Chapter 10

  In a vast clearing embraced by nature, towering trees rose like heavenly pillars piercing the sky. A gentle breeze whispered through their branches, yet it could not drown out the rapid footsteps of Suero.

  He ran with raw strength and blazing enthusiasm, as if chasing a dream far beyond the limits of the possible. His heart burned with unshakable excitement as a thought echoed in his mind:

  The event has begun… We’re going to win!

  His pace carried him forward, eyes fixed on the sky as it suddenly began to change.

  A massive, transparent layer spread across the heavens—moving slowly, yet growing denser with every passing second. It enclosed the entire arena like an invisible cage. Suero lifted his gaze, watching as the layer hardened bit by bit, sealing the battlefield like a tightly locked box.

  A confident murmur escaped his lips.

  So it’s the barrier… That means Master Sbyam has left with Betma. And that means only one thing—we either win… or we don’t win at all. But we will win.

  He kept running without once looking back, as if the barrier trapping them was nothing more than fuel for his resolve.

  ---

  Elsewhere in the arena

  Kamyo stood perfectly still, radiating a quiet, defiant presence. His sharp eyes were locked onto Rita, who gripped her sword with unwavering determination. A faint breeze passed between them, but the air itself felt heavy—tense, ready to ignite at any moment.

  Kamyo tilted his head, a mocking smile forming on his lips.

  “Do I really have to fight you?”

  Rita tightened her grip on the sword, her voice steady and firm.

  “Get ready.”

  Kamyo laughed, arrogance dripping from his tone.

  “The outcome’s already decided.”

  In an instant, Rita lunged forward with astonishing speed—like a raging storm that crushed everything in its path. Blue sparks flared around her blade, wrapping it in crackling energy and magnifying its power. With every step she took, the sparks grew more violent, as if building toward an imminent explosion.

  She let out a thunderous cry as she closed the distance.

  Kamyo watched calmly, his smile unbroken.

  Then—suddenly—the sword froze in midair.

  It was as if an unseen force had seized it.

  Rita’s eyes widened in shock. She tried to move the blade with all her strength, but it wouldn’t budge. Slowly, she turned her gaze toward Kamyo.

  He laughed.

  “I possess the ability of Spatial Manipulation, you fool.”

  A wave of unease rippled through Rita, yet she refused to show even a hint of weakness.

  Kamyo continued, his voice filled with contempt.

  “That means I can control anything… from a distance.”

  Before she could fully process his words, a massive rock burst from the ground and slammed into her legs with overwhelming force. Her balance shattered. She nearly fell—but her sheer will carried her through.

  Twisting midair, she performed a flawless aerial maneuver and landed gracefully on her feet.

  She raised her head, eyes blazing with confidence.

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  “Don’t underestimate me, idiot! I may be the weakest on my team—but I do have a skill!”

  Kamyo froze for a brief moment, surprise flickering across his face. Then his grin widened, excitement creeping into his voice.

  “Oh? Are you saying I’ll actually be entertained?”

  They stood facing each other, their gazes burning with challenge.

  The battle was on the verge of eruption.

  ---

  Elsewhere in the plaza

  In a cold corner of the plaza, where the wind danced through the branches, Baysal moved fast—her sharp eyes sweeping the area. Frustration tightened her features as she muttered,

  “Where is everyone?!”

  She kept running. A crooked smile crept onto her lips, a mocking thought slipping free.

  “Don’t tell me they’re all afraid of me.”

  Holding that taunting grin, she pushed forward, deliberately trying to bait her opponent into revealing themselves.

  Without warning, a blazing fireball tore through the air toward her—fast, vicious, like a hell-lit arrow. Baysal caught the attack too late. She froze, shock flooding her face as she stared at the oncoming spark.

  The fireball devoured the distance between them, its roar swallowing the silence. Her eyes widened.

  “Did… did it get me?”

  The glow flared brighter, painting her face in burning light. There was nowhere to run. For a heartbeat, time itself seemed to stop—everything ending in that single moment. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable impact.

  Silence. No sound. No movement. As if she were suspended between life and death.

  Slowly, she opened her eyes.

  Her breath hitched.

  The fireball hung motionless in the air—mere inches from her face.

  “What…?!” she gasped.

  A presence flickered beside her. Moryo Raiso appeared out of nowhere, breaking the stillness with a flat voice.

  “Oi.”

  Baysal spun toward him, panic still clinging to her eyes.

  “Moryo…? How—?!”

  He didn’t even look rattled.

  “You should be more careful.”

  Stunned, she glanced back at the frozen fireball and whispered under her breath,

  “A time-sealing ability…”

  Moryo raised his hand, calm and commanding.

  “Move.”

  She blinked. “What?”

  His voice sharpened.

  “I said, move aside.”

  She stepped to the right, putting clear distance between herself and the suspended attack. Moryo fixed his gaze on the fireball—then dropped his hand.

  Time shattered.

  The fireball surged forward with brutal force, slamming into a nearby tree. The explosion rocked the area, flames racing up the trunk as embers scattered into the wind.

  Moryo watched the rising inferno with cold detachment.

  Slow clapping echoed from the shadows.

  A man stepped into view, applauding with deliberate slowness, his voice dripping with mockery.

  “Moryo Raiso! Heir to your clan’s Time Technique. Truly impressive.”

  Moryo didn’t answer. His eyes never left the newcomer.

  Jan approached, wearing a sly grin.

  “Expecting a reward for that information?” Moryo asked, tone steady.

  Jan chuckled. “How heartless.”

  Moryo remained silent, but Jan only leaned into the provocation, his grin widening.

  “I heard your father—Smart Bessix—wanted the Time Technique for himself. If he’d known you inherited it… do you think he would’ve killed you?”

  A shadow crossed Moryo’s expression, just for a moment.

  “You talk too much.”

  Jan laughed softly. “True. I do love to talk.”

  “Commander Moryo!”

  Baysal’s furious shout cut in.

  Moryo glanced at her briefly. She was already glaring at Jan, hostility blazing in her eyes.

  “Leave him to me,” she declared.

  Without hesitation, Moryo turned and vanished—moving so fast it looked as if he dissolved into thin air.

  Jan blinked, startled. Then he scoffed.

  “Where’d he go? Did he run?”

  Baysal stepped forward, a sharp, confident smile on her face.

  “I’m your opponent, you trash.”

  Jan turned to her, amused.

  “They always praise Sbyam Brius as the strongest sorcerer—the greatest humanity has ever known. And sure, he’s impressive. But he stole the credit that rightfully belongs to my master for training those students. So I’ll prove it here and now.”

  His eyes gleamed.

  “Master Betma is superior.”

  Baysal answered with a mocking gesture, pure provocation.

  “Then come on.”

  Jan laughed, mirroring her tone.

  “As you wish.”

  ---

  Elsewhere in the plaza

  Suero kept running without slowing down—his breaths ragged and heavy, sweat streaming down his brow. Then, abruptly, his pounding steps came to a halt at the edge of a quiet river, its surface reflecting the shimmering sunlight like polished glass.

  On the opposite bank stood Hambo Gauthen, his cold gaze cutting straight through the distance between them.

  Hambo broke the silence, his voice calm yet unwavering.

  “You’re Suero Rashid, correct?”

  Suero struggled to catch his breath, words coming out uneven.

  “Y-Yeah… and you’re Hambo Gauthen.”

  Hambo replied without emotion, his tone firm.

  “You shouldn’t keep walking this path.”

  Suero froze. Exhaustion and confusion flickered across his eyes.

  “What do you mean?”

  Hambo didn’t hesitate.

  “I mean you should stop being a sorcerer. Stop killing monsters to protect humans.”

  Suero frowned, clearly shaken, but steadied himself.

  “And why would I do that?”

  Hambo paused—just for a moment—as if searching for the right words. When he spoke again, his voice was empty.

  “Because they don’t deserve protection. That’s why I’m telling you to walk away. You’re only seventeen. Live your life in peace.”

  Suero stared at him, doubt and curiosity swirling together, yet he stayed silent. Hambo continued, his serious eyes locked onto him.

  “In the end, you’ll die. And to them, you’ll be nothing but trash.”

  Suero clenched his fists.

  “Why do you think that way?”

  Hambo lowered his gaze to the ground. His expression tightened before he spoke again, a faint sorrow bleeding into his words.

  “Because I lived among them. I protected them. And to them, I was nothing more than a killer. Every sorcerer who sacrifices their life for humanity is labeled the same.”

  He lifted his head.

  “To them, we’re just tools for survival.”

  Before Suero could answer, a presence surged in between them.

  Moryo Raiso appeared in an instant.

  With firm steps, he placed a hand on Suero’s shoulder and pulled him back, then turned to face Hambo. His icy, piercing eyes glowed with restrained intensity. When he spoke, his voice was completely devoid of emotion.

  “Stay away from Suero. Don’t poison his mind with your twisted ideas.”

  Hambo met Moryo’s glare with quiet defiance, a faint hint of provocation crossing his face.

  “Did I lie?”

  Moryo narrowed his eyes, a silent warning of the storm brewing beneath his calm.

  Hambo lowered his voice, almost to a whisper.

  “They truly are vile.”

  Moryo’s reply was immediate and razor-sharp.

  “The only vile one here is you. I warned you not to interfere with my squad. As for Suero—he’s different.”

  His voice hardened.

  “He’s the one who will save humanity from the monsters someday.”

  Suero’s eyes widened in shock. Those words struck deep, igniting a new spark of confidence within him.

  Moryo continued, his voice powerful and resolute, as if swearing an oath with his very blood.

  “From the beginning, I saw something special in him. He was just a boy—someone like Spailo. But after his mother died… after witnessing death devour the people around him…”

  His tone rose, burning with conviction.

  “He didn’t turn away from his goal. From the start, he was stubborn—driven by his own will!”

  His voice thundered with unshakable belief.

  “That is why he will be the one to protect humanity in the future!”

  Hambo remained silent, his expression as cold as ever. Yet his eyes studied Moryo with growing interest. At last, he spoke calmly.

  “Then let’s continue the event.”

  Hambo took a combat stance, his body tensing, eyes gleaming with unmistakable resolve as he prepared to face his opponent.

  Moryo stepped forward as well, his sharp gaze locked onto Hambo—ready for a battle with no room for retreat.

  —

  End of Chapter.