Team Father walked in silence.
No jokes.No noise.No bragging.
Only the weight of the girl's farewell words resting heavily in their hearts.
After a long while, Aren finally spoke.
"From the book I read…" he said calmly,"this challenge was never meant to test strength."
He looked up at the sky.
"It was meant to transform lives."
Ben nodded quietly.King exhaled slowly.Even the tiny blue horse walked more gently than usual 🐎.
The path opened before them.
And there it stood.
The Ancient Pillar.
Massive.Glowing.Older than kingdoms themselves.
The pillar that had judged challengers for hundreds of years.
Ben stared.King swallowed.
Aren stepped forward—
Then stopped.
"…Wait," he said quietly."How can it be over already?"
The ground trembled.
A deep, ancient voice echoed:
"It is not over, child."
The pillar glowed blue.
Team Father froze.
"Phase One has ended," the voice continued."Phase Two will begin… after one month."
Team Father stared.
"…ONE MONTH!?" 😳
Across the Academy, chaos erupted.
"ONE MONTH???""THIS WAS ONLY PHASE ONE!?""THEY SURVIVED THE HARDEST FIRST PHASE IN HISTORY!""TEAM FATHER ARE MONSTERS!!"
The pillar spoke again, its tone solemn.
"This trial was created to transform life.To remind the Academy of compassion."
Its light intensified.
"But people forgot its purpose."
A pause.
"But you… remembered."
All three lowered their heads in respect.
"You may each ask," the pillar said,"for one gift."
Aren stepped back.
"This should be theirs first."
🎁 The Gifts
Ben stepped forward, fists trembling.
"My little sister…" he said, voice breaking."She's paralyzed. She can't walk.Please… cure her."
The pillar shone white.
"She will be healed.She will live a full life for one hundred years.This is my blessing."
Ben covered his face as tears fell.
King stepped forward next.
He took a breath.
"Pillar… do you know my true love?"
The pillar hummed.
"True… love?"
King blinked.Ben gasped.Aren nodded softly.
In a flash—
A girl appeared beside King.
Berry.His maid.His quiet crush.
Blushing. Confused. Smiling.
The pillar spoke:
"She is your true love.Your next two generations will know happiness and fame."
Berry burst into tears and hugged King tightly 🤍.
King froze like stone.
Ben clapped loudly.
Across the Academy:
"REALLY!?""KING'S TRUE LOVE!?""THIS IS BETTER THAN A DRAMA SERIES!""TEAM FATHER IS WINNING AT LIFE AND LOVE!"
🌌 Aren's Turn
Aren stepped forward calmly.
The pillar's voice softened.
"Your wish… cannot be fulfilled in this life."
Aren blinked.
"The souls you seek," the pillar continued,"have already left this world."
Aren's jaw tightened.
Silence.
Then—
"But in the next life,they will return to you."
The light pulsed.
"As wife.As brother.As daughter."
Aren closed his eyes.
Ben stared.King swallowed.The horse lowered its head.
"For this life," the pillar said,"I grant you hunger for knowledge."
Golden light wrapped around Aren ✨.
"You can learn anything.Master anything.Your limits will be defined only by your effort."
Aren nodded once.
"…Acceptable."
🌠 The Return
The pillar dimmed.
"You will return to the Academy now.I will see you again… in Phase Two."
Aren suddenly looked up.
"…Horse."
"Fear not," the pillar replied."He will follow you."
Light exploded.
🏛️ Heroes Return
They reappeared at the Academy gates.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
ROAAAAAAAR!! 🎉🔥
The crowd erupted.
Teachers stood and applauded.Students screamed.Staff lined up to bow.Even the headmaster clapped.
Team Father stood at the center:
Aren.Ben.King.And the tiny blue horse 🐎.
Heroes.Legends.Fathers.
Ben wiped his eyes.King grinned proudly.Aren looked forward calmly.
"Let's go," he said.
Phase Two awaited.
And the world…
was already afraid of them.