Chapter 14 — The Secret Beneath Imperial Soul Academy
Varikon's scream shook the heavens.
CRAAAAASH!!
Silver lightning exploded across the battlefield as Seraphina's spear pierced directly through the monster's chest, sending shockwaves through the surrounding mountains.
Purple blood sprayed into the air.
The giant gravity vortex above the academy trembled violently.
For the first time since escaping—
Varikon looked truly injured.
Students watching from distant shelters erupted with hope.
"She hit him!"
"That monster can bleed!"
"Head Instructor Seraphina is winning!"
But the strongest instructors remained silent.
Because they could feel it clearly.
Despite the wound…
Varikon's energy was still rising.
High above the battlefield, silver lightning crackled around Seraphina while her spear remained buried deep inside Varikon's chest.
The monster slowly looked down toward the wound.
Then—
He smiled.
A terrifying smile.
"Hahahaha…"
Purple gravity pulsed violently around his body.
"Magnificent."
Seraphina instantly sensed danger.
She attempted to pull back—
But Varikon suddenly grabbed the spear with one clawed hand.
BOOOOOM!!
Dark gravity exploded outward.
Seraphina's eyes widened slightly.
"He caught it?"
Varikon slowly lifted his head.
Purple energy leaked from his wounds like flames.
"You truly possess ancient blood…"
His monstrous red eyes glowed brighter.
"…which means consuming you will accelerate my evolution even further."
CRACK!!
The silver spear suddenly fractured under Varikon's grip.
Several instructors below gasped loudly.
"That spear is an S-Class soul weapon!"
"How is he breaking it barehanded?!"
Seraphina released the damaged spear instantly and jumped backward as gravity claws slashed through the air where she stood moments earlier.
CRAAAAASH!!
The nearby mountain range split apart.
Purple storms expanded wildly around Varikon's body while the wound in his chest regenerated rapidly.
Not slowly.
Not naturally.
Instantly.
The monster's corrupted gravity core pulsed violently beneath his armor-like skin.
Inside the academy shelters, fear spread once more.
"He healed again…"
"Can anything kill that thing?"
Meanwhile, deep beneath the academy—
Inside hidden underground chambers older than the academy itself—
Several shadow-covered figures observed the battle silently through ancient crystal screens.
One figure slowly spoke.
"Varikon's corruption exceeded our predictions."
Another voice answered calmly.
"But the vessel remains stable."
The crystal projection zoomed toward unconscious Reskin lying within the healing sector.
Golden aura still surrounded his body faintly.
"The GOD-HORSIKEN compatibility is genuine."
Silence filled the dark chamber.
Then—
A third figure leaned forward slightly.
"Should we retrieve him now?"
"No."
The first figure answered immediately.
"Not yet."
Their glowing eyes shifted back toward the battlefield.
"Varikon still serves a purpose."
—
Inside Reskin's soul world—
Golden gravity symbols floated endlessly through the cosmic darkness.
But now—
The entire soul space trembled violently.
Purple cracks spread across the skies while distant explosions echoed unnaturally through the spiritual realm.
Reskin looked upward nervously.
"The outside battle is affecting this place?"
Bali's gigantic form remained calm, though his glowing eyes looked colder than before.
"Our souls are linked."
Golden gravity currents moved around the ancient GOD-HORSIKEN slowly.
"The closer Varikon approaches full corruption…"
The cracks above widened further.
"…the more unstable reality becomes around us."
Reskin frowned.
"What exactly happened to him?"
Bali remained silent briefly.
Then slowly answered—
"Varikon was once the greatest gravity warrior among my people."
The cosmic world around them shifted.
Suddenly, visions appeared within the stars surrounding them.
Ancient cities floating through space.
Gigantic celestial beasts flying between galaxies.
An entire civilization beyond imagination.
Reskin stared in shock.
"This was your world…"
"Yes."
Bali's voice carried distant sadness.
"The Planet of Horsiken before destruction."
The vision changed again.
Massive armies of ancient Horsikens stood proudly beneath cosmic skies while gravity itself bent around them naturally.
Among them—
One warrior stood above the others.
A gigantic black-armored beast surrounded by purple gravity storms.
Varikon.
"He was loyal," Bali continued quietly.
"Strong."
The vision showed Varikon fighting beside Bali against monstrous cosmic enemies.
"He protected our civilization for millions of years."
Reskin looked confused.
"Then why did he become like this?"
The vision darkened.
Ancient laboratories appeared.
Purple energy.
Screams.
Corrupted gravity experiments.
Bali's voice became colder.
"Our race feared extinction."
The stars around them trembled softly.
"So some sought forbidden evolution."
Reskin watched as Varikon entered a massive chamber filled with unstable purple energy.
"They believed Energy Souls could artificially enhance our species beyond natural limits."
The vision exploded violently.
Purple corruption spread through countless ancient Horsikens.
Cities burned.
Gravity storms devoured planets.
And above everything—
Varikon stood laughing as entire worlds collapsed.
"He lost his mind," Reskin whispered.
"No."
Bali's glowing eyes narrowed.
"He abandoned morality willingly."
Silence filled the soul world.
"Varikon believed only absolute strength deserved existence."
The visions slowly faded away.
"He chose evolution over life itself."
Reskin quietly clenched his fists.
That same mindset still existed in the current world too.
Strong ruled.
Weak obeyed.
People worshipped power above everything.
Maybe Varikon was simply the most extreme example.
Bali suddenly looked directly toward Reskin.
"That is why your path matters."
Golden gravity symbols circled around them slowly.
"You possess divine gravity authority."
The atmosphere became heavier.
"If your heart changes…"
Even the stars around them dimmed slightly.
"…you could become more dangerous than Varikon."
Reskin froze.
Because deep down—
He understood Bali wasn't exaggerating.
The power he touched earlier…
Could destroy entire cities accidentally.
And that was only a fraction of Bali's sealed strength.
Before Reskin could answer—
Reality trembled violently again.
BOOOOOOOM!!
Purple cracks spread across the soul world faster now.
Bali immediately turned upward.
"He's becoming unstable."
—
Back in reality—
The battlefield had transformed completely.
Half the surrounding mountains no longer existed.
Purple gravity storms covered the skies while silver lightning illuminated the darkness repeatedly.
At the center of the destruction—
Seraphina and Varikon clashed faster than human eyes could follow.
BOOOOM!!
CLANG!!
CRASH!!
Each collision distorted gravity itself.
Nearby instructors could barely approach the battlefield anymore.
Even Kaizen looked grim.
"She's reaching her limit."
Seraphina's breathing had become heavier now.
Blood dripped slowly from multiple wounds across her body.
Meanwhile, Varikon looked increasingly unstable.
Purple cracks spread across his form while his artificial gravity core pulsed violently beneath his chest.
The corrupted evolution was damaging him too.
But instead of weakening—
His power continued increasing.
Varikon slammed another gravity wave toward Seraphina.
BOOOOOOM!!
Silver lightning exploded defensively around her as she barely blocked the attack.
The ground beneath the academy shattered further.
Several evacuation barriers collapsed instantly.
Students screamed again.
"Enough games," Varikon growled.
Purple storms spiraled around him violently.
"I have wasted enough time on insects."
Then suddenly—
The monster raised both arms toward the heavens.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Every soul fighter present froze.
Because the gravity pressure became unbearable.
Even air itself seemed compressed.
Kaizen's face paled.
"No…"
Far above the academy—
The clouds began collapsing inward.
Not metaphorically.
Literally.
The sky twisted into a giant black spiral as gravity dragged everything toward a single point.
A miniature black hole slowly formed above the battlefield.
Students stared upward in horror.
"What IS that?!"
Several instructors immediately shouted desperately.
"Everyone reinforce the barriers!"
"If that fully manifests, the academy city will disappear!"
Varikon laughed loudly while floating beneath the growing singularity.
"This…"
Purple gravity lightning erupted around him.
"…is true evolution!"
Even Seraphina's expression changed completely now.
Because she understood.
If the black hole stabilized—
Nothing nearby would survive.
Not the academy.
Not the surrounding cities.
Nothing.
She slowly tightened her grip around the broken silver spear.
Then quietly whispered—
"…I may need to use THAT technique."
Kaizen instantly looked toward her.
"You can't."
"If I don't…"
Silver lightning intensified around her body again.
"…everyone dies."
Before Kaizen could respond—
A weak voice suddenly echoed behind them.
"…Then let me help."
Everyone turned instantly.
Reskin slowly stood from the healing sector.
Blood still covered his body.
Golden cracks remained visible across his arms.
Yet despite his condition—
Golden gravity aura surrounded him once more.
Seraphina's eyes widened slightly.
"You should be unconscious."
"I was."
Reskin looked toward the growing black hole above the academy.
"But that thing won't wait for me to recover."
Inside his mind, Bali's voice remained calm.
"You are in terrible condition."
"I know."
"Your meridians may collapse permanently if you continue."
Reskin slowly clenched his fists.
"Still doing it."
Silence.
Then unexpectedly—
Bali laughed softly.
"…Foolish human."
But there was approval hidden within the words.
Varikon noticed Reskin immediately.
Its monstrous smile widened again.
"There you are."
Purple gravity pulsed violently around the battlefield.
"The divine vessel returns."
Reskin stared upward toward the monster.
Then toward the growing singularity swallowing the sky.
Fear existed inside him.
Of course it did.
Anyone facing this monster would feel fear.
But beneath that fear—
Something else burned stronger now.
Determination.
This academy…
These people…
Even Dugu…
For the first time in his life—
Reskin actually had something worth protecting.
Golden gravity slowly spiraled around his body.
Then Bali spoke quietly inside his mind.
"Very well."
Ancient gravity symbols appeared around Reskin once more.
"If you insist on fighting…"
The atmosphere around his soul shifted.
"…then I shall teach you the first forbidden law of GOD-HORSIKENS."
Reskin's eyes widened slightly.
"The first forbidden law?"
Bali's glowing eyes narrowed.
"Gravity does not only pull."
The golden symbols intensified.
"It can also…"
The entire soul space trembled violently.
"…devour."
Far above the academy—
The black hole continued growing larger.