After the earlier conversation settled, the atmosphere in the hall became quieter, heavier in a different way. Andre leaned back in his seat, his expression turning more serious than before. The casual tone faded slightly as he looked at all of them.
Andre: "The tournament… it won't be like anything you've faced before."
Everyone focused.
Andre: "This time, all ten kingdoms are sending their best. Not just strong teams… monsters."
A brief silence followed.
Andre: "And the reward isn't just status."
He paused.
Andre: "It's access to the seventh floor."
Igna's expression sharpened.
Andre continued slowly.
Andre: "You already know what that means. No one understands that floor. No one has cleared it. And the few who tried…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
The meaning was clear.
The room stayed quiet for a moment before Andre lifted his hand slightly.
A servant stepped forward immediately, carrying a long, carefully sealed box. The moment it entered the room, something changed.
The air itself felt different.
Heavier.
Old.
Like something from a distant past had just been brought into the present.
The servant placed the box in front of Andre and stepped back.
Andre looked at it for a moment before slowly opening it.
Inside—
Was a dagger.
But not an ordinary one.
Its blade carried a faint, ancient glow. The metal didn't look new or polished, yet it felt far sharper than anything Igna had ever seen. There was no decoration, no unnecessary design, just a simple form… but the presence it carried was overwhelming.
Igna felt it instantly.
Even without touching it.
His instincts reacted.
Andre: "This… has been in the royal family for generations."
His voice was quieter now.
Andre: "A secret we never revealed to the world."
Everyone watched silently.
Andre looked at Yash.
Andre: "I want you to take it."
Yash didn't even look at the dagger for long.
Yash: "No."
The answer came instantly.
Andre frowned slightly.
Andre: "Listen first."
Yash: "I don't need it."
Andre sighed.
Andre: "This isn't about need."
A pause.
Andre: "Take it."
Yash didn't move.
Andre insisted again.
Andre: "Take it, Yash."
There was a long silence.
Then finally—
Yash exhaled slightly and reached out.
He took the dagger.
Igna watched carefully.
Even Sele's eyes were focused now.
For a moment, the room felt completely still.
Then—
Yash spoke.
Yash: "I don't use daggers."
Before anyone could react, he turned.
And handed it to Igna.
Just like that.
Igna froze.
Igna: "What…?"
He didn't move.
Didn't even lift his hand properly.
Yash looked at him calmly.
Yash: "You do."
Igna slowly took it.
The moment his fingers touched the dagger
A strange feeling ran through him.
Heavy.
Cold.
But… right.
Like it belonged in his hand.
He looked up, still shocked.
Sele was also staring.
Neither of them could believe it.
Something like this… one of the strongest weapons in the world…
Just given away like nothing.
But—
The others didn't react much.
May stayed calm.
Hena just smiled softly.
Emily looked slightly interested, but not surprised.
Even Andre didn't look shocked.
Like this was expected.
Like this was normal… for Yash.
Andre leaned back slightly.
Andre: "That dagger… has a story."
Igna tightened his grip slightly.
Andre gestured, and the servant brought an old book.
It looked worn.
Ancient.
Andre opened it carefully.
Andre: "According to this… thousands of years ago…"
His voice slowed.
Andre: "There was a man… blessed by the gods."
The room grew quiet again.
Andre: "A man who stood above all others."
He turned a page.
Andre: "At that time… a monster appeared."
A pause.
Andre: "Something not from this world."
Igna listened carefully.
Andre: "It came from beyond… from the sky itself."
Another page turned.
Andre: "Its name was Monas."
The name itself felt heavy.
Andre: "Even with all his power… even with the blessing of gods…"
Andre's voice lowered.
Andre: "He couldn't defeat it easily."
Silence.
Andre: "In the end…"
A pause.
Andre: "…he sacrificed his life to destroy it."
No one spoke.
Andre looked at the dagger in Igna's hand.
Andre: "That man's name… was Air."
Igna's grip tightened.
Andre gently closed the book for a moment.
Andre: "And this… was his dagger."
The room felt different now.
Heavier.
Like history itself was standing in front of them.
Andre continued.
Andre: "This truth was never revealed."
Andre: "Even I didn't fully believe it."
A pause.
Then—
He slowly turned to the last page.
And opened it.
Andre: "Until I saw this."
Everyone looked.
Igna leaned slightly forward.
And then—
He froze.
The drawing on the page…
The face…
The eyes…
It looked—
Exactly like Yash.
Silence filled the room.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Igna slowly turned his head.
Looking at Yash.
Trying to understand.
Trying to process.
But Yash…
Just stood there.
Calm.
Like it meant nothing.
And somehow—
That made it even more terrifying.