"That's enough!"

Luna's lotus Palm strike stopped midway when she heard Leo's voice. She was aiming at his throat, a strike that leaves him in enough pain to know that she wasn't here to play around.

"No way…how can this be?" someone in the crowd was shocked.

"What is her name?" A muscular woman with muscles as large as Luna's head asked the shocked man. She already had ideas for recruiting Luna for her party.

She wasn't the only one because the man standing next to her replied:

"…Ascender Lara is strong. She must be a genius, for sure. She must join my party."

Meanwhile, Luna was smiling from within when she heard the chatter happening behind her. This is what she wanted. A little bit more spotlight and attention to attract the true audience this performance was for.

She had chosen to show just enough skill to prove that she was worthy of standing among these special students of Aaron Phillips.

She knew she was being watched by the others. Hence why she decided to switch to the lotus palm strike. It looked weak, but Leo looked disheveled right now because of it.

Divine Arts were techniques Luna was willing to learn, despite the hardships that came with them. The Lotus Palm, which was her first divine art, was a difficult art to learn because of her strength. The second art, Way of the Wind, left her with broken bones because it involved controlling the wind itself, and the Heavenly Wisp, which she hadn't gotten the hang of yet, needed her to have absolute control over the essence around her.

Regardless, even if it meant burning herself, Luna needed to master the Divine Arts if she was to move forward. They were necessary to her growth because they needed essence to work effectively. A product of perfect harmony between the mortal body and the immortal soul.

From her recently awakened memories, the arts were created by the clans of the divine realm during the Age of Heroes. But, as expected, they weren't enough to stop the divine beings from wiping them all out. A mortal remains a mortal. A mortal can't push a mountain even though they train for a century.

But Luna had already catered for that error. When she transcends her Mortality, she would then bring out the true force of the Divine Arts. By then, no one would be able to stop her.

Leo cleared his throat. "I will vouch for you. Geez…I forget how powerful the women of this world are." He said while cleaning the sweat off his face with a handkerchief.

"Tell me, are you from the Feng Clan or one of their Sects? I heard they have all weird things there."

Luna shook her head. "Everything you need to know is in my file."

"Your file won't tell me why you want to train with Aaron Phillips."

"Are we supposed to have reasons?"

Leo laughed lightly. "Don't we all have reasons why we fight? Don't we?" he asked. "With your skills, you can join a Sect or a Government Academy as a Master or Combat teacher. You move like you've been training since you were like five, your control over physical strength is impeccable. You stabilize your bloodlust and Battle Aura. You're overexperienced, Miss Lara."

"…But I am only twenty."

"That's what surprises me. Are you some reincarnated ascender or something?" he raised his eyebrow, suspiciously.

No matter how he tried, he couldn't think of the possibility that Luna had inherited memories. The idea was too bizarre. So the next best thing was reincarnation.

"Anyway, the reason why I am asking is that we are training under Aaron Phillips because we want to become Sorcerers within two years. Each of us is a genius, some born with rare blood traits… others with special training from our sponsors." Leo stared at the crowd with passionate eyes.

"Aaron Phillips sends people to the Dream Realm, a different world that looks nothing like this one. If you die there, you die. It's not some simulation."

Luna was silent for a moment. She hadn't expected Aaron Phillips to be the guy to go to if you wanted to advance to a fourth gate faster.

His students here were all Second Gate users. Opening three gates needed at least five years of hard work without special conditions, like what happened to Lena Feng after her Soul Gate survived the descent of a godlike being.

'Could it be that Aaron Phillips can influence a zenshi user's ascension. Or can he replicate special conditions?'

That…was something she needed to find out for herself when she's in the Dream World.

"I want to become the strongest ascender in the world." She chose something corny as her reason.

"The strongest?"

Luna nodded, "If talent is what you base strength on, Ascender Leo. Then you're the most naive person I've ever met."

The confidence in her voice lit up her face as she continued, "You and I have fought. You held back, thinking that you might hurt me. But has it crossed your mind that I also held back for the same reason?"

Leo scoffed.

"Wha—"

He did not get to complete that question. Because. Just then. A pressure descended on the battle stage, and all the ascenders around reached for their weapons instinctively.

The smell of death flowed from her like a river, revealing to Leo that she was also a wolf…perhaps an even scarier one. This was her intent and battle aura mixed in one.

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The corner of Leo's mouth twitched. "…you. How are you a first gate user?"

She withdrew her aura and snickered, "Unfortunately, I am."

While staring through the window with her arms crossed, Sophie stared at Luna as though she wanted to devour her. That's the strongest intent she has ever felt.

'This woman is fascinating.'

After their short but incredible session, Leo led Luna to the special floor where they were supposed to wait for Sir Aaron Phillips. He didn't take Luna to the room with the other special members.

But to a separate waiting room where a tall man stood, waiting.

Brown hair, tanned skin, and serious bronze colored eyes. He was in a green and gold ascender uniform with a black belt around his waist. He appeared to be in his forties, but his presence carried a silent youth.

Leo cupped his fists, and Luna followed along.

"Ascender Wei, your student greets you."

"Leo, you don't have to be so formal." Wei had a deep, reserved voice. "I am here on behalf of Lord Aaron. Unfortunately, he has some business to handle in the Dream World. My colleague and I are here to take his special students to the Dream World and begin your first trial."

"First Trial?" Leo slightly frowned. "Already?"

"Yes. There has been a change in plans. That is the unpredictability of fate. So, in two days, kindly prepare for the first trial."

Wei then turned his gaze to the woman standing next to Leo. He had paid her no attention at first because she felt mundane. But when he realized she hadn't left the room. Then there was something between the two.

"Who is this woman?"

"Lara, I am a first-gate ascender who wishes to participate in these trials you speak of," Luna answered for herself before Leo spoke.

Wei's gaze immediately turned disdainful. "Miss…Lara. The trials can only be challenged by second gate users. You will die if you participate."

"Then I'll prepare to survive it," she said, voice calm, but eyes burning. "If potential isn't enough, then I'll bring more."

Leo only shook his head when he heard Luna's response. The arrogance in her tone was palpable as she spoke to one of his masters.

Sure, Wei was just a third gate ascender. But he was also a member of the Astral Vigil, which was a powerful sect and the only one located outside of the mortal realm.

Its master, the Dream Master, was capable of stepping in and out of the dream realm as he wished. The world knew him as Aaron Phillips, a recent fourth gate ascender with a rare connection to a lost realm. He was the only ascender of his kind, and therefore very valuable to the ascender world.

Wei was one of the ascenders who were marked by Aaron Phillips. And through his will, Wei could travel between the lost realm and the mortal realm.

"Forgive her, Master Wei. She's…problematic." Leo stiffened. "However, master. I believe that Miss Lara is capable enough to participate in the trials. She's fine with dying, as you can tell."

Wei could not help but sigh. He had been told to listen to these special students. If they vouched for this first gate ascender, then she must've displayed some level of skill to even earn Leo's say.

'I will do some digging on her later.' Wei thought to himself.

"Alright, I will inform the Master of Ascender Lara here. And that you have vouched for her."

"Thank you."

Luna lowered her head in a bow.

"Don't thank me, you're the one who has chosen death. The Astral Vigil sect doesn't just choose anyone, you know. I was the only one who survived in my cohort after the first trial." Wei decided to share some information from his experience, hoping that the young woman could at least rethink her choices.

"They were a group with people like you, young men and women who think they can take on the world just because they have potential. But let me tell you something. Potential isn't enough, Miss Luna. I'll see you all in two days."

With that, Wei walked out of the room. His partner, a blonde-haired woman in a similar uniform, was waiting outside.

She only bothered to look at Leo before walking away with her partner.

"Phew…that was close." Leo heaved out a loud sigh.

"Forget that, we have two days to prepare for the trials." Luna's serious facade had already crumbled, revealing what she truly felt.

She had expected an exam of sorts, not trials in the dream realm. This was bad and too early because her information about the broken realms was still not enough.

The small notes left behind by the Fire Keepers were all she had. Those notes were based on what was left behind by the people of the divine realm.

As always, it wasn't enough. It never was.

"I will come back in two days."

Leo frowned. "Huh? Aren't you going to meet with others?"

"I don't have time for that. I need to prepare for the Trials." Luna replied in a cold tone.

After a humble bow, she stormed out of the private room and headed to the guild's archive library for information regarding the Dream world.

She was now a registered ascender and therefore had access to all information archives in the main library.

Once there, she found a seat with an Information tablet and started going through anything that talked about the Dream world in detail.

Although the creator wasn't mentioned in the Guild's information, Luna was already aware that the lost words or the broken realms were also creations of the Creator.

However, these realms served as battlefields for the first wars. Each realm was left destroyed. And because the gods were incapable of creating entire worlds, they had no choice but to abandon them and let the realms turn into hostile worlds.

The information they had about the Dream was based on old myths and data collected from the few people who had seen the Dream World for themselves and returned.

As she read through the archive's information, Luna noted that not many people who trained there retained most of their memories connected to their experience in the Dream world.

A few places were vaguely described—most especially the Astral Vigil sect, which was described as a beautiful citadel that hung in a starry sky. They also mentioned Mountains made of corpses and bones. Black seas carrying beasts with unique powers. Chasms that led to oblivion, and so much more.

Luna read through and memorized every possible detail she could find. The vague maps, places she should avoid, and unique creatures. She would then use that information to try and plan for what's to come.

Many hours passed, and Luna's worried look didn't change at any moment.

Most of the information was similar to what the fire keepers had already gathered. But the Guild's was much more detailed.

Also, Luna learned that those who did not choose to stay in the Dream World would lose a huge portion of their memories.

"Alright." She stretched and turned off the device.

In the end, she found nothing connecting to the Trials. She wanted to assume that the Trials were something new, but Wei mentioned that he also participated in them.

Therefore, there was a change of plans.

'Something influenced this change. I wonder what?'

She rubbed her eyes and yawned. "I guess I just have to be prepared."

***

In Redspire.

Lena Feng sat on the edge of a grand pool just outside her suite. The water splashed each time she hit her legs onto its surface.

Her gaze then traveled to the distant moon that glowed brightly in the sky. The moon hung like a glowing sentinel in the sky, celestial and serene. It was surrounded by a sea of stars that sparkled to create a picturesque scenery that any artist or photographer would die to see.

"One Year," Lena muttered. The moonlight reflected in her grey eyes.

She moved her hand to a certain envelope placed next to her.

Ascender Wei had delivered this invitation to the Dream World to her earlier today. It was from the Astral Vigil, inviting her to the trials as a participant because of the coming Moon Mission.

"I have one year to become a Fourth Gate Ascender." A weak smile appeared on her gentle face. Her cold presence affected both the water and air around her. Like a phantom.

She studied the envelope and finally opened it. In it, there was an old-fashioned black paper. It had no words on it, but something sinister came off it. This was a product of powerful and unique sorcery.

"I accept your invitation," she whispered.

Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew into her suite, and the letter burst into bright blue flames and vanished into the air.

Another voice echoed in the silence, surprising Lena.

[For when mortals dream, their hearts breathe]

When she heard the incantation, a three-pointed Star Mark appeared on the back of her right hand.

Her connection with the Dream World had been established.

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