Auren smiled with confidence, his eyes glinting."Oh-ho-ho… I wonder just how powerful they truly were. They must have been the greatest, almost like the highest tier of mages. Tell me, what should I do to become like them?"

Lyrax folded his arms, his gaze heavy with wisdom."I can teach you the ways of strength, but to reach that level… it depends only on you. The abilities you awaken, how you wield them, how you blend them together—this path is yours alone. But remember this: you must chase the mythical power. When you chase it, answers will unfold along the way. Your journey itself will reveal who you are… and the truth of this world."

Auren straightened, his voice steady."I have already formed my Tideborn group. And its name is—Phantom."

Lyrax's eyes sharpened, a flicker of surprise crossing his face."Tideborn… interesting. If you truly see me as your master, then heed my words: do not set sail at this young age. Begin your true journey when you turn eighteen. Until then, train for three years without fail."

Auren fell silent, considering the weight of the command. Then, with a firm nod, he answered, "I understand."

Lyrax's eyes gleamed with approval."You are already at the second stage of the Mad Hunter ability. That is no small feat. No one has ever reached the second stage in just a single day. You have potential, Auren. But remember this—never let ego devour you. Always look higher. Never drag yourself down. And above all, do not stop."

Auren nodded firmly.

Lyrax's tone shifted, becoming more serious."After two and a half months, your city is planning to attack Yuzen. Their target is Zackey Siroka. Do you wish to fight as well?"

Auren's eyes widened in shock."A battle… in just two and a half months? Then I must train even harder. I want revenge for my brother!"

Lyrax allowed himself a small smile. "Good. That is what I am here to prepare you for. But I cannot remain your teacher for long. I am the king of Rompo. My kingdom needs me."

At those words, Auren froze. His thoughts swirled. Rompo? Someone who developed VITA… an exception among men.

His eyes flashed with sudden realization."So… you are that exception. And you told me once that my father wished for me to grow in hatred so that I could become a mage. Why? Why was he so desperate to shape me into one? Why could he not accept me for what I am? This question gnaws at me… Why is my city built like this—where those who develop VITA are exalted, called human, respected… while those who cannot are cast aside as nothing? Why is the world itself like this?"

Lyrax listened, his expression grave, then answered with the weight of truth: "The world has always been this way. If you do not possess something within you, they will see you as lesser. People worship only those who hold power, and dismiss the rest. It is their nature—they were shaped like this from the very beginning. But those who grasp this truth, those who rise above the chains of such thinking… those are the ones we call mature."

He paused, then added, his voice like a blade cutting through fog: "Maturity can take many forms, Auren. It can be defined in countless ways. But in the end, it is the courage to see the world's cruelty, and yet not let it dictate who you are."

Lyrax continued –"When a man realizes he must earn for his family, he becomes mature . When a warrior understands that he or his friends might not see tomorrow, yet they still share the present moment to its fullest, that is also maturity.

Emotions and ways of living bind the world. When someone awakens to knowledge in a certain situation, it means they are progressing.

Now think—when you look at this world with a keen eye, when you seek knowledge to escape the traps of the mind, and when each day you solve something new… it means you are truly progressing."

The world is trapped within its mind. Curiosity has the power to break it—the curiosity to know. Master Lee Wang will guide you to look deeper within yourself. Once he trains you, the world you see now will never look the same again.

Auren's eyes widened. He leaned against the balcony, resting his hand on his jaw, listening intently.

Lyrax's voice carried softly, yet with weight."Do you see this great temple, Auren? You are not alone here. Children like you—some older, some younger—are all here, though you cannot see them. Master's magic hides their presence. Soon, you will train among them and uncover far more than you ever imagined."

Knock. Knock."Auren… hey Auren Phantom, it's me—Vivi Phantom. May I come in?"

Silence.

No reply.

Her brows furrowed. She pushed the door open.

The room was in chaos. A glass of juice slipped from the table and shattered, fragments scattering like stars across the floor. The window stood broken, wind tearing through the curtains. And Auren—Auren was gone.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. Her lips trembled, and before she realized, her voice ripped through the halls."AUREN!"

On the open deck, Velmore and Ravi heard the cry. The two looked at one another, shock flashing in their eyes.

"Litos… they've taken Auren?" Ravi muttered.

Velmore didn't waste a second. With a sweep of his hand, he summoned Buma. The crimson parrot erupted into being, wings blazing like fire. Velmore mounted the beast, launching skyward toward the broken chamber.

Meanwhile, Ravi vaulted into motion, bounding along the palace walls like a shadow.

"How could anyone breach this deep into the palace?" Velmore growled, gripping Buma's feathers.

Vivi's voice echoed from the balcony, raw with panic."Auren is not here!"

Velmore's hand darted to his chest pocket. He pulled out a small orb, pressed it to his ear."Amira. Find that boy—Auren Ryuki. Now."

Far away in Baku City, deep within a candle-lit laboratory, sat Amira, the elite seer. Strange charts and blood-stained maps sprawled across her desk. Her fingers dripped crimson into runes as her eyes rolled white."Auren Ryuki…" she whispered.

At that same moment, Lyrax's voice stirred in Auren's ear."Auren… the palace is in chaos. They hunt for you. Amira, seer of Baku, is casting her sight upon you."

"What?!" Auren hissed. "I don't want to be dragged down! I'm here for Hollow Mountain!"

"Do not fear," Lyrax said calmly. "She cannot touch you. I am the stronger seer. Her sight will not pierce mine."

Amira's vision stretched outward. A transparent world bloomed before her eyes, her spirit soaring above Baku, searching, hunting.

"There…" she gasped. "Clock Town. I see him."

But when her sight reached, Auren was not there.

"No… Now he's in Water Café."

Her vision plunged inside the tavern. She saw Auren Ryuki transformed—a towering man, broad-shouldered, lips pressed against women, mugs of beer foaming in his grip.

"What…? That… that is him?"

The image tore away.

Now he stood in Bemana Temple, kneeling before the statue of Mahavanga. His lips moved in prayer."O, legend Mahavanga… grant us strength. My wife and I are in despair. Help us…"

The vision shredded like smoke.

Amira gasped, her chest heaving, breath uneven. Sweat poured down her temples as her body shook violently. Her chart cracked, then split apart, tearing down the middle.

Her eyes went wide."What—what was that?! This is no ordinary boy… Litos? No… Someone strong enough to twist even my visions. Someone who toys with me—"

She tried to rise, but her knees buckled. She collapsed to the floor, trembling.

"Who… who can do this?" she whispered hoarsely.

A voice, deep and steady, filled her chamber."Amira."

Her blood turned to ice."Who's there?"

Her heart hammered. "You… a ghost?"

His laughter was cold, echoing like steel scraping stone."No. Not ghost. Not spirit. Something beyond both."

The no-face shadows of her laboratory flickered, as if the air itself bowed to his presence.

Amira called Velmore."King! King! Someone so powerful is inside Baku. I can't see Auren anywhere… he's manipulating my vision!"

Velmore's eyes widened."That can't be… it means…" He didn't finish. He pulled a red buzzer from his pocket, teeth clenched, pressed it.

Within seconds, alarms blared in every department.

"Close Baku City! High alert! Leader of Litos is here!" Velmore shouted.

Police mages, army mages, elites—everyone on full alert. Action started immediately.

Ships in the port froze. Giant walls of Baku swung shut, magic shimmering along their edges. Guards shouted. Mages raised spells. The city locked down.

Aazin sat inside a small house, sipping tea. His fist clenched tightly."Who failed our plan? Who made Baku go on high alert?"

Ana, in the geisha house, narrowed her eyes."Damn it…"

Ryzin crouched in the shadows of a cave, voice low but sharp."How will we kill Auren if the city is on high alert? Is Litos here? Has Ranjan come?"

MEANWHILE.

Lyrax laughed, ignited - HAHAHAHA. high alert.

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