Night settled over the residence, bringing with it a rare silence that none of the Black Sun Syndicate felt inclined to disturb.
After two days of fighting their own reflections in the Lost Forest, followed by the awakening of their respective Authorities, the group had finally reached the point where even their determination could no longer keep them moving. Their bodies were exhausted, their minds had been pushed to their limits, and the strange experience of fighting in a dimension where time and distance held little meaning had left them with more questions than answers.
For once, nobody attempted to continue training.
Nobody proposed another sparring session.
Nobody complained about being the first to wake up the following morning.
They simply rested.
The residence had several rooms, and the members had settled into their own sleeping arrangements. Some fell asleep almost immediately, while others spent a little time reflecting on the battles they had endured before exhaustion finally claimed them.
Eryndor Nasarik was among the latter.
Lying on his back, he stared at the ceiling for a few moments, his arms resting comfortably beside him. His body felt heavy, as though every muscle had decided that moving was no longer worth the effort. Even his thoughts seemed slower than usual.
Two days.
He still found that difficult to believe.
It had felt like a few hours at most, yet David had explained that the passage of time inside the Lost Forest could not be measured in the same way as the outside world. The place had its own peculiarities, and the group had spent far longer fighting than any of them had realized.
Eryndor closed his eyes.
Tomorrow, they would face David.
The thought alone was enough to bring a faint smile to his face, but the excitement was quickly buried beneath his exhaustion.
I'll think about it tomorrow.
His breathing gradually became steady, and his consciousness slipped into sleep.
However, rather than experiencing the ordinary darkness of an unconscious mind, Eryndor found himself standing beneath an unfamiliar sky.
There was no bed beneath him.
No ceiling above him.
No residence.
Instead, he stood upon an immense circular expanse that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. The horizon was difficult to distinguish because the world itself appeared to curve around him, forming a vast domain that resembled the merging of two entirely different realities.
One half was black.
The other was white.
Yet neither side remained fixed in place. The colors rotated around the center of the domain in a continuous motion, their boundaries flowing into one another. The blackness did not consume the white, and the white did not erase the black. They moved together, completing the same circle as though they had always belonged to a single existence.
Above him, the sky mirrored the domain beneath his feet.
It was the familiar combination of the Black Sun and the Astral Sky, the two domains whose powers had become intertwined through Eryndor's existence. Yet something about the place felt different from what he remembered.
The darkness was deeper.
The light was more substantial.
And the entire realm seemed to possess a quiet awareness, as if it were not merely a manifestation of his power but something capable of recognizing him.
Eryndor slowly turned his head, studying the strange surroundings.
"Is this my subconsciousness?"
He raised one hand and examined his palm. His appearance seemed normal, and his body felt remarkably real despite the fact that he knew he was asleep. There was no pain, no fatigue, and none of the physical limitations that had weighed him down before he closed his eyes.
He took a step forward. The moment his foot touched the ground, a subtle ripple passed through the circular domain. Eryndor stopped. Someone else was standing a short distance away.
The man had the same face, the same short black hair, and the same general appearance as Eryndor himself. Even the expression in his eyes was familiar. However, unlike the Eryndor who had entered the Lost Forest and fought his reflection, this individual carried an unusual stillness.
He appeared entirely at ease within the domain, as though the entire world had been created for him. The other Eryndor approached and offered a slight bow. "I am the spirit of your mental world." Eryndor regarded him silently.
The statement was straightforward enough, but it raised several questions. He had encountered manifestations of his power before, and he had experienced strange phenomena while awakening his Authority. Yet he had never encountered anything quite like this.
The other Eryndor straightened.
"When a deity ascends to the High God level, their element evolves beyond its previous limitations. That evolution creates a mental spirit, a separate consciousness capable of existing beyond the physical restrictions of the body. It is an extension of the deity's existence, born from the transformation of their power."
He gestured toward the enormous circular domain surrounding them.
"This world is the manifestation of your mental existence. Its appearance reflects the nature of your power, while its structure reflects the relationship between your elements. Your Black Sun and Astral Sky have merged into something that is no longer simply two separate domains. They have become a unified existence."
Eryndor glanced at the rotating colors beneath his feet.
Black and white. Two opposing colors, constantly moving around one another without either gaining dominance. He had always understood that his powers were connected, but seeing their relationship represented so clearly was another matter entirely.
The mental spirit continued, his voice carrying the same calm certainty.
"Although we possess separate forms of consciousness, we are one existence. I am you, and you are me. I am the part of your existence that can remain even when your physical body can no longer continue."
Eryndor's expression changed slightly.
"So, even if my body perishes, my consciousness can survive?"
"Correct. Your physical body is not the sole foundation of your existence anymore. Your consciousness has transcended those limitations, allowing it to persist independently of your physical form."
For a few moments, Eryndor said nothing.
He looked at the man standing before him, examining every detail of his appearance. There was no obvious distinction between them. The other Eryndor was not a stranger pretending to be him, nor was he an ordinary illusion.
He was a part of Eryndor himself. A part that had apparently awakened without his knowledge. "Interesting." Eryndor folded his arms. "I don't remember breaking through to the High God level." He was certain of that much.
He remembered the battle against his reflection. He remembered the immense pressure of the Lost Forest, the moment his Storm began flowing throughout his entire body, and the sensation of his power reaching a depth he had never experienced before.
He remembered activating his Authority of the Black Sun. He did not remember ascending to a higher level. The mental spirit regarded him for a moment before standing straighter. "The moment you used your Authority, you broke through the limit." Eryndor's eyes narrowed slightly. Then the memory returned.
Sera had explained it before the group began their training. He and Rein had already reached the limit of their current levels, and the next step would require them to surpass that boundary and ascend to the rank of High God.
At the time, the statement had sounded like a warning about a distant threshold.
Yet the threshold had apparently been crossed without either of them fully realizing what had happened.
Eryndor looked down at his palms again.
He remembered the storm that had descended upon the Lost Forest, the way the reflections had been erased by a power that seemed to extend far beyond the limits of ordinary elemental control.
He had assumed that he had finally mastered his Authority.
He had not considered that the act itself had carried him into an entirely different stage of existence.
"I see," he murmured.
Then he looked back at his mental spirit. "I don't feel any different."
The mental spirit gave a small nod, as though he had expected the question.
"Your physical body is currently sleeping, and it is still adapting to this newfound power. You have spent the last two days fighting continuously, pushing your body and mind beyond their normal limits. Your exhaustion has concealed much of what you would ordinarily notice. Furthermore, you are not presently experiencing the world through your physical senses."
He gestured toward Eryndor's chest.
"Your body has entered a state of recovery, while your consciousness has entered this domain. Once you awaken, you will begin to recognize the difference. Your perception, your control over your power, and your understanding of your own existence will change. You may not notice every difference immediately, but you will eventually understand what it means to have surpassed your former limits."
Eryndor listened carefully.
For someone who preferred to experience things firsthand, being told that his body would reveal the difference after waking was somewhat inconvenient.
Still, he could hardly complain. He had crossed into the realm of High Gods without even realizing it. That alone was enough to make the entire situation worth examining. His gaze wandered across the domain once more.
The circular motion of black and white continued without interruption. Neither color seemed to be the source of the other's movement. They simply existed together, maintaining a balance that somehow felt more natural than separation.
So this is what my power looks like from the inside.
The thought brought a quiet smile to his face.
He had spent years strengthening his body, refining his martial arts, and learning how to make his elements work together. He had treated each new discovery as another step toward a goal that had always seemed far beyond his reach.
Now, without any warning, he had crossed a threshold that changed the very foundation of his existence and tomorrow, he would have the opportunity to test what that meant.
Eryndor looked directly at his mental spirit.
"If that's the case, I'm kinda fired up to fight David tomorrow."
For the first time, the mental spirit's expression shifted into something resembling amusement.
It was a small change, but Eryndor recognized it immediately.
Of course he did. They were the same person. Even if the mental spirit possessed a different perspective on their shared existence, he understood the source of that excitement perfectly well.
Eryndor's smile widened as he looked around the domain, already imagining the possibilities that awaited him when he returned to the physical world. He had no intention of wasting the opportunity.
If ascending to the High God level meant that his power had evolved, then he wanted to discover the extent of that evolution himself and if David was going to be their final instructor, there was no reason to hold back his curiosity. For now, however, the mental world remained quiet, its two colors circling endlessly beneath the boundless sky.
Eryndor had entered it expecting nothing more than an ordinary dream. Instead, he had discovered that his existence had changed and he was looking forward to finding out just how much.
Across the room, Rein Clark was experiencing a similar phenomenon.
Unlike Eryndor, whose mental world resembled a vast celestial domain, Rein found himself standing within a realm of pure gold.
The ground beneath his feet was smooth and reflective, extending toward a distant horizon where the light grew brighter and brighter. Towering pillars rose from the ground, arranged in symmetrical rows that disappeared into the distance. Golden structures floated high above him, connected by lines of energy that formed an intricate network across the sky.
Everything possessed a sense of order.
Nothing appeared misplaced. Nothing moved without purpose. Even the light seemed to follow rules that had been established long before Rein arrived. At the center of the realm stood an enormous golden throne.
Its structure was magnificent without being needlessly elaborate, and its elevated position made it the natural focal point of the entire domain. Upon it sat a man whose appearance was identical to Rein's.
The other Rein rested one arm against the throne while looking down at the empty expanse before him. He appeared entirely comfortable in his surroundings.
Rein, meanwhile, stood several meters away, examining the realm with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "What is this?" The words echoed across the golden domain. The man on the throne turned his head. Then he rose.
As he did, the golden energy surrounding the throne shifted, creating a subtle ripple that spread throughout the entire realm. The man descended the steps with an unhurried gait, his posture carrying the same confidence that Rein possessed in the physical world.
There was no need to ask who he was.
Rein already knew.
The resemblance was absolute.
Yet the existence standing before him possessed a quality that Rein could not immediately identify. It was not simply power, nor was it the pressure of an unfamiliar opponent. It was something closer to the certainty of looking at himself without the limitations of his own perspective.
The other Rein stopped in front of him.
"I am your mental spirit."
Rein's eyebrows rose.
The mental spirit continued, "You awakened your Authority, and in doing so, you surpassed the limitations of your previous existence. In other words , you have become a High God."
Rein glanced toward the golden throne.
Then he looked at the enormous realm surrounding them.
Finally, he returned his attention to the man who had just informed him that he had advanced to a level that many deities spent their entire existence attempting to reach.
"I don't feel any different."
The mental spirit nodded.
"Because you're at rest. You're not experiencing the world through your physical body right now, so you won't feel the difference in the same way you would after waking. Your body was already exhausted, and your mind was mentally drained from the battle against your reflection. Those two conditions make it difficult for you to recognize the transformation immediately."
He extended one hand toward the golden structures overhead.
"This realm is your Dominion Domain, the manifestation of your mental existence. It reflects the principles behind your power. Dominion establishes order, imposes laws, and determines what is permitted within its jurisdiction. Your mental world follows the same underlying principle."
Rein studied the realm more closely.
The golden structures were not merely decorations. The lines connecting them formed an intricate arrangement, each section linked to another through an unseen structure. The entire domain appeared to function as a single system, with the throne serving as its central point.
It was a world constructed around the concept of order. A world that reflected Rein's own Authority. The mental spirit lowered his hand.
"When you awaken, you will begin to recognize the changes. Your understanding of Dominion will deepen, and your perception of the laws that govern existence will become clearer. You have already taken the first step, but your body must adapt before you can fully appreciate what you've gained." Rein remained silent for several moments. Then his lips curved into a smile. "That sounds fun and all, but show me that you are me." The mental spirit stared at him.
For a brief moment, the golden realm seemed quieter than before. Then the mental spirit smiled. It was precisely the sort of smile Rein would have worn himself upon hearing a challenge he found interesting. "You just wanted to fight."
Rein's expression brightened.
He had been given an explanation of his newfound existence, a description of his mental world, and confirmation that he had ascended to the High God level. All of that was certainly useful but there was one question he considered far more important. If this being was truly his mental spirit, then how well could he reproduce Rein's own abilities?
How accurately could he imitate the principles behind Dominion? And how much would Rein learn by testing himself against an opponent who possessed the same foundation?
He had spent the previous battle discovering how to impose laws upon reality. He had used the Law of Speed to overwhelm his reflection and awakened the Authority of Dominion through Golden Erasure.
Now, he had an opportunity to examine that progress from an entirely different perspective. Rein rolled his shoulders. The mental spirit watched him with a knowing expression. Neither needed to say anything more.
The golden realm began to respond to their presence. Energy moved through the intricate structures above them, and the ground beneath their feet shone with a brighter radiance.
Rein's smile widened.
"This should be interesting."
The two stood facing one another beneath the golden sky, identical in appearance and connected by the same existence, yet separated by the perspectives of their individual consciousnesses.
It was not simply a meeting between two opponents. It was a meeting between a deity and the manifestation of the existence he had become and Rein had already decided that he wanted to test the difference firsthand.
Far from the residence, within a chamber illuminated by a gentle golden radiance, David sat beside a wide window.
The room was quiet.
Beyond the glass, the night sky stretched across the land, filled with stars that shone over the vast territory surrounding the place where he resided. The golden light within the chamber reflected faintly against the window, though it did little to diminish the brilliance of the stars beyond it.
David rested one hand against the arm of his chair.
His gaze shifted toward the residence where the Black Sun Syndicate was sleeping.
Although the distance between them was considerable, his awareness reached toward the house without difficulty. He could sense the presence of the group resting after their exhausting ordeal in the Lost Forest.
More importantly, he could feel the subtle changes that had begun to emerge within two of them.
Eryndor and Rein.
Their Authorities had pushed them beyond the limits of their previous levels. Their physical bodies were still recovering, but their existence had already undergone a transformation that could not be undone.
David's golden eyes glowed faintly.
A quiet smile appeared on his face.
He had expected the group to surprise him. From the moment they entered the Lost Forest, it had been clear that they possessed an unusual ability to adapt under pressure. Each member had faced a reflection that represented the culmination of their own achievements, and each had been forced to discover a way beyond that limit.
Yet even David had not expected the result to unfold quite so quickly. The awakening of their Authorities had been impressive enough. The subsequent breakthroughs of Eryndor and Rein were another matter entirely.
He turned his attention back toward the stars, watching their distant light with a thoughtful expression.
"Tomorrow will be interesting."
His words were quiet, but the smile that accompanied them suggested that he was already anticipating what the following day would bring.
Elsewhere, four figures felt the same subtle change in the atmosphere.
Sera stood in a quiet corridor, her attention shifting toward the residence. Her expression softened as she recognized the transformations taking place within the two young deities.
Var, who had been reviewing his own thoughts about the group's progress, paused and turned his head in the same direction. A faint smile appeared on his face.
Zeth stood beneath the night sky, his gaze fixed on the distant stars. He had already suspected that Eryndor would reach a new threshold before the end of David's training, though he had not expected the breakthrough to occur so soon.
Uriel, meanwhile, quietly observed the same distant residence.
None of them needed to speak. They understood what had happened. Two members of the Black Sun Syndicate had crossed into a new realm of existence, and the remaining members were approaching their own boundaries in different ways.
Tomorrow, the group would stand before David and whatever awaited them, the final stage of their training would no longer be the same as it had been the day before. Under the quiet stars, the four instructors exchanged knowing smiles.
The night continued to pass, leaving the Black Sun Syndicate undisturbed as their bodies recovered and their consciousnesses adjusted to the changes taking place within them. By morning, Eryndor and Rein would awaken to a world that had not changed at all. Yet they themselves would no longer be quite the same.