Opening his eyes, Shion Lan found himself in a strange realm but familiar as well. He walked for a while and thought inwardly, 'Where am I? Am I not in Neumann Province? Where is everybody?'. Shion didn't know his new surroundings but he smelled a familiar smell he knew as he lived a long time in Shi Yun Lan's body and thought, 'Is that.... blood?!'. Shion couldn't understand as there's no corpe near him but a shadow standing in distance grabbed his attention so he walked to him, in near distance he saw him clearly but shocked, "Shi Yun Lan?! What are you doing here?!" Shi Yun Lan was older but has no aura as if he was a normal person but Shion realised and shocked his head "the spirit world of Shiu Won Lan"
...
Solan Neumann struck Shiu Won Lan's back with her spell, (Spirit Magic: Soul Release), hoping to sever the link between him and Shion Lan. But Shiu Won Lan looked at her coldly and said "I thought I could keep you in my room but you chose the way to death" and raised his sword to kill her. At that moment, Star Instructor Ryan Shine intervened, unleashing light spears as swift as arrows. They struck Shiu Won Lan's blade just as it was about to fall upon Solan.
Shiu Won Lan tried to imprison her inside the lantern, but the lantern could not contain a pure soul. Seizing the opportunity, Solan retreated swiftly and vanished underground.
All the Seventh-Level fighters stared at the enemy with taut nerves. They were belittling him but they were wrong, badly wrong. This was someone who had seized high-tier artifacts, trapped the Director and two leaders of the Six Great Families, and forced two guardian spirits to withdraw.
Shiu Won Lan looked at them ruthlessly, thinking, 'That spirit must have gone to free those fools again. I will kill the others before my power fades.'
He raised his sword, the lantern hovering beside him, and charged toward the Seventh-Level forces. He slashed in all directions with the Spirit Sword, minimizing his techniques to conserve power. Many tried to resist him, but before a tyrant like him, none could stand. Even Star Instructor Ryan Shine could barely keep up.
Ryan glanced around and thought, 'Strange… he hasn't killed anyone yet.'
As his blade didn't reach Ryan's neck but deviated to struck his bow.
Shiu Won Lan realized the same.
"What is happening?!" he muttered, raising his hand in shock. "That little bastard!"
He retreated swiftly, formed seven magic circles, and cast:
"(Black Star Seal)!"
Unexpectedly, he struck the spell upon himself. Looking proudly at his hand, he laughed.
"A mere Expert level brat trying to reclaim control of his body! Hahahaha—!"
His laughter was cut short as he vomited blood.
Looking again at his hand, he saw Shion Lan's spiritual lines still present, struggling to reclaim his body. Shiu Won Lan could not believe it—but the others gave him no time for shock.
"You will die now!"
He raised the lantern.
"(Star Sovereignty)!"
Seven stars manifested around him, pressing down on everyone, forcing many to collapse. Using his Simple Domain, he searched for Solan Neumann but he didn't find her beside Kin Light and Glass Sano so he searched for her for a while until he discovered her position. She was concealed near the scroll, attempting once more to seize control of it.
"(Black Star Travel)!"
Black light streaked toward Solan, seizing her by the throat.
"I am a spirit as well," Shiu Won Lan sneered. "You cannot escape my grasp."
Fear flashed across Solan's face. Then something astonishing happened.
"Use the same spell on me! Or I will kill that boy!"
Everyone realized the earlier disruption had been caused by Shion Lan trying to reclaim his body. Now Shiu Won Lan intended to kill him from within.
The Director intervened calmly.
"Why not try killing him? Or are you unable to?"
He struck the weakness.
"I don't know why I cannot kill him!" He roared. "But if I destroy his body, he won't have a suitable vessel. He'll be dead!"
Then he smiled wickedly at the others.
"I'll go test my luck with the Kings." He looked at the fighters, "Let's see—will you sacrifice yourselves letting me kill all of you to preserve that boy's body, or kill me and kill him as well?"
He glanced at Solan maliciously.
"Or perhaps you could expel him and make him your familiar… for now."
Without waiting for a response, he rushed toward Ryan Shine and the Seventh-Level fighters, swinging his sword and unleashing spells wildly. Many who fell under (Star Sovereignty) collapsed between life and death.
Only Ryan Shine could truly stand against him. He switched from arrows to light spears, firing rapidly and forcing Shiu Won Lan under pressure. Meanwhile, deep within, Shion Lan continued fighting.
Shion was in dire straits. He looked by his eye toward Solan, who lay on the ground, uncertain what to do. His body was already covered in scars and wounds, and now they worsened. But he clenched his teeth inwardly and said "I.... will.... do.... it!".
The Director was immobilized, caught off guard without time to prepare the proper spells. He thought, 'If I came with my body here, it would be different!"Then a faint voice reached the Director's ear:
"The real show is about to begin."
He looked up.
Shiu Won Lan had nearly closed the distance to decapitate Ryan Shine and recharge his strength—but suddenly his arm froze midair.
Cracks spread across Shiu Won Lan's face.
Half of Shion's face emerged, forcibly pushing the arm away. He retreated from his Instructor.
He got back away from everyone. "Shion!" All the presents screamed his name to ensure that they weren't hallucinating. As a warm smile appeared on his half of the face they rest assured.
"How did you escape the Spirit World?!" Shiu Won Lan shouted.
"The Spirit World? The place where you use my memories and past life to brainwash or destroy me?" Shion asked mockingly.
"Yes! How did you leave?!"
"I was asleep after the blood spirit attack," Shion replied casually. "I woke up in a strange world… so I decided to wake up from it."
"…."
It was the most ridiculous answer anyone had ever heard. As if one simply decided to become rich or strong and it happened effortlessly. But Shion Lan had lived through Shi Yun Lan's memories and the recorded past. Escaping a mere spiritual assault was not difficult so long as he maintained his mind—one honed through training under Shi Yun Lan.
"I will kill you now!" Shiu Won Lan roared.
He tried to raise the sword—but could not.
"You are an unwelcome, rude guest," Shion said calmly, catching his breath. "If I cannot expel you… I will kill you."
He muttered:
"(Stellar Summet: Death of Stars)!"
Shiu Won Lan's form dissolved into a shadow over Shion. Black strands intertwined with white hair. Darkness flooded his eyes, becoming an abyss faintly lit by struggling stars.
The Director's face paled.
"That energy… it's the same terrifying aura!"
Miral Flair and Brad Sano frowned. "Are you certain, Sir? Isn't it just a forbidden technique?"
"No wonder that person spoke of a show," the Director said urgently. "Shion can wield that power!"
Ryan Shine stepped forward to protect Shion, but Shion stopped him.
"Don't worry, Master. That bastard will die by my hand."
"Even Transcendent couldn't touch me!" Shiu Won Lan roared. "How dare an insect like you speak so boldly?!"
Shion replied calmly,
"If I am merely an insect unworthy of facing you… then I shall collect rent for using my body."
He raised his sword and roared:
"(Death of Stars)!"
The lethal aura surged into Shiu Won Lan, destroying his stars and shattering his magic circles.
"What are you doing?!" Shiu Won Lan screamed in terror.
"Dragging you into the same abyss I stand in." Shion said calmly.
Shiu Won Lan tried to contact the sword and lantern—but they were now fully under Shion's control. Desperate, he activated the scroll. Pressure lifted from the Director and others, crushing down entirely upon Shion.
He used (Soul Suppression).
Shion was unmoved but sneered,
"Is that all you can do?" The Annihilation continued under the pressure.
Terror consumed Shiu Won Lan. He separated from the body, reducing himself to Fourth Level. He attempted to summon the scroll—
Shion raised his hand.
"(Death of Stars)!"
The black stars vanished. Shiu Won Lan lost everything.
The scroll fell into Shion's hand.
"Now you are Fourth Level," Shion said in a cold voice devoid of life. "Do you dare challenge me?"
Shiu Won Lan met those abyssal eyes and felt himself being dragged into endless darkness ignoring those stars within it.
"Wake up," Shion prompted.
But Shiu Won Lan dropped to his knees.
"I cannot win."
Shion's sword reached him and tore his soul apart without resistance.
Shiu Won Lan vanished completely.
Shion regained his white hair and silver eyes, stars shimmering within them. His spiritual manifestation faded, revealing his physical body—covered in scars, deep wounds, and burns.
He did not care.
He searched for Solan Neumann—but could not find her.
'It seems I could not say goodbye…'
He collapsed unconscious.
Shi Yun Lan sat before the fallen Shion in the Veins Domain.
"I could not kill you because she loved you and you're my other half, child," he said softly. "But you have now cast aside those bad memories yourself. I am sorry I could not help you then. Now you are Shion Lan. I will not let you suffer again. I will care for you until the right time comes."
...
Shion opened his eyes.
He recognized the place.
"Is this… the infirmary?"
He realized he had returned to the Academy.
"I hope that person isn't the one treating me…"
"Unfortunately, I heard that!"
The same physician who once treated him entered.
Shion hurriedly protested, "I just didn't want to trouble you over something minor!"
"Shut your damned mouth before I break your bones!" the doctor snapped, advancing with a clenched fist.
"You wouldn't hurt a patient… right?!" Shion retreated.
"Do you know how many threats I endured to treat you?!" the doctor growled. "Even the Director intervened to increase the pressure on me just to wake you up! How will you compensate my peaceful days, you little bastard?!"
He raised his fist—then placed it heavily on Shion's shoulders instead.
"Do you know how troublesome your treatment was? I don't even dare complain about it. Please… don't do anything foolish again. Or I won't be able to breathe in this kingdom afterward."
He turned to leave.
"I'm sorry," Shion apologized softly.
A sharp headache struck him.