Chapter 12 — The Boy Who Fell From the Sky
The night sky still glowed from the massive explosion above Imperial Soul Academy.
Fragments of golden and purple energy drifted through the heavens like falling stars while stunned silence spread across the battlefield below.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Because what they had just witnessed felt impossible.
A first-year student had stopped a catastrophe capable of destroying the entire academy city.
And now—
That same student was falling from the sky unconscious.
"RESKIN!"
Seraphina moved instantly.
BOOOOOOM!!
Silver soul energy exploded beneath her feet as she launched upward at terrifying speed. Wind tore through the battlefield while instructors below finally recovered from their shock.
Meanwhile, high above the academy—
Reskin's body continued falling lifelessly through the cold night air.
Inside his mind, darkness spread quietly.
No pain.
No sound.
Just endless emptiness.
Then—
A familiar voice echoed softly.
"You pushed yourself too far."
Reskin slowly opened his eyes.
But instead of the battlefield—
He stood inside a strange golden world filled with floating stars.
"…Bali?"
The ancient GOD-HORSIKEN appeared before him for the first time.
Not just a voice.
An actual form.
Reskin froze instantly.
Bali was enormous.
Even standing calmly, the celestial beast towered above mountains. Golden scales covered its body while glowing cosmic patterns flowed across massive wings stretching endlessly through the star-filled void.
Its eyes resembled miniature suns.
Ancient.
Wise.
Terrifying.
And strangely lonely.
"So this is your real appearance…" Reskin whispered.
Bali calmly looked down at him.
"This is merely a spiritual projection."
Even its voice carried overwhelming presence.
Reskin slowly observed the endless golden world around them.
"Where are we?"
"Inside your soul space."
Silence followed briefly.
Then Bali spoke again.
"You nearly destroyed your meridians tonight."
Reskin laughed weakly.
"Didn't have much choice."
"You could have died."
Reskin lowered his gaze quietly.
"…I know."
For several moments, Bali remained silent.
Then unexpectedly—
"You acted foolishly."
Reskin blinked.
"Huh?"
"You prioritized strangers over your own survival."
The ancient beast's glowing eyes narrowed slightly.
"Humans are irrational creatures."
Despite the words—
Reskin sensed something else hidden beneath them.
Concern.
"You still helped me," Reskin said softly.
Bali looked away slightly.
"That is because your death would inconvenience me."
"…Sure."
The gigantic GOD-HORSIKEN ignored the sarcasm.
But after a few seconds—
"…You did well."
Reskin froze slightly.
Because somehow…
Hearing praise from Bali felt important.
Before he could respond—
The golden soul world suddenly trembled violently.
BOOOOOOM!!
Purple cracks spread across the endless sky.
Bali's expression instantly darkened.
"…He's still alive."
Reality shattered around them.
—
Back in the real world—
Varikon emerged from the destroyed battlefield once more.
Smoke and debris covered his damaged body while unstable gravity energy leaked violently from countless wounds.
But despite everything—
He was smiling.
"Hahahaha…"
The monster slowly stood from the rubble.
"That was magnificent."
Several instructors immediately turned pale.
"He survived THAT?!"
"This thing is immortal!"
Varikon's artificial gravity core flickered dangerously now.
Large sections of his body struggled to regenerate properly.
Yet his killing intent remained overwhelming.
High above the battlefield, Seraphina finally caught Reskin safely before he hit the ground.
His body looked terrible.
Blood covered his arms while glowing cracks spread across his skin from overloaded meridians.
"He's barely breathing…" she whispered.
Even her calm expression trembled slightly now.
Below them, Varikon slowly raised his head.
Its red eyes immediately locked onto Reskin.
"Give him to me."
Purple gravity exploded outward again.
The academy barriers cracked further.
Several nearby buildings collapsed instantly.
Seraphina landed protectively beside Kaizen while holding unconscious Reskin carefully.
"We need medical support immediately."
Kaizen's expression remained grim.
"There's no time."
Because Varikon was already walking toward them again.
Despite his injuries—
Every step still carried horrifying pressure.
The monster looked directly toward Reskin almost obsessively.
"That vessel belongs to Bali."
Its smile widened unnaturally.
"And Bali belongs to me."
Inside Reskin's unconscious mind, Bali's voice became colder than ever before.
"He truly lost his sanity."
Reskin looked toward the purple cracks spreading across their soul space.
"Can't we just finish him now?"
"No."
Bali answered immediately.
"Your body has already reached its limit."
The ancient GOD-HORSIKEN's expression darkened.
"And my remaining sealed power cannot fully manifest yet."
Reality around them trembled again.
Outside—
Varikon prepared another massive gravity attack.
Purple storms formed above the battlefield while surviving instructors gathered desperately around evacuation zones.
Most were already injured.
Exhausted.
Running out of soul energy.
Kaizen clenched his fists tightly.
"At this rate…"
Seraphina slowly stood while resting Reskin carefully beside a ruined barrier.
Then she picked up her silver spear once more.
The atmosphere around her changed completely.
Golden eyes sharpened.
Silver soul energy intensified violently.
Even nearby instructors looked shocked.
"Head Instructor…"
Kaizen stared toward her carefully.
"You can't use THAT here."
Seraphina didn't answer immediately.
Her gaze remained locked on Varikon.
"If he escapes this academy, millions will die."
Varikon laughed after sensing her rising power.
"Oh?"
Purple gravity twisted around him violently.
"Finally showing your true strength, human?"
Seraphina slowly removed one black glove from her right hand.
The moment it came off—
Ancient silver markings appeared across her arm.
The pressure around the battlefield exploded instantly.
Reskin's unconscious body reacted immediately.
Even inside the soul world, Bali narrowed his glowing eyes.
"…Interesting."
Reskin blinked.
"What?"
"That woman…"
For the first time—
Bali sounded genuinely surprised.
"…She carries ancient blood."
Back in reality, silver lightning spread across Seraphina's body while her long white hair floated unnaturally around her.
The academy trembled beneath her aura.
Several students watching from distant shelters looked terrified.
"She was hiding THAT much power?!"
Even Varikon stopped walking briefly.
Then slowly smiled.
"At last."
Its red eyes gleamed excitedly.
"A worthy opponent."
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
Both their auras collided violently.
Purple gravity against silver lightning.
The night sky split apart again.
Meanwhile, unconscious beside the ruined battlefield—
Reskin's body suddenly glowed faintly golden.
Inside his soul space, Bali looked toward him seriously.
"Listen carefully."
Reskin focused immediately.
"You cannot defeat Varikon yet."
"I figured that out already."
"But…"
Bali's glowing eyes narrowed.
"…you may soon gain the opportunity to become far stronger."
The golden soul world shifted suddenly.
Countless ancient symbols appeared floating around them.
Some resembled stars.
Others looked like strange cosmic beasts.
"These are the ancient Gravity Laws once used by divine Horsikens."
Reskin stared around in shock.
"So many…"
"Tonight, your soul awakened partially."
Bali's voice became calm again.
"You touched true gravity control for the first time."
Reskin remembered the moment clearly.
The feeling of controlling balance itself.
Not just force.
Something deeper.
Bali slowly lowered his massive head toward him.
"If you survive what comes next…"
Golden energy intensified around them.
"…I will begin teaching you the forbidden techniques of GOD-HORSIKENS."
Outside—
Seraphina and Varikon finally clashed.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The explosion illuminated the entire continent.