As modern-day Earth scrambled to prepare for the sudden and far earlier than expected introduction of aether and the system, somewhere deep in the past—back in the olden days of Earth—a group of bewildered onlookers stood in stunned silence.
"Master, all I’m saying is… he’s your student. So this is your problem," the Vendor muttered, arms folded, expression unreadable as he stared straight ahead, unsure what to make of what he was witnessing.
Auserre, ignoring the furious, screaming voice echoing from her water mirror, replied calmly, "You’ve been wanting to take him as a student. Why the sudden formality now? Didn’t you say you were the best person to guide him? Well—here’s your chance. Go ahead. Take responsibility."
"Don’t pawn him off to me now!" the Vendor shot back instantly.
And so, Auserre and the Vendor launched into a full-blown argument over whose fault this was, each trying to shift the blame like hot coals.
Meanwhile, Inpu, Mia, Kei M, and Silvie stood off to the side in an awkward line, watching the drama unfold. The fact that even they couldn’t understand the seriousness of the situation spoke volumes. From Auserre and the Vendor’s reactions—not to mention the increasingly unhinged shouting coming from the water mirrors—it was clear something significant had just happened.
"Aus, I thought I raised you better than this," Oceana’s voice rang out coldly from her water mirror. "Take responsibility for your student’s actions."
"Master, not now! How do you expect him—your grandstudent—to handle the mess his student caused?" Auserre replied with forced calm, barely containing her stress.
"Grandmaster!" the Vendor pleaded, now fully turning to face the mirror. "You must do me justice. She’s trying to throw the blame onto me, but clearly her student's actions are her failure as a master!"
Even the King—royalty and all—stood there slack-jawed, not even trying to hide his disbelief. “…Maybe I can do without this kid. Despite his performance, this might just be too much trouble.”
The four young cultivators had just returned from completing their Fractured Zones—each one having endured brutal, near-impossible training under the supervision of their respective zone bosses. They were battered, worn, and mentally drained.
Even Inpu and Mia—who had borderline bullied their zone boss into submission using their uncanny grasp of Balance Force—had struggled under the weight of the training. The teachings weren’t just brutal. They were revelatory.
Each one of them had been pushed to their absolute limit.
Each one had expelled a wave of impurities from their bodies.
And by the time they left their respective zones, each had quietly broken through into the Physical Realm—just as Mia had done before them.
Auserre and the Vendor were still arguing, voices growing louder by the second, when Oceana finally raised her hand in the water mirror, trying to calm them both down.
But then Aterix’s enraged shout cut through the noise like a sword through mist.
"I don’t care whose fault it is—one of you do something about that kid, Khenu, or I’ll visit Earth myself!"
Everyone froze.
Except for Kei Y.
He stood there quietly, completely detached from the chaos around him, gently cradling a small creature in his arms. It was a panda cub—one that looked strikingly similar to the panda-type creatures he'd fought back in the zone before he encountered Aterix.
All eyes locked on him.
Kei Y looked up at their stunned faces with a blank expression. “What? I defeated him fair and square. I told him beforehand I wanted to bring out one of those pandas in the zone—and so I did.”
His voice was so calm, so unapologetically matter-of-fact, that it somehow made everything worse.
“Kid… how did you even manage to bring out a creature from the zone?” Oceana asked, equal parts confused and exasperated.
Kei Y tilted his head and studied her image in the water mirror.
“…You remind me of my sheep,” he said with a faint nod.
“…………”
Oceana went completely still. It took a second for the meaning to register—but when it did, her eyes widened. She glanced around at the others present, then quickly smoothed out her expression to avoid letting anyone know what he meant.
“…Is that how you speak to your Grandmaster, child?” she replied, resting her cheek on her hand. “I think I prefer the sound kid”
Off to the side, Kei M flinched at the exchange, remembering a particularly painful moment from his training—specifically when some of his impurities were physically beaten out of him. Even if his strength had increased afterward, the trauma was still fresh.
“Alright, alright—I’ll deal with it,” Auserre finally said, exhaling sharply.
“And how exactly do you plan to deal with it?” Aterix demanded, crossing his arms, still seething.
“In all fairness,” Auserre began, “he beat you. Within your stated limitations as a recruit-class zone boss. And—if I recall correctly—you never answered when he asked what the reward would be. So really, it’s reasonable that he just took what he wanted.”
“You CAN’T be serious!!” Aterix roared.
“Why not?” Auserre replied coolly, arms crossed. “Those creatures did originate from Earth. And again—he won, fairly. If you’ve got a problem with it, you’re welcome to come here and try taking it back… personally.”
The final sentence carried a weight that silenced everyone. Her body let out a low, cracking groan—not from age or fatigue, but from the sheer pressure of force radiating through her bones, marrow, and vessels.
Aterix, already defeated multiple times by Auserre, deflated immediately. He knew better. He’d been defeated fairly, and worse—he had witnessed firsthand the freakish talent Kei Y displayed when it came to learning runes. That kind of genius was too rare to risk offending over pride.
He could only sigh in defeat.
Then, Mia’s voice rang out, curious and sweet.
“…Did Khenu have to look at that thing for a long time to complete his zone?” she asked innocently.
Aterix twitched violently.
A single innocent question had sent him teetering on the edge of another furious outburst—but just as he opened his mouth to launch into another volcanic tirade—
Click.
Auserre closed his water mirror.
Everyone stood in silence for a beat.
Then Kei Y looked down at the panda cub and nodded to himself, completely unfazed by the confusion swirling around him. The creature cooed softly in his arms, curling into his chest like it belonged there.
The Shima Enaga Kei Y had recently created from rune strokes fluttered through the air, circling once before landing gently atop the panda cub. Its feathers shimmered faintly with aether, a soft white glow outlining its tiny form. The gesture seemed almost instinctive—like it was acknowledging the cub as a younger sibling.
Kei Y found that amusing.
After all, the little bird had only just been made. By all logic, the panda cub should be the older one.
And yet, the Shima Enaga nuzzled into the cub’s fur with surprising affection, chirping softly in a way that suggested otherwise.
Meanwhile, in the corner of his vision, a faint notification continued to blink—a light, rhythmic pulse that none of the others could see:
[Title: He Who Denies Fate]
Status: Active
Condition: Mildly amused.
It flashed cheerfully.
Almost mockingly.
As if the title itself was laughing at the chaos it had just helped stir.
The experts observing the scene—Auserre, Oceana, the Vendor, even the King—could only stare in silence. None of them had an explanation. Not for how Kei Y managed to bring a creature out of the zone… and especially not for how the system itself had seemingly permitted it.
Bringing something from a fractured zone was supposed to be impossible.
The rules—no, the laws—of the system simply didn’t allow it.
And yet, here they were. With a panda cub. Snuggled in the arms of a boy who looked like he’d just done something as mundane as picking a flower.
And the blinking title continued to glow with quiet joy, pulsing in perfect sync with the chaos it left behind.
Through all the chaos, Mia couldn’t help herself. She ran up to Auserre and hugged her tightly.
“Master, you’re so pretty,” the little girl said, staring up with wide, admiring eyes at Auserre's true appearance.
Silvie, seeing the scene, rushed forward as well. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around Auserre, clearly in awe of the woman’s beauty.
Watching the two girls embrace her with such affection—despite the fact that both were beings spoken of in legend—Auserre couldn’t help but smile sweetly. She gently rubbed their heads, voice warm.
“You really think so? I’m not nearly as pretty as you two. Your compliments mean a lot.”
Then she blinked and scrunched her nose playfully.
“But, Sanu… you really stink. Actually, all of you do. But I’m most surprised Khenu was the only one who didn’t break through physically.”
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With a simple flick of her hand, Auserre summoned a wave of water that surged up and completely drenched the kids. Controlling the properties of the water down to the finest detail, she refined it to strip away the residual impurities from their breakthroughs—some still clinging to their skin and hair.
Kei M in particular required more effort. The impurities within him had been denser and thicker than the others, almost sludge-like. The water around him bubbled and shifted as it worked to break down the lingering toxins.
Once the water had absorbed all the waste, Auserre changed its properties again. The impurities dissolved harmlessly into nothing, and the water itself transformed into a gentle cleansing mist that washed over the kids. In an instant, they were left clean, refreshed, and lightly perfumed—fragrant and radiant as if they’d just stepped out of a natural hot spring. The panda cub as well didn't escape this treatment, making it wiggle against the treatment.
She did it all effortlessly, like it was the most casual thing in the world.
“Um… I don’t mean to be rude, but who is this guy?” Inpu asked, still damp from the recent cleansing.
The man in question—the King—lagged for a moment, still mildly dazed from everything he’d just witnessed. He coughed gently, straightening his posture.
“Hello, kids. I’m an old colleague of your master. I was hoping you could spare me a moment to hear a request of mine.”
“Just spit it out. What do you want?” Kei M said flatly.
The other kids turned toward him in surprise. His tone had changed so drastically, the air around him sharp and unwelcoming. Mia, who had now been happily playing with the cub nestled in Kei Y’s arms, blinked up in confusion at her friend.
Seeing the curious looks aimed at Kei M, the King gave another small cough, trying to recover the moment.
“Erm, right… I’m the King of this kingdom. And Kei’s fa—”
The last part never reached the children’s ears.
In an instant, Kei M activated his Sound Force to mute the words entirely. A subtle, concentrated burst rippled through the air, distorting the sound just enough to censor the King’s revelation. The backlash hit him hard, though. Blood trickled from Kei M's nose, and he wiped it away with a grimace, not even bothering to hide his frustration.
Watching his son actively go out of his way to prevent the truth from reaching his friends, the King felt a pang in his chest.
“Maybe… our relationship really has become irreparable,” he thought quietly, his gaze lingering on the boy’s expression—rage barely held in check behind his burning glare.
Across the room, Auserre slowly turned her head to look between the two. Her gaze landed briefly on the King. It wasn’t hostile… but it was clear. Protective.
The kind of glance that said: If you push him, I will end you.
And the King, no matter how powerful he might be, understood the warning well.
“As King of Amunar, I’ve come to ask a favor of you children,” the King said sincerely, giving a small bow. “Having witnessed your talents, I was hoping the five of you would represent Amunar in the upcoming Tournament of Kingdoms.”
Kei Y and Silvie exchanged a casual glance. They already knew about the tournament—participating in it was the required task for clearing the Temporal Dungeon. With that in mind, there wasn’t much they could do to refuse, even if they wanted to.
“Oh, uh… I’m sure the rest of these guys would be more than capable of representing the kingdom,” Inpu said hesitantly. “But I don’t think I’d be of much use as I'm not as talented…”
It was clear he still didn’t believe his talents matched up to the four God Sparks standing beside him.
“NOT TALENTED, MY ASS—YOU DESPICABLE DEMON CHILD!!”
The water mirror containing his and Mia’s zone boss suddenly exploded with rage, the voice shaking the room.
Inpu flinched.
Auserre, knowing she couldn’t even blame the zone boss for the outburst—especially after what they’d put him through—quickly closed the mirror with a snap.
“Child,” Oceana’s gentle voice followed soon after, calm and nurturing, “if you were capable of gaining the interest of my most prized student here, then your talent knows no bounds. Although I have yet to see you in action, I trust Aus’s judgment. So I can say without hesitation—you have enough potential to match anyone in your cultivation group across the universe. Don’t stop believing in yourself.”
Inpu blinked in surprise, her motherly tone catching him off guard.
“Like she said,” the King added. “I saw your performance in the zone… and I can genuinely admire the level of talent you’ve displayed.”
“Listen to the idiot,” the Vendor muttered, still half-distracted as he studied the Shima Enaga fluttering around the panda cub. His eyes traced the delicate creation force rune strokes woven into its wings, their soft glow reflecting his fascination.
“I know this is a lot to ask,” the King continued, his voice sincere, “but this tournament could be a great opportunity for all of you. With your talents, I’m certain our kingdom winning the Recruit Class portion is guaranteed.”
He glanced around at the group before adding, “And there’s untold fame and wealth waiting for those who place high enough. Whatever worries you might’ve had before… they’ll vanish if you win.”
Inpu, who had grown up struggling and scraping by, couldn’t help but be moved by the promise of a better life.
Mia, though no longer suffering from brittle bones, was equally moved. With enough money, she could finally live the quiet, peaceful life she dreamed of—one that included staying close to Kei M.
Kei M, noticing the hopeful light in Mia’s eyes and knowing firsthand how difficult her living conditions were, let out a silent breath. He still bore anger toward his father and the kingdom, but for now… he shelved it. Just long enough to agree to the request.
As for Silvie and Kei Y, they didn’t have a choice. The tournament was tied to their Temporal Dungeon requirements, and neither could avoid it even if they wanted to.
“Just remember,” Auserre cut in, her tone firm, “this isn’t a promised position. You’ll need to earn your right to participate.”
“Thank you,” the King said, bowing again slightly. “I’ve already gathered the current recruit-class participants. As long as each of you can defeat three of them each, you’ll earn the right to replace them.”
With that, the group followed the King to begin the challenge.
Two hours later, the King returned to Auserre—with the kids intact.
“Khenu, I’m hungry,” Mia said the moment they got back, rushing to his side with a pout.
The King blinked, momentarily stunned by how her fierce combat demeanor had flipped so suddenly into something soft and childlike.
The challenge itself hadn’t taken long. In fact, the only reason the whole trip had lasted two hours was the travel time. The fights?
No more than thirty minutes total.
Each of the five—including Inpu—had defeated their opponents with brutal, unquestionable dominance. Any recruit-class participant who felt wronged or thought it unfair to be forced to re-earn their slot against “random kids” quickly found their complaints silenced… usually by being knocked unconscious.
And so, without fanfare, the new team representing Amunar in the Tournament of Kingdoms was decided.
"Seems like it's set in stone now. You five will be the vanguard group for the Kingdom's recruit class." The King’s voice echoed slightly as he addressed the room, his tone firm but edged with resignation. "The tournament is in a few days, so use that time to make whatever preparations you need. I’ll have Emory drop by to—"
He paused mid-sentence, his words catching in his throat as he noticed the razor-thin glare Auserre was leveling at him.
A faint bead of sweat formed at his temple.
"Urm… actually, I’ll have you guys meet Emory at a neutral location. He’ll escort you to the tournament grounds from there," the King corrected himself, clearing his throat awkwardly.
No one responded. The atmosphere had cooled slightly.
The King glanced over each of the children—his gaze lingering longest on Kei M, who hadn't so much as looked his way once. The boy’s expression remained impassive, his attention focused elsewhere, his very posture seeming to reject any acknowledgment of his father’s presence.
The weight of that silent rejection hit harder than any spoken words.
The King sighed, defeated.
He gave Auserre a final look, searching her face for reassurance. She didn’t speak—but she offered him a subtle nod. Just once. A promise, unspoken, that Kei M would be alright under her care.
It wasn’t much.
But it was enough for him to leave.
Without another word, the King turned and exited the room, the sound of his footsteps slowly fading into silence.
With the King’s departure, everyone’s attention naturally shifted to Kei M. The children, in particular, couldn’t help but glance his way—still unsure about the tension they had just witnessed. None of them fully understood the situation between him and the King, but even they could tell something deep and unresolved lingered in the air.
Trying to get their minds off the drama between the King and Kei M, Auserre cut in smoothly, her tone shifting back to that of a strict but gentle mentor, "I want you all to know how impressed I am. You’ve each returned after facing your zone bosses, and I can already tell—you’ve grown. Physically, mentally, spiritually."
The kids perked up slightly at her words.
"I’ve been observing your improvements closely, and I’ve now got a solid read on your strengths and weaknesses. So for the next few days, I’ll be refining you myself," she continued with quiet resolve. "I’m going to start having you follow the path I walk. Especially now that you’ve all developed a deeper understanding of how your stats function and how they affect you in real-time."
Inpu raised his hand, curious.
"Master… what path is that? The one you walk?"
Before Auserre could answer, another voice slipped in with calm elegance from the water mirror.
"The path of Hybrids, young one," Oceana said, her tone light with pride as she reacquainted herself with her beloved disciple.
"Hybrid path?" Kei Y echoed, visibly intrigued. His voice carried a rare shade of surprise, almost reverent.
He stared at Auserre with a more thoughtful gaze, the gears in his head turning. Since the moment he’d first arrived in this world, she had been a constant presence—gruff, no-nonsense, blunt—but strangely kind. The first to show him grace.
Back then, she came off as little more than a rough street vendor with attitude. She’d teased him about not knowing how to cook, only to be floored when he brought her a plate of handmade food. From that moment on, her behavior softened—just a little. Enough for him to notice. Enough for him to respect her.
But ever since… the layers kept peeling away.
With every new revelation from those around her, the image he had built in his mind kept shattering and reforming. Every time someone mentioned her name, she seemed to grow more mythical, more ridiculous, as if the entire universe had conspired to hide her true identity behind the mask of a cranky street vendor.
“…I really mistook a legend for a vendor,” Kei Y thought, lips twitching slightly.
He gave the panda cub in his arms a small pat and muttered, mostly to himself,
“Maybe I should question my luck more often…”
Auserre, noticing the way his brow creased slightly, gave him a faint smirk.
"You’re not the only one who thought I was just some hag in a stall. Don’t feel too bad, Khenu."
Silvie leaned over and whispered with a small grin, "She’s totally the type to scam people in the marketplace and still call it a favor."
Auserre didn’t deny it. In fact, she wore the accusation like a badge of honor.
"Enough chatter. The Hybrid path is not something I teach lightly," she said, voice returning to her commanding tone. "You’ve all taken the first step. Now let’s see how far you can go."
"Now, all of you have shed the first layer of your impurities and achieved a breakthrough in your Physical Realm," Auserre began, her tone calm and analytical. "All except you, Khenu—but that’s to be expected. You were more focused on combat runes, after all."
Kei Y gave a defeated sigh, shoulders slumping. He didn’t argue. He had been obsessed with his rune studies.
"Don’t underestimate the path of a Hybrid," Oceana added from the water mirror, her voice stern but knowing. "It’s not something one strolls through casually. Even my grandstudent over there—someone born with Creation Force—struggled through it."
The Vendor let out a pained groan, lifting his head just enough from his bowl to protest weakly.
"Grandmaster… what did I do? I’m just trying to eat in peace..."
He sounded so close to tears, but not enough to stop chewing.
"I'm guessing the rest of you are like the Sound-bound kid—and are God Sparks as well?" Oceana said, scanning the group with mild curiosity. "If so, it might be easier for you to train as Hybrids… though that’s no guarantee of success."
"Are Hybrids really that strong?" Silvie asked quietly, her gaze still locked on Auserre.
Oceana’s reply was instantaneous—and proud.
"Ask your master. She’s the one who killed the God Spark of Water, despite wielding Water Force herself. You tell me whether Hybrid cultivators are strong or not."
All heads snapped toward Auserre.
The woman in question blinked slowly. At some point during Oceana’s lecture, she’d quietly walked off to fix herself a meal and was now chewing a mouthful of food, unbothered by the storm of attention.
Feeling the shocked stares land on her like falling bricks, Auserre finally asked with her mouth full,
"...What?"
"Just because of what you are, don’t think you’re infallible," Oceana continued, ignoring her disciple’s casual attitude. "Even those who share your force alignment can—and will—come for your head. Whether they succeed or not... well, that’s up to you."
The kids absorbed every word, their focus intense. All except Kei Y, who had stars in his eyes—not from the lesson, but from watching Auserre eat the food he had made.
More specifically, the red sauce he used.
The one laced with his blood.
He leaned forward, watching closely, eyes nearly glowing as he expected something—anything—to happen. Some sign of connection. A shift. A pulse.
But after a long stretch of nothing…
He snapped.
A stream of muttered curses spilled from his mouth, rising in both volume and absurdity.
The entire room turned in stunned silence.
"...Hey kid," Oceana said, gesturing toward Inpu with a sigh. "Hit Khenu for me, please."
Inpu nodded with a deadly kind of serenity.
From his side, he pulled out the scale weapon he’d earned from the fractured zone—still warm with resonance from his Balance Force. Without hesitation, he raised it and brought it down hard on Kei Y’s head.
But just to be safe—just to make his grandmaster proud—he also drained a generous chunk of Kei’s good fortune, enhancing the strike’s effect far beyond the physical.
Kei let out a howl, clutching his head and rolling on the ground like a stunned beast.
Inpu stared at the scale in his hand, expression thoughtful.
"...This thing’s pretty good. I might ditch the sword. Or maybe use both. Yeah. Both."