Chapter 227 — Nocturnal Flows and Questionable Conversations
Night had fallen over the guild.
Silence reigned…
a deceptive silence.
For even when everything seemed calm, the guild never truly slept.
Kronn, however, was asleep.
Standing.
Against a wall.
Still standing.
With every breath, the wall vibrated slightly.
— "…He's going to end up fusing with the building," someone murmured.
No one knew who had spoken.
---
In the courtyard, Aeris continued his training.
The Tempesborne Form was no longer just an unstable state.
The core he had created pulsed softly in his chest, steady, almost alive.
His senses were sharper.
The wind seemed slower.
His body responded better… but the pressure remained.
— "It's not supposed to feel this heavy…" he muttered.
He took a step.
Then another.
The ground cracked slightly beneath his foot.
— "…Oops."
He froze immediately, holding back his flow.
That was when a presence appeared behind him.
— "You know," Nyss said with a smile, "new powers always have a particular scent."
Aeris jumped.
— "STOP DOING THAT!"
— "Relax, I was just watching you…"
She tilted her head.
— "Well no. I was also judging you."
— "…Great."
Nyss vanished for a fraction of a second, then reappeared in front of him, crouched, elbows on her knees.
— "When you truly master your flow, you'll be able to move without leaving a trace. No sound. No presence."
— "Like you?"
— "No."
She smiled.
— "Better. I cheat."
Aeris frowned.
— "And if I get lost in this flow?"
Nyss shrugged.
— "Then you become dangerous. And interesting."
She vanished again.
— "…She's creepy," Aeris muttered.
— "And annoying," added another voice.
Seline appeared, arms crossed.
— "Don't listen to her. Disappearing is HER power. Not yours."
— "I figured. Even the king…" Aeris hesitated.
— "Even Azevran doesn't do that."
— "Exactly. Your flow is meant to strengthen, accelerate, stabilize. Not play hide‑and‑seek."
Seline fixed him with a look.
— "You're continuing?"
Aeris clenched his fists.
— "Yes."
He inhaled deeply.
— "I want to reach rank S."
Seline blinked.
— "Still that dream…"
She sighed, then smiled faintly.
— "I don't know why you're so stubborn… But good luck. You'll need it."
---
In the hall, Oris and Kae spoke in low voices.
— "Tell me," Oris began, "did you see Blackstar's face when Nyss erased the guard's arm?"
— "I saw everything," Kae replied.
He sighed.
— "And I'm one hundred percent sure it wasn't Nyss speaking at that moment."
— "Yeah… that was pure Blackstar."
Oris crossed his arms.
— "Seriously, I don't get why he protects humans so much."
— "Maybe because he was one," Kae answered calmly.
Oris grimaced.
— "Maybe. But admit it… before the events five years ago, humans respected nothing and no one with powers."
— "Before that," Kae corrected, "no one had powers. At least… officially."
Oris chuckled.
— "Ah, the media."
— "What do you mean?"
Oris shrugged.
— "Most awakened during the events, sure. But me? I already had powers as a kid."
Kae stopped cold.
— "Seriously?"
— "Yeah."
Oris smiled.
— "And Baryon told me to hide them. Otherwise, I'd have had… a lot of problems."
Kae stared at him.
— "…That explains a lot."
— "Like what?"
— "Your behavior."
He narrowed his eyes.
— "And your total lack of fear."
Oris grinned wider.
— "Oh, that's just my natural charm."
— "You already had the black sclera and orange pupils?"
— "Unfortunately, yeah."
— "And no one ever noticed?"
— "Perception‑distortion pendant."
Oris tapped his chest.
— "Gift from Baryon. People saw what they wanted to see."
Kae stayed silent for a moment.
Then asked calmly:
— "Tell me… Oris."
— "Hm?"
— "Are you sure you're human?"
Oris blinked.
— "Well… I've always looked like a human."
— "That's not an answer."
Oris thought for two seconds.
— "…Technically, no."
Kae sighed.
— "Great."
At the back of the hall, Kronn turned in his sleep…
and slammed his head against the wall.
BOOM.
— "…He really is going to fuse with the guild," Kae murmured.
Oris smiled.
— "At least he doesn't ask himself existential questions."
The night stretched on,
laden with flows, secrets…
and latent chaos.
Chapter 228 — A Guild of Chaos
The dawn had not yet risen, but the guild was already in motion.
Well… partly.
In a corner of the hall, Kronn was still asleep.
Same position.
Same wall.
Same snoring.
Seline walked past him, stopped, stared for two seconds… then placed a blanket over his head.
— There.
— …
— Portable silence activated.
She walked away, satisfied.
A minute later, the wall vibrated slightly.
— …
— No.
— YES.
Seline turned slowly.
Kronn had only changed position.
The wall, however, had gained a fist-shaped crack.
— …I refuse to admit this is real, she murmured.
---
In the training yard, Aeris was still there.
Standing. Focused.
Breath calm, steady.
His core vibrated softly.
Not violently.
Not like the day before.
This time, the flow moved better.
Azevran watched from a distance, arms crossed.
— You're progressing.
— I feel it… Aeris replied. It's like my body… finally understands what it's supposed to do.
— Normal. You're not forcing anymore. You're listening.
Aeris slowly activated his Tempesborne Form.
A subtle veil of energy wrapped around his body.
No explosion.
No pain.
Just… control.
— Good, said Azevran. Now, move.
Aeris took a step.
Then another.
Then vanished.
— …
— …
— Oh, Azevran muttered, surprised.
Aeris reappeared three meters away,
And struck a training dummy that exploded in a devastating wave, sweeping away everything behind it.
— I DIDN'T MEAN TO!
A second dummy fell.
Then a third.
— …That wasn't even the one he aimed at, Azevran murmured.
Nyss, perched on a rooftop, burst out laughing.
— Oops.
— NYSS! shouted Seline from the entrance.
— What? This time it was him!
Azevran observed Aeris carefully.
— Interesting.
— That's not supposed to happen, right? asked Aeris.
— No.
— Great.
Seline approached, arms crossed.
— Breathe. You didn't "disappear." You managed to circulate the flow through your whole body, which let you move so fast it looked like you vanished, then you reappeared in front of the dummy and, with immense control, released the energy in your strike.
She paused.
— Honestly… masterclass.
Aeris blinked.
— …Thanks?
Nyss grinned.
— Looks like we won't need to stabilize your core.
— Stop saying that like it's ominous, grumbled Azevran.
---
Meanwhile, in a dim corridor…
— I'm shocked by everything you just said, Kae admitted. I should've suspected as soon as you told me Baryon is 140 years old. How can a human even be that age?
Oris shrugged.
— Strange you didn't doubt it, honestly.
Then he added, casually:
— I think he's already delivered the materials I asked for to craft me a new feather.
— But to you, Baryon… is he like a father figure? asked Kae.
Oris gave him a strange look.
— You trying to imply I'm close to a hundred myself?
— That's not what I meant, Kae replied. I just feel like you two are… close.
— I wouldn't say that, but it's not far off. And for the record, we're about the same age, Kae. I'm not old.
Kae sighed.
— Go on.
Oris looked ahead.
— When I was born and opened my eyes… he was the first person I saw.
He paused.
— You could say he's like a father to me. But I don't call him that. He told me I'd been abandoned by my parents and that he would take care of me.
— And you believed him? asked Kae.
— I was a baby, Oris replied seriously. Didn't have much choice.
Then he added:
— But I remember that even at birth, I already had tattoos. Runes. And in my left eye, the inverted rune.
Kae frowned.
— You have no memory of your parents?
— None.
— Then I doubt you were abandoned. If that were the case, you'd have seen them at least once.
He stared at him.
— It's deeper than it seems.
Oris shrugged.
— Meh. Solving that mystery won't get us anywhere.
Then he smiled.
— And honestly, as long as I can pay my stuff and cast runes, I'm fine.
— You're really weird.
— Thanks.
---
Back in the yard, Aeris inhaled deeply.
The flows stabilized around his core.
His green hair lengthened down his back.
A green glow covered his body.
He felt a sensation of lightness… and power.
— …Oh no, Azevran murmured.
Aeris entered the true Tempesborne form.
He made a simple backhand motion.
The entire training ground was swept away.
The ground cracked.
The walls trembled.
A tree… vanished.
— You did it, said Azevran, genuinely impressed.
Nyss applauded from the rooftop.
— Magnificent!
— GET DOWN FROM THERE!
---
A massive BOOM suddenly echoed in the hall.
Everyone froze.
— …
— …
— What was that? asked Seline.
They turned.
The wall.
Again.
Kronn had just woken up.
— …Why is everyone staring at me?
— YOU BROKE ANOTHER WALL, shouted Lysandra from upstairs.
— Oh.
— WHAT DO YOU MEAN "OH"?
— Sorry?
Silence.
Then Lysandra sighed.
— I give up.
---
Aeris watched the scene, torn between laughter and disbelief.
Azevran placed a hand on his shoulder.
— You see?
— What?
— You're not in a normal guild.
— I'd noticed.
Aeris smiled despite himself.
His core vibrated softly.
Stable.
From the back of the hall, Oris shouted:
— WHO TOUCHED MY MONEY?!
— WASN'T ME! Nyss replied.
— I SEE IT IN YOUR HAND!
— TECHNICALLY NO, it doesn't exist anymore.
— I'LL CURSE YOU!
— Already did.
The guild came back to life.
Ever more chaotic.
Ever more dangerous.
And strangely…
no one would have wanted to be anywhere else.
Chapter 229 — Chaos, as Always
The calm didn't last.
It never lasted in this guild.
In the main hall, Oris was still frantically rummaging through his coat.
— I had them right here. — HERE. — My money can't just disappear.
Nyss walked behind him, hands innocently clasped behind her back.
— Maybe you should invest in a "memory" rune. — Or a "don't lose your money like an amateur" rune.
— I SAW you earlier! shouted Oris. — You did something weird with your hand!
Nyss tilted her head.
— That's defamatory. — And technically false.
Kae sighed.
— Nyss. — Give him back his money.
— …Fine.
She opened her hand.
Nothing.
— There.
Oris stared.
— THERE'S NOTHING. — Exactly. — Your money still exists. — Just… not here.
Silence.
— … — … — Where did you send it? asked Kae, already tired.
Nyss thought for a second.
— Hmm. — Somewhere safe. — Very safe.
— SO WHERE?!
— I'd say… — In a micro-shadow zone folded in on itself. — Stable. — Almost inaccessible. — And totally invisible.
Oris fell to his knees.
— That was ALL my budget…
Nyss placed a hand on his shoulder.
— Relax. — I'll give it back. — Someday.
— SOMEDAY?!
---
Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Aeris was sitting on a bench, out of breath. His green hair had returned to normal, but his core was still faintly pulsing.
Seline handed him a bottle.
— Drink. — You just redrew half the training ground.
Aeris took a gulp.
— Sorry… — I feel like my body is moving faster than my head.
— Welcome to the club, replied Seline. — Now imagine when your head catches up.
Azevran observed the cracked ground.
— Your Tempesborne Form is evolving. — It's no longer a transformation. — It's a state of synchronization.
Aeris blinked.
— Is that… good or worrying?
— Yes.
Nyss suddenly appeared beside them.
— Congratulations. — You've just joined the list of people "to keep an eye on."
— Great… murmured Aeris.
— Don't worry, she smiled. — You're still far from becoming a problem.
— "Still"?!
---
In the hall, Kronn stretched with a yawn.
— I dreamed I broke a wall. — It was weirdly realistic.
Lysandra screamed from upstairs:
— KRONN. — DON'T. — MOVE. — ANYMORE.
— …Okay?
He took a step.
CRACK.
— …Oops.
Silence.
Then a collective sigh swept through the guild.
Kae rubbed his face.
— We'll have to reinforce the walls. — Again.
Oris slowly stood back up.
— With what money? — MINE is in the void!
Nyss raised a finger.
— Technically, it's not the void. — It's worse.
---
Aeris watched the scene. The chaos. The shouting. The broken walls. The absurd arguments.
And despite it all…
He smiled.
Azevran noticed.
— What? — Nothing. — I was just thinking… — If this is what an S-rank guild looks like…
He stood up.
— Then I really want to reach it for real.
Seline nodded.
— You will. — But remember one thing.
— What?
She pointed to the hall, where Oris was chasing Nyss while yelling, Kronn was fixing a wall he had broken, and Kae was threatening to go live alone on a mountain.
— Here, power won't save you. — Adaptation will.
Aeris chuckled softly.
— I think I'm starting to understand.
At the back of the hall, Oris shouted one last time:
— NYSS IF YOU LOSE MY MONEY I'LL CURSE YOU FOR SEVEN GENERATIONS!
— Too late, she replied. — I've already started.
The guild vibrated.
Unstable. Loud. Dangerous.
But more united than ever.
Chapter 230 — Testing the Limits
The next morning.
Well… "morning" was a very relative concept at the guild.
In the hall, Lysandra stood with arms crossed, her icy gaze inspecting the damage.
Two cracked walls.
A pillar patched up with what looked like… a table.
And the floor still scarred by Aeris's shockwave.
And in the middle of it all…
Kronn.
With a hammer.
Upside down.
— "…Why are you holding the tool by the head?" Lysandra asked.
— "Like this," Kronn replied calmly.
— "I damage the wall less."
Silence.
— "…It makes sense in your head, doesn't it?"
— "Yes."
Lysandra slowly closed her eyes.
— "I'm going to meditate."
— "Good idea," Seline said as she passed.
— "Take an hour."
— "An hour?"
— "So you don't kill someone."
---
In the courtyard, Aeris was already standing.
Not training.
Just… standing.
He looked at his hands.
His core was calm.
Stable.
But present.
Azevran arrived behind him.
— "You still feel the flow?"
— "Yes… Even without activating the form."
— "Normal. You're no longer entering the Tempesborne Form. You're carrying it."
Aeris inhaled.
— "And if I lose control?"
— "Then you'll break something."
— "…."
— "Look around you. You wouldn't be the first."
Aeris gave a faint smile.
— "So what are we doing today?"
— "Today… we'll test your limits. But intelligently."
Nyss appeared, sitting cross‑legged in midair.
— "Oh, I like that. Limits are overrated."
— "Nyss," Azevran said without looking at her, "if you interfere—"
— "Relax. I'm just watching. Maybe."
Seline arrived, arms full.
— "Today's program: a duel between you… and Dervan."
Aeris:
— "What?! You want to kill me?!"
— "No," Azevran replied.
— "Dervan won't kill you."
Dervan approached, hands in his pockets.
— "Rank S hunter."
Aeris's eyes widened.
— "A RANK S?!"
— "What are you afraid of?" Dervan said calmly.
— "I promise I won't kill you."
Kae arrived.
— "Oh yeah… That's rough. Good luck, kid."
— "You'll need it," added Oris.
— "Try not to die."
— "It's my dream to reach rank S! I won't give up!"
— "That's the mindset you need," said Azevran.
Aeris took his stance.
Dervan didn't move.
Hands still in his pockets.
— "Ready."
— "Go."
Aeris vanished.
He rushed forward at incredible speed and struck Dervan head‑on.
POUM.
Silence.
Dervan hadn't moved.
Not even a brow raised.
Aeris felt something scream in his instincts.
Move.
Too late.
Dervan's gaze fell on him.
Aeris stepped back, heart tight.
— "Is there still such a difference in level… Despite everything I've done… It's unthinkable…"
Dervan pulled one hand from his pocket and gestured.
— "Come again."
— "Primordial Zephyr Hurricane!" Aeris shouted.
The surge of wind crashed down on Dervan.
A simple backhand.
The attack dissipated.
— "What…?"
BAM.
A punch sent Aeris flying.
He barely got up.
— "He's fast…!"
CRASH.
A kick hurled him against a wall.
— "You're really that weak?" Dervan asked.
Aeris growled.
— "I can't… I refuse to be this weak…!"
He screamed.
A massive flow erupted around him.
Nyss tilted her head.
— "Ooooh. He's starting to get interesting."
Dervan just glanced.
Aeris's hair glowed green.
He began to float.
Then vanished.
He attacked from every side.
Invisible.
Furious.
— "Behind you!" Kae shouted.
Too late.
Dervan caught Aeris's arm mid‑strike.
— "What—?!"
He lifted him.
And slammed him into the ground.
BOUM.
The floor cracked.
Dervan looked down calmly.
— "Too sloppy."
He tossed Aeris aside.
Aeris rolled across the ground, gasping.
— "…I… I still need… to progress…"
Nyss smiled.
— "Good news. You're still alive."
Oris crossed his arms.
— "Bad news. He hasn't even warmed up."
Dervan slipped his hand back into his pocket.
— "Shall we continue?"
Aeris clenched his teeth…
and smiled faintly.
— "Yes."