Chapter 10 — The Forbidden Evolution
The entire academy fell silent.
Not ordinary silence.
A suffocating silence created by overwhelming fear.
Varikon's killing intent spread across Imperial Soul Academy like a natural disaster. The sky darkened completely while gravity itself became unstable around the battlefield.
Buildings cracked.
Windows shattered.
Even the academy's massive protective barriers trembled violently.
Students in evacuation shelters struggled to breathe.
Some collapsed unconscious immediately.
"This pressure…" Dugu whispered weakly while gripping the wall beside him.
Around him, dozens of students looked terrified.
Nobody understood what kind of monster had appeared beneath the academy tonight.
But one thing was obvious—
If the instructors failed…
Everyone would die.
Meanwhile, at the center of the battlefield, Reskin felt blood trickling slowly from the corner of his mouth.
Just resisting Varikon's aura damaged his body.
The difference in power was still enormous.
Inside his mind, Bali's voice remained calm but heavy.
"He is releasing his corrupted core completely now."
"What exactly IS that thing?"
Bali stayed silent briefly.
Then—
"The result of forbidden evolution."
Purple lightning exploded across the sky again.
Varikon slowly floated upward above the battlefield while gravity distorted unnaturally around him.
His body began changing.
Black armor-like skin expanded across his muscles while purple cracks glowed brighter than before. Additional clawed arms slowly formed behind his back like monstrous wings.
The pressure doubled instantly.
Several academy instructors vomited blood from the shockwave alone.
"Impossible…" Professor Kaizen muttered.
"That creature is still evolving."
Seraphina tightened her grip on her silver spear.
Her golden eyes sharpened dangerously.
"We cannot allow him to leave this academy."
Around the battlefield, elite instructors rapidly formed new combat formations while emergency barriers activated around nearby districts.
But even then—
Fear remained visible on everyone's faces.
Because the creature before them no longer resembled anything natural.
Varikon slowly looked down toward the battlefield.
Then smiled.
"You humans truly are fragile."
BOOOOOM!!
A gravity pulse exploded outward casually from his body.
Entire sections of the academy collapsed instantly.
Students screamed in the distance.
"Protect the civilians!" Kaizen roared immediately.
Several instructors rushed toward evacuation sectors while others remained behind preparing for direct combat.
Varikon watched them calmly.
"Still protecting the weak…"
Its voice carried mocking amusement.
"…Even after millions of years, nothing changes."
Then suddenly—
The monster disappeared.
CRAAAAASH!!
The battlefield exploded.
Varikon appeared directly before Seraphina.
Its claw swung downward like a falling mountain.
CLANG!!
Silver soul energy erupted violently as Seraphina blocked using her spear.
Shockwaves tore through nearby buildings instantly.
But this time—
She was forced backward.
The ground shattered beneath her feet while blood appeared near her lips.
"Seraphina!" Kaizen shouted.
Varikon looked amused.
"You are stronger than the others."
Purple gravity spiraled around his claws.
"But still insignificant."
BOOOOM!!
Another attack crashed toward her.
This time Seraphina countered instantly.
"Silver Heaven: Star Break!"
Her spear released enormous silver energy across the battlefield.
The attack split the ground apart while shooting directly toward Varikon's chest.
For the first time—
Varikon raised both arms defensively.
CRAAAAASH!!
The explosion lit the night sky.
Students watching from distance gasped loudly.
"That attack…"
"It split the academy wall!"
When the smoke cleared—
Varikon still stood there.
A deep wound stretched across his chest.
Purple blood dripped slowly onto the ruined battlefield.
But instead of anger—
The monster laughed.
"Hahahahaha!"
Its wound began regenerating immediately.
"Amazing!"
The atmosphere became colder.
"You humans evolved more than expected."
Seraphina's expression darkened.
Because even her strongest attack barely damaged him.
Inside Reskin's mind, Bali suddenly spoke sharply.
"Now."
Reskin focused immediately.
"Varikon's gravity core destabilized during regeneration."
"A temporary weakness?"
"Yes."
Bali's voice became serious.
"But your body may break if you force too much power."
Reskin looked toward the battlefield.
Seraphina and the other instructors were already struggling badly.
If this continued—
People would die.
A lot of people.
Reskin slowly clenched his fists.
Then stepped forward.
Seraphina immediately noticed.
"Reskin, stay back!"
But he ignored the warning.
Gravity Erase activated instantly.
WHOOSH.
The world slowed dramatically.
Purple lightning froze across the sky.
Dust stopped moving.
Even Varikon's regeneration slowed within Reskin's perception.
Bali spoke calmly.
"Focus entirely on the unstable gravity core inside his chest."
Reskin narrowed his eyes.
At first he saw nothing.
Then slowly—
A distorted purple sphere appeared deep inside Varikon's body.
It pulsed irregularly.
Unstable.
Violent.
"That thing powers him?"
"Yes."
Bali's voice darkened.
"It is an artificial Energy Soul reactor."
Cold chills spread through Reskin.
Artificial soul core…
That sounded horrifying.
"Destroy it."
Reskin took a deep breath.
Then—
Golden energy exploded around his body.
BOOOOOOM!!
For the first time since bonding with Bali—
Reskin partially released sealed power.
The battlefield trembled instantly.
Several instructors turned toward him in shock.
"What is that energy?!"
Golden soul aura spiraled violently around Reskin while gravity itself distorted unnaturally beneath his feet.
Even Varikon stopped moving.
Its red eyes widened slowly.
"…Bali."
Inside Reskin's mind, Bali's voice echoed powerfully.
"Move."
BOOOOOM!!
Reskin vanished.
The academy ground exploded behind him.
This speed was completely different from before.
Even Seraphina looked shocked.
"He became faster?!"
Inside Gravity Erase, Reskin moved directly toward Varikon's chest.
The monster reacted instantly.
Purple gravity storms erupted around him.
"Interesting!"
Varikon swung all four clawed arms simultaneously.
Each strike carried enough force to destroy buildings.
Reskin dodged desperately.
CRASH!!
CRASH!!
CRASH!!
The battlefield exploded repeatedly around him.
Even slowed perception barely kept up.
"He's adapting again!"
"Then surpass him," Bali answered calmly.
Reskin focused completely.
Instead of fighting against Varikon's gravity—
He flowed around it.
Redirecting force.
Changing pressure angles.
Using momentum instead of resistance.
Exactly like Seraphina taught him.
Varikon noticed immediately.
"…You're learning."
The monster smiled dangerously.
"That makes consuming you even more valuable."
Suddenly—
Purple gravity trapped Reskin mid-air.
His body froze instantly.
"What?!"
Varikon slowly grabbed his throat.
The pressure crushing Reskin's body became unbearable.
Bones cracked painfully.
"RESKIN!" Seraphina shouted.
She instantly charged forward—
But Varikon released another gravity pulse that forced even her backward.
The monster lifted Reskin higher calmly.
"Do you understand now?"
Its red eyes glowed directly before Reskin's face.
"This universe belongs to those strong enough to take it."
Reskin struggled desperately.
Breathing became impossible.
Inside his mind, Bali suddenly spoke softly.
"Reskin."
For the first time—
The ancient GOD-HORSIKEN sounded almost gentle.
"You asked earlier what true strength means."
Golden energy flickered faintly inside Reskin's soul.
"Strength is not domination."
The pressure around Reskin's body intensified.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
"It is the will to protect what matters."
Something inside Reskin changed.
All his life—
He chased power because he hated weakness.
Hated loneliness.
Hated being helpless.
But now…
Looking at the destroyed academy…
The terrified students…
The injured instructors risking their lives…
Reskin finally understood.
Power wasn't only for himself anymore.
Golden light exploded from his body.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
Varikon's gravity hold shattered instantly.
The monster's eyes widened.
"What?!"
Reskin's soul energy transformed violently.
Golden symbols appeared across his arms while gravity distorted around him like bending space itself.
Even Bali sounded surprised.
"…Impossible."
Reskin slowly raised his glowing eyes toward Varikon.
Then—
Gravity vanished.
Not around him.
Around the entire battlefield.
Everything floated upward instantly.
Broken buildings.
Rocks.
Dust.
Even Varikon himself.
The academy froze in shock.
"A large-scale gravity field?!" Kaizen shouted.
"How can a first-year student do that?!"
Varikon finally looked serious.
Because for the first time tonight—
Something felt dangerous to him.
Reskin slowly lifted one hand.
Golden gravity spiraled around his fingers.
"This…"
His voice echoed unnaturally calm.
"…is my power."
Then—
He closed his fist.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!