Chapter 18
They came quietly.
Not an army.
Not openly.
Observers.
Mages.
Individuals trained to assess threats.
They stayed hidden.
Watching from afar.
"…That's him?"
A small child.
Standing in a field.
"…Doesn't look like much."
Then—
Rudeus moved.
Mana gathered.
Instantly.
A complex structure formed—
Multi-layered.
Multi-element.
Perfect.
The observers froze.
"…No chant…"
"…No delay…"
"…No instability…"
Silence.
"…Report back."
Because this—
Was real.