"It's time to officially reach Level One." Grey's face lit up with excitement as he pushed himself up from the chair and headed toward the Evolvers' Association.
There was still time before midnight, and he planned to achieve his first level today itself. The process would be lengthy, so before heading to the Association's Training Zone, he made a stop at the Golden Chamber.
There, he bought a bundle of plain talismans to draw Mini Cosmic Energy Conversion Diagrams, along with several energy potions and a healing potion in case things went wrong.
When Grey finally arrived at the Evolvers' Association, he was surprised to see a familiar figure standing in front of the building, looking somewhat lonely. People passing by couldn't help but glance at her with awe, but the girl paid them no attention, silently waiting by the side.
The girl, dressed in casual sportswear, her beauty sharp enough to make strangers turn for a second glance, was none other than Alissa.
"What are you doing here all alone?" Grey walked forward with a small smile on his face. "Are you waiting for your boyfriend?"
Hearing this, Alissa lifted her head and shot him a cold, blank stare. "What's it to you? Mind your own business."
"Hey, no need to get angry." Grey spread his hands in defense. "It's not embarrassing to have a boyfriend. It's completely normal at your age."
"…" Alissa said nothing, falling into silence.
Instead, she carefully observed Grey up close.
The longer she looked, the stranger he seemed—his face was different, his demeanor was different, even his personality felt distant.
The only thing that still reminded her of the old Grey was his voice.
Alissa pursed her lips. "Why are you here?"
"Training," Grey replied casually. "Since it's still early, I thought I'd get some practice in."
Alissa gave a small nod.
Grey, however, was surprised inwardly.
She had actually gone out of her way to ask what he was doing here? Did she suddenly have a change of heart toward her brother?
Usually, when they ran into each other in public, she wouldn't even spare him a glance—much less strike up a conversation.
This small shift caught him completely off guard.
Just then, a girl suddenly rushed over and planted herself in front of Alissa with a defensive stance.
It was none other than Ellen, Alissa's close friend.
"What do you want with my sweet Alissa?" Ellen glared at Grey fiercely.
"Leave her alone!"
Alissa facepalmed slightly at the scene.
Grey, on the other hand, couldn't help but smirk in amusement.
"Oh? And who might you be?" Grey raised an eyebrow before turning back to Alissa. "Wait, is this your girlfriend?"
That one line instantly made both Alissa's and Ellen's faces sour.
"I'm Alissa's best friend!" Ellen declared proudly, puffing her chest out before hugging Alissa's arm like a guardian.
"That so?" Grey chuckled. "Good. I was worried Alissa might be the lonely type, but I'm glad she has someone like you."
"Hmph." Alissa snorted in annoyance.
At the same time, Ellen gave Alissa a questioning look. From the way Grey carried himself, he didn't seem like some creep chasing after Alissa. And besides, he was a little too handsome for that.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Grey Lockhart… her—" Grey hesitated mid-sentence. For a split second, Alissa caught the pause, her expression flickering with something complicated before vanishing as Grey finished his words.
"…her brother."
"What?!" Ellen froze in shock. "You're her brother?!"
She turned to Alissa, who silently nodded.
"You—!" Ellen immediately went dizzy with embarrassment. She had definitely overreacted.
"This…" Ellen forced out a sheepish smile. "So it turns out you're Alissa's brother. Sorry for the misunderstanding. But really, this ice block here never tells us anything."
"…" Alissa kept her silence.
At that moment, two more figures approached—Rock and Evan.
"Who is this?" Rock asked, adjusting his glasses as he gave Grey a sharp, analyzing look.
Evan, on the other hand, froze in place the moment he saw Grey.
"It's you, friend!" Evan exclaimed in disbelief.
"Hm?" Everyone turned toward him, including Grey.
Grey looked confused. He didn't recognize the man's face.
"Who are you?" Grey asked curiously.
"It's me! Remember the truck incident last week?" Evan said with a dumbfounded expression.
He hadn't expected Grey to forget so quickly.
"Oh." Grey's eyes lit with understanding. "It's you."
Grey gave a small nod.
"Yes." Evan sighed, looking speechless.
"You two know each other?" Ellen asked, surprised. It seemed like everyone here except her already knew Alissa's brother.
Even Alissa raised an eyebrow at this revelation.
"Yeah." Evan nodded and quickly recounted the truck incident.
Then, narrowing his eyes at Grey, he added with suspicion, "Still, friend, you've changed a lot. I almost didn't recognize you. What did you do to alter your appearance so drastically? It's not metamorphosis, is it? You were already an Evolver back then, right? Otherwise, how could you have dodged that speeding truck? No, it definitely isn't metamorphosis."
"???" Alissa's expression changed sharply at those words.
From Evan's tone, he was certain Grey had already been an Evolver before last Tuesday. But she was sure that wasn't the case. She had felt it with her own senses—Grey had only gone through Metamorphosis on Wednesday.
So then… how?
Grey, meanwhile, was sweating bullets. Forcing out a laugh, he waved his hand dismissively. "Hahaha, I had plastic surgery, that's all. Nothing more."
"…" Alissa was utterly flabbergasted.
She stared at him, stunned by how shamelessly he would lie with a straight face.
Grey glanced back at her, twitching his eyebrows and subtly moving his lips in silent signals.
"…" It was clear to both of them that he was hiding something.
How could a mere mortal dodge a speeding truck?
She knew with certainty he had only undergone Metamorphosis a day later.
"Oh, is that so…?" Evan frowned. "I didn't know plastic surgery could increase height too."
"Haha, what can I say? The technology on Blue Star is truly advanced, isn't it?" Grey laughed awkwardly.
Evan gave an equally awkward laugh in response.
Then, all of a sudden—something shifted.
Grey's Fate Insight ability triggered without warning. Instantly, his perception was flooded with overwhelming visions.
At the center of Evan's chest, a blinding light burned brightly, with millions upon millions of threads weaving outward from him, connecting to everything around. Alissa, Ellen, Rock—even random passersby—were bound to him by luminous strands of fate.
Grey's eyes widened in disbelief.
"???" He almost shouted aloud at the bizarre scene.
Everyone was connected to Evan. Everyone… except him!
The only thread Grey had was a faint one linking him to Alissa.
But what came next shook him even more.
[Your comprehension defies the heavens! You have glimpsed the very fate of the world itself and identified the Fate Holder.]
[Your comprehension defies the heavens! As one who dares to face heaven directly, your senses have reached higher dimensions. You have detected the existence of a powerful being within the Fate Holder.]
Grey's vision blurred, and in the next instant, he was pulled into a blank, endless space.
A voice suddenly boomed inside his skull, each syllable crashing down with the weight of worlds.
"You… you can see me?"
The voice was pleasant, melodic even, yet so otherworldly that it made Grey feel like the entire universe was crumbling around him.