Chapter 57
The field was grass-green.
Wind swept through short blades, lifting a few into the sky.
The air felt calm.
In the distance, Kai and Sai stood.
The magic circle glowed.
It was starting.
"We're going to be erased," Sai said, voice hollow.
His arms hung limply at his sides.
"This… this is Destruction Magic."
Kai's legs shook.
Her stomach twisted.
She didn't know much about magic—but this… she recognized.
One of the most powerful types in the universe.
Capable of erasing everything.
Body. Soul. Matter itself.
Kai forced a crooked smile.
Her chest tightened.
They might die.
Forever.
Beyond resurrection.
"Huh…" She shook her head.
"This is the end of our tale."
Her words trembled.
"There's no way we survive this."
Sai turned toward her, eyes wide.
Hopelessness etched into his features.
His own words echoed in his mind.
"Sister… no matter how dangerous, no matter how impossible… I'll protect you to my last breath in this world."
His hands clenched at his sides.
Bravery sparked.
A flicker of confidence.
Responsibility.
He had to give Kai a chance to survive.
Sai stepped forward.
Hand extended.
He tried to channel magic through the glowing blue barrier.
Ten fireballs formed behind him.
Burst.
Into nothing.
Sai's face tightened—shock, but not surprise.
Kai's gaze sharpened.
She understood.
Sai was trying to escape.
She had to try too.
"They've set up an Anti-Magic Zone," Kai said, voice steady despite her pounding heart.
"All magic is useless."
Lightning crackled across the sky.
Sai turned to her.
They both tensed.
Even suppressed, they couldn't hold back the forces.
No time.
No way to test escape routes.
Even if there were any.
A giant red beam descended from the sky.
Eyes widened.
Bodies frozen.
The light radiated heat, threat, inevitability.
If they entered it—
Erasure awaited.
Physical layer.
Spirit layer.
Then something abnormal happened.
Leaves froze mid-sway.
Birds hovered mid-air, wings stiff.
The wind cut off.
Silence.
Time… suspended.
Kai and Sai blinked.
The world held its breath.
Their hearts did too.
The beam froze mid-strike.
Sai. Kai. Even the Royal Knights.
All frozen. Suspended in time.
Then—she appeared.
Takane. Silent. Deadly.
She stepped forward.
Out of nowhere.
Right between Sai and Kai.
Their eyes still wide. Staring upward.
She rested a hand on each of their shoulders.
Light, deliberate. Controlled.
And in an instant—they vanished.
No flash. No trace.
No sound.
Time resumed.
The beam continued.
Straight down.
Shattering the ground beneath it.
It stopped. One minute later.
Then faded.
Nothing remained.
Just a scorch mark where it hit.
To any outsider, Sai and Kai were gone.
Erased.
Gone without a trace.
If they had been able to function during time stop…
They would have known the truth.
A knight knelt, pulling the sword from the cracked stone.
Clean. Precise.
Sheathed. Teleported. Gone.
The kingdom waited. Silent.
Sai and Kai found themselves in a stone jail.
No windows.
Two wooden beds.
Nothing else.
A polished silver bar blocked the exit.
Sai's eyes darted around.
Shock stiffened him.
"Again."
Kai's voice cut the silence.
Disbelief.
"We're alive!"
Sai touched his clothes.
Then his head.
He turned to Kai.
"Yes. You're both alive."
The voice came from behind the bars.
Takane.
Sai and Kai froze.
Their eyes widened.
She had been there the whole time.
"Who are you?!"
Kai demanded.
"Where did you put us?"
"I don't take orders from anyone who isn't Princess Ronóva," Takane said.
Calm. Measured.
"Don't try your luck."
Kai's chest tightened.
A flicker of realization.
The Princess.
Still in Skyhold.
"So… we're still inside the kingdom," Kai whispered.
She stepped closer to Sai.
"Wrong name," Takane replied.
"You're in jail.
Consider this… a gift from Princess Ronóva.
She won't let you die outside, as planned."
Both stiffened.
Escape… impossible.
Especially here.
"The Princess thinks she can use you two," Takane added.
Voice sharp.
"Don't kill someone who knows the High Circle's secrets."
"So… that's your reason.
You brought us here against our will?"
Sai's voice trembled.
"Perhaps," Takane said.
She stepped back.
Graceful. Silent.
"I'll leave now.
Try not to escape.
It's useless.
The Princess knows your every move."
Sai's jaw tightened.
Shock. Frustration.
Takane passed other cells.
Some prisoners glanced up.
Some didn't.
Kai sank onto the wooden bed.
Back straightened.
Head tilted toward Sai.
A deep sigh escaped her.
"This… this is better than facing that Destruction Attack," she murmured.
"Agree."
Sai's fingers brushed the silver bar.
He leaned forward.
"Yet… now we have another problem."
The moment he touched it—
He was thrown backward.
Wall slammed into him.
Pain flared.
Darkness threatened.
Wouldst he pass out
"Idiot."
Kai's voice cut sharp.
Cold.
"He can't even sense the magic from the bar.
More like… stupid than Magic Genius."
She didn't flinch.
Not shocked.
Not suppressed.
After today…
Nothing could suppress her.
Nothing at all.
Night blanketed the streets of Solmaria Kingdom.
In front of a drinking bar, three men surrounded a lone figure.
He was sprawled on the ground, drunk.
Too drunk to feel the kicks.
Too drunk to fight back.
Boots slammed into him from every direction.
He groaned, arms weak, barely raising to shield himself.
Suddenly—
A flying kick struck one of the attackers square in the face.
Heads snapped.
Eyes widened.
The man crumpled.
The hero landed, body tense, trembling slightly.
He wore a green outfit, bright yellow lining tracing the edges.
Smooth, simple, no frills.
Just the eye and mouth exposed.
"Hey!"
Another bully charged.
Grabbing the hero mid-air, he slammed him into the cobblestones.
Pain radiated through the hero's body.
He coughed, spit dirt from his lips, but his eyes blazed.
"What the hell…?"
The drunk man muttered, struggling to stand, unsteady.
"Looks like he's here for a beating too,"
Said the man who had just been kicked, his voice low, amused.
The hero rose.
Shaking.
Lean.
Slightly skinny.
Already streaked with blood.
"I am Justice," he said, voice firm despite the trembling.
"I will defeat all evil."
The three men looked at each other.
Confusion.
Then laughter burst from them.
"I am Justice," one said, mocking, clutching his stomach.
"Let's just beat him up!"
The man who had been kicked growled, stepping forward.
The laughter died.
Their presence turned heavy, oppressive—three against one.
Fists and boots rained down on the hero.
He took hit after hit.
Blood. Bruises. Sweat.
But he didn't fall.
He punched back.
Elbows. Kicks. Blows that sent them staggering.
Still, he looked more battered than all three.
Fatigue set in.
The three slowed.
The hero stood in front of the passed-out drunk man.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?"
The main man panted, chest heaving.
"You'd rather die for some piece of shit you don't even know?"
"Three assholes laying on one guy while everyone watches,"
The hero's voice shook.
Out of breath.
Shaking.
"I'm done watching."
The three noticed the stares.
Eyes sharp.
Crowd tense.
A flicker of nervousness.
"You want to know what's wrong with me?!"
The hero spat, fury in his eyes.
"Yeah. I'd rather die—so bring it on."
They charged.
Fists ready.
Anger raw.
He dodged a punch from the man who had slammed him to the ground.
Countered with an elbow to the chin.
White eyes.
Stiff body.
The man collapsed.
Garbage.
A punch landed on the hero's face.
He tipped sideways.
Gut-punched by another.
Feet lifted off the ground.
Before he could recover, the third man grabbed him.
Pulled back with force.
The hero's fist connected square to the man's face.
Knockout.
Momentum carried.
Another man hit the ground.
He won.
Again.
A bystander murmured softly.
People nodded.
Whispers of praise.
He was known.
What they'd seen was just another demonstration.
Somebody called the guards.
Dressed in fantasy-police attire.
"Over here!" someone shouted, pointing toward the fight.
The hero vanished into the night.
Shadows swallowed him.
Pain etched his movements.
Off-balance, but moving.
"Where did he go?"
A citizen asked, eyes scanning the streets.
No trace.
He was gone.
The hero stepped into a run-down house in a narrow alley.
Dust hung in the air.
Broken floorboards creaked under his boots.
He moved straight to a cracked mirror.
Hands trembling, he pulled off his mask.
Black hair fell over his forehead.
His face—covered in blood.
His own blood.
Water formed in his hands.
He splashed it across his face.
The first wash wasn't enough.
The second.
The third.
Sixth.
Finally, the blood washed away.
A voice echoed inside his mind.
『Notice』
『Individual: Justice Lawlight has acquired the Divine Protection: "Heroes."』
Justice froze.
Eyes wide.
Heart hammering.
This… this was the first time he had ever heard the Divine Voice.
『The evolution to the Path of Heroes has begun.』
Dizziness hit him like a wave.
His vision blurred.
The world tilted.
His body sank to the floor.
A deep sleep claimed him.
His consciousness fading.
His existence… being rebuilt.
If the individual remained conscious, the mind would shatter.
The system suspends consciousness to rebuild the soul safely.
"What… what is happening?"
Justice whispered.
Knees on the dusty floor.
Hands clutching his stomach.
"You're evolving. That's what's happening,"
A voice said above him.
Someone—or something—stood over him.
A list appeared in his mind.
"The following abilities have been obtained:"
"Hero's Haki"
"Godspeed Regeneration"
"Perfect Clone"
"Barrier Creation"
"Space Domination"
"Weakness Identification"
"Potential"
"Thought Acceleration"
Justice's eyes fluttered.
Questions rose in his mind—but he could not ask.
Sleep dragged him under.
The last thing he heard, whispered into the void:
"Unique Skill "Unseen Hero" acquired."
Justice's body sank
into the ground.
Dark shadow swallowing him.
Slowly.
Piece by piece.
Vanishing.
A storage-space base, in effect.
Objects.
Living beings.
Energy.
All contained.
Veyros sat on the couch.
In front of his desk.
Hands resting on his knees.
Back straight.
Alistair stood behind him.
Silent.
Strong.
Presence pressing down like gravity.
Across the room, Velara reclined on a couch.
Legs crossed.
Sharp, all-knowing smile.
Eyes calculating.
Beatrice stood behind her.
Momo beside her.
Watching.
Silent observers.
Veyros leaned forward slightly.
Voice steady.
"First of all… I want to know if you can truly fix a minor-damaged Mana Core."
Velara's head tilted.
Smile unwavering.
Eyes locked on him.
"We'll have to see," she said.
Calm.
Measured.
She raised a hand.
"Minor damage means… mana is unsteady."
Another finger.
"Spells may fail."
Another.
"Reduced output."
Another.
"Mana leakage."
Veyros's face stiffened.
Internally.
He didn't even know all the effects of a damaged Mana Core.
"Healing is possible," Velara said.
Confidence radiated.
No hesitation.
Veyros exhaled.
Deep.
Relief washing over him.
A small smile forming.
"Glad to hear it," he said.
Pausing.
"So… what do you want in return for your aid?"
"No," Velara said.
Soft.
Flat.
"Nothing. Not yet."
A thought flickered behind her eyes.
(That bug in my "Dimensional Vault"…)
(No one will notice if he disappears.)
(Good subject for our natural experiments.)
Alistair's eyes narrowed.
Veyros blinked.
Surprise.
She asked for nothing.
Veyros stood.
Gesture toward the door.
"Well. If all decisions are made, I'll guide you to them."
"That will be helpful," Velara said.
Head tilted.
Smile elegant.
Deadly subtle.
Could bring a man to his knees.
They walked toward the door.
Steps quiet.
Measured.
The door closed softly behind them.
Silence filled the office.
They walked past the training grounds.
Other heroes moved.
Sparred.
Sweat glistening under the sun.
Muscles straining.
Magic flaring in bursts.
"Very knowledgeable about magical structures," Veyros said.
Eyes lifted to Velara.
Gaze steady.
Velara glanced down.
Height difference obvious.
Long legs.
Tall, commanding presence.
"Of course I had to be," she said.
Soft smile.
"That's what I was created to do.
More… like my nature."
Alistair's eyes flicked up.
Veyros's brow rose.
Not born.
Created.
"So you were created."
Veyros nodded slowly.
"No need to ask by who.
Obviously… Haruto."
"Yes," Velara said softly.
Stopping beside a brown door.
Gold trim catching the light.
"Here we are," Veyros said.
Alistair stepped forward.
Hand on chest.
Gesture to enter.
The room looked polished.
Like a hospital.
Beds with curtains around them.
Giant windows.
Flowers on tables beneath them.
They stepped inside.
Two figures emerged from behind the curtains.
Selene.
Lucien.
Heroes.
"Why are you two here?"
Alistair's eyes widened slightly.
Calm never faltered.
"We came to visit our friends," Lucien said.
In the place of Seryn.
(Beatrice's mind flickered.
So they are Solmaria.
So-called heroes.
Special S rank.
Humanity's measure of power.)
(Momo's eyes gleamed.
Gotta give it to them.
Powerful.
Truly on the Path of Heroes.)
Magical power.
System-bound energy.
Allows beings to act beyond normal limits.
Within the universe's framework.
"We're bringing someone to fix the Mana Cores of your friends," Veyros said.
Voice calm.
Firm.
"Are you kidding me?" Selene said.
Tone sharp.
Edges like steel.
"There's no method. No history. Fixing a Core… we're talking about a metaphysical energy nucleus."
"I know that," Veyros said.
Pause.
"But at this point in time… that can change. Just give it a chance."
"Can you do it, Lady?" Lucien asked.
Turning his head slightly.
Eyes fixed on Velara.
"Without hurting them."
"Witness it yourself. Decide after that." Velara said.
Her steps quiet.
Graceful.
She moved toward the three beds.
The dark aura swirled.
Wavering.
Alive.
Hungry.
Velara stopped at the first bed.
Three heroes lay still.
Mana cores pulsing faintly.
Aelira.
Long blue hair framing her delicate face.
Teal eyes distant. Calm.
Pale skin.
Breath shallow but even.
Maribelle.
Orange hair swaying in soft waves.
Bright blue eyes glinting.
Mischief hiding beneath weariness.
A smile threatening to bloom.
Clarisse.
Blonde hair flowing like silk.
Cool blue eyes.
Refined, calm.
Stillness radiating authority.
Veyros cleared his throat.
Explaining.
The Mana Cores… would be fixed.
(In a few weeks… their cores would be destroyed.) Velara thought.
(Not physically dead… but mana-dead.)
(In a world of magic… death is trivial. You're like an ant crushed by someone unaware.) Velara's thoughts continued.
Beatrice waved at the ambient mana surrounding them.
Invisible, heavy.
Dense.
Flowing out of the heroes' bodies.
She didn't move it. Couldn't. Non-physical.
Veyros stepped closer to Velara.
Eyes steady.
Voice lowered.
"You may begin the process," he said.
Stepping back.
Giving her space.
Velara lifted her hands over Maribelle.
The girl's bright eyes followed her.
Hope and curiosity mingled.
"Thank you… for helping us," Maribelle said.
Smile soft.
Relief in her voice.
"Finally… we'll be able to join our friends again."
Velara's lips curved slightly.
A nod.
Silent acknowledgment.
Her own way of saying you're welcome.
("Absolute Analysis" has analysis the damage.) Velara thought.
("Perfect Restoration"… now to apply. Based on the analysis.)
Blue, see-through bubbles floated from her hands.
Hovering over the heroes.
Soft light glinting.
"Absolute Analysis".
"Perfect Restoration".
Sub-skills of Velara's high-level, unique skill: "Aether Insight".
Dark, non-physical space.
Floating.
Three Mana Cores.
Orbiting fragments.
Geometric shapes.
Internal galaxies spinning.
Light pulsed softly.
Energy hummed.
Time seemed to slow.
Each core glowed with its own color.
Creaks echoed.
Dark aura spilling out wildly.
Untamed by nature.
The mana core sat at the center of existence.
Generating.
Storing.
Controlling mana.
The dark aura was sucked back.
Like a black hole.
Pulled into where it belonged.
Cracks healed instantly.
Veyros exhaled.
Alistair's shoulders relaxed.
Relief on their faces.
"It's all done," Velara said.
Hands lowered beside her.
"See? Went rather quickly.
You three… will be able to use magic again."
The heroes stood.
Gratitude burning quietly in their hearts.
Selene and Lucien stayed aside.
Serious looks.
(Who are they?) Lucien thought.
(This Velara… she has more magical power than Alistair.
The strongest in Solmaria.)
(I have a bad feeling…) Selene thought.
(Velara isn't to be trusted.
I don't know why yet… but I will.)
"Um… King Veyros," Velara said.
"Since the three heroes are recovered…
Will the tournament begin?
Between the heroes and the father's students?"
"Yes," Veyros said.
"Since that's the case… it must happen.
The plan is ready.
It would be a waste not to do it."
"I can't wait to go all out," Maribelle said.
Beaming.
Hands clenched into fists.
"We all want to," Clarisse said.
Elegant.
"But we need to get back into shape first."
"We've got a lot of exciting things coming," Aelira said.
Smiling softly.
"Yup! Yup!" Beatrice said.
Playful tone.
"Your will, my lord—
Nations filled with otherworldly goods.
Cakes. Chocolate. Milkshakes.
All you can name."
The five heroes froze.
Eyes widened.
They heard things that shouldn't exist in this universe.
"Cake… chocolate?" Clarisse said.
Voice trembling.
"Yes," Beatrice said.
Proud smile.
"With my lord's wisdom,
We were able to create them."
"Wait… the one you call lord…
Is he from another world?" Lucien asked.
Serious tone.
Beatrice's smile flickered.
She hesitated.
"Why do you say so?" she asked, careful.
Avoiding a direct answer.
"The things you named…
They don't exist in this universe," Selene said.
"No, he's not," Momo said calmly.
Watching Beatrice's hesitation.
"Being with perfect wisdom.
Knowledge beyond humanity.
Creating that? Nothing."
(Even so… the name staying the same is no luck.
But… the being's knowledge beyond humanity…
Could it be linked to our universe?) Selene thought.
Veyros exhaled softly.
Alistair did too.
Subtle.
No one noticed.
(That was close…
If they knew she meant Haruto…
Who knows what would happen.) Veyros thought.
"I'll take it we'll see each other at the tournament," Velara said.
Quickly.
Changing the topic.
"Huh… yes. Of course," Veyros said.
Quick handshake.
Then relaxed.
They all smiled.
Fists tightened at their sides.
Excitement simmering.
Clarisse rested her head on Lucien's shoulder.
Lucien smiled softly.
Eyes downcast.
Hand holding hers secretly.
Something unspoken between them.
"Until next time, then," Alistair said.