A few minutes later, Seok sensed the presence of several individuals three kilometers away. He immediately halted the healing process—a procedure that had been revealing his location by concentrating natural energy into a single point.
That brief concentration of energy had been enough for those with superior power levels to pinpoint his position.
"There are people three kilometers away," Seok said calmly, glancing at Suho, who was in the middle of a meal he had retrieved from his own personal dimensional space.
Suho returned his food to the dimensional space, his expression sharpening. He was well-accustomed to this; various groups had been hunting them down, all because of Seok's unique abilities.
To the students and faculty of the Versalkin Academy, Seok's powers were a treasure to be exploited, while to the followers of the Scorpion Organization, he represented a threat that had to be eliminated.
Having fought side-by-side for six full years, Seok and Suho had become an impeccable duo.
They had effectively become a thorn in the side of the Scorpion Organization's followers, as well as certain students driven by jealousy.
Seok conjured a dome, split it in two, and then compressed the fragments into a protective shield surrounding their bodies—a configuration that offered defense without hindering their movement or ability to fight.
With their auras completely suppressed and their presence entirely concealed, the likelihood of them being discovered became virtually non-existent.
Seok and Suho began to move through the area, intent on identifying their adversaries and pinpointing their exact location. If someone offered to help them, they would first assess the person's intentions before deciding whether or not to trust them.
As for members of the Scorpion organization, if such an individual were at a similar or lower power level, they would attempt to kill them; however, if the opponent were two full ranks stronger, they would choose to flee.
By utilizing their ability to remain hidden, they could exploit a lapse in an enemy's defenses to strike a lethal blow—even against an opponent two or three sub-ranks above them.
While moving about, they encountered Grey, Ryuichi, and Lucy, who had been searching for them.
The sight left them stunned.
Seok and Suho communicated telepathically, a wave of shock washing over them both.
"It's Grey de Molière, Ryuichi de Molière, and Lucy Kethali! Scions of the Great Duchies—the Duchy of de Molière and the Duchy of Kethali!"
"What could they possibly want with you, Seok? Have they discovered your unique 'dome' abilities?"
"Obviously. Why else would they come looking for me? Do you think we're living in one of those fantasy hero novels you're always reading? This is reality—they're here to exploit me, then discard me. They couldn't care less whether I live or die."
Seok spoke with clear irritation.
Having endured months of being ignored and treated with utter disregard, he felt nothing but revulsion at the sudden interest shown by these high-ranking figures—an interest sparked solely by the discovery of his abilities. It was much like people who go searching for trees during the heat, only to spend the rest of the year cutting them down.
Or like those who insult a builder, treating him as if he had no dignity—paying him a pittance, or perhaps even denying him what he is rightfully owed—only to come rushing back to him the moment they need him to build their homes.
This was how Seok viewed humanity: they cherish one another only as long as there is some benefit to be gained, but cast each other aside the moment that utility comes to an end.
For this reason, deep down, Seok rejected the very idea of helping them.
To them, he was nothing more than a tool—something to be used, then discarded or ignored once it was no longer needed.
---
Seok dispelled the concealment dome that had surrounded him and Suho. They suddenly appeared before Grey, who recoiled in shock; he had never expected Seok to materialize out of thin air like that.
Suho appeared right beside him.
Grey, Ruichi, and Lucy turned their gazes toward Seok and Suho, both of whom looked to be in perfect condition—traces of healing magic were still visible upon them.
Watching them, Ruichi muttered to himself, filled with admiration:
"Jian Yi was right. Seok possesses an unparalleled ability to create such domes."
But then his expression shifted, admiration giving way to bewilderment.
"Why did the Versalkin Academy overlook him, even though they operate under an unspoken class-based system? The world has known about this for a long time."
"Ah... the world is truly not fair at all." "If you are born a commoner, you remain a commoner; if you are born a noble, you remain a noble until the day you die."
"Even those among the common folk who possess great strength often lead simple lives. As for those who do manage to reach high positions, it is frequently thanks to their connections with the powerful."
A collective, involuntary sigh escaped the lips of Grey, Ryuichi, and Lucy—they were all thinking the exact same thing.
A unique, one-of-a-kind talent—a gift that should have paved the way for a magnificent future—was instead left to rust and fade away in the shadows.
Ryuichi spoke, his voice calm:
"I know you're frustrated, Seok, at how the Academy has overlooked you—but please, listen carefully to what I have to say."
"I am well aware that you don't trust us, and that to those in power, your life or death is of no consequence."
"But if you make it out of this crisis alive and help us overcome it, I swear to you that the De Molière family will support yours and provide everything you could ever need."
"If you even wish to bring someone back from the dead, we could attempt it. The mages of the De Molière house are among the finest; they are capable of resurrection—even for someone who has been dead for as long as ten years."
Seok appeared calm as he listened to Ryuichi—or at least, that is what the others assumed.
He could see no clear way out. Should he trust him, or not?
The world itself had borne witness to Ryuichi's words, making it difficult for him to go back on his promise.
And yet, there were downsides that could not be ignored. Ruichi could have silenced him in any number of ways; the De Moliar family was, after all, one of the most powerful in the human realm.
As for Seok, he was nothing more than a commoner—someone whose elimination, in the eyes of those in power, would require no more effort than a sneeze from the head of the family, Reinhardt.
They could simply deny ever having made a promise, and no one would dare to object.
After all, who would be bold or courageous enough to jeopardize their relationship with the heir to the Duchy of De Moliar for the sake of a commoner child—a boy with neither influence nor social standing?
Seok understood this all too well; he had lived with such realities his entire life.
Being a commoner came with many drawbacks and hardships.
Sometimes, a single meal might be the only food one would get for an entire week.
Such was the life of Seok and Suho before they arrived at the Versalkin Academy—a place where they finally found fresh, hot food and drink, clothing, and warm shelter.
It was a wonderful, comfortable life, but it was destined to be short-lived.
In three years, he would be forced back into his miserable existence unless he could find a solution to his predicament.
Should he trust Roichi and fight for his own life and future—as well as those of his family? Or should he decline the offer, only to incur the enmity of one of the most powerful families on the Central Continent?
These questions swirled through Seok's mind, playing over and over like a broken record.
Seok took a deep breath before speaking:
"Fine, I agree. But I will not be forced to fight on the front lines.
Furthermore, you must guarantee the safety of both myself and Suho. That is one of my conditions for joining you."
Before Roichi could respond, Suho ushered the others away so they could discuss a matter he deemed critical—especially since he had noticed that Seok's mental state was far from stable.
Roichi, Lucy, and Grey looked on in astonishment; they were taken aback by the audacity of Suho, who had addressed them in such a manner.
Yet, seeing the genuine seriousness etched across his face, they chose to let it slide. ---
Once they were a few meters away from Seok, a sigh heavy with anxiety escaped Suho's lips.
"I want to say just one thing: you must not do anything that might cause Seok to lose control of himself."
"I know my words surprise you, but Seok's true power is..."
---
After several minutes of discussion, Ruichi, Lucy, and Grey returned—visibly shaken, though they tried to conceal it. Meanwhile, Suho went back to Seok, who appeared puzzled by his friend's strange behavior.
Breaking the silence, Ruichi reached out to shake Seok's hand.
"Do we have an agreement, Mr. Seok?"
Seok shook Ruichi's hand in return.
"Yes, we have an agreement."
A faint smile appeared on Suho's face as he watched, though he struggled to hide his inner turmoil.
He knew Seok all too well—he knew the true extent of his power—and that was precisely why he felt so tense; he feared that something might trigger Seok to lose control and destroy everything in his path.
Suddenly, everyone sensed a powerful energy emanating from the eastern side of the island—the unmistakable aura of the Scorpion Organization's followers.
Looking toward the eastern part of Jeju Island, Lucy spoke:
"We need to reach the rendezvous point quickly. It seems Tom, Jian Yi, and Beatrice have completed the remaining parts of the plan."
She then turned her gaze back toward the others. Their gazes were sharp, and their auras glowed in various hues—a vivid manifestation of the disgust and contempt they felt toward the members of the "Scorpion" organization.
The latter had attacked them without warning, attempting to kill them—all for the sake of making a spectacle of themselves before the world.
This was something they could not accept; their lives were not bargaining chips to be used to force the world to acknowledge the existence of such people.
Grey, Ryoichi, Lucy, Seok, and Suho moved toward their designated meeting point.
Throughout the short journey, Grey, Ryoichi, and Lucy kept their eyes fixed on Seok.
They were stunned, having just discovered the true extent of his abilities.
The thought that a monster had been lurking in the shadows—letting his immense talent go to waste—was deeply unsettling to them.
This reaction did not stem from any personal affection for Seok, but rather from a keen awareness of his value in a world governed by social status and class.
In the eyes of those in power, an individual could be a "golden" or "platinum" giant—capable of filling coffers with wealth—or a warrior who could elevate the standing of the entire Empire.
---
A few minutes later, they arrived at the rendezvous point, which was crowded with students from the Ordinary, Elite, and Legendary divisions, along with the instructors in charge of them.
The students and instructors were in a pitiful state, clearly in no condition to continue fighting.
They had sustained a mix of deep and superficial wounds, and were suffering from extreme exhaustion and a severe depletion of their energy reserves. One only had to look at them to realize a single truth: most of them were no longer capable of fighting another battle.
Seok and Suho cast their gaze toward the students and professors, who were resting and attempting to treat their injuries with whatever meager resources they had left.
But those resources were pitifully scarce; they had exhausted most of what they possessed over the preceding days, while battling the followers of the Scorpion Organization.
All that remained were the most rudimentary supplies—first-aid kits devoid of any healing energy—the kind typically used by ordinary humans who had never managed to break through to a level that would allow them to harness their internal power.
It was a harsh existence.
What one might have mocked just yesterday, one might find oneself forced to rely upon tomorrow.
This reality left a suffocating bitterness in their throats.
Yet, no one complained; at this moment, grumbling or asking for medical supplies was out of the question, as everyone was preoccupied with the desperate struggle for their own survival.
Gry, Ryoichi, and Lucy—accompanied by Seok and Suho—made their way toward the location of their remaining companions, passing by the students and professors who lay scattered about.
---
Inside a medium-sized house, Jian Yi, Tom, Beatrice, and Previka—along with four senior professors of the "Holy Ruler" rank—were gathered at a makeshift command center.
These professors had been sent to oversee the operation.
They appeared to be in relatively good condition, as their primary mission had been to supervise the proctoring professors and to orchestrate waves of formidable monsters to challenge them. They gazed calmly at the 3D model of the island, searching for any idea to stop the approaching enemy, who commanded a formidable force.
Their attention shifted toward Grey, Ryoichi, Lucy, Seok, and Suho, who had just entered the temporary command center to finalize their preparations for the impending confrontation.
Elsewhere, Seok and Suho scanned the area, looking for the students who had achieved a perfect score on the exam.
However, Guther MacTire—son of Duke Yokimarus MacTire—Gia Guilford—daughter of the Magic Emperor Aster Guilford—and Yuta Caseral, the academy's strongest student, were all absent during this grave crisis.
The island of Gigua was in a state of chaos, yet these individuals were nowhere to be found—at a time when every helping hand was desperately needed.
Seok and Suho let out deep sighs as they took in the tense atmosphere.
The presence of such prominent figures—scions of grand dukedoms, the heir to one of the world's three most powerful sects, and four elite professors from Versalkin Academy—felt stifling to them.
They couldn't even bring themselves to utter a single word.
In contrast, Tom, Jian Yi, Beatrice, and Previka all wore expressions of relief upon seeing that Seok was still alive.
His presence meant that many problems could be solved—from healing and defense to setting traps and obstacles for their enemies.
Thanks to him, everything had become much easier.
The professors, meanwhile, looked on with bewilderment.
These youths, born into great and powerful families—individuals whom others were accustomed to waiting upon—were now waiting, with palpable anticipation, for a commoner.
It was a sight they had never witnessed before.
Gesturing toward the supervising professors to introduce them to Seok, Lucy spoke in a calm tone:
"Thank you for coming, Master Seok." "We have been waiting for you with great anticipation."
"Mr. Leo, Ms. Calista, Mr. Julian, Ms. Vanessa—this is the person we've been waiting for."
The gazes of Vanessa, Calista, Julian, and Leo turned toward Seok, who appeared slightly tense.
Their looks held a measure of interest and curiosity. Then, the professor in charge—a man named Leo—spoke in a tone as guarded as he could manage:
"Lady Lucy Kethali, with all due respect, how exactly can Mr. Seok be of use to us? I have never heard of him at the Academy before."
Signs of annoyance and irritation flickered across Seok's face as he listened to Leo—remarks he perceived as an insult and a slight to his dignity.
Yet, he said nothing; words would change nothing, and besides, his role in the plan required him to operate from the shadows.
Still, finding Leo's words both insulting and uncalled for, he simply turned and walked back out of the command center, his expression composed.
The professors watched him leave, feeling a touch of vexation, as they took his departure to be a sign of disrespect.
As for Grey, Ruichi, and the others, they followed him in silence, their faces etched with clear curiosity.
Taken aback, the professors in charge decided to follow them as well, saying nothing.
Once outside, they all turned their eyes toward Seok, who now stood amidst a throng of students and professors—all of whom were staring at him in bewilderment.
"Who is this person? And what is he doing here?" "I don't know who he is, but he seems confident in what he's doing. He arrived accompanied by Grey, Ruyichi di Moliar, and Lucy Kethali."
"Isn't that the student, Seok? He looks to be in good shape."
"What the hell is he planning to do?"
"Ugh, get him out of my sight! I'm exhausted and worn out—seeing him standing there just makes me even more irritable."
... ... ...
---
Murmurs rippled through the students as they watched Seok, above whose hand a palm-sized dome began to form.
With a snap of his fingers, the dome expanded rapidly, engulfing the entire encampment within seconds.
Shock washed over the faces of the students and professors alike as they felt a surge of healing energy flow into their bodies, mending their injuries and restoring their vitality.
It was an exquisite sensation—as if they were floating on air.
Their wounds began to close with remarkable speed, and their strength gradually returned.
The murmurs swelled once more, like a rising tide—but this time, they were filled with intense excitement and a profound sense of relief; some even wished to remain in this state forever.
"Wow! This feels incredible! Thank you, sir... whoever you are!"
"My wounds are healing so fast—my strength is coming back! This is truly amazing!"
"Who would have imagined that after eleven days of such exhaustion and hardship, a moment like this would come—where these damn wounds would finally be healed?"
"He possesses a terrifying amount of power!" "Can domes really be used in this way? Seok is truly formidable!"
"Does Versalkin Academy have a student with such skill? They've got an uncut gem on their hands! Where has he been all these past months?"
---
Elsewhere, Leo, Vanessa, Calista, and Julian spoke in shock as they watched the scene unfold before them.
"He's absolutely incredible! An unknown student possessing an ability like this!"
"It seems he has plenty of trump cards up his sleeve. There's no way his domes are meant solely for healing."
"Has he been hiding all these capabilities? It looks like Versalkin Academy needs to start focusing on students from all social backgrounds."
"I must speak with the head of Versalkin Academy, Soliver, and his deputy, Carter, about reforming the academy and fostering its development."
The murmurs within the camp regarding Seok's healing ability grew louder—a welcome development for Seok and his companions, as the plan was unfolding exactly as they had intended.
But the positive atmosphere vanished instantly when an overwhelming aura suddenly surged from the east-central region of Jeju Island.
With voices heavy with tension and dread, they exclaimed:
"The Council Leader, Number 5, has arrived!"
---
In the east-central region of Jeju Island, an army of 700 fighters stood under the command of the 'Scorpion of Shadow and Light.'
The leader wore a white mask, adorned with a black scorpion pincer and the number '5' painted in red. His overwhelming aura could be felt across the entire island of Jijwa, striking dread and fear into the hearts of his enemies.
Speaking with a chilling, lethal coldness, he gestured toward the island:
"Support your comrades, and kill everyone—except for those whom the Venerable Heaven-Shatterer has ordered to be spared."
He then added, in a harsh, menacing tone:
"Otherwise, the consequences will be dire. Death itself would be a mercy for you. Is that clear?"
The organization's followers replied in a single, resounding voice, their tones heavy with fear and dread:
"Understood, Commander!"
The organization's soldiers moved with great speed across the island of Gijua, their bodies radiating a murderous intent as their auras surged powerfully.
The war was nearing its end; victory or defeat would seal the fate of one of the two sides.
From the western region of the island, reinforcements from the Versalkin Academy were on their way, led by Reinhardt—the head of the Duchy of De Moliar and the strongest human of all.
Meanwhile, on the island of Gijua itself, the students were preparing for a final confrontation against the Scorpion Organization.
In the end, there would be nothing left but victory or defeat.
Whatever the outcome, the world would bear witness to what was about to unfold.