One Year Later.
Far from the endless battlefields and monster outbreaks that had become commonplace across NTOEL, there existed a peaceful district hidden beneath towering trees and crystal-clear skies.
Unlike the military zones constantly preparing for invasion, this place remained unusually quiet.
Birds sang softly among the branches.
A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of blooming flowers through the streets.
It was difficult to believe that only a few hundred kilometers away, countless Awakened fought monsters every single day.
Inside a modest but elegant residence...
Nora sat cross-legged upon a cultivation platform.
Her eyes remained tightly shut.
Golden-black essence flowed around her body in smooth currents before gradually entering the core resting deep within her chest.
The circulation was slow.
Painfully slow.
Every strand of essence attempted to construct something invisible.
Her Gate.
The bridge between an Initiate and an Awakened.
Standing behind Nora was Awakened Rose.
Unlike Nora, Rose looked completely relaxed.
She gently extended one hand.
A beautiful rose-colored aura blossomed around her fingertips before spreading throughout the room.
The fragrance of roses immediately filled the air.
Petals made entirely from essence floated around Nora before dissolving into her body.
The moment they entered her meridians, Nora felt her exhausted essence recover at astonishing speed.
The strain on her pathways lessened.
Her circulation became smoother.
Even so...
Progress remained frustratingly slow.
Not far away, Sophia quietly watched everything from a nearby chair.
She had witnessed this scene almost every day for the past two months.
Time continued passing.
Minutes became hours.
Eventually...
Nora slowly opened her eyes.
Her breathing had become uneven.
Sweat covered her forehead.
Rose also withdrew her aura before letting out a long sigh.
"I'm exhausted..."
Nora smiled helplessly.
"So am I."
The two women slowly stood.
Rose stretched lazily before looking directly at Nora.
"Nora..."
"You completed your Initiate training three months ago."
"You've been attempting to form your Gate for two whole months."
"And yet..."
Rose shook her head.
"You haven't even completed half of it."
Nora scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"I know..."
Rose folded her arms.
"You know?"
"You say that every single day."
Nora laughed softly.
"What can I do?"
"My Gate just refuses to cooperate."
Rose rolled her eyes dramatically.
"At this rate..."
"I might as well form my own second Gate and lend it to you."
Nora immediately burst into laughter.
"Why don't you just become an Initiate again while you're at it?"
Rose pointed accusingly at her.
"Don't tempt me."
Sophia couldn't help smiling at their conversation.
After spending so much time together, the relationship between teacher and disciple had become much closer than before.
Rose yawned loudly.
"I'm done."
"I need sleep."
Nora blinked.
"So early?"
Rose pointed toward the communicator resting on the table.
"A large-scale monster outbreak has been predicted."
"If the reports are accurate..."
"A horde may appear tonight."
"I'll need proper rest."
"Otherwise I'll be fighting while half asleep."
Sophia stood.
"Take care, Teacher."
Rose waved lazily.
"You two don't destroy the house while I'm gone."
"I'll try."
"You'd better."
With one final yawn, Rose walked toward the door.
The door closed quietly behind her.
Silence filled the room.
Sophia finally turned toward Nora.
"So..."
"What did you want to ask me?"
Nora's expression became noticeably more serious.
"Could you track Mason?"
Sophia nodded.
"I already did."
She walked toward the nearby window.
"After almost a year of gathering information..."
"I finally confirmed his location."
Nora's eyes narrowed.
"Where?"
"Planet Diamond."
Nora remained silent.
Sophia continued.
"The information wasn't easy to obtain."
"He has been hiding exceptionally well."
"But according to multiple independent sources..."
"He's currently staying on Planet Diamond."
Nora lowered her gaze thoughtfully.
"Has he challenged his next Trial already?"
Sophia nodded.
"Yes."
"And according to the information I received..."
"He's trying to remove a certain bond connected to an Initiate."
She paused.
"I believe..."
"...that Initiate is you."
Nora's expression remained calm.
Sophia continued.
"Although he lost everything after being deranked..."
"Several Sovereigns are secretly supporting him."
"They seem determined to help him regain his former strength."
"If everything proceeds according to their expectations..."
"He should complete the Trial in less than half a month."
Silence followed.
Nora quietly processed every piece of information.
Finally...
She nodded.
"I understand."
Then she suddenly changed the topic.
"What about Mark's family?"
Sophia's expression softened.
"They're... coping."
She sighed.
"His parents still haven't fully accepted his death."
"But they've begun moving forward."
She shook her head slowly.
"Honestly..."
"Mark's death still doesn't make sense to me."
"Who willingly challenges Elite creatures while still only an Initiate?"
Nora remained silent.
She still remembered the battle vividly.
The price they had paid.
The lives they had lost.
Sophia looked at the time before smiling faintly.
"I should head home."
Nora nodded.
"Take care."
"You too."
A few moments later...
Sophia disappeared beyond the front gate.
The house became completely silent.
Or so it seemed.
Nora slowly walked toward the basement.
Then deeper still.
Finally...
She stopped before a heavy reinforced steel door.
The locks automatically disengaged.
The door slowly opened.
Inside the underground dojo...
A lone man sat tied securely to a heavy steel chair.
Countless chains wrapped around his arms, legs, waist, and neck.
Power-sealing runes covered every inch of the room.
The man slowly raised his head.
His eyes met Nora's.
Without saying a word...
Nora summoned her Spirit Sword.
Its blade shimmered with cold silver light.
She calmly rested its edge beneath the prisoner's chin.
"You know..."
Her voice remained perfectly calm.
"I never expected someone like you to form a Gate before trying to kill me."
The prisoner smiled.
Despite the chains...
Despite the countless seals...
He still smiled confidently.
"Nora..."
His voice remained steady.
"You're quite the character."
The smile on his face never disappeared.