Stellar Echo: Heart of the Myst

[lordanl]

"Well, it's nothing much—just that we've known each other for a while and decided to form a team to explore the ruin." Zoe replied calmly to Christine's question, casting a glance full of superiority in her direction.

"Rather, I didn't know you were acquainted with Erik, Disciple Taylor." Elara quickly added in a cheerful tone, though her inflection at the end hinted at something more.

"Fufu." Christine smiled elegantly, her eyes throwing daggers at Zoe and Elara, who responded with scornful, defiant stares of their own. Then Christine spoke in a casual tone,

"It's not like we really know each other—it's just that we happened to meet and naturally started talking. It truly is a pleasure to meet such a charming gentleman as Disciple Erik."

At Christine's pointed words, Elara and Zoe shot her warning glares, which she effortlessly ignored as she turned to Erik with a smile and asked.

"But it really is a good thing to form teams for exploration. It must be quite encouraging to work closely with someone as capable as Disciple Erik."

"It's nothing like that. It was just a random idea Zoe and Elara had to help guide me a little. After all, I'm the youngest and lack experience."

Erik lied naturally, which brought beautiful smiles to Elara and Zoe's faces. After all, the star-haired young man had just handed them the initiative regarding the team they had agreed to form—or, in other words, he had just elegantly and subtly crushed the door Christine was trying to force open for herself.

Wanting to capitalize on the initiative Erik had just given them, Zoe quickly tried to speak—but at that moment, a young man approached. He had short black hair with red tips at the top and wore a sleek cobalt-blue plate armor adorned with ornate golden trim, filigree, and runes. A segmented skirt decorated with more runes and a flowing cape hanging from his pauldrons completed his impressive look.

"Hello again, Disciple Belmonte, Disciple Laverne." Ethan greeted politely before turning to Christine with a smile.

"A pleasure to meet you. I'm Ethan Williams, disciple of Master Jessica Roa."

"Oh, a pleasure to meet you as well, Disciple Williams. I'm Christine Taylor, disciple of Master Albert Taylor."

Christine replied with a charming smile, acting as if it were the first time she had ever seen the young man, with not the slightest intention of mentioning their clash during the tournament.

Ethan, aware that Elara and Zoe weren't particularly fond of the hot chick standing in front of him, quickly turned to look at Erik—the young man he had heard so much about and was eager to meet. He extended his right hand as he spoke in a cordial tone.

"Direct Disciple Erik, it's a pleasure to finally meet you in person. I've heard a lot about you from my master and my sister."

"The pleasure is mine, Direct Disciple Williams. I've also heard about you from Master Roa and Miss Laura." Erik replied kindly, taking Ethan's offered hand in greeting—though the look Ethan gave him stirred a fair bit of curiosity in Erik's mind.

(Is it just my imagination, or is this guy looking at me with a mix of pity and camaraderie? What a strange way to look at someone you're meeting for the first time…)

"Hehehe, I hope the things they said were at least half as good as what I've heard about you. Still, it really was a surprise to find out that Direct Disciple Erik knew my sister." Ethan said with a cheerful and casual tone as he released Erik's hand.

"It was just as surprising for me when I found out Laura was your older sister." Erik replied just as casually, selectively ignoring part of what the young man had said.

...

Meanwhile, the girls had been listening to the conversation between the two young men, which left Elara and Zoe quite surprised. After all, they were used to hearing from Liliana how unsociable Erik was. So the fact that he knew a woman well enough to call her by her first name—and without any title—immediately put them on alert.

"I really didn't know Disciple Williams had a sister. Is she a university student?" Elara asked casually, though her eyes revealed a slight trace of anxiety. Ethan, unaware of the mild concern reflected in Elara and Zoe's eyes, responded with a smile.

"Oh, yes. My older sister has been part of the Arcane Order since she was little, and she graduated from the university a long time ago. She currently runs the auction house her paternal grandparents left her."

"Oh, I suppose that's where Disciple Erik met her." Zoe commented with a smile, though her eyes were fixed intently on Erik's reaction. He simply responded in a relaxed tone.

"You suppose correctly. I happened to visit her auction house some time ago, and that's where I met her."

"What a coincidence. Truly, the world of direct disciples is a small one." Christine commented with her usual charming tone, feeling a bit left out of the conversation. Erik couldn't help but nod in agreement and reply sincerely.

"That's exactly what I thought—it was quite the coincidence."

…

As the group of young disciples continued chatting about random topics, a new group entered the hall—men and women clad in matte black futuristic-style armor, engraved with runes that faintly glowed. Some of them carried flags bearing the insignia of the Arcane Order.

What caught Erik's attention, however, was that many of them were holding what looked like magical versions of the assault rifles from his past life. Although he knew such weapons existed and were widely used among the infantry of the Arcane Order's armies, it was the first time he had ever seen them with his own eyes—university guards never carried them.

"The Honorable Director and the Esteemed Masters of the Order will now be present. Form ranks!"

Upon reaching the front of the hall, the apparent squad leader shouted the announcement, prompting the young disciples to quickly begin forming lines. At the same time, Christine spoke in her usual alluring and seductive tone.

"Well, it was a pleasure meeting Disciple Erik and Disciple Williams. I hope we can encounter each other inside the ruin… and perhaps cooperate."

With that said, Christine walked toward the center of the hall in a sensual manner, her hips swaying fluidly—somehow reminiscent of a seductive serpent—which inevitably made Ethan swallow hard, earning him a look of disgust from both Elara and Zoe.

"Erik, be very careful with that woman. She's a well-known vixen at the university and loves taking advantage of men who fall for her charms." Elara said, somewhat pleased to notice that Erik didn't even glance in Christine's direction as she walked away.

"Yes, Erik, try not to get involved with that woman. She only brings trouble." Zoe added seriously, also ignoring Ethan.

"Don't worry. I have no interest in getting involved with her. Let's just go form up." Erik replied casually, giving the matter little importance. The others nodded and quickly moved to take their places.

As Erik approached his spot in the formation, he pulled out a notebook with a yellow cover and quickly wrote down a name. At that moment, Seraphina asked in a neutral, professional tone.

"Young Master, did that young lady catch your attention?"

"Who? Christine Taylor?" Erik asked while putting the notebook back into his storage ring and turning to look at Seraphina, who nodded with a professional, emotionless expression. He quickly added in a serious tone.

"More than catching my interest, she gave me the creeps the moment I saw her. If I could've, I would've run away right then. That kind of woman is one of the worst enemies you can have. The best thing to do is play along just enough not to draw attention and stay as far away as possible. Women like that are like a wasp nest."

"The worst kind of enemy?" Seraphina asked curiously, though her expression now carried a much more relaxed smile. Erik then explained.

"Yes, one of the worst. That kind of woman is usually a specialist in creating enemies for you, and it doesn't matter whether you're on good or bad terms with her—her mere presence causes spineless fools to start targeting you. Just like a wasp nest. But when she does it deliberately, it's several times worse, since they're usually expert manipulators as well.

"So if you add that to her beauty and social standing, you can already imagine the amount of trouble she can cause. After all, humanity may lack many things, but it'll never run out of idiots who can only think with the head down below—and when they have power, they're a damn unbearable karma."

Erik added with a harsh expression, almost as if recalling a terrible memory, as he adjusted his posture. Meanwhile, Seraphina—who shamelessly remained at her young master's side—smiled slightly with visible satisfaction. And curiously, although the beautiful maid should have stood out like a sore thumb in the orderly lines formed by the young disciples, for some strange reason, no one seemed to notice her.

Shortly after the ranks were formed, a flash of light marked the sudden arrival of the Director, accompanied by all the Master-level mages who had been with him at the port—except for Adrian, who was nowhere to be seen. At that moment, the Director spoke in a serious tone.

"We're about to disembark, so remember to stand firm and not disgrace the name of the Arcane Order in front of the other factions."

""""YES, DIRECTOR!""""

The assembled youths shouted in unison, while the Director discreetly chuckled upon seeing Seraphina standing among the ranks behind Erik. Immediately after their response, a flash of light filled the hall, and everyone vanished from the room—leaving the once-bustling luxurious hall completely empty. Moments later, several staff members entered and began cleaning up quickly.

…

When the flash faded, Erik found himself greeted by a curious sight. He now stood upon an asteroid that seemed to span several kilometers in diameter—large enough to destroy a planet. It was surrounded by an energy shield formed of glowing hexagons, very similar to the one protecting the university, which Erik theorized must be responsible for the breathable air.

At the center of the asteroid stood something that could only be described as a fortress of impervious metal, bathed in a faint silver glow from the countless runes carved across its surface.

This metallic fortress was enclosed by another force field similar to the one around the asteroid and was heavily guarded by what appeared to be the military forces of all four major factions—each with weapons at the ready and sharp eyes. However, in Erik's opinion, the ones that stood out the most were the soldiers from the Order. Their futuristic armor was truly impressive.

Looking around, Erik spotted several groups composed of a few older individuals and around a hundred youths, all surrounded by armed personnel and others carrying flags with various symbols. However, only the guards of the Arcane Order wore matching futuristic-looking armor and wielded "magical rifles." The rest were clad in more traditional forms of armor.

Analyzing the scene more closely, Erik noticed that each of the other three groups had a figure standing at the front who exuded an incomprehensible power—so intense it seemed to bend the very space around them. Each of these central figures was surrounded by several others radiating a devastating level of strength, though clearly less than that of the person in the center.

As if performing some kind of strange greeting, the moment the Arcane Order's group arrived, the young people from the other three factions ignited their mana—almost as if trying to showcase their power—causing the air around them to fluctuate violently, taking Erik a bit by surprise.

In response to the "warm welcome", the youths of the Arcane Order ignited their mana as well, something Erik quickly mimicked. However, he soon noticed that under the pressure of the other three groups, they seemed to be slightly overwhelmed, making them appear a bit weak and vulnerable.

After thinking it through for a moment, Erik began to subtly manipulate the surrounding Myst, which for some reason felt noticeably "thicker" and "heavier" than usual—yet still easy for him to control.

Careful not to let anyone realize he was the one behind it, Erik made the Myst "dance" energetically around his group, which immediately boosted their momentum by several orders of magnitude—soon leaving the other groups in the dust.

Noticing how effective his trick had been, Erik looked around with a satisfied smile, which allowed him to see that the Director, his masters, and Thalia were all watching him with small smiles—especially the Director, who for a moment seemed to be struggling not to burst out laughing.

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***
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Spoiler: Ethan's armor

Spoiler: Armor and weapons of the Arcane Order Army

Spoiler: Asteroid

 

[lordanl]

"Hehehe, it seems your little factions get weaker by the day. Even joining forces, they can't keep up with my Arcane Order anymore." The Director remarked confidently, his voice radiating power as he looked at the three others standing before the groups. His words caused their expressions to sour for a brief moment.

"Don't get too cocky, Lysander. As always, you're just relying on cheap tricks to stand out."

A man who appeared to be around 35 years old replied with irritation, prompting Erik to take a closer look at him, noticing a few curious details. The man had sharp, well-defined features, and together with his neatly styled short brown hair and the elegant, aristocratic-looking dark robe he wore, he projected an imposing and attractive presence.

But what caught Erik's attention the most were the man's piercing golden eyes, which looked strikingly similar to Eleonora's—so much so that they seemed to share some kind of connection, as if they were related in some way.

"Hehehe, are you really so desperate that you're calling the Myst connection a cheap trick? Seems like your Meridian Federation isn't doing too well these days." The Director replied with disdain as he stared at the golden-eyed man, whose brow furrowed in response.

"Sounds like you're begging for a beating, Lysander." The man said in a heavy tone as his mana ignited and the space around him began to tremble.

"Well, I've been meaning to stretch these old bones anyway…" The Director replied confidently, just as an imposing sword appeared in his hand, radiating a violet ethereal light while the space around him began to fluctuate dangerously.

"Oh, a fight? How fun. Let's get started already."

As the two legendary-level figures glared at each other with hostility, a melodic voice filled with power and dignity echoed through the air, prompting Erik to turn his head with curiosity—only to find a woman of wild beauty, holding both a sword and a battleaxe in her hands.

The woman had long, pale-blonde hair braided over her shoulders and wore an imposing Viking-style armor made of leather and metal, designed for high mobility. It also featured a prominent neckline that accentuated her generous bust.

But the most striking thing about her were the runic tattoos that covered her body—from her forehead to her chest, arms, and legs—which glowed with a mystical, supernatural blue light that matched her deep blue eyes.

"Don't say something so terrifying, Yrsa. If you join in the fun, we'll definitely miss the opening of the ruin and have to wait another three months."

Looking at the wild beauty, the Director commented cheerfully as his sword vanished from his hand and he calmed his mana—something the golden-eyed man did as well, albeit with an annoyed groan.

"You're right about that. A shame—it would've been fun."

The fierce and stunning warrior woman replied with a hint of disappointment in her tone as her sword and battleaxe disappeared. Then, with a subtle smile, she added.

"But I must say, the young ones from your Arcane Order this generation are quite impressive."

Erik's muscles tensed instinctively as he felt a subtle gaze of curiosity coming from the legendary-level ruler of the Boreal League. Though he tried to act like nothing was happening, doing his best to ignore the woman who was triggering all kinds of warning signals in his mind.

"Hehehe, what can I say? My Arcane Order has always been full of geniuses."

The Director remarked with a subtle hint of disdain in his tone as he glanced toward the groups accompanying the other three faction leaders—each made up of only three or four Master-level individuals. It was a pitiful sight compared to the eight proud Master-level powerhouses standing behind him.

"Taking in traitors makes it easy to pad your numbers." The golden-eyed man remarked at that moment, glaring at Eleonora with open hostility.

"How pathetic you look, making such cheap excuses, Aelric FULGUR."

Eleonora snapped almost instantly, her voice dripping with contempt as she placed sharp emphasis on the man's surname, her beautiful golden eyes glowing dangerously. The ruler of the Meridian Federation attempted to pressure her with his aura, but the Director immediately countered with his own, speaking in a mocking and scornful tone.

"Did it really hurt you that much that a descendant separated from you by more than ten generations rejected your pathetic Meridian Federation? You truly look pathetic, Aelric."

"That treacherous bitch is the pathetic one—for daring to reject her ancestor. Her rightful place was at my side, since she owes everything she has to my bloodline."

Aelric snapped back in anger—after all, he still remembered the day he had personally extended an olive branch to that ungrateful bitch, offering her the chance to redeem the sins of her exiled bastard son who had died pathetically hundreds of thousands of years ago, leaving behind that joke of an empire called Silverwood. But the treacherous woman had the audacity to reject him and make a fool of him.

"Right, that's why all your descendants reach the Master level before they're even five thousand years old."

The Director retorted sarcastically, his tone laced with mockery as he glanced at a golden-eyed man standing near Aelric. This man appeared to be around forty and bore a notable resemblance to the ruler of the Meridian Federation—one of the arrogant bastard's direct descendants, who had managed to reach the Master level within the last hundred thousand years, doing so at the age of eighty thousand after consuming the resources of entire planets.

…

While the Legend-level figures argued, unnoticed by most—but not by those paying close attention—a notebook appeared in Erik's hand. It had a black cover with subtle golden metallic threadwork along the edges. Despite being a completely ordinary notebook, it seemed to radiate an infinite murderous intent, enough to send chills down the spine of anyone who laid eyes on it.

Without saying a word, Erik wrote something in the notebook in a slow, methodical manner, almost as if performing a personal ritual. Once finished, he closed the notebook using only the fingers of his left hand while staring at the Meridian Federation's group. The sound of paper snapping shut echoed—but for those watching closely, it carried the unmistakable weight of a guillotine slicing through the neck of the condemned.

The Director, who—even in the midst of his argument—had never stopped keeping an eye on Erik, could easily sense how the Myst surrounding the star-haired young man subtly began to turn 'cold and murderous', resonating with the boy's emotions. This led him to glance at Aelric with a mixture of pity and mockery.

(You're seriously screwed, Aelric. You just pissed off none other than the most talented man in recorded history—someone who checks every box to be a true child of the Myst—and to top it all off, is beloved by the most terrifying spirits I've encountered in my entire existence.

(Rest in peace, old rival... your absurd arrogance has finally caught up with you, and you've just signed your death warrant. And if Erik truly has some of Tal'veren in him… you may have doomed your entire faction too.)

Meanwhile, on the faces of Eleonora, Sigrún, and Seraphina, charming smiles appeared as their hearts beat with intensity. They knew perfectly well what Erik's notebook represented—and seeing the man they loved becoming enraged on their behalf, seeking vengeance, made them feel incredibly cherished and protected. His actions made it clear that they mattered more to him than his usual aversion to conflict.

Meanwhile, on Thalia's face—who had also been watching Erik—there appeared a beautiful smile full of approval. Though she didn't know what the notebook meant, she was sensitive enough to feel a genuine murderous intent radiating from him. She found the star-haired young man increasingly interesting and attractive, which made her shake her head, amused at herself. Anyone hearing her thoughts might think she was interested in someone several thousand years younger—a complete absurdity.

(How ridiculous... it's not like I'm a cradle-robber like Eleonora and Sigrún. I just find him a little interesting because of his incredible connection to the Myst—it could really help me improve. And he's also very smart... and talented... and funny... and creative… and maybe a little handsome...

(Anyway, it's purely academic interest! I'm only paying attention because of that, and maybe to annoy Sigrún and Eleonora. That's all! I'm not a cradle-robber, and I'm definitely not a husband-stealer!)

"Alright, stop barking like bitches already—you look pathetic."

As Thalia tried to come to terms with her own thoughts, the wild beauty in Viking armor commented casually, looking at Aelric and the Director.

"As sharp-tongued as ever, Yrsa." The Director said casually, while Aelric let out an irritated growl and crossed his arms, to which Yrsa replied dismissively.

"Whatever. Let's leave the youngsters alone to get to know each other—I want to speak with you both."

Before continuing, Yrsa turned to look at an Asian man dressed in an elegant traditional robe, which blended aesthetically with light armor featuring intricate details—especially on the pauldrons, which somehow resembled wings thanks to their sharp, stylized design.

Despite standing at the front of the Jade Lotus Union's group, the man had not spoken a single word and had simply observed everything around him with a calm, serious expression. Combined with his perfectly styled long hair and finely trimmed beard and mustache, he exuded an air of authority and elegance.

"This includes you as well, Xiuwen."

The man simply nodded with poise at Yrsa's words and vanished from the scene in a flash, quickly followed by the other legend-level figures, who disappeared moments later.

…

The disappearance of the legend-levels acted like a signal—shortly afterward, the Master-levels began talking amongst themselves or gathering with Master-levels from other factions, forming small cliques, something the younger ones quickly began to imitate.

Soon, across the arid asteroid, all kinds of tables, chairs, and other furnishings began to appear, creating a kind of impromptu social gathering, albeit with clear divisions—the Master-levels grouped several dozen meters away from the younger crowd, who began to chat among themselves.

As for Erik, he simply found a secluded ledge and sat down in front of an elegant table that had appeared out of nowhere, where Seraphina promptly served some cookies and a bit of tea with great professionalism. After eating a cookie, he took a book from his storage ring and began to read.

A few minutes later, a handsome young Asian man appeared in front of Erik. He had short, neatly styled black hair and dark eyes, and was dressed in a traditional black Asian robe embroidered with intricate gold-thread patterns on the sleeves and chest.

"Long time no see, Erik."

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Erik looked up to find Chen Ming—the young man from the Jade Lotus Union whom he had met during his first university class with Professor Sunflare, and whom he occasionally helped with calculations and similar matters. Erik greeted him with a smile.

"It really has been a while."

Erik set the book he had been reading on the table and smiled as an elegant chair materialized in front of him. Chen sat down just as Seraphina served him a cup of tea.

"So, how did the family meeting go?" As Chen tasted the tea, Erik asked casually, and the young man responded a moment later with a rather peculiar expression.

"Well… you could say it went pretty well. At the very least, my father was quite pleased with my progress."

"Then why that look?" Erik asked, slightly curious, prompting Chen to smile somewhat awkwardly as he answered.

"Things happened, hehe."

"Family secret?" Erik asked casually while picking up a cookie, to which Chen replied with a hint of discomfort, imagining how the star-haired boy might react once he heard it.

"Not exactly… and actually, it involves you."

"Me? What do I have to do with your family matters?" Erik asked, clearly confused, and Chen replied with a small sigh.

"I'd have to tell you the whole story."

"Then give me a summary." Erik replied casually while Seraphina refilled his cup of tea, to which Chen responded with a bitter smile.

"I'll try."

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[lordanl]

"I'll try."

After speaking, Chen proceeded to taste the exquisite tea—tea that was not only ridiculously expensive, but also something money alone couldn't buy. It relaxed his mind and slightly nourished his mana. Then he set the cup on the table and began recounting his story in a serious tone.

"Well, actually, it all happened during the family gathering. At first, everything was going pretty well. All the younger generation members of the clan were showing their progress in formation techniques, and I managed to stand out quite a bit—I was the only one who could deploy all the formations. The problem began when the youngest son of my third uncle showed up."

"I still can't get used to the way you number your relatives..." Erik commented casually in the middle of Chen's story, to which Chen quickly replied in a calm tone.

"It's by seniority. I've told you this already. And don't interrupt my story."

"Alright, alright, carry on." Erik said casually while taking a cookie, and Chen nodded before continuing seriously.

"Anyway, as I was saying, everything was going well. I was the best among the younger generation, and my father was quite proud. But then Zhang Ming, the son of my third uncle, showed up—and everything changed. I don't know how he did it, but the bastard managed to master two of the ancestral formations."

"Ancestral formations?" Erik asked back, a bit confused, to which Chen replied in a serious tone.

"The secret ones."

"Ohh, I see. So he totally crushed you."

Erik commented with realization, understanding the core of the problem—since the techniques were supposed to be secret, getting outside help was difficult, and if someone managed to master them before everyone else, they'd naturally be seen as more talented. At that moment, Chen nodded and continued speaking.

"Exactly. And as you can imagine, my father didn't like that one bit—especially because my third uncle has always had his eyes on the patriarch's seat and holds considerable influence within the elder council. Having a son with superior talent would be the perfect excuse to put pressure on my father. So I had to improvise."

"Wait, wait—you can just casually talk about internal clan conflict like that?" Erik asked, somewhat confused as he looked at Chen, who replied with a small smile.

"Well, it's not exactly a big secret. Honestly, it's something that can be figured out pretty easily. Besides, I involved you this time, so it's better if you know."

"…What the hell did you drag me into?" Upon hearing Chen's answer, Erik's expression soured as he asked in a blunt tone, to which Chen chuckled awkwardly before beginning to explain more seriously.

"Hehe, it's not a big deal—let me finish the story, and it'll all make sense. So, as I was saying, when that idiot Zhang Ming managed to show off by successfully deploying two of the ancestral formations, he started mocking me and challenging me with that arrogant attitude of his. At the same time, my third uncle was trying to pressure my father with the elders from his camp.

"That didn't leave me with many options, so I had to come up with an excuse for why I couldn't deploy the ancestral formations. The only thing I could think of was saying I was focusing on a project to improve formation efficiency—which, if successful, could be applied to the ancestral formations as well, making it a major breakthrough for the clan and all that.

"But as you can imagine, they didn't believe me. So I had no choice but to show them the prototype you deployed in your garden the other day. Luckily, everything went well, and it worked in a similar way—though interestingly, it only improved efficiency by about 35%. Still, that was more than enough to leave everyone speechless."

"But that still doesn't explain how I'm involved. I haven't published any academic paper on the subject, or… don't tell me you gave me the credit?" Erik asked, a bit surprised, to which Chen nodded and replied with a slightly helpless expression.

"It's not like I had much choice. While showing the prototype really helped me get out of that situation, the clan is now expecting results—and I know myself, I don't have the capability. So I had to say it was a joint project with you. That also made it more believable as to why I hadn't been studying the ancestral formations actively."

"So you're expecting us to improve the efficiency of the formations…" Erik sighed and took a bite of his cookie before continuing.

"But I don't think I'll have the time. As interesting as formations are, I've got way too much on my plate right now."

"Oh, no, no—I never expected you to actually make time for it. I just wanted to inform you, so there wouldn't be any trouble later. I'll be working on it as much as I can on my own. After all, no one knows what a monster you are when it comes to formations, so I easily claimed that small result took us a decade of development and only happened by pure chance.

"So I've got at least three or four decades before they get desperate and start pressuring me for results. In the meantime, I'll focus on mastering the ancestral formations and the prototype you created that day. If I can deploy it the same way you did and back it up with solid theory, the old men in my family will be jumping for joy.

"So there's more than enough time for you to spare a couple of afternoons to help your good friend Chen. And, as always, your name goes first; I'll cover all expenses, and I'll write the paper. They gave me a nice budget to work with—and a few things I'm sure you'll find interesting. So it's a win-win. What do you say?"

"You're a damn shameless bastard, you know that?" Erik said with amusement, to which Chen laughed cheerfully and replied.

"Hahaha, well, you've got to make the most of the resources at hand."

Erik shook his head and thought for a moment, quickly concluding that it wasn't a bad deal. Sure, Chen would be gaining resources and reputation from his work, but the guy wasn't stupid, and he'd known him long enough to know he'd never dare take the credit for himself. Plus, he never forgot to bring something interesting whenever he asked for help.

So in reality, Chen would get to enjoy the honor of being listed as co-author—something he was used to trading for favors in his past life—while he would gain access to interesting resources from the Jade Lotus Union, or more specifically, from the Zazen Discipline, which was the most "inaccessible" to him.

"Well, I suppose I can help you out—just don't push it. Everything in moderation." Erik said with a smile after a few moments, to which Chen responded cheerfully with a satisfied and relaxed expression.

"Hahaha, of course."

While chatting with Chen, Erik glanced around and easily spotted Elara and Zoe chatting with different people, while Ethan was shamelessly flirting with women from all sorts of factions—and it looked like things were going pretty well for him. Several of them seemed ready to jump on him, especially a gorgeous blonde wearing a mage's robe.

Taking in the general landscape of the youth section, Erik then turned his attention to the Master-level section, where he spotted his own masters speaking with members from various factions. Judging by their expressions, though, it was safe to say that Sigrún was pestering them quite a bit.

Particularly, a beautiful Asian woman with long jet-black hair, dressed in an elegant and intricate white robe that looked as if it were made from a piece of cloud—highlighting her slender and agile figure. She looked like she was about to start steaming from the ears at any moment, her face slightly flushed and her teeth tightly clenched.

...

After a while, Elara and Zoe finally made their way to Erik's table, having barely managed to escape the endless tide of people trying to flirt with them or approach them in some way. The two beautiful young women felt as if they had reached a safe oasis—since, for some reason, no one dared get too close to Erik's table, even though many kept eyeing the star-haired boy with visible desire.

As soon as Elara and Zoe arrived in front of Erik, a pair of elegant chairs appeared before the table, and the girls sat down with familiarity. At that moment, Seraphina—ever the perfect maid—swiftly served them tea and desserts with a professional smile.

"A pleasure to meet the renowned direct disciples of the Arcane Order. My name is Chen Ming, a humble cultivator from the Ming family and a student of the Arcane University."

Upon seeing the two stunning women, Chen quickly stood up and gave a slight bow as he greeted them. They responded with a gentle smile while sipping the delicious tea prepared by Seraphina.

"There's no need for such formality, fellow Chen Ming. Since you're a friend of Erik's, you can be more relaxed and informal." Elara said casually, to which Zoe nodded and added.

"Yes, a friend of Erik's is a friend of ours as well—no need for excessive formalities."

"Thank you very much. Your humility and warmth truly deserve admiration."

Chen responded with a smile and sat back down, though he couldn't help but glance subtly at Erik, wondering how that antisocial guy—who looked like the very air outside his mansion bothered him—had managed to become so familiar with two of the most sought-after beauties of the younger generation.

(This guy's a monster in more ways than one… getting close to him back then was honestly one of the best decisions I could've made...)

"Don't worry about that—it's not humility. It's simply the natural treatment a friend of Erik should receive from us."

While Chen was lost in deep reflection, Zoe elegantly spoke as she picked up a small dessert from the table, snapping him out of his thoughts and prompting him to turn toward her in slight surprise.

"Zoe's right, don't overthink it." Elara added casually before turning to look at Erik and continuing to speak with a beautiful smile.

"But setting that aside, it's really nice how you've managed to create your own little island away from all those annoying people, Erik."

"What can I say? Apparently, I have a natural talent for repelling others. So if you ever need someone cleared out, call me—I'm pretty good at it."

Erik joked, though the comment didn't earn a laugh from Elara, Zoe, or even Seraphina. Instead, all three stared at him in silence. Not wanting to be scolded again, the star-haired boy quickly changed the subject with a smile.

"But the Master-level section over there looks pretty lively. Any idea why?"

"Hmm, hard to say. But from what I've heard from my grandfather, those gatherings usually turn into a competition to see who has the best disciple."

Zoe commented casually, following Erik's lead in changing the subject. After all, she was just starting to get along better with him, and it wasn't a good idea to become annoying—her best strategy was to play along and keep him happy.

"Yeah, my master's told me similar things. Also, this is the first time Master Eldurdóttir gets to talk about her disciple, and it looks like she's really enjoying herself."

Elara added with some amusement as she looked toward the beautiful Master-level woman with golden hair, prompting Erik to glance in the same direction. There he saw Sigrún laughing cheerfully and teasing everyone around her, having fun like a little girl.

"Yeah, she looks like she's having a blast—so much so that the other Master-levels seem on the verge of a nervous breakdown…"

Erik added casually, just as he noticed a young man from the Jade Union approaching. He wore an elegant, traditional white robe, and his long hair was tied up with a pair of metal hairpins.

"A pleasure to meet you, Disciple Erik, Disciple Belmonte, Disciple Laverne. We're organizing a small friendly competition among the younger generation, and I would humbly like to extend an invitation. It would be an honor to have you participate."

Upon arriving, the young man spoke with style and grace, though his attention was mainly on Erik. Erik turned to look at him and asked in return, noticing that in the distance, several youths from different factions were gathering and setting up tables and chairs.

"Competition?... What kind of competition?"

"It'll be a casual arts competition, nothing too serious." The young man replied with a relaxed smile, though there was a strange gleam in his eyes as he looked into Erik's green ones.

"Arts?" Erik couldn't help but murmur in confusion, prompting Seraphina to lean close to his ear and whisper softly in a voice only he could hear.

[Young master, he's referring to things like poetry, music, chess, and similar disciplines. Since battles aren't always possible, it's quite common among the younger generation of the Jade Lotus Union and the Meridian Federation to hold these kinds of 'competitions' to stand out and attract attention.]

"Oh, I see. Sorry, I'm not really interested in the arts, so I'll pass—but thanks for the invitation."

Now understanding the context, Erik looked at the young man and replied disinterestedly, which caused a cunning glint to flash in the young man's eyes. He quickly responded.

"It would be a shame for Disciple Erik not to join. We were truly hoping to witness the talents of someone so renowned—someone who's left the galaxy in shock."

"Well, there's nothing to see. I don't know anything about 'arts'." Erik replied casually, which brought a complicated expression to the faces of Elara, Zoe, and Chen, who couldn't react in time to stop him.

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For his part, upon hearing Erik's response, the young man from the Jade Lotus Union put on a fake expression of surprise, though his eyes gleamed with a nearly sadistic glint of mockery. He then began to speak in an exaggerated tone—worse than a bad theater actor.

"How can it be that the 'great' disciple Erik doesn't even possess basic knowledge of the arts? That just can't be true because if it were, he'd be nothing more than a random country bumpkin. I mean, how could anyone have an even remotely interesting conversation with someone like that?"

The young man's comment drew a cold stare from Erik, who looked him up and down with detached indifference before speaking in a calm and measured voice—though his tone was so unusually cold that it caught Chen, Elara, and Zoe by surprise.

"Well, what can you do? I'm just a poor, random country bumpkin. But I think there are still a few interesting things we could talk about—alchemy and artificery, for example. This poor bumpkin has managed to earn a couple of one-star licenses in those fields.

"So, while I may not measure up to someone of such exalted status—someone who can afford to call me a bumpkin and still take part in art competitions instead of doing actual work—I still know a few things we could discuss."

"…"

Upon hearing the response, the young man fell completely silent—mainly because the aura Erik was emitting was nearly suffocating him. But it was also true that he simply didn't have anything good enough to say in return. That gave Erik the perfect opportunity to continue, which he did with a relaxed, casual expression as he reached out to grab a cookie.

"Oh, we could also talk about recent developments. Perhaps you could tell me a bit about the patents you've registered. After all, if a 30-year-old country bumpkin managed to file a few, I imagine someone of your caliber must have a good number under their belt. It would be a pleasant experience for me to speak with someone who's ahead of me on the path."

Biting into his cookie, Erik looked directly into the black eyes of the young man from the Lotus Union, who was starting to show visible signs of panic. He couldn't help but tremble slightly as he watched the star-haired youth bite into the cookie, feeling as if he himself might be devoured next. That's when Elara, who had been quite irritated with the fool, chimed in with a mocking tone.

"You're giving him too much credit, Erik. The so-called core disciple of the Xiao family we have here hasn't even started a proper profession—how could he possibly have created anything worth registering? Then again, patents are a thing of our Order. Over in their precious Lotus Union, they still hoard knowledge like squirrels, terrified of competition and the idea that someone might actually surpass their pitiful little skills."

Upon hearing Elara, Erik turned to look at the beautiful girl and gave her a knowing smile before turning back to the young man and speaking in a calm tone—though subtly sarcastic and mocking.

"Oh, then it was my misunderstanding. My apologies. So what's actually going on is that this 'great figure' must have dazzled the galaxy with his mastery of the 'arts', participating in all sorts of competitions and earning renown. I see."

At that moment, Zoe lowered her teacup from her lips and added in a calm, explanatory tone, looking directly at Erik—as if explaining something that was just basic common sense—completely ignoring the idiot from the Jade Union.

"You've misunderstood again, Erik. Besides his mother, no one even knows his name. It's just that among so-called 'aristocratic' families, it's common to raise their children in the 'arts' to display their 'superiority' and 'refinement.' And that's all most of these mediocre types have to show off, since they don't excel at anything else."

"Oh, I see—now everything makes sense."

Erik gave Zoe a small smile, then turned and stared directly into the eyes of the young man, who looked like he was about to choke, and continued in a calm voice—but with sarcasm so thick that Elara and Zoe had to pinch themselves discreetly to keep from bursting into laughter.

"It's perfectly understandable that a 'great figure' like yourself wouldn't need to bother learning a profession or developing knowledge to create wealth. After all, you have your family's fortune to spend—something you surely fought for with all your might in your mother's womb for who knows how long. Such an arduous battle, shared only by every other viviparous being in the universe.

"A world of difference from a poor country bumpkin like me, who has to work tirelessly just to register a few patents and try to amass some wealth before turning thirty. My apologies—it's truly hard for a bumpkin like me to imagine the 'great hardships' of an aristocrat and his exalted understanding of the arts. I'll try to pay more attention from now on."

. . .

Meanwhile, over in the Masters' pavilion, Eleonora and Sigrún—who had been frowning just moments ago at the shameless attempt to humiliate their beloved disciple—were now smiling with pride and no small amount of arrogance.

"Our apologies—we truly failed to teach our disciple the 'arts'. It's just that he's been so focused on earning his licenses and developing 'a few' patents that his schedule's been a little tight. But once he finishes registering his latest discoveries—which are a bit more advanced than the handful of patents he casually developed in his early years—we'll be sure to polish his artistic style properly."

Sigrún spoke with a tone of "regret," as though she were genuinely remorseful about this "oversight" and sincerely planned to teach Erik those silly arts—prompting Eleonora to follow with a discreet smile.

"Yes, we really failed there, Sig. How could we let our Erik reach the age of thirty without learning the arts? Being an Ascended-Expert, an Artificer, an Alchemist, and having his academic papers circulate across the galaxy clearly isn't enough—we really need to reflect on this."

The double strike from Eleonora and Sigrún caused a massive and indiscriminate "massacre" among the Master-level figures present, who had to summon every ounce of self-control not to spit on the floor in disgust. After all, how many of their own children, grandchildren, or disciples had learned the arts before the age of thirty? None. At that age, the most they could do was train desperately just to reach the Apprentice level and barely be considered geniuses.

But now there stood a monster capable of reaching the Ascended level, while also possessing such dazzling academic achievements that, frankly, several of the Master-levels present couldn't even match. Inevitably, a single thought began to take root in the minds of Masters from various factions: someone this monstrous could only be allowed to exist within our faction—otherwise, it would be better if he didn't exist at all.

"Fufufu, I suppose I could help with that. My Elara excels at both piano and chess, so she'd make a fine teacher for Erik."

Used to the constant boasting from Eleonora and Sigrún, Thalia was the first to react, commenting casually with a smile on her lips as she gazed off at Erik—who was stylishly ignoring the young man lying unconscious on the floor, suffocated by the sheer pressure of the star-haired boy's aura, which had paralyzed him to the point he couldn't even breathe. She found him genuinely attractive.

"There's no need, Thalia. I myself possess certain accomplishments in the field of the arts, so I'm more than qualified to educate OUR Erik on the matter. Nevertheless, I appreciate the offer." Eleonora said with elegance, though she couldn't help but place a subtle, somewhat possessive emphasis on her beloved disciple.

"Fufu, my apologies—I meant no offense to the great Imperial Princess Silverwood." Thalia replied in a calm tone, though a playful smirk crept across her face.

"Fufu, how could that be? I merely didn't wish to trouble the "great princess" of the Arcane Order with the task of educating OUR little disciple." Eleonora countered with equal grace, landing her blow with refined precision. Thalia's expression immediately soured, and she had no choice but to cross her arms and fall silent, accepting her defeat with obedient restraint.

. . .

While Eleonora and Thalia were having their little spat, a beautiful woman from the Jade Lotus Union cast a casual glance toward a slim young man with similar features, who radiated a scholarly aura and was the center of attention among a large group of youths gathering for the upcoming "arts competition."

Just one look was all the young man needed to understand the message the woman was silently conveying. With an elegant smile, he quickly excused himself from the group surrounding him and began making his way toward Erik, followed closely by two other young men.

Upon reaching Erik's table, the young man casually waved his right hand, and the two youths accompanying him quickly moved to pick up the first young man—now unconscious on the floor, rendered breathless by Erik's aura. He then gave a small bow toward Elara and Zoe.

"Our apologies for the rudeness of the young man from our family." The scholarly youth said calmly, before turning his gaze directly to Erik and continuing with a scornful smile.

"But the Ascended Erik is absolutely right—our origins are far too different to understand each other easily. After all, what could an aristocrat possibly learn from a country bumpkin who can't even afford a surname?"

The moment those words left the young man's mouth, the smiles on Eleonora and Sigrún's faces vanished almost instantly—replaced by cold expressions filled with murderous intent. That reaction brought a smile to the woman from the Arcane Order, who had only moments ago been clenching her teeth in anger, while Thalia, Jessica, and Seraphina began observing the new arrival with unreadable expressions.

"And look how strange life is: this country bumpkin can't even afford a surname, yet you know who I am—and I have no idea who you are."

Erik, for his part, simply turned to look at the new young man and spoke in a calm voice, casually studying him as he reached for another cookie. The young man before him gave a soft smile in response and replied.

"It's barely comprehensible—country bumpkins are nothing more than frogs at the bottom of a well, unable to see the bigger picture, yet still arrogant enough to think they know everything."

"Curious notion. I wonder what's more impressive: a random shooting star in a universe full of them, or a frog in a well that the whole world has heard about." Erik replied calmly, reaching out to take his cup of tea, which caused the young man's gaze to sharpen as he responded.

"You speak with wit, Ascended Erik, I'll give you that. But even a famous frog is still just a creature confined to its pond. We, on the other hand…" The young man paused briefly and extended his hand slightly, as if encompassing the entire crowd on the asteroid, before continuing with a smile.

"We have seen 'oceans'."

"Oceans, huh?" Erik replied casually, then took a sip of his tea, followed by a slight smile.

"Seems you crossed one just to meet a simple 'frog'. How adventurous."

"That's an innate trait of those who pursue excellence, Ascended Erik. Sometimes even the simplest frog on the path can teach us by example what we must avoid." The young man replied in a measured and elegant tone as he placed his hands behind his back. Erik nodded in return and remarked calmly.

"A very true statement. Even the simplest, most mundane creature can teach us something—like not wasting time on useless little ego contests, wouldn't you agree?"

"For you to dare call a tradition that has been upheld for millions of years a mere ego contest only proves that an education in the arts isn't the only thing you're lacking, Ascended Erik. Respect for one's elders is a fundamental virtue for any proper human being." The young man replied with a subtle smile—one that only made Erik's own smile grow slightly wider. Crossing one leg over the other, Erik responded.

"Well then, if that's the case, I must apologize. But I do ask for a bit of indulgence—it's a common mistake among us young people not to fully grasp the hardships of our elders. Don't worry though, we'll reach that age eventually and understand it better... even if from a different height. Don't you think so, Mister Nameless Revealed-level?"

Erik ended by subtly raising his teacup toward the young man, almost as if offering a toast, before taking a calm sip. Meanwhile, Zoe and Elara had to pinch themselves even harder to keep from bursting into laughter.

"I see even frogs grow fangs when their well becomes too small." The young man remarked, letting out a short chuckle before adding with a faint glint in his eyes.

"But if you're so eager to know my name, you'll be invited to learn it in a more appropriate setting. There, words alone won't be enough. Though I suppose for a mere Ascended, it might be a bit difficult to 'rise above.'"

Just at that moment, Erik snapped his fingers, which caused a flicker of confusion in the young man from the Lotus Union. But almost instantly, the elegant and refined youth felt two bursts of hot air hitting his body—prompting him to slowly lift his gaze, only to find himself face to face with two massive canine snouts full of razor-sharp teeth, poised to devour him in a single bite. That's when Erik's calm voice echoed through the air.

"My apologies—my pups tend to act on their own in certain situations. That's on me—they still need more training."

At Erik's words, Kaiser and Tiberius backed away from the young man, though they continued to stare at him like prey, their gazes filled with murderous intent. At the same time, their bodies shimmered with power—Kaiser crackling with silvery electric sparks, and Tiberius surrounded by a dark mist that seemed to devour all light.

Meanwhile, the young man from the Lotus Union couldn't help but tremble slightly. Even though his magical artifacts and other protective treasures might have saved his life if those wolves had actually attacked, the fact that he hadn't seen the attack coming was utterly terrifying. It was enough to plant the illusion in his mind that the star-haired youth standing before him held his life in his hands—and that all it would take was a simple snap of his fingers to end it.

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The moment the wolves moved to attack, the Master-level woman from the Lotus Union narrowed her eyes, filled with murderous intent—but almost instantly, five terrifying killing auras surrounded her from all sides, as two ethereal-looking women appeared at her sides.

"Make a single move, and it'll be the last thing you ever do."

Eleonora spoke in an icy voice, just as the other three Master-level members of the Jade Lotus Union ignited their mana, causing the very air to tremble. At the same time, an angry male voice spoke coldly—though it could only be heard by the Master-levels present.

"Are you treating us like nothing? Or are you declaring war on our Jade Lotus Union?"

"Do you think your pathetic excuse of a faction scares anyone?"

Sigrún quickly replied in a cold voice, while turning her gaze toward a man who appeared to be in his forties, with long pale blue hair and features typical of the Lotus Union. He wore an elegant black robe, characteristic of cultivators. Sigrún then added in a mocking tone.

"I'd love to see you stand up from that chair and declare war—go on, show me if you've got the guts."

"A tiger that hides its claws isn't a sick cat, Sigrún. Don't press your luck."

At that moment, another Master-level from the Lotus Union—this one standing, appearing to be around twenty-five years old, with long black hair tipped in silver and holding a beautiful black Jian sword behind his back—spoke with a cold tone and a sharp gaze.

At the same time, the killing intents of the Master-levels from the Arcane Order and the Jade Lotus Union intertwined in a silent battle, imperceptible to anyone below their level. But the winner of that 'fight' was far too obvious.

The Order had twice as many Master-levels present—the other side didn't stand a chance. However, just then, the killing intents of the three Master-levels from the Meridian Federation flared up, more or less evening the scales, though the fact that they were one short was still noticeable.

"I suppose it was to be expected—rats of the same kind always gather."

At that moment, Eleonora spoke with a scornful tone as she turned her gaze toward the Meridian Federation group, which consisted of two men and one woman. Among them, a man with golden eyes stood out, staring back at her coldly.

But just then, Sigrún turned to admire her beloved disciple, who had calmly stopped his young wolves from devouring the idiot who clearly didn't value his life—now simply eating a cookie as he watched his pathetic excuse of an opponent flee in shame.

That scene was so endearing to Sigrún that it completely erased her anger and killing intent, while a smile full of pride bloomed on her beautiful face. With a tone of utter smugness, she commented.

"But thinking it over… it's a common mistake among us youngsters—not fully understanding the struggles of decrepit old folks. Maybe I was being too harsh. What do you think, Eli?"

Sigrún's sudden words nearly made all the Master-levels present stumble—some couldn't help but glance at her in slight disbelief. It was genuinely difficult for them to understand how that troublesome woman could switch moods so drastically. Not even someone with bipolar disorder could manage something like that, which inevitably led the Master-levels from the Lotus Union and the Meridian Federation to exchange confused looks among themselves.

Meanwhile, Eleonora had to restrain herself from bursting into laughter at the sight of her sworn sister's expression—one that resembled a proud child reveling in a mischievous act. She could easily imagine what Sigrún was thinking: trying to imitate Erik and "win with style" instead of resorting to brute force as she usually did.

"That may be true, although I think it's important to set a precedent—that no one messes with our disciple or what belongs to him. Otherwise, they'll face a very painful death." Eleonora quickly added in a calm voice, directing a sharp gaze at the woman beside her. Sigrún nodded in agreement and replied.

"You're absolutely right. It's important to set a precedent. Do you think we should do something special to make it even clearer?"

"There's no need to do anything else." Thalia quickly interjected in a composed voice, wanting to prevent the troublemaking duo from causing a scene. She then added in a firm tone.

"Erik is a direct disciple of our Arcane Order, and if there's one thing that defines us, it's that we protect our own. And everyone knows the Arcane Order has never feared a war—no matter who the enemy is."

"Hehehe, as expected from my granddaughter."

At that moment, the cheerful voice of the Director echoed in the minds of all the Master-levels present, and immediately afterward, the figures of the four Legendary-level individuals materialized before them. The Director crossed his arms and looked directly at both Aelric and Xiuwen—the Regents of the Meridian Federation and the Jade Lotus Union, respectively—before asking.

"You're absolutely right. If someone lays a hand on one of our own, we'll crush everything in our path. So if it's a fight you want, now's the time to say it."

Though the Director's voice sounded casual, Aelric and Xiuwen couldn't help but narrow their eyes slightly. While it went unnoticed by most, those of similar power could feel it clearly—an aura as sharp as a blade surrounding him, ready to erupt at any moment. And that aura made one thing perfectly clear: he was dead serious. Which made things very problematic.

While Lysander wasn't vastly stronger than either of them in terms of raw power, both Legendary-level figures were painfully aware of one factor that changed the situation entirely—experience. Battle experience far beyond what either of them, or any other human Legendary-level, could even begin to imagine.

Even though no one at their level lacked experience in life-and-death combat—after all, their rise to power had been anything but peaceful—Lysander was in a league of his own. He had committed the most reckless act any human could dare to undertake… and not only returned alive, but much stronger than before. Lysander had dared to explore the universe on his own.

Although none of the Legendary-level beings knew for certain what Lysander experienced during his journey through the universe, what they did know was that he not only gained overwhelming power—reaching the Legendary level, as he had only been a Master-Peak when he left. Also, his technique and combat skill allowed him to fight all three of them at once without losing. Moreover, from his journey, he also brought back a certain terrifying monster that made the Arcane Order literally impregnable.

But without a doubt, the one who felt most uneasy at Lysander's sudden seriousness was none other than Aelric. After all, provoking Lysander a little was usually harmless—the guy might fight a bit or, at worst, swindle some resources and let things go. But a serious Lysander was a whole different matter. There was a reason he looked like the oldest of the four, despite being the youngest. And Aelric could still hear the warning of that red-haired monster echoing in his mind.

"Old man, while it's a common mistake for us youngsters not to understand the hardships of you decrepit elders, this time I like your style—let's start a war and show them who's boss."

As the tension among the Legendary-levels quickly rose, Sigrún spoke with a cheerful tone, hands on her hips, while Eleonora chuckled softly beside her, and Thalia facepalmed in exasperation. She truly couldn't understand how that troublemaking blonde could turn Erik's sharp and clever retort into such a dumb and reckless insult.

"Hehe, that's a great line—I like it."

For his part, the Director turned to look at Sigrún with an amused smile, almost like a father watching the antics of his mischievous daughter. That made Sigrún laugh in delight, and she quickly replied in a voice full of smug pride, puffing out her chest.

"Right? Totally worthy of my Erik."

"We should find a good calligrapher and have it framed." The Director responded cheerfully, which made Sigrún's eyes light up. She nodded quickly and replied.

"That's a great idea, old man—seriously, you come up with the best stuff."

Meanwhile, the others present exchanged confused looks, unsure where all the fighting spirit had suddenly gone. But the Legendary-levels understood perfectly well—this was Lysander's way of offering them a graceful exit. Though, of course, he'd likely show up later to swindle them as usual, so they'd better hide their truly valuable treasure before he arrived.

Similarly, Eleonora and Thalia couldn't help but chuckle a little. While Sigrún could be impulsive, she was far from foolish. Knowing the Director well, she offered him an excuse to deescalate the fight. After all, even though she would kill and dance on the corpse if anyone ever laid a hand on her Erik, he had already won—utterly defeating his opponent. There was no need to sour his victory with a greater conflict, or worse, make him feel guilty about it.

As the Director and Sigrún began a lighthearted debate about how to frame the phrase, the beautiful blonde Master-level couldn't help but feel her heartache—a sentiment shared by Eleonora. After all, the mockery directed at their Erik for lacking a surname still stung deeply. It struck a nerve like few things could because it was a wound they had been avoiding for many years now.

That insult tore at their hearts and nearly drove them to madness—especially Sigrún. After all, she was the one who gave Erik his name when he didn't have one. And at the time, since she still needed to verify his backstory, she refrained from giving him a surname, knowing how delicate a matter that could be across the galaxy.

But as time passed, that sweet child became a handsome and captivating young man who ended up stealing her heart. And Erik's lack of a surname began to weigh on her more and more, filling her with regret for not having given him one back then. At the same time, the three of them—she, Eleonora, and Seraphina—wanted Erik to choose a surname for himself—one that would truly represent him. After all, that surname would one day be carried by their future children.

The problem was that reason and emotion don't always align. While rationally, they wanted Erik to choose a surname of his own—just as Sigrún had done, taking one in honor of her master and adoptive mother—the pain and shame she felt for never giving a last name to the one she loved, who had once lacked even a first name, didn't lessen in the slightest.

…

…

…

At Erik's table—where the little 'war' between Master-levels had gone completely unnoticed by everyone except Seraphina, who had pulled out a full plate of ultra-special cookies to spoil her young master—Zoe looked at Erik with sparkling eyes and said in a voice full of admiration.

"You were amazing, Erik. You completely destroyed him."

"It was just a casual conversation, nothing special." Erik replied in good spirits as he reached for one of the ultra-special cookies. At that moment, Elara spoke up with a delighted smile.

"Don't be so humble. That was honestly the first time I've seen someone lead another person around by the nose like that."

"Oh? You noticed?" Erik turned to look at her with a playful smile as he asked, to which Elara cheerfully replied.

"Not at first, but when I saw your smile and heard your next response, I figured that's what was going on."

"Well, the guy was throwing around 'truths', so I just returned the favor." Erik said with a laugh, then broke into genuine laughter.

Erik commented playfully, then laughed—a moment when Elara and Zoe exchanged a glance, a particular sparkle in their eyes. Meanwhile, Chen stared at the star-haired boy in surprise; he truly found it hard to grasp how someone who rarely spoke with others could be so eloquent—an absolute mystery.

(Maybe I should read more… Erik is always doing it. Maybe that's what I'm missing…)

As Chen reflected on the path his life was taking, Erik turned to look at his beautiful fellow disciples and spoke in a more serious tone.

"But setting that aside, things have gotten a bit complicated, so... are you still sure you want to team up with me?" Erik asked doubtfully, then casually pointed toward the group from the Lotus Union and added.

"Those guys want to skin me alive."

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Elara and Zoe looked in the direction Erik was pointing, only to find several young members of the Jade Union staring back at him with hostile intent—especially those from the Xiao family, who seemed to be overflowing with murderous intent.

"Hahaha, since when are we afraid of the Lotus Union? Even if nothing had happened, they would've come after us anyway, so don't underestimate us, Erik." Elara said with a defiant smile, to which Zoe added gracefully.

"Elara's right. Those small-minded would've found any excuse to come after us no matter what. Or… could it be that you don't want to team up with us anymore?"

"Of course not; I was just asking to be sure." Erik replied with a smile, then turned to look at Chen and asked casually while grabbing a cookie.

"And you? Are you sure you won't get into trouble for being here?"

"Not so much getting into trouble. They might try to come after me a bit, though. After all, the one who just ran off was none other than Xiao Tianji—or Tianji Xiao in Galactic Standard—one of the most prominent young members of the Xiao clan.

"He's a Revealed-Peak cultivator at just 250 years old, so he's pretty famous and commands entire legions of followers, not to mention he's highly valued by his family. So yeah, it's a bit problematic."

Chen Ming replied in a serious tone, then brought his teacup—just refilled by Seraphina—to his lips while discreetly glancing at the wolves beside Erik. They had managed to catch off guard someone who should have been able to kill them effortlessly—a truly insane feat. Everything surrounding the star-haired boy was undeniably strange.

"I see… that might be a bit of a problem. If I give it my all, at best, I might be able to hold my own against a Revealed-Advanced for a short time. But a 'Peak', three sub-ranks above, that's completely beyond my capabilities." Erik said calmly, not a hint of fear on his face, which made Chen feel compelled to ask, somewhat concerned.

"So, what are you going to do? If you run into that guy inside, you can be sure he'll try to kill you."

"Well, if it were a direct fight, I'd definitely lose. But Kaiser and Tiberius proved something—while I'm weaker, he can't easily detect me. So it's not a lost cause. Besides, killing me isn't that easy."

Erik replied calmly, knowing that the various rings on his hands were filled with all kinds of protective measures his masters and Seraphina had prepared for him—almost obsessively. Then the star-haired boy looked Chen straight in the eyes and added, calmly but firmly.

"If we meet inside, don't attack me—or I won't show any mercy."

"How could you even think that? In fact, if we meet inside, let's team up."

Chen quickly replied, a bit nervously, as for some reason Erik's gaze gave him a slight chill. Still, his words were sincere—he truly believed that teaming up with Erik was the right decision. After all, he had never in his life met someone so intelligent and talented.

On top of that, the star-haired boy had the backing of two of the wealthiest Master-level figures in the galaxy, as they stood at the very top of the pyramids of Alchemy and Artificery. That meant Erik wouldn't bother fighting over minor gains, which gave a less fortunate young cultivator like him a chance to earn some valuable items if he negotiated properly.

…

After a while, the Director's voice echoed in the ears of Erik, Zoe, and Elara, while a much heavier, authority-laden voice resonated in Chen's mind—the voice of the Legend-level Regent of his faction. After exchanging farewells, Erik once again lined up in order—though this time without Seraphina, who had to walk away with a sad expression on her face—before taking his place behind Sigrún and Eleonora.

Before long, the group from the Arcane Order, followed by the other three factions, marched in perfect formation toward the massive metal bunker, which was heavily guarded by agents from all four factions. Soon, the enormous metallic doors of the bunker slowly began to open automatically.

On the other side of the door lay an immense hallway seemingly built for giants, with tightly packed runes of all kinds carved into the metallic walls and even more heavily armed agents standing guard—clearly stronger than those stationed outside.

The young members of the four factions quickly entered the bunker, leaving the Master and Legendary level ones behind. Meanwhile, Erik, with the help of the surrounding Myst, could sense the curious 'invisible barriers' they passed through every so often. Shortly after, they came upon another door.

After passing through four similar doors, the young ones arrived at an immense hall, which was guarded by only eight individuals—two from each faction. Unlike everyone they had seen so far, these eight wore no armor or weapons. On the contrary, they emanated a colossal presence, comparable to that of a star.

As all the youths entered the massive hall, the eight Master-levels—seated with their eyes closed at various spots around the room—opened their eyes simultaneously. Then they muttered a few words, causing one of the 'walls' of the hall to slowly rise, releasing a faint light.

On the other side of the 'wall' was a chamber where every square inch was covered in thousands of runes. At the far end stood a pair of circular structures, one on the ceiling and one on the floor, both with a powerful spectral blue light at their center, interconnected by a thin line of the same glowing hue.

"This is the entrance to the ruin, which, as you all know, only opens once every six months. That is the minimum amount of time you must remain inside. According to the initial exploration missions, the only way to exit is through a similar structure that activates on the same interval."

One of the Master-levels suddenly spoke in a solemn and heavy voice that, for some reason, seemed to carry the weight of age and experience—a world apart from the jovial and relaxed tone Erik had grown accustomed to from most Master-levels. In response, all the young people nodded respectfully, just as another Master-level added in an equally heavy and ancient voice.

"The gate has already begun to open and will remain open for exactly 35 minutes. The moment the light covers the entire structure—that is when you must jump in."

After delivering the message, all the Master-levels returned to their positions, closing their eyes once again and appearing like hyper-realistic statues—it was even hard to tell if they were breathing. At that moment, Erik quickly called Zoe and Elara over to join him. As soon as they were close, he created an invisible isolation barrier and began to speak.

"Girls, I don't know if we'll get separated after crossing that gate, like during the exam, so I've been working on a little countermeasure. Want to try our luck and see if it works?"

Hearing Erik's words, Zoe and Elara's eyes lit up like lanterns. After all, that had been one of their main concerns—the random teleportation during the trial wasn't done without reason; it was because such phenomena were common in ancient ruins.

"How confident are you that it'll work?" Elara asked excitedly, to which Erik replied in a calm tone.

"Although so far, I've only tested it with Liliana a couple of times using one of my master's teleportation spells—and it worked—I don't know how well it'll hold up here, so it's more of a gamble."

"It's always a gamble when trying to interfere with the workings of a ruin." Zoe added, a bit excited, and continued.

"But if your method worked with a Master-level spell, then there's a high chance it will work here too. It's definitely worth trying—we'd gain a huge advantage by staying together."

As she spoke, Zoe found Erik's calm expression increasingly attractive, something that made her heart stir. Elara nodded in agreement, her eyes shining as she looked at the star-haired boy.

"Zoe's right—this is a great opportunity. So tell us, Erik, what do we need to do?"

"Not much." Erik replied as a pale gray braided cord appeared in his hand, covered with a multitude of carved runes. He continued, pointing to it.

"We'll hold hands, and I'll channel mana into both of you, while this artifact will aid the process by masking your mana with mine—making it seem like we're just one person, which should trick the spell or formation trying to separate us."

Erik's words brought a soft blush to the cheeks of both maidens. Even though it was only holding hands, physical contact with men wasn't common for them—especially not with someone as remarkable as Erik.

"Sounds good to me. Though I don't think we'll be the only ones trying something like this, if we succeed, we'll gain a huge advantage." Elara quickly said, doing her best to hide the slight blush on her cheeks.

"I agree. But… is there any chance we could bring more people? Wouldn't having a larger group help us capitalize on that advantage?" Zoe asked with a small smile, though her cheeks were also temptingly tinged with a soft pink.

"With my method, it's not really viable. Masking another person's mana with mine—even with the artifact—is already quite complex. That's why direct contact is necessary. I'd say two people is the absolute limit." Erik explained as he looked at Elara and Zoe, who both nodded in understanding and added.

"Makes sense. And besides, we don't have any guarantee that it's even going to work. After all, there were others who tried to trick the random teleportation in the past, and as far as anyone knows, only a few have succeeded, and only just, since luck plays a big role." Elara said thoughtfully, to which Zoe added with a smile.

"That's true too. But the methods recorded in the archives are quite different from the one you've developed, Erik—so it just might work."

"Well, it's still a gamble, so let's go in with that mindset." Erik nodded and replied calmly.

"Then let's go!!"

"It's time for the adventure to begin."

With Elara and Zoe's words, the light connecting the circular structures on the ceiling and floor expanded in size until, shortly after, it formed a beautiful column of bluish light.

"The gate is open. You may enter."

When the voice of one of the Master-levels—who, for some reason, gave Erik the impression of being an ancient turtle, "slow" and "heavy"—resonated through the hall, many eager young people began jumping into the column of light. Others held hands and jumped in groups, and some even activated artifacts that enclosed several members together before leaping.

"Are you ready?"

At that moment, Erik asked in a calm voice as he extended his hands toward Elara and Zoe. A soft, alluring blush appeared on the cheeks of the beautiful ladies, but even so, they timidly took the young emerald-eyed boy's hands.

As soon as Erik's hands met the delicate ones of Elara and Zoe, two rope-like artifacts wrapped themselves around their hands and wrists on their own, almost like living serpents, and then began to glow softly.

Almost instantly, both Zoe and Elara began to feel a warm and powerful mana slowly flooding into them, sending waves of strange sensations through their bodies—especially as this unfamiliar mana started flowing through their mana circulatory systems, giving them the distinct feeling that it was taking control of them.

Little by little, the girls felt Erik's mana intertwining with their own, then gradually enveloping it completely—somehow masking it. This made them feel as if, in some strange way, they were becoming one with Erik. And the moment that thought crossed their minds, both of them entered a strange state in which they began to feel the surrounding Myst with astonishing clarity.

"All right, let's jump."

Lost in that unusual state, Elara and Zoe could only nod in autopilot, so Erik quickly led them toward the column of light. Then he jumped into it—channeling all his focus into masking the girls' mana with his own, while simultaneously drawing the surrounding Myst to envelop them like a cocoon.

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When Erik jumped into the column of light, he suddenly found himself in a strange space where he couldn't tell up from down. The only source of illumination was a distant sphere of light, from which beams seemed to emerge, sweeping across the bizarre space like some kind of scanner.

But Erik was not alone in this strange space; thanks to the faint light, he could see some people in the distance, as well as spheres of energy and even flying artifacts, which would occasionally disappear—and sometimes, some artifacts and energy spheres were brutally destroyed.

Fascinated by the strange scene before him, Erik began to channel the Myst to sense it more deeply, but that made him open his eyes in surprise. For some reason, he completely lost his connection to the Myst whenever he moved a little away from it, something he had never experienced before.

(What's going on…?)

Filled with doubts, Erik tried to concentrate on the Myst, but suddenly felt the artifacts that helped him mask Elara and Zoe's mana fail, causing him to lose control over the girls' mana. He quickly looked down and saw that the cord connecting them looked incredibly worn and on the verge of snapping.

Without thinking—and almost instinctively—Erik pulled the two young women towards him, hugging them tightly against his body. At that moment, he focused completely on making all the Myst he could reach surround them like a thick cocoon, while activating all the defenses on his armor.

Simultaneously, the Myst around Erik began to move erratically, almost as if it were indignantly scolding its peers who refused to obey his commands. At that moment, the star-haired young man began to feel the distant Myst grow "lighter," slowly falling under his control. Soon after, immense amounts of Myst began to dance around him, forming a gigantic cocoon.

Inside the Myst cocoon, Erik looked around with a bit of surprise, not understanding how the Myst had suddenly come back under his control so easily. But at that moment, the beam of light that seemed to be scanning the space reached him, dazzling him and forcing him to close his eyes.

…

"What is this…?"

When Erik was able to open his eyes again, he found himself standing in what seemed to be a dimly lit rocky cavern. The only source of light was a kind of crystal stalactites emitting faint glimmers of light in different colors. Without paying too much attention to that, he quickly lowered his gaze to check on the girls in his arms.

Looking down, Erik saw the two young ladies staring at each other in absolute astonishment, their faces so red that even their ears were blushing. This inevitably provoked an amused chuckle from the star-haired boy, who quickly let them go and took a step back, asking at the same time.

"Are you both all right?"

"Y-yes."

Elara quickly nodded her head like a chicken, doing her best to hide her red face. At the same time, Zoe responded by regaining her firm and elegant demeanor, although her voice couldn't help but tremble a little, and her blushing face didn't help her maintain her image.

"E-everything's fine."

"That's good, and I apologize—the situation got a little out of control, and I was forced to keep you close to prevent us from being separated."

Erik commented in a calm tone as he looked at his armor—or, more specifically, at the detailed data that appeared in his field of vision when he focused on it. This caused Elara and Zoe to exchange confused glances, before asking,

"Things got out of control? What do you mean, Erik?" Elara asked, confused, looking directly at the handsome, star-haired young man. At that moment, Zoe asked seriously as her blush slowly faded.

"Did something happen?"

"So you really didn't notice anything…" Erik remarked, not particularly surprised as he finished checking his armor. Then he raised his head to look at the pair of beautiful young women and continued speaking in a more serious tone.

"Although I don't really know how or why, when we jumped into the column of light, we entered a strange space. I assume it was specially prepared to analyze anyone who tries to enter, but for some reason, I saw spells and magical artifacts getting torn apart in that place, and the same thing happened to ours—look."

As he finished, Erik pointed to the girls' wrists, where traces of the frayed rope could still be seen, just about to fall off. This prompted the two young women to lift their arms for a closer look, feeling a bit surprised.

"Something like that really did happen…" Elara commented in a complicated voice as she examined the rope in her hands, to which Zoe added while gripping the hilt of her katana at her waist.

"It's scary—I didn't even feel a thing."

"How was it for you? What did you feel? From my perspective, you both seemed to be in some kind of trance." Erik asked, full of curiosity, to which Zoe replied, still feeling a bit uneasy.

"Actually, for me, it was like no time passed at all. Right before jumping into the entrance, I strangely felt the Myst around me with unusual precision, so I focused on that, and before I knew it, we were already here."

"It was the same for me—we jumped into the entrance and were already here, instantly." Elara nodded and added in a serious tone, no longer showing any trace of her earlier blush.

"Wait, you started to sense the Myst better?" Erik asked, both confused and curious, as he looked at Zoe, who answered calmly, though by the end of her words her voice took on a dreamy quality.

"Yes. When your mana completely enveloped mine, I started to sense the Myst with incredible clarity, to the point that it felt like, if I tried, I could extend my consciousness infinitely through it. It was truly amazing…"

"Actually, it was the same for me—I had never felt the Myst like that before. It was as if I could sense the Myst merging with my senses and becoming a part of me…" Elara added, in a state not much different from Zoe's.

For his part, Erik listened with equal parts surprise and curiosity. After all, even if the girls were exaggerating and it wasn't quite so grand, feeling the Myst as an extension of oneself was something natural for him. According to what he had heard from his masters, it was a sign of having reached one of the highest levels of connection with the Myst, something that only very few people were capable of achieving.

"What an interesting occurrence… Could it have been the rope? But when I tried it with Liliana, she didn't mention anything like that. Maybe she didn't want to tell me? Or maybe the environment had some influence? After all, Liliana didn't enter any sort of trance either…"

Curious, Erik commented to himself while he pulled out his notebook and quickly began jotting down several notes—something Elara and Zoe couldn't help but watch with curiosity. After all, nowadays, it was uncommon for anyone to use pen and paper to take notes or anything like that; that's what crystal cards and similar artifacts were for.

"Well, for now, we don't have any more information about that event, so it's best to set it aside and focus on what's important. Which direction should we take?" After putting away his notebook, Erik spoke in a calm tone while starting to carefully study the cavern's surroundings. At that moment, Zoe commented seriously,

"First, we should carry out an initial exploration of the area and secure our position. We still have to adapt to the Myst in this place—it's too strange; I can barely even sense it…"

"It certainly is strange. It feels almost ghostly and incredibly scarce… it might take us weeks to adapt…" Elara commented in a serious tone as she raised her left hand in front of her, where a small flame appeared, flickering gently.

"…"

For his part, Erik couldn't help but look at the pair of young women a bit confused. Although the Myst in the area was indeed a bit "heavier," it wasn't that bad—it was much better than in that strange space, so it shouldn't be so difficult to connect to it. Not wanting to say something that could be misinterpreted, instead he called out softly.

"Kaiser, Tiberius, Ebonique."

As Erik's voice faded, two cute wolf pups emerged from his shadow, one with silvery-white fur and the other jet-black. At the same time, a small cluster of black lightning manifested above him, quickly taking the form of a small dragon-snake about 30 cm long. At that moment, the star-haired boy spoke in a calm voice.

"Then let me explore the surroundings a bit. For now, you can stay here and try to adapt to the Myst, since I don't sense anything nearby, so it should be safe."

"You don't sense anything…?"

Hearing Erik, Elara asked in return, watching the pair of adorable wolves and the dragon-snake that quickly landed on Erik's head, almost blending in with his dark hair adorned with stars and galaxies.

"When did you extend your [Ethereal Projection]?" Also studying the cute pair of wolves, Zoe asked, slightly confused, to which Erik replied with a calm smile.

"I didn't. I'm using [Mystic Awareness]."

Upon hearing Erik, Elara and Zoe couldn't help but widen their eyes slightly, visibly surprised. After all, Mystic Awareness was the most difficult to master of the advanced techniques for harmonizing with the Myst. It allowed mana users to accelerate their thoughts and connect more deeply with the Myst. But the best part was that this technique made it possible to passively sense mana in the surroundings, essentially turning the user into a living radar.

Although with Ethereal Projection a mana user could also extend their consciousness and sense their surroundings with great clarity—as if they were actually touching them—and much better than Mystic Awareness, which only detected mana—the latter had an overwhelming advantage over the former: not only was its range greater, but since it was a "passive" detection, it was almost undetectable. In contrast, Ethereal Projection could be sensed by any mana user, even from a distance.

For this reason, while it was common for armors to include long-range detection functions, these were always turned off by default. After all, they weren't much different from Ethereal Projection and were therefore easily detectable, which greatly diminished their usefulness. Moreover, they could interfere with the user's own detection ability.

Additionally, Mystic Awareness had another advantage that made it very valuable and useful: since it detected mana, it was possible to estimate an enemy's level quite accurately through it. And while those with a high level of mana control could fool it, they were a minority. Moreover, an expert user could notice mana concealment, so even in those cases, it remained a valuable technique, as it allowed the user to detect a potential danger.

"You really have mastered Mystic Awareness…?" Elara asked as she stared into Erik's green eyes. He replied in a calm tone, just as the wolves began to grow in size.

"Yes, I discovered it by accident a few years ago."

"You truly are an unmatched genius…"

With a voice that reflected her astonishment, Zoe spoke almost as a sigh. After all, Mystic Awareness was the gateway to master-level mana control and harmony with the Myst techniques, and it was so difficult to master that it wasn't uncommon to find sages who couldn't use it.

"I wouldn't go that far. I just happen to be good at a few things, including mastering Mystic Awareness. But there are others that, no matter how hard I try, I just can't get right. In any case, let me handle exploring the surroundings—for now, focus on adapting to the Myst."

Erik said in a calm tone while petting the heads of the pair of wolves, who had grown enough that their heads were now level with his chest. At that moment, Elara commented in a calm voice—though inside, her heart was racing a mile a minute. After all, such a handsome and capable man was far too attractive for her innocent heart.

"You're truly humble, Erik… but I have a question. I've heard that if a mana user isn't adapted to the Myst of a specific area, the range of their Mystic Awareness drops drastically. So, approximately how far can you cover?"

"About ten kilometers in all directions approximately."

Erik answered calmly, which made Elara widen her eyes and ask hastily, visibly shocked. After all, that was the maximum theoretical range someone at the Ascended level could manage, so his answer could only mean one thing.

"Could it be that you don't need to adapt to the Myst in this place, Erik? You can already connect to it at your full capacity?"

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