From where he stood, he could see the massive vertical span of the library: shelves cramd with books stretching from the ground floor to the upper levels. The silence was broken only by the occasional rustle of pages or footsteps echoing from the wooden floors above.
He leaned on the counter, glancing around. A few students wandered between shelves on the first and second floors, but the library felt mostly empty.
Ahem! Ahem!
Alex turned at the sound.
An old man stood behind him—small in stature, but impossibly aged. His long white beard brushed his knees, and his hair flowed like a silvery river, nearly touching the floor. It was the sa little master who had helped him before.
The old man laughed, his voice raspy but warm.
"Hahaha! Lad, so you finally ca back!"
Alex gave an awkward smile, bowing his head slightly.
"Yes. Hello, sir."
The master bead.
"You’re still the sa, eh? Tell —did you manage to learn the technique I gave you?"
Alex nodded with a genuine smile.
"Yes. I learned it, sir. That’s actually why I ca. Could you tell where the soul techniques are?"
The old man’s expression shifted. His joy vanished like mist. He sighed deeply.
"Lad... you’re brave, but you’re quite ignorant, aren’t you?"
Alex blinked, confused.
"What do you an, sir?"
The master leaned in close, voice low and grave.
"We don’t keep soul techniques here. We’re not allowed to. Only the Ten Great Clans have access to them. Don’t ask about this again—not here, not with anyone else. If the wrong ears hear you... they may do terrible things to you."
Alex’s eyes widened.
"What?" he whispered.
The old man gave him a weary look. Then, from the folds of his robe, he drew a small, worn-out book. Its cover was plain, and most of its pages were yellowed and brittle with age.
He held it out to Alex.
Alex accepted the book cautiously, glancing between the old to and the old man—who now looked away, as if he no longer recognized him.
Just as Alex turned to leave, he heard the faintest whisper in his ear:
"Leave now, lad."
Without a second thought, Alex tucked the book away and left the library, his mind racing. He didn’t stop until he was back in his dorm room.
Alex opened the book and began to read.
To cultivate a soul technique, you must have already opened your mind space and ford your inner sea. If you have both, then you’re on the right path.
Now, I will share with you my secret soul technique—one even higher-level monsters, those above A-rank, frequently employ. You must have a strong mind to face them.
Begin by condensing your elental essence—your sea water—into a single point. Shape it into sothing small, sothing simple. Start with a needle.
Be warned: this will consu an imnse amount of energy.
Refine that needle slowly, bit by bit, within your mind space. Once the needle has taken form, continue refining it—every day, without fail—by circulating your elental essence through it.
When you have forged a thousand such needles, and refined each one thousands of tis, you will be ready for the next step: condensing them into a single weapon.
Not just any weapon—one that resonates with your soul. One that you know by heart, that reflects your very essence.
Use the thousand refined needles to form this weapon. And even then, continue refining it daily. Feed it your will, your power. It will grow alongside you.
With it, you may even enter the fourth stage of the mind space.
That is the entirety of my soul technique.
morize it well—and burn this once you do.
Alex stared at the worn and torn book in his hands. Its faded cover and brittle pages.
He muttered, "It’s powerful... a true soul technique. But the path—from Needle Stage to Weapon Stage—is long. Still... I need at least a weapon. Sothing to guard my mind."
Crackle.
Black lightning danced across his fingers, surging with instinctive power. It leapt onto the book—and in monts, the ancient text caught fla.
The book burned to ash.
Alex turned toward the window. The endless sea shimred beyond the horizon, waves crashing softly against the island cliffs.
He whispered, "Thank you, old master... I’ll repay you. One day."
He sighed.
"There are only a few people who’ve helped like this... and I won’t forget them."
Standing up, he called, "Hati, let’s go. We’re heading to the elental cultivation room. After that—lunch. And then..."
"...Rebel Club."
anwhile, sowhere deep in the Academy...
A young man sat in perfect silence. His dark, unkempt hair fell over closed eyes as he sat cross-legged in deep ditation.
Then, a smile stretched across Riven’s face. His violet eyes opened slowly as the System Notification flashed before him.
[DING]
[CONGRATULATIONS!]
[MIND SPACE – SECOND STAGE UNLOCKED: ENDLESS SEA]
[SPACE AFFINITY INCREASED: 72% → 80%]
[LONG-DISTANCE TELEPORTATION UNLOCKED]
He muttered, "Finally... you beca useful for once."
Riven stood and stared at his own reflection—those brilliant violet eyes glimring like distant stars.
"My mind is clear now... clearer than ever. I know I love Lyra..."
A pause, then a faint smile.
"...But I think I love power too."
His violet eyes glowed—calm and cold.
The Day of the Semifinal
Match One:
Rebel Club vs. Noctshade Club
The stadium was alive with thunderous energy. Waves of roaring cheers echoed in the sky, shaking the very air. It was as if the entire world had gathered here, all eyes locked on the battlefield.
At the center stood the Battle Arena—a raised platform forged from obsidian-black stone, its surface smooth and gleaming under the stadium lights. Ten white columns stood proudly on its surface, five on each side, bisected by an eleventh—an angular boundary between opposing forces.
In the VIP booth, the Principal sat flanked by the academy’s most esteed faculty. Beside him, Vice Principal Jasper’s bald head reflected the lighting like polished glass, while seated a few chairs over, Emilia Aurelwyn radiated elegance and danger in equal asure.
Her crimson eyes shimred, matching the deep red of her dress that clung to her lithe figure. The sleeveless gown left her pale, sculpted arms bare, and ended just above the knees—offering fleeting glimpses of her toned legs. She sat with one leg crossed over the other, her flowing silver-white hair cascading gently across her face like moonlight.
She looked like a queen wrapped in fire and silk.
Her gaze swept across the arena. Then it paused—locked. A knowing smile curled on her lips as her eyes fixed on a familiar figure below.
Near the edge of the arena floor, Alex stood with Hati at his side, surrounded by fellow Rebel Club mbers. Selene and Rina stood slightly apart, quietly observing.
Alex looked around, his eyes wide with awe. The sheer scale of the stadium, the overwhelming sound of the crowd—it felt surreal. As if the whole world had co to watch them fight.
Suddenly, Tina’s voice cut through the noise, barely audible, but sharp with determination:
"Are you ready?!"
"HOOOOO!!"
Their unified shout surged back, rising above even the crowd’s thunder, echoing across the vast arena.
Tina smiled faintly and pointed toward a high platform in the distance. "Look over there," she said. "That’s the army delegation. Clans from the Frontline War. They’ve co to recruit. Your rank, your future—it’ll all depend on your performance here."
All eyes turned.
There they sat—representatives from across the continent, each adorned in distinct military uniforms.
Navy blue. Jet black. Fire red. Sun yellow. Earthen brown. Imperial gold. Pure white. Regal purple.
Each uniform radiated power, history, and the weight of blood-soaked glory.
This wasn’t just a tournant.
This was a test of destiny.
Alex thought, There isn’t Seraph Clan here and Stormgaze Clan is also not present... I think.
Rina scrunched her face as she looked at the man in the golden uniform.
Alex’s eyes narrowed at the man. He muttered,
"I’ll return the debt sooner or later."
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