Veyron, who had just heard a mysterious voice from the VVIP room, immediately rushed back to his chamber. Without wasting a moment, he entered his subconscious—a hidden realm accessible only to him. There, he could speak to the ancient entity long slumbering within: Xuantian.
"Hey, wake up. I need to ask you something, Xuantian."
He kept shouting, trying to awaken Xuantian, but there was no response. Veyron's patience thinned. With an annoyed expression, he drew his sword—within his own subconscious, he could do as he pleased.
"Oh… so you're not waking up? Fine. Let's see if this gets your attention."
Suddenly, a massive stone appeared before him, towering and emanating heavy pressure. Normally, he would use his aura to cut through it. Instead, he swung his sword directly at the stone.
Tang!
From within the stone, a groan echoed.
"Ouch... That hurts, Veyron. Why would you strike that with your sword?"
Veyron gave a thin, meaningful smile.
"That's enough napping. You know the consequences of staying asleep too long, don't you, Xuantian?"
Xuantian sighed and sat lazily.
"Fine, fine… What do you want? My power's only twenty percent recovered, so don't expect too much."
"It's not about that. Just listen first. I haven't even started talking."
"Hehehe… I thought you'd ask about my power like usual."
Without delay, Veyron told him everything—the mysterious voice he heard in his mind, the strange dreams about his mother, and the uneasiness that had lingered in his heart.
"Oh… I see. Perhaps… soon, you'll discover why that voice keeps calling out to you."
"Huh? That's it? I just want to know… what does that voice really mean?"
Noticing how Xuantian—normally playful—had turned cautious, Veyron realized this wasn't just a simple disturbance.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot… My master. Maybe he can explain these dreams and that voice. I'll go see him."
Resolving himself, Veyron exited his subconscious. But when he opened his eyes, reality startled him.
"What?! The tournament already started?! I have to hurry, or I'll be disqualified!"
He rushed out from the VVIP room. But just as his feet touched the arena floor, the voice returned—this time calm, but piercing.
"Veyron… find the Crimson Cave… and enter…"
It wasn't the same voice. It wasn't menacing, yet something in it sent shivers down his spine. Still… it felt strangely familiar.
"A different voice… calm, yet terrifying. Crimson Cave? Where… is that?"
Clutching the Gabriel Sword in his hand, Veyron stepped into the arena. The roar of the crowd thundered all around him.
"This is insane… the noise is deafening."
His eyes scanned the arena. All the participants had gathered, each holding their weapons. Amidst the crowd, Veyron overheard the whispers from spectators.
"That's him… Veyron Aldrecht. They say he awakened his aura and instantly reached Sword Level Seven."
"Seriously? And he's only seven years old…"
"He's been acknowledged directly by the Head of House Aldrecht."
He heard it all, but paid no mind. His gaze lingered, though, when he saw a girl from the common class. White hair, red eyes, simple clothes—yet her beauty was hard to ignore.
"So even commoners can enter the tournament… I was wrong. Damn… I've grown too used to underestimating others."
"Alright! Are all participants present in the arena?"
"Yes!"
Suddenly, a massive magic screen appeared above the arena, displaying the contestants. The crowd roared in excitement.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Today we'll witness battles from nobles and commoners alike! The winner shall receive a gift directly from the Grand Duke!"
"And for all of you watching from across the world… grab your food and drinks! This year's tournament has more contestants than ever—it's going to be a long one!"
Veyron's eyes were drawn to the screen.
"The entire world… is watching? I thought it was just the audience here…"
Across the Ironvale continent and the lands of Elarion, countless eyes were fixed on that very screen. An old man who once tried to take him as a disciple… The Aldrecht family… Even his master—all were watching.
---
In a distant land…
Two figures stared at the same screen.
In a remote village…
"It's been a while, Veyron… Let's see if you can handle those nobles."
In the hidden Crimson Cave far to the north…
"Could he… truly bear the same blood as his mother…?"
The voice was calm and wise, yet so powerful it shook the trees and trembled the ground.
---
Back at the Arena…
"Alright, let's begin the elimination round! The screen will display your first opponent!"
Veyron searched for his name and found it paired with Thorgal—a warrior from the north infamous for his brutality.
"So I'll be fighting that brutal northern warrior? Fine. Let's see who wins."
He smiled at Thorgal, eyes already dissecting his opponent's weakness.
"Next match! Veyron Aldrecht vs. Thorgal—enter the arena!"
The audience held its breath. On the left stood Thorgal with his axe—rumored to have slain a dragon in just 14 strikes.
On the right stood Veyron—known for his deadly speed, acknowledged by House Aldrecht.
"Right side, Veyron! Are you ready?"
"Yes. Ready."
"Left side, Thorgal?"
"Of course. My hands are itching for blood."
The referee left the arena and activated the barrier. Thorgal lunged, swinging his axe at Veyron's head.
But Veyron remained calm. His eyes read every opening, but he knew—it was a trap.
"Lightning Speed Technique!!"
The crowd went silent. In a flash, Veyron vanished from Thorgal's sight. The ground trembled.
"Where is Veyron?!"
Thorgal searched frantically, but saw nothing.
"Third Technique—Sky-Breaking Fang: Lightning Surge!!"
Veyron erupted from beneath the ground, launching Thorgal into the air with an explosive burst of energy.
"Thorgal… your body's full of openings. But it's all a mirage. Your real weakness… is speed."
"How… how do you know that?!"
"From your body. Big and slow. Your speed comes only from mana cores around your legs. But now… you're finished."
Veyron landed and prepared himself.
"Lightning Explosion Magic—Level Eight!!"
A massive circle of lightning magic appeared behind him. The crowd gasped. The Aldrecht family smiled. Even the mysterious voice from the Crimson Cave… was pleased.
TWOOARRRR!!
Thorgal was engulfed in flame and collapsed. Healers rushed to him.
"The winner is… Veyron Aldrecht!"
Cheers erupted. But in the crowd, a spectator—Ahn Taeryun—watched with sharp eyes.
"Now I remember… He's not a Variable… but hahaha…"
After leaving the arena, Veyron saw the commoner girl again in the VVIP lounge. As he tried to approach, she walked away. He smiled—slightly annoyed.
"Tch, what a troublesome girl… or maybe… she just hates my ugly face?"
He stared at the sky through the VVIP window.
"Almost forgot… I need to ask my master about the dream and that voice."
Without hesitation, he leapt from the balcony and raced into the forest where his master lived. But upon arrival… he discovered a dungeon.
"A dungeon? Heh… maybe there's a dragon. Or a dragon egg. Or even a weapon. Alright, I'm going in."
As he stepped across the dungeon's threshold, a dreadful aura wrapped around him.
"This aura… why does it feel so terrifying? Still… I'll keep going."
Shielded by his mana circle, Veyron pressed forward. In the heart of the dungeon, he saw a massive mural.
"What is this? A map…? Why does it look like the capital? What does this mean?"
As he touched the image, he was pulled into a dark illusion. An empty void. Then… flames. A massive beast that could swallow the world stood before him.
"What… what is this thing? It's enormous… like it could devour everything…"
Suddenly, he was back in the dungeon, panting, his soul feeling dragged.
"That wasn't a normal illusion… it felt like my soul was pulled into another dimension…"
Then, a holy light appeared. A woman with golden hair and wings stood before him—resembling himself.
"You've finally come… my son. Why are you late? I'll be gone soon… Goodbye, Kim Han…"
Veyron froze. Tears flowed as he ran toward her.
"Mom! Don't go! Kim Han is lonely! Please…!"
But it was too late. His mother… had also reincarnated into this world. He fell, weeping.
"If only I knew sooner… that she was here too… I'm sorry, Mother…"
Then, amid his sorrow, a calm voice spoke—though Veyron didn't recognize it at first.
"Hey, young man… your mother wouldn't want you to cry. This… is her final message."
Veyron jolted. Someone knew his original name—before reincarnation.
"Who are you?! How do you know my mother?!"
"If you wish to know… find the Crimson Cave. There… all will be revealed."
A light appeared. A letter fell from the sky.
"My son, Kim Han… or Veyron Aldrecht… Forgive me for leaving you as a baby. I died in an accident and was reborn in this world. But I never hated you. I'm happy you grew strong. I have only one request… Please… save this world."
Veyron wept.
"Alright, Mom… I'll honor your wish. I'll save this world…"
He raised his sword high.
"Mama… I swear… I will protect this world!"
But just as he turned to leave, light returned. A bracelet appeared… with a photo of his mother, father, and younger brother. His birthday picture.
"I'll keep this… as your final memory, Mom…"
He took a deep breath and left the cave. Yet… he still hadn't asked his master about the dreams or the mysterious voice.
And now… all clues pointed to one place:
The Crimson Cave.
---
Chapter 9 Completed