The final day of the tournament—
At this point, questioning whether anyone would come to watch… was meaningless.
Everyone was here.
---
The arena was filled beyond capacity.
Eyes from every direction, every corner, every height—
All focused on one stage.
---
The final match.
---
The opponent—
Feng.
And—
Lumian.
---
Feng stood at Rank 3, Peak Stage.
While Lumian—
Was merely Rank 2.
---
In Feng's eyes—
Lumian was nothing more than an ant.
---
Inside Lumian—
Reyax spoke.
"This monkey… won't take long," he said lazily. "And I need to take that stone quickly. It has already sensed my awakening."
A brief pause.
"If I am to keep my word to you… I must finish this fast. If they arrive—then I won't be able to."
---
Near the field—
Misa sat among the higher-ups.
Her fate—
Depended on today.
---
The entire crowd buzzed with excitement.
This was the final day.
The peak.
---
Then—
Their names were called.
---
Lumian.
Feng.
---
Both stepped onto the stage.
---
Reyax—within Lumian—cast a calm glance toward the corner of the arena.
Toward Misa.
---
For the first time—
Misa saw him looking at her.
---
Something stirred inside her.
Something she couldn't understand.
---
Elsewhere—
Inside a massive royal chamber—
Within a flying darkness—
---
Ray took a sip of tea.
"Lexia… isn't it strange?" he said. "After so many years… Master has returned."
---
Lexia stood nearby.
Beautiful.
Almost unreal.
Her presence… carried a seductive elegance.
---
"I can't believe it," she replied softly. "Just because of a stone… Master's return? It feels like a dream."
A pause.
"Why didn't you inform the others?"
---
Ray's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Before confirming Master's return myself… I didn't act," he said. "And the location—"
He stopped briefly.
"The people there… cannot handle us."
"And Heavenly Court still exists."
---
Lexia lowered her eyes.
"Then… does that mean…"
---
"Can we go to the Dark Continent?"
---
Ray's eyes glowed faintly.
"Of course."
---
Back to the fight—
---
Feng moved first.
Fast.
Aggressive.
---
He launched attack after attack toward Reyax.
---
But Reyax—
Wasn't fighting seriously.
---
He was stalling.
---
Someone nearby is trying something…
---
Reyax smirked internally.
Fools… using such cheap tricks… here? In a place like this?
---
His gaze briefly shifted toward the clan leaders.
---
If I achieve my true objective… I would've shown them…
---
He continued taking hits.
For a while.
---
Then—
Suddenly—
He moved.
---
A single strike.
---
Feng's body bent.
---
Before he could react—
A kick landed on his neck.
---
Crack.
---
The sound echoed.
---
Feng staggered—
Yet still tried to counterattack with his leg.
---
Reyax stepped in—
And struck his chin.
---
Feng was sent flying.
Crashing onto the ground.
---
He tried to stand—
But realized—
His neck bone was fractured.
---
Still—
Ignoring the pain—
He attempted a Water Strike.
---
And then—
---
Lightning.
---
A sudden flash.
---
The strike landed.
---
Feng's body trembled—
Then collapsed.
---
Unconscious.
---
From the stands—
Sumian's eyes widened.
He turned toward Lumian's sister.
"Hey! Is he cultivating Light Path too?!"
---
The announcer's voice echoed—
---
"The winner of the final… Lumian!"
---
The arena erupted.
---
People rushed in.
Surrounding Lumian—
Lifting him—
Celebrating wildly.
---
For the first time—
Mili turned toward Lymian.
"That useless son of yours… seems to have raised your honor," she said. "Aren't you happy?"
---
Lymian smiled faintly.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
---
Jeju signaled him.
To leave the room.
---
Two hours later—
---
A grand stage was prepared in the arena.
---
Countless influential figures stood there.
Clan leaders.
Elders.
Participants.
---
Then—
The winner was called.
---
Lumian stepped onto the stage.
Still wearing his simple, thin clothes.
A dhoti-like lower garment.
---
One by one—
They shook his hand.
---
Even Cross—
Was there.
Though unwilling—
He still shook Lumian's hand.
---
When it came to Lymian—
Lumian looked at him coldly—
And shook his hand.
---
Finally—
An old man stepped forward.
---
"This tournament," he began, "is held every few years. It is a special event of our XOV Alliance."
"It shows us the best of our region… and inspires others to follow their path."
---
He turned toward Lumian.
---
"So, as the winner… we request you to say a few words. Something that may inspire the next generation."
---
Lumian stepped forward.
Calm.
---
"I… actually like writing poems and songs," he said softly.
"They asked me to say something…"
---
"So I'll express it… through one of my poems."
---
He looked ahead.
And began—
---
I can carry, the weight of burden
I carried the sorrows of—
The vengeance of burden!
I lost in the vast sea of chaos
The chaos of the wish of living!
I can carry, the weight of—
One who watches—wants to bestow,
the greatest mercy and love.
But—
We denied
We rejected
Thus we spoilt in the veil of vengeance.
---
We screamed for freedom,
Yet chained ourselves in desire.
We sought the light,
Yet feared its truth.
In the name of justice—
We carved cruelty.
In the name of love—
We buried hearts.
---
If sin is born from pain—
Then who is pure?
If fate is written by power—
Then who is free?
---
I walked through shadows—
Not to escape…
But to understand them.