Chapter: CHAPTER 355. ECHOES OF THE ARTIFACTThe artifact pulsed again. A low, trembling throb rolled through the laboratory walls, soft but heavy enough to shake loose dust from ceiling vents. The lights flickered, dimmed, then steadied. The hum faded. Silence returned, but Oliver Beckett felt the vibration still echoing in his chest.He stood beside the reinforced glass chamber, staring at the fragment of the crystal eye lying inside. It was no bigger than a coin, yet it felt like a living heart glowing with its own quiet rhythm.A rhythm that, disturbingly, matched his own. He stepped back, breathing out shakily. “It’s getting stronger.”Across the room, Iris adjusted readings on a floating monitor. Her brow creased with worry. “Every hour it emits a pulse… and every pulse gets louder. The containment field is barely holding.”Oliver rubbed the back of his neck. “Kael won’t like this.”Iris shot him a look. “Kael already doesn’t like this.”He couldn’t argue with that.The lab was a sealed bunker under the academy. Only the
Last Updated: 2025-11-18
Chapter: CHAPTER 354. THE HORIZON OF POWERThe sky began changing long before anyone understood why. It started with a soft shimmer, thin ribbons of pale green drifting above the academy like dancing mist. Students pointed at the sky during lunch, whispering that it looked pretty, almost magical, but Oliver Beckett felt something else in that light.Something cold. Something dangerous. By sunset, the aurora grew brighter, too bright, and the air buzzed faintly the way the Zones did. Iris noticed it too. She stood with Oliver at the observatory balcony, her hands wrapped around the metal railing. “This isn’t normal,” she murmured.Oliver gave a slow nod. “The System’s leaking into the sky.”The light pulsed once, sharp enough to sting their eyes, and a strange vibration rolled through the air like a low hum. Iris shivered. “It feels like… like the world is breathing wrong.”Oliver didn’t respond. He felt the difference in his bones. The Zones had always been separate, sealed away inside their own spaces. But now the boundary
Last Updated: 2025-11-18
Chapter: CHAPTER 353. ARTIFACT RUMORSThe morning after Oliver’s return from the Obsidian Garden felt strangely quiet. Too quiet.He woke with a dull ache behind his eyes, a heaviness in his chest, and the sharp memory of the smirking reflection whispering Hayes’s name.Even the sunlight creeping into his dorm room felt thin, like the world was holding its breath.Iris sat by the window with a tablet in her hands, reviewing logs. When she heard him shift, she looked up immediately. “Good morning,” she said softly.Oliver tried to smile, but it failed halfway. “Morning.”Her eyes searched his face. “Did you sleep at all?”“A little,” he lied.She didn’t believe him, but she didn’t push. Instead she closed the tablet gently, stood, and walked toward him. “The faculty is meeting today,” she said. “Kael wants to talk about artifacts.”Oliver frowned. “What artifacts?”Iris inhaled deeply. “More of them. They’re appearing everywhere.”Oliver froze. “More? Why now?”Iris didn’t have answers. She only gave him a small nod. “Come
Last Updated: 2025-11-18
Chapter: CHAPTER 352. EVOLUTION ZONE: THE OBSIDIAN GARDENThe portal opened like a tear cut through darkness. Oliver Beckett stepped forward, Iris’s hand still warm against his palm until the light swallowed him whole. The world twisted, folded, then snapped into a silent landscape made entirely of black glass.Zone 08: Obsidian Garden.It looked like a cathedral that had been carved, shard by shard, from frozen midnight. Towers of reflective stone rose overhead. Blossoms of razor-sharp crystal bloomed on the ground. The air felt cold, so still it barely existed.And everywhere Oliver looked…His reflection stared back. Not one reflection. Dozens. Hundreds. All slightly wrong.One version of him had a scar running down his jaw. Another wore heavier armor. One looked older. One younger. One smiled too calmly. Another scowled with a silent rage. Oliver’s breath faded into fog. “This place is wrong.”The System responded instantly, its voice sharp:[Evolution Zone 08 Loaded: The Obsidian Garden][Warning: Pattern-Mimic Entities Active][Objec
Last Updated: 2025-11-18
Chapter: CHAPTER 351. SYSTEM UPGRADEThe change began at dawn. Oliver Beckett woke to a sharp pulse behind his eyes, a vibration so sudden and deep that it felt like the world briefly cracked open. His breath hitched. The dorm room blurred. Every shadow seemed to flicker. Even the air hummed.At first, he thought he was still dreaming, then the System’s window erupted in front of him, unprompted, violent, glitching with lines of code that twisted like living needles.[GLOBAL UPDATE INITIATED][PHASE ONE COMPLETE][BEGINNING PHASE TWO: EVOLUTION ZONES]The letters vibrated, scattering pieces of light across the room. Oliver gripped the edge of his bed. “Not now,” he muttered. “Not like this.”Then the world snapped. His vision folded inward. Something screamed through his mind, metallic, distant, almost mechanical.He staggered, hitting the nightstand, knocking over a cup of water. The door burst open.“Oliver!” Iris rushed in, her eyes wide with fear. The silver glow he saw earlier had returned faintly beneath her skin,
Last Updated: 2025-11-17
Chapter: CHAPTER 350. IRIS’S AWAKENINGThe infirmary was too quiet. Too white. Too cold. Oliver Beckett sat at Iris’s bedside, elbows on his knees, hands clasped so tightly the knuckles had turned pale. He stared at her still form, willing her to breathe easier. She lay wrapped in thin sheets.Her skin shimmering faintly with geometric patterns, sharp lines, angles, and symbols that crawled under her skin like living glass.Patterns she didn’t have before Zone 07. Patterns that terrified him.Billy stood near the doorway, shifting nervously. “She’ll wake up, man,” he said. “She always does.”Oliver didn’t move. “I know.”But he didn’t sound sure. He hadn’t slept since the collapse. His mind replayed the moment Iris fell.The way her mana burst into wild crystalline shapes, collapsing her barrier and slamming her into the ground. The sound of her heartbeat fading. The Zone had nearly killed her. And not because she was weak, but because something inside the Zone recognized her.Now, her breathing was shallow. Too shallow.
Last Updated: 2025-11-16
Chapter: Chapter 126The march east did not grow easier. Each day the air grew heavier, darker, as if the very sky bent low with dread. The land was sick beneath their feet. Ash drifted over fields where no fire had been. The rivers they crossed ran black, thick as oil, and the priests whispered that the water carried curses.Soldiers grew silent. At first, they marched with songs and cheers. Now they moved with bowed heads, their boots dragging, their voices hushed. Every sound felt swallowed by the land itself.On the seventh day, they found a village burned to nothing. But unlike the others, this one held no corpses on the ground. Instead, the air carried whispers. Faint, chilling voices rose from the ashes, as if the dead still begged for water, for mercy, for life.The soldiers froze. Some clutched their ears, others fell to their knees. A priest cried out, “The shadow binds their souls! This is Vazquez’s work!”Mason stood in the center of the ruin, silent, his silver eyes scanning the ash. His s
Last Updated: 2025-09-28
Chapter: Chapter 125The messenger’s words still hung in the tent like smoke. “The east burns. Vazquez’s remnants gather. The shadow is not dead.”No one moved. The kings sat frozen, their crowns heavy on their heads, their eyes wide and pale. The generals stared at the messenger as though the words themselves were poison.It was Queen Seraya who spoke first. Her voice was low, sharp as a knife. “Then all our arguments mean nothing. If the shadow marches, none of us can stand alone.”King Alaric snarled, his hand clenching the table. “And you would put us all under him?” He jerked his chin toward the camp outside. “That… creature who walks in fire?”“Creature or not,” said Lord Brennar, his scarred hands steady, “he is the only one the men will follow now. You know it. I know it. Deny it if you wish, but the fire has already crowned him.”The tent erupted again. Voices clashed, curses flew, pride and fear filled the air like smoke, then the flap opened, and Mason entered.He did not storm in. He did not s
Last Updated: 2025-09-28
Chapter: Chapter 124The fire shuddered. The great column of flame, tall as a tower, trembled as though it would tear itself apart. Sparks burst in every direction. The heartbeat thundered, faster, stronger, rattling armor and splitting stone.Men screamed. Women wept. Some fell to their knees, pressing their foreheads into the ash. Others stumbled back, hands over their faces, crying that the fire would consume them all.The priests raised their arms higher, their voices shrill. “The Saint is here!” they shouted. “The Flame Eternal rises!”But even their cries cracked with fear, for the fire shook like a living beast ready to break free.The column of fire began to fold inward.At first it sank slowly, as if collapsing under its own weight. Sparks spiraled down, drifting like burning snow. The glow dimmed to gold, then to red, the edges shrinking smaller and smaller.A whisper spread through the crowd. “It’s fading. It’s over. He’s gone again.”Some soldiers sobbed in despair. Others sagged in relief, b
Last Updated: 2025-09-27
Chapter: Chapter 123The altar was gone. In its place stood fire. A column of flame towered from the earth, white at its heart, gold at its edges, sparks falling like embers of a forge. The light blinded the valley, brighter than sun, searing the eyes of all who looked upon it. Heat washed over the battlefield, heavy and suffocating.The heartbeat shook the ground again. Once. Twice. Steady, louder, stronger. Men fell to their knees, some in awe, others in terror. Priests shrieked and wept. Kings shielded their faces with their cloaks. Soldiers cried out to gods old and new. The flame pulsed. Shadows leapt and twisted across the broken stones. For an instant, shapes seemed to move inside the fire. One priest cried out, his eyes wide and wet. “I see him! The Saint walks with wings of fire!” He tore at his robe, beating his chest with bloody fists. “Bow! Bow before the Flame Eternal!”Another priest laughed, wild and broken. “No! Look! A crown of light rests upon his brow. He is the king of fire, ruler o
Last Updated: 2025-09-26
Chapter: Chapter 122The altar shook like a living thing. Stone groaned beneath the weight of its own breaking. Cracks raced across the black surface, glowing at the edges with faint light. Sparks shot upward in bursts, swirling into the night. Each pulse was stronger than the last.Soldiers stumbled back, some falling to their knees, others clutching their weapons as if blades could protect them from fire. Shouts rose, raw with panic. “What is it? Is the rift opening again? No, the fire, look!”The cracks widened, a low rumble echoing deep below. The sound was like a heartbeat, steady, unrelenting, felt in the ground and in their bones.Norra dropped to her knees again, pressing her hands to the stone. Her palms burned but she didn’t pull them back. Tears streaked her face, her eyes wide. “It’s him. I know it. I know it’s him.”John crouched beside her, his silver eyes sharp, his jaw tight. He felt it too, the pulse, the heat, but his voice was steady, measured. “Something’s coming, yes. But whether it’
Last Updated: 2025-09-26
Chapter: Chapter 121Ash drifted down like snow. The battlefield was a graveyard of silence. Only the wind moved across the broken altar, carrying the smell of stone, blood, and smoke. The rift was gone, burned away, but its shadow still lingered in the air, and yet, sparks rose from the cracks.At first they were faint, like fireflies, drifting upward in silence. Then more came, glowing brighter, swirling together in slow, gentle spirals. They gathered above the ruins, small lights in the dark sky. A murmur spread through the soldiers. Heads lifted. Eyes widened. Some gasped, others fell to their knees.“Look,” a soldier whispered, pointing. “The fire’s still here.”“It’s him,” another said, her voice trembling. “It’s Mason.”Norra pushed forward, stumbling across the broken ground until she reached the heart of the altar. She dropped to her knees, pressing her hand against the stone. Her skin burned, but she did not move it away. She closed her eyes.Yes. There it was. A pulse beneath her palm. Faint
Last Updated: 2025-09-25
Chapter: Chapter 221The university admissions agents started arguing loudly.Draken stood there watching them fight over which of them would win him over to attend their school but deep inside, he was not interested.Draken had other ambitions. He didn’t want to take the normal journey anymore, as he had been through things none of them could bear.The homeroom teacher noticed and hurried over. "Draken, hurry and choose which school you want to attend!"The admissions agents quieted down and turned to Draken.Draken replied calmly, "Thank you for your offers, but I want to try to create my own academy into the top-ranked space for talents."Everyone fell silent.Draken had thought about this for a while and knew it was his goal. With his talent and strength, he felt he should aim for the best school in the country.The other admissions agents quickly tried to change his mind."Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?""Berserk College didn’t even send anyone to invite you. They don’t seem serious.""Th
Last Updated: 2024-08-16
Chapter: Chapter 220When Gaffa announced Draken as first place, the entire room fell silent.Everyone thought they misheard, but recalling Draken’s performance, they realized it made sense.Class Two students cheered collectively.“Draken is amazing!”“He’s the pride of F-level talent!”“Number one in the entire state! Draken made a miracle happen!”The students in other classes had mixed emotions. They didn’t feel great knowing the top student was from another class.“Prepare for the second stage of the exam, now we will have a halftime break,” Gaffa said.The mages began to rest as they stopped their formations. The students returned to their classrooms to rest.Draken also went back to his class to rest. Many people approached him, curious about his strength improvement.“Draken, how did you get so strong?”“Yeah, how can an F-level talent improve so quickly? Any tips for us?”“I understand Draken comes from a low-income family and can’t afford good equipment and potions. He’s extraordinary to have im
Last Updated: 2024-08-09
Chapter: Chapter 219Draken turned to Lord Luke and said, “The exam rules require me to accept the first two matches. If I win, I can choose whether to accept the next match.”“I also have the right to pick my opponent.”Lord Luke frowned and asked, “Are you saying you’re rejecting my challenge? Are you a coward?”Draken glanced at the black horse behind Luke. Using his Eye of Truth, he saw the horse’s stats.Night Spirit HorseAttack: 40Speed: 700Health: 930Mana: 100Defense: 200 The horse’s speed and health were impressive. Draken thought having this horse would make his travels easier. Although cars existed in this world, rare mounts like this were more valuable.Draken decided it would be great to have this horse. “Lord Luke, if you want to fight me, you must place a bet.”“If I win, I get your horse!”Luke clenched his teeth. The horse was his prized possession. How did it quit just like that? But he thought beating an F-level talent would be easy, so he agreed.“No problem, but what if you lose?
Last Updated: 2024-08-07
Chapter: Chapter 218Draken activated his Split Claw skill, and in an instant, he destroyed all the vampire bats flying towards him!Everyone watching was shocked.“What just happened? Did he really kill all those bats in a split second?”“This doesn’t seem like F-level strength.”“These bats are Lord Nazzy’s strongest attack, and Draken just blew right through them!”Even Lord Nazzy himself was stunned. He knew how powerful his vampire bats were, and normal attacks wouldn’t usually harm them much.Lord Nazzy glanced at Draken and started to rethink Draken’s power. Seeing Draken’s sharp claws made him nervous. He realized he might not be able to beat Draken.Draken, not wanting to waste time, charged at Lord Nazzy. Seeing Draken rush at him, Lord Nazzy tried to run away, but Draken was too fast. In the blink of an eye, Draken was right in front of him.“Damn it. He’s too quick!” Lord Nazzy shouted in shock.“Didn’t you say you found me a grave?” Draken asked coldly. “You’re the one who’s dead!”Draken sa
Last Updated: 2024-08-06
Chapter: Chapter 217Akpi was shocked by Draken’s words.He quickly backed away, trying to put some distance between them.“Why aren’t my attacks working?” Akpi wondered aloud.After thinking for a moment, he reassured himself, “You must have focused all your training on defense. That has to be it. Your attack, speed, and health must be much weaker than mine.”Confident once again, Akpi decided he could break through Draken’s defenses with his speed over time.Just then, Draken’s figure flickered and vanished!In a flash, Draken reappeared right in front of Akpi.Akpi’s eyes widened in disbelief. Draken’s speed was faster than his!Draken raised his right hand, which transformed into a powerful dragon claw. His muscles expanded, scales emerged, and five sharp claws gleamed menacingly.Akpi was stunned. How could such a fierce-looking dragon claw be considered the weakest F-level talent?Swallowing hard, Akpi stammered, “Bro, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things…”Draken remained calm. “I told you
Last Updated: 2024-08-05
Chapter: Chapter 216Gaffa stood in the center of the formation and shouted, “Start now! Find your opponents! You have one minute!”Immediately, more than half of the male students in Class Two locked their eyes on Draken and moved toward him.One student rushed forward and yelled, “Draken! Let me be your opponent!”This made the others panic. They all wanted to face Draken and didn't expect someone to cut in line.“Draken, come and fight me. I’ll be gentle!”“Draken, we used to be friends. Let me have this opportunity!”“Grant me this opportunity, and I’ll make it up to you!”The scene was chaotic as everyone rushed toward Draken. He gave a faint smile, finding it ironic how they had just comforted him in class. Their hypocrisy was now clear.A quick-footed student reached Draken first. “I’m the first here. I’m Draken’s opponent. The rest of you are too late!” he announced proudly, thinking his ranking would improve easily.The others stopped, filled with regret.“This guy sure runs fast!”“I missed it.
Last Updated: 2024-08-02
