Arin's breathing was uneven.
His mind had not yet returned to the corridor.
Even though his body was kneeling before her—
Part of him was still suspended in that void.
That endless, suffocating darkness.
No.
Not darkness.
Absence.
He swallowed.
Was that her mana?
No.
It couldn't be.
Mana could be measured.
Colored.
Felt.
What he saw had no boundary.
No density.
No direction.
It was not a storm.
It was not an ocean.
It was not even a sky.
It was something far beyond substance.
With that… whatever that was—
She could erase Heaven itself.
Not with effort.
Not with struggle.
Simply because she could.
His thoughts spiraled.
His fingers trembled slightly against the floor.
Then—
A faint glow pulsed near his chest.
"Wake up."
"Wake up."
"She is still here."
Cutie's voice was urgent.
Arin blinked.
The corridor returned fully.
Caelum knelt beside him.
The Goddess stood before them.
Silent.
Watching.
He realized—
He had frozen mid-sentence.
His mouth was slightly open.
Brilliant.
He forced himself to breathe.
Think.
Speak.
"Umm…"
His voice cracked.
He cleared his throat.
"My Lady…"
He lowered his head deeper.
"Forgive this human's hesitation."
He swallowed again.
"Cutie… informed me that it is capable of perceiving the mana of others."
"I was merely relaying this information to Caelum."
"After confirming its accuracy… I was just about to report it to Your Divinity."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Cutie's glow flickered once.
If it had a face, it would have been staring at him.
Caelum did not move.
But his silence screamed:
That was poorly constructed.
The Goddess regarded him quietly.
Then—
"Is that so?"
Her tone was smooth.
Neutral.
Arin pressed his forehead slightly closer to the floor.
"Yes, my Lady."
He felt it.
Her gaze.
Heavy.
Not crushing.
But examining.
Measuring.
Weighing.
Time stretched.
His heartbeat sounded too loud in his ears.
He didn't dare look up again.
He didn't want to see that void twice in the same day.
Then—
The weight shifted.
She turned away.
Her robes moved gently with the motion.
Before her form began to dissolve into particles of light—
She spoke.
"I will overlook your insolence."
"For now."
Arin's shoulders stiffened.
Her voice lost its softness.
"If you enter the Grand Tournament…"
"You will not mock it."
"If you stand upon that stage…"
"You will not abandon it without effort."
A pause.
Sharp.
"If you dare withdraw without trying—"
Her presence intensified for a fraction of a second.
"I will ensure you regret that decision."
The air tightened.
Not violently.
Just enough for the message to settle into his bones.
Then—
She vanished.
Like she had never been there.
The corridor returned to normal.
The pressure lifted.
The sound of distant palace life resumed.
Arin remained kneeling for three full seconds.
Then—
He exhaled.
Long.
Dramatic.
Collapsed slightly forward.
"I almost died."
Caelum slowly rose.
"You did not."
"I spiritually died."
"You are still breathing."
Arin sat back on his heels and wiped his forehead.
"I am not surrendering mid-battle."
Caelum looked at him.
"You intended to?"
"…Hypothetically."
Caelum closed his eyes briefly.
"You are remarkably reckless."
Arin pointed upward.
"She is unfair."
"You spoke carelessly."
"She appeared out of nowhere!"
"You mentioned her."
"I always mention her!"
"That is the problem."
Arin stood up and stretched his arms.
"At least I'm alive."
He paused.
Then glanced at Caelum.
"…Right?"
Caelum looked at him for a long moment.
"You are an exceptionally fortunate soul."
Arin blinked.
"That didn't sound comforting."
Caelum continued calmly.
"Do you understand how many times you have stood at the edge of erasure?"
Arin slowly raised a finger.
"…Two?"
"Seven."
Arin froze.
"Seven?"
"Yes."
"Had it been any other Irregular…"
"Or even a lesser celestial…"
"They would not have survived the second offense."
Arin swallowed.
"Oh."
Caelum's gaze softened slightly.
"You are granted allowances no one else receives."
"That is not normal."
"That is not common."
"That is not mercy extended lightly."
Arin scratched his cheek.
"So…"
"She's just generous?"
Caelum gave him a flat look.
"No."
Arin tilted his head.
"Then what?"
Caelum did not answer.
He simply turned and began walking down the corridor.
"Prepare yourself."
"For what?"
"For the consequences of being noticed."
Arin frowned.
That didn't sound good.
As they walked—
He looked down at Cutie.
"You saw that too, right?"
"Yes."
"What was that?"
"Not mana."
"Then what?"
"Something older."
Arin shivered.
He didn't want to know more.
Not yet.
They reached a junction in the corridor.
Caelum paused briefly.
Then said quietly—
"Do not disappoint her."
Arin stiffened slightly.
Not from fear.
But from the tone.
It wasn't a threat.
It was… expectation.
And that felt heavier.
As Caelum walked away—
Arin remained standing there.
Alone.
For the first time—
The tournament didn't feel like a joke.
It didn't feel like an escape route.
It felt like a test.
Not of strength.
But of worth.
He looked at his hands.
Then at Cutie.
"You better actually carry me."
Cutie flickered confidently.
"I will."
Arin sighed.
"…Why do I feel like things just got worse?"
Because they had.
Far across Heaven—
Aurelius had already begun preparing.
And the stage was slowly being built.
Not just for combat.
But for hierarchy.
For pride.
For humiliation.
For proof.
And somewhere above it all—
The Goddess of Time watched silently.
Waiting to see—
If the Irregular would fall.
Or stand.