On the day following the meeting, a peculiar girl appeared. She had pink hair reaching down to her lower back, tied into a ponytail, and striking gray eyes. Gazing in admiration at the capital of Versalkin, she remarked, "What a beautiful city—it's home to the oldest academy, the Versalkin Academy, isn't it, Silesia?"
A woman who appeared to be around twenty-five—stunningly beautiful, with long white hair and vivid golden eyes—replied to the fourteen-year-old girl, "Yes, Prevka, it is indeed beautiful."
A look of puzzlement crossed Prevka's face as she studied Silesia. "Why are you so downcast, Silesia?" Silesia let out a frustrated sigh before answering, "I wanted to see what the Creator looked like, but I completely forgot about the meeting. He's probably furious with me right now." Prevka patted Silesia's back, offering comfort: "It's alright, Ruler of Love. If you explain why you couldn't make it, perhaps he'll forgive you."
Just then, a beautiful woman—Asphira, the Ruler of Water—approached them with a steady, purposeful stride. Surprised, Prevka asked, "Who are you?" Asphira turned her gaze toward Prevka and offered a faint, gentle smile. "I am Asphira, the Ruler of Water. I was looking for the Ruler of Love so she could see what the Creator looks like—that way, we can avoid any further trouble with him." Gratitude washed over Silesia's face as she snapped a photo of the creator. "Thank you, Asfira—you're the best! Let's see... he looks quite young; maybe fifteen?" Asfira replied, "Well, I must be going. Goodbye, Silesia—perhaps we'll meet again someday." Silesia waved as Asfira walked away, calling out, "Goodbye! Take care of yourself."
Later, I asked my companions why we had gathered so suddenly—Tom and Armin were absent, occupied with other matters—and inquired, "What is it you want us to do?" A look of confusion crossed Grey's face. We were annoyed, given that he was the one who had brought us all together, but he cut off our barrage of complaints with a rather decent suggestion: "Why don't we enter the competition taking place today? I've heard it's the best place to gain some experience."
Lucy's face lit up with suppressed excitement; this was her chance to finally see magic in action—she had studied it extensively in her youth, but only in theory. "Well, we don't have anything else to do, and we haven't seen anyone use their magical abilities yet," she reasoned. I shot her an annoyed look; she was clearly just concocting a plausible excuse. In reality, she had already reached the level of a "Semi-Ruler of Time"—a rank within the world's standardized power-scaling system that placed her on the level of a... "It doesn't seem like a very wise idea—revealing something like this could be downright foolish—but count me in for your foolish schemes." I was against the idea, as revealing her abilities too early might not be a good thing. Ruichi, however, agreed: "Alright, let's go."
Half an hour later, Beatrice sighed with relief—the journey had been long and tedious—and remarked, "We've arrived at the competition venue."
At the registration desk, Grey spoke to the official recording the participants' names: "We'd like to enter the competition." The official looked us over, counted five people, and realized the number didn't meet the entry requirements. With a hint of nervousness, he said, "Well, there's a problem." Confused, I asked, "What kind of problem?" After all, Beatrice and I could use magic fluently; Lucy came from a family of mages; and Grey and Ruichi belonged to the hero's direct lineage—specifically, the De Moliar family, known for producing "blessed" children and powerful mages (inheriting the very traits the hero had passed down to his descendants). The official finally explained the issue: "Your team is short a member; you need at least one more person." Beatrice looked puzzled and grumbled, "Where are we supposed to find someone else?"
Privka turned to Silesia and asked, "Isn't that the 'Creator'?" Silesia nodded, taking a sip from a drink she had bought just moments earlier. "Yes, it is. But don't refer to him as the 'Creator' in front of the others—got it?" Prevka tapped her own chest—a light, playful gesture that made her look indescribably charming and adorable. "Understood, Silesia." A beautiful smile graced Silesia's face as she gently stroked Prevka's hair, before beginning to fade from sight. I caught this out of the corner of my eye but pretended not to notice. "I must be going," Silesia said. "Goodbye—let's meet again once the competition is over." "Goodbye, take care of yourself."
After Silesia vanished, a girl approached us with a steady gait. "Hello, may I join you?" The others were taken aback, wondering who she might be, yet they couldn't deny her striking beauty—a sight that prompted Lucy to eye her warily, clearly fearing the girl might steal her beloved. "It's fine," I said. "We were missing a member for the team anyway." Every pair of eyes turned toward me, filled with a mix of bewilderment, astonishment, irritation, and indifference. Grey gestured toward the official, Nirhas, to register her name: "Prevka Aslahan." "Our team is now complete."
About ten minutes later, Grey asked me, his tone dripping with mockery, "Why did you agree to let her join our team? Are you actually a *senpai* or something?" I shot him a cold, icy look that sent a shiver down his spine. "No. She's contracted with one of the Rulers—the Ruler of Love." "That just makes her weak!" Ruichi scoffed, throwing his hands up in the air. I stared at him, baffled; how could this guy possibly be a descendant of one of the most powerful figures in this strange world? I then spoke up to clarify things: "This ruler is named Silesia—a living embodiment of the saying, 'Don't judge a book by its cover.'" A look of surprise crossed Gary's face as he listened to my unexpected words. The role of a 'Ruler of Love' is typically to spread love and peace throughout the world and to bring lovers together; in certain civilizations and belief systems, such a figure was even envisioned as the embodiment of an absolute, pure, and untainted love. Her philosophy—or the concept associated with her in various religions and cultures—is as follows:"Love is love—whether between a man and a woman, two men, or two women. Love knows no barriers; every being has the right to love, regardless of whether the object of their affection is of the same gender (♀️ with ♀️ or ♂️ with ♂️) or a different race."
Consequently, the likelihood of her possessing the strength to confront other Rulers was slim to none—which made Ghari's reaction somewhat logical.
"What do you mean?" "Although she is called the 'Ruler of Love,' she chose that title herself; she is a Ruler who manipulates her enemies' emotions to defeat them. Her adversaries would need to be incredibly powerful—and, quite literally, devoid of all emotion—because she gains strength equal to that of her opponent with every passing second. This is especially true regarding feelings of love, through which she can amass five times the total power of her opponent. You must be wary of those who have formed a pact with her, as she specifically selects individuals who share her own temperament."
Rulers are entities embodying concepts, laws, and other such phenomena. Rulers of concepts—such as those governing Time, Space, Life, Annihilation, and the Void—possess abilities rooted in the manipulation of these fundamental concepts. Rulers of laws, meanwhile, govern specific sets of rules—be they physical, chemical, logical, gravitational, biological, or quantum-mechanical. There are also Rulers who govern neither concepts nor laws, but rather focus on material or immaterial aspects: material aspects include physical implements (such as the Rulers of the Sword, Shield, Bow, or Spear), while immaterial aspects pertain to the psychological and mental realms (such as the Rulers of Love and Knowledge). Ruichi's face betrayed his astonishment as he cast a sidelong glance at Prefka: "Her strength is truly terrifying."
Meanwhile, in the waiting room, I sat in a comfortable chair, gathering my thoughts regarding this competition—a contest between warriors who primarily wielded *Konwa*. The fundamental concept of *Konwa* is divided into three core domains: Mind, Body, and Spirit. While these domains are distinct, they also complement one another; yet, each possesses its own unique power system:
Mental Power (Mind Core—Mana or Aether): The "Mind Core" is an intangible entity residing within the mind, vastly enhancing one's capacity for comprehension. Mana is drawn from the heart, while the mind serves as a repository for information; mana itself is stored within the heart and the neural pathways. Mental power grants the ability to decipher complex magical incantations, intricate formulas for crafting potions and energy pills, and the creation of magical artifacts. Those who specialize in this domain often serve as mages, healers, or researchers—investigating magic and forgotten civilizations—as their exceptional mental faculties allow them to decode even the most complex enigmas. Only 1.3% of the global population follows this path. As for "Aether"—in certain traditions—it is considered the primal essence from which all things can be manifested or created from nothingness; the greater one's Aether reserves, the more potent their creative capacity. Users of Aether are typically scholars or combat masters who have attained the highest echelons of power (such as the "Sacred/Demonic Sovereign" level). This path, too, is followed by at most 1.3% of the population. Physical Power (Qi and Aura): This refers to physical energy enhanced by internal, primal, or natural energy—specifically, the absorption of natural energy solely to strengthen the physical body (the spirit does not evolve, and intelligence does not increase). Qi is generally used to fortify the body, while Aura is used to strengthen weapons. There are three "cores" or "gates"—located in the center of the chest, below the ribcage, and at the navel. While these are not strictly essential—as Qi and Aura can be utilized without opening them—doing so significantly boosts physical strength. This path is followed by 3.2% of the world's population.
Spiritual Energy (Qi/Chi or "Refining"): This involves increasing one's spiritual power, which in turn enhances physical strength. Those who choose this path are known as "Refiners" or "Alchemists." Much like Mana users, they study blueprints, techniques, magical incantations, and complex formulas to create potions, energy pills, and magical artifacts. However, unlike users of Mana, Qi, or Aura, those on the path of Refining rely heavily on potions and power-enhancing pills to evolve and heal the spirit, refine their strength, and detach from worldly concerns in favor of the spiritual realm—often establishing their own sects and communities. This path is followed by 0.5% of the world's population.
Konwa: A unique path in which an individual integrates mental, spiritual, and physical energies—namely Mana, Qi/Aura, and Chi—to harness the distinct benefits of each. Many—95%, in fact—choose this path, as developing a core center of power—the "mind's nucleus"—simultaneously fosters both physical strength (vitality and aura) and spiritual energy (chi).
However, in this competition, mana is the primary energy source used—for reasons the organizers have yet to disclose. Mana users typically wield light or shadow-based elements, though some utilize aether instead.
I glanced at the clock on the wall and realized there were four rounds left before our match. Letting out a deep sigh, I turned to the others and said, in a tone thick with boredom, "Guys, I'm going for a stroll."
I walked toward the door with steady, measured steps: *step... step... step... step...*
I reached for the brass handle and opened the door. A sign, glowing with a faint, reddish light, read: "Waiting Room." Below it, in smaller print, was a notice: *Restricted to participants, event staff, and guests brought by a participant.* As the door scraped lightly against the floor, I stepped through, leaving Grey, Ruichi, Beatrice, Lucy, and Privka behind to strategize for their upcoming bouts.
As I headed toward the waiting room, I caught Lucy's gaze—her eyes filled with a complex, swirling mix of emotions: sadness, love, happiness, and gratitude. She let out a deep sigh before speaking in a calm tone: "Life is a strange thing; it can lead someone you despise to save you, and someone you love to kill you... *sigh*."
Elsewhere, perched atop one of the pillars of the building where the competition was currently being held, I cast my gaze toward the sky—a clear, vibrant blue, dotted with cotton-like white clouds. I let out a long sigh.
With my violet eyes closed and my arms spread wide in the air, I spoke in a calm tone, gazing up at the clear sky—my violet eyes acting like mirrors reflecting the heavens above:
"How strange humans and their relationships are! Human connections are like a thin sewing thread divided into three strands—strands one must possess to maintain a 'proper' relationship with others. These strands—encompassing love, family, work, friendships, and so on—rely on having money, health, and knowledge. To build these cheap, self-serving relationships, one needs at least two of these three—even if one (like health) is missing. Among humans, relationships are based solely on utility, and betrayal is always a likely outcome. Humans gravitate toward those who offer some benefit, or those who are powerful or wealthy. Even the lowest scum, if they possess these three attributes, can appear as an angel—while an angel, lacking them, is cast aside as scum! Self-interest and gain are cloaked in the guise of 'relationships'; scoundrels don the robes of loved ones, perfume themselves with the scent of 'sincere advice,' and hide behind masks of smiles and laughter—laughter as hollow and predatory as that of a starving hyena."
I cast my gaze toward the distance, where a young man stood atop a pillar, watching me with a faint smile. A subtle smile touched my own lips as I looked back at him: "How are you, my friend—ruler of light and darkness, Ryokuwa Navi... or should I say, slave...?"
Ryokuwa's form began to fade, bit by bit, only to reappear at the base of the very pillar upon which I stood. I headed downstairs, and the moment I arrived, my gaze met Ryoku's dark, inscrutable eyes—eyes devoid of any emotion. A faint smile spread across his face as he reached out to shake my hand. "I'm doing well. And you—how have you been, my old friend? 'Creator Yuto,' or should I say... 'Bo'?"
I looked back at him with a sardonic smile, resting my hand against my forehead, and replied in a tone dripping with mockery: "You sly fox, Rikudo!"