"No. The energy leakage could also harm the people around her."Callen's gaze turned icy. Reginald pointed toward the courtyard outside."Imagine Lily getting frightened while playing. And all her elements erupt at once. One child could be burned.""Another could be struck by lightning. Others could suffer energy pressure strong enough to break their bones."Silence filled the pavilion. Callen looked genuinely worried. Reginald leaned back as if this were not an urgent matter."Fortunately, that's only the worst-case scenario," he said. "As long as she wears the necklace, the risk is almost nonexistent."Callen looked toward Lily, who was laughing with May. A strange feeling arose in his chest.The more he learned about his daughter's talent, the clearer one fact became. Lily might be even more talented than he was.Perhaps even more talented than anyone in the history of the Langford family."I see," Callen said quietly.Reginald looked at him. "You've realized it too?" he asked.Cal

Allison stared at him. "Are you sure?" she asked in doubt.Callen nodded. "We'll find the laboratory where his body is being kept. We'll stop the experiment. And we'll free him."Allison calmed down slightly. Yet tears still continued falling."I never imagined Lucas could be this cruel." Her voice was barely a whisper. "I knew he destroyed the Langford family and ruined my grandfather's reputation.""But this..." Allison bit her lip. "This is even worse."Callen's gaze hardened. "You're surprised because you still believe there's a line someone like Lucas wouldn't cross."The room was quiet. Callen stared at the Imperial emblem printed on the document."A man who sits on a throne built by killing others will do the same thing to keep that throne."No one argued. Because everyone in the room knew those words were true.Far beneath one of the Empire's secret territories. Hundreds of meters underground.A massive laboratory remained hidden from the outside world. Dozens of experimental

Not long afterward, the students lined up. One after another, they stepped forward.Some successfully created small fireballs. Others produced thin streams of water. A few could only generate tiny sparks of energy before their techniques failed.Even so, every student received applause. After all, they were still very young. When it was Haidan's turn, the boy stepped forward with a tense expression."I'm nervous," Haidan admitted.Lily encouraged him. "You can do it!"Haidan nodded. Then he raised both hands. A flame appeared on the tip of his finger."I did it!" Haidan shouted."Good job," May praised.Then it was Lily's turn. Every student watched her. Even several instructors from other classes approached after hearing about the earlier commotion.May gave a signal."Begin!"Lily raised her hand exactly as she had been taught. At first, everything appeared normal. A small flame appeared in her palm.However, something unusual happened the very next second. Sparks of lightning emerge

At Valdera's military headquarters, Rosalin had reached the same conclusion.As the acting commander of the headquarters, she had access to troop movement reports from every region of the Empire.At that moment, she stood before a massive map of Valdera. Dozens of red and blue markers covered its surface.An officer approached her. "General Rosalin," the officer said. "Here's the latest report from the eastern border."Rosalin accepted the report. A few seconds later, her brow furrowed."Again?" Rosalin asked.The officer nodded. "Yes. This is the seventh elite unit relocated this month."Rosalin let out a slow breath. "That's already too many."Her hand moved across the map. One by one, the Imperial Vanguard positions were marked."They're emptying several regions," Rosalin muttered. "But for what purpose?"The officer beside her studied the map as well. "Are they preparing for war?" the officer asked, worried.Rosalin was quiet because she didn't like the answer taking shape in her

Deep within the Project Genesis Facility, Ronan's days were no longer spent on research or treatment.Now, his life revolved around only one thing. Combat. The underground training chamber shook as massive steel gates opened.On the observation balcony above, dozens of scientists and Imperial officers stood, holding data tablets and watching.One researcher adjusted his glasses. "Genesis-01's synchronization rate increased again last night. If this continues, he'll surpass every projection we created."An Imperial officer crossed his arms. "Let's see whether he can handle today's test," he said, doubtful that one human could defeat many people effectively.Below them, twenty Imperial Vanguard soldiers stepped into the arena. None of them was an ordinary troop.Every single one was a veteran who had survived countless military operations. Some even belonged to elite special units.One soldier glanced toward the gate. "I heard he defeated fifteen opponents yesterday."Another soldier sn