"Genki dashite! Umaku itta yo!" Leo smiled."Huh?!" Both Brok and Mara exclaimed simultaneously, instinctively taking half a step back."Cheer up, it went fine," Leo quickly translated. "I just decided to test out my newly implanted knowledge.""Are you sure?" Mara questioned nervously, causing Leo to chuckle as he walked down the stairs from the platform."Does it look like I'm kidding?"Taking a heavy gulp, Brok knew it was his turn—without anyone needing to say so.He didn't want to look like a coward in front of Mara... only that he already had."Are you too scared to go?" Mara asked. "I understand the principle of 'ladies first,' you know. I can give it a—""I am not scared!" Brok interrupted sharply. "I will go now!"Saying that, he marched up to the platform."I'm ready!" he declared, staring directly into Yuki's eyes.With a nod of affirmation, Yuki placed her palms on the altar. The usual white light extended to the platform, activating the hidden runes and taking effect on B

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

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 fear th

"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 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 fast like a bobblehead doll in speed that should have defied 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 t

The suffocating aura that greeted them the instant they emerged from the portal made them all tense up.It wasn't just the sensation of being in the presence of powerful individuals—it was as if the very air itself had been infused with concentrated energy that pressed down on them from all directions."This is..." Leo started, but found himself unable to complete the sentence, his legs trembling as he struggled to stand up straight.The sensation was unlike anything he'd ever experienced—worse than even his first near-death experience in combat.Brok and Mara, on the other hand, simultaneously crashed to the ground on their knees, breaking both the ground and their knees upon collision."Oh, come on!" Brok struggled to voice out his complaint, his voice barely above a whisper."First we get teleported without the right to speak like luggage, then we watch superhuman martial arts demonstrations, and now the air itself is trying to crush us!"Mara was in far worse condition than Brok.