I stood at the doorway.
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And they were already there.
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Waiting.
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Elders.
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Not one.
Not a few.
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All of them.
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At the center—
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Him.
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Grand Elder Vaelor.
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The Patriarch.
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My grandfather.
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His expression was different.
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No smile.
No warmth.
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Only a calm…
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Measured seriousness.
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Beside him—
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Caelion stood slightly behind the line of elders.
Silent.
Observing.
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Behind them—
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A crowd had formed.
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Trainees.
Staff.
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And others.
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Strangers.
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Watching too carefully.
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Spies.
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I dismissed them instantly.
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Irrelevant.
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My gaze returned forward.
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Elders stood in formation.
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Elder Kael.
Elder Varn.
Elder Ruun.
Elder Zeth.
Elder Myr.
Elder Thane.
Elder Orin.
Elder Drax.
Elder Lior.
Elder Fen.
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And more.
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Nineteen in total.
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All of them—
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Looking at me.
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The pressure should have been crushing.
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Overwhelming.
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Suffocating.
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But—
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I felt nothing.
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No fear.
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No hesitation.
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Only—
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Calm.
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And something else.
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Something dangerous.
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…Indifference.
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My eyes met theirs.
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Unwavering.
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For a brief moment—
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Some of them shifted.
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Just slightly.
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As if—
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They felt it too.
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…What is this?
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A flicker of clarity broke through my thoughts.
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Why am I not nervous?
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Any one of them could erase me instantly…
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My brows tightened slightly.
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System… what did you do?
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No response.
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The silence stretched.
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Murmurs rippled through the crowd behind them.
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A gathering like this—
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Was unheard of.
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Even seeing the Patriarch alone was rare.
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And yet—
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Here he stood.
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With all of them.
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For me.
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…This is bad.
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Finally—
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The system responded.
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> …This is due to your bloodline 😅
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My expression didn't change.
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But my thoughts sharpened.
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Explain.
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A pause.
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> The stronger a being becomes…
The more their nature reveals itself.
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I frowned slightly.
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Get to the point.
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> Confidence grows.
Doubt fades.
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I cut it off immediately.
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This isn't confidence.
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> …Arrogance follows.
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My eyes narrowed.
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I am not arrogant.
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The system continued anyway.
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> It is not arrogance.
It is instinct.
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Silence.
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> A superior bloodline naturally rejects inferiority.
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That—
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Made me pause.
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…Inferiority?
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> Those weaker than you…
Will feel lesser.
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My gaze flickered briefly toward the elders.
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Anyone here could kill me in an instant.
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> …Then you do not yet understand your own strength.
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That answer—
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Didn't sit right.
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But before I could press further—
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A voice cut through the silence.
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"What is your name?"
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I looked forward.
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An unfamiliar elder had stepped slightly ahead.
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His presence—
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Heavy.
Ancient.
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"…Velzahar."
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My voice was steady.
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Unshaken.
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Not a hint of fear.
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A few elders reacted.
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Subtly.
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Interest.
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Surprise.
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One of them chuckled softly.
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"…Bold."
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That smile—
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Irritated me.
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I'm not some child performing for you.
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I exhaled slowly.
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Then—
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I moved.
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My arms unfolded.
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My posture straightened.
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My eyes dimmed—
Returning to black.
---
I bowed slightly.
---
Controlled.
Measured.
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"Greetings, Elders."
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A pause.
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"May I ask… the reason for this gathering?"
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The words were respectful.
---
But not submissive.
---
Those who understood—
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Could see it clearly.
---
Respect—
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Without surrender.
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The crowd behind them whispered louder.
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Confused.
Curious.
---
Then—
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The same elder stepped forward again.
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A faint smile on his lips.
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And suddenly—
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A blue screen appeared in my vision.
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> [Unknown Elder Information]
Name: Solryn
Rank: High Beast Sovereign
Age: 3,412 Major Cycles
Divine Realm: 9th Stage — Universal Sovereign
Path: Soul — Realm Unifier
Laws: Space (Mid-Tier), Inferno, Lightning (Mid-Tier)
Title: The Ancient Sovereign
Bloodline Purity: 10%
---
My pupils shrank.
---
…What?
---
A being capable of threatening—
---
The universe itself?
---
And yet—
---
He stood here calmly.
---
Looking at me.
---
Amused.
---
"…Interesting."
---
Solryn's voice was soft.
---
But it carried weight beyond measure.
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"You don't bend."
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A pause.
---
His eyes sharpened slightly.
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"…Even when you should."
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The air grew heavier.
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Then—
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Another voice spoke.
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"…Enough."
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All attention shifted.
---
The Patriarch stepped forward.
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Grand Elder Vaelor.
---
His presence alone—
---
Silenced everything.
---
Even the wind seemed to stop.
---
His gaze locked onto mine.
---
Deep.
---
Unfathomable.
---
"…Velzahar."
---
He said my name slowly.
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As if testing its weight.
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"…Do you understand… what you have done?"
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Silence.
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Heavy.
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Final.