After exchanging a few more words, Nova and Cassidy parted ways. Nova made a beeline for his room, diving straight into training—he was on the verge of reaching level 15 in every sword skill, and the anticipation fueled his focus.

Cassidy, on the other hand, wandered through the complex in quiet contemplation. A gentle smile would occasionally grace her lips, only to be replaced moments later by a faint frown. Whatever thoughts stirred such shifting emotions remained known only to her.

An hour passed, the sounds of notifications echoed in Nova's mind.

[Skill Sword Sweep proficiency increased]

[Skill Sword Sweep (14) (8,192,000/8,192,000) → Sword Sweep (15) (0/16,384,000)]

'This should be the last sword skill I can level up on my own,' he thought, releasing his grip on the sword to steal a few seconds of rest as he brought up his Status screen to confirm.

[Status]

Rank: 0

Name: Nova Grey

Species: Human

Affiliation: None

Level: 27 (170/500)

Mana: Mana Core (Low) (1,151,620/100,000,000), ??? Spinal Node, ??? Perception Node

Class: None

Titles: Goblin Exterminator, Kings Slayer, Survivor, Spear Intermediate, Troll Exterminator, Orc Exterminator, Rune Novice, Mana Novice, Lord (Giants), Hunter, ???, Sword Novice

Stat Points: 343

Attributes:

Strength: 232 (+1,521)

Vigor: 205 (+1,672)

Dexterity: 255 (+4,736)

Speed: 215 (+3,847)

Intelligence: 171 (+1,753)

Wisdom: 215 (+2,204)

Will: 12

Luck: 10 (+10)

Skills

Active: Spear Thrust (15) (2,671/16,384,000), Spear Jab (15) (69,684/16,384,000), Spear Sweep (16) (8,164,615/32,768,000), Spear Lunge (15) (0/16,384,000), Spear Overhead Strike (15) (0/16,384,000), Sword Slash (15) (1/16,384,000), Sword Stab (15) (3/16,384,000), Sword Chop (15) (1/16,384,000), Sword Sweep (15) (0/16,384,000), Sword Parry (14) (2,030,197/8,192,000), Sword Block (14) (1,997,701/8,192,000), Blacksmithing (5) (6,472/16,000), Woodworking (0) (54/500)

Passive: Regeneration (15) (3.998,875/16,384,000), Keen Reflexes (8) (5.883/128,000), Momentum Streak (15) (12,089,674/16,384,000), One with the World (Spear) (MAX), One with the World (Footwork) (MAX)

'Indeed, the only ones left are Sword Block and Sword Parry. Once I master those, I'll finally reach Intermediate level with the sword,' Nova thought, exhaling slowly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Distance Token, intending to call Neve and Garrik for another round of training.

Just as he was about to activate it, the token buzzed in his hand.

'Did they read my mind?' he wondered.

The caller was Garrik. Slightly surprised, Nova answered with a calm voice, "How did you know I needed you just now? Come over, I'll call Neve and we can resume our training."

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But Garrik's voice came through, tense and urgent. "Boss, there's someone outside who wants to speak with you."

Nova's eyes narrowed. "Who is it? Did you learn anything from them?"

"It's just one guy," Garrik replied. "Blonde hair. He said he wants to speak to the one in charge, then he shut up. Didn't give me anything else."

'Just one person?' Nova's mind raced. 'Given the timing, he must be part of the same group as those three. Did I miscalculate? Why would he come alone, knowing I've already captured his companions?'

He had expected a group—an attempt at rescue or retaliation—not a lone arrival. Now, he couldn't tell if the stranger was dangerously overconfident… or if he himself had underestimated something.

'I clearly remember Jack saying Ren and Colin were leaders. And Ren had easily recognized Micah that means he's also a leader. All in all those three aren't ordinary subordinates. It's hard to imagine there being a major power gap between them… though not impossible.'

His thoughts spiraled without reaching a solid conclusion. With a quiet sigh, he drew a deep breath, steadying himself.

'What's the point of speculating when I can just go out and ask?' A faint smile tugged at his lips, amused by his own overthinking.

Bringing the Distance Token closer to his mouth, he muttered, "Tell him I'm coming out now," then slipped it back into his pocket.

Outside, Garrik heard his Boss's voice through the Distance Token and gave a silent nod. Turning his gaze to the blonde man waiting by the gate—Slade—he spoke with a neutral tone, neither deferential nor dismissive: "My Boss is on his way."

Slade gave no sign he'd heard him. He remained motionless, head tilted slightly upward, eyes fixed on the sunset. His expression was unreadable, a mask of calm that betrayed no concern—odd, considering he had walked alone into the stronghold of those who had captured his colleagues.

A minute later, the main doors of the complex swung open.

Nova stepped out, his long hair stirring in the evening breeze, the wind tugging at his clothes. His eyes immediately found Slade, who, despite clearly hearing the door open, still hadn't turned to face him, choosing instead to continue watching the darkening sky, as if it were somehow more important than Nova himself.

'Is he trying to act cool or what?' Nova thought, narrowing his eyes as he approached.

He stopped ten meters away—close enough that, for people like them, it may as well have been a few millimeters. A distance that could be erased in the blink of an eye.

At last, Slade's gaze dropped from the sky and settled on Nova. He took a moment to size him up before speaking. "Are you the 'Boss' they mentioned?"

Nova gave a slight nod. "And you are?"

Slade didn't answer. Instead, his eyes sharpened, and he spoke with cold authority, "Bring those two here."

The words weren't a request—they were a command, delivered with the casual expectation of obedience. As if he were used to being obeyed, no matter the place, no matter the audience.

A deep frown creased Nova's brow. 'Who does this guy think he is?' The sheer audacity of being ordered around—by a stranger, on his own place—sent a flare of anger through him. It tugged at memories he'd rather forget. Memories of being powerless. Of a life before the portals descended, when others above held all the control.

And now, someone was speaking to him like that again.

"I clearly wrote on the wall that I'd hand them over for the right price," Nova said, his tone dipping into a faintly mocking edge, sharpened by his soured mood. "So before I bring them out, why don't you show me just how badly you want them, yeah?"

Slade's expression cooled. He didn't respond with words. Instead, he began walking forward, slowly, until less than a meter separated them. Close enough that the sound of each other's breath filled the space between them.

Then, without warning, Slade raised his hand, aiming a slap at Nova's face.

But the slapnever landed.

Nova's hand snapped up, catching Slade's wrist in midair. His eyes, now icy and razor-sharp, locked onto Slade's with a piercing intensity that could cut through steel.

"Slapping someone just because they didn't jump when you said so?" Nova's voice dropped, cold and scornful. "What are you, a spoiled child?"

This time, there was no ambiguity in his tone. The mockery was clearly evident.

And the air between them grew heavier.

Slade pulled his hand free, his cold gaze fixed on Nova once more—but it wasn't recognition in his eyes. If anything, it was contempt. He didn't respond to Nova's words; he ignored them entirely. What mattered to him wasn't what had been said, it was the fact that someone had dared to defy him, to lay a hand on him.

His expression all but shouted: How dare you touch me?

Then, without a word of warning, Slade moved.

The kick came like a thunderclap—swift, precise, and brutal. Nova's eyes tracked the motion, but it was too fast, too sudden. He managed to put up no real defense before the blow landed squarely against his ribs.

A sharp boom cracked through the air, the sound delayed by only a fraction of a second due to the kick having broken the sound barrier.

Under the watchful eyes of the captains and Alaric, observing from nearby or peering through windows, Nova's body rocketed backward. He tore through the air, then crashed through the complex's outer wall, debris exploding around him.

He finally came to a halt several meters inside, skidding across the polished floor, dust and rubble trailing in his wake.

Nova's subordinates stared in stunned disbelief, their eyes wide with shock. Not in their wildest dreams had they imagined their Boss, the one they saw as the strongest, being launched through a wall like that. The sound of the wall breaking still echoed through their ears even seconds later.

Outside, Slade stood motionless, his expression untouched by satisfaction. His anger hadn't lessened in the slightest. If anything, his calm now felt colder—like a storm that hadn't yet peaked.

To him, none of this was surprising. It was inevitable.

"An ant from this place dares to be cocky in front of me?" he muttered under his breath. The words weren't meant for show—no one else even heard them. They weren't boasts. They were conviction. A truth etched into his bones.

To him, this wasn't something to be proud of. This was order being restored.

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