Location: Absolute Prison
The corridors of Absolute Prison were as silent as ever.
But it wasn't an ordinary silence.
Wind slipped through narrow cracks between the stone walls, producing a long, muffled hum. Candles fixed into old iron sconces trembled, their faint crackling echoing through the high-ceilinged hallway.
Two sets of footsteps rang clearly.
Measured steps.
One heavy but calm.
The other young but uncertain.
Arthur and Jack walked side by side.
Arthur's expression was as composed as always.
Jack carried both the relief of freedom… and the weight of uncertainty.
Arthur: You're out of the cage. You're officially my student now. Let's get you registered properly.
Jack turned his head slightly.
Jack: Wait… what does that mean? I have to take the entrance exam again?
Arthur smirked confident, slightly teasing.
Arthur: Did you forget who you're walking with?
Jack paused… then gave a faint smile.
Jack: Fair point.
The system was simple but ruthless.
If a student's ranking was high enough, they could be directly registered through their master.
But it wasn't "buying your way in." Power was still measured.
If their ranking wasn't at least Two or higher, automatic acceptance wouldn't apply.
And if they scored too low…
Their chance to ever become a Guardian would be erased completely.
Arthur: I'm guessing you'll comfortably land at Rank Two.
Jack: Definitely Three.
Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly.
Jack didn't notice.
(Arthur's thoughts): His body changed. Not just spiritually physically too. He endured movements beyond his own level.
When Liberty Sacred's soul took control…
Those weren't ordinary techniques.
That speed.
That pressure.
At least Rank One.
At certain moments… close to 0.5.
And the severe damage Jack suffered had completely healed.
That wasn't simple recovery.
It was reconstruction.
(Arthur's thoughts): If I train him properly… he could match me.
…No.
He might surpass me.
Arthur kept walking, but his mind was elsewhere.
Jack called out a few times.
Jack: Arthur?
Arthur?
Arthur?!
Arthur blinked.
Arthur: Sorry. Drifted off.
Jack studied him carefully.
Jack: Ever since I met you… I've been wondering.
How strong are you, really?
The corner of Arthur's lips lifted slightly.
Arthur: Why do you ask?
Jack stopped walking.
Jack: I can see the energy radiating from your body.
Arthur was briefly surprised but hid it.
Jack: It looks like Rank Three's energy coating… but denser.
(Arthur's thoughts): Interesting. Most people can't clearly perceive my coating.
Arthur stopped in the middle of the corridor. Candlelight illuminated his face.
Arthur: What you're seeing isn't energy coating.
I'm not releasing my energy.
He raised his hand slightly.
Arthur: I compress it.
The air shifted subtly.
Jack felt it.
Arthur: I call it Hell Pulse.
Jack frowned.
Arthur: Most people release energy outward. Spread it like a shield.
I condense it around my body.
Think of physics. I've made energy tangible.
Jack listened intently.
Arthur: Pressure and Heat. And if I want electric current
But it's impossible for me thats why I stick to pressure and heat.
Arthur's eyes glinted faintly.
Arthur: Anyone who touches it gets blown away.
And burned.
Jack: Seriously?
Arthur: Want to test it?
Jack hesitated briefly, then clenched his fist.
Jack: If you don't mind… here I go.
Arthur didn't move.
Jack threw a fast punch toward Arthur's face.
But-
About thirty centimeters away-
It stopped.
As if it had struck an invisible wall.
A pressure wave burst outward.
Jack's arm was flung back.
The skin on his knuckles reddened instantly.
Jack: Ah! Hot! That's hot!
He shook his hand frantically.
Arthur laughed.
Arthur: You aimed for my face on purpose, didn't you?
Jack: No!
Arthur: Sure?
Jack didn't answer.
Place : Sacred Temple - Main Hall
The hall was nearly empty.
Morning assignments had already been distributed.
Rows of chairs stood silent.
Only a few notices remained on the mission board.
The elevator echoed.
A chime rang.
The doors opened.
Arthur and Jack stepped out.
Arthur: Let's start your ranking test.
Jack: Let's stop talking and get it over with.
Arthur: You do realize I'm older than you, right?
They approached the attendant.
She looked tired. Dark circles lingered under her eyes.
Attendant: What are you here for…?
She yawned.
Arthur handed over his card.
Arthur: Special registration. Make it quick pls.
The attendant glanced at the card.
Pure gold.
Highest-tier Guardian identification.
Her eyes widened.
She rubbed them twice.
It was real.
Her hand began to tremble.
Attendant: I'll prepare it immediately, sir!
She nearly ran off.
Jack blinked.
Jack: Guess you're not very popular with her.
Arthur: As if you are.
Place : Ranking Assessment Chamber
The chamber was wide and circular.
At the center stood a spherical energy measurement device.
The attendant hurriedly finalized the setup.
Attendant: Ready!
Jack looked at Arthur.
Jack: We really became master and student, huh?
Arthur: What?
Jack muttered:
Jack: Women are scared of us.
Arthur lightly but firmly smacked the back of his head.
Arthur: Focus.
Jack placed his hand on the sphere.
Cold.
Jack: Here goes nothing.
Attendant: Initiating.
The machine glowed faintly at first.
Then-
The light intensified.
Purple energy began spreading.
The hall filled with a violet aura.
The attendant stepped back.
Attendant: Energy levels rising…
But Arthur noticed something.
The machine wasn't just measuring.
It was absorbing.
Arthur's eyes sharpened.
Arthur: It's pulling too much.
Jack's face began to pale.
Arthur moved instantly.
With a sharp kick, he knocked Jack's hand away from the device.
The connection severed.
The purple glow vanished abruptly.
Jack collapsed to the floor.
His breathing was heavy.
Arthur: Result?
The attendant, trembling, checked the screen.
Attendant: Potential ranking… Zero!
Silence.
She swallowed.
Attendant: Current active ranking… 0.5!
Arthur's eyes didn't widen.
But something in his gaze changed.
(Arthur's thoughts): Even Yujin started at Rank One… This kid starts directly at 0.5?
The pride rising inside him was impossible to suppress.
(Arthur's thoughts): You truly are…
something else.
Jack lay unconscious on the floor.
And for the first time-
Arthur felt genuine excitement.