"(Star Tide)!"
The sword moved with force and a stellar aura, unleashing a slashing attack filled with multiple stabs that took the shape of stars as they shot toward the snakes. They fell to the ground one after another, and the sword wielder, unexpectedly, was a small boy with white hair and silver eyes that carried the aura of the stars.
The boy sat down and began counting:
"Forty-eight… forty-nine… fifty! Finally, I'm done!"
He then dashed with incredible speed toward one of the mountains, climbing the slope with agility, grace, and swiftness. When he reached the peak, he found a man sitting on the ground with crossed legs, his back facing him. The boy called out excitedly:
"Master! I finished the training!"
"Really?!"
The man—whose hair was white from age yet whose features were still bright, gentle, handsome, and striking despite his years—turned around.
But those same eyes, pitch-black and terrifying to others, instantly softened when they fell upon the boy, radiating warmth and affection.
The boy said, "Yes! So you'll keep your promise, right?"
"Do I really have to do that?"
The boy exhaled angrily. "Yes! You HAVE to come to my birthday party! Or I'll be mad!"
"Alright, alright! I don't want you getting upset. I'll also bring you a gift."
"Thank you, Master. But I just want you to be there… the whole family are worried about you."
"Alright, little Lan…"
...
Shion Lan awoke suddenly, breathing quickly.
'Wasn't that old man Shi Yun Lan?! And who was that boy using the same techniques as me?! Does that mean he was the creator of the technique? No!… that shouldn't be possible!'
Shion sat up and analyzed his technique.
I invented this technique while observing the stars. This world has its own stars, and Shi Yun Lan's world has its own stars. That means the technique shouldn't be inherited—it should be something new that I created.
He remembered how he fought the golden serpents so effectively and in such large numbers.
'But that doesn't make sense… I only have third-level techniques, and that serpent was fourth-level. How did I manage to face it effectively?!'
Shion decided to enter the Veins Realm.
There he found the man with the perfect smile and deadly presence—Shi Yun Lan. He told him the dream.
Shi Yun Lan was surprised and said, "Wait until I bring the Forth Vein Holder."
Aura wrapped around Shi Yun Lan, and his form began to change. His body transformed into that of a man in age of twenty—handsome, sharp, and radiating overwhelming masculine presence.
The transformed man said, "So, you are Shion Lan?"
"Huh? Yes!"
Shi Yun Lan approached him, gently placed a hand on his head, and closed his eyes for a moment, searching for something.
Shion felt as if he were being stripped bare—no secret remained hidden.
Finally, the man opened his eyes.
"There is something wrong with your memories. They must be erased. They do not belong to you."
Without warning, Shi Yun Lan stared at him. Shion froze. Something inside him felt like it was dying—yet strangely, his soul resisted with immense force, enough to surprise even Shi Yun Lan.
So he changed his approach.
"Seal."
Shion felt a tremendous force crushing his soul. The pain was unbearable—he bit his tongue just to stay conscious.
Shi Yun Lan said, "Despite your weak strength, your soul is astonishingly powerful… but also suspicious."
He stepped closer.
"I considered several possibilities:
—That you came from my world and took over this body.
—That you summoned a future version of your own soul.
—Or that you are related to me.
But…"
With a faint trace of disappointment:
"First: your soul matches this world, so you likely didn't come from mine.
Second: your soul is young, not old.
Third: it's impossible for you to be my descendant born in this world… because you're stupid."
"…Excuse me?! Who are you calling stupid?!"
"Exactly as I thought. You're so stupid you assumed I meant someone else."
He pointed at Shion's nose.
"I meant YOU."
"And what are your criteria for intelligence?!"
"Not being like you, and becoming great like me."
He pointed proudly at himself.
Despite his anger, Shion smirked.
"Fine then… I'll go find myself a maid to fall in love with."
Suddenly, the air turned icy cold.
Before Shion even realized it, his head was already in Shi Yun Lan's hand.
With a chilling voice that could freeze bone, he said:
"If you can't protect yourself, don't drag women into this, Shion." then smiled faintly with evil intent "I will play with you for a while, but you will not forget it for lifetime " and Shion felt the terror as his head was cut but his consciousness still there and in the second moment his screaming filled the realm
…
Shion opened his eyes again, terror on his face, gasping like someone reborn.
"You son of a—! I couldn't leave the realm until he finished torturing me!"
He remembered every moment of having his body dissected, while his head watched helplessly—unable to die, unable to escape—nearly driving him insane.
"Just wait, you insane bastard… I'll kill you in every vein! I won't leave a single piece of you!"
A soldier rushed in after hearing his screams.
"You're awake! I'll inform the commander!"
Soon the commander and the doctor came to check on him.
Then Shion was struck by shocking news.
"I've been unconscious for a week?!"
"Yes. According to the report, you fought the golden serpents skillfully for a long time, causing severe exhaustion and collapsing while weakened. But unfortunately… there is bad news."
The doctor sighed.
"Your strength has diminished. You now have a small, unstable star. From my diagnosis, it seems your excessive reliance on potions and elixirs prevented you from depending on your own power, damaging your talent. You no longer possess third-level strength."
Shion closed his eyes.
"I want to be alone for a while."
The commander and doctor understood and left.
Shion inspected his inner star… then noticed another star—one he recognized: larger, brighter, surrounded by a magical circle.
'Strange… I have another star, but it's a water-attribute star. The explosive surge must have created a new star and the Stellar Body reached level two. But…'
He tried to use both stars at once and failed.
'This body can only release power from one star at a time… unless…'
His eyes widened.
'It's as if each star forms its own body! Advancing the physique allows space for new stars, but they're not connected to the first. Meaning… I have two bodies now! Each with one star. If I can link them somehow, I could unleash far greater power.'
'For now, I at least know I can create a Fire Star without affecting the original one.'
Shion rushed out and found the commander.
"Sir, have you informed the director about me?"
"Not yet… I want to restore your previous level first, or Lord Tim Ayr will have my head."
"Then… may I ask for a favor?"
"What is it?"
"In addition to treatment, I want access to some of the army's fire-element techniques."
The commander hesitated.
Shion continued, "I know what you're thinking… but my master told me to learn a bit of fire element."
"When did he tell you that?"
"When I contacted him through the inheritance."
"…Since the Star Master himself said so, I'll grant your request."
While Shion studied fire techniques and the doctor prepared treatments, the commander wrote a letter to the director.
"Shion Lan has awakened, but unfortunately suffered a setback that weakened his level. However, through the inheritance he contacted the Star Master and found a way to recover."
The words vanished from the paper.
After a moment, new words appeared:
"Watch him closely. Assist him when needed. And report every detail of his training."
…
In the training grounds, Shion swung his sword in simple drills.
'Water Star… explode!'
His new star shone brighter and brighter until it detonated. Shion then switched to the first star.
"(Raindrops)!"
The excess overflowing energy from the exploding star poured into the first one, and Shion tried to release it—but it only grew more chaotic.
"(Water Vortex)! (Raindrops)!"
He gathered all the excess in a spinning vortex, then unleashed a massive destructive attack.
He sighed, "If only there were better monsters to train on. But I don't have time to look for any."
He sat to meditate.
The destruction from his attack attracted soldiers, who arrived and saw him seated calmly amid the devastation.
Realizing he was meditating, they backed away.
The commander arrived, shocked.
Soldiers reported that Shion had only been performing basic sword drills.
"You're telling me basic drills caused this?! Those are third-level attacks—almost fourth-level!"
The commander sighed.
"At least he regained his strength. But why did he want fire techniques? Don't tell me fire helped him recover… he's a water-element user! Fire would kill the star, not improve it!"
He remembered the Star Master's words.
"I'll report this to the director exactly as it is."
He wrote again:
"In less than an hour, Shion fully restored his strength through basic sword drills and fire-element techniques under the Star Master's guidance. I don't know what to do."
He waited for the reply.
None came.
…
Meanwhile, in Director Tim Ayre's office—after attempting to mix water with fire—
"A complete failure, Commander"