Chapter 92 – The Engine's Judgment[Powerflow Initiation Engaged.]Max Vale's pupils narrowed as the glowing glyph etched into his mind pulsed to life."Oh, come on... not now," he muttered, barely above a whisper, teeth grinding together in frustration. His fists clenched involuntarily. The Xeon System was moving again. But it wasn't time. He hadn't commanded it. Not here.Before the tour guide could say another word, a tremor of pure mana surged across the engine room.The chamber—constructed like the inside of a dormant metallic beast—suddenly roared to life.A massive cylindrical structure, part of what looked like an ancient tank engine core, vibrated violently. Electrical arcs danced along its armored spine like awakened serpents, and with a sudden pulse of energy, a violet glow bled from every groove and seam.All the trainees and instructors turned to look.Shock.Terror."This place wa

Chapter 94 – Faces of the ForgottenThe dusty sun hung low over the ancient sprawl of Marrow Market, casting angled rays that filtered through smoke-filled air and awnings of deep indigo and rust red. The air pulsed with the rhythm of footfalls and the clamor of bartering voices. Traders, draped in archaic cloaks, peddled relics, herbs, and artifacts from long-buried civilizations. Magic-infused items glimmered from crooked stalls, catching the eyes of both casual visitors and treasure-seekers alike.A crackle of static flared through the comms bands wrapped around the wrists of the selected group leaders—digital maps encoded into metallic bracelets, tethering them to the zone’s encrypted grid. Max Vale, hood pulled low over his sharp eyes, stood with the group that had branched southwestward, following one of the female leads—a well-dressed girl from Cheryl High. They would reunite with the other three teams in exactly one hour. That was the agreement. But Max alr

Chapter 96 — Conclave of WitsA cavernous hall buzzed with restless anticipation, the sharp scent of polished wood and faint traces of chalk dust lingering in the stale air. At the heart of BB City High School, an arena of intellect and rivalry was about to unfold.“WELCOME, SCHOLARS, TO THE CONCLAVE OF WITS!” boomed a commanding voice, reverberating across the expansive chamber.The crowd stilled, hundreds of students frozen mid-whisper, eyes fixed on the grand stage dominating the room’s center. The stage itself was a marvel of sleek, transparent materials—two podiums stood opposite each other, their surfaces gleaming with embedded crystal-like panels glowing faintly. Between them, a colossal screen hovered suspended from the ceiling, flickering softly, awaiting its command.The first podium held a circle of translucent seats that looked more like simulators than mere chairs, designed for those about to clash in cerebral combat. Above, the scree

Chapter 98 — The Relentless MandateThe atmosphere in the grand hall thickened with a mix of anticipation and dread. Holland, that insufferable genius from Atrihea City High, had once again dismantled a question with the ease of a man swatting flies—his voice cutting through the room with cold precision, each answer a dagger to the pride of every other school present.A male student, his knuckles whitening as he rose to pose a question, was promptly overshadowed by Holland’s swift and flawless rebuttal. The room, once buzzing with hopeful energy, now simmered with quiet intimidation.Out of the seven questions that had been volleyed around, Holland had already shredded three like they were child's play.Across the hall, Echelon Academy’s meager effort to claw back some respect was pinned on Maltida, whose two correct answers—though respectable—felt like drops in an ocean of looming failure. Draco, the usual hotshot, had only managed one correct re

Chapter 100 – Veil of the AscendantThe atmosphere inside the grand hall of the Xeon Trials was thick with anticipation, a silent storm brewing in every pair of eyes. The students of Cheryl High felt an unusual tension coil tight around their chests, their gazes stretching just a fraction wider than before.How the hell does he know this? the thought hammered relentlessly through their minds.The question on the board was no mere trivia; it tangled deep into ancient history and arcane biology—fields most dared not delve into casually. No one here, except perhaps the enigmatic Holland, had the pedigree to answer such an intricate query. Yet, even Holland’s reputation didn't guarantee mastery over such obscure lore.Then, a sharp beep sliced through the murmuring crowd.“He got it wrong!” whispered a voice, tinged with relief.“As expected—didn’t even answer a single question in the first half,” came another sneer.But the