Nicos took a seat and slowly glanced around the living room.
The entire place had been patched together countless times to serve as a shelter. The roof was supported by mismatched wooden beams, while several sections of the walls had been reinforced with worn planks gathered over the years. The modest living room held only a few wooden stools and a small table that had clearly seen better days.
For the first time since arriving in the Forgotten Region, he truly took in his surroundings.
Until now, he had been too consumed by guilt to notice any of it.
His gaze eventually settled on his mother.
An indescribable feeling of respect welled up within him.
Through every humiliation...
Every setback...
Every sleepless night...
She had remained his unwavering pillar of support.
She had never abandoned him.
Even when the rest of the world had already given up.
Everything he had experienced inside the hidden space...
Everything he had gained...
Had only been possible because she never stopped believing in him.
Quietly, he made a vow to himself.
One day...
I will repay everything you've done for me.
I'll give you the life you truly deserve.
Taking a slow breath to steady himself, Nicos began recounting everything that had happened over the past seven days.
From discovering the mysterious light inside the cave...
To finding the hidden space...
To entering it and meeting the Spirit Beasts...
He held nothing back.
Well...
Almost nothing.
He deliberately omitted the details surrounding the complete restoration of his Spirit-Root.
After listening to the entire story, Nakita stared blankly for several moments before finally exclaiming,
"There's actually a place like that inside the Forgotten Region?"
"How has no one discovered it all these years?"
"There was," Nicos replied calmly.
Nakita frowned.
"What do you mean... there was?"
The others also looked toward Nicos in confusion.
If such a hidden sanctuary truly existed within the Forgotten Region, its discovery would shake the entire region.
Perhaps...
It might even become humanity's greatest hope.
Nicos shook his head.
"I'm fairly certain you won't find it anymore."
"If you don't believe me, I'll tell you where the cave is."
"You can see for yourself."
Nakita didn't hesitate.
"Tell me the way."
"I'll go right now."
Although he believed Nicos had no reason to lie, the existence of a hidden space overflowing with Spirit Essence was simply too unbelievable.
If it truly existed...
Its value would be immeasurable.
Across the entire Human World, nothing remotely similar existed.
Even the mighty Shelter base possessed nothing of the sort.
Places naturally overflowing with Spirit Essence could only be found within the Spirit Realm itself.
Even obtaining a single droplet of Spiritual Water required enormous resources and countless sacrifices.
Yet Nicos had described an entire flowing stream.
How could Nakita possibly remain calm?
After receiving the directions, Nakita immediately left.
Following Nicos' instructions, he eventually found the hidden cave concealed behind thick vegetation.
Had someone not guided him there, he doubly doubted he would ever have discovered it on his own.
How did this kid even find a place like this...?
The thought briefly crossed his mind before he quickly dismissed it.
Finding the hidden space was far more important.
Carefully following every detail Nicos had described, Nakita searched every corner of the cave.
Back inside the bungalow, Nicos leaned back slightly.
"Let's wait."
"He'll be back soon."
Everyone nodded.
Deep down, they all hoped Nicos was wrong.
If the hidden space still existed...
If there were truly a way to reconnect it to the Forgotten Region...
Then perhaps this land of exile could finally be reborn.
Without Spirit Essence, there could be no connection to the Spirit Realm.
Without the Spirit Realm...
There was no future.
Meanwhile...
Tabitha had found an entirely different mission.
She was relentlessly trying to befriend the little white fox.
Unfortunately...
The fox didn't seem to share her enthusiasm.
Terrified by the strange gleam in her eyes, it scrambled onto Nicos' lap and buried its tiny head against his chest, refusing to even glance in her direction.
Nicos could only shake his head helplessly.
He knew his sister far too well.
The moment Tabitha set her sights on something adorable...
Its fate was already sealed.
All he could do now was silently pray for the little fox's future owner to show at least a little mercy.
Not long afterward, Nakita returned.
One look at his face was enough.
Everyone immediately understood the outcome.
Their expressions dimmed with disappointment.
Nakita let out a long sigh before speaking.
"The hidden space is gone."
"I searched every part of the cave."
"I even broke through several sections of the walls."
"But nothing matched what Nicos described."
He paused briefly.
"That said..."
"There were traces inside the cave that convinced me something extraordinary really happened there."
He turned toward Nicos with a strange expression.
"You really have a talent for finding hidden places."
"I've passed through that area countless times."
"I never even realized there was a cave hidden behind those shrubs."
Nicos smiled faintly.
"You only find what you're searching for."
Nakita chuckled.
"Fair enough."
Chloe gently redirected the conversation.
"Whether the hidden space still exists or not doesn't change anything."
"It would've been a tremendous blessing if it had remained..."
"But since it's gone, dwelling on it won't help us."
Tabitha nodded reluctantly.
"So be it."
Although disappointment lingered on her face, she made no effort to complain further.
After a brief silence, Chloe turned toward Nicos.
Her eyes carried both hope...
And fear.
"Your Spirit-Root..."
"It has truly been restored?"
For six long years...
That single problem had consumed her life.
She had searched tirelessly for a cure.
She had sacrificed everything she possessed.
Now, hearing her son calmly say that his Spirit-Root had been restored...
She still found it difficult to believe.
Nicos smiled.
This time...
It was a genuine smile.
One free from bitterness.
"Yes, Mom."
"My Spirit-Root has been completely restored."
"It couldn't possibly be any healthier than it is now."
As he spoke those words, he felt as though an enormous weight had finally lifted from his shoulders.
Six years of ridicule.
Six years of mockery.
Six years of despair.
Everything that had burdened his heart finally began to fade.
This...
Was the turning point.
Not only for his future...
But for his family's as well.
Then he added another sentence.
One that stunned everyone present.
"And..."
"I may have found a way for us to connect to the Spirit Realm."
"What?!"
Nakita nearly jumped to his feet.
His composure vanished instantly.
No matter how grateful he was to Chloe...
No matter how firmly he believed he had made the right decision...
There had always been moments when regret quietly crept into his heart.
He missed his daughter.
He wondered how she was surviving without him.
He longed to see her again.
The possibility of reconnecting with the Spirit Realm meant there might finally be hope.
Everyone else stared at Nicos with equally anxious expressions.
Since the Spirit Realm first connected with humanity three thousand years ago, entering it had become the greatest aspiration of every Spirit Warrior.
Not everyone possessed the talent to enter.
But no one would willingly throw away such an opportunity.
For those living inside the Forgotten Region...
The significance was even greater.
If they could establish a connection to the Spirit Realm once more...
Then perhaps this forsaken land could finally escape its endless cycle of decay.
Tabitha abruptly stood up.
"Mom..."
"Can you please give me permission to hit this idiot on the head?"
She pointed directly at Nicos.
"Why can't you ever finish a sentence before stopping halfway?"
"What is this?"
"Are we acting in some cheap soap opera?"
"I second that."
Barnabas immediately raised his hand in agreement.
Nicos stared at both of his siblings speechlessly.
Did I offend these two in a previous life?
Why am I always their favorite target?
You two interrupted me before I even had the chance to finish...
And somehow this is my fault?
Before he could defend himself, Tabitha pointed at him again.
"Stop spacing out!"
"If you have a way to connect to the Spirit Realm..."
"Then hurry up and tell us!"
She narrowed her eyes dangerously.
"I swear..."
"If you keep dragging this out..."
"I'll crack open your head and interrogate your consciousness instead."
Nicos opened his mouth.
Only for Nakita to speak before he could.
"That's a little excessive..."
He paused thoughtfully.
"Then again..."
"I wouldn't mind helping."
"As long as his consciousness answers faster than he does."
Both of them looked at Nicos with frighteningly serious expressions.
Chloe pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.
"You two..."
"Could you stop threatening my son for just one minute?"
"If you both stayed quiet..."
"Wouldn't he naturally tell us everything?"
Realizing they'd been called out, Tabitha and Nakita awkwardly looked away.
Neither could argue.
After all...
The temptation before them was simply too overwhelming.
If Nicos truly possessed a method to reconnect the Forgotten Region to the Spirit Realm...
Then the impossible might finally become possible.