Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: The Six-Year Isolation

The pressure inside the training hall slowly faded into the background as Neuro's thoughts came to a complete stop not because he had reached an answer but because he understood that further speculation without information would lead nowhere for now analysis had to pause and action had to begin he lifted his gaze slightly and looked forward where his grandfather stood in silence as if he had been observing everything from the beginning not only his movements but even the shifts in his mental state "You stopped thinking" the old man said calmly his voice deep yet controlled Neuro did not deny it "There is no benefit in continuing without new data" he replied without hesitation the grandfather's eyes narrowed slightly not in anger but in approval "Good" he said "knowing when to stop is as important as knowing how to think" a brief silence followed before Neuro spoke again this time with clear intention "I need time" he said directly "not ordinary training time" his gaze sharpened "…I need isolation" the grandfather did not respond immediately instead he studied him carefully as if measuring the weight behind those words "How long" he finally asked "Six years" Neuro answered without hesitation the answer came too quickly too precisely as if it had already been calculated long before this moment the air in the hall shifted slightly as the weight of that request settled "Six years…" the grandfather repeated slowly "you understand what that means" Neuro nodded "Yes" no explanation no hesitation just certainty the old man took a step forward his presence alone causing the surrounding mana to react slightly "Isolation is not training…" he said "…it is separation from everything" his gaze deepened "No family no interaction no guidance once it begins you rely only on yourself" Neuro did not move "That is the point" he replied calmly a faint silence followed before the grandfather finally spoke again "Very well" he said "…I will prepare a place" this was not a simple agreement it was a decision that carried authority far beyond the visible structure of the family because the man standing before him was not just an elder he was Darius Voldi Godo the patriarch behind the shadows of the family a Stage 8