Astrachior's words hit Zayne like a heavy hammer, slamming straight into his heart.
Immortality.
Astrachior knew the secret of his undying body.
From the very beginning, this secret had been Zayne's absolute bottom line. He had never told anyone, because he understood all too well the truth of being innocent yet guilty for possessing a treasure.
Zion or Dano, it did not matter. Zayne had gone all out to kill them precisely because they might expose his secret of immortality.
And now Astrachior knew.
What should he do?
Kill him?
At this distance, if he caught Astrachior off guard and unleashed Abyssborn Thunderfall at full power, maybe he could severely injure him, or even kill him.
But then what?
Just as Zayne was weighing whether to make a move, Astrachior spoke again, his voice calm and reflective.
"Oh? There is killing intent in your eyes. Toward me? Then I was right after all. You truly are immortal, Shadowcaster."
He sighed softly.
"As expected. Once all impossibilities are eliminated, whatever remains, no matter how unbelievable, must be the truth."
"You possess immortality, yet you are so weak. It seems that legend is also true."
Astrachior murmured to himself, his expression complicated.
Zayne clearly felt that Astrachior was full of openings, yet his instincts screamed at him that if he attacked, he would have no chance whatsoever.
At the same time, regret flooded his mind. He realized too late that Astrachior had been testing him. He should not have reacted so strongly.
Just as Zayne was seething with frustration, Astrachior suddenly lowered his gaze and said calmly,
"Zayne, are you willing to take me as your master?"
"Ah… what?" Zayne froze completely. He truly could not understand what Astrachior was planning.
Astrachior knew his greatest secret and instead of dissecting him for research, he wanted to accept him as a disciple?
"Then what do I need to do?" Zayne asked cautiously.
Astrachior smiled faintly.
"When you grow strong enough, you will understand what you carry on your shoulders. As for my request… only one."
A trace of sorrow appeared in his eyes.
"After I die, take good care of Nia. Do not let anyone bully her."
Nia?
That ferocious woman? Who could possibly bully her?
Zayne muttered inwardly, but did not say it out loud.
"Alright, back to the point," Astrachior said with a smile. "Are you willing to acknowledge me as your master?"
"I am."
Zayne answered without hesitation.
Regardless of Astrachior's intentions, becoming the disciple of such a powerful figure carried no downside.
His greatest secret was already exposed. At this point, Zayne decided to stop worrying about it. Astrachior had never harmed him. He had spoken up for him during the novice trial and had just driven away the tall man.
Zayne bowed respectfully and performed a formal disciple ceremony.
Seeing this, Astrachior's face broke into a sincere smile.
"Rest assured. I will not harm you. Since you have acknowledged me as your master, I should give you a gift. Take this key."
With a playful blink, Astrachior produced a key identical to the one from earlier and handed it to Zayne.
"What?"
Zayne was stunned. He had just seen Astrachior give the key to the tall man. Were there two keys?
Noticing his confusion, Astrachior chuckled.
"The one he received was fake. A master craftsman friend of mine poured his heart into forging it. This one is the real Apocalypse Ancient Key."
"The Apocalypse Ancient Key?"
Zayne examined the key in his hand. It was forged from bronze, covered in mottled rust, yet carried an ancient and mysterious aura.
"Have you heard of Origin Relics?" Astrachior asked as he poured another cup of tea.
Zayne's heart lurched.
Of course he had heard of them.
Originally, this world had no monsters, no dungeons, no class awakenings.
Until one day, the Gate of Apocalypse descended. From beyond it fell seven Origin Relics, scattered across the world, each possessing vastly different powers.
The first seven people to obtain them became terrifying, forbidden existences beyond compare.
After the Gate of Apocalypse opened, the world itself changed. Humans gained the ability to awaken classes. Strange and powerful monsters appeared, along with countless dungeons.
During that era, endless wars erupted between humans and monsters, and even among humans themselves. Some Origin Relics were shattered in those conflicts, and today their existence was little more than legend.
It was rumored that the Human Emperor of Aurelion possessed one Origin Relic, though no one knew if it was true.
Origin Relics were universally acknowledged as the strongest equipment in existence. Even gathering every divine level blacksmith in the world would not be enough to forge one.
Zayne swallowed hard.
"Master… does this Apocalypse Ancient Key allow you to find an Origin Relic?"
"Of course not." Astrachior handed him a cup of tea. "However… it can open the Gate of Apocalypse. And inside, there may be something even more powerful than an Origin Relic."
Zayne's breathing quickened.
The seven Origin Relics had all fallen from the Gate of Apocalypse. Who was to say there could not be an eighth?
But he quickly realized something was wrong.
"Master, if this key is so valuable, why did you not use it yourself?"
"Because I cannot find the Gate of Apocalypse," Astrachior said plainly, spreading his hands.
The gate appeared randomly. It could emerge in the wilderness, a forbidden zone, a dungeon, or even the center of a human city.
Even with Astrachior's divination, its location could not be predicted.
"Do not worry. The deputy director of the Investigation Bureau now holds the fake key. He will soon mobilize official forces to search for the Gate of Apocalypse. We simply wait and watch," Astrachior said with a smile.
Only then did Zayne understand Astrachior's true intention in handing over the fake key.
Making an enemy of Astrachior truly meant dying without ever knowing how.
"But Master, even if I hold the real key, what use is it to me? If the Gate of Apocalypse appears, I will not be able to compete with those people."
Zayne was painfully self aware. Killing Dano had relied on ambush and luck. If the gate appeared, those who came would be far more terrifying than Dano.
Astrachior took a sip of tea.
"That is not something you need to worry about. Your most urgent task now is to be admitted to the Supreme Academy during the college entrance trial."
"The Supreme Academy?" Zayne frowned. He had never even heard the name.
"If those admitted to the Imperial Capital Academy are top tier geniuses, then those who enter the Supreme Academy are monsters among geniuses."
Astrachior adjusted his glasses.
"Let me put it this way. The Supreme Academy admits only one hundred students each year. The top one hundred of the entire college entrance trial."
Zayne inhaled sharply. Entering such a place would guarantee the full backing of the Alliance's resources.
"I understand, Master. I will definitely enter the Supreme Academy."
Zayne nodded firmly. He had originally planned to coast through the trial, but now that was clearly impossible. Among countless candidates across the Alliance, breaking into the top one hundred would be extraordinarily difficult.
"Do your best. Carefully store the key. Go find a room and rest. I have already informed Mr. Ward," Astrachior said, pointing toward the small building in the courtyard.
"Understood, Master."
Zayne nodded. He then picked up Astrachior's tea knife, sliced open his abdomen, and carefully placed the Apocalypse Ancient Key inside before allowing the wound to heal.
Astrachior fell silent.