Six months later
Arlen and Kamo could now see the ather and had activated it within themselves. Only Degis was lagging behind.
Joseph spent his days cultivating. Now that Kamo could use ather, Joseph lost every ti they fought.
He knew he no longer had the advantage. His only solution was to reach Rank Three.
Arlen, who was advancing even faster now, had beco even more difficult to fight. I could still turn my body into lightning, but the amount of ather it consud was too much.
Degis remained just as shy, but he was hardworking. He had strong fundantals and always won against other Rank Ones.
In two weeks
Joseph, Degis, and I decided we'd spend the academy's three-week break on the fifteenth floor of the underground cave.
Midnight…
"Everyone, wake up and go to the main hall. I repeat, everyone go to the main hall!"
We headed down like everyone else, but there was a heavy silence, as if sothing terrible had happened. Joseph was beside , Kamo with his lackeys—but I didn't see Degis.
In the hall, the principal, the teachers, and Canou Gérard arrived.
As all the students looked at them, the principal spoke:
"I know it's late, but you needed to be inford. Tonight, ten first-year students and five second-year students were brutally murdered."
"What?! Who did it? Do you know who the killer is? Are we not even safe at the academy?" several students shouted.
"Please, calm down," the principal said. "We still don't know who the killer is, but please remain calm."
"Is it possible the killer is a student or a teacher?" soone asked.
"How dare you accuse your teachers!" Arlen shouted, pointing a finger.
But she quickly stopped talking when she realized everyone in the hall was staring at her.
Everyone had the sa thought—there was a killer among us, and it could be anyone. By reacting to the idea that it could be a teacher, Arlen had made herself the number one suspect.
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Everyone looked around. Arlen was a suspect—but it could also be soone else. Everyone was a suspect.
I was on guard. Anyone could attack .
"Help, help—"
"You talk too much, my sweet." Sound of a head falling.
It ca from behind the main entrance door to the hall.
The teachers rushed to the door. Canou Gérard was with them. Soone was walking toward the door… then the footsteps stopped.
"More than twenty teachers and Canou Gérard. What a welco committee."
A man appeared in the middle of the crowd, covered in blood. He was smiling, but all I saw in his smile was death.
The teachers surrounded him and prepared to attack.
"I strongly advise against that. If you attack , you'll die."
Professor Carter, who taught close combat, rushed toward the man.
"Seriously? Why are there always idiots?" The man snapped his fingers, and Professor Carter exploded.
"The first one who screams or tries to run dies in the next second. Understood?"
I could feel it—this man was far stronger than . Professor Carter was Rank Six, and he had been popped like a bubble.
Everyone in the hall felt it. If this man wanted us dead, we'd already be dead.
"You must be wondering why I'm here. Well, I ca to recruit people. I thought about gathering you, but you were already here."
I shouted, trembling: "Was it you who killed the students?"
"No. But there were three boys in the hallway, covered in blood from head to toe. When they saw , they ran and got blood on . This outfit was expensive."
"But I'm not here to lecture. I've already decided who I'll be taking."
He appeared next to and grabbed Joseph.
"You… I think you can reach the rank I never could, thanks to those bastards."
He also took soone I didn't know.
"You… I think you can go far."
"Before I leave, I'll do you a favor. You have exactly five years before they arrive. I suggest you leave this planet, because even if you survive the Rank Eight and Nine cultivators—when their leader cos… believe …"
"Death will be a rcy for you."
As he started to walk away, I summoned my sword of fire and lightning, pushed my power to the limit, and lunged at him.
"I'll be kind. Since the young man I took seems to be your friend, I won't kill you. But I will condemn you to die in every possible way… in your mind. I wish you a pleasant nightmare."
...Darkness... I was surrounded by darkness.
A door appeared before . My whole body trembled at the thought of opening it—but I opened it.
There was a table, and sitting on a chair was a chained man, smiling at .
"You must know who I am."
"How could I not? You're my madness."
"Sit, for as long as I can hold you here."
"So this is my consciousness?"
"Yes and no. The one you attacked… I believe he's either at the immortal rank or beyond."
"He condemned you to die in every possible way. I think it's for eternity—he sent your real body deeper than the fifteenth floor."
"As I thought. You can look outside."
"I'm still a part of you, even if you deny it."
"What's going to happen to now?"
"You'll die again, and again, and again—until you find a way out. I brought you here thanks to the seal's power, but your long agony is about to begin. But let ask you so questions."
"Why did you want to protect Earth? Why haven't you tried to get revenge on Canou Gérard? Why do you teach others? And above all—why did you forget your original goal?"
As a force dragged toward the door, I thought about that last question. He was right. I had forgotten. I was so focused on being a future hero that I forgot...
Power had changed . I started thinking like everyone else. Since when did success and others' opinions matter to ?
All I've ever wanted is to be the strongest—to crush anyone who thinks they're better than . I was corrupted by all that crap.
Despite what's coming, I'll co out victorious, right?
"Yes, my dear self. I can't wait for you to leave this hell so we can finally seek the true summit."
The door closed.
Tony was about to face horrors no man should ever witness.
"After chaining , after splitting my soul into two personalities—you dare show yourself to ?"
"CANICIA!"
"Now, now, calm down. You were supposed to do great things for . It's a sha. You could've been the main character—until your role was complete."
"No matter. I'm just here to retrieve the other card I left. It's far too rare to leave with you."
"But I'll let you keep the fire card—it was a gift."
"Goodbye, Tony. Too bad you had to face him."
What a bastard. But at least he didn't notice the other card. With it, I'm sure I'll progress quickly—once I regain control of my body.
But first, the other part of my soul has to escape the illusion—and that won't be easy.
I think I'm in for a wait of over a hundred years.
I fell asleep, waiting for the other part of my soul…
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