A/N: Thanks for all the GTs! Bonus chapters will be published soon.

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"Heaven and Earth Phenomenon!" an instructor shouted, his voice ringing through the air and instantly grabbing the attention of every nearby instructor and professor. They even left the spatial mage, who was getting killed verbally.

Heads snapped toward a particular direction deep within the forest. Those with movement abilities or flying-type beasts immediately shot upward, hovering in the air to get a clearer look at the unfolding spectacle.

"Whoa… even from this far, we can still see the golden shine," an instructor muttered, squinting as he gazed at the needle-thin golden shimmer piercing through the distant canopy. The glow was so far away that even after being told the exact direction, some of the lower-level instructors couldn't find it at all.

"I bet it's at least a purple-tier treasure. Just look at that shine!" one exclaimed, eyes wide with greedy anticipation.

Another instructor beside him frowned, tone dipping into something more serious and heavy.

"Or… a new secret realm trying to fuse with the environment."

His words instantly quieted a portion of the crowd. Several experts narrowed their eyes and began to ponder. Indeed, Heaven and Earth Phenomena always carried a buried secret. Some signs were common and well-known—namely, the birth of new natural treasures. But others were far rarer and far more dangerous: the opening, or more dreading, fusion of a secret realm.

According to the old records, a secret realm was essentially a fragment of land torn apart by ancient battles—specifically those between God-Beasts—trying to merge back into the current world. Whenever such fusion occurred, it expanded the world's territory and brought new flora, fauna, and all kinds of changes. Some were blessings, some were curses.

Everyone knew the infamous catastrophe where an entire volcanic mountain range—thousands of kilometres wide—fused into the eastern borderlands along with a population of Fire Dragons and Fire Drakes. The newcomers tolerated no outsiders, turning the region into a massive forbidden zone. Today, it was collectively known as the Territory of Sunborn—named in respect to the ruling dragon of that land, bearing the surname Sunborn, a monstrous peak 8-star Beast commanding countless 7-star subordinates.

So when the term secret realm appeared in discussion, panic naturally followed.

"Wouldn't it be dangerous for weak candidates to be anywhere near that?" someone muttered nervously.

"Very dangerous," another agreed at once. "We should help clean things up. This wasn't supposed to happen during the trial."

"What if the treasure is attracting sacrifices already? If we don't intervene, we might witness the birth of a dangerous beast."

When a treasure appears—more accurately, when it decides to announce itself with a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon—there is only one reason behind it. The treasure has drained all accessible nutrients from its surroundings and now needs something living to walk into its mouth. Beasts, humans, demons… anything with energy becomes food.

But treasures are not defenceless. Each raises its own guardian. The weakest guardians begin at peak 2-star, although lower-tier treasures often raise more guardians instead of stronger ones. For low-tier treasures, quantity compensates for quality.

Typically, a treasure reveals itself only once it reaches Purple Rank, and even then, the weakest purple-tier treasure begins with a single peak 2-star guardian. Afterwards, with many sacrifices consumed, the treasure ranks up. Each breakthrough releases a wave of energy—the dazzling Heaven and Earth Phenomenon—which in turn draws more sacrifices, creating a vicious cycle of growth.

Guardians, once chosen, fight to protect the treasure in exchange for the treasure feeding them energy to rank them up. However, a treasure always keeps its guardians weaker than itself. Otherwise, a guardian might devour the treasure instead—a suicidal act, as consuming a higher-tier treasure is often a shortcut straight to death. Because of this risk, treasures sometimes choose a group of lower-level guardians over a single, extremely powerful one.

And how does a treasure do this? At first, the process is almost instinctual—subconscious. But as they grow, treasures develop true awareness, eventually evolving distinct personalities and survival strategies.

The Elasian Bloom, the treasure currently in Leo's possession, had done the same. It raised Cedar Treants as its guardians. Normally, it wouldn't have been weak enough to allow itself to be taken by Leo and the others… but at that critical moment, it had just exhausted an enormous amount of energy birthing a new guardian and defending against the Mistprowler Tiger.

In hindsight, Leo was extremely lucky.

"If that's the case, I'm going," one instructor declared abruptly, already half-turning as if his decision was final. He added, almost defensively, "My child is also present in this trial."

"Wait for me, I will go too!" another instructor jumped in, voice sharp with urgency.

Before more could join in, a calm yet cutting voice sliced through the rising clamor.

"No one will go."

Several instructors whirled toward the source, irritation flaring across their faces—ready to scold whoever dared to stop them. But the moment they recognized the speaker, their anger strangled in their throats. Their expressions stiffened, and one by one, they lowered their heads, jaws tightening as if swallowing bitter medicine.

Brant descended with a controlled, effortless stride through the air, the quiet pressure of his presence reminding everyone of his authority. Being a professor required at least an Intermediate 4-star foundation, while instructors barely qualified at 3-star, and drill instructors fell even lower. Brant, of course, was far beyond the minimum—something none of them dared forget.

His reason for stopping them was obvious. Not one of these instructors intended to rescue the candidates. Their so-called concern was nothing more than thinly veiled greed. A purple-rank treasure was valuable enough to drastically strengthen even a 4-star warrior. And although Brant himself wasn't immune to the allure, his interest lay elsewhere.

The teleportation energy from those soilworms…It seems that the kid is very close to that treasure. Let's see what he does next.

But first… Brant's gaze sharpened. With a slight shift of his expression, he released a faint ripple of aura—barely more than a whisper, yet heavy enough to make several instructors break into a cold sweat.

"Since it appeared during a trial," Brant said slowly, each word laced with authority, "it belongs to the candidates. Do I make myself clear?"

"B-but Professor Brant, isn't it unfair for candidates far away from the treas—"

The instructor's voice abruptly died. Brant had turned a cold glare on him, freezing enough to silence the man mid-syllable.

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