The air inside Ryan's Phoenix Wing suite was heavy with the scent of high-grade incense and the low hum of concentrated mana. Ryan sat in a high-backed ebony chair, his silhouette framed by the twilight glowing through the reinforced windows.
A heavy knock echoed. David opened the door, and Gideon stepped inside. The former senior leader halted, his eyes widening as he took in the occupants of the room. Amy sat cross-legged on a side sofa, flipping through a mage scroll; Lucas was leaning against the wall, smirking; and Jasmine was perched near Ryan's desk, her gaze fixed entirely on the Ragnor heir.
"Gideon," Lucas chirped, his voice dripping with mock hospitality. "Glad you could make it. We were just discussing how much better the air smells without Jonah around. Want a seat, or are you still stiff from that Absolute Zero treatment?"
Gideon ignored him, looking at David—the Vice-Captain of the squad that used to hunt him or simply found him and conveyed the message. "You called for me, Ragnor?"
"Sit," Ryan commanded.
Gideon took a seat, his posture tense. Ryan leaned forward, his eyes like two shards of polished obsidian. "Listen, Gideon. You're thirty-six. You have four years left before the Academy turns you into a janitor or kicks you to the curb. You and I both know that in this world, age doesn't mean shit. Strength is the only currency."
Ryan paused, letting the weight of the statement sink in. "If you want to ascend, your only hope is me. I can guarantee you a place among the top 10,000 in the second realm. It will be humiliating to follow a 'junior' now, I know. But when you evolve to the Gold Stage, who will give a damn? Will they see the freshman's shadow, or will they see a Golden Lord?"
Gideon's jaw tightened. He looked at Amy. "And you? You're just giving in?"
Amy looked up from her scroll, her expression bored but firm. "Ryan is right, Gideon. Isn't it obvious? It's better to be the general of a king than the king of a graveyard. My foundation has improved more in a month under his guidance than in three years on my own."
"He's the mastermind, Gideon," Lucas added, his usual teasing tone replaced by rare gravity. "Don't be a fossil. Join the future."
Gideon looked at Ryan, then slowly stood and sank to one knee. The room went silent. Seeing their former rival submit, David, Lucas, and even Amy stood and followed suit, kneeling in a circle of absolute loyalty. Jasmine didn't care about her grandmother's status or her own talent; in her mind, there was only Ryan. She knelt beside him, her face flushed with a deep, reverent blush.
Ryan stood up, his silver-blue aura flaring for a brief, cold moment before settling into a steady hum.
"Listen to the plan," Ryan said, his voice echoing with authority. "Amy, Gideon—you both are Silver Peaks. Your foundations are stable, but you lack the 'push.' I am handing over every mana stone and point I have won this year. David, Jasmine, and Lucas will contribute their shares equally."
Lucas winced. "My points? Ryan, I was going to buy that—" "Silence, Lucas," Ryan cut him off. "Convert every stone into points. I don't care if the exchange rate causes a loss. You need those points to buy the evolution materials from the Academy's hidden treasury."
Ryan reached into his robe and pulled out two jade boxes, placing them on the table. The room gasped as the scent of ancient herbs filled the air.
"Two 3rd-Grade Golden-Core Catalysts," Ryan said. "One for each of you. I secured these from Professor Olivia. Combined with the materials you'll buy with the points, it will be enough. Once you evolve to the Gold Stage, apply for Ascension immediately and join the Phoenix University in the second realm."
Ryan's eyes turned icy, the temperature in the room dropping ten degrees. "In the second realm, you two will establish a club. Its name will be 'King's Resolve.' Take only potential students; I have no use for trash. You are my foundation for the higher world. But remember..."
He stepped closer to Gideon, his aura turning razor-sharp. "If, after all this investment, you fail to evolve or fail to build the foundation I require... forget my name and join the helpers. I don't keep broken tools."
The icy pressure vanished as Ryan smiled—a rare, genuine expression that was somehow more terrifying than his anger. "But, I trust my judgment. You won't fail."
Gideon looked at the jade box, his eyes burning with a new, fierce determination. "By my soul, Ryan. The 'King's Resolve' will be waiting for you in the second realm."
"Good," Ryan said, looking toward the horizon. "The board is finally moving. Now, let's see what the other three academies have to offer."