Ever since Seventeen had departed with the three children, a sense of unease had lingered among his former comrades. Some had even begun to fear the worst, imagining the dangers he might face protecting three young kids in an unknown and potentially hostile environment. The news of Seventeen's survival, let alone his ascension to immortality, filled them with a potent mixture of astonishment and envy.
Seventeen regarded them with a knowing look. "The immortal world," he explained, "is not the idyllic paradise you might imagine. In many ways, it is even more perilous than the mortal realm. With my current abilities, I would be utterly defenseless against many true immortals. You must understand, immortals often don't even need to lift a finger to kill. Their very aura can crush a person. Furthermore, the beasts there have awakened their spiritual intelligence, making them formidable opponents with astonishing fighting prowess..."
