Since he had already decided to advance, there was no reason to delay.
After all, postponing advancement brought no benefit.
Unless there was truly a reason preventing promotion, leveling up sooner was always better.
However, this time… things were different.
Some preparation was necessary.
The next morning—
Kanzaki Rei arrived at the Advancement Hall.
This time, it was unusually lively.
Before even stepping inside, he saw Chum waving at him.
"Little Rei! You're here!"
Rei returned her greeting with a bright smile.
"Morning, Chum."
Perhaps because he had saved her—she seemed much closer to him now.
Yesterday, Rei had fabricated an explanation:
He claimed that among the belongings taken from the enemies they killed, he discovered hidden information. After "deciphering" it, he uncovered a base of the Flayed Rose.
After his advancement, they would gather to discuss how to deal with them.
Of course, the "deciphering" was a lie.
There had been no such clues in their storage items.
But by tracing the "Creator," "Owner," and "Lost Owner" information tied to those items…
He had uncovered locations.
People.
Marked sites.
Plenty of leads.
Still—
Rei was never one to fight alone.
And when dismantling an entire organization…
Caution was essential.
Even Iz and the others nearly ran into danger while staking out the Death Church—they had encountered the former leader's summoned phantom.
Who knew what might happen if he pushed an enemy faction too far?
What if they summoned something worse?
A black phantom. A crimson one.
He wasn't about to gamble on that.
Rei followed Chum into the inner chamber.
This rear hall was reserved for higher-tier advancements.
It was enormous—about the size of four or five football fields combined.
Located underground, naturally. Otherwise, it would take up far too much space in the capital.
The layout resembled an arena.
Spectator stands above.
A circular advancement field below.
Rei seriously suspected it had been converted from a coliseum.
The stands were already filled.
Scholars from the White Tower.
Including Yuna's parents.
Yuna herself was there too.
Leng Qingying leaned against a pillar, back turned to most people, casually tossing a dagger in the air.
Trying to look cool.
Typical.
Kids that age loved that kind of thing.
Rei scanned the crowd—
Iz was present as well.
"Kanzaki Rei."
Kumironi approached.
"The information you shared last time about the contamination… it's been extremely helpful."
"Iz even improved the advancement ritual array."
"This promotion of yours… might become the foundation for others to advance earlier in the future."
All around, White Tower scholars watched him with anticipation.
After advancing as a Decipherer, Rei had submitted a research report on the "Spiritual Contamination Worms."
The response had been immediate.
The previous Seer research project had failed.
Rei's report… revealed part of the contamination's essence.
If proven—
It wouldn't just be a breakthrough.
It would be a milestone.
If it could be confirmed that:
"Contamination can be blocked by substances sharing the same origin as the Source of Filth"
Then future research could shift toward finding, identifying, or even creating such materials.
That would mean—
Blocking spiritual contamination entirely.
Rei hoped progress would be swift.
Because Kumironi was already beginning to struggle.
If the contamination problem remained unresolved…
His future advancements—from 4 to 5, and 5 to 6—would become extremely difficult.
At that point…
He might have no choice but to use the spell given by Mese:
"Origin."
Iz had already analyzed it.
Conclusion—
It was fundamentally of the same origin as contaminated spiritual matter.
Heh.
No wonder it could block contamination.
Rei stepped into the center of the arena.
All eyes were on him.
This was still his advancement.
He wasn't here to be a test subject.
The scholars could observe—
But not interfere.
"Ready, little Rei?"
"Warrior advancement."
Kumironi stood at a distance, presiding over the ritual.
Rei nodded.
Buzz—
The ritual activated.
The array beneath his feet was completely different from before.
Back then, he hadn't understood ritual magic.
Now—
With mastery over both rituals and magic—
He could instantly tell:
This formation was over a hundred times more complex.
Iz had modified it extensively.
To the point where even Rei couldn't fully comprehend it.
Layered with restrictions—
Barriers against contamination.
Stabilization systems.
Mechanisms to materialize contamination worms.
Extremely intricate.
Buzz!
The moment the ritual ignited—
The entire space trembled.
Rei looked up.
Cracks spread across the ceiling.
At the center—
A massive inverted sword phantom appeared.
The embodiment of the Warrior's origin.
The standard he must reach.
The cracks widened—
And from them—
Countless filth worms poured down.
Kumironi's expression darkened.
This was absurd.
Just how much attention have you attracted, little Rei…?
It felt like something monstrous was determined to invade his very soul.
The worms fell like rain.
The scholars' faces paled.
They could see it now—
The true nature of contamination.
"This—!"
"So this is what it is?!"
"If we advance early… will we face this too?!"
Kumironi stepped forward.
"No."
She raised her hand.
A wave of pure purification radiated outward.
Countless worms dissolved.
"Normal early advancement would never trigger something like this."
Rei stared upward.
That thing—the Source of Filth—
It had truly locked onto him.
Being targeted by something like that…
Was deeply unsettling.
Still—
No training dummy?
He looked around.
Usually, there would be one to demonstrate his progress.
"Not necessary."
"Attack me."
A crimson figure appeared before him.
Holding a wooden staff.
Rei summoned his spear.
"Oh? Then—"
BOOM!
His Instinct of Impending Doom triggered instantly.
[Gap Flash]
He tilted his head—
The staff was already beside his ear.
A Level 6 warrior…
And he opened with a sneak attack?
If it's you—
Then I don't need to hold back.
[Firmament Style — Third Form: Phantom Strike][Invincible Style — Seventh Form: Phantom Multi-Slay]
BOOM!
Their attacks collided instantly.
Rei felt a violent shock surge through his body.
The force traveled through his spear—
Shattering his internal organs.
But—
Only for an instant.
By the time they separated—
Everything had already regenerated.
"Akagi… what level are you using?"
Rei slid backward.
"You think I keep track of that?! Just go all out!"
Rei looked up—
A massive sword was already descending.
[Invincible Style — Sixth Form: Heaven Cleave]
Slash!
Rei vanished.
The blade struck the ground—
BOOM!
The entire hall trembled.
Yet—
Not a single structure was damaged.
Kumironi clenched her teeth.
"Akagi! This is an advancement ritual! Don't destroy the array!"
"Obadis is here! It won't break!"
[Firmament Style — Fourth Form: Void]
Rei slipped into nothingness.
Reappearing above Akagi—
[Second Form: Final Severing Downward Strike]
A descending kick—
Like a falling mountain.
Like an executioner's blade.
Akagi sidestepped.
Rei immediately switched forms—
[Second Form: Sky-Shattering Kick]
BOOM!
The strike hit—
But Akagi had already blocked with his staff.
CRACK!
The staff shattered.
Magic surged into his body.
Akagi was blasted away—
Smashing into the wall.
Rei landed calmly.
…That shouldn't have killed him.
Akagi stood up, brushing dust off.
"Wow. That kick was impressive."
Unharmed.
"You're not using magic?"
"If it's just technique demonstration, better not."
Akagi summoned a white greatsword.
"I think a warrior's principle is fighting with everything."
"I'll get a bit serious."
Rei nodded.
"Then… I'll go all out too."
His instinct flared again.
Danger.
But Akagi was just walking—
Flash!
Rei instantly generated a hundred layers of shields.
BOOM!
Pain exploded through his body.
He was pinned against the wall.
All shields shattered.
…What just happened?
"Too fast," Rei muttered.
Even with precognition—
If the attack was faster than reaction—
It didn't matter.
"Ah… used too much force," Akagi muttered casually.
"Hard to control. I don't remember how strong I was at each level anyway."
Rei dropped from the wall.
…Akagi.
When I reach Level 6—
I'm returning this.
Mist spread.
Rei's battle intent surged.
Akagi swung casually—
BOOM!
A massive energy slash erupted.
Rei countered—
[Invincible Style — Third Form: Army-Breaking Slash]
CLASH!
Rei was blasted backward.
[Origin: Reflected Past Projection]
Four crimson slashes appeared—
Surrounding Akagi.
"What is this?"
He moved—
Then abruptly shifted again.
BOOM!
Hundreds of spells detonated where he had been.
Both paused.
That wasn't predicted?
Akagi tilted his head.
…Was his movement anticipated?
And those spells—
Too fast.
As if placed in advance.
Cold wind swept through the arena.
Heavenly and Void creatures were summoned.
The scholars were stunned.
This…
Was a warrior advancement?
Akagi grinned.
"Now that's more like it."
"Fighting with everything—that's a warrior."
Rei vanished into mist.
Then—
[Gap Flash]
He appeared instantly before Akagi.
Akagi swung—
A massive vortex of sword energy erupted.
[Invincible Style — Fifth Form: Wrath of the World][Variant: Ocean-Breaking Force]
The vortex exploded—
Waves of destructive force surged outward.
Everything—
Annihilated.
Summons erased.
Mist dispersed.
Even Rei—
Gone.
Gone?
Akagi scanned—
[Firmament Style — Fourth Form: Void]
Gone.
Then—
Rei appeared behind him.
At the moment between old force and new.
[Firmament Style — Sixth Form: Apex][Soul Detonation (Tier 4) — Sacrifice: 500,000,000 Souls]
Power condensed into his spear—
He thrust forward.
Akagi…
Don't get blown into pieces beyond revival.