They moved through the capital in silence.
Shiron walked ahead.
Yuro, Ren… and Luren followed behind.
Eyes were on them.
Everywhere.
Whispers spread like wildfire through the streets.
"Those are the ones…"
"They don't even have energy…"
"Then how did he…?"
Yuro caught the voices.
Faint.
But clear enough.
"He killed that creature… didn't he?"
He clicked his tongue quietly.
"…Tch."
He didn't like the way they looked at them.
Like they were something to be measured.
Or judged.
Or worse—
Something that didn't belong.
They soon reached the center of the capital.
Yuro stopped.
His brows furrowed.
"…This is it?"
Nothing.
No buildings.
No guards.
No gates.
Just flat, empty ground stretching in every direction.
Shiron didn't respond.
He stepped forward—
And struck the ground twice with his foot.
Thud.
Thud.
For a second—
Nothing happened.
Then—
A crack.
A thin line split across the earth beneath them.
It spread.
Widened.
Until the ground itself began to open.
A hidden passage revealed itself below.
Dark.
Silent.
Deep.
Without hesitation—
Yuro stepped forward and dropped down.
He landed, knees bending slightly to absorb the impact.
Cold air wrapped around him.
He looked up.
"Come—"
But the others were already descending.
One by one—
They entered.
Until all of them stood below.
Yuro's eyes shifted back to the opening above.
Still open.
Good.
He stepped back—
Then jumped.
His hand reached the edge—
But—
It slipped.
No.
Not slipped.
It was as if…
There was nothing there to grab.
He landed again.
Frowning.
"…What?"
He tried again.
This time harder.
Faster.
Higher.
Nothing.
Again.
Failure.
His expression darkened.
His chest tightened slightly.
Something wasn't right.
Then—
The opening above them moved.
It reacted.
But not to him.
It widened—
Only when Shiron raised his hand.
Calm.
Controlled.
As if the place itself answered him.
Yuro froze for a moment.
Then looked at him.
"…You did that?"
Shiron's gaze remained forward.
Unbothered.
"If this place opened for anyone…"
He paused.
Then spoke, his voice quiet—
Yet absolute.
"…it would have never been sealed."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Yuro looked up once more.
Then slowly lowered his gaze.
His jaw tightened.
So that was it.
They didn't enter this place by chance.
And they definitely…
Weren't leaving it freely.
Something deep inside him shifted.
A quiet thought.
Cold.
We walked into this… ourselves.They kept descending.
Step after step.
Deeper… and deeper into the unknown.
The air grew colder.
Heavier.
Until finally—
They reached the bottom.
A vast chamber opened before them.
Wide.
Silent.
Ancient.
At the center—
Three statues stood.
They were small in form…
Almost like children.
Yet something about them felt wrong.
Each one held a sphere close to its chest—
Clutching it tightly.
As if protecting it.
Or perhaps—
Refusing to let it go.
Yuro's gaze lingered on them.
A strange feeling crept into his chest.
Unfamiliar.
Yet… not entirely.
Beside him, Ren said nothing.
Even Luren remained silent.
Only their breathing echoed faintly in the chamber.
Then—
Shiron stepped forward.
"Close your eyes."
His voice was calm.
Firm.
No room for hesitation.
"And walk."
A brief pause.
"Toward the one… that calls to you."
Silence fell once more.
He wasn't asking.
He was telling them.
Yuro narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Calls to us?"
No answer.
Shiron simply stood there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Yuro exhaled slowly.
Then—
He closed his eyes.
Darkness.
Complete.
For a moment—
Nothing.
Then—
A pull.
Faint.
Distant.
But there.
Something… was drawing him.
Not his body—
But something deeper.
Something inside him.
His steps moved on their own.
Slow.
Careful.
Yet certain.
Each step echoing softly through the chamber.
Closer.
Closer.
The pull grew stronger.
Sharper.
Like a whisper turning into a voice.
He stopped.
Right in front of it.
His hand lifted slightly—
Hesitating.
Then—
He opened his eyes.Ren was the first to move.
Without a word—
He closed his eyes.
No hesitation.
No questions.
Shiron's voice echoed calmly through the chamber.
"You will see nothing real."
A pause.
"What you see… is only a reflection of your own mind."
Darkness.
Then—
A world took shape.
Gray.
Endless.
Empty.
Ren stood there, unmoving.
He felt nothing.
No fear.
No warmth.
No presence.
Just—
Nothing.
Then—
A flame appeared.
Small.
Faint.
Gray.
It flickered quietly in the distance.
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly.
Without thinking—
He walked toward it.
Step by step.
Until—
His hand reached out.
And his body, in the real world, moved.
Toward the statue in the center.
—
Rino followed next.
He exhaled softly—
Then closed his eyes.
Light.
Blinding.
An endless white space unfolded before him.
Pure.
Too pure.
"…Is this purity…?"
His voice echoed within his own mind.
"…or just me?"
Then—
A flame appeared.
White.
Bright.
Gentle.
It called to him.
Without resistance—
He stepped forward.
Drawn to it.
And in the real world—
His body moved.
Toward the statue on the right.
—
Yuro stood still.
Watching them.
Thinking.
Can I really trust him…?
His gaze shifted briefly toward Shiron.
Doubt lingered.
Heavy.
Sharp.
A quiet battle raged within him.
Trust…
Or caution?
Seconds passed.
Then—
He exhaled.
"…Fine."
He closed his eyes.
At first—
There was nothing unusual.
A normal space.
White.
Calm.
Still.
Then—
It stopped.
Everything.
The space froze.
And slowly—
The white began to fade.
Darkness crept in.
Spreading.
Consuming.
Until—
Everything turned black.
Yuro's breath caught.
"…What—?"
The flame—
Was gone.
In its place—
Two eyes appeared.
Massive.
Endless.
Staring directly at him.
Not looking—
Analyzing.
Peering into him.
Through him.
His chest tightened.
His breathing grew unstable.
"…Tch—!"
He looked down at his body—
And froze.
For a brief moment—
It changed.
Black.
Completely black.
Cracked—
As if something inside was trying to break out.
Thin lines of dim light spread across it like scars.
Then—
Gone.
The eyes vanished.
The darkness collapsed.
Everything returned.
As if nothing had ever happened.
Silence.
His flame appeared.
White.
Normal.
Calm.
Yuro stared at it.
His hand trembled slightly.
…What was that?
Doubt returned.
Stronger.
But—
He clenched his fist.
They won't wait forever.
Without another thought—
He stepped forward.
And reached for the flame.Shiron stepped forward.
"The process begins now."
Silence fell.
Then—
The statues reacted.
A faint glow spread across their surface.
Slowly at first—
Then brighter.
Stronger.
The spheres they held pulsed with light.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
The entire chamber trembled slightly as the glow intensified.
Ten seconds—
And then—
It stopped.
The light vanished.
The statues… froze.
Cracks formed.
Thin lines spreading across their bodies.
Then—
They shattered.
Fragments scattered across the ground.
The chamber fell silent once more.
Yuro blinked.
"…That's it?"
Ren frowned slightly.
"…Did it fail?"
Rino looked at his hands, confused.
"…I don't feel anything."
A brief pause.
Then—
Luren spoke.
Her voice was soft.
Calm.
Yet certain.
"The destruction of the statues… means the ritual succeeded."
All eyes turned to her.
She didn't look at them.
Her gaze remained on the broken remains.
"You won't feel anything immediately."
A small pause.
"Your bodies have gained the ability…"
Her tone lowered slightly.
"…but your senses have yet to recognize it."
Silence.
The words settled slowly.
Yuro clenched his hand.
Nothing.
Still nothing.
But—
Something about it felt… different.
Subtle.
Hidden.
Shiron stepped forward again.
"Correct."
His voice cut through the silence.
"But that's not important right now."
He turned slightly.
Deeper into the chamber.
"This place holds weapons."
A pause.
"For beginners."
His gaze briefly passed over them.
"There is nothing here for those who have already surpassed this level."
Then—
"Take what you need."
Another step forward.
"We're heading to the Hall of Illusions."
The air shifted.
Slightly.
As if the name itself carried weight.
Yuro looked ahead.
Something inside him stirred.
Not power.
Not fear.
Something else.
Uncertain.
Unfamiliar.
Hall of Illusions…
He exhaled slowly.
"…This just keeps getting better."They didn't take long.
There was no need.
Each of them chose only one weapon.
Yuro picked up a pair of steel gauntlets.
Cold.
Heavy.
Yet… they fit.
As if they were made for him.
Rino took a sword.
Simple.
Balanced.
Clean.
Ren chose a spear.
Long.
Sharp.
Precise.
None of them spoke about it.
None of them questioned their choices.
It just… felt right.
Shiron watched them in silence.
Then—
He turned.
"Move."
They followed.
Through narrow passages.
Past silent walls.
Until—
They reached the edge of the capital.
The structures faded.
The noise disappeared.
And before them—
A small, empty space.
Nothing more.
Rino frowned.
"…This is it?"
"It's small."
No response.
Shiron stepped forward.
And placed his hand against what seemed like nothing.
Then—
He pushed.
The space in front of them distorted.
Like a surface breaking.
A door—
That wasn't there—
Opened.
Beyond it—
A different world.
Endless.
Vast.
The ground was hidden beneath what looked like drifting clouds.
The sky stretched infinitely above—
Yet felt close enough to touch.
The air was lighter.
Stranger.
Unreal.
Yuro's eyes narrowed.
"…What is this…?"
Shiron stepped inside without hesitation.
Then spoke—
"This…"
A brief pause.
"…is the Hall of Illusions."
The space shifted slightly.
As if it had heard him.
As if it was aware.
Waiting.
For them.Shiron's voice echoed calmly—
"Step into the center."
They did.
Without hesitation.
The moment their feet crossed the middle—
The world changed.
The ground beneath them stretched.
Expanded.
Endlessly.
The walls vanished.
The space grew—
Wider.
Vaster.
Unreal.
Yuro's eyes narrowed.
"…It's expanding?"
Shiron's voice came, distant… yet clear.
"It has only expanded for you."
A brief pause.
"To me… it remains the same."
A silence followed.
Then—
"Robin."
The name fell lightly.
Yet something answered.
From the empty air—
A shape began to form.
Faint.
Distorted.
Like an image being drawn into existence.
Lines of light traced its body.
Piece by piece—
It took shape.
Until—
A stone figure stood before them.
Humanoid.
Still.
Silent.
Then—
Its hand moved.
Slowly.
It reached behind its back—
And drew a sword.
The sound—
Sharp.
Cold.
Final.
The statue lifted its head.
And for the first time—
It looked at them.
Yuro felt it.
That presence.
Not alive—
Yet not empty.
He clenched his gauntlet tightly.
"…So this is it."
The statue stepped forward.
Once.
Then—
It vanished.
A blur.
Reappearing in front of them in an instant—
Sword already descending.The battle began—
And instantly—
They were pushed back.
The pressure was overwhelming.
The statue didn't hesitate.
It moved first.
Its gaze locked onto Rino—
And in the next moment—
It vanished.
Then—
Impact.
A brutal strike drove straight into Rino's abdomen—
Sending him crashing to the ground.
He coughed violently.
Air escaping his lungs.
"Rino—!"
Ren didn't wait.
He dashed forward—
Spear in hand—
And thrust it toward the statue's neck.
A direct hit.
But—
It didn't pierce.
"…What?!"
Before he could react—
Yuro was already moving.
He closed the distance in an instant—
His gauntlet clenched—
And struck.
A crushing blow landed against the statue's neck—
Cracking it.
But not enough.
The statue responded.
Its sword moved.
Fast.
Precise.
It shattered Ren's spear—
Fragments scattering across the ground—
Then—
A slash.
Yuro's arm was cut.
Blood spilled.
Before either of them could recover—
The statue's body glowed.
White energy surged through it.
Its sword trembled—
Then aligned.
Pointing straight at Ren.
A pulse of energy gathered—
Spiraling.
Condensing.
Then—
It fired.
A twisting beam of white force tore through the air—
And severed Ren's left arm.
Silence—
For a split second.
Then—
Rage.
Yuro roared and charged.
His fists crashed against the statue—
Again.
Again.
Again.
But—
It didn't fall.
The statue caught his arm mid-strike—
Then drove a brutal blow into his forehead.
A crack echoed.
Yuro's vision blurred—
His body collapsing backward.
—
Rino forced himself up.
His breathing was unstable.
His vision shaking.
…Think.
A memory flashed.
Before entering the capital—
Shiron.
The sphere.
The energy—
Flowing.
Moving.
Alive.
"…It's not outside…"
His hand trembled slightly.
"…It's inside us."
He looked at the statue—
Then raised his hand.
Energy gathered.
Rough.
Unstable.
But real.
It condensed—
Forming a spear.
Without hesitation—
He threw it.
The statue reacted instantly—
Swinging its sword to intercept—
But—
Too late.
The spear broke through.
Shattering the blade—
And tearing through part of its body.
—
Ren stood.
Breathing heavily.
His missing arm—
Gone.
But his eyes remained steady.
"…He's not better than me."
Energy surged.
His shoulder burned—
Then—
A new arm formed.
Pure energy.
White.
Unstable—
Yet controlled.
He raised it—
Fingers aligning.
Then—
A beam shot forward.
Clean.
Precise.
It cut through the statue—
Splitting it apart.
Silence fell.
The statue—
Collapsed.
Destroyed.
—
A moment later—
Their bodies were restored.
Wounds vanished.
As if nothing had happened.
Yuro slowly opened his eyes.
His head still ringing.
He looked ahead—
At Ren…
At Rino…
Standing.
Victorious.
His fist tightened.
"…They won."
A pause.
"…And I lost."
Shiron's voice echoed.
Cold.
Final.
"Now—"
A brief silence.
"Each of you will face a statue."
"Alone."
Yuro's heart skipped.
Then—
It began to race.
Fast.
Loud.
Heavy.
I couldn't defeat one…
His breathing grew uneven.
Even with them…
His eyes darkened.
So how am I supposed to…
Silence.
The space around him shifted.
The others disappeared.
And he stood—
Alone.
Facing it.
The statue.
Unmoving.
Waiting.
Yuro clenched his fists.
His body tense.
His mind—
Unstable.
I haven't even awakened…
The statue moved.
One step forward.
And Yuro realized—
Too late.
This time—
There was no one beside him.
— End Chapter —