A translucent screen appeared before me.
The familiar blue light illuminated the dark summit.
It had been a long time since I last looked at it.
Not because I had forgotten.
But because during these seven years...
Numbers had become meaningless.
Only progress mattered.
Still...
Seeing the changes with my own eyes brought a sense of accomplishment.
---
«[Master Information]»
Name: Velzahar
Race: Blue-Eyed White Tiger
Pure Beast Blood: 100%
Accessible Power: 1%
Divine Realm: D-6 — Eternal God (Immortal)
Path: Soul — The Nameless Path
Threat Classification: THE NAMELESS SOVEREIGN
Cultivation Technique: Primordial Azure Beast Scripture
Realm: Law Comprehension Realm
Stage: Great Perfection — Completion Stage
Balance: 1,000,000 Points
---
My eyes lingered on a single line.
«Threat Classification: THE NAMELESS SOVEREIGN»
A smile slowly appeared.
"So..."
"The System finally acknowledges it."
Whether that classification referred to my current strength...
Or the future I represented...
I didn't know.
Nor did I care.
The System had never lied.
If it placed me in that category...
Then somewhere...
That was the path I was destined to walk.
My attention shifted downward.
Accessible Power: 1%.
Only one percent...
Yet compared to seven years ago...
The difference was like comparing a candle to the sun.
I finally understood what that percentage represented.
It wasn't Beast Blood purity.
Nor my cultivation.
It represented...
How much of my true potential my current body could withstand.
If I forcibly released more...
My body would probably collapse before my enemy did.
I quietly closed the screen.
There was no point obsessing over numbers.
Strength wasn't measured by statistics.
It was measured on the battlefield.
A faint breeze swept across the cliff.
The black mist parted gently around me.
Closing my eyes...
I silently sensed the entire Shadow Realm.
Countless presences filled my perception.
The endless Shadow Legion.
The Seven.
Nyxaroth.
My father.
Even the smallest fluctuations in Shadow Energy no longer escaped my senses.
Seven years...
Had changed everything.
Including Father.
I smiled faintly.
At some point during our training...
I had unknowingly surpassed him.
Not merely in cultivation.
But in overall combat ability.
If the Father from seven years ago fought the current me...
Victory...
Would belong to me.
The thought didn't make me proud.
Nor arrogant.
Only grateful.
Without his guidance...
Without his willingness to risk everything for me...
I would never have reached this point.
There was no shame in surpassing your teacher.
The greatest honor a disciple could give...
Was to continue walking farther than those before him.
A familiar voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts.
"So..."
"You've finally finished admiring yourself?"
I turned.
The leader of the Seven slowly walked toward me.
The other six followed quietly behind him.
Just like always.
No sound.
No unnecessary movements.
Only calm, measured steps.
I smiled helplessly.
"I was reflecting."
"Mm."
The leader nodded.
"A warrior who never reflects..."
"...never grows."
His gaze lingered on me for a moment.
Then...
A rare smile appeared.
"You've changed."
"I hope that's a compliment."
"It is."
He replied without hesitation.
"When you first arrived..."
"You relied on instinct."
"Now..."
"You understand."
He raised one finger.
"Remember this."
"Instinct wins battles."
"Understanding wins wars."
Those simple words carried seven years of teaching.
I silently engraved them into my heart.
The leader looked toward the endless darkness beyond the mountains.
"The time has come."
I nodded.
"I know."
"The Realm can no longer teach you anything."
He continued calmly.
"What remains..."
"...can only be learned through life and death."
"The battlefield."
"The unknown."
"Neraphyx."
Hearing that name again...
My eyes narrowed slightly.
The Realm I had been preparing for.
The land where the artificial Pure Ones had been banished.
A world overflowing with danger.
A world where countless monsters stronger than myself existed.
A world...
Waiting for me.
The leader suddenly laughed.
It was soft.
Yet filled with expectation.
"I almost pity them."
I blinked.
"Them?"
"The ones waiting beyond the Breach."
His purple eyes shone with amusement.
"They believe a young genius is about to enter Neraphyx."
He slowly shook his head.
"They have no idea..."
"...what is actually coming."
Before I could answer—
BOOOOOOM!!
A terrifying wave of Shadow Authority erupted from the center of the Realm.
The heavens trembled.
Mountains shook.
Every Shadow Warrior instantly stopped what they were doing.
Their heads turned toward one direction.
The Palace.
Nyxaroth.
The leader's expression immediately became serious.
"The Patriarch..."
"...has finished."
A faint smile appeared on my face.
"So has Father."
The seven exchanged brief glances before smiling.
"It seems..."
"Our farewells will have to wait."
Without another word...
All eight of us vanished into the shadows.
Heading toward the heart of the Shadow Realm.
Where two ancient monsters...
Had finally concluded seven years of relentless training.