Leonhart didn't waste another second. Turning on his heel, he broke into a dead sprint back toward the hidden basin where Kairo had constructed the bunker. The raw adrenaline of his fury propelled him forward like a launched projectile.
Kairo let out a heavy, exhausted sigh, his twelve-year-old legs churning as he followed immediately behind.
"Why aren't you angry, Kairo?!" Leonhart shouted over his shoulder, his voice cutting through the rushing wind. "How can you stay so detached after hearing what they do to those children?!"
"Because I already saw the exact same patterns in the previous land," Kairo called back, his tone flat, hardened by academic repetition. "I've already processed the data, Leonhart."
"Ugh! Curse this world!" Leonhart growled.
"But don't mind my lack of shouting," Kairo added, his eyes narrowing as they crossed the rugged terrain. "You and I... we're maturing. We're slowly becoming men. Look at us—we both have sprouted mustaches now. And since this territory is literally called the Land of Lust, you know exactly what kind of degenerate nature we're dealing with. Rage won't solve it. Strategy will."
Leonhart's jaw tightened. "Yeah. I understand you, Kairo. So when do we finally get to kill these bastards?"
"Hmm. Listen to me, Leonhart. Why don't we use Kai's invisible cloth? Wait a second..." Kairo paused mid-stride, his brow furrowing as he checked his mental inventory. "I completely forgot I even had that in the reserve..."
Right on cue, the atmospheric pressure dropped, and the translucent blue interface of the system manifested directly in front of Kairo's face, completely ignoring his forward momentum.
[ NEW MISSION ASSIGNED ]: The Trials of Temperance.
Objective: You will be granted the Invisible Cloths. However, you must intentionally allow yourself to be struck by their magic. You must experience every single cognitive and sensory spell their populace possesses.
[ REWARD ]: Absolute Discipline. (Note: This mission grants NO strength increases. NO physical buffs.)
Kairo's blood boiled. Pulling back his fist, he threw a savage punch straight at the center of the glowing text box out of pure, unadulterated anger. But his hand passed clean through it as the screen dissolved and reformed a foot away.
"It was completely fine when I didn't have you!" Kairo barked aloud, his voice echoing fiercely in the empty valley. "What do you mean I won't get a single buff?! Ahh, it's a good thing I was already pissed off! What happens if I refuse? What if I don't do it?!"
The blue text rippled, the cold, pixelated font shifting into an omen.
If you refuse or abandon this directive, your nightmare will instantly resume. You will be returned to the chamber and tortured continuously for another three years.
The anger vanished from Kairo's face in an instant, replaced by a sudden, sickening paleness. His knees buckled, and he fell heavily into the dirt, staring at the screen with wide, hollow eyes.
No way... his mind whispered, a cold sweat breaking across his neck. That nightmare... the systematic torment I endured when I was seven or eight years old... it will happen again? He swallowed hard, his throat dry. "What... what if I fail the mission parameters?"
The system updated smoothly:
Failing the mission will carry no external consequences. Only abandoning the mission entirely will break this system contract. If the contract fractures, your previous tormentor will be granted full, unrestricted access to your physical biology once more. So be careful. And good luck—you are going to need it.
You can survive... if you can.
Kairo slowly stood up, brushing the dirt from his knees, his analytical shell locking back into place with a freezing finality. He looked at Leonhart, who was watching him with deep concern.
"Ok, Leonhart," Kairo said, his voice entirely devoid of emotion. "If we run at maximum pace for three hours, we will reach the primary bunker. From that coordinate, my operational radius will allow me to maintain the protective barrier over the rescued kids while simultaneously launching a remote attack on the main agricultural sector."
Leonhart nodded sharply. "Why don't we just send a messenger bird or inform our homeland forces?"
"No," Kairo replied, shaking his head. "The system is strictly forbidding me from leaking the location or involving outside military factions."
Leonhart exhaled a long breath, adjusting his armor. "Ok, Kairo. You are all heads, I am all strength. Just use my power however you see fit. I will stand with you with my full, unyielding loyalty, Prince."
Kairo gave a firm nod. "Ok. Let's start running."
Utilizing their residual superhuman stamina, the two boys tore across the wilderness, their bodies cutting through the night like shadows. For three unbroken hours, they maintained a grueling pace until the familiar, hidden basin near the crystal lake materialized through the mist.
Kairo extended his hand, channeling a thread of his concentrated mana. The earth groaned softly as the hidden mud door of the subterranean bunker unsealed, pivoting smoothly to reveal the dark staircase. Kairo and Leonhart slid inside, the heavy earthen door sealing shut behind them to erase their presence from the surface.
Leonhart collapsed against the dirt wall, panting heavily as he unbuckled his gauntlets. "Kairo... what about the air ventilation? We've been running for hours, and closing this place completely leaves us with zero oxygen."
"Don't worry. Look above you," Kairo said, pointing toward the ceiling.
Leonhart squinted into the upper gloom and blinked in absolute shock. "What kind of sorcery is this?"
Embedded into the reinforced earth was a primitive but perfectly functional mechanical contraption—a circular frame housing angled metal blades.
"It's an exhaust fan," Kairo explained, leaning against the wall. "Back in my old world, it's just a common metal piece used for airflow. I managed to craft the metallic components using raw minerals, and right now, I am constantly pedaling the internal gears from a distance using a basic loop of my mud magic. The stale air is being forced out, and fresh oxygen is entering from a concealed intake valve on the ridge. We're perfectly fine. A single candle is enough to verify the air quality, but I also brought some actual lanterns from the town."
Leonhart let out a short chuckle. "Stealing from these animals isn't stealing at all. So... how are we going to enter the city gates this time?"
"With these clothes, of course," Kairo replied, gesturing to a pile of civilian tunics they had secured during the rescue. "We were total idiots the first time, marching straight up to their border wearing our distinct Land of Harmony armor and practically begging them to inspect us. Obviously, they flagged us. But now, we have proper local attire."
Leonhart paused, his brow furrowing as a tactical discrepancy occurred to him. "Wait a minute... the first time we approached, those scouts spotted us when we were still incredibly far away, completely hidden in the deep trenches. How did you manage to bypass that just now?"
A sharp, dangerous smirk returned to Kairo's face. "The system didn't just give me the cloth, Leonhart. I got my passive Assassin's Steps and Assassin's Stealth skills back. I can completely shroud my own acoustic and visual presence now, and I can extend the dampening field to hide you as well."
His smirk faded slightly as he analyzed the core problem. "But... they will still be able to sense us if we get too close. Their primary sensory array is completely overpowered. I still don't understand why the system categorized [Desire Spark] as a mere F-Rank ability. The moment we step within their perimeter, that passive pulse reads exactly what we desire. That's the real reason those original guards dragged us toward the orphanage—they read our desire to protect children and realized we were a direct threat to their system."
Leonhart leaned forward, his expression turning grave. "Hmm... so can't we just... listen, Kairo. If [Desire Spark] is that powerful, you should avoid going in person entirely. Just send your mud clones to do the infiltration."
"Actually," Kairo countered, his eyes gleaming with a sudden realization, "when my clones were moving through the streets earlier, the civilians who passed them looked completely shocked. The [Desire Spark] arrays couldn't read a single thing from them. They can't see my desires through the clay. But wait... wouldn't that void of information actually help my narrative?"
Leonhart's eyes widened as the pieces clicked. "A blank slate... an anomaly that their magic can't read. That perfectly mirrors the description of the Child of Prophecy!"
"Exactly," Kairo nodded, his mind spinning the tactical trap into its final shape. "It's a genius oversight on their part."
"But what about the clones' other capabilities?" Leonhart asked. "Have you thought about how they'll handle a direct magical counter-attack?"
Kairo let out a dry, cynical laugh. "As you know, those are just mud constructs. They don't possess real human emotions, a central nervous system, or a soul. They operate entirely like automated robots. That is precisely why the system evaluated them as low-tier, 'useless' spells. The system thought they were weak because they lack biological complexity... but it completely failed to realize that their lack of a mind makes them completely immune to the Land of Lust's psychological magic."
Leonhart adjusted the straps of his civilian tunic, his expression turning sharp as they stood near the entrance of the freshly excavated tunnel. "What about the system mission, Kairo? You said you have to let yourself get hit by every single type of magic they possess to avoid that nightmare contract."
Kairo snapped his fingers, his eyes widening slightly. "Ahh... I actually forgot about that clause for a second. Right. That alters our immediate tactical approach. I have a precise plan to satisfy the system parameters while keeping us mobile. For now, let me change your face back into the mud-stained disguise we used when we first appeared at the gates."
Leonhart crossed his arms, a confident smirk breaking through his focus. "You forgot to mention masculine, handsome face that attracts chicks."
Kairo gave him a flat, deadpan look, his fingers already pulsing with mana. "Uhhh... whatever."
With a swift manipulation of his mud magic, Kairo rapidly shifted the contours of their faces, layering them in a coarse, asymmetrical film of clay. It completely masked their real features, turning them back into the "ugly anomalies" the guards had initially rejected.
Moving with synchronized, silent steps, Kairo and Leonhart slipped into the dark mouth of the newly created tunnel. They navigated the forty-meter depth with ease, using their advanced stamina to cover the distance in minutes. As they reached the terminal point directly beneath the orphanage's outer wall, Kairo used a thread of localized mana to seamlessly dissolve the upper earth, sealing the tunnel completely behind them to leave zero structural evidence.
They emerged directly into the courtyard of the facility.
The security grid was already on high alert due to the previous mass disappearance. The moment their boots hit the cobblestones, the amber light of a dozen lanterns swung violently toward them. The guards locked onto their distinct armor silhouettes peeking out from beneath the civilian clothes.
"Intruders!" the lead guard screamed, his voice cracking with absolute panic. "The kids who vanished... they've reappeared! Capture them!"
Kairo and Leonhart exchanged a quick, adrenaline-fueled glance, their lips curling into identical, dangerous grins.
"Parkour activated!" they shouted in perfect unison.
Right on cue, the translucent blue interface of the system materialized, flashing with high-priority warnings across Kairo's vision.
[ SUB-MISSION ACTIVATION ]: The Kinetic Gauntlet.
Objective: Do not get caught under any circumstances. Run with your entire physical might. Dodge incoming projectiles and physical hazards.
The hunt began instantly. The rhythmic, thunderous banging of alarm drums echoed across the crimson-and-white castles, shattering the midnight silence of the city.
As Kairo and Leonhart leaped over a decorative stone balustrade, bounding onto the main thoroughfare, the surrounding civilians rushed to their balconies and windows. Hundreds of pairs of glowing eyes locked onto the two fleeing twelve-year-olds.
"Desire Spark!" Kairo gritted out as a sudden, unseen wave of mental energy crashed into his cognitive center.
The civilian sensory arrays instantly pierced their mental shields, reading the raw, unadulterated intent burning in the boys' hearts. The crowd began to laugh—a high-pitched, mocking chorus that echoed off the white stone walls. They could read the boys' intense desire to completely destroy this land, treating the grand ambition of two children as a pathetic, hilarious joke.
Immediately following the laughter, a secondary wave of mana rippled through the air.
"Temptation Whisper," Kairo analyzed through the haze, his heart hammering against his ribs.
A barrage of localized, auditory illusions began to flood their ears. Voices that sounded like their parents, like safety, and like absolute comfort called out from the dark alleyways, demanding they stop running and surrender to the warmth. Both Kairo and Leonhart's legs locked up mid-stride, their bodies instinctively tilting toward the source of the spell.
No, Kairo roared internally, biting his lower lip until it bled, using the sharp physical pain to shatter the psychological anchor. He grabbed Leonhart's shoulder, shaking him out of the trance. "Don't look! Keep your eyes forward!"
But the onslaught didn't stop. A high-tier Attention and Beauty spell triggered from the central plaza. The sheer, artificial allure of the environment began to disrupt their visual tracking, blurring the edges of the roofs and making the cobblestones look like shifting gold.
The system's mission parameters were satisfied—the magic was hitting Kairo's core, forcing his mental discipline to compress and harden under the immense psychological weight. But the combination of the spells carried a dangerous side effect: by magnifying their thoughts, the enemy's magic was inadvertently causing Kairo and Leonhart's core desire—their blinding rage and obsession to dismantle this corrupt regime—to balloon out of control, making their aura turn volatile and explosive.
Down the street, an elite mage standing on a terrace noticed the terrifying shift in the boys' presence. He turned to his subordinates, screaming in pure panic, "Who was the idiot who used that magnifying skill on them?! You're feeding their intent!"