Baran froze in place, then asked in a low voice full of surprise,
"What? Are there stages after skill transformation?"
The old man smiled with eyes that seemed to have witnessed a lifetime, and replied with clear calmness:
"Let me continue. The first level is the Skill Transformation. When you use the Skill Transformation, all techniques unite, and your power increases fourfold. But it is temporary, and all of that is due to the nature of the skill itself. The skill is like the roots of a tree; when you activate the transformation, the roots merge together."
Baran nodded, his voice filled with confusion. The old man continued without haste:
"The second level is the level of existence. If you reach it, you will gain the strongest technique in your special skill. The third level is the level of the hidden; when you reach it, an energy emanates that grants you the ability to fly. As for the fourth level, it is the level of balance; when you reach it, you can merge the powers of the spirit with energy."
Baran interrupted him, asking:
"Energy is obtained upon reaching the hidden level, so what are the powers of the soul?"
Confusion adorned his face.
The old man replied directly and in a stern, slightly agitated voice:
"The powers of the spirit are the powers that are used to activate techniques. When you combine spirit and energy, the aura is created — the basis of all warriors. Without an aura, you are nothing in this world."
A devilish smile spread across Baran's face, and he said with murderous fervor,
"So, for my revenge, I must acquire an aura?!"
He remembered that dark day — the day his clan was slaughtered by the king and two other men. All Baran had desired since then was to kill the King of Light.
The old man continued, as if his words differentiated between kingdoms:
"After the level of balance comes the level of the rain-bearer, and after that the level of the king. In this world, only eight people have reached this level."
Baran shuddered in surprise:
"What? Is it that difficult?!"
He hadn't finished speaking when the old man interrupted him:
"No, it's not difficult in the absolute sense, but very few reach it — only eight in this world."
The old man turned his gaze towards Baran and said, with a request heavy with the weight of time,
"I have a request for you, boy. Do not try to kill the king."
Baran sneered,
"What? Why is everyone afraid to kill the king? Does the king frighten them so much that their fears hold them back? If fear is holding you back, I killed it long ago in my heart."
Then the old man sighed and sat down on the ground, looking into the distance before whispering,
"Do you know that there were three empires that ruled the world in the past? The first emperor was the one who made the law 'It is forbidden to kill the king' — and that was nine million years ago."
Baran was shocked to learn that the First Emperor was the one who ruled the world and established laws and order.
Tales say that in a time long ago, when wars ravaged the earth and no law deterred murder, the First Emperor appeared.
The old man sighed and continued in a trembling voice:
> "When the First Emperor enacted a law forbidding the killing of kings, he placed a curse on anyone who dared to attempt it."
Baran looked at himself in astonishment.
> "A curse? What is it?"
The old man smiled gently.
> "You are weak now, but you will know everything when you become strong. Now... let me train you myself."
It wasn't long before Baran awoke and saw the old man talking to Narvik.
As soon as the old man spotted Baran, he called him over immediately.
Baran approached, and the old man began to speak:
> "Baran, today you will leave this place. Be careful, for there are many who wish to kill you. This boy, Narvik, will accompany you."
Baran frowned and said irritably,
"What? Why would he go with me? I don't want to!"
Narvik retorted sharply,
"I don't want to go with him either!"
After a long discussion, the two reached an agreement on Narvik's terms. He promised to help Baran assassinate a king in the future, in exchange for Baran's assistance in a matter he had yet to reveal. He simply said,
"You'll find out when the time is right."
A month later,
Baran asked, looking at Narvik,
"Where are we going now?"
Narvik replied calmly,
"To a small town called Yijian... We'll arrive in a few hours."