A day had passed inside Jigua Island—equivalent to a quarter of a day in the outside world.
The metallic scent of blood hung heavy across Jigua Island, save for the central area housing the "Origin Tree," which was surrounded by a dense, forest-like thicket of roots.
During this time, more than 35 students had been eliminated from the midterm exam, having succumbed to the contamination inflicted by relentless monster attacks.
Meanwhile, Edward pressed steadily toward the center of Jigua Island, battling every monster that crossed his path without pause.
He had spent an entire day fighting, successfully clearing over 30 waves of monsters—ranging from S to XX+ rank—along with three XXX-rank dungeons.
Throughout this, he unleashed his full range of abilities, holding nothing back. This was not out of weakness or foolishness; rather, it was a calculated move—he possessed a system that granted him an abundance of rewards, ensuring that his true "trump cards" remained hidden.
This would leave his enemies questioning whether the abilities he displayed were his only assets, or if he still held more cards up his sleeve.
Furthermore, it would mitigate the threat posed by adversaries who might mistakenly believe he had already revealed his full hand—allowing him to consistently stay one step ahead.
Finally, it would earn him widespread renown across all five continents; everyone would witness a sixteen-year-old boy single-handedly slaughtering such a vast number of monsters, with seemingly no effort at all. No one would dare to consider fighting him; in fact, anyone attempting to assassinate him would merely become a source of profit, boosting his achievement and contribution points.
Wiping blood from his face, Edward spoke in a weary tone:
"Jigua Island is incredibly dangerous. If I didn't possess the 'Celestial Perfect Body'—which allows me to utilize Mana, Ki, Chi, and Gu as a foundational system, rather than being restricted to a single or dual-natured one—I wouldn't have been able to survive here."
He continued, musing to himself:
"Then again, without this system, I couldn't have even dreamed of possessing any of these powers. Fate certainly knows how to play an interesting game with me, though I suspect there's something going on here that I'm not yet aware of. After all, nothing in this world is truly free."
Edward pondered this as he cut down a wave of monsters obstructing his path toward the center of the island—the place where he would find what he was searching for.
Taking a deep breath, Edward cast a calm gaze around him.
Despite the overwhelming number of monsters—estimated at around 400, spanning various terrifying species, races, and power levels—Edward remained entirely composed as he faced them.
He was confident in his victory, even though the island was home to high-ranking beasts, including a significant number of "Ruler-class" and "Overlord-class" monsters.
Yet, no matter how dire or unfavorable the situation appeared, he remained firmly in control. "Reputation... reputation..."
Edward repeated the word several times in a calm tone, then let out an involuntary exhale—as if he had meant to laugh but held back, leaving only a breath that served as the sole trace of an intense urge to mock the world.
"Reputation is a thin line separating one's standing from the grave. It is a fine thing to have, but to make it a guiding principle for your life—or your death—to the point where you would rather die than see your reputation dragged through the mud? That is nothing but foolishness."
"Reputation is a tool for advancement, not a lifestyle one must desperately protect from being sullied. I live to become stronger, not to collect friends or loved ones. A good reputation might carry you a mile or two, but a bad one can travel thousands of miles."
Edward continued on his way, as if nothing had happened.
He understood only one truth, a lesson learned over his thirteen years of life as a 'Nibel':
If you are strong, you may do as you please, and no one will hold you to account; in the end, the world does not stand up for the weak.
"The law applies to everyone"—what a droll joke!
The law applies to the weak, but no judge can put a head of state—or anyone wielding immense, terrifying power and influence—on trial.
In the real world, a superpower can punish any weaker nation whenever it chooses—whether for personal motives or in retaliation for some action the weaker state took that the superpower found displeasing.
The world is the domain of the strong. If you are the strongest, you may do as you wish, and no one will ever call you to account. If you are weak, do as you are told, and keep your mouth shut.
The stronger one becomes, the less the law applies to them. Such is the law of nature.
As Edward wandered across Gigua Island, he observed a group of students—students who had been cast aside—driven by a desperate craving for fame and glory, all the while knowing that the entire world was watching them.
Fame and glory had become chains, binding their bodies and leading them toward death and failure.
"Naive fools."
Edward's tone—dripping with contempt and utter indifference toward whether they lived or died—summed up everything he had witnessed over the past two days.
What possible benefit could he gain from helping anyone? It would only slow his progress toward the goal he sought to achieve.
Edward continued to slay every beast he encountered, showing no intention of stopping.
Gigua Island was exceptionally dangerous; its terrain shifted constantly, and there were zones entirely devoid of certain types of energy. Furthermore, the island was plagued by relentless waves of monsters, unleashed by the eruption of nearly 200 dungeons every two months.
In this sense, Gigua Island was a paradise within a hell—it possessed a life energy capable of healing physical, spiritual, and mental wounds, making it an ideal environment for gaining experience and honing one's skills.
Yet, it remained one of the most perilous places on Earth—ranking alongside the Devil's Triangle, the Amazon Rainforest, the North and South Poles, and the Unknown Forest.
"I am nearly at the Origin Tree Gu." There was a faint note of relief in Edward's tone; the terrain had ceased its shifting once he reached the center of Jeju Island.
As he made his way toward the Origin Tree Gu, a strange sensation suddenly washed over him—the distinct feeling that he was being watched, and that the observer harbored ill intent.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword in anticipation of a sudden attack.
Clap... clap... clap...
A sharp, resonant sound of clapping echoed from atop one of the roots of the Origin Tree Gu.
Edward looked up toward the source of the sound, his gaze filled with caution.There, he caught sight of a young man with black hair—streaked here and there with white—and dark, violet-colored eyes, dressed in practical black attire.
An expression of surprise crossed Edward's face as he gazed at the youth, who was perched atop one of the roots of the Primeval Tree.
It was Yuta.
"Yuta Caseral—the top-ranked student in both the entrance and written examinations. What an honor to meet a rising star such as yourself!"
"Yuta Caseral, the 'Star of the Cold Heavens.' A pleasure to meet you. I am Edward Brezik, from the County of Brezik in the eastern reaches of the Human Empire."
Edward's tone was filled with respect and reverence toward Yuta, who remained seated on the tree root, watching him in silence.
Yuta rose to his feet and looked down at Edward with a faint, enigmatic smile.
"What brings you to the Primeval Tree, Master Edward? Is there something here you're hoping to obtain, perhaps?"
Edward felt a jolt of shock and trepidation, yet he betrayed nothing; he remained perfectly composed, as if Yuta's suggestion were entirely baseless.
Yuta let out a boisterous laugh, then addressed Edward once more:
"Hahahaha! This is truly amusing, Master Edward—you are quite the interesting fellow! But, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you something."
Yuta's voice rose slightly as he fixed his gaze upon Edward—who felt a flicker of irritation, though he took care not to show it. Inside, however, things were quite different; he was deeply annoyed with Yuta, who stood in the way of his goal: obtaining a Spirit Ring.
"What does this fool want from me? Even if he did manage to defeat Gia Guilford at the peak of her power—the Holy Ruler rank—I am a different breed altogether. Once I invoke my blessing, I will surpass the strongest individual at Verselkin Academy—and indeed, rank among the most powerful figures across the entire Five Continents!"
Edward cleared his mind and replied to Yuta's question in a calm tone:
"Very well, Master Yuta Caseral. Feel free to ask whatever you wish."
A cold smile touched Yuta's lips at Edward's response, and in an instant, he vanished from where he stood.
Shock washed over Edward's face; he hadn't even perceived Yuta's movement. He darted his gaze around, desperately trying to track where Yuta had gone.
He then assumed a combat stance, leveling his sword and unleashing his aura without the slightest restraint, muttering:
"Where did that wretch disappear to? Yuta is such a nuisance... I'm absolutely fed up! There are only two days left until the catastrophe strikes—I must secure a Spirit Ring, no matter the cost!"
As Edward scanned his surroundings, his expression etched with extreme caution, Yuta suddenly reappeared right before him.
Edward's face shifted into a look of utter bewilderment as he stared at Yuta, who had emerged from thin air.
"How does it feel to be nothing more than a stepping stone—a mere rung on the ladder toward achieving my goals?" Shock and disbelief were etched across Edward's face; he hadn't sensed Yuta's presence or his approach in the slightest.
Only one thought crossed his mind: to attack Yuta.
But Yuta gave him no chance to do anything, pinning him in place like a broken doll.
Then, placing a finger against Edward's forehead, Yuta unleashed a brilliant flash of light from that point, followed by a small explosion that shattered Edward's skull into fragments.
Skull shards, blood, brain matter, eyes, and a tongue were sent flying through the air with tremendous force, scattering several meters away.
As the remains hit the ground, blood gushed from Edward's head like a fountain, completely drenching Yuta's clothes and face.
Though he had committed the killing before the eyes of the entire world, Yuta remained entirely unconcerned. His expression stayed cold and indifferent toward the corpse beside him; then, with immense strength, he hurled the body toward a massive boulder.
*BOOM... BOOM!*
An explosion rocked the area the moment the body—which was the size of an average house—collided with the boulder, filling the surroundings with thick dust.
The faces of the inhabitants across the five continents who witnessed Edward's death turned ashen.
Some, unable to stomach the sight, fainted or began to retch, while others were left so profoundly shocked that they became completely unresponsive to their surroundings.
Yet, there were others who remained unmoved, continuing to watch as if nothing had happened at all.
"He killed him with such brutality!" "That student at the Versalkin Academy, Yuta Caseral, truly earns his title as the 'Star of the Cold Sky.' He is utterly merciless!"
Elsewhere, on the Southern Continent—specifically within the Ti Clan—the renowned investigator Tai Hoon and his daughter, Tai Chung-ah, were observing the midterm examination.
Tai Chung-ah's face was contorted with rage as she stared at what remained of Edward's body. It had been reduced to a mangled, pulverized mass; barely 2% of his original physical form remained.
"He follows the Demonic Path! Yuta Caseral is an enemy! He slaughtered a fellow student as if he were merely crushing an insect. He must be punished—don't you agree, Father?"
Tai Hoon looked at his daughter, whose face had flushed deep red with indignation. She walked the Path of Righteousness and abhorred such acts, regardless of the circumstances.
Seeing his only daughter's reaction and hearing her words filled Tai Hoon with pride. It reminded him of his own youth—a time when he, too, had striven to bring peace to the Five Continents and establish order and justice across the world.
After a few moments of silence, Tai Hoon spoke with the wisdom and composure he had cultivated over his 845 years of life:
"You are right." "Yuta Caseral possesses a demonic nature, rooted in the very depths of his being..."
Tae-hoon took a sip of his hot tea and let out a long, deep sigh—a gesture that quickly exhausted Tae-chung-ah's patience, as she realized her father was deliberately stalling his answer.
"Do you remember when we were conducting an investigation in the city of Kasemburg, following the discovery of a secret floor belonging to the Scorpion Organization?"
Tae-chung-ah's expression shifted to one of confusion and bewilderment; she didn't quite grasp what her father was alluding to. Nevertheless, she chose to answer his question—after all, they had spent a considerable amount of time—a full month—working to resolve that particular case."Yes, I remember that case. It was one of the most complex cases I've encountered since I began traveling with you."
Tae-hoon took another sip of his tea, then let out a sigh of frustration.
"In truth, it was one of those cases I couldn't fully resolve. Although we discovered a link to the 'Scorpion' organization, we never found a single piece of evidence to reveal exactly what transpired there."
Tae Chung-ah's expression shifted to one of shock upon hearing her father's words. Tae-hoon was considered the world's greatest investigator—even dubbed the 'Messenger of the Arbiter of Truth'—and had dedicated his life to pursuing justice across the globe.
Yet, even he had been unable to solve countless complex cases.
She remained silent, however, and continued to listen to her father.
"At the time, I conducted several inquiries into the individuals who fought that day—Yuta Casiral among them. Upon further investigation, I discovered that this individual possesses a truly terrifying talent."
Tae Chung-ah tilted her head slightly toward her left shoulder and asked:
"What happened? I recall that you wouldn't let me participate in those investigations."
"Yes, I remember. As for what occurred: Yuta Casiral fought against both Jian Yi—heir to the Mount Hua Sect—and Gother MacTire—heir to the Duchy of MacTire—and emerged victorious." "Prior to that, he had fended off an assault by three Guardians of Heaven's Will—deities of seals, chains, and bindings—without the slightest exertion."
Tai Chung-ah's features darkened completely as she stared at the screen displaying Yuta's location. Then, in a tone laced with utter disbelief, she remarked:
"He has transcended the very concept of a 'monster'! It is a talent that defies any possible description!"