Chapter 7

  Thick black smoke rose from the taxi, swallowed by savage flames. The fire tore through the street without warning, as if the city itself were screaming in silence. The crowd stood frozen, mesmerized by the brutal dance of fire—eyes locked on the burning wreck, hearts weighed down by shock and helpless disbelief. No one spoke. Everyone wondered the same thing.

  Above the chaos, the group hovered in the sky, their expressions cold and unreadable.

  But Suero couldn’t stay there.

  He dropped down hard, pushing through the crowd with desperate force, shoving people aside as he rushed toward the burning car. His face was pale, locked in denial. Then he saw it—what remained of his mother inside the taxi, her body charred beyond recognition.

  Time stopped.

  His eyes widened. His breath broke. And a shattered cry tore itself from deep within his chest.

  “Mom…?!”

  Before he could take another step, a man from the crowd grabbed his shoulder, gripping him tightly as if trying to hold him back from losing his mind.

  “Kid! Where do you think you’re going? Can’t you see the flames? They’ll burn anything alive!”

  Suero turned to him, his eyes drowning in fear and desperate pleading. His voice trembled as he struggled to speak.

  “Let me go…! My mom—my mom is inside!”

  He fought against the man’s grip, but the crowd closed in around him, restraining him. Suero screamed, striking out with all his strength.

  “Get away from me! My mom—my mom is in the car!”

  Another voice shouted angrily from the crowd, trying to stop him.

  “You idiot! It’s too dangerous!”

  Suero kept struggling, tears streaming down his face as he screamed in raw despair.

  “Let me go… please! Let me go!!”

  High above, the group watched in absolute silence.

  Moryo spoke at last, his tone cold and controlled.

  “We need to take Suero.”

  Baysal’s eyes widened. She leaned back slightly, her voice barely a whisper.

  “Was his mother really inside the car?”

  Veb looked between them, confusion and forced calm mixing in his voice.

  “What should we do now, Master?”

  Sbyam Brius remained silent.

  His gaze never left Suero.

  For a moment, it was as if his thoughts were boiling beneath the surface. Then he finally spoke, his voice low, steady… and unsettling.

  “He… he’s the one who did this.”

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  Moryo shot him a sharp glance, curiosity sparked, but Sbyam Brius didn’t move. His eyes stayed fixed on the burning taxi as he continued, almost whispering.

  “This… this is the Unlimited Technique.”

  Baysal stepped back in horror, her breath catching as a name slipped from her lips.

  “Spailo…?”

  -

  Inside the Stone Castle

  Spailo moved through the castle in absolute silence, his measured footsteps echoing faintly along the stone corridors. His hands rested in his pockets, his expression calm—dark as the night itself.

  He entered a wide chamber deep within the fortress. A group of mages sat gathered around a massive wooden table: Campeis, Pico, Beth, Solio, and Darwin.

  All eyes turned toward him the moment he stepped inside.

  Spailo ignored their stares and continued walking with quiet confidence toward another door. A heavy silence settled over the room—until Solio broke it with a mocking laugh.

  “So… you really did it, Spailo?”

  Spailo paused at the doorway. He stared ahead, not bothering to look back.

  Beth leaned forward, his tone sharp with sarcasm.

  “Why would you do that? Trying to prove something? Or is there another reason behind your little performance?”

  Solio suddenly burst into hysterical laughter, his voice dripping with cruelty.

  “I love it! I can feel Suero’s shattered soul—his pain floating around us, crying out into the air!”

  Slowly, Spailo turned to face them.

  His expression was unreadable.

  Then it happened.

  A crushing aura poured out from him—silent, overwhelming, like a storm without wind. The room froze. Tension and fear crept across their faces as the pressure pinned them in place.

  Solio stared at him with twisted curiosity before speaking again, his voice sharp and unstable.

  “What’s wrong, little one? Are you angry?” He grinned wildly. “Because I’m enjoying this. And you won’t take that joy from me. I’ll savor it until the very end!”

  His eyes spiraled into madness as his voice dropped into something darker.

  “I’ll kill him. I swear it—I’ll kill Suero.”

  A cold smile formed on Spailo’s lips.

  “And I’ll be the first to face you.”

  Campeis stepped forward, curiosity flickering beneath his calm tone.

  “Spailo… why did you and Raizo create the Rizeus Organization? What are your true goals? And why recruit us—assassin mages—specifically?”

  Spailo scoffed, his eyes narrowing with quiet disdain.

  “Silence, you fool. You don’t even know your own past—how could you possibly understand my intentions?”

  Campeis stared at him in stunned silence. Spailo returned the look with deliberate mystery, his mockery unmistakable.

  At that moment, Darwin broke the tension, his voice filled with curiosity.

  “Then tell me this—why did Brylo choose the Ronda region?”

  All eyes shifted to Darwin.

  Beth answered smoothly, confidence clear in his voice.

  “You’re referring to the plan to contain Sbyam, correct?”

  Darwin nodded.

  Beth continued without hesitation.

  “Because Ronda has the highest population density in Kaisima.”

  Darwin frowned.

  “And that helps us how?”

  Beth’s lips curled into a sinister smile.

  “Absolutely.”

  Solio glanced at Spailo, raising an eyebrow with suspicion.

  “Do you really think we can contain him?”

  Once again, all eyes turned to Spailo.

  A cold smile crept across his face as he replied with unwavering confidence.

  “Without a doubt. I have a trump card waiting for him in Ronda.”

  Darwin stared at him, uncertainty clear in his eyes.

  “I don’t know much about the techniques of the Raimo Clan, but… are you truly confident we can stop the strongest sorcerer of this generation?”

  Spailo leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze locking onto Darwin’s eyes. A mocking smile touched his lips as he spoke in a low, confident whisper.

  “We’ll be using your technique. So it would be wise for you to stay alive.”

  Campeis stepped in again, concern evident in his voice.

  “And the Containment Orb?”

  Spailo answered without hesitation.

  “We’ll need to take it from the Mana Organization.”

  Solio scowled, irritation flashing across his face.

  “I’m not going anywhere near those mages. I hate them—all of them.”

  Spailo let out a quiet laugh, sending him a sly, dangerous smile.

  “Good. Then let’s begin the raid.”

  ---

  (Three Days Later)

  Before sunset, Suero sat in silence beside his mother’s grave. His hollow gaze rested on the gravestone, weighed down by memories that refused to fade. The air felt heavy—thick with grief and unspoken words.

  Behind him, Sbyam leaned against the cemetery gate, watching quietly. A faint smile lingered on his face, carrying old mockery… and a muted understanding.

  Suero remained still. Silent.

  He reached out and brushed his fingers gently across the stone, as if offering a final farewell. Then he turned to face his master.

  Sbyam smiled.

  “Are you ready to continue your path?”

  Suero’s eyes were cold as ice.

  “Yes,” he answered evenly. “If I don’t keep moving forward, I won’t be able to protect people from the monsters that threaten them. I won’t be able to protect my friends either.” His voice hardened. “If I hesitate any longer, I’ll be the reason they die.”

  He turned away, leaving Sbyam behind.

  That final look carried something new—maturity… and resolve.

  Sbyam followed him at a calm pace, hands in his pockets, a quiet smile forming as he thought to himself.

  He’s grown.

  ---

  (Seven Days Later)

  At the Mage Academy, Moryo and the team stood beside Suero, waiting impatiently.

  Baysal sighed in frustration and muttered,

  “That idiot… he’s late again.”

  Veb scanned their surroundings, his voice calm as ever.

  “Is this his usual way of doing things? Or does he just enjoy annoying us?”

  Suddenly, their instructor appeared before them.

  Sbyam.

  He was wearing a new outfit.

  His old blue robe was gone, replaced by a white mantle trimmed with black, giving his presence an air of elegance—and undeniable authority.

  Eyes widened.

  Suero, Baysal, and Kamyo spoke at once, awe slipping into their voices.

  “AMAZING…!”

  Sbyam laughed, scratching the back of his head with exaggerated modesty. Moryo, maintaining his usual composure, asked in a flat tone,

  “What’s with the new outfit?”

  Sbyam stepped closer, raised a finger confidently toward him, and smiled with excitement.

  “Today, we’re meeting another academy to decide who truly deserves the title of the strongest. Will it be the foolish students of Betma… or my brave disciples?”

  Moryo let out a tired sigh, irritation creeping into his voice.

  “So this is just about showing off?”

  His annoyance was clear as he watched his overly excited teammates. Suero, Baysal, and Kamyo exchanged eager glances, laughing with Sbyam like one big family, their faces glowing with smiles.

  Moryo stayed quiet, observing them calmly—hiding his irritation at the sheer absurdity of the moment.

  With Sbyam leading the way, they set off toward the coming challenge, their hearts filled with a renewed surge of excitement and strength—ready to face whatever awaited them.

  End of Chapter.