Ren and Yui didn't understand anything.
Ren (headed toward Ryo):
"Ryo! What's going on here?! Please, tell me what's happening!"
Ryo (his voice barely audible, as if wrestling with fear itself):
"She's… she's a demon… a monster has appeared in this world!"
Yui (wide-eyed, her face filled with worry):
"Can you explain in a way I can understand? Please…"
Elyria (appeared, covered in blood, her expression disoriented but her eyes sharp):
"He's talking about Zalauria… the eternal enemy of the kingdom. She's back."
Yui: "Wha—"
Before she could finish, Elyria took off running toward the Council Hall.
Ren: "Yui! Follow her quickly. I'll stay here with Ryo."
Yui: "Alright!"
Then she chased after Elyria, her chest tightening with anxiety.
---
Inside Ryo's consciousness...
Fog filled the place—no sky, no ground... just infinite void.
Ryo (looking around, mind confused):
"What is this? Where am I?"
System:
"You have entered your inner consciousness, Ryo."
Ryo: "My inner consciousness? But… why?"
System:
"Your inner energy brought you here."
Suddenly, a girl appeared behind him… her beauty was strange, but her eyes gleamed with malice. She was living energy.
???:
"Call me Himiko... I'm the sealed part of your power. Don't you want to unleash your true strength?"
Ryo (stepping back and taking a defensive stance):
"Who are you?!"
Himiko:
"I'm you. I'm the part that was imprisoned ever since you obtained the Crescent and Crimson Star Seal."
Suddenly, Ryo's right hand began to glow with that cursed crescent… a phantom pain started crawling.
Himiko (with a firm and sinister tone):
"Cut off your hand… release me."
System:
"Warning! The Continent's Oath has been triggered due to killing intent."
Ryo (shocked):
"What?! Why must I sever my hand?! Also, deactivate the Oath of the Continent!"
Himiko:
"That seal is a shackle… it spreads spiritual chains through your body without you even knowing. You can't remove it — it's become a part of you. The only way… is to cut off the hand that bears it."
Ryo:
"But… it's my hand… how could I…?"
Himiko (steps closer with a threatening gaze):
"Cut it off now… or I'll tear you apart from within."
System:
"Note: You won't feel pain. Remember your skill!"
Ryo (with a dumb expression and confusion):
"Oh right… I forgot."
With strange calm, he drew his sword, looked at his hand… and severed it.
In the next moment, Himiko merged into his body, and his energy exploded like a giant star erupting inside him…
Ryo has risen to Level Seven: Will of the Heavens.
His speed now surpasses light many times over. His body radiated with overwhelming power.
Ryo:
"System… tell me now, what are these levels? I don't understand anything about this world's system."
System:
"This world has multiple universes, and each universe has its own system. In this one, there are 14 levels of power, as follows:
---
1. Beginner: Relies only on weapons, no skills or magic.
2. Trainee: Can enhance their body but cannot control magic.
3. Fighter: Masters the use of magic.
4. Knight: Excels in both magic and skills.
5. Continental Manifestation.
6. Eternal Shadow: Uses magic and skills freely, capable of elemental fusion.
7. Will of the Heavens: Unleashes full internal energy. (You are here now)
8. Torchbearer: Nothing known except that Thanis reached it.
The rest are legendary levels never reached by humans:
9. Abyss Star.
10. Eternal Shade.
11. Supreme Lord.
12. The Distorted: Draws power from the void, breaking natural laws.
13. Celestial: Capable of ruling or erasing a world.
14. Primordial Entity: Said to be the master of "Something" and "Nothing." Nothing else is known — it's beyond understanding.
---
As for the power system:
Magic: Drawn from emotions.
Skills: Gained through fusion, experience, or divine blessing."
---
Ryo (as the system explained, he started flying toward a specific point):
"Finally… now I understand."
Ryo (smirks coldly):
"I've found you."
He landed before a mysterious figure… their eyes met, and everything screamed that a battle was coming.
The figure lunged at him in a sudden attack!
The shadows cleared — it was Zalauria!
Ryo (smiles and blocks the attack):
"Hello, young lady."
Zalauria:
"I never expected someone to track me. Seems I should have moved faster."
Ryo activated his skill:
"Eternal Eye – Rigan – Activate!"
Ryo (shocked and confused because Eternal Eye – Rigan – had no effect on Zalauria. He couldn't see any weak points or energy flow. His voice shook):
"What is this?! Are you kidding me?!"
Zalauria (laughed lightly, turned her back to Ryo, and walked):
"Little boy… did you really think that just because you ascended a level, you can face me??... Go change your diaper and go to bed! You naughty brat who never learns."
Ryo (felt insulted):
"Wait!"
Zalauria (starting to feel anger):
"What do you want?! Speak before I make you an example to anyone who ever thinks of doing something so foolish!"
Ryo (sighs and gives up):
"I admit… right now, I can't kill you. You're far stronger than me… I just want to know why you want to destroy the kingdom and take the throne. Please, stop!"
Zalauria (visibly enraged, took one step forward — a terrifying aura exploded from her like a cyclone, a crushing pressure ripping through the air. Her voice echoed behind Ryo, chilling and dark):
"You foolish child… Don't you ever command me again!
That was your last warning. If you want something — beg for it!
Understood?!"
Ryo (frozen in place from fear, collapsed to the ground):
"Okay…"
He looked defeated and humiliated.
Zalauria (an unbelievable pressure radiated from her, the ground beneath her feet cracking like the earth was screaming):
"Listen, kid… You're still young. Out of mercy, I'll let you go."
Zalauria (narrowed her eyes):
"But if you ever think you're strong again…
If you dare to challenge me without kneeling…
I'll show you what hell truly means."
Suddenly, Zalauria vanished before Ryo's eyes.
Ryo was left with a spark of hatred in his heart —
Humiliated by her again.
To be continued...