¡ª The playful expression on Robin¡¯s face vanished instantly, replaced by a serious look as he focused on the screens and the machine. Shoun simply shook his head.


    ¡ª(I should¡¯ve expected something like this could happen.)


    ¡ª...I¡¯m neither a man nor a woman¡ª Robin replied curtly. Kaze, unable to read the room, continued with his questions.


    ¡ªIf you¡¯re neither a man nor a woman, what are you?


    ¡ªI repeat, I¡¯m neither. That should be enough to answer your question. Do you have a problem with that answer?¡ª Robin responded, clearly on the defensive.


    ¡ªWhy would I have a problem with that answer? You¡¯re different from the other people I know, but that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s bad¡ª At that response, both Robin and Shoun relaxed. The young man knew that the topic of Robin¡¯s identity was delicate for the scientist, but he allowed it to happen anyway. If Kaze was ever going to functionally integrate into society, he needed to learn how to navigate conversations and when to stop them.


    ¡ª...It¡¯s not¡ª Robin finally pressed a few buttons, and a particular screen lit up, showing a loading bar. He announced this both to those in the room and through the walkie-talkie¡ªThe door should open in a bit. Let me know if you need anything else.


    ¡ªUnderstood¡ª After that brief exchange with Deuz, the room fell silent. Everyone waited for the bar to finish loading to ensure there were no issues.


    ¡ªCan I ask you another question?


    ¡ªThat¡¯s already a question. Why are you so interested in asking me things?¡ª Robin replied, this time without much enthusiasm for joking.


    ¡ªBeyond your gender, I find your existence itself curious¡ª Shoun found it curious that Kaze knew the meaning of the word ¡°gender,¡± but he didn¡¯t comment on it at the time.


    ¡ªWhat do you mean by that?


    ¡ªWell... I don¡¯t know how close you and Shoun are as friends, but even if you¡¯re not, it¡¯s strange that you can work for the government knowing what they did to him¡ª The room fell into an uncomfortable atmosphere this time. Neither Shoun nor Robin was unaware of the peculiarity of their ¡°friendship.¡± In any other context, they got along well and were able to work together, but when the scientist¡¯s job was added to the mix, any chemistry between them was cut off. Both knew this, which is why they avoided talking about it in a possible life-or-death situation like a mission in the mirror world, where that chemistry was vital¡ªsomething Kaze completely ignored.


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    ¡ª...It¡¯s more complicated than it seems... I¡¯m different from others. Many people treat me differently because of who I am. I also despise all the vile actions of the government, but they don¡¯t treat me like a freak. There, they see more than just my gender¡ª Robin said melancholically, lowering his gaze.


    ¡ªBut Robin, you are a freak.


    ¡ªWhat!?¡ª The scientist was taken aback by Kaze¡¯s sudden change of tone, but it was quickly explained.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s not common for people as smart as you to exist. Your talents and eloquent personality make you a rare and valuable freak.


    ¡ªPfft! Hahaha!¡ª For the third time in a row, Kaze failed to navigate the conversation properly, but this time it had a positive outcome, making both Robin and Shoun burst into laughter¡ªWell, if you put it that way, I guess being a freak isn¡¯t so bad.


    ¡ªAnd one of the rarest and most valuable freaks, with lots of legs and four eyes! Hahaha¡ª Shoun joked between laughs.


    ¡ªHey! You can¡¯t talk with an S-grade ability! Plus, you like men!


    ¡ªWhy bring up my sexuality, and of all people, you¡¯re the one doing it!


    ¡ªIs Shoun gay?¡ª Deuz asked curiously from the other end of the line.


    ¡ªIndeed, Shoun is gay. Didn¡¯t you know?¡ª Sein¡¯s voice could also be heard responding to Deuz.


    ¡ªWere you listening this whole time!?


    ¡ªI thought I turned it off¡ª Robin said, scratching his head and picking up the walkie-talkie.


    ¡ªI guess?


    ¡ªDon¡¯t worry, Robin. We won¡¯t treat you differently! After all, we¡¯re all freaks in our own way!¡ª Sein exclaimed from the other end of the line. Just after those words, the door finally opened¡ªOh, it¡¯s open! We¡¯ll keep moving forward. Be careful!


    Finally, they silenced the communication line and prepared to move on to the next room.


    ¡ªHey, Kaze, thanks.


    ¡ªWhy are you thanking me, Robin?


    ¡ªI didn¡¯t know I needed to hear that... Ever since I started identifying as who I really am, many people have rejected me, as I said before... Hearing the other side makes me feel happier. Sorry for being a bit harsh earlier.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t worry about it.


    ¡ªBy the way, Kaze, how do you know the meaning of ¡°gender¡±? I expected you to confuse it with ¡°sex.¡±


    ¡ªAren¡¯t they the same thing?¡ª The masked man¡¯s response left both young men momentarily stunned, but without delay, they proceeded to explain the meaning of gender and sex, as well as their differences.


    ¡ª(Robin... From this conversation and what I¡¯ve inferred before, I know he has his reasons, likely emotional ones, for working with the government... Can I trust him? He really holds all the cards in our situation. If he were to report us to his superiors, it would put us in a bad position, essentially forcing us to do whatever he wants to keep him quiet...)¡ª With these dark thoughts, the young man turned his gaze to Robin, who was now chatting animatedly with Kaze¡ª(It¡¯s not a question of whether I can trust Robin. I must trust Robin. He¡¯s my teammate, and I know he won¡¯t betray us. The gap between us isn¡¯t, and won¡¯t be, an obstacle to us working together.)¡ª Having reached a satisfactory resolution to his concerns, Shoun joined the lively conversation led mainly by the scientist.


    The three young men continued advancing until they encountered a metal door very similar to the one that had blocked Deuz and Sein¡¯s path. Meanwhile, on their side, those two had reached a machine-filled area similar to the one they had used earlier. So, Robin, through his walkie-talkie, helped Deuz open the door, with little to no¡ªor even counterproductive¡ªhelp from Sein.


    After opening the door, everyone moved forward, reuniting the five of them at a point where both paths connected.


    ¡ªSo, it was necessary to go through both paths to get here¡ª Shoun commented disinterestedly as he observed a large metal door, different yet similar to the ones that had blocked their way. This one was much larger, had a metallic blue tone, and gave off an unsettling vibe under his gaze. Just beyond it was the objective of their mission.


    ¡ªOr for two people to traverse them simultaneously¡ª Sein added, smiling at Deuz, who looked like he had aged ten years in the time they were separated.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t ever leave me alone with this... kid again¡ª Deuz seemed to want to add more but held back under Shoun¡¯s accusatory gaze.


    ¡ªHaah... Let¡¯s prepare better. It¡¯s an alpha wretch, after all. We can¡¯t get overconfident just because we killed an alpha brute¡ª Everyone nodded and prepared their respective weapons. With Robin¡¯s inclusion, they decided that Deuz would join the offense alongside the others, while the scientist would stay in the rear, covering them with his weapon.


    Without further delay, they approached the large blue door. As it opened, a large amount of smoke poured out. The lights flickered on one by one, and from the shadows emerged a Vestige that walked on two legs, resembling a hyena. Its gray fur was stained with multiple unknown liquids, adding a disheveled touch to its fierce appearance. Its black eyes and claws stared intently at them, while smoke, almost like foam, poured from its mouth. What stood out most about the hyena was the large, glowing blue sphere embedded in its chest.


    The Vestige lunged quickly at the young men. Sein raised his golden sword and empowered all the apprentices. Without delay, seeing the creature dangerously close, Deuz summoned a sea of tentacles that momentarily paralyzed the Vestige, giving Shoun enough time to approach in his Balance Voltage state and land a powerful kick directly to the creature¡¯s face. Robin also acted at that moment, firing his weapon. A green laser shot across the room, hitting one of the creature¡¯s arms, dismembering it and sending the Vestige flying into a wall.


    Enraged, the hyena began releasing even more smoke than before, this time a foul-smelling purple haze.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s poison!¡ª Sein warned, as he quickly felt a sensation similar to being cursed. At the warning, the masked man acted swiftly, deploying his cloak to clear the toxic air.


    ¡ªWe need to finish this thing quickly!¡ª At Deuz¡¯s shout, everyone rushed at the hyena. With two daggers, the boy with the beret sliced off one of the creature¡¯s legs. Sein and Kaze worked together to take care of the remaining arm. Shoun, meanwhile, paralyzed the Vestige with his ability, allowing Robin to deliver the final blow with a direct shot to the head.


    [You have slain the ¡°Madness of Smoke,¡± an alpha wretch.]


    ¡ªSorry if it goes to my head, but it seems like as long as we¡¯re together, we can overcome any obstacle!

 Chapter 48: Poker Night

    ¡ªSorry if it goes to my head, but it really feels like as long as we''re together, we can overcome any obstacle!


    Hearing Sein''s wild idea, Shoun chose not to scold him, letting him bask in the brief thrill of victory.


    ¡ªHeh! Maybe you''re right, Sein! Robin affirmed, grabbing Sein by the collar to ruffle his already messy hair even more¡ªIn any case, our target is that shiny thing in the creature''s chest, right?


    ¡ªAnd the body itself is our reward. Thinking about it, they''re paying us with loot we already got. Well, I guess we don''t have HR to complain to¡ªhe confirmed mockingly. Inside the lab, the group moved the vestige''s corpse along with the large blue orb, both of which would be handed over to Liam almost immediately.


    ¡ªCongratulations on completing your mission! The AI once again shot off balloons and confetti.


    ¡ªWell, that confirms it. They''re gonna do this every time we finish a mission¡ªShoun sighed, exhaustion clear in his voice¡ªBy the way, Sein, are you ready for your promotion?


    ¡ªPoints-wise, yes! he exclaimed excitedly¡ªI can''t wait to be as strong as all of you!


    ¡ªIt won''t be long now. Robin, do you have a uniform?


    ¡ªI do, but the government only lets me wear it when I''m out hunting vestiges with them...which, y''know, I never actually do.


    ¡ªHmm...considering everything, what if we use the poor bastard''s corpse and what''s left of Kalgoros to upgrade your uniforms?¡ªShoun suggested. Everyone agreed, and just for fun, Shoun ended up replacing all of Robin''s clothes with a uniform (except their glasses), which the scientist didn''t seem to mind. In the end, both got uniforms of higher-than-average apprentice rank¡ª...With that settled, what should we do with the artifact?


    That was a tougher question. Though everyone might want it, no one could really justify claiming a new artifact. Kaze and Sein already had powerful weapons that were the source of most of their abilities, so another weapon wouldn''t be useful. Deuz and Robin were versatile¡ªneither used artifacts since their skills already covered those areas. As for Shoun, he still had Iron Serpent, which remained useful in many situations, but its low rank meant it would eventually fall behind. So...was replacing it really necessary right now?


    ¡ªHow about an amulet? That should be useful for anyone¡ªRobin suggested hesitantly.


    ¡ªSein already covers buffs, and that''ll likely improve even more after his promotion. Sure, more buffs would be better, but how much is really necessary?¡ªDeuz''s words brought the discussion to another standstill, with no clear use for the artifact¡ªHaaah, how about we wait until Sein gets promoted? Maybe we''ll find a use for it by then.


    ¡ªThat sounds reasonable. When do you think you''ll be ready, Sein?


    ¡ªIn a couple of days, Shoun. I''ve never killed a Forsaken alone, so I want to train a bit more.


    ¡ªAlright. So, what now? Another mission? Hunting vestiges?


    ¡ªYou still have energy for all that, Robin? I sure don''t.


    ¡ªThen we leave?


    ¡ªI think we should wait a little longer. Leaving now might not be safe. Time works strangely here¡ªif we leave too early, we risk someone spotting us.


    ¡ªWhat do you mean by ''strangely''?


    ¡ªBasically, like everything in this damn dimension, time behaves weirdly. At first, we thought if it was day here, it was night outside, and vice versa. But after a while, we realized that made no sense. The days here do match the outside, but there''s a weird time lag¡ªsometimes more, sometimes less. Last week, Sein stayed outside measuring time while I went in. The first time, one hour inside was one hour outside. But in the next test, an hour passed for me, while only thirty minutes passed for Sein.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡ª...Could it be time dilation?...No, if that were the case, fluctuations in the same place shouldn''t vary like that...then...¡ªRobin began rambling about possible explanations before stopping when they noticed everyone staring¡ªAhem...So how do you know when to leave?


    ¡ªWell...it''s dumber than it sounds. Basically, whenever night falls here, it''s roughly safe to leave. Same if we leave around that time.


    ¡ª...That''s it?


    ¡ªPretty much. We don''t know how it works, but we know it does. Generally, if we leave at night, it drops us outside at 12 PM consistently. So I guess that''s the ''signal'' to go.


    ¡ªFascinating. Another mystery of the mirror world to uncover, I suppose.


    ¡ªOne of hundreds, apparently¡ªShoun sighed at the sheer scale of unraveling the dimension''s secrets.


    ¡ªWell, since we''ve got free time...how about we play something!¡ªSein suggested eagerly. Everyone agreed, but first, they left the base to check the time until nightfall outside. After that quick task, they gathered around the round table as Sein checked the board games¡ªWe''ve got Starlit Path, chess...though that''s not for five players, cards...


    ¡ªLet''s play poker!¡ªRobin declared boldly. Most knew of poker but had never played. After Robin explained the rules and improvised some chips using materials from their bag and their ability, the game began¡ªAlright, I''ll be the dealer.


    ¡ªSo...does this mean I have a full house?¡ªDespite the rules being explained, Kaze showed his hand. Out of courtesy (and because their fake money was at stake), they decided to restart the round.


    ¡ªRaise!


    ¡ªCall.¡ªThe rounds continued, and a small rivalry developed between Sein and Deuz. Shoun and Kaze mostly watched¡ªthe masked one didn''t really know how to play and knew he''d lose his few chips if he joined, while Shoun stayed out because his hands were always terrible.


    ¡ªPlease, Robin, just one good hand, I''m begging you!¡ªhe half-jokingly pleaded. In response, Robin just stuck out their tongue.


    The final showdown came: Sein vs. Deuz. Both kept raising boldly, neither willing to back down, until they went all in. The three spectators weren''t sure who had the winning hand.


    ¡ªSh-show your cards...¡ªEven Robin stammered at the tension.


    ¡ªThree jacks¡ªDeuz revealed his hand smugly, certain of victory.


    ¡ªHahaha...HAHAHA!¡ªSein burst into laughter, startling everyone before revealing his hand¡ªFlush!


    Deuz''s expression crumbled instantly, while Sein celebrated by hopping around.


    ¡ªHahaha, I won, I won!¡ªDeuz had no choice but to concede. Usually the best at board games, this time, he''d been outplayed by Sein.


    The others quickly regained their composure and started cleaning up for another round. As Robin gathered the cards, they paused and spoke up.


    ¡ªYou know...you guys are a really...weird group.


    ¡ªSays the mad scientist?


    ¡ªNot in a bad way. It''s just¡ªyou''re all so different. Each of your situations is so unusual that it''s surprising you all ended up in the same place. Shoun was born with powers and is one of the few S-rank ability users. Sein''s the only Seeker with three innate skills. Kaze''s a nameless amnesiac who can transport people to a whole other world...


    ¡ªDon''t leave yourself out, Robin.


    ¡ªI was getting to that! I''m a handsome, super-smart, incredible scientist¡ªthey declared, earning stares¡ªAnd I guess I''ve got a...quirky personality. Lastly, there''s Deuz, who...sorry, buddy, I don''t know you well enough to say what''s weird about you.


    ¡ªWell...Deuz likes to harass people¡ªShoun chimed in.


    ¡ªThat was an accident!


    ¡ªDeuz is also a terrible cook¡ªSein added, shuddering at the memory of the one time Deuz was allowed to cook.


    ¡ª...


    ¡ªAnd he never uses metal utensils¡ªKaze finally spoke up¡ªI''ve noticed he always summons his own shadow-cutlery and avoids metal ones.


    ¡ªWhat can I say? I don''t like the feel of metal.


    ¡ªBut what about your piercings?¡ªShoun pointed at the various piercings on Deuz''s face. Without a word, Deuz turned them into shadows, revealing they were also summoned.


    ¡ªOkay, that''s weird, but not on our level¡ªRobin mused before finally gathering the cards, taking one last look at Sein''s winning hand¡ªa flush of clubs. Now that I think about it, we''re like clovers. Two or three leaves are common, but four or five? That''s one in ten thousand. I think I''ve got our team name¡ªThey raised their hand, revealing five club cards¡ªClover Flush!


    ¡ªThat''s an awesome name!


    ¡ªThat''s a stupid name¡ªSein and Deuz said simultaneously, reigniting their rivalry instantly.


    ¡ªEhh, I guess it''s fine. What do you think, Kaze?¡ªShoun asked. The masked one just shrugged¡ªhe didn''t hate it, but he wasn''t thrilled either.


    ¡ªSince we''re the majority, from now on, we''re Clover Flush!¡ªSein cheered.


    ¡ªFiiiine, whatever.


    ¡ªWhat''s wrong, Deuz? Still salty I beat you?¡ªJust as another argument was about to erupt, Robin interrupted.


    ¡ªWait a second...Sein, did you mark this card?¡ªThey held up one of Sein''s cards. Everyone had thought it was a club, but on closer inspection, it was a spade colored in with marker. At some point, unnoticed, Sein had cheated¡ªHahaha! Guess that means Deuz wins.


    ¡ªShould''ve expected it. I was surprised Sein wasn''t cheating¡ªShoun admitted.


    ¡ªNot cool...¡ªKaze muttered.


    Everyone turned to Deuz, who had his head down. The room tensed until he finally spoke:


    ¡ªSomeone hold me back before I kill them all!

 Chapter 49: Magic

    After night fell in the mirror world, everyone went their separate ways. It was midnight, and young Sein walked quietly through the streets until he reached the familiar park. There, sitting on a swing, was a familiar figure¡ªhis eyes lighting up at the sight.


    ¡ªJoy!¡ªhe greeted excitedly. The young elf girl returned the greeting, though far less energetically.


    ¡ªGood evening, Sein.


    ¡ªWhat brings you here at this hour?


    ¡ªI could ask you the same, but I¡¯ve noticed you¡¯re always here around this time on Sundays. Since you weren¡¯t answering my messages, I decided to come.


    ¡ªThat makes sense¡ªhe replied, quickly taking a seat beside Joy. The two had stayed in touch but hadn¡¯t been able to meet due to their busy schedules¡ªHow have you been?


    ¡ªI¡¯ve been fine. Busy with my mission... We still haven¡¯t found any leads on what we¡¯re looking for¡ªshe admitted with a sigh. Sein patted her shoulder and smiled.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t worry, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find something soon.


    ¡ª...Yeah, thanks, Sein¡ªshe avoided his gaze, finding his optimism almost blinding¡ªHow about you?


    ¡ªI¡¯ve been great! Actually, I¡¯ve got good news¡ªI¡¯m ready for my promotion!


    ¡ªReally? That¡¯s great! When¡¯s your test?


    ¡ªIn a couple of days... I¡¯m a little nervous, but excited too. I hope I get a good ability like Shoun¡¯s...¡ªhe muttered the last part under his breath, but Joy¡¯s sharp ears caught it.


    ¡ªShoun?


    ¡ªOh, right! He¡¯s my friend and teammate. Not to brag, but he¡¯s one of the few humans with an S-rank ability¡ªSein said, clearly proud of his friend¡¯s achievement. Joy, meanwhile, looked stunned.


    ¡ªS-rank?


    ¡ªYep, he¡¯s really strong¡ªSein confirmed. The elf girl summoned her mysterious book and began flipping through it¡ªWhat are you doing?


    ¡ªThis... I think I have notes on him somewhere... Ah, here¡ªShe showed him a page filled with details about Shoun¡ªhis abilities, public history, even a photo¡ªIs this him?


    ¡ªYeah, that¡¯s him! Guess word about his ability spread fast.


    ¡ªWell, I have my sources. If people were talking about you, you can imagine how they reacted to your friend. Though, given his ability¡¯s rank, it¡¯s understandable... Do you know the risks of staying close to him?¡ªshe asked, concern evident in her voice.


    ¡ªI¡¯m aware. But I still want to stay by his side. We promised to get stronger together, and I don¡¯t break my promises.


    ¡ª...I believe you. What¡¯s Shoun like? Personality-wise, I mean. You clearly admire him, so I¡¯m curious.


    ¡ªWell... he¡¯s a great cook, always treats me well, and he¡¯s reliable. Maybe he worries about me more than he needs to, but I think it¡¯s for my own good... He¡¯s been through a lot.


    ¡ªI know about that last part. I don¡¯t know how I¡¯d feel if I lost my family so young.


    ¡ª...You don¡¯t know the rest of the story?


    ¡ªThere¡¯s more?


    ¡ª...You could say that. Sorry, but it¡¯s not my place to tell.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ¡ªDon¡¯t worry. But I am curious¡ªhow did you two meet?


    ¡ªOh, that¡¯s a story I can tell! We met two years ago when he transferred to my school. Since he was a Codex bearer, I kept pestering him with questions about his abilities and how he became one¡ªobviously not knowing his past. Somehow, he put up with me, and eventually, I stopped asking. That¡¯s how we became friends.


    ¡ªHeh. Shoun must¡¯ve had a lot of patience with you. Not everyone would tolerate that without yelling or worse.


    ¡ªProbably because I was a kid. He¡¯s really kind to children.


    ¡ªInteresting.


    ¡ªRight? Anyway, I think you know enough about me now. How about you tell me something about you, Joy?


    ¡ªHmm, like what?


    ¡ªWell... tell me about your family.


    ¡ªOh, that... I have my dad, my mom, and... just them¡ªShe hesitated, as if holding something back.


    ¡ª...What are they like?


    ¡ªMy mom loves me a lot. She always cooks our favorite meals, likes knitting and reading... My dad¡¯s really strict, but I have to admit¡ªhe¡¯s an outstanding mage.


    ¡ªMagic! I forget it exists sometimes, with all the amazing powers from the Codex. Now that I think about it, don¡¯t you elves use tattoos for magic?


    ¡ªThe tattoos... yeah, a lot of us have them¡ªJoy¡¯s expression darkened slightly. Noticing this, Sein quickly steered the conversation toward something he knew she loved.


    ¡ªTell me more about magic! Like, where it came from and how it works.


    ¡ªWell, magic was discovered by elves thousands of years ago. You might not know this, but all humans, demons, and elves¡ªeven non-Codex bearers¡ªhave a core. The difference is, you can¡¯t freely manipulate it unless you study magic or are a Codex bearer. After discovering this, elves started researching ways to interact with and use the spiritual energy inside them. They invented a series of runes¡ªif you fuel them with spiritual energy from the core, they create spells.


    ¡ªThat¡¯s so cool! How did they develop it further?


    ¡ªThey realized spiritual energy was limited¡ªeven more back then, since the Codex didn¡¯t exist yet. So they found a way to cast spells without draining their cores completely by channeling ambient spiritual energy from the air.


    ¡ªLike vestiges?


    ¡ªYes, like vestiges! But for other races, it¡¯s not that simple. Without an extra step, they can¡¯t use magic that way. That¡¯s where the tattoos come in¡ªbasically, to cast spells using both your own energy and the world¡¯s, you need to tattoo specific runes onto your body. They create a connection between you and the world, letting you use magic as we know it today¡ªDespite her earlier discomfort, Joy didn¡¯t downplay the tattoos¡¯ importance¡ªNow that I think about it... wasn¡¯t Shoun a metahuman? Or rather, he was, before becoming a Codex bearer.


    ¡ªYeah, he was born with his powers. Why bring that up now?


    ¡ªBecause it relates to magic. To explain... you should know that demons are born with elemental abilities¡ªfire, ice, wind, etc. Each can control their element innately, though it¡¯s limited by their spiritual energy. Elves, on the other hand, seem like we were born to master magic. Spellcasting comes naturally to us, and even our tattoos are shorter because of our race. If demons or humans used them, the tattoos would be much longer. So, what do you think makes humans special?


    ¡ªHmm... having better Codex abilities?


    ¡ªGenerally, yes. But before the Codex, humans had a much stranger trait¡ªyour genes are absurdly dominant.


    ¡ªWhat do you mean?


    ¡ªExactly what it sounds like. If a demon and a human have a child, it¡¯ll be half-demon, half-human, with traits from both. If that child has kids with a demon, the descendants will still carry human traits. Even if they keep reproducing with demons, the human traits won¡¯t disappear. But if that first half-human, half-demon has kids only with humans, the demon traits will fade within two generations.


    ¡ªWow, that is weird. But what does that have to do with Shoun?


    ¡ªWell, even though physical traits eventually become fully human, the genes for demonic abilities or magic compatibility stick around. That¡¯s why humans with powers are born occasionally¡ªthose dormant genes wake up. Shoun¡¯s ancestor was probably a demon.


    ¡ªWhoa! That was really interesting, Joy. Thanks for explaining.


    ¡ªNo problem. That¡¯s what friends do, right?


    ¡ªRight!¡ªThe two chatted a while longer before parting ways.


    After the pleasant conversation, Sein¡¯s mind returned to a lingering concern¡ªonce they all became Dominators, they¡¯d have to stop going to the mirror world. (I don¡¯t know what to think... I doubt Shoun will join the government or the guild. And I have no idea what Deuz will do. As for me... what should I do?) His thoughts clashed. He wanted to be a beacon of hope for humanity, which meant getting stronger¡ªsomething he couldn¡¯t do without the organizations¡¯ help. But now, after what he¡¯d learned, he didn¡¯t see them the same way. In the end, he was back where he started¡ª(Well, there¡¯s nothing I can do about it now. I¡¯ll figure something out when the time comes! For now, I¡¯ll focus on what¡¯s right in front of me¡ªmy promotion.)


    Under the watchful moonlight, Sein imagined what his new ability might be. There was no doubt in his mind¡ªhe would win. He was strong, and he had even stronger friends backing him up.


    ¡ªI won¡¯t let them down! I¡¯ll win and become an apprentice!¡ªhe declared to the night air, determined to spend every free moment from tomorrow onward preparing for his test.

 Chapter 50: Performance Tests

    In the school cafeteria, the young man could be seen eating quietly, wearing sunglasses unlike his usual appearance.


    ¡ª(This apprentice ability is too powerful... but it makes going outside complicated now)¡ªThanks to his ability, Shoun''s default energy detection sense as an apprentice had been enhanced, allowing him to register any type of energy, not just spiritual as usual, within a 30-kilometer radius. Energy was present everywhere, from the light energy in sunlight to the thermal energy emitted by living beings. This concentration of energy kept Shoun in a constant state of dizziness. The most he could do was suppress his sense to 5 meters, his maximum, but it didn''t completely solve the problem¡ª(Oddly enough, I feel better in the mirror world than here... though I still prefer living here).


    Soon Robin and Sein joined him at the table, both sharing a knowing smile.


    ¡ªHey guys... What are you two plotting?


    ¡ªOh nothing, we''re just excited about Sein''s promotion.


    ¡ªYeah yeah, plus I prepared something special to surprise you and Deuz.


    ¡ª...Okay? Just don''t do anything more dangerous, remember today you''ll face a wretch for the first time.


    ¡ªHehe¡ªWithout answering directly, the boy began eating, which worried Shoun a little.


    Later in a familiar government facility, little Sein could be seen doing various stretches while Deuz, Shoun and Robin watched him prepare for his test.


    ¡ªAre you worried?¡ªasked the boy in the beret, seeing Shoun''s concerned face.


    ¡ª...I''d be lying if I said no.


    ¡ªDon''t worry Shoun, our friend is more than ready. Kaze and I are very confident after helping him with his training.


    ¡ªI hope so... By the way, what did he mean when he said he had an ace up his sleeve?


    ¡ªHe wanted it to be a surprise for you, just watch and admire, because it looks like it''s about to begin¡ªAs if confirming the scientist''s words, a red dome covered the entire training area. Dust rose and began forming Sein''s opponent.


    The boy gripped his golden sword tightly while carefully observing his black gloves, the gift Shoun had given him the first time he went to the mirror world. They looked much more worn and faded now, which was normal considering all the battles he''d been through with Clover Flush.


    ¡ª(I''ve come so far, I won''t disappoint them)¡ªClutching his sword with both hands, he looked at his opponent. The vestige being formed by the dust was a collection of bones. Its lower part resembled a serpent''s tail, its middle was an open ribcage from which large, sharp bones extended. The skull was a bunch of seemingly unrelated bones, with the notable feature of disgusting bulging eyes that protruded from their sockets, barely held together by a thin purple line.


    When the bone formation was complete, it immediately shot toward Sein. The boy remained calm, activating his ability to enhance himself and adding the spiritual energy boost to his body. Thanks to this, when he charged at his opponent, he could match its speed perfectly.


    The golden sword and the vestige''s bony arms clashed, causing sparks to fly from the impact. As if testing each other''s strength, both maintained their positions for a moment before the vestige broke the stalemate by leveraging its arms, forcing both the sword and its sharp bones back. But since its massive arms weren''t its only weapons, it could continue its attack.


    Opening its ribcage even wider, it approached the boy again, wanting to crush him within its bones. Sein, who had expected this, reacted quickly. Activating his ability again, the golden sword began to glow, causing the vestige''s entire body to emit smoke, showing clear signs of deterioration.


    Due to the attack, the wretch retreated momentarily, giving Sein a chance to catch his breath.


    ¡ªHaaah...haaah¡ªThe brief respite didn''t last long. Like a spring, the vestige shot forward again, this time spreading its arms wide, planning to surround the boy and put him in a difficult position where he would almost certainly get hurt¡ª(This is exactly the opportunity I wanted to show my new technique!).


    Almost eagerly awaiting the vestige''s attack, the boy prepared himself. When the impact was just a few meters away, Sein did something surprising and seemingly stupid. He threw his sword.


    ¡ªHuh!?¡ªShoun shouted in surprise, afraid that Sein''s "butter fingers" had returned at the worst moment, but this was quickly disproven.


    Like a battering ram, the sword flew through the air and struck one of the vestige''s extended arms, severing it. Without giving it time to react, Sein was already running toward it. He opened his right hand and activated his ability one last time. A beam of light surrounded his hand, forming a large, lethal blade. Seizing the perfect moment, he lunged at the vestige and cut off its head. The Codex quickly echoed his feat.


    [You have slain the "Mortal Fossil," a wretch]


    [You have completed the promotion test. Congratulations, apprentice!]


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    The moment Sein read the message, his body exploded in white light, marking the moment he became an apprentice.


    ¡ªYou did it Sein, you scared me when you threw your sword!¡ªEveryone ran to him, and soon the boy''s neck was caught in Shoun''s strong grip.


    ¡ªStop, stop!


    ¡ªYou did well Sein, congratulations.


    ¡ªThat''s right, just as predicted, Shoun was really surprised by your new trick.


    ¡ªBy the way, how did you come up with that?


    ¡ªWell... I always use my sword to channel my powers, mainly because it''s more comfortable and simpler for how I use it. But Robin made me realize that because of that, I might be missing other uses for my abilities. That was one of them. It''s not like I can control an element like you or Deuz, but I can shape my ability to some extent. So it can be a projectile, an enhancement/attack zone, or even a deadly blade... though I imagine if I use it on you guys, it''ll still give the buff.


    ¡ªQuite ingenious¡ªDeuz finally declared, nodding at how the boy had discovered this aspect of his ability.


    ¡ªHehe, time for the good part. Tell us right here what you got¡ªRobin took out his tablet and prepared to write. He didn''t take them to the truth-detection room since it wasn''t necessary.


    ¡ªRight, give me a second!¡ªSein hurriedly opened his status window. After a moment, his eyes shone with clear excitement¡ªI got a Grade A ability!


    ¡ªThat''s great! What does it do?


    ¡ªIt says here... it''s called "Dawn''s Guardian." From what I understand of its description, it''s a shield I can place on myself and my allies. The damage allies receive will be minimized and transferred to the central shield, which would be mine... It accumulates that damage and can eventually release it as either a healing wave or a destructive attack. Finally, it seems to suggest that the stronger my willpower, the more resilient my shield will be... or so I think. Honestly, I didn''t quite understand that part.


    ¡ªTypical of you... Anyway, that should be enough for the report¡ªRobin finished writing on his tablet and turned back to Sein¡ªIt''s a good ability. Your skills are certainly a rare hybrid between being a tank, healer, support role, and to some extent an attacker¡ªquite unusual, to say the least.


    ¡ªIndeed, though I think Sein stands out more for his support side, mainly because all his abilities can do that, except the golden sword¡ªadded the boy in the beret.


    ¡ªI suppose. So what now? Want to celebrate or something else?


    ¡ªLet''s go to... you know where¡ªSein started to say "mirror world" but stopped himself when he saw everyone''s looks.


    ¡ªI was about to suggest we go there too! I planned something very useful for this weekend!¡ªEveryone agreed with Robin. After completing all the legal formalities, they returned to Shoun''s house, where they told Kaze everything that had happened before heading to the mirror world, guided by Robin to the training room.


    ¡ªAlright Robin, we''re all here. What did you plan?¡ªasked the young man as he lined up horizontally with the others, all looking at Robin.


    ¡ªWell, I realized you don''t know exactly what your capabilities are, both physically and ability-wise, as shown by Sein not knowing about his newest technique. So I decided to run some tests to see what you''re capable of and determine your optimal roles. Plus, the top performer gets candy¡ªRobin suggested these tests despite the difference in their levels mainly because level improvements didn''t significantly affect the final results.


    ¡ªSounds good!


    ¡ªI don''t see why not.


    ¡ªWorks for me¡ªAfter Shoun agreed, Kaze also confirmed with his usual nod.


    ¡ªGreat, I''ll be overseeing all the tests. First, let''s start with a physical test¡ªUsing the base''s equipment, they provided various weights to test lifting strength. They also tested pushing force and destructive power. Considering only abilities, the one who came out on top in this area was unsurprisingly Shoun, thanks to his enhancement being much more powerful than that of a normal apprentice, even surpassing the second-place finisher in the category¡ªSein with his spiritual energy enhancement and ability buff¡ªby a wide margin. The young man could lift about 40 tons and destroy reinforced steel walls provided by the base, while Sein could only lift half that and barely dent the wall. As an extra test in this area, it was shown that Sein''s ability increased Shoun''s base strength by a total of 25%, meaning when the young man applied his own enhancement, it would be even greater.


    The second test was speed. This resulted in a tie between Kaze, Shoun, and Deuz, but for different reasons. Starting with Shoun again, he was capable of reaching great speeds thanks to his enhancements and Balance Voltage Impulse, even surpassing Kaze with his cloak. The problem was that if he reached those speeds, he couldn''t change direction, making that speed ineffective in combat. Deuz wasn''t as fast as the other two, but thanks to being able to teleport from shadow to shadow, he could cover the same or greater distance in less time. Finally, Sein, even with his double enhancement, couldn''t compete with the others, coming in last.


    The flexibility test was a tie between Deuz and Sein. The boy in the beret, with his ability, could serve as attack, defense, and support in certain situations, and he could do so at long ranges, not just close range like Sein, who with his abilities served as healer, attacker, and tank.


    The final round of tests was endurance. Shoun didn''t participate in the stamina test for obvious reasons. In that test, Deuz won again thanks to his spiritual energy regeneration in shadows, but the margin wasn''t large. In the physical endurance tests, the winner was Sein, followed by Shoun. Again, Shoun could show higher defense momentarily, but it wasn''t sustainable over time, which unlike in the speed test, cost him the victory this time.


    ¡ªAlright, averaging these tests, it seems the undisputed winner is Shoun! Congratulations!¡ªWith that, Robin tossed him a piece of candy. The young man, who didn''t really want it, gave it to Sein, who was already drooling over it¡ªNow, outside of the competition, I must say most of you are exceptional. Even though Shoun left you far behind in the physical tests, your results indicate you''re still ahead of the average apprentice. And as for you, Shoun, if someone saw your stats, they''d think you were a Dominator¡ªone of the weakest, but a Dominator nonetheless¡ªWith that, Robin displayed everyone''s results in a hologram.


    ¡ª(These results don''t fully reflect my limits. I can''t maintain that speed or strength throughout an entire battle. If I tried, my body would break. So in reality, while I''m stronger than the average apprentice, I don''t think I can even approach Rank 3, at least not consistently)¡ªEven though the results weren''t entirely accurate to reality, they still confirmed the capabilities Shoun believed he had.


    ¡ªOne last thing, Shoun. Your apprentice ability''s capabilities should have shown better results in the flexibility test. Is there a reason why that wasn''t the case?¡ªThe scientist knew how energy types worked, so he could clearly visualize how Shoun could take advantage of them through his ability. Despite that, Shoun hadn''t done so during the tests.


    ¡ª...Give me your hand¡ªShoun offered his hand to Robin. Without much hesitation, the scientist took it, but after a few seconds, he pulled away with a shout.


    ¡ªAh!

 Chapter 51: Exploration

    Everyone fell silent at Robin''s extreme reaction. Since they didn''t believe Shoun would harm a teammate without reason, they waited for the situation to clarify before acting.


    ¡ª...So you can even do that... You''re certainly... surprising¡ªRobin finally said, rubbing their hand. It seemed like they wanted to say something stronger than surprising but held back to avoid being rude to Shoun.


    ¡ªWhat happened?¡ªSein asked.


    ¡ªWell, it turns out Shoun''s ability exceeded my calculations a bit. What they just did was essentially rip the spiritual energy from my core¡ªwhich hurts a lot¡ªRobin explained. At that, everyone except Robin and Shoun was stunned. Deuz was the first to speak up:


    ¡ªWhat''s the true extent of your ability?


    ¡ªLike Robin said, I can steal spiritual energy from a core. I can also take thermal energy from a body and the electrical energy transmitted by neurons... among many others. Listing them all would take too long. Of course, for any of them to work, I need direct contact¡ªShoun replied. Over the past week, they had researched their ability''s limits. Its function was simple: it converted any type of energy into electricity, which they could then absorb. The interesting part was what happened after the conversion. Not all energy types behaved like ambient spiritual energy, which instantly refilled the space left behind. If Shoun drained energy from a core, it had to regenerate naturally. If they stole a body''s thermal energy, hypothermia would set in quickly. If they targeted neural electrical impulses, the victim would be left paralyzed.


    ¡ªThat sounds incredibly powerful... How much does it hurt to have your core energy stolen?¡ªSein asked.


    ¡ªConsidering you''re a new apprentice, you''re lucky you haven''t experienced spiritual energy depletion yet. As a Seeker, you know how awful it feels to run low, but you can still move somewhat normally. From the Apprentice rank onward, it''s different¡ªRobin explained¡ªAs you should know, our need for food, water, and air decreases slightly at this level because our bodies contain more spiritual energy. That''s why running out leaves us completely stiff¡ªno amount of food or water can supply what we need. With that said, to answer your question: it hurts tremendously. So much that for a second, I thought Shoun was going to rip my arm off.


    Robin''s final words left everyone sweating nervously, while Shoun grew even more uncomfortable.


    ¡ª(This aspect of my ability is only useful for making people suffer. Wretches'' bodies don''t function like ours, so the biological applications are useless against them. While I could absorb their core, it''d be easier to just smash their heads in... meaning its only real utility is inflicting pain)¡ªShoun reflected on their ability until they noticed everyone staring¡ªHmm... well, that''s why I didn''t demonstrate much flexibility. Most applications are useless against wretches, and others, while useful, are ineffective in the mirror world, so I didn''t use them either.


    With that settled, everyone finished analyzing their test results. They discussed how to proceed with their training and agreed to continue mostly as before, with the only change being that they''d create more opportunities for Shoun to take the lead in attacks.


    ¡ªWhat now? Should we take a mission or go hunting?¡ªSein asked impatiently, eager to test his new ability while snacking with the others in the dining room.


    ¡ªActually, I have a suggestion¡ªDeuz spoke up, setting down their coffee cup¡ªI''m curious about the place Shoun and Kaze went during their first mission. Maybe if we explore it, we''ll find something related to the Chaos.


    ¡ªIsn''t that dangerous? From what we know, that place will be crawling with Brutes at the very least¡ªShoun countered while washing dishes, remembering the location clearly and how uncomfortable they''d felt during their brief stay.


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    ¡ªIt might be dangerous, but we could also discover a lot. Besides, now that Sein''s an apprentice, we can handle Brutes much more safely¡ªthough we might still end up as pulp in the process¡ªDeuz replied.


    ¡ªI say there''s no harm in trying. Plus, if we confirm your house is safe, we won''t need to walk to the park and risk accidentally attracting others¡ªRobin chimed in, supporting Deuz. Sein and Kaze also didn''t object, so they agreed.


    ¡ªFine, we''ll go. We''ll leave shortly, so make sure you''re ready¡ªShoun said. Once prepared, they departed the base and made their way toward the vicinity of Shoun''s house.


    ¡ª(Just as I thought before... moving through the mirror world''s streets feels more natural now)¡ªShoun observed the colorless landscape melancholically. They could feel the alien white light hitting their skin. Unlike in their home world, they didn''t need to suppress their energy detection sense here¡ªin fact, doing so would be counterproductive, as it might expose them to danger. Here, they also didn''t have to worry about crowds or the daily nuisance of recruitment by the guild and government¡ª(Maybe this place is horrible and merciless... but I might be starting to appreciate the disconnect it provides from everyday life''s annoyances... Still, it''s better to see it for what it is¡ªa dangerous place where peace is fleeting. Not just to stay alert, but also to remember this isn''t my home. Not where I belong).


    Soon, they encountered the black smoke in the air. Though uneasy, Sein and Robin each analyzed it. The boy declared it wasn''t a curse, poison, or anything similar, as it didn''t trigger his ability. Robin, meanwhile, tried examining it with their tools but reached a similar conclusion. When they attempted to collect a sample for later analysis, they were surprised to find it impossible.


    ¡ªHow strange...¡ªThey pressed forward until they found structures seemingly infected by the black smoke, but whenever touched, they crumbled into unrecognizable white dust¡ªFor now, it''s safe to say this smoke isn''t dangerous, but if we stay here too long, we might end up like these buildings¡ªBefore proceeding, Robin stored some of the white dust as a precaution.


    Soon, the five reached one of their primary objectives in this expedition¡ªthe place they''d temporarily dubbed the Black Smoke Zone. Their target was none other than Shoun''s house.


    In the other world, it represented order and cleanliness, meticulously maintained daily by Shoun with Kaze''s help. In the mirror world, it was nothing but a twisted version of itself.


    ¡ªIt''s... very different¡ªThe area where Shoun''s house stood marked another shift in the Black Smoke Zone. So far, Clover Flush had observed three phases: the initial zone with only black smoke, a deeper area where the smoke had branched into structures, and now this third change¡ªvegetation.


    From the corners of walls to the edges of rooftops, countless black vines covered everything, blooming into a sinister array of creeping tendrils. Shoun''s house was no exception, completely corrupted by roots from foundation to roof.


    ¡ªHmm... well, at least there doesn''t seem to be a Brute or an Executor inside your house¡ªSein joked, approaching a window to peer inside. But when they touched the structure, something unexpected happened¡ªinstead of turning to dust, the roots surrounding the house became aggressive, lashing out at Sein. Fortunately, Deuz was alert and swiftly severed them with their shadows.


    ¡ªBe more careful.


    ¡ªYeah, sorry guys¡ªSein apologized, backing away as everyone watched the severed roots transform into the same white dust from before.


    ¡ªGuess we can''t enter this way. The plants are aggressive when touched¡ªRobin observed warily.


    ¡ªPlus, I can''t collect samples of these things either. What a shame... Should we keep going?¡ªWith no further objections, they pressed onward. Soon, they left the residential area and entered a district filled with buildings, all similarly covered in black roots.


    ¡ªThis keeps getting more dangerous... When exactly will we reach the Rank 4 zone?¡ªShoun asked Kaze, who simply shrugged.


    ¡ªNot sure. Usually, I gauge areas by the concentration of wretches of each rank. Since there aren''t any here right now, I can''t say¡ªKaze explained briefly before falling silent again.


    ¡ªIn that case, maybe going further is too risky. What do you guys think?


    ¡ªIt might be dangerous, but we haven''t found any clues about the Chaos yet¡ªRobin mused, eyeing the root-covered buildings.


    ¡ªWell, we might not be far from our goal. Why don''t we look around a bit more?


    ¡ªWait... something''s wrong. Something''s coming¡ªBefore Shoun could finish, a black streak shot forward like lightning, slamming into them and sending them crashing through multiple buildings. The streak pursued relentlessly.


    ¡ªShoun!¡ªSein barely had time to cast their shield on them, feeling a fraction of the damage their friend took through the connection. They tried to run after them but was stopped by Deuz.


    ¡ªWhy are you stopping me, Deuz? We have to save Shoun!


    ¡ªTch, afraid we can''t do that right now¡ªDeuz said grimly. Above the buildings Shoun had been thrown through, a massive shadow loomed, blocking the street''s white light. It landed with a crash, cutting off their path¡ªShit! Everyone, positions!

 Chapter 52: Can I?

    Shoun felt as if his world had been turned upside down. There was a metallic taste in his mouth mixed with bits of dust. Gathering his strength, the young man crawled out of the rubble he was trapped in and opened his eyes, finding himself on a completely different street from where he had been with his companions earlier.


    ¡ª(...Why am I here?)¡ªHe wanted to keep questioning how he had ended up in this situation, but his confusion was cut short when he sensed something rushing through his detection sense at high speed. By pure instinct, he threw himself to the ground, feeling a black streak pass over his back and crash into the rubble he had just escaped¡ª?Shit!


    It was then that he saw his attacker clearly: a muscular, humanoid figure resembling a tiger. Its gray fur was streaked with black stripes, and vines clung to its skin like ticks on a vestige. The claws at the ends of its limbs were as large as the young man¡¯s head, and its malicious face bore fangs jutting out like tusks ready to shred Shoun¡¯s flesh.


    ¡ªPtoo... Damned things won¡¯t even give me a moment¡¯s peace¡ªHe spat out the blood pooled in his mouth. Despite barely clinging to consciousness, he knew what he had to do¡ªKill a brute... Did my ascension day come early without warning?


    Obviously, the young man was referring to none other than the vestige staring at him like its next meal. With no time to think, the tiger lunged toward him, ready to tear him limb from limb with its razor-sharp claws. It missed by a hair¡¯s breadth as Shoun dodged at the last moment with a Balance Voltage Impulse.


    Finally regaining his focus, he began absorbing energy from his surroundings, entering the Balance Voltage state.


    ¡ª(Can I kill a brute?)¡ªWithout even considering it, the vestige suddenly appeared before him, launching a powerful punch at his head. With no time to dodge, he used both arms and twisted his entire body to deflect the blow slightly, redirecting it to his left shoulder. The impact sent him flying several meters before skidding across the ground¡ªGuess we¡¯ll settle on "probably not for now"...


    With no time for jokes, he scrambled away, narrowly avoiding another devastating strike from the tiger. Even the simplest blows from the vestige left cracks and craters in their wake.


    ¡ª(How is my shoulder even still attached?)¡ªIt had been enhanced to withstand impacts, but he was shocked it barely hurt¡ª(Could it be?)¡ªLooking closer, he noticed a faint golden glow shimmering over his skin, warm and protective¡ª(This must be Sein¡¯s shield... The others! I forgot about them... Normally they¡¯d have arrived by now. Something must be holding them back. I need to buy time before... Actually, if whatever¡¯s stopping them can¡¯t even let them help, hoping for the opposite will get me killed. Guess I¡¯ll have to face this thing alone)¡ªWith iron resolve, he summoned Iron Serpent to coil around his arm¡ªLet¡¯s do this!


    The brief respite ended, and the battle resumed. The vestige lunged to strike Shoun¡¯s head, but anticipating this, he ducked preemptively, dodged the attack, and countered with a punch.


    Balance Voltage Strike!


    The sudden burst of electricity forced the vestige to stagger back. Seizing the advantage, Shoun moved to paralyze it, buying time to charge another strike. But his plan was interrupted mid-execution by a brutal kick to his cheek, sending him crashing into a building wall and embedding him in the rubble.


    ¡ªPtoo...¡ªHe spat blood again. Dazed by the blow, he kept his eyes locked on the vestige, now sporting a deep wound stretching from its shoulders to its chest, oozing purple blood¡ª(I can¡¯t keep underestimating this thing... Not that I was, really)¡ªHis recent battles against Alpha Brutes like the Gardener from the City of Ash or Kalgoros, both magic-types, had skewed his perception of Rank 3 beings¡ªentities capable of erasing cities with their fists¡ª(At this rate, even Sein¡¯s shield won¡¯t stop me from becoming pulp)¡ªHe watched the gentle light shielding him flicker, a clear sign its energy was fading¡ª(I need to end this fight fast!).


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    Shoun pulled himself from the crater, while the vestige stabilized its wounds. Another round of attacks began.


    The vestige cornered Shoun, forcing him to choose between letting his chest be pierced by claws or taking another blow to his shoulder. Naturally, he sacrificed his shoulder again.


    Next, Shoun trapped the vestige in a pseudo-trap and tried to land another Balance Voltage Strike. But the tiger predicted this, feinted, and sent Shoun flying like a ragdoll.


    Shoun then tried an old trick: long-range attacks. But the tiger dodged them effortlessly, closing the gap in seconds.


    When that failed, he tried another tactic. Then another. And another.


    This cycle repeated endlessly. Shoun learned from the vestige, applied new strategies, and attacked. The vestige adapted, and by sheer stat superiority, it dominated.


    By now, Shoun was a bloody mess. His uniform was shredded, his friend¡¯s protective glow nearly gone, unable to keep up with the tiger¡¯s overwhelming power. He knelt, gasping for air.


    ¡ªHaaah... Haaah¡ªNo matter how hard he breathed, his body felt starved for oxygen, despite not needing it in the Mirror World¡¯s rules. Still, he suffocated¡ª(Why won¡¯t it give up!? What am I doing wrong!?)¡ªDesperate, he recalled past battles against Brutes, hoping for enlightenment. But that hope died quickly. The Gardener and Kalgoros were magic-type vestiges, nothing like the physical monster before him. The Infected had been killed easily by Kaze, so why couldn¡¯t Shoun do the same?¡ª(The element of surprise... No matter how skilled the apprentice, they can¡¯t beat a Rank 3 without that edge)¡ªEven against magic vestiges, he¡¯d relied on tricks and traps¡ª(Does that mean I can¡¯t win?).


    He looked up. The tiger approached slowly, no longer rushing. It saw no threat in the kneeling Shoun.


    Instinctively, Shoun lowered his head. He was terrified¡ªdeath was no stranger, but he¡¯d always imagined facing it beside his companions. Now he was alone, dying to an impossible foe.


    ¡ªIs... it truly impossible for me to win?¡ªHe muttered bitterly, replaying past battles. By experience, yes¡ªit was impossible. By experience, he was weak. By experience¡ªShut up!


    As if silencing the voices in his head, he slammed his forehead into the pavement, cracking it and smearing his face with grime.


    The vestige, now mere steps away, suddenly sensed danger again.


    With no pretense, Shoun lunged at it with a Balance Voltage Impulse. The tiger, expecting self-preservation, prepared to block. But instead of retreating, Shoun took the hit head-on, clinging to the vestige like a tick and unleashing a torrent of electricity.


    Once paralyzed, Shoun pummeled its skull with enhanced bare fists. Blood gushed as the tiger recovered briefly, but Shoun didn¡¯t relent. Iron Serpent slithered from his arm, biting into the vestige¡¯s flesh to paralyze it again.


    Master and artifact attacked fiercely, drowning the brute in its own blood. The tiger retaliated with full-force blows, but even without his friend¡¯s shield, Shoun endured. Pain meant nothing¡ªhe kept striking.


    Shoun abandoned plans, tricks, and strategies. He unleashed his savage side, channeling Balance Voltage¡¯s full offensive potential, disregarding his body¡¯s limits. He wasn¡¯t stronger, faster, or tougher¡ªjust insane. If he didn¡¯t go all out, this thing would kill him. And Shoun hated nothing more than being controlled again.


    ¡ªGrraaaa!¡ªA primal roar erupted from both creatures. Strategy died¡ªthey exchanged raw, final blows to each other¡¯s faces. The clash was so violent even Iron Serpent shattered. Both were sent flying to opposite ends of the street.


    ¡ªHaaah¡ªDazed, Shoun crawled from his crater and stared at the building where the vestige had crashed¡ªGuess I win this time.


    Knowing the fight wasn¡¯t over, he forced himself toward the building. His body was a wreck¡ªhe¡¯d collapse or die the moment he stopped. But he refused to die here.


    A few steps in, he faced a grim sight.


    ¡ªIron Serpent...¡ªThe artifact lay shattered, yet somehow holding itself together long enough to bid farewell¡ª...Sorry I wasn¡¯t strong enough to protect you. I¡¯ll kill it in your name... Rest now, friend.¡ªEven as a tool, Shoun had felt something more in it¡ªa bond. As if hearing his words, the Codex delivered its verdict:


    [Your artifact "Iron Serpent" has been destroyed]


    ¡ª...¡ªWordless, he continued into the building. In their blind fury, he¡¯d realized: To defeat a brute, he had to destroy every wall, doubt, and shred of despair.

 Chapter 53: Adapt

    After saying goodbye to his loyal artifact, Shoun found himself inside the dark building. Moving through the gap left by the vestige, he stepped over even the dark roots. They tried to attack him, but he simply killed them by blasting them with electricity.


    ¡ª(Now I¡¯m the one hunting¡­ how ironic¡­ He¡¯s still stronger than me, but in truth, we¡¯re equally powerful. After all, I¡¯ve finally understood what truly makes a vestige a brute. A grunt is a new vestige, recently born and cared for by its elders. The wretches, on the other hand, are no longer grunts¡ªnow they must face the misery of their own existence. So a brute is exactly what its name implies: a mass of violent rage. They destroy everything in their path. And if that¡¯s the true meaning of their name¡­ What separates me from a brute?)¡ªHe thought calmly. In an instant, he unleashed a Balanced Voltage Strike at a pillar, obliterating an entire section of the foundation¡ªPtoo¡­ I thought you were there. Come out now, don¡¯t even think about running!.


    Despite constantly spitting blood, he kept searching for the vestige. Every time he thought he caught even a glimpse of its hair, he fiercely attacked, destroying part of the building¡ªthough with little success in his hunt. At one point, Shoun fired another Balance Voltage Strike, taking a second to recharge his electricity. It was then that the barrage came, shooting straight toward the young man.


    ¡ªPredictable¡ªWithout another word, he executed a Balance Voltage Tornado Kick as the vestige slid toward him, sending it flying only to be pursued by the young man¡ªDid you think I¡¯d run out of energy? Wrong.


    With a shattered face and a body just as bloodied as Shoun¡¯s, the Vestige rose to face the young man¡¯s assault. It slashed at his abdomen with its claws, but with no sense of self-preservation, it took the full brunt of the counterattack. When Shoun was right in front of it, he spat directly into the monster¡¯s face. Blinded, it couldn¡¯t properly react to the next strike, forced to stagger back.


    With a Balance Voltage Impulse, Shoun closed the distance mid-air and unleashed the powerful slash of his Balance Voltage Tornado Kick. The vestige rolled, dodging the attack by mere centimeters.


    Seizing the moment while Shoun was falling to the ground, it immediately lunged at him again. Just centimeters away from striking, the young man "welcomed" it with a brutal headbutt¡ªforehead to forehead. Both writhed in pain before finally recoiling.


    ¡ªAaaggh¡ª the young man growled in pain, watching as the creature did the same. This only drew a blood-stained smile from Shoun¡ª. Indeed... we''re equals. But at this rate, I''ll definitely die. Even if I kill you... which I absolutely can''t allow. So forgive me for cheating.


    Without giving it time to react, Shoun formed finger-guns. The vestige braced for gunfire, but instead, he simply shot at one of the building''s few remaining support pillars.


    ¡ªSurvive this, bastard!¡ª he declared just before being buried under a mountain of rubble alongside the vestige.


    ***


    Moments before the building''s destruction, one could see how the rest of Clover Flush fought intensely. The vestige they faced was a brute¡ªtaking the form of a black-rooted shrub that constantly severed portions of its roots to attack, while simultaneously firing hundreds of thorns that obstructed the team''s movements.


    ¡ªSein I need backup!¡ª Robin shouted desperately as black thorns pierced their body, soon revealing how they released black poison visibly spreading beneath their skin. Sein, with visible exhaustion, released a healing wave toward Robin, effectively purging the venom from their veins.


    ¡ªHaaah...haaah¡ª His spiritual core was dangerously depleted. His companions'' shield neared collapse¡ªto sustain it required more spiritual energy, impossible in his current state¡ª(Even Shoun seems at his limit...I must hurry).


    Growing desperate, he began swinging recklessly cutting and cutting ignoring his bleeding body and the venom now coursing through his veins. Unnoticed, his vision blurred, movements slowed, thick black liquid dripping from his nose. Without realizing, Sein froze completely, left vulnerable to the encroaching roots, only to be saved at the last moment by Deuz, who caught him with a shadow and yanked him to safety.


    ¡ªSein you''re poison-resistant, not immune, heal yourself damn it, before it''s too late!¡ªAt the beret-wearing boy''s shout, Sein finally managed to snap out of his altered state, applying self-healing followed by his buff.


    ¡ªSorry Deuz, I''ll be more careful this time¡ª Gripping his sword again, he rejoined the attack. Now moving with more calculation, he swung his blade decisively toward the vestige. When close enough, he launched a slash that was easily dodged by the root-mass with a single jump, putting Sein back in danger and forcing his retreat¡ªI can''t land a single hit... What should we do Deuz?


    ¡ªTch... conserve your energy, you can''t kill that thing... Let''s hope he can¡ª After these words, the masked one appeared beside the vestige, successfully landing a wind slash on the creature. Immediately forced to retreat from the barrage of counterattacks, he was fortunately quickly covered by Robin and Sein¡ªCan you kill it Kaze? I doubt Shoun will have anything left to help us when he''s done¡ª He added this last part considering that if they were fighting a brute, whatever was keeping Shoun occupied was likely just as dangerous.


    ¡ªI''ll try.


    ¡ªDon''t give me that! Can you or not!?¡ª Deuz lashed out while cutting through roots with his daggers, perhaps due to the pressure of this fight without Shoun, revealing a new, desperate side. Despite the shouts, Kaze didn''t respond. He simply pulled his mantle back on and vanished.


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    From within his mantle, Kaze watched as everything moved slightly slower - or perhaps he was simply moving much faster. With his loyal companion, the cutting wind, slicing through roots and thorns came easily. When he reached the ideal position, he''d unleash a slash and retreat to repeat.


    This was his modus operandi. In every battle, he was weaker than his opponents. Even among his comrades, his results showed that except in speed, he fell behind. So the conclusion was obvious: fighting head-on like the others wasn''t optimal for him. But was that really true?


    ¡ª(...I feel like I''m being left behind)¡ª Lately he''d found himself surrounded by comrades, people he could trust: the newest member Robin, his young friend Sein, the quiet but shrewd Deuz, and the eldest Shoun. Kaze had been a spectator in the young man''s growth story - a weak seeker who, after making his decision, carved his path through monsters to become a strong apprentice, the strongest in their group actually. But what about his first spectator?¡ª(...What is this feeling? Thanks to movies I thought I''d become an expert at understanding my emotions... Is it worry? I don''t think so. While the situation is difficult, it''s still manageable, though I might be worried about whatever Shoun is facing right now... Is it exhaustion? Not that either. That''s even more obvious - I am tired but not to the point where it dominates my being).


    Halting his thoughts for a second, Kaze appeared right beside the vestige and attacked. However, now accustomed to his assault, it easily dodged and launched a counterattack, forcing the masked one to retreat hastily, backed up by his companions. They were shouting something at him, but it fell on deaf ears.


    ¡ª(Could it be... jealousy? That wouldn''t make sense, since it only appears in romantic situations... Well, feelings are complicated enough that I don''t understand them perfectly. Let''s assume for a moment it is jealousy - why would I be jealous?)¡ªKnowing the same tactic wouldn''t be effective, he focused on defending against the roots with his companions. In his hands, he wielded the cutting wind. Despite lacking formal weapons training, countless battles had made him quite skilled - moving like the wind, he cleanly severed every root and thorn with pure precision. Even when something seemed about to hit him, without realizing it, his katana would already have sliced it¡ª(...Am I jealous of my comrades?... I suppose I felt bad about not getting that candy, but perhaps the jealousy is related to me falling behind... It''s a fact - going from being one of the group''s two apprentices to the second weakest. Though being slightly stronger than Robin doesn''t mean he''s less useful... Thinking about it, it''s plausible. Most came here not just to grow stronger, but also to help me recover my memories - that''s why we came here in the first place. It wouldn''t be right if I didn''t contribute to the process... I must grow stronger, here and now. But how?).


    Through pure logic, Kaze had dissected his problems and found a preliminary solution. Now he just needed to execute it. His thoughts immediately turned to Clover Flush''s strongest member - Shoun.


    ¡ª(He''s strong. Not just because of his abilities, but how he applies them. On the surface, his apprentice skill only grants infinite energy, yet he made it the core of his combat style - an incredibly powerful one at that. I do the same with my mantle - hiding and attacking at the perfect moment. We''re not so different... The problem is it''s always the same trick. In prolonged battles like this, even vestiges learn to counter me. So I simply need new applications for my abilities)¡ª This time, the masked one focused on his sword. It was part of his being, his ability. He understood its handling better than anyone, yet now recognized something was missing. After some consideration, his attention shifted to Sein, who was currently channeling abilities through his golden sword. Clearly, the golden sword was more special than Cutting Wind, but both were extensions of their wielders. If Sein could apply his skills through his sword, what stopped Kaze from doing the same?¡ª Sein, pour all your shield''s enhancement into me.


    Without waiting for a response, he charged toward the mountain of roots. Sein hesitated, but seeing Kaze''s determination, chose to trust him. Striking his own chest, a golden light erupted and bathed the masked fighter. Immediately, his movements accelerated - his thrusts and slashes grew even deadlier.


    ¡ª(Let''s see if this is enough)¡ª Mere meters now separated him from the vestige. Before it could dodge, something new happened - he activated his mantle again. A whirlwind attempted to envelop him, but the masked one stopped it, redirecting it instead to cloak his sword. The wind mantle obeyed, and Cutting Wind began releasing a torrent of air. Gradually, the blade extended with the wind''s assistance, its swirling currents slicing through space itself at tremendous speeds. With everything prepared, Kaze attacked, pouring every fiber of his being into that single strike. The resulting wind slash outpaced the vestige, cleaving completely through it and bisecting it in one motion. The Codex promptly announced their victory:


    [You have slain the "Thorn Guardian," a brute]


    ¡ªDamn Kaze! What was that attack!?¡ª Despite being exhausted and nearly energy-less, Sein came running toward Kaze, who simply watched as the wind dissipated from his sword before sheathing it.


    ¡ªJust something I could create thanks to you and Shoun.


    ¡ªThanks to me? How...¡ª Before he could ask more, a distant building collapsed in on itself, precisely where Shoun had gone¡ªShoun!


    Without another word, they all rushed through the area previously blocked by the Thorn Defender. Upon crossing it, they found a devastated street - rubble everywhere, deep cracks covering the ground, and splatters of both red and purple blood staining the pavement.


    ¡ªW-what happened here?¡ª The youngest stammered while searching for signs of Shoun.


    ¡ªSeems our friend didn''t have an easy fight¡ª The beret-wearing boy remarked. Just then, Kaze noticed something among the debris and picked it up.


    ¡ªIsn''t that the chain Shoun always carries?¡ª Robin approached and saw the broken Iron Serpent resting in Kaze''s palms. Unlike typical artifacts, for some reason this seeker-level artifact maintained its physical form instead of disintegrating.


    Before anyone could respond, the sound of shifting rubble came from where the building once stood. Everyone tensed, gripping their weapons, only to be stunned when a bloody, battered young man emerged from the debris.


    ¡ªHehehe... I won¡ª Shoun laughed weakly as he struggled to rise from the wreckage. His uniform hung in tatters, futilely trying to repair itself. His body was bruised and smeared with both his own blood and his opponent''s. Yet despite everything, his hands refused to release the artifact material dropped by the vestige he''d slain, and his eyes remained locked on the screen displayed before him.


    [You have slain the "Fang Defender", a brute]

 Chapter 54: Reflection

    Everyone fell silent seeing Shoun''s pitiful current state. Without a word, Kaze opened the base, and with Deuz and Robin''s help, the young man was carried to the infirmary.


    ¡ªI won...¡ª The youth kept mumbling this even as his teammates dragged him along.


    ¡ªLiam, full analysis¡ª demanded the beret-wearing boy while settling Shoun on the stretcher.


    ¡ª...analysis complete. Results show abdominal fractures, broken bones, ligament tears, perforation in one or more organs¡ª A screen lit up displaying a projection of Shoun''s body with the most injured parts highlighted¡ª Suggested treatment: First apply bandages to prevent secondary administrator from bleeding out.


    The scientist and Deuz worked to keep Shoun alive with their limited medical knowledge, while Kaze assisted as best he could and Sein recharged his core to heal him with his ability.


    When the youngest finally gathered enough energy, the young man had already lost consciousness, making the healing process quick and easy.


    ¡ªUgh...¡ª The youngest slumped back down, exhausted from energy spent both in battle and healing Shoun¡ªEverything happened so fast...


    ¡ªYeah...those vestiges seemed desperate to kill us...well, not sure about Shoun''s part, but if they separated him from the group, there must''ve been a reason¡ª The scientist remarked as they sat beside Sein.


    ¡ªHmm...the Vestige we killed was called "Thorn Defender", maybe that references something. Let''s check the Codex¡ª At Deuz''s suggestion, everyone opened their Codex to the brute''s entry:


    [Thorn Defender: Brute, one of two defensive lines guarding a hidden history.]


    ¡ªSeems you were right. This journey might not have been in vain, and with the material Shoun obtained, this could be an extreme gain¡ª declared the scientist. Shoun remained unconscious, yet still clutched the material dropped by the Fang Defender.


    ¡ªPlus, we can''t be far now! Just need to wait for Shoun to wake and we can go!¡ª the youngest shouted excitedly. They began waiting, but minutes passed with no change¡ª...Is this gonna be like last time when he was out for hours?


    ¡ªWell...he took more physical damage than last time. At least his core''s fine, so who knows¡ª Deuz replied while leaning against a wall.


    ¡ª...What if we wake him up?


    ¡ªThat''d be really stupid...even coming from you, Sein¡ª Even Robin, who usually endorsed most of his antics, wasn''t approving of waking the young man.


    ¡ªFine, at least let me heal him more thoroughly to see if that wakes him faster¡ª Earlier Sein lacked energy, but now with his nearly full core, he approached to heal each injury individually. When his hand neared Shoun''s skull, the young man suddenly grabbed it violently, jolting awake with aggressive eyes¡ªShoun!?


    Everyone froze momentarily until Shoun relaxed again and released Sein.


    ¡ªHaaah, forgive me Sein. Had a rough dream¡ª During his unconsciousness, he''d been dreaming about his fight with the Fang Defender¡ªmore specifically, the pain it had caused him. The adrenaline during combat had let him ignore it then, but now even with his body healed, he still felt the weight of the tiger''s blows and an entire building crushing him¡ª(I don''t even know how I survived that entire fight).


    He was about to reflect further when his senses detected something approaching his shoulder again. Despite the pain, he flexed his body to dodge. It turned out to just be Deuz trying to grip his shoulder, but Shoun still said:


    ¡ªDon''t touch me¡ª declared the young man. Ignoring their stares, he returned to his combat reflection¡ª(I''ve only been awake briefly, but my energy detection seems sharper now. I could even sense objects approaching me...must be because during the fight I stopped relying on my eyes and focused on energy perception. Otherwise, I couldn''t have kept up with that brute).


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    He wanted to keep analyzing, but something appeared before his eyes that shattered his poker face - none other than Iron Serpent, or rather, its remains, which the masked one held before him.


    ¡ªWe found it where you fought...sorry for your loss¡ª Shoun took the fragments, clenching them in his fist, then finally addressed the group.


    ¡ªYou all fought a vestige too?


    ¡ªYeah, a brute like yours...You alright? Pretty sure I''m not the only one noticing you''re different¡ª Deuz asked, crossing his arms.


    ¡ª...I''m fine. Just not in the mood after getting beaten half to death. I want to shower and get this uniform cleaned, so if you''ve got anything else to say, speak now or forever hold your peace.


    ¡ªOur vestige''s description mentioned guarding hidden history. We''re probably close to discovering something. Can you check if yours has a similar entry?¡ª At Robin''s request, he shared the Fang Defender''s description, which matched the Thorn Defender''s¡ªHmm...seems we were right. How about continuing our expedition here tomorrow? You know...¡ª The scientist suggested, noticing Shoun''s lingering odd vibe. Everyone agreed, and the young man was first to leave the room.


    After showering and sending his stained uniform to wash, he retreated to the room he claimed as his own. He placed the material dropped by the Fang Defender on his nightstand, while carefully arranging Iron Serpent''s remains on the desk.


    ¡ª(...You truly were special, Serpent. Even in death you remain with me... Again, forgive me for failing to protect you. From now on, rest - you''ve earned a good retirement)¡ª With a pseudo-smile, he bid farewell to Iron Serpent, then sat on his bed to contemplate everything¡ª(At least this time I only lost Iron Serpent. I was fond of it, but it can''t compare to my friends... Maybe Robin on a bad day, but that''s it. Even now with an S-rank ability, I''m still at the mercy of vestiges and those stronger than me)¡ª Finally, Shoun lay back on his bed staring at the ceiling, lost in thought¡ª(The path I''ve followed until now... Is it the right one? I''m stronger than ever, yet it never feels enough... Is the world I live in truly this cruel?).


    Just as the young man''s thoughts began drifting toward surrender, he heard a knock at his door. Opening it, he found Kaze standing there.


    ¡ªOh hey Kaze. What brings you here?


    ¡ªWanted to talk. Can I come in?


    ¡ªSure¡ª The young man stepped aside, letting the masked one sit on his bed. Though Kaze''s uniform wasn''t particularly dirty, he still wore the base-issued clothing¡ªsomething Shoun assumed meant he liked wearing it, which was odd since he normally refused anything but his standard uniform¡ªWhat did you want to discuss?


    ¡ªYou didn''t seem well when you woke up.


    ¡ª...My body still hurts, and I had things to think about. Wasn''t really in the mood for anything.


    ¡ª...Is it about Iron Serpent''s death?


    ¡ªIt''s an artifact. It can''t "die"...but yeah, losing it affected me somewhat. Makes me think it could''ve been one of you next... We might not be on the right path anymore.


    ¡ªDoes that mean you want to stop coming here?


    ¡ªNot exactly... It''s more that we''re completely adrift, just the five of us. Sein''s fifteen, Deuz is nineteen¡ªwe''re too young to really know what we''re doing. Together we''ve overcome every obstacle so far... But what if one day we can''t? I even considered...maybe we''d be safer under government or guild supervision¡ª As he admitted this last part, he covered his face with one hand, ashamed to voice such thoughts. Hate might be too weak a word for what he felt toward those institutions, yet he couldn''t shake the idea.


    ¡ªHmm... I think those are valid doubts. We do what we can to advance carefully, but today proved that might not be enough... I don''t know much in general, but from news reports, Codex Bearer mortality rates are higher than ever¡ªmostly guild and government affiliates. So I don''t think affiliation would make us safer directly.


    ¡ªWell that''s because they fight rifts. It''s not the same as us hunting individual vestiges.


    ¡ªI suppose. But you might be being too hard on yourself. You can''t expect to become strong overnight, and doubting like this might backfire on your goals.


    ¡ª...You''re right. I think a good night''s sleep will reset me by morning.


    ¡ªHope so. Anyway Shoun... I never properly thanked you for coming here with me.


    ¡ªNo need.


    ¡ªIt''s just... Even if the first time was accidental, you helped me make friends. I enjoy being with everyone. I''m growing stronger too because you all inspire me in ways I never imagined... If you decide not to come anymore, that''s fine. Don''t feel obligated by my goals¡ªyou''ve already helped more than enough¡ª These words came straight from the masked one''s heart, and though delivered with zero vocal emotion, still reached the young man''s core.


    ¡ªHeh...don''t worry Kaze. Even if I decided not to come back here¡ªwhich I really don''t think will happen¡ªI''d still support you every step of the way. That''s what friends do, right?¡ª All doubts had vanished from his mind as he smiled at his companion.


    ¡ªThanks Shoun¡ª The masked one stood to leave but paused at the door. Before the young man could ask, Kaze spoke again¡ª...One last thing. Can you use it? I''m curious to see what it''ll become¡ª He asked while pointing at the material resting on the nightstand.


    ¡ªAssuming I''ll claim it? Maybe I''ll sell it instead.


    ¡ªIron Serpent broke and you''re weaponless. You''ll have to claim either this or the one at the refinery. Since you earned this one yourself, it''s the logical choice.


    ¡ª...Fine, guess you''re right¡ª Shoun approached the artifact and grasped it, channeling electricity into the material. It immediately began glowing as the transformation commenced.

 Chapter 55: The Ancients Tale

    In Shoun''s hand materialized a sheathed katana. The hilt was wrapped in worn black leather with visible tears, while the guard appeared in good condition. When drawn, the blade revealed itself as a beautiful silver surface marred by black scratches resembling tiger stripes. Despite these flaws, the entire sword radiated a lethal aura.


    ¡ªOh great...it''s a sword¡ª the young man voiced with clear disappointment.


    ¡ªYou don''t like swords?


    ¡ªI don''t know how to use them, that''s the main issue. But I guess now that I have one, I''ve no choice but to learn...tch.


    ¡ªWhat can it do?


    ¡ªLet''s see... Interesting. Its name is "Iron Fang". Its core trait is that the sword itself is a predator, the more determined the wielder is in combat, the sharper and deadlier it becomes. Conversely, it grows heavier and duller when the user hesitates. Its secondary feature enhances the wielder''s reflexes and instincts the longer a battle lasts. The final ability could be called a "last resort", when overwhelmed but still determined to win, it boosts the user''s perception to ridiculous levels¡ªHe explained while reading the weapon''s description.


    ¡ªHmm...I must admit, this weapon seems much better suited to your current fighting style than Iron Serpent.


    ¡ªThat''s the hard truth...Can you teach me the basics starting tomorrow?


    ¡ªIt''ll be problematic considering your sword can''t teach you like mine does, but I''ll do what I can.


    ¡ªI''ve never really understood that. How exactly do your swords teach you?


    ¡ªYou wouldn''t understand even if I explained. Get some rest, good night Shoun¡ªThe masked one bid farewell without further explanation, leaving the young man confused while staring at his new artifact.


    ¡ªSo...Iron Fang. Hope we can work together from now on¡ªShoun felt slightly foolish introducing himself to an object this way. After all, it likely didn''t possess the same "vitality" as Iron Serpent. Yet he could distinctly sense something resembling disdain from the new blade¡ªHmmm...Yeah, learning to use you will definitely be tough.


    Without further thought, he dismissed Iron Fang and lay down, falling asleep almost immediately.


    **


    The next morning, everyone gradually woke up to find a calm Shoun preparing breakfast for them all.


    ¡ªMorning Shoun...¡ª the youngest greeted somewhat shyly before sitting at the table.


    ¡ªGood morning Sein. Sleep well?¡ª he asked with his usual demeanor while serving the food.


    ¡ª...Great! And you?¡ª Seeing Shoun back to his normal self noticeably brightened the boy''s mood.


    When the others arrived and saw the young man, they relaxed just like Sein had, enjoying a pleasant breakfast together.


    ¡ªSeriously Shoun, you''ve got to tell me your secret. How do you cook this well?¡ª The scientist asked, with Kaze nodding in agreement¡ªthey''d both stuffed themselves with the pancakes the young man made.


    ¡ªWell it''s simple¡ªjust practice for years until cooking becomes second nature...honestly though, you all should eat out more often if you think my cooking''s this special.


    ¡ªThat''s not true Shoun! You really are an amazing cook!


    ¡ªYou really do cook well¡ª Deuz added finally. Though the young man remained unconvinced about his culinary skills, all his companions seemed thoroughly delighted.


    ¡ªAlright then, let''s pretend I believe you. How about we discuss today''s plans?


    ¡ªRight¡ª Robin adjusted in their seat¡ª According to both Defenders'' descriptions, we''re very close to uncovering a lost history. Now, based on past experience, we know this could be extremely dangerous. So what''s our move?


    ¡ªHmm... Considering this secret history was guarded by brutes, I doubt we''ll encounter an Executor''s seal this time¡ª the beret-wearing boy said with some hesitation¡ª So I think we could take the risk.


    ¡ªI agree! Besides, we''ve come too far to turn back now!


    ¡ª...¡ª Shoun remained silent for a moment. The last time they''d had a similar discussion, it ended with him fighting a brute alone. It wasn''t until Kaze spoke in his usual monotone that he reconsidered.


    ¡ªI also believe we can do it. This time we''ll make sure to be more careful¡ª Everyone turned to look at the masked one¡ª ...What?


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    ¡ªI-it''s just...you don''t usually speak up during these discussions¡ª the scientist clarified.


    ¡ªAfter what happened yesterday, I think it''s appropriate¡ª Following these words, all eyes shifted to Shoun, the only one who hadn''t voiced his opinion.


    ¡ª...Let''s go. But like Kaze said, extreme caution¡ª The young man smiled, still remembering his socially awkward companion. But since forming Clover Flush, Kaze had made tremendous progress. If he''d been considerate enough to account for Shoun''s feelings¡ªclear growth¡ªwhy not reward that?¡ª That said, if I get attacked by another brute alone, I''m never following you anywhere again.


    Everyone prepared themselves. The young man decided not to summon Iron Fang for now¡ªafter all, he didn''t know how to fight with a sword¡ªso he let his new katana rest peacefully within his core. Upon exiting, they found themselves in the same rubble-filled area where Shoun had toppled a building.


    ¡ª...I thought the building I collapsed was taller¡ª the young man commented, comparing the debris to the intact structures in the area¡ªAlright team, let''s move forward.


    Proceeding with caution, the group retraced their original path. They walked through streets choked with ominous black roots, unsettled by the sinister aura they emitted. Despite this, no one let their guard down, remaining alert for any signs of movement. The journey proved relatively peaceful.


    At one point, they noticed all the roots¡ªeven those embedded in structures¡ªbegan converging into what resembled a path. Warily, Clover Flush followed it, eventually arriving at an isolated clearing in the middle of the street. A patch of gray grass grew there, dominated by a massive tree with black eyes. The mysterious roots seemed to originate from this tree, its trunk forming a sort of altar supporting a thin red-bound book. Carefully, Shoun approached and lifted it slightly. When no immediate reaction occurred, he retreated to rejoin his companions.


    ¡ªJust a book?¡ª asked the youngest, sounding somewhat disappointed.


    ¡ªWell, if what we were looking for was a hidden history, it makes sense it would be a book¡ª the scientist explained enthusiastically¡ª What''s its title, Shoun?


    ¡ªIt says... "History of the Ancients and Their Fall"... The author is just "Kai"¡ª The young man flipped to the back cover, but it was completely blank except for the title.


    ¡ªTheir entire history!? Even their downfall!? This will definitely be a major discovery!


    ¡ªJust "Kai"...? Considering there''s no surname, it''s likely a pseudonym. Let''s go back to base to read it¡ª Everyone agreed with the beret-wearing boy''s suggestion. Kaze opened the base portal, and they gathered around the dining table, spreading out the book so everyone could read as they began unpacking the history of the Ancients. The short book contained the following:


    The Ancients were a civilization of humans who ruled their planet for 1500 years. During that millennium and a half, various forms of governments rose and fell, but in the end the civilization''s demise was led by the Kalgoros monarchy.


    The Kalgoros was the name given to the king or queen in command during that period, along with the title used to distinguish them from their predecessors and successors. The last Kalgoros in the line was the Tyrant of Adversity, a title granted due to the element that ultimately led to the extinction of all life on the planet: Chaos.


    Chaos was a rare type of disease. Studies at the time showed it initially had a gaseous form, similar to black smoke. When large amounts of Chaos gathered, they could create black roots that would eventually become a large tree with black leaves. When a human came into contact with Chaos, two things could happen. The first was that the infected would succumb to the Chaos disease, which transformed their bodies into unrecognizable, evil monsters - enemies of all intelligent beings. The second option was that the infected would survive the disease. From that moment on, Chaos would grant them powers beyond anything humans had seen at that time. But in the end, they shared the same fate as the first case - if that human died or went insane, the disease still remaining within their body would transform them into an unrecognizable monster.


    The monarchy led by the Tyrant of Adversity fought against Chaos in multiple ways, such as eliminating the black roots and trees, but ultimately Chaos would reappear as smoke, restarting the cycle anew. At some point, the king became infected by Chaos. He survived the first wave of the disease, but growing uneasy about his condition, he gradually began making more radical decisions¡ªsuch as killing all infected individuals (whether they fell under the first or second case) or intentionally infecting masses in an attempt to find a cure. These extreme and contradictory outbursts were signs of his gradual descent into madness, meaning it was only a matter of time before he turned into a monster.


    Despite this, the king continued resorting to any method possible. He committed atrocities just to glimpse even the faintest hope of a cure or a way to eradicate Chaos. Some of his people saw him as overly harsh, a ruler corrupted by power, while others viewed him as a savior¡ªsomeone who did what was necessary to protect his people, no matter the opposition. These events ultimately shaped the title of the last of the Kalgoros: the Tyrant of Adversity¡ªthe one who ruled with an iron fist during times of hardship. Though, for those who look back on history now, his legacy might be interpreted differently.


    The end of the Ancients came when the Tyrant of Adversity finally succumbed to the Chaos disease. In his final moments, his kingdom burned under its flames, and all life on the planet perished, leaving nothing behind but Chaos.


    ¡ª


    At what appeared to be the story''s conclusion, everyone prepared to comment¡ªbut upon checking, they discovered one remaining page: the author''s personal notes:


    I find it curious how easily history can be recorded. Just ink on paper, page after page, as if that could convey anything beyond the suffering the Ancients endured. Yet I must admit, this civilization''s story failed to move me.


    I witnessed their birth, their glory. I saw their wars and famines. When Chaos came, it was no different¡ªthey clawed for hope with tooth and nail. The last Kalgoros was undoubtedly the most fascinating: balanced on the razor''s edge between sanity and madness, consumed by the very plague devouring his world. Some may debate whether he was savior or tyrant, but it matters not¡ªall burned in his flames.


    I wonder... how will others react to this history? Perhaps they''ll hope their fate differs from the Ancients''. Maybe they''ll grieve. There''s even a chance they''ll weep... Regardless, I''ll keep recording these stories. Perhaps one will finally stir something within me.


    ¡ªKai.


    ¡ª

 Chapter 56: Iron Fang

    Clover Flush had mixed reactions. Robin was the first to respond, taking the red-bound book and closing it before speaking:


    ¡ªThis wasn''t what I expected... It almost seems like this civilization has no connection to any of the three existing ones today.


    ¡ªI think it''ll be easier to process this information if we try to find connections rather than distance it¡ª suggested the beret-wearing boy. When everyone agreed, he continued¡ª Starting with the most critical point: Chaos, just like the Codex and vestiges, appeared more or less out of nowhere, granting humans immense power. That''s where the similarities end in that regard.


    ¡ªYeah, I know we said we''d try to find links, but I''m curious about one specific thing¡ª the youngest said before asking¡ª It mentions their civilization dominated the planet, but says they were all humans. So what about elves and demons then?


    At that question, everyone shrugged. Though they didn''t interact daily with elves and demons, they were still acutely aware of how the other races affected their world. A world of only humans was an entirely foreign concept to them.


    ¡ªI don''t know... The whole history feels disconnected from our world. There''s nothing similar to Chaos and the black roots... Could the Ancients have lived in another plane of existence like demons?¡ª theorized the beret-wearing boy.


    ¡ªMaybe, but if so, how did they become vestiges? And how did they reach our world and the demon kingdom?¡ª Robin''s questions left everyone silent again.


    ¡ªAt least we have a clue about the vestiges'' origin. Their existence must be related to Chaos¡ª added the youngest, trying to lift spirits¡ª I mean, every vestige we''ve faced or have data on so far has some connection to it.


    ¡ªThat''s incorrect, Sein. There''s one we''re certain isn''t related to Chaos... the Gardener from Ash City¡ª Immediately, everyone remembered the macabre description of the vestige that cost them so much to defeat:


    [Sanctuary Flower Gardener: Alpha Brute, a being from another world created solely to tend the sanctuary''s flowers. When all his work was reduced to ashes, he too was transformed into a monster that still tries to care for the flower remnants]


    ¡ªTo be honest, I didn''t read it that carefully at the time, but how does this prove vestiges aren''t directly related to Chaos?


    ¡ªBecause the Codex is very selective with its language. In Kaze''s ability description, it refers to this place as "a new world" or "another world", while when referring to the Ancients it always mentions their civilization. Considering this and Ash City''s history, we can conclude that at least that ash monster had nothing to do with Chaos¡ª Shoun explained while connecting all the dots.


    ¡ªThere''s another tangent to consider. According to this book, the Ancients'' world ended with the fall of the Tyrant of Adversity. We know his vestige version was an Alpha Brute rank. It''s easy to assume that since the world only fell when he went mad, this indicates he was the strongest. My point is, since there are vestiges stronger than Kalgoros, it''s unlikely they all come from that world. Even if we remove the imprecise rank restriction, it would still be unrealistic - the number of vestiges far exceeds all current races combined. Considering only humans inhabited that world, I find it hard to believe such quantities could even exist¡ª theorized the scientist as he placed the book back on the table.


    ¡ªArgh! Why does every clue we find just lead to more questions!?


    ¡ªThat''s just part of the research process, Sein... Besides, we now know that exploring Ancient territory probably won''t reveal anything new¡ª concluded the scientist, both satisfied and frustrated.


    ¡ªI think you''re forgetting something important¡ª Deuz rejoined the conversation with a new question¡ª Who could this "Kai" person be?


    ¡ªObviously some writer or recorder. Judging by the final page''s notes, he seems to have witnessed the complete history of other civilizations like the Ancients. Maybe even from other worlds?¡ª the scientist speculated.


    ¡ªPossibly. In any case, he came across as somewhat sociopathic¡ª Shoun added¡ª He almost certainly can travel between worlds and is extremely long-lived. With those abilities, he likely watched the Ancients'' civilization fall without intervening¡ª he said with noticeable irritation. His assumptions about Kai uncomfortably reminded him of the government and guild''s attitude - having power to save lives but refusing for selfish reasons.


    ¡ªWhatever the truth about his power may be, it seems he wrote more books documenting different civilizations and/or worlds. Finding them might gradually reveal these mysteries¡ª Deuz suggested. Everyone agreed, and exhausted from the intense discussion, they leaned back in their chairs for a moment of silent respite.


    ¡ªHow about we take a mission? Or at least check one out! We''ve got nothing else to do right now!


    With little choice, they were dragged to the operations room by Sein. After taking their seats, Shoun asked the usual question:


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    ¡ªLiam, what missions do you have available for us?


    ¡ªThis is the currently available mission¡ª Instantly, a screen appeared at the center of the table displaying the mission details:


    [At the Right Place and Time: Be at the following location by 5:00 pm Wednesday.


    Difficulty: Apprentice


    Rewards: 6 points]


    ¡ªHmm...that doesn''t sound very...easy?¡ª Sein asked as usual.


    ¡ªIt seems so, but given it''s Apprentice difficulty, whatever it is should be manageable¡ª Deuz commented before adding¡ª Just note that if we accept this mission, I won''t be able to participate. I''m busy at that time on Wednesday.


    ¡ªWell, I think we can handle it even if you''re absent. We should take it¡ª Robin stated.


    ¡ªIs everyone in agreement?... Alright then. Liam, we accept the mission.


    ¡ªUnderstood, Secondary Administrator¡ª As these words finished, a flood of information was injected into everyone''s minds, immediately causing puzzled expressions.


    ¡ªThe mission is in our world?¡ª the young man asked, confused.


    ¡ªHmm... So it seems. I guess Liam never specified that missions were exclusive to the Mirror World¡ª Deuz replied, also visibly confused.


    ¡ªHaaah... We still have time before the mission. I got a new artifact, so I''m going to train. Coming, Kaze?¡ª The masked one nodded, and with their companions'' approval, they left the operations room and entered the training area¡ª Alright Kaze, where do we start?


    ¡ªFirst, work on your stance. Summon Iron Fang¡ª Following the instruction, Shoun summoned his artifact, securing the sheath on his left hip¡ª Good. Feet shoulder-width apart, back straight, knees slightly bent. You''ll practice drawing it¡ªneeds to be a quick, fluid motion. Begin.


    Shoun attempted to swiftly draw the katana but found it stuck halfway¡ªa clear sign to start over. He sheathed it and tried again, this time successfully drawing it¡ª Again. Not fast enough¡ª Shoun didn''t respond, simply re-sheathed Iron Fang and repeated the draw¡ª Fast but sloppy. Your stance faltered. Again.


    Minutes passed until Shoun could consistently draw Iron Fang properly. Even in this minimal action, he could feel multiple muscle groups being engaged. His apprentice-level physique made him weaker, but didn''t spare him the muscular pain caused by his own movements.


    ¡ªGood. Now let''s work on your stance. Place your right hand on the guard''s top while positioning your left lower down... Perfect. Now execute a vertical slash followed by a horizontal one¡ª Taking a breath, Shoun recalled how Sein and Kaze performed their cuts and tried to imitate them¡ª ...You''re only using your arms. You''re a competent fighter, you should know most body muscles must contribute to each strike. Engage your hips. Start again.


    Under Kaze''s guidance, the young man spent hours honing his swordsmanship. Sometimes practicing basic slashes, other times drilling footwork in sparring matches against Kaze. A full day had passed, but a growing sense of unease began stirring in his mind.


    ¡ªHaaah...haaah¡ª Sweat poured down his forehead as muscles throughout his body screamed in pain¡ª(This...I feel like I''m making decent progress. I mean, it''s only my second day training with a sword...but something feels off).


    When sparring against Kaze, he tended to wield his sword overly cautiously¡ªnever taking risks and always fighting defensively. Whenever he tried the opposite approach, he hesitated too much, inevitably ending up on the ground.


    ¡ª(Iron Fang feels too heavy... It''s probably meant to be wielded when I''m enhanced... Considering it''s a rank above me, that makes sense).


    ¡ªHey Shoun, ready for the next round?


    ¡ªYeah, give me a second¡ª The young man stood and took his stance. With a nod, they clashed. Shoun applied what he''d learned, decisively blocking Kaze''s slashes. During one block, he clearly saw an opening to counterattack¡ªbut hesitation surfaced again¡ª(Am I ready for this? My cuts still aren''t precise enough)¡ª That single thought unraveled the entire fight. Kaze recovered, the opportunity vanished, and overwhelmed by the masked one''s lethal style, Shoun lost ground¡ªand with it, confidence in winning. Then something changed¡ªArrgh!


    Suddenly, Iron Fang felt mountain-heavy in his grip. He dropped it instantly. When the katana hit the floor, the impact cracked the ground¡ªfissures that quickly healed under the base''s restoration effect.


    ¡ªWhat just happened?¡ª the young man asked aloud, staring at Iron Fang on the ground. Kaze sheathed Cutting Wind and approached.


    ¡ªHmm... Wasn''t it supposed to get heavier and slower the more doubtful the wielder becomes? Have you really been doubting that much? You''ve only trained for one day, and you''re doing fine.


    ¡ªWell...it''s not just that. When I wield this sword, I don''t feel like myself. My father taught me to fight with my body when I was young¡ªsince then I''ve never practiced anything beyond hand-to-hand combat... So I keep thinking, maybe it''s too late to start now. What if I can''t do it?


    ¡ªBut what if you can? You won''t know unless you try a little longer... How about this¡ªlet''s spar once more. I won''t attack you with my sword at all, I''ll only defend¡ª suggested the masked one as he stepped back and took position. With a sigh, Shoun complied, carefully picking up Iron Fang and sheathing it.


    Taking a deep breath, the young man drew his sword in one fluid motion. With his stance ready, he began applying the footwork his companion had taught him, trying to feint and misdirect where his next strike would land.


    Every attack was effortlessly blocked by Kaze, yet Shoun didn''t despair. Going on the offensive for the first time in his training felt refreshing. He remembered how in past fights he''d enjoyed overwhelming enemies with powerful, decisive blows.


    ¡ª(Maybe this is what I was missing...my own style)¡ª He vaguely recalled the lessons Kaze had given Sein before, and knew full well how their young friend didn''t apply most of what he''d been taught¡ªnot because the lessons were bad, but because they didn''t suit his abilities and personality¡ª(Worth giving it a try).


    Gradually, Shoun began experimenting. His slashes transitioned from refined to more powerful¡ªnot that his already poor technique worsened, it just became different. Kaze''s style was like the wind itself: fierce, fast and clean. Meanwhile, Shoun in his current offensive could feel something distinct: fierce, fast and crushing like lightning. Both elements shared similarities but followed separate paths.


    ¡ª(Maybe using a sword isn''t so bad)¡ª After several exchanges and retreats, Shoun attacked again. He launched a horizontal slash toward Kaze''s right side, but using footwork from his fist-fighting days, he feinted successfully. His follow-up vertical strike came too fast for Kaze to block completely¡ªthough still couldn''t break through his companion''s defense, leaving Shoun exhausted on the floor¡ªHaaah...haaah¡­


    ¡ªFrom what I saw, you resolved some of your doubts.


    ¡ªYeah...I think I won''t abandon the sword''s path, but that doesn''t mean abandoning what makes my style mine¡ª The young man declared while eyeing Iron Fang, which somehow still scorned him¡ªthough slightly less intensely now.

 Chapter 57: At the Right Place and Time

    Shoun attacked Sein with Iron Fang, channeling all his muscular strength into a barrage of swift, powerful strikes that left the boy little room to breathe. Yet, despite his efforts, experience prevailed¡ªSein swiftly countered, dismantling Shoun¡¯s strategy and forcing him into defense until defeat was inevitable.


    ¡ªWhew! Good fight, Shoun!


    ¡ªLikewise, Sein¡ª The young man sheathed his sword and wiped away sweat. It was already Wednesday, and they¡¯d skipped school to train before their mission.


    ¡ªGotta say, you¡¯re improving fast. Sure, you still can¡¯t beat us with just your sword, but you could pull off some surprises¡ª Sein had become Shoun¡¯s sparring partner out of necessity: Iron Fang¡¯s uncontrolled force risked shattering Cutting Wind if used against Kaze. The golden sword, however, shared its rank and could withstand it.


    ¡ªThanks. I¡¯m still not confident enough to make it my main style, but at least I can rely on it if needed¡ª He¡¯d never abandon fistfighting, but some situations demanded a blade¡¯s precision over brute force.


    ¡ª(Still don¡¯t get how their swords ¡°teach¡± them, but I¡¯m starting to see glimpses of it)¡ª Sein¡¯s and Kaze¡¯s blades were special for different reasons, both deeply bonded to their wielders. Iron Fang lacked that connection, yet it still honed Shoun¡¯s instincts: every slash had to be decisive, lethal, leaving no room for doubt. A harsh but effective tutor for a novice.


    ¡ªHey guys! It''s time¡ª Robin announced as they entered the training room. With that, the three exited the base and found themselves in Shoun''s decaying house. Over recent days, they''d experimented with the black roots and discovered a way to isolate Shoun''s home, preventing further growth. Now, after cutting them away, it was completely safe to enter the Mirror World from this location.


    Stepping outside, they emerged in the middle of the living room, where Kaze sat eating ice cream while watching a movie.


    ¡ªAlright, we''re heading out. You remember how the communicator works, right?¡ª Shoun asked the masked figure.


    ¡ªYeah... I''ll be ready if you need me¡ª Kaze replied briefly before refocusing on the film.


    ¡ªHaaah...¡ª Shoun sighed once more before leaving the house, followed by Robin and Sein. They''d decided against bringing Kaze initially due to the mission''s unknown nature and the risk of exposing him. Instead, they gave him a communicator to call for backup in emergencies.


    The three apprentices walked to the designated location¡ªa low-income district of the city. Despite its reputation, the street didn''t look drastically different from others. People came and went, and children ran around playing games.


    ¡ªThis is the place, right?¡ª Sein asked while scanning their surroundings.


    ¡ªAccording to the intel, yes. Though we still have a couple minutes until the designated time¡ª The apprentices waited patiently for the predicted event. Then a familiar sound made their blood run cold.


    ¡ªRift alert! Repeat, rift alert! Evacuate immediately to designated zones!¡ª Simultaneously, a 10-meter-tall luminous line split the air at the exact coordinates. Its unnatural white glow pulsed, rapidly blending with other colors.


    ¡ªSo this was it... I''m starting to think 6 points will be criminally low compensation¡ª Shoun muttered, facing the rift head-on. Around them, dozens of people scrambled in panic, but one pattern held, everyone was fleeing from the anomaly¡ªRobin, could you-


    ¡ªAlready on it¡ª They pulled out their phone, dialing government forces directly for intel. After stepping aside for two minutes, Robin returned with a grim expression.


    ¡ªIt''s a Rank 2 rift. Worst that''ll emerge is an Alpha Wretch. That''s the good news. The bad? Multiple rifts opened simultaneously across the city¡ªincluding a Rank 4 on the outskirts. Both the guild and government are stretched thin... No reinforcements coming anytime soon.


    ¡ªHaaah, well whatever¡ª With a sigh, the young man summoned Iron Fang, the boy did the same with his golden sword, and Robin began preparing his inventions. They were all aware the mission only required them to be at the right place and time - they could perfectly well leave and pretend nothing happened. Yet they stayed. Even though it was just the three of them, they decided to take the risk. They couldn''t leave all these people at the mercy of the vestiges, not with a clear conscience at least¡ª We still have some time before the rift fully opens. You''re the only one who''s participated in rift sealing before¡ªhow difficult would it be? Considering there''s only three of us...


    ¡ªActually, with me that makes four¡ª A female voice announced from the now-empty streets as none other than:


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    ¡ªJoy?¡ª The youngest pushed forward and came face to face with the elf¡ª What are you doing here?


    ¡ªI was sightseeing until the alarm sounded, so I came to check. I''m glad I''m not the only one who answered the call¡ª When rifts opened, any nearby Codex Bearer instinctively knew where to find them¡ª And what were you doing here?


    ¡ªUhhh¡ª Sein was about to say "on a mission" but was quickly stopped by Shoun, who subtly pinched his back from Joy''s blind spot¡ª Well, we were just hanging out when the rift appeared.


    ¡ªThat''s fine. Sein, could you introduce us?¡ª The elf asked, looking at Robin and Shoun.


    ¡ªOh right, they''re my friends Robin and Shoun. Guys, this is Joy.


    ¡ªPleasure to meet you¡ª greeted the scientist, while the young man simply gave a hand gesture.


    ¡ªLikewise. Sein''s told me a lot about you all, but let''s set that aside for now. From what I overheard, this is the first rift for some of you.


    ¡ªExactly. We still have time before it opens, but there''s much to discuss. Let''s skip unnecessary introductions for now¡ª suggested the scientist. Once everyone agreed, he continued explaining¡ªAlright, essentially as you should know, a rift only spawns individuals of equivalent or lower rank. The vestiges will emerge gradually, and the condition to close it is to kill the Alpha. The problem is that numerous Wretches and Grunts will appear, so to seal this rift, we need to coordinate effectively to avoid being overwhelmed. That''s why we should outline our abilities beforehand.


    With that said, everyone proceeded to explain their skills and strengths to Joy, who was the only one not fully familiar with their capabilities¡ªexcept for the golden sword and Shoun''s S-rank ability. Then she went on to describe her own abilities:


    ¡ªWell, I''m a mage. My first ability reduces spiritual energy consumption when casting spells. My second ability allows me to create a "connection" with my teammates¡ªessentially enabling everyone to know each ally''s position at all times, along with their energy reserves and overall status. This ability''s effectiveness increases based on the strength of the bond between any two individuals, regardless of others connected in the network.


    ¡ªWow! That last ability is really useful. What''s your apprentice ability?¡ª Faced with the little one''s question, Joy made a face but quickly explained her apprentice skill:


    ¡ªIt consists of a book that stores all the spells I know and write down. Plus, when casting them, it absorbs part of the ambient spiritual energy along with my own.


    ¡ªLike your race''s tattoos?¡ª asked the boy, remembering his conversation with his friend a week ago.


    ¡ª...that''s right. What will our formation be?¡ª she quickly asked to change the subject. Obviously, Sein and Shoun would take the front lines while Robin and Joy stayed back. The rift would open soon, so they prepared to fulfill their roles.


    ¡ªKaze, multiple rifts have opened across the city, including at the mission location¡ª the young man whispered into the communicator.


    ¡ªI saw it on the news. Do you want me to come there?


    ¡ªYes, but don''t reveal yourself. Stay hidden and only intervene if the situation demands it.


    ¡ªUnderstood. I''ll be there in a few minutes. Be careful.


    ¡ªExactly. We still have time before it opens, but much to discuss. Let''s skip unnecessary introductions for now¡ª suggested the scientist. When everyone agreed, he continued explaining¡ªAlright, basically as you should know, a rift only spawns individuals of equivalent or lower rank. Vestiges will emerge gradually, and the condition to close it is to kill the Alpha. The problem is that numerous Wretches and Grunts will appear, so to seal this rift we need to coordinate well to avoid being overwhelmed. That''s why we should outline our abilities beforehand.


    With that said, everyone explained their skills and strengths to Joy, who was the only one not fully familiar with their capabilities - except for the golden sword and Shoun''s S-rank ability. Then she proceeded to describe her own abilities:


    ¡ªWell, I''m a mage. My first ability reduces spiritual energy consumption when casting spells. My second ability lets me create a "connection" with my teammates - essentially allowing everyone to know each ally''s position at all times, along with their energy reserves and overall status.


    ¡ªThanks¡ª The young man turned off his communicator and gazed contemplatively at the rift, until he sensed someone approaching.


    ¡ªHello again, Shoun.


    ¡ªHi¡ª he greeted back, though slightly confused.


    ¡ªI wanted to say again that it''s a pleasure to meet you. Like I said before, Sein told me a lot about you.


    ¡ªLikewise. Any friend of Sein''s could probably be my friend too.


    ¡ªYes... Speaking of which, he mentioned we share a certain interest...¡ª With some suspense, he waited for the elf to finish her sentence¡ª We both love The Red Phoenix!


    ¡ªNo way! Seriously!?¡ª Excited, they began discussing the band¡ªfavorite songs, favorite member, etc.¡ª Look, I don''t disagree with you, but you have to admit the guitarist had the best performance on their latest album.


    ¡ªAnd I say Delsin outdid himself as usual!¡ª Before they could continue, they noticed the rift beginning to expand¡ªa sign it was finally about to begin¡ª Oh, looks like it''s time to work. It was great talking with you.


    ¡ªYeah, let''s continue later¡ª Joy returned to her position while Shoun turned his attention back to the rift, watching for any changes.


    ¡ªSeems you hit it off with Joy! I had a feeling you two would get along great!


    ¡ªWhat can I say? She''s got good taste. Naturally, you''d get along with people like that.


    ¡ªHaaah, I truly don''t understand your obsession with The Red Phoenix.


    ¡ª...it''s hard to explain. I think depending on the context, their music might resonate with you more or less.


    ¡ªHmm, I think she said something similar once.


    ¡ªThat just proves my point.


    ¡ªOf course... Hey Shoun, do you think we can really seal this rift? There''s few of us, and it''s our first time...


    ¡ªNonsense. I didn''t train so hard with Iron Fang just to die in my first real fight with it. We might not have Kaze or Deuz for this battle, but you were the one who said "together we can overcome any challenge."


    ¡ªHeh, I guess if I said it, it must be true¡ª The boy bumped fists with Shoun, who returned the gesture. In the next instant, the rift began to mutate¡ªthe sign that after ten minutes of appearing, it would finally open.

 Chapter 58: Rift Part 1

    The portal began to fluctuate, expanding and contracting repeatedly until it finally widened, forming a white curtain from which a black leg emerged. Gradually, a vestige¡ªa Grunt, to be precise¡ªrevealed itself. It had four legs, and its black skin appeared cracked, oozing a disgusting black liquid. Prominent fangs protruded from its jaw, dripping the same foul fluid.


    But it wasn¡¯t alone. More of its kind appeared alongside it, as well as meter-tall birds circling above the other Grunts. Their beaks resembled drills, and their wings bristled with feathers primed to fire like deadly projectiles.


    ¡ªIt¡¯s starting, get ready!¡ª Immediately, Sein unsheathed his golden sword, Robin raised his weapon to take aim at the crows, and Joy summoned her own weapon¡ªa wooden staff.


    ¡ªAs long as you¡¯re with me, you¡¯ll never lack courage!¡ª declared the youngest as he raised his golden sword to buff his allies.


    ¡ªDo you have to say that in every fight?


    ¡ªWhy wouldn¡¯t I!?


    ¡ªGuys, stay still for a moment. I need to concentrate¡ª Joy placed her palm toward the group, channeling spiritual energy to activate her ability. A faint but profound connection formed between the four of them¡ª Do you feel it?


    ¡ªYeah... this is weird¡ª Shoun muttered, trying to grasp the connection¡¯s scope. But he had no time to dwell¡ªlike a bursting bubble, the rift finally released its horde. Vestiges surged toward the apprentices in a frenzied charge¡ª Don¡¯t let your guard down!


    The young man lunged forward, confidently drawing Iron Fang. A pair of Grunts pounced at him, but a single vertical slash cleaved them apart like butter.


    [You have slain "Rotting Canid" , a Grunt. No points awarded.]


    [You have slain "Rotting Canid"¡­]


    ¡ª(Heh, all that training¡¯s finally paying off)¡ª Thanks to his improvements and his higher-rank katana, dispatching a few Grunts was trivial. But that was the problem: it wasn¡¯t just two. Five more swarmed him, weaving between attacks to deny him clean angles¡ª (Tch, these things won¡¯t give me room to slice... Too bad for them I¡¯ve got more than one way to fight).


    The young man leaped into the air, spinning mid-jump to unleash a devastating electric slash.


    Balance Voltage Tornado Kick!


    The attack struck part of the horde, instantly obliterating them. He landed smoothly and, in one fluid motion, cut down the remaining vestiges before they could react.


    ¡ªFuuh¡ª Catching his breath, he prepared to press forward¡ªwhen he sensed rapid projectiles homing in on him. He dodged most, but a few grazed his arms. Immediately, a venom-like numbness spread through his limbs. Fortunately, his higher rank lessened the effect to a mild stiffness. He was about to shout for Sein¡¯s healing, but the boy was already beside him, golden light sealing the wounds¡ª Thanks... How¡¯d you know I needed help?


    ¡ªHmm, I just knew¡ª Without hesitation, the youngest charged toward a group of vestiges. Poison-laced feathers shot toward him, but his heavily fortified shield repelled them effortlessly. While the shield he granted allies acted as damage mitigation, his personal shield was a true barrier¡ªnow so powerfully activated that nothing below Rank 2 could penetrate it. Thus, he dove headfirst into the horde. The vestiges clawed at him uselessly until, satisfied, he struck his chest, triggering one of his shield¡¯s effects. A golden wave erupted, obliterating most of the swarm.


    ¡ªSein, conserve your spiritual energy! Let me handle the rest.


    ¡ªGot it!¡ª Embarrassed by his overexpenditure, he retreated to recharge his core. Despite his recklessness, he¡¯d already wiped out most ground vestiges, leaving Shoun to clean up the stragglers with ease.


    Meanwhile, Robin and Joy dealt with the far from modest flock of flying vestiges. The scientist had crafted two small drones for the occasion, each delivering precise, spirit-energy-powered lacerations. With their drones and firearm, they picked off three birds simultaneously¡ªeach felled by a different weapon.


    Joy, however, matched their spectacle. Her magic swept through the winged enemies effortlessly.


    ¡ª&@#_$&¡ª In a tongue incomprehensible to the others, the mage chanted. Her staff flared, fueled by her spiritual energy, as her spellbook¡¯s pages flipped autonomously to the correct incantation. Crimson runes shot out, merging with her staff¡ªall executed flawlessly in an instant. The result? A barrage of fireballs annihilated the remaining airborne foes.


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    In just a couple of minutes, they''d repelled the first wave. Realizing this, everyone hurried to replenish their spiritual energy and prepare¡ªlike Robin, who took the opportunity to craft more drones. Meanwhile, Shoun, exempt from these tasks, scoured the battlefield for any dropped materials.


    ¡ª(Nothing... Well, at least we handled this first wave without major issues. The real problem is whether we can endure all the coming ones)¡ª The waves themselves had no predetermined duration; they¡¯d only end once the Alpha was slain. As for when the Alpha would emerge? Impossible to predict¡ª(Seeing how the other three spent their spiritual energy this wave gives me hope¡ªexcept Sein. That kid¡¯s way too careless... Speaking of which, this connection Joy gave us is truly fascinating).


    As the mage had explained, her ability¡¯s link grew stronger the closer the bonded parties were. Since Shoun had just met Joy, their connection was shallow, providing only superficial feedback. In contrast, his bond with Sein ran so deep that the boy had sensed even the faintest venom in Shoun¡¯s system. His link with Robin, however, was middling¡ªnot deep, but not shallow either.


    ¡ª(Guess this ability perfectly mirrors how I feel about Robin. Unfortunately)¡ª Dismissing thoughts of their weak connection, Shoun watched as a new wave of vestiges emerged. Most were Grunts again, but this time, a troubling number of Wretches lurked at the rear¡ª Shit! Clear the Grunts fast so they don¡¯t interfere with the Wretches!


    With time against them, everyone hurried to eliminate the Grunts. Moments later, Shoun yanked Iron Fang from the corpse of a particularly troublesome one¡ªbut thanks to Joy¡¯s ability, he sensed something wrong with Sein. Without hesitation, he activated Balance Voltage Impulse to close the distance. His companion was surrounded not just by Grunts, but two Wretches. On arrival, Shoun carved a path through the lesser foes with a single slash, freeing Sein.


    ¡ªTch¡­ These things are a pain to kill with a sword. You handle the Grunts¡ªI¡¯ll take these¡ª he ordered, sheathing Iron Fang¡ª Cover me if you can.


    ¡ªYou got it!¡ª With the path now clear, the boy charged toward the remaining Grunts. Meanwhile, Shoun faced the two Wretches¡ªboar-like creatures encased in iron armor, their tusks jutting like blades from their jaws.


    ¡ªCompared to a certain tiger, you¡¯re nothing¡ª Taunting them, Shoun launched himself forward with Balance Voltage Impulse. The beasts lunged too, aiming to bisect him mid-air. But he¡¯d anticipated this¡ªdeliberately holding back full speed to pivot at the last second, soaring over them. As he descended onto one boar¡¯s back, he channeled every ounce of his being into a Balance Voltage Strike directly into its skull. The metallic cranium shattered under the force.


    [You have slain "Steel Beast", a Wretch]


    The remaining Steel Beast gave him no time to breathe, charging at Shoun as he still stood atop its dead companion''s corpse.


    ¡ªDon''t think I forgot about you!¡ª Before it could pounce, Shoun struck first with an electric discharge, paralyzing it just long enough to finish it with another Balance Voltage Strike.


    [You have slain the "Steel Beast", a Wretch]


    Despite single-handedly killing two Wretches, he couldn''t stop yet. He knew he remained their group''s best counter to the armored boars¡ªa fact proven by the wave''s final tally: Robin and Joy had each killed one boar, Sein two, while Shoun had slain seven.


    This pattern repeated through the next two waves, with progressively fewer Grunts and more Wretches demanding Shoun''s attention. Beyond the Steel Beasts, Putrid Canids (now in their Wretched forms) joined the fray. Fortunately for the four apprentices, no advanced versions of the flying vestiges appeared.


    During one clash, Shoun killed two Wretches simultaneously with a Balance Voltage Strike¡ªonly for a Putrid Canid to emerge from his blind spot. With no time to react, he braced to minimize damage... when a green laser pierced the vestige''s skull, killing it instantly before the attack could land.


    ¡ªHuh?¡ª The young man turned to see the scientist wink at him before resuming fire on other targets¡ª(Guess our bond¡¯s strong enough for this kind of save)¡ª he briefly mused, already darting toward the next Wretches.


    By the wave¡¯s end, they¡¯d prevailed¡ªbut unlike earlier rounds, exhaustion weighed visibly on everyone except Shoun, whose fatigue was purely physical. He could fight indefinitely; his companions couldn¡¯t.


    ¡ªShoun... haaah... Could you not hoard all the ambient spiritual energy? You¡¯re absorbing so much my spells keep defaulting to my core reserves¡ª the mage gasped between attempts to recharge faster.


    ¡ªOh... right. Sorry¡ª He glanced at his team¡¯s state: all drained, drenched in purple blood, even the usually energetic Sein now contemplative as he meditated¡ª(This needs to end soon. I could shoulder more... No, that¡¯d just worsen Joy¡¯s energy drought. Kaze¡¯s lurking nearby though¡ªif things go south, he¡¯ll intervene)¡ª Absorbing light energy crossed his mind, but converting dual energy types was untested and risky¡ª(If only I knew Joy better, this¡¯d be easy)¡ª The waves had proven her ability¡¯s brilliance. Deep bonds like his with Sein granted perfect tactical sync¡ªevery attack, block, and injury sensed instantly. Even his moderate link with Robin had provided lifesaving intel (evidenced by that laser rescue). But shallow connections? Nearly useless¡ª(Still... having Joy here¡¯s been invaluable. Too good).


    Her incredible utility, not just from her ability, but also her versatile magic¡ªeven made him consider inviting the elf to the Mirror World once this was over. But before he could dwell on the idea, a new wave began. Everyone braced themselves, only to immediately realize something was different.


    ¡ªIt''s the final wave...¡ª Only Wretches emerged from the rift this time, and among them, the final boss: the Alpha.

 Chapter 59: Rift Part 2

    With no time left to recover, they all stood ready to face the final wave. The Alpha Wretch they confronted took the form of a two-meter-tall suit of armor¡ªits fists ending in spikes, its "face" shattered to reveal rows of teeth and a grotesque purple tongue.


    ¡ªShit¡ª Their situation was dire. The armor¡¯s sturdy defense would be hard to pierce with the golden sword, limiting Sein¡¯s offensive power¡ª(On top of that, Robin and Joy are running low on reserves, and Sein¡¯s restricted. Perfect. Should I call Kaze?... For now, let¡¯s see if we can handle this)¡ª Turning to his companions, the young man barked orders¡ªThis is it. We can do this. Robin, cover me from the Canids. Joy, focus on support spells to hinder the enemy¡ªwhat we need most right now is time. Sein, find a way to back me up, whether by killing Canids or disrupting the boars.


    ¡ªLeave it to me!¡ª Though the others didn¡¯t voice it, they agreed. Without hesitation, Sein and Shoun charged into the stampede of vestiges. The young man used Balance Voltage Impulse to gain height, vaulting over the horde. The first line of monsters was halted by Sein, who began cutting down Canids and dodging boars.


    ¡ª(Sein''s barely handling that... Guess I can lend a hand)¡ª Channeling electricity through his legs again, he launched toward the second line with a Balance Voltage Tornado Kick, severely wounding them all. Briefly unsheathing Iron Fang, Shoun closed the distance and began cutting¡ªchunks of flesh and liters of blood spilled across the streets before dissolving into dust.


    By now, exhaustion weighed on everyone after the prolonged battle. Yet despite the fatigue, the young man remained focused. When something blocked his path, he cut it down. When something couldn''t be cut, he kicked it to death. Simple. Brutal. Draining.


    ¡ª(Think I got carried away)¡ª Before he realized it, he''d decimated the entire second line. Sein was still finishing the first, even with Robin and Joy''s support. As more vestiges lunged at him, an unexpected guest joined the fray¡ª The Alpha!


    The colossal armor charged to crush him. Shoun dodged with Balance Voltage Impulse, but boars moved to intercept¡ªuntil a human cannonball slammed into them, clearing his path.


    ¡ªTold you I''d cover you, Shoun!¡ª the youngest declared, rising to hold back the enemy horde. Meanwhile, Robin and their drones unleashed a barrage of lasers at the creatures, all amplified by one of Joy''s spells, leaving Shoun face-to-face with the Alpha.


    Without another word, Shoun sheathed Iron Fang. The giant armor charged, aiming to crush him in a heavy embrace, but the young man dodged effortlessly. He followed up with an electric discharge to paralyze it... yet the vestige didn''t even flinch.


    ¡ª(Oh, I see)¡ª Adapting on the fly, Shoun darted to the armor''s blind spot. The moment it turned, he unleashed his strongest attack:


    Balance Voltage Strike!


    A massive cone of electricity and brute force slammed into the armor''s chest¡ªbut only left a dent. Before he could react, a devastating right hook sent him flying into the pavement.


    ¡ªTch... ptoo¡ª Spitting blood, gravel, and saliva, he glared at the approaching armor¡ª Fine. Not the first time I''ve fought something immune to my hits!


    Shoun rose to his feet and charged head-on at the creature. Channeling even more electricity, he began pummeling the heavy vestige relentlessly. Each strike left deeper dents in its black armor, but the monster retaliated with equal ferocity¡ªevery punch aimed to kill. Unable to dodge them all, Shoun had to either block or deflect, leaving his face bloodied and uniform torn. Yet he refused to stop.


    ¡ªLet''s go again!¡ª Another brutal exchange ensued. The vestige threw a lethal right hook, one that could decapitate Shoun if it landed clean. But to him, the punch moved in slow motion. He sidestepped and hammered the creature''s chest again. It tried countering with a left swing, but Shoun had already repositioned to make the angle impossible. His onslaught continued¡ª Die! Die!


    The vestige''s armor was now thoroughly mangled, purple blood oozing through newly formed cracks. Desperate, the monster played its trump card: just as Shoun wound up for a finishing blow, a blue sphere materialized at its core. In seconds, the sphere expanded into a barrier that slammed Shoun to the ground.


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    This move flipped the battle''s momentum instantly. Without hesitation, the vestige raised its foot to crush Shoun''s skull, only for a massive energy orb to crash into it at the last second, hurling the armor away.


    Shoun quickly scrambled to his feet and saw Joy smile at him before collapsing to her knees, still gripping her staff. That last move had saved him from death¡ªat the cost of draining her core''s remaining energy, evident as the connection from her ability vanished.


    ¡ªThanks!¡ª After shouting his gratitude, Shoun surged forward to finish the armor¡ª(Now that we''re down one, we''ll be overwhelmed easily! I need to end this fast!)¡ª He sprinted while glancing sideways: Robin was barely holding on, their drones littering the ground from energy depletion. Then he spotted Sein running beside him¡ª Sein!? What are you doing!?


    ¡ªHelping you kill that thing! If we take it down quick, we can mop up the horde. Robin can buy us seconds¡ªand you don¡¯t have Joy to save your ass anymore!¡ª Shoun paused mid-stride. In his periphery, Robin was already luring the remaining Wretches away as a distraction.


    ¡ªYou¡¯ve grown a lot, Sein. Let¡¯s slaughter this bastard!


    ¡ªHell yeah!¡ª The boy sheathed his sword, arms blazing with golden light. They flanked the armor, Shoun at its front, Sein at its back.


    Enraged, the vestige swung a one-armed punch at Shoun¡ªbut before impact, it lost balance as Sein delivered a brutal kick to its knee from behind. The creature collapsed just in time for both Shoun and Sein to unleash a final, simultaneous punch to its massive head. Under the force of their combined strikes, it exploded, prompting the Codex to declare:


    [You have slain "Living Armor", an Alpha Wretch]


    From a distance, Joy watched the short but intense battle between the duo and the armor in awe. Their strikes were devastating, their techniques flawless, their teamwork unparalleled.


    ¡ª(Even their abilities are extraordinary)¡ª The mage observed with a mix of envy and relief at their victory. But then, the unthinkable happened.


    As Shoun and Sein turned to aid Robin against the remaining Wretches, a sound froze their blood:


    ¡ªAaaah!¡ª A scream tore from Joy¡¯s core. A Putrid Canid was charging her. With no spiritual energy left, she could barely move¡ªcompletely at the monster¡¯s mercy. The boys sprinted toward her, but they knew: they wouldn¡¯t make it in time. She was going to¡ª


    ~Click Click~


    The sound of slicing wind cut through the air, the vestige threatening Joy was bisected mid-lunge. Standing before the mage was none other than Kaze. The masked one turned to face her directly, but the moment their eyes met, her expression twisted into pure horror. She scrambled backward with renewed desperation.


    ¡ªGood to see you, Kaze! You really saved us this time!¡ª Shoun called out gratefully as he arrived.


    ¡ªNo big deal¡ª Kaze dismissed, as usual, before approaching the young man.


    ¡ªAre you okay, Joy?¡ª Sein knelt to check his friend for injuries. The mage didn¡¯t move, every ounce of strength had left her body. She didn¡¯t speak either, her voice trapped in her throat.


    ¡ªIf it¡¯s not too much trouble, could you handle the rest? We¡¯re all spent. The Alpha¡¯s dead, so once those last few are gone, the rift will close.


    ¡ªNo problem¡ª The masked one dashed toward the remaining vestiges, draping his mantle over his sword. Seeing this, the scientist smirked and stepped back, giving Kaze full reign to unleash his power. The monsters were carved apart under his blade, whirlwinds forming in his wake. Against Kaze¡¯s evolved strength, they stood no chance.


    ¡ªW-who is he?¡ª The mage asked, face pale as she witnessed the masked one¡¯s slaughter.


    ¡ªOh...he''s Kaze, our friend. We asked him to come here but he could only arrive now¡ªShoun told the frightened Joy the truth, though obviously not all of it.


    ¡ªYeah, plus Kaze made such a heroic entrance! Don''t you think so, Shoun!?


    ¡ªEh, I guess¡ªThe small one and the young man chatted casually while watching Kaze''s fight, while the mage still hadn''t spoken a word. Noticing this, the scientist quickly joked.


    ¡ªWhat''s with that face? Must be from witnessing the monstrous performance of all these Codex bearers with Major-grade abilities. Relax, friend, we share the wretched fate of bearing a C-grade ability¡ªHe joked cheerfully, but when he tried to continue, he saw the mage''s expression still hadn''t changed. So he left her be, assuming she needed time to recover.


    In no more than a couple minutes, Kaze emerged somewhat drenched in the blood of the vestiges, calmly approaching while cleaning Cutting Wind.


    ¡ªYou did great!¡ªSein raised his hand for a high-five, which the masked one returned. Behind them, the white rift finally compressed into itself and vanished from space.


    ¡ªPhew, that was tough but we made it ¡ªthe young man cheered while looking at the scientist.


    ¡ªIndeed. Now I need to call my department to report in.


    ¡ªUh... Do we have to answer to someone?


    ¡ªMore or less. Pay taxes and such. Don''t worry, I''ll handle it. That said, reporters will be here soon since we closed the rift with just the four of us¡ªwell, with Kaze''s help at the end, but details. So I suggest you get going.


    ¡ªRight. See you at home ¡ªthe masked one pulled up his cloak and vanished from the scene.


    ¡ªHe never changes. By the way, Joy, are you...¡ªthe young man turned to ask the mage something, but to his surprise, she was no longer there ¡ªOh, she''s already gone.


    ¡ªHow odd... Well, we''ll get her share to her later!


    ¡ªOf course! Now help me gather our treasures. I don''t want anyone stealing our money ¡ªunder Shoun''s orders, they quickly began rummaging through the wreckage for potential profits.

 Chapter 60: Interview

    Robin, Sein, and Shoun rummaged around for a while before gathering to tally their total earnings.


    ¡ªLet¡¯s see¡­ We¡¯ve got two Seeker-rank materials, two Apprentice-rank ones, and the fully intact, functional body of a wretch. Yep, that¡¯s a lot of money, hehehe ¡ªShoun began laughing malevolently, causing Sein and Robin to take a slight step back.


    ¡ªGood. According to my communicator, all rifts within the city were closed a while ago, which means the government can help me move that thing. I think our best bet for now is to sell the materials, since Joy isn¡¯t here, we can¡¯t split who keeps what. ¡ªThe other two agreed and handed over the materials¡ªThat settles that. Now, about the body¡­ I¡¯d also suggest selling it, but if you give me permission, I could turn part of it into a useful artifact for when we go to¡­ you know where.


    ¡ªSounds good to me.


    ¡ªAbsolutely!


    Before they could continue the conversation, a black van with the government¡¯s logo pulled up. Out stepped an unfamiliar face¡ªa suited man in black, who also happened to be an Apprentice.


    ¡ªHey Greg, how are you?


    ¡ªGood, thanks for asking Robin. Right now I''m busy cleaning up our agents... Is that yours? ¡ª he asked, pointing at the armored corpse.


    ¡ªYep. Take this too, I''ll tell you what to do with it later.


    ¡ªSure... Sorry to ask but exactly how many people cleared this rift? ¡ª he questioned while loading all the loot into the van and logging it.


    ¡ªIt was those two adventurers, an elf mage, and me.


    ¡ªAre they your friends? In any case, don''t forget about your second job.


    ¡ªOf course ¡ª Before he could leave, two vehicles arrived. The first was a van from a local news channel, the second was from the guild, though it hung back for the moment. From the first emerged several people with large cameras and equipment.


    ¡ªFrom New Caven News, we''re covering the sealing of the rift on Striped Cross Street! According to eyewitnesses, the entire vestige advance was stopped solely by four individuals! Tell us young man, is the witness account true!? ¡ª The reporter shoved the microphone in Shoun''s face, who had stepped forward since Robin was busy and knowing full well that if he let Sein talk, the little guy would spout nonsense.


    ¡ªAh... that''s correct. The four of us sealed the rift ¡ª he answered with slight nervousness in his voice, but was quickly supported by Sein and Robin who positioned themselves at his sides.


    ¡ªTell me young man, who are the individuals responsible for this remarkable feat?


    ¡ªIt was Sein Harrow, adventurer apprentice; Robin Carter, government agent apprentice; there was also an elf mage with us but she had to leave earlier; and finally myself, Shoun Foster, adventurer apprentice - I was the last participant in this rift closure ¡ª he spoke smoothly, recalling similar interviews he''d seen on television.


    ¡ªShoun, don''t forget your title! ¡ª The moment the little one spoke, all microphones swung toward him briefly before returning to the reporter.


    ¡ªApprentice Shoun, you possess a title?! Please tell us what it is! ¡ª Shooting a momentary glare at Sein, Shoun had no choice but to reveal his title to the world.


    ¡ªMy title is...The Conduit.


    ¡ªYou heard it here folks! Apprentice "The Conduit" and his friends managed to seal a rift single-handedly, while preventing civilian casualties and protecting most of the street''s infrastructure! ¡ª As the reporter turned to address the camera directly, the apprentices slipped away from the scene, only to be intercepted by a familiar face.


    ¡ªTeam Leader Lawrence? ¡ª asked the little one upon recognizing the man who had once monitored his first fight.


    ¡ªIt''s a pleasure to see you again, Apprentice Sein. The same goes for you, Apprentice The Conduit ¡ª the team leader greeted, completely ignoring Robin, though they didn''t seem to mind in the slightest.


    ¡ªTo what do we owe this unexpected reunion? ¡ª Once again, Shoun stepped forward to confront Lawrence.


    ¡ªWell, it''s obvious. I knew it from the moment I saw your abilities, Apprentice Sein, and when we investigated you, Apprentice The Conduit, it was the same. We''d love to welcome you to the guild - not as adventurers, but as true hunters. Why don''t you come with me? You must be tired - we''ll provide food and drinks for the journey.


    ¡ªThis is where I have to intervene, my dear hunter. Sorry, but you''re too late - I''ve already claimed these catches ¡ª said the scientist, stepping between the youth and Lawrence. ¡ª Better luck next time.


    ¡ªTch... If you''re interested in learning more about our offer, here''s my card ¡ª Lawrence handed them the cards before leaving in the guild''s car.


    ¡ªDon''t mention it. But don''t get used to it - I won''t always be around to save your asses. Let''s go before someone else wants to interview us or something similar ¡ªThey all ran through the streets until reaching Shoun''s house¡ª This is where I say goodbye. See you tomorrow at school.


    ¡ªThanks for coming with us, Robin.


    ¡ªNo problem!


    Upon entering, they collapsed on the couch next to Kaze, exhausted from the battle. It was then that Shoun decided to open his status window to check how many points he''d earned.


    [Name: Shoun Foster?


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    ?Age: 17?


    ?Rank: Apprentice?


    ?Title: The Conduit?


    ?Ascension Points: 56/200?


    ?Abilities?


    ?Electric Flow: Your very essence has been touched by electricity since birth, to the point where you can control and wield it at will?


    ?Medium Electric Core: Part of your being yet not, existing in both your physical and spiritual body. It stores and generates all your electricity, while allowing you to absorb it from external sources?


    ?Visa: Congratulations! You can now enter and leave the other world at will?


    ?Endless Circuit, Grade S: All energy bows at your feet. You possess the ability to transmute any form of energy into electricity?]


    ¡ª(I had about 26 points before facing the rift... The rewards are almost comparable to visiting the mirror world. Which one''s more dangerous is another matter entirely) ¡ª After checking, he leaned back comfortably to watch the movie Kaze had put on before their arrival.


    ¡ªKaze, could you hand me my phone


    ¡ªSure, here you go ¡ªThe masked one handed the phone back to the little guy, who had left it at Shoun''s place for safekeeping.


    ¡ªThanks... oh, it''s turned off.


    ¡ªIt wouldn''t stop ringing earlier. I couldn''t hear the movie properly, so I turned it off.


    ¡ªYou did WHAT?! ¡ª As the phone booted up, the little one panicked upon seeing over 50 missed calls from his grandmother. Another call came through immediately, and despite his hesitation, he answered ¡ª H-hello?


    ¡ªSein Harrow! Can you explain why you''re on television?! Why do they keep calling you an apprentice?! Get home right this instant! ¡ª Without even letting him respond, Sein''s grandmother forced him to return home immediately.


    ¡ªWhat was that? I could hear your grandma yelling from over here ¡ª Shoun asked from the other side of the couch. Under all this pressure, the little one finally cracked.


    ¡ªHmmm... m-maybe I kind of forgot to tell her I was a Codex bearer...¡ª A tomb-like silence fell over the room. Kaze paused the movie and quietly moved aside to avoid the crossfire. The little guy seemed to shrink even smaller under Shoun''s icy stare¡ªPlease, if you''re going to kill me, make it quick!¡ªClosing his eyes, he awaited his doom... which never came. Instead, Shoun silently grabbed Sein by the collar of his shirt and dragged him out of the house. The masked one followed just to make sure Shoun wasn''t actually going to murder him ¡ª W-where are we going?


    ¡ªTo your house. You''re going to apologize to your grandmother. And to me.


    ¡ªB-but¡ª


    ¡ªBut? BUT?! Do you have any idea what you''ve done?! We had a deal - you were supposed to tell your grandmother, and if she agreed, I''d make you a Codex bearer! So what did you actually do?


    ¡ª...I lied to you.


    ¡ªYou lied to me. You lied to her. You lied to everyone!... Now you''re going to fix this. ¡ª Without another word, the three apprentices arrived at Sein''s house. Only then did Shoun release him to open the door. Upon entering, they were immediately greeted by a 60-year-old woman with long, curly white hair.


    ¡ªSein Harrow, how could you¡ª! She cut herself off upon noticing Shoun and Kaze at the doorway ¡ª Oh, you brought Shoun... and this is?


    ¡ªI''m Kaze.


    ¡ªOh... pleased to meet you, Kaze. ¡ª Despite the strange appearance of her grandson''s friend, her expression immediately softened ¡ª Sein... bring tea and cookies for your friends.


    Head hanging low, the little one silently retreated from the room. Sein''s grandmother ushered them into the dining area where they all sat down.


    ¡ªSo what brings you boys here today?


    ¡ªForgive me, Mrs. Rosa ¡ª Shoun apologized firmly, looking the grandmother straight in the eyes ¡ª I was the one who introduced Sein to becoming a Codex bearer. I told him to ask for your permission, but I never confirmed whether he actually did. This is entirely my¡ª


    ¡ªStop right there... I''m not angry with you, Shoun. It seems you never intended for Sein to hide this from me... I appreciate that, truly. ¡ª Rosa toyed with her teacup for a moment before continuing ¡ª My grandson has been stubborn about becoming a Codex bearer since he was little... Even if I''d said no, he would''ve become one anyway. I knew this day would come, but I didn¡¯t expect to find out like this¡ªseeing my only grandson on television, having accomplished some great feat... That boy really is as stubborn as his father.


    ¡ªHis father? ¡ª asked the masked one, recalling that Sein¡¯s parents were deceased. Shoun tried to hush him, but Rosa answered immediately.


    ¡ªYes. Like his father. My son, much like Shoun¡ªand apparently you two as well¡ªwas a Codex bearer. And from a young age, at that. Not being able to protect my husband might have affected him... I didn¡¯t want him to, but he enlisted anyway. Turns out he had high potential and became something of a local star for a while. That¡¯s where he met my daughter-in-law, and after some time, they had Sein. She was a wonderful woman too, but she died during an attack by a rift that had been left unguarded for too long. Thankfully, my grandson was with me at the time... Losing his wife changed him even more. He started disobeying orders and eventually left government service. With his limited power, he¡¯d rush to defend any unguarded rift, with or without backup. I knew his luck would run out someday. I told him to focus on raising Sein... but he wouldn¡¯t listen. In the end, he died a hero. Saved many people. But he died. ¡ª Tears began welling at the corners of Rosa¡¯s eyes, and she quickly turned her gaze away ¡ª Forgive me for making you watch an old woman cry...


    ¡ªSo... Sein is like this because of his father? ¡ª Kaze asked again.


    ¡ªWell, Sein was very young when his parents passed. He doesn''t remember any of it, but everyone in the neighborhood who recognizes him as his father''s son keeps telling him stories... about how his father was a hero, how he saved their lives... My son truly was a good man, and I think Sein wants to become someone just as great someday. ¡ª From the other hallway, Sein hid with a tray of tea and cookies, wiping his tears before announcing his arrival:


    ¡ªOut of green tea! ¡ª The little one entered the room and placed the tray on the table, where Kaze immediately started eating the cookies. Meanwhile, both Shoun and Rosa stared at him ¡ª ...I''m sorry for lying. I never meant to hurt you like that... I just really wanted to become a Codex bearer to save people...


    ¡ªSein... ¡ª Shoun wanted to say many things¡ªthat he didn''t need to protect others, that the adults would handle it¡ªbut he knew that would be a lie. He didn''t want to undermine his dream or his resolve, so he took a different approach ¡ª The most important thing in a team is trust. We can only fight vestiges and win because we trust each other. Do you think I''ll be able to trust you after you lied to me here?


    ¡ª...No.


    ¡ªYou shouldn''t. But you''re still young¡ªjust a kid. We all make mistakes. It''s better you learn not to fall into the same hole now while you have the chance... So, do you know what you need to do?


    ¡ªYes... I''m truly sorry, Grandma. Even if you want me to, I''ll stop being a¡ª


    Sein turned and apologized earnestly to his grandmother, who took his hands and kissed his forehead.


    ¡ªYou can keep being a Codex bearer. Keep going out with Shoun¡ªI trust he''ll take good care of you. But please, no more lies. My heart isn''t strong enough to bear that anymore.


    Without another word, the little one hugged his grandmother tightly. With that settled, they could discuss their plans for the "outskirts" in more detail later. Though they''d agreed not to lie, they still couldn''t reveal the Mirror World for obvious reasons.


    ¡ªIt was lovely having you boys over. Come by anytime.


    ¡ªThank you, ma''am. Sorry for the trouble.


    ¡ªThanks for everything.


    The young man and the masked one left the house. Sein closed the door behind them and stood there, staring.


    ¡ªWell, Sein, you should go take a bath. You must be all sweaty and¡ª


    ¡ªI won''t fail, Grandma.


    ¡ªWhat?


    ¡ªI''ll protect people. And I won''t leave you alone either. I won''t just be as great as Dad... I''ll be even greater. You believe me, right?


    ¡ª...Of course. If anyone can do it, it''s my grandson.


    With those words, the little one began crying again, comforted by his grandmother''s warm embrace.