Everyone startled except Leo, of course, who had tracked Master Sung's movement with the enhanced perception his silver gaze technique granted him. He'd seen the man approach since they got into the room. "How did you get here!" Mara blurted out, her voice higher with surprise. "I'll take that as a rhetorical question," Master Sung replied, his gaze meeting Mara's with those unsettling red pupils, causing her to gulp. He definitely wasn't as conversational as he was back then, or maybe he was... Just not for Mara. He turned his attention to Ryder, and his expression shifted to something that might have been warmth if not for his red eyes. "Nice meeting you again, Ryder." Master Sung patted his shoulder with casual familiarity. "Yeah," Ryder said flatly, trying to appear as calm and casual as he could. "Nice meeting you again too." "Now, would you mind explaining why exactly we are here? I thought we were going to be transported to the Red Eastern guild headquarters." Master Sun

Silence stretched as Ryder delivered his question. Frankly, the moment he had heard of an affinity that could reincarnate the dead, his mind couldn't help but trail instantly to the image of his mother. Her corpse had suddenly come to his mind, which made him ask his first question. "Does your affinity work on every single human being?" The answer that had been given made his mind ponder. With a glimmer of hope from his heart, he asked his next question. "Can you... bring my mother back?" Mika paused for a moment, with her gaze fixed on Ryder before she responded with a question of her own. "If I may ask, for how long has she been dead?" "Should be around two weeks now," Ryder responded, his hope still palpable. "However..." "I am sorry, but my affinity doesn't work like that," Mika responded, throwing all hope Ryder had gotten through the window. "My affinity has its conditions," Mika explained. "In order for it to function, I must have activated it on a person before their d

The sensation of teleportation was nothing like what any of them had expected. They didn't feel like their bodies were being pulled and accelerated through some cosmic tunnel like it did when they were traveling to the astral shadow plane; they didn't feel like they were covering any distance either. It was almost like simply walking through a door—a very, very supernatural door that happened to bend space. "Well, that was sudden," Leo muttered, brushing imaginary dust off his jacket. "I was expecting at least some dramatic swooshing sounds, or maybe my body being pulled through some sort of cosmic space for a couple of moments." For a brief moment, the light blinded them, causing them to squint and shield their eyes for a short while. The transition from the white room to the new surroundings under the sky was not something that could be instantly adapted to. As they dropped their hands, the view of the Red Eastern guild headquarters' gate stood right in front of them. Big was an

Yuji Fan, the supreme leader of the northern district—also known as the fan's settlement—prostrated towards Master Sung with such swiftness that Leo couldn't help but wonder if the man had practiced this exact movement in front of a mirror for years. "You are welcome, Master," he greeted. Master Sung nodded in acknowledgment, allowing Yuji to get back on his feet. The gesture was so casual it almost seemed dismissive—though Ryder suspected there was more calculation behind Master Sung's every movement than he let on. All Master Sung's actions are always such that have meaning that could only be figured out when pressed on internally. The others behind were dumbfounded, but not for the reason one might expect. They weren't particularly surprised by the greeting and respect Yuji showed Master Sung—after witnessing the gate incident and the figures standing in parallel lines beside the carpet, they'd already gotten enough evidence that Master Sung commanded a level of respect and fea

"Take your stance." Mara's face drained of color in a flash, her brown eyes widening to the size of dinner plates as she took a step backward subconsciously. "No way! That's really necessary!" she protested, her voice carrying unhidden panic. Her hands flew up defensively, palms facing outward as if she could physically push away the very suggestion. "You should just show us how it's done—no need for us to interfere!" She gestured wildly at Hinata, who stood before them calmly. "I mean, look at you! You know we don't stand a chance against you in a battle. We'll wind up hurt—no, scratch that—we'll wind up as destroyed if we have a duel!" Isn't that right Brok! She turned to Brok who suddenly shot upward like he was being hit by a lightning strike at the mention of his name. Brok nodded so like a bobblehead dolls in speed that should have defy his capability. "Uhh..Exactly! I've seen enough action movies to know how this ends. The rookie gets in the ring with the master, and th