Chapter 332 – The Great Valor, Victim of Universal Jealousy
Valor suddenly furrowed his brows.
A grave furrow.
Solemn.
Far too serious for the situation.
— There is someone… speaking ill of the Great Valor.
Valen sighed without even lifting his eyes.
— Bless you.
— WHAT?! Valor cried out indignantly.
He pointed an accusing finger at Valen.
— I will resent you for eternity, Valen.
— …Again?
— Because of YOU, he continued dramatically, the Great Valor couldn't obtain new attacks.
Valen blinked.
— …What do you mean?
Valor turned to him, deeply offended.
— Because of YOU, I didn't get to see Agniryos use more techniques.
— And if I had seen them…
He paused.
— …I would have reproduced them.
He enunciated slowly:
— Re. Pro. Duce. Them.
Arelis, calmly nestled in Valen's arms, raised an eyebrow.
— So… you wanted my Labyrinth to be in meltdown?
He sighed, already tired.
— There exist attacks capable of annihilating worlds effortlessly.
— If Agniryos had used that here…
He looked at them calmly.
— And if I had been there to witness it…
— I would have eradicated you both.
Silence.
Then Valor burst out laughing.
— Keep talking.
— Never will an old man playing at being a child eradicate the Great Valor.
Arelis slowly turned his head toward him.
— …Who are you talking to like that?
Valor crossed his arms.
— From what I see, there's only one old man here playing at being a child.
— And strangely… it's you.
— Who else could it be?
Valen immediately raised his hand.
— Okay. Pause.
— Calm down, both of you.
He looked at Valor.
— And you, stop bothering Arelis.
Valor shrugged.
— Pff. Fine.
He turned away.
— Well. Let's continue toward the guild.
He took two steps…
Then stopped dead.
— Wait.
— I have something important to settle.
And he vanished.
A few seconds later—
— WHO DARED SPEAK ILL OF THE GREAT VALOR?!
Valor had appeared before Dervan, Ravna, Eldric, and the children, floating slightly above the ground, arms spread wide like a deity offended by the very existence of the world.
— Do you want me to burn you, or what?!
Solan calmly raised his hand.
— So, Uncle Valor…
— Was it you who sneezed earlier?
Valor's smile froze.
He slowly lifted his head…
Then began levitating even higher.
— You see me sneeze… me?
— ME?
He spread his arms.
— How can you imagine that a being so beautiful…
— so sublime…
— so perfect as the Great Valor…
He placed a hand on his chest.
— …could sneeze?
— Of course it wasn't me.
Kaor and Lyane looked at each other.
— Yet…
— We could have sworn it was you.
Ravna rubbed her face.
— …He's putting on his show again.
— It's truly insane.
Valor royally ignored them.
— Very well.
— The Great Valor will leave you.
He turned—
Then instantly reappeared before Valen.
— THE SUBLIME GREAT VALEN has returned among you.
Valen stared at him.
— You didn't settle anything, did you?
Valor smiled.
— I did.
— I reaffirmed my superiority.
— Mission accomplished.
Arelis sighed deeply.
— One day… this world will pay for letting you speak freely.
Valor placed a hand on his heart.
— The world should thank me.
In the distance, someone sneezed.
Everyone looked at Valor.
— …
— Still wasn't me.
Curtain. 😏🔥
Chapter 333 – Shadows of the Past Don't Know When to Stop
Aeris floated calmly a few centimeters above the ground, hands behind her head, as if gravity were nothing more than a polite suggestion.
Beside her walked Vareth, Nyra, and Llan, the group moving forward in an almost peaceful silence.
— Honestly, Llan began, thoughtful, those three kids we met earlier… they were strong.
Aeris tilted her head slightly.
— You mean my juniors from school?
— Kaor, Lyane, and Solan?
A faint smile crossed her face.
— Yes… they're really powerful for their age. Far too much, even.
Llan chuckled.
— Same could be said for you.
Aeris rolled her eyes.
— Stop flattering me.
— I was clearly not as skilled as them at their age.
Nyra, arms crossed, added calmly:
— The teachers looked pretty formidable too.
Llan glanced sideways at her.
— Sounds like you're deliberately downplaying it.
— You're sixteen, and already stronger than at least one of the teachers.
— That's not luck, Aeris. You've got talent. A lot.
Aeris looked away, slightly embarrassed.
— …You're exaggerating.
They continued walking.
Then—
Aeris stopped dead.
— Oh no.
— Not them again…
— They're way too annoying.
Vareth tilted his head slightly.
— Who?
Nyra narrowed her eyes.
— The bastards from last time.
Llan slowly clenched his fists.
— Them.
— They're unbearable.
His voice grew darker.
— Last time…
— They trashed my mother's house.
— They traumatized her.
He lowered his head.
— …And I couldn't do anything.
A heavy silence settled.
— Because of my weakness.
Vareth calmly placed a hand on his shoulder.
His smile was gentle.
Far too gentle.
— Do you want me to silence them for you?
Llan lifted his head, his gaze hard.
— No.
— If they're to be silenced…
— Only I have the right to do it.
He gritted his teeth.
— For what they did to my mother.
At that moment—
— YOU!!
A figure charged straight at them.
Brakk burst forth, face twisted with rage, finger pointed at Llan.
— YOU'LL PAY FOR HITTING ME!!
Aeris sighed deeply.
— …They really have no sense of timing.
Brakk stopped in front of Llan, a wicked smile on his lips.
— This time, there's no Valor to defend you.
He puffed out his chest.
— I am Brakk.
— Rank B hunter.
He stepped forward.
— And I'll make you pay for that punch you gave me.
Silence.
Then—
Llan burst out laughing.
— Rank B…?
He looked up, almost amused.
— Funny how you all have the same speech.
Aeris sighed again.
— Brakk…
— I really advise you to leave now.
Brakk turned his head toward her.
— And you, the guy floating, stay out of this.
Vareth smiled.
Nyra crossed her arms.
Llan stepped forward.
— You know what's changed since last time?
— Before… I was weak.
His aura vibrated slightly.
— Now?
— I'm just deciding…
— Whether I let you walk away alive.
Brakk burst out laughing.
— Don't make me laugh!
He stepped closer.
— I remember your pathetic punch perfectly.
— It was so weak I thought a kid had hit me.
He sneered.
— And now you say you're stronger?
— I'd love to see that.
In Llan's mind, doubt struck like a hammer.
…Damn.
Even if I've grown stronger…
He's still above me.
The bluff didn't work.
His heart was pounding too fast.
But before he could step back—
— Brakk.
Aeris's voice fell, calm. Too calm.
— You've already made a huge mistake.
Brakk frowned.
— Huh?
Aeris slowly set her feet on the ground.
Gravity seemed to remember her existence.
— The first was attacking his family.
— The second…
She lifted her eyes toward him, her pupils glowing faintly.
— Was believing Llan is alone.
Vareth stepped forward.
— You see, he said quietly,
— We really try to be kind.
Nyra smiled.
— But you always insist on testing our patience.
Llan drew a deep breath.
His gaze hardened.
— Brakk…
— Whatever happens now…
He clenched his fists.
— You'll regret coming back.
The air grew heavy.
Too heavy.
The shadows of the past had just made a fatal mistake:
they had chosen the wrong time…
and the wrong people.
Chapter 334 – Shadows of the Past Truly Never Know When to Stop
Brakk burst out in loud laughter.
A laugh a little too strong.
A little too long.
A little too forced.
— Don't make me laugh! he sneered, slapping his thigh. — Seriously, do you remember the punch you gave me last time? — It was so weak I thought a mosquito had sneezed on me.
He stepped forward, puffing out his chest.
— And now you say you're stronger? — I'd really like to see that.
Llan didn't answer right away.
His fist clenched.
*Even if I've grown stronger…* he thought.
*He's still above me.*
*The bluff… didn't work.*
Aeris sighed, long. Very long.
— Seriously… he said, rubbing his face, did you all take a special course to be this insufferable? — Because at this point, it's almost an art form.
Brakk turned his head toward him, annoyed.
— Shut up, you floater. — What are you? A failed magic trick?
Nyra tilted her head.
— Oh. — He chose that phrase.
Vareth smiled, slowly.
— Bad choice. Very bad.
Brakk felt a chill run down his spine.
— …What? You going to cry?
Aeris finally let himself drop to the ground, his feet touching earth without a sound. He locked eyes with Brakk.
— You see, the problem with you… — Is that you think danger always screams before it strikes.
He gestured toward Llan with his chin.
— And you deliberately ignore the fact that the one you're harassing is literally holding back.
Brakk sneered, but his voice lacked a bit of confidence.
— Holding back from what? — Having a panic attack?
Llan's aura pulsed.
Not an explosion.
Not a shockwave.
Just… pressure.
As if the air itself had decided to turn hostile.
Brakk frowned.
— …What is this?
Llan slowly lifted his head.
— You know what I've learned since last time? — True weakness… isn't being unable to strike.
He stepped forward.
— It's having the power…
— and choosing not to use it.
Nyra clapped softly.
— Oh, I like that. — Much classier than "stop or I'll cry."
Brakk swallowed hard.
— You're bluffing.
— Maybe, Llan replied calmly. — Or maybe this time… — I really strike.
Vareth tilted his head slightly.
— Brakk, right? — Friendly advice. — Step back.
Brakk gritted his teeth.
— You're all trying to scare me? — I'm Rank B!
Aeris rolled his eyes.
— Why do they always say that like it's a legendary spell? — Rank B! — Poof. Applause.
— RANK B! Brakk shouted, exploding his mana.
Llan closed his eyes for a second.
Then reopened them.
His aura changed.
Not violent.
Not chaotic.
Stable. Dense. Cold.
Brakk froze.
His legs refused to move forward.
— Huh…?
Llan looked at him without anger. Without hate.
— Now… — It's you who decides.
He cracked his fingers.
— You leave.
— Or you find out what it feels like…
— when someone "weak" stops being weak.
A heavy silence settled.
Brakk stepped back once.
Then twice.
— …This isn't over, he spat. — I'll be back!
Nyra smiled.
— Of course. — They all say that. — It's almost endearing.
Brakk turned on his heel and disappeared.
Llan finally released the pressure. His legs trembled slightly.
— …I thought I was going to faint, he murmured. — But in that moment… — I almost believed it myself.
Aeris placed a hand on his shoulder.
— That's progress. — Scaring even yourself.
Vareth chuckled softly.
— The best bluff is the one you start to believe.
Nyra nodded.
— And next time… — You won't even need to bluff.
Aeris looked toward the direction Brakk had vanished, his gaze more serious.
— Shadows of the past are a nuisance. — But they have one huge flaw.
He smiled.
— They never know when it's already too late.
Chapter 335 – The Strategic Escape of the Hunter "Not Afraid at All"
Brakk slammed his hand against a wall, far from where Llan stood.
He breathed heavily.
— …That runt really tried to intimidate me.
He clicked his tongue, annoyed.
— Seriously. — Me. — Intimidated.
He straightened, crossing his arms with disdain.
— He just got lucky. — Lucky that I had no desire to face those who were with him.
His gaze hardened.
— Their aura…
He clenched his teeth.
— It was far too powerful. — All three of them. — Even that guy floating as if he'd forgotten how to walk.
He chuckled, nervously.
— I did well to leave. — A strategic retreat. — Perfectly calculated.
He stared at the ground.
— But next time… — Next time we meet, Llan, you'd better not hide behind your comrades.
He smiled, a wicked smile.
— Me, afraid of that runt? — Hm. — Never.
He turned away.
— He'll remain the one I intimidate. — Always.
Silence fell.
Then, somewhere, a bird suddenly took flight.
— …Damn bird.
Meanwhile.
Aeris walked calmly beside Llan, a wide smile on his face.
— Honestly, he said. — You really pulled it off.
He looked him up and down.
— How did you do that?
Llan blinked.
— …Do what?
— Your aura, Aeris replied immediately. — Full pressure. — Full presence. — The combo "I'm calm therefore I'm dangerous."
He gave a thumbs‑up.
— Incredible. — I almost believed you were really stronger than him.
— Almost, Llan murmured.
Nyra burst out laughing.
— Did you see his face when he backed off? — He looked like he'd just realized his shoes were optional.
She clapped her hands.
— Just for that, you really nailed it.
She leaned toward him, more serious.
— But be careful. — Guys like that never let it go. — Their ego is too fragile to survive public humiliation.
Llan sighed.
— Great… — So I'm officially on his blacklist?
— Oh no, Aeris replied. — You were already on it. — Now you've just earned a red highlight.
Vareth, who had been watching silently from the start, finally spoke.
— There are two possibilities, he said calmly.
He raised two fingers.
— Either he becomes more cautious… — and tries to intimidate you less directly.
— Or he comes back with something to prove. — And then, it'll be more dangerous.
He looked Llan straight in the eyes.
— Whatever happens… — You'll be safe for now.
Llan finally let the tension out of his shoulders.
— …Thankfully. — Because honestly… — I thought my legs were going to give out.
Aeris burst out laughing.
— Classic. — The body panics, the aura lies, and the enemy buys the whole package.
Nyra smiled.
— The funniest part? — Brakk is probably convinced he won something.
Vareth nodded.
— People like him often confuse "not striking" with "being superior."
Llan lowered his eyes, thoughtful.
— Next time… — I might not need to bluff.
Aeris gave him a light pat on the shoulder.
— One step at a time. — Today, you survived. — And honestly? — That's already a victory.
They resumed their path.
Far behind them, Brakk sneezed.
— …
— Still not fear.