The energy emanating from the magic circle was ominous.
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An intact barrier might have withstood it, but not one riddled with cracks.
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I have to get out!
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Partan made his decision and leaped into the air.
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He quickly scanned the surroundings again.
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Nothing?
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Shockingly, Gaon was nowhere to be seen.
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Not just Gaon—no one was there.
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The explosions from the fireballs had killed everyone.
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Swish.
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Partan looked at Baren, still floating above.
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He had no choice but to accept it.
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The information was wrong.
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Baren was a 6th Circle mage.
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At that moment, a massive icicle surged from the magic circle.
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Partan veered in panic, but it was futile.
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Astonishingly, the icicle changed direction to follow him.
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Damn it!
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The control was uncanny, almost instinctive.
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Partan poured his remaining mana into reinforcing the barrier.
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The icicle struck.
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Crackle!
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The barrier filled with cracks.
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Partan realized it.
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He couldn’t block it.
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Shatter!
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The barrier broke.
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The icicle pierced his abdomen.
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“Ugh!”
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Partan screamed in agony.
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Then he felt it.
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The seal in his heart activated.
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As it did, the pain vanished.
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Strength surged through his body.
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The downside? His mind grew foggy.
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He already knew.
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This was his final spark before death.
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I’ll be waiting ahead!
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At that moment—
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Slash!
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Partan froze.
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He felt a sensation at his neck.
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The world began to spin.
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He saw his own body falling alongside him.
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Thud! Thud!
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His head and body hit the ground.
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Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
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As if coordinated, both burst into flames.
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Baren—no, Rothes—watched Partan’s burning corpse and thought.
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It’s on another level.
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With Gaon’s help, her circles were restored and their bonds strengthened.
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She had entered the 6th Circle.
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As a result, Rothes was incomparably stronger than before.
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What would it have been like?
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She imagined.
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Before entering the 6th Circle, before her bonds were strengthened, before her circles were fixed.
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It didn’t take long to conclude.
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It would’ve been impossible.
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Even at her best, she couldn’t have killed Partan.
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He was a perfect 5th Circle mage.
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The corpse turned to ash, and the flames died out.
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Rothes checked the surroundings one last time.
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She’d already confirmed with her senses, but there could be something she missed.
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Fortunately—and expectedly—nothing remained, including Partan.
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The cleanup, as Gaon ordered, was complete.
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After confirming with her senses and eyes, Rothes headed to their lodging.
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It was a three-story mansion with a garden, a villa of the Etran County that ruled Asarun.
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Upon arriving, she tilted her head.
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Only Taylor was there.
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“Where’s Gaon?”
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“He said he had a stop to make and left after you did.”
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“When did he say he’d return?”
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“If he’s not back in 20 minutes, it’s a longer task, so he said to rest.”
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At that moment—
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“…!”
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Rothes flinched.
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She turned to look outside.
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Her expression was grim.
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“Master, is something wrong…?” Taylor asked, puzzled.
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But then—
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“…!”
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He flinched too, looking in the same direction.
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Someone had entered the garden.
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It wasn’t Gaon.
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Based on their energy, they seemed to be two 4th Circle mages.
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…Not 4th Circle, probably.
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The likelihood was low.
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If they were truly 4th Circle, why would Rothes react like that?
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Then Rothes spoke.
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“The Banu brothers.”
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“…!”
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Taylor was shocked.
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The Banu brothers were mages of the Gardion Tower.
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Both 5th Circle Masters, they were quite renowned within the tower.
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“Why are they…?” Taylor trailed off, glancing at Rothes.
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It was because of her relationship with the Banu brothers.
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They harbored resentment toward her.
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How could a 5th Circle mage become an elder? Just because she was the Tower Master’s disciple?
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They openly criticized her.
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Naturally, Rothes was furious.
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But she had to endure.
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Because of their backer.
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“No need to hold back,” Rothes said with a chuckle, seeing Taylor’s reaction.
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“It’s all in the past.”
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“Right!” Taylor exclaimed.
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Rothes was no longer a 5th Circle mage.
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She had entered the 6th Circle.
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Having accumulated knowledge and energy for years, she was now nearly a 6th Circle Master.
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Not Taylor’s opinion.
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Not even Rothes’s.
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It was Gaon who said she was close to mastery.
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And if Gaon said it, it was true.
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“But why are the Banu brothers here?” Rothes wondered.
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She stepped forward and opened the door.
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The brothers, reaching the middle of the garden, paused upon seeing Rothes, then approached with cold smirks.
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The elder, Lyle Banu, greeted her.
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“Elder Baren, it’s been a while.”
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The younger, Fail Banu, merely nodded.
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Taylor frowned at their greeting.
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Rothes was an elder.
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They should show proper respect.
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Yet their attitude was blatantly insolent.
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He wanted to respond in kind.
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But he couldn’t.
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Rothes remained calm.
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Then she spoke.
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“What brings you here?”
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“We were returning from a mission and heard a strange rumor,” Lyle said, glancing inside. “We heard you were nearby, so we came to check.”
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Rothes understood from his glance.
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They heard about Gaon.
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The Banu brothers were here because of Gaon.
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What rumor, though?
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Gaon had done many things.
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Some were kept secret.
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What had they heard?
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“What rumor?” Rothes asked directly.
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“We heard you’re traveling with a young mage named Gaon,” Lyle said. “And that he’s falsely claiming to be part of our tower.”
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Rothes understood.
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They don’t know the truth.
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If they knew Gaon’s realm, they wouldn’t speak like this.
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They’d be cautious, speaking indirectly.
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“Is it true?” Lyle asked, his voice tinged with excitement.
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He seemed ready to act if it was.
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Rothes smiled.
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“Half of it.”
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Not the answer he wanted.
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Lyle paused, then said, “So the other half is a lie. What part?”
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Rothes dropped her smile.
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Her face hardened.
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“This feels like an interrogation.”
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“It’s a serious matter,” Lyle replied.
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“Serious enough for you to interrogate me? Since when does a high-ranking mage without a title question an elder? Or do you think you’re the Vice-Tower Master because he’s backing you?”
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Rothes unleashed her words.
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“…”
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Lyle was silent.
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He couldn’t respond.
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She was right.
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But being right didn’t mean he wasn’t upset.
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Lyle scowled.
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Fail, listening, spoke up.
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“Baren! You lucked into the elder’s seat and now you flaunt its authority? You, the shame of the tower, dare—”
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Fail erupted in anger.
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Lyle didn’t join in.
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Supporting him here would weaken their position later.
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But he didn’t stop Fail either.
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Fail’s outbursts were well-known in the tower.
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And easy to handle.
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Then—
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“Lucked into it…” Rothes trailed off.
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She activated all her circles and seized control of the surrounding space.
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“You were unlucky, then? If not for Graxios, you idiots wouldn’t even have reached the 5th Circle.”
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“…!”
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“…!”
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Normally, they’d have exploded with rage.
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But Lyle and Fail couldn’t.
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They stared at Rothes with disbelief.
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She continued.
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“Tell the Vice-Tower Master I’ll visit soon. Tell him to stop bothering me.”
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***
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In the Afain Forest near the city of Asarun.
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Arriving, Gaon walked deeper, thinking.
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This must be it.
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The city of Bais, visited earlier, didn’t have the Sikrina family’s legacy.
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The Afain Forest was the only place left.
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If it wasn’t here?
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Finding it would be impossible for now.
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Gaon had no other leads.
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He couldn’t stay in the Bretan Kingdom just to search for it.
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There was too much to do.
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Hoping the legacy was here, he extended his senses to their maximum.
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Soon after—
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“…!”
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His eyes gleamed.
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What’s this?
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His senses detected nothing.
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Yet something drew his attention.
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He approached the spot.
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“Dig.”
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He cast Dig, creating a hole in the ground.
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He saw it.
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Thirty meters below.
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A pristine staircase preserved by an array.
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Gaon stared, puzzled, and thought.
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How…
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Even now, his senses detected nothing.
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Yet his eyes saw it.
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The flow of energy.
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No way…
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A memory surfaced, and his eyes widened.
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Not the Sikrina family’s legacy—the Abyss’s legacy?
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Energy flowing yet undetectable by senses—a paradoxical situation.
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He’d encountered this before.
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Seventy years ago, the Abyss’s Lord, Kuntel, whom Gaon killed, had this ability.
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Gaon jumped into the hole.
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He descended the stairs slowly.
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Soon, he reached the end and entered a vast chamber.
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A vivid purple barrier stood within.
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He couldn’t see or sense what was inside.
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This confirmed it.
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Kuntel was involved.
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Gaon smiled wider.
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If Kuntel was involved, the legacy inside wasn’t ordinary.
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He placed his hand on the barrier.
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He’d destroyed such barriers countless times before.
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Breaking or piercing it was as easy as breathing.
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Crack!
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A hole appeared, and Gaon peered inside.
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Countless treasures lay within.
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Maintaining his smile, he stepped through.
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The chamber was filled with gems, weapons, books, and artworks.
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Stored for the future…
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As he surveyed, he froze.
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In the center stood a round table.
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Not the table, but what floated above it.
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…A Dragon Heart?
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