Leo twisted Verion's wrist the moment Verion caught him, causing Verion to lose his balance. Leo shoved Verion and kicked him towards the glowing rift while pulling his spear back. Both of them vanished into the crack.
Van Xiao was shocked. "Why could this illusionary space be breached?!"
Rewind to when Leo was trapped in the Chain Trap of the Abyss of Suffering. Leo had tried to pull his spear and stab repeatedly, but failed. When Van Xiao was about to crush the trap and pull Verion into the illusion, the Chain Trap was accidentally pulled along but was scattered or thrown to a different location.
While Leo was still trapped, he was tossed about for a moment before crashing down hard. "Ugh, ugh, ugh...OW!" The Chain Trap's links had cracked. Leo tried pulling his spear again from within. "Damn it, this trap is so hard!" His spear stabbed and stabbed until the chains snapped, and the trap instantly shattered. Leo, inside, felt a tremor. "Is it possible?!" Finally, the space within the trap also cracked and broke.
Leo realized he was in another place: a Skull Palace in the sky, filled with blue whales swimming like birds, and overflowing with magnificence. "What is this place?! But... the air here is incredibly fresh." Astounded, Leo finally held his spear again, free from the trap.
Leo walked, attempting to approach the Skull Palace, when the space suddenly shook. Leo lost his footing. "What's happening now!" Then, the Skull Palace turned into dust swept away by the wind, and a massive rift appeared. Leo regained his balance. "What rift is this? Is this the way out of here?" Leo walked towards the rift, using his Legend Spear to accelerate his movement. He spun his spear like a rocket mount, and Leo launched quickly into the rift.
The moment Leo entered, he was shocked. "Verion?!" he thought. Verion swiftly dodged and grabbed him, until Leo, with a quick response, twisted Verion's wrist to break the hold, then shoved Verion back towards the rift.
Leo and Verion re-entered the Skull Palace space, which now contained no palace, only a cloudy terrain. Verion was thrown onto the cloud-ground and dragged.
Verion instantly braced his fall with his hands and immediately got up, his head throbbing, his vision blurred, and blood still trickling from his eyes, nose, and mouth. Leo rushed forward, launching many spear thrusts. Verion used his hands to parry and block several thrusts, his armor partially detached.
Verion immediately recalled the Olvateria Sword by forming the Emerion Fundamental technique, which created a mantra pattern and drew the Olvateria Sword using his emerald energy. Leo charged to attack; Verion ran to counter-attack. The moment their weapons touched, a snap of fingers sounded and a blinding light vortex filled the entire space.
Unaware, Leo and Verion returned to the arena. Verion emerged on his knees, his sword impaled and held in his hands. Leo remained standing with his spear upright. Van Xiao was on Verion's right side.
Suddenly, Leo's Omega Supreme mode gradually faded, causing Leo's body to tremble, until finally Leo fainted and began to fall. Luois quickly teleported, just like Van Xiao, to his son and caught Leo before he hit the ground.
Luois sighed. "My God, he pushed himself too hard until he fainted from exhaustion."
Van Xiao replied, "He breached my illusion space and almost attacked Verion. I was careless."
Luois continued, "Yes, I saw that trap also got sucked in by your Helix Nebula eye just before it disappeared. I almost caught it but ran out of time. So I waited around the arena, because the exit to your illusion space is random."
As Verion and Leo materialized, the arena clock hit exactly 1 hour, coinciding with their emergence from Van Xiao's illusionary space.
At that moment, the news of Verion transforming into a hell creature had spread rapidly. The spectators rushed out, pushing and shoving.
"Run!" "It's the hell creature!" "Quickly, get out!" "Watch out!"
Children were pushed around, but soldiers helped calm the crowd and protect the spectators.
Verion, in the arena, saw his King Satan form and the Olvateria Sword slowly vanish. Verion collapsed onto the arena floor. Van Xiao held Verion's head with his hand, lifted him, gripped Verion's body, and carried him in his arms. Luois carried Leo in front of him, leaped out of the arena, and took him to the medical experts.
Van Xiao opened a portal and entered it. A young man named Gavin, a news and letter deliverer, ran down the street, spreading the news of Verion being a hell creature, which had been quickly printed. He threw the newspapers randomly. "LATEST NEWS!" "BREAKING, BREAKING!" "READ IT NOW!" Gavin yelled.
People grabbed the newspapers and were shocked. "He-hell creature?!" "Prince Verion turned into a hell creature?!" "Prince Verion killed spectators!" "Is this King Van Xiao's plan?" The news instantly spread widely throughout the entire Mystic Sky Kingdom.
The large medical building, supported by long, massive Greek pillars, was an elite hospital. In a room, Ling YunXiao lay in bed, opening his eyes. Ling raised his body from the bed and sat up. Ling looked around, finding Ye HunXiao asleep on the bed next to him. Ling stood up and walked out into the corridor. He saw a room with an open door. Ling approached it and looked inside, shocked to see Prince Leo and Matthias lying in beds, asleep. Ling did not see Verion in the room where he himself had been sleeping.
"Where is Verion? Why is the bed next to Ye Hun empty?" He was confused, searching for his younger brother. Ling walked out of the building. It was night. Ling walked a short distance, and a gust of wind blew a newspaper to his feet. Ling picked it up and read it. "Verion... turned in... to a HELL CREATURE?!" Shocked, Ling ran to find Verion, checking houses, hoping Verion was not causing chaos.
Ling thought aloud. "If he's not here, did Father take Verion? I should ask Father and check Verion's room. But that's far. Should I leave Ye Hun in the Mystic Sky Kingdom?" Ling pondered hard, stuck between two choices. He finally returned to the hospital, entered the room where he woke up, and wrote a letter next to Ye Hun's bed: "Ye, I need to go back to the Emperor Falls Kingdom to find Verion. I'm sorry to leave you alone. Press the button on this moon necklace, and I'll be able to return and pick you up. From Ling YunXiao."
Ling flew quickly to the Emperor Falls Kingdom. Upon arrival, he ran into the palace and searched for his father in the throne room, but he wasn't there. "Father? Why isn't he in the throne room?" Ling then ran to Verion's room.
Ling opened Verion's door and finally saw Verion lying on his bed and also... seeing Van Xiao (his father) sitting next to him, waiting for Verion to wake up. "I knew you would come here... Ling," he said.
Ling immediately asked, "I accidentally read the news when I left the hospital after waking up. I came here to ask about it."
Van Xiao replied, "Yes, the news about your brother turning into a hell creature is true. He accidentally killed spectators who saw his form."
Ling was shocked. "Killed?! What was the reason for him becoming a hell creature, Father?"
Van Xiao answered, "I already asked him. He said he received power from two unknown beings while he was still asleep."
Ling shot a question back. "Those beings... what exactly are they?"
Van Xiao gave his final answer. "According to him, there are two types: the being that transformed him into the hell creature form, and the being that gave him the mysterious sword. The being that gave him the hell creature form is only giant in stature, and its power is unknown, while the being that gave him the sword has an abnormal form, and its power is stronger than the sword being."
Ling thought to himself. "Beings? Could... could it be the Monarchs?" The invisible shadows of the Dark Entity and the Ancestor of all Light watched Ling from beside him, unseen by Ling and Van Xiao.
Morning came. Noisy shouting filled the area outside the palace. Verion woke up from his sleep. He heard a roaring sound from the window. "Why is it so loud? What's happening outside?" Verion quickly got out of bed and looked out the window, his eyes instantly widening. "So many people?!" Verion quickly changed his clothes and headed towards the palace gates.
The public shouted. "The Master Saint bore a hell creature's child!" "Explain yourselves!" "That's the one who turned into a hell creature!" "Get over here!" They shouted chaotically and began throwing stones at Verion.
Ling, Ye Hun, and the Knights were holding the gate to prevent a breach. Verion spoke up. "Calm down! I will explain to all of you!"
The public responded angrily. "Get lost!" "Accursed creature!" "Quickly, explain to us!"
Verion explained, "I know what you mean! I am truly sorry for that incident!"
The crowd roared in rejection. "Go away!" "You disgrace!"
Ling quickly told Verion, "Brother, how about to resolve and quell this issue, we open up a public and royal opinion forum?" Verion nodded.
Verion spoke again. "O, all of you, I will open up a forum for you to give your opinions and find a solution from all of you! Choose a representative from among you to come forward and discuss with me."
The public began to discuss until one young man was pointed out by many for his rational discussion points. The young man raised his hand and stepped forward. Verion moved closer to the gate so their discussion could be heard.
The young man introduced himself. "My name is Ken, I am 16 years old, and I live simply around here."
Verion replied, "Nice to meet you, Ken. I respect you for daring to step forward. I don't need to introduce myself; you should already know who I am."
Ken responded, "Yes, I know who you are. Let's begin. The public is on the verge of betrayal and fear regarding that hell creature."
Verion answered, "Alright, I admit I was wrong, but I do not harbor any evil intentions towards you."
Ken smiled. "Then what about the spectators who died just from looking at your form?"
Verion declared, "I am willing to accept any punishment you give me, but you must forget this issue."
Ken turned to the crowd. "O, seekers of explanation, what punishment is fitting for Prince Verion!"
The public screamed in response. "Banish him from here!" "Strip his title!" "Remove his royal family status!"
Ken turned back to Verion. "You heard them? That is the punishment they want for you."
Verion answered, "I respect that. I accept it as atonement for my mistake and sin. I will immediately renounce my title and my status."
Ling and Ye watched Verion from behind, anxious. "B-Brother!"
The public cheered with joy. Ken turned back and clapped with the crowd. Ken was tossed into the air by the public in celebration.
The scene shifts to a round table room, where Van Xiao and Luois, along with their respective wives, sat opposite each other as if in a meeting. Li Yun, sitting next to Van Xiao, said, "I never thought my son would turn into a hell creature."
Shi Yuo commented, "I also never thought that a noble figure, the revered Master Saint, would bear a child containing hell."
Luois warned, "Dear, watch your words. Show them respect."
Van Xiao spoke up. "I asked him to explain it to me. He accepted an invitation from two beings while he slept and woke up after 7 days of slumber. I also felt something strange about his emerald energy."
Luois responded, "Two beings? Is that the Monarch or the Primordial?"
Van Xiao mused, "Perhaps. His emerald energy has similarities with the energy of a girl on another continent."
Luois replied, "That girl? Why does the daughter of an unbelievably wealthy businessman have the same emerald energy as your son? The girl's parents' influence heavily affects our continent's politics, economy, and geopolitics. You are a Master Saint; you should have a connection with the girl's parents, right?"
Van Xiao answered, "Yes, I do have a connection with the girl's parents, but it's very rare. The girl's parents are part of a global elite that must not be provoked, or else we must play by their rules."
Li Yun added, "We cannot fight the global elite, unless we are truly prepared to break free from their control, risking all our lives, and possessing power that can defeat their influence."
Luois stated, "In my opinion, your son has inherited the power of a Monarch."
Van Xiao replied, "Yes, I thought so too."
Shi Yuo concluded the conversation. "It is truly unfortunate for a family of light to be visited by such confusion."
The scene returns to Verion, who is in the palace warehouse. "I will take a cloak." Verion walked, looking at shelves of valuable items, and found a SAGE's CLOAK remnant. Verion took it and put it on.
As he turned to leave, a whisper was unintentionally heard. "Wait a moment. Take the mask on your right. It seems to be calling you."
Verion looked to his right and saw a Night Sky Silver Steel Knight Mask.
Verion walked towards it. The mask emitted a steel blue glow from its crevices and eyes. The voice was heard again. "Take that mask." "Choose me."
Verion stared at the mask for a moment and slowly took it. Verion immediately put it on. The moment the mask was worn on Verion's face, it emitted a flowing steel blue light. The mask bound tightly to Verion's face. Verion tried to take it off but could not. Inside the mask, Verion's vision became brighter, focused, clear, and detailed.
Verion looked at his hands. "What is this mask?!"
A voice replied. "System has been activated. The user has been selected. Welcome, Master. I originate from the fall of the mask's owner."
Verion asked, "What is a system? And what is a user?"
The voice answered, "A system is a device composed of interconnected structures or processes that form a systematic totality. A user is the individual within the system device."
Verion asked, "Where are you from?"
The System replied, "I come from the Creator who made this system. I accidentally detached from the original owner of this mask. I wandered through space until I was pulled by your world's gravity and fell like a meteor."
Verion gave one last question. "What is the name of your original owner and your creator?"
The System answered. "William. (from the novel 'Reincarnation: The Failed Genius Who Changed World Technology.')."
Verion muttered, "William?... Can you remove this mask temporarily?"
The System replied, "Command received. Master, I cannot remove it by my will; I can only disguise it." The mask opened, shrinking into a bright blue glowing button beside Verion's right eye. "Command executed. Press the 'on' button beside your right eye, Master, and the mask will be worn again."
Verion acknowledged. "Alright."
Verion walked out of the warehouse. "I have prepared this. Everything seems sufficient."
Verion walked out to the palace. Ling and Ye Hun were outside the palace, looking at Verion. "Brother... are you serious about doing this?" "Sister knows about your current situation, and Sister is haunted by regret and sadness."
Verion replied, "This is the only solution I can offer as atonement for my mistake and sin. If I don't do this, Father's name will be stained, and Brother Ling and Sister Ye will lose their dignity."
Sister Ye asked, "Why... did you turn into a hell creature? Sister is so shocked, I was used to seeing you spoiled, funny, and seemingly kind."
Verion just looked down in silence, then walked past Brother Ling and Sister Ye. Verion walked towards the palace gate. Sister Ye turned around. "What about Mother and Father!"
Verion replied, "Just send them my regards and my apologies."
The public outside the palace gate roared. "WHoooo!!!" "Finally, the disgrace is leaving!" Miss Lina watched from a distance. "Young Master Verion..."
The palace gate opened. The Knights who opened it lined up, guarding the public and clearing a path for Verion. The Knight General said, "Young Master..." The Knight members looked at Verion with flat gazes.
The public shouted. "Hahaha, get lost!" "Hush, hush!" "Hurry up and go!" while throwing stones and trash at Verion. Verion suffered bruises from the stone throws.
At the kingdom wall gate, Verion walked out, his cloak covering his entire body. Verion left quietly; only the gate guard opened the gate for him. The gate was closed loudly the moment Verion officially exited the kingdom.
Verion looked back at the palace above, then continued walking.