With the morning sun filtering over the courtyard, Ren was escorted toward the teleporter by the same girl who had summoned him earlier to meet Rui Yan.
They passed through the courtyard, weaving through several turns, until they arrived at a massive platform. It was pure black, like the night sky itself. White runes were etched across its surface, faint and dormant.
The moment Ren stepped onto it, the runes flared to life.
A flash of light swallowed his vision.
When it cleared, he found himself inside a vast dome-like structure made of transparent material, revealing the surrounding scenery beyond its walls. Nature stretched endlessly outside, serene and untouched. At the center of the dome stood a spatial gateway, quietly humming with power.
"This is where I take my leave," the girl said.
Before Ren could respond, she stepped back onto the platform. In the next instant, she vanished.
So they have a spatial gate this close… Ren thought. And they still use the other one? Truly an enigma.
He walked toward the gateway and stepped through.
The world shifted.
When his senses returned, Ren found himself back inside his room on the Pathway.
"Finally… back," he muttered.
Without wasting time, he gathered his equipment, adjusted his gear, and stepped out of his room, ready to continue his journey.
As he walked along the narrow path outside the castle, a harsh voice barked out from an intersection ahead.
"Hey, trash. The boss wants to see you."
Ren stopped mid-step.
"Please step out of the way," he said calmly.
The boy blocking his path smirked. "Make me."
Ren moved to walk around him, unwilling to waste time—
—but the moment he turned his back, a heavy fist slammed into the space between his shoulders.
The impact sent him stumbling forward. He hit the ground hard, his cheek scraping against jagged stone. Warm blood trickled down the side of his face.
A sharp, burning rage ignited in his chest.
Slowly, Ren pushed himself up. His vision trembled with fury as he swung a powerful punch at the boy.
The attacker sidestepped with ease and countered instantly.
His fist smashed into Ren's face, snapping his head to the side. Blood sprayed from his lip.
A cold, mechanical chime echoed inside Ren's mind.
Ding!
A translucent blue screen flickered into view.
[New Class Detected]
[Class Details]
Class: Transformer
Name: Stone Skin
Ability: Stone Skin
[Ability Description:
Hardens the user's body, greatly increasing physical defense and resistance to injury]
[Copy? Yes / No]
Ren chose No immediately.
The screen faded.
"Stone Skin, huh…" Ren muttered. "Weaker than my Earthmancer."
"Huh? What did you say?" the boy sneered.
"None of your business," Ren replied.
He activated Earthmancer and Phoenix Carapace.
His skin thickened, turning rigid and stone-like as the power surged through him. Moments later, fiery plates of Phoenix Carapace materialized across his body, locking into place like living armor.
"You think a mere Beast Memory can challenge me?" the boy scoffed.
He clenched his fist. "Fine. Since you enjoy getting beaten so much, I'll gladly fulfill your wish."
The boy lunged forward, fist raised.
Ren didn't dodge.
He didn't need to.
Crack!
The punch slammed into Ren's faceplate—and stopped cold.
The boy's eyes widened. "What—?"
Ren stepped in and drove his elbow straight into the boy's chest.
The impact sent the boy staggering backward, coughing violently as the air was ripped from his lungs.
Ren advanced with slow, predatory steps.
"You like attacking people from behind?" he asked quietly.
Gritting his teeth, the boy rushed again, anger overwhelming reason. He threw a wild punch at Ren's ribs.
Thud!
The blow landed—but Ren barely felt it. His armor absorbed the force effortlessly.
Ren grabbed the boy's wrist, twisted sharply, and drove his knee into his stomach.
The attacker folded instantly, collapsing to his knees and gasping for breath.
Panic finally flickered in his eyes.
"W-wait—"
Ren wasn't listening.
He grabbed the boy by the collar, pulled him close, and whispered, "Next time you try something like that… make sure you can finish what you start."
He lifted him slightly, then tossed him aside.
The boy hit the ground with a heavy grunt and lay there wheezing, unable to rise.
A small crowd had gathered, watching in silence—as if this were nothing more than a routine spectacle.
In the Pathway Realm, death was common. Hunting, ambushes, betrayal—there were no laws here. Strength was respected. Weakness was despised.
The same people who once whispered "trash" behind Ren's back now looked at him with mixed expressions—ridicule, irritation… and a faint trace of reluctant acknowledgment.
Someone snorted.
"A trash beating up another trash. What a show."
"He's even blabbering with a Beast Memory…"
Ren ignored them. He deactivated his classes, wiped the blood from his lip, and continued walking.
He didn't spare the fallen attacker another glance.
Here, mercy was an invitation to be trampled.
He had learned that lesson long ago.
But Ren had only taken a few steps when another figure blocked his path.
A tall boy, wearing a smug grin.
"Watch your mouth, trash," the newcomer drawled. "The boss is waiting. You don't get to ignore him."
He jabbed a finger against Ren's chest.
"Come now… or face the consequences."
Ren exhaled slowly. "I'm in a hurry. Maybe later."
The grin vanished.
"So you chose 'later,' huh?"
His gaze sharpened.
"Then take your consequences."
With a flick of his wrist, a thin sword materialized in his hand, its edges glowing faintly.
He lunged.
Ren sidestepped—
—but the flat of the blade smashed across his face with explosive force.
Crack!
Ren's head snapped sideways. Blood sprayed from his mouth.
Before he could recover, the boy drove the flat of the sword into his stomach.
Agony tore through Ren's core as the air was forced from his lungs.
He coughed blood, vision trembling—
—but the attack didn't stop.
The sword slammed across his back, sending a violent jolt through his spine and hurling him to the ground.
He crashed into the dirt, the world spinning darkly around the edges.
The crowd murmured uneasily.
The attacker planted a boot on Ren's shoulder, pinning him down.
"Next time," he sneered, leaning closer, "remember your place."
He lifted his foot.
"Now get up. The boss is waiting."
Ren pushed himself up weakly—
—but before he could rise fully, a fist slammed into the side of his head.
His vision went black.
His body collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
"What did you do that for!?" the swordsman shouted angrily.
A second figure lowered his fist, his expression cold and impatient.
"The boss is waiting," he said flatly. "We don't have time to play around. Stop dragging it out—unless you want to face the boss's wrath."