Saruto emerged from his world into the Time Chamber, breathing deeply. Ethan stood beside him, looking at him with a mixture of pride and sternness. "Now you understand the essence of the skill… the Warrior Realm," he said.
Saruto nodded, his eyes shining with a sense of accomplishment. But deep down, he was exhausted, his body screaming for rest. He glanced at the artificial sky in the room and saw that he had five hours before it was time to return to the Academy. "So… I still have plenty of time," he muttered to himself.
He stretched out on the soft floor of the Time Chamber and slowly closed his eyes. He was able to catch his breath. Within a few hours, his body had enjoyed a long, restorative sleep. When morning arrived in the real world, Saruto opened his eyes, feeling as if a mountain had been lifted from his chest. He rose lightly, washed his face, and went to the dining hall, where he sat quietly and ate his breakfast.
He didn't stay long. After finishing his meal, he got up, straightened his appearance, and used his teleportation skill to head towards the academy. The moment he arrived, he went to his classroom and sat in his seat while the teacher explained. Everyone noticed his improved demeanor, but his expression wasn't his usual self. A certain tension surrounded him. This didn't escape Star, who watched him silently, growing more worried with every glance at his distant gaze and subtle unease.
The lesson finally ended, and before she could quickly rise to check on him, Lucien suddenly appeared, interrupting the moment. He smiled and said, "Saruto, have you found the path we'll be practicing on?"
Saruto turned to him, his eyes gleaming with a hidden light, and replied confidently, "Yes… but what you're about to see must remain a secret between us. It's my trump card… and I'll reveal it only to you."
Lucien nodded. "I understand. Don't worry… no one else will know."
Star left hesitantly, her gaze still fixed on him, as Saruto and Lucien walked away together, traversing the academy's wide corridors until they were out of sight. There, Saruto stopped and took a deep breath. He reached out, and a dense black energy began to gather around them, forming a massive ball of darkness. Lucien felt a terrifying chill run through his body and tried to move, but Saruto raised a warning finger: "Don't move. Any misstep could cost you dearly."
The ball trembled more violently, and the darkness thickened around them. At the crucial moment, Saruto unleashed his Consciousness skill, then blasted the energy away all at once.
When Lucien opened his eyes, he found himself standing in another world. The sky was dark but studded with streaks of purple light, and the earth stretched endlessly like an empty battlefield. Time itself seemed to flow in agonizing slow motion, as if he were trapped in a void outside of this world. He looked around, bewildered: "What is this place...?"
Saruto strode confidently forward, his two swords, bound together by chains, flashes of light glinting off their edges. He smiled slyly and said, "This is a world of my own making. Time to train, Lucian… Let's see if you can stand up to me."
Lucian stood facing his friend, his ice spear taking shape in his hands, his eyes filled with defiance.