William arrived at the suburb.Although it was nighttime, the streets were still alive with light. Old, flickering bulbs hung from poles, casting patches of gold across the dusty road. Despite the late hour, laughter and voices filled the air. A group of children ran barefoot across the street, chasing each other with sticks and scraps of paper that served as makeshift toys.When William stepped down from the car, the noise changed instantly.“Big brother William!” one of the children shouted before racing toward him. The others followed quickly, their tiny feet slapping against the ground.In moments, William was surrounded.“Big brother, we thought you left us!”“Big brother, why were you so late today?”“Did you go to night school, big brother?”They clung to his arms and tugged at his clothes, their wide, innocent eyes filled with worry. William’s heart melted on the spot. The children of the suburb had always treated him like family. Their innocent questions struck something de

Ethan and William remained in the dreamscape for quite some time, discussing matters that carried immense weight. Ethan leaned forward slightly, his sharp eyes softening as he gave William advice. “There are certain ancient artifacts scattered across the world that can help you grow stronger at a faster pace. These artifacts were created in eras long before ours, when mana was much denser in the air. They hold remnants of that lost power.”William listened closely, his curiosity burning.“For example,” Ethan continued, “one wielder once used holy water produced in the largest cathedral in Europe. That water wasn’t ordinary, it carried the blessings of generations of priests and believers. With it, she refined her holy element until it shone brighter than sunlight itself.”William’s brows arched. He had never considered that the faith of mortals could be refined into actual power.“There’s more,” Ethan said, his voice steady but calm. “Mana stones. Rare gems formed when mana condenses

The next day arrived quickly, the sun climbing back into its throne in the sky, stretching its golden rays across the land, and awakening the world to yet another Saturday.William woke up much earlier than usual. Unlike other mornings where his face wore indifference or fatigue, today his lips carried a smile—a proud and confident smile. It was the type of smile that belonged only to a man who believed he owned the entire world. And on this day, William genuinely believed that he did.The first thing he did was head for a bath. The cool water washed away the last remnants of sleep and refreshed his mind. Afterwards, he changed into a set of neat, though visibly old, clothes and stepped out of his small house. His feet carried him into the ever-busy streets, where life had already begun to bloom in full.People were out of their homes, heading in different directions, each person rushing towards their workplace or daily hustle. Children ran about across the street, their laughter ech

The guards tightened their grips, their knuckles whitening as their batons hovered in the air. Their eyes gleamed with cruelty, waiting eagerly for the command that would allow them to unleash violence.“Why are you wasting time?” Dandro snapped, his voice sharp, entitled, and commanding, the tone of someone used to being obeyed. “Beat him until he learns his place!”Jenifer quickly added with a sneer, her lips curling with satisfaction. “Yes! Don’t hold back—make him regret ever standing here, make sure he never dares to raise his head again!”Her shrill words rang across the courtyard, bouncing against the walls until they caught the attention of those nearby. People paused in their steps. Heads turned curiously. Feet shuffled closer as whispers began spreading like wildfire. In no time, a small crowd started to gather, drawn by the promise of entertainment.“Isn’t that Dandro?” someone muttered in surprise, their tone carrying both awe and caution.“Yeah,” another replied quickly.

The silence that followed William’s words was deafening. The two guards lay on the ground groaning, their pride shattered and their strength spent. The crowd, which had been noisy before, was now filled with murmurs and whispers. But none of them dared to laugh too loudly. They all felt the same strange thing—that the thin, poor-looking boy standing in front of them was no ordinary person.Dandro’s chest heaved up and down, his face twitching as he struggled to control the rage boiling inside him. Never in his life had he been humiliated like this. Not only had William insulted him in front of his woman and guards, but now, with so many witnesses, he had been made to look like a fool.“Y-You… you bastard…” he stammered, his teeth gritted. “Do you think this makes you a hero? Do you think you’ve won?”William didn’t bother replying. He simply stood still, his eyes fixed on Dandro with a calmness that felt like a blade pressed against his pride. That calmness itself was worse than words