Vasuki stepped into the washroom with slow, heavy footsteps.
He walked toward a mirror and slowly lifted his head.
His eyes were completely filled with tears.
For a few seconds, he silently stared at his own reflection before wiping his tears away with his hand.
But suddenly—
BAM!
In a burst of anger, Vasuki slammed his fist directly into the mirror.
Yet not even a single scratch appeared on its surface.
The realization shattered him even further.
"AAAAAHHH!"
His scream echoed throughout the empty washroom as he finally broke down crying.
Unable to hold himself anymore, he slowly fell to the floor while tears continued running down his face.
Inside his mind, painful thoughts endlessly attacked him.
I'm so weak…
On the Red Moon… that spirit rejected me…
The spirit I understood better than anyone else…
And it chose someone who knows absolutely nothing.
His hands trembled violently.
After a long moment of silence, Vasuki slowly stood back up.
His head remained lowered, hiding his expression beneath the shadow of his hair.
Then, in a cold voice, he whispered to himself,
"One day… I will surpass the spirit that rejected me."
Vasuki slowly turned around and began walking forward with his head lowered.
But after taking only a few steps—
THUD.
He suddenly collided with someone.
Vasuki slowly raised his head… only to see Vikar standing directly in front of him.
Vikar looked at him with a mocking smile before saying,
"You're really weak, aren't you? Don't you even know how to fight?"
Vasuki lowered his head once again and calmly replied,
"Fighting goes against my principles."
The moment Vikar heard that, he burst into laughter.
"You sure talk like some wise saint," he said mockingly. "But none of those words are useful to you."
He stepped closer toward Vasuki.
"You're the kind of person who can't even speak properly."
Vasuki's expression remained calm as he quietly asked,
"And why does the way I speak bother you?"
Vikar smirked slightly.
"How about the two of us work together?"
Vasuki looked at him silently before asking,
"And what benefit would you gain from that?"
Vikar casually replied,
"You're good at studies, right? Then help me pass the exams."
Vasuki immediately answered,
"No. You can pass on your own as well. Why should I work hard only for you to pass?"
The smile on Vikar's face disappeared instantly.
Suddenly, he grabbed Vasuki by the collar and pulled him forward aggressively.
"Listen carefully," Vikar growled coldly.
"You'll do what I say… or the consequences will be very bad."
Vasuki slowly stepped back after Vikar released his collar.
"…Fine," he said quietly.
A satisfied smile appeared on Vikar's face.
"Good," he replied. "I can protect you from every problem… and I can even teach you how to fight."
Vasuki remained silent, but deep inside his mind, doubt filled his thoughts.
The same person who once treated me like an enemy…
The same person who kept troubling me…
What exactly can he protect me from?
But if I refuse him… he probably won't leave me alone.
Meanwhile, Vikar smiled brightly as if nothing had happened.
"Come on then," he said casually.
Vasuki looked at him in confusion.
"Where?"
Vikar suddenly laughed.
"Let's go to a good shop and eat something amazing."
After a brief hesitation, Vasuki silently nodded his head.
Vikar then turned around and began walking ahead confidently.
But inside his own mind, a completely different thought echoed:
I'll treat him to some really good food…
That way, he'll start feeling like he owes me a favor.
Meanwhile, Mara, Pasito, and the rest of the students had already gathered inside the classroom. The room was filled with loud conversations and excitement as everyone discussed their rankings and powers.
Pasito suddenly rolled up his sleeve and proudly showed the swollen veins on his arm to Mara.
"Look at this," he said confidently. "This is what real power looks like."
Mara smirked slightly.
"Oh yeah? Then it's my turn."
Slowly, with controlled force, Mara clenched his fist.
The instant he did, the veins on his arm bulged even more intensely than Pasito's. The pressure in his muscles became visibly terrifying.
Pasito's eyes widened in shock.
"…Were you secretly a warrior in your past life or something?"
At that same moment, Vikar and Vasuki entered the classroom through the entrance.
Vasuki's eyes immediately moved toward Mara.
He slowly walked closer to him… but Mara did not even look at him once.
After hesitating for a moment, Vasuki gently placed his hand on Mara's shoulder.
The reaction was immediate.
Mara suddenly turned around with irritation in his eyes.
"What happened?" he snapped. "Why are you bothering me?"
Without waiting for an answer, Mara casually placed his arm around Pasito's shoulder and walked out of the classroom with him, completely ignoring Vasuki.
Vasuki remained standing there silently as the classroom noise echoed around him.
Vikar silently watched everything.
Then he walked toward Vasuki and said,
"Forget about him. Now answer me this… do you want to learn how to fight?"
Without turning around, Vasuki lowered his head and replied in a calm but serious voice,
"Yes."
Vikar smiled slightly.
"Good. Then from today onward, we'll form a group. A group can have four people."
Vasuki finally asked,
"Which four people?"
Vikar answered,
"Me, you, Artha, and Yunsa."
A faint smile appeared on Vasuki's face.
He then started walking toward the last bench, where Yunsa and Artha were sitting together while eating snacks.
Just then, the bell rang loudly, and all the students quickly returned to their seats.
Vasuki sat silently in shock.
Inside his mind, only one thought repeated itself again and again.
How could Mara treat me like that…?
A moment later, Alpha entered the class.
He looked at everyone and said,
"Today, we will learn something new."
The classroom instantly became quiet.
"I will teach you all some basic things. First… let us understand the Gyan Mudra."
The moment Vasuki heard those words, a small smile appeared on his face.
If I want to surpass Mara…
…then I need to master the Gyan Mudra as quickly as possible.