ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝟙𝟘𝟝: 𝕰𝖓𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖊𝖓𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖙 ⓇⒺⓋⒶⓂⓅⒺⒹ

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The Sea Lord, Aton, let out a reluctant sigh before breaking his bond with the Monster Camouflage Grail. With visible hesitation, he handed the shimmering artifact to Jay, who accepted it without a word.

In return, Jay retrieved nine sets of Essence Fruits and passed them to Aton. The exchange was completed, but the tension among the Atlans lingered like a storm waiting to break.

Aton turned toward Akor and gave him a subtle signal. The male Atlan stepped forward immediately, dropping to one knee and bowing his head low. “Liege! I am grateful for sparing my life. From now on, I shall serve you till I die,” Akor declared, his voice ringing with determination.

Jay raised an eyebrow at the display, surprised by Akor’s declaration. He had explicitly stated that he had no intention of killing him, yet the Atlans seemed convinced otherwise. It was clear they believed that Aton’s plea for mercy and promise to offer Akor’s lifelong service had saved his life. Now, Akor was fulfilling that perceived promise.

With a sigh, Jay regarded the kneeling Atlan and asked, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Liege, I am paying my respects,” Akor said, thumping his chest with his fist. “From today onward, I will follow you and protect you with my life.”

Jay’s brow furrowed as he crossed his arms. “Let me get this straight. You want to follow me and protect me? Doesn’t that mean you’d have to face something even I can’t protect myself against? Are you sure you can do that with your measly strength?”

His voice carried an edge, and to emphasize his point, he activated║RULER’s PRESENCE║again. This time, he restrained its full power, opting for a measured intensity that pressed down on Akor.

Akor’s teeth clenched as he struggled against the oppressive force. Despite the difficulty, he managed to respond, his voice strained but resolute. “Li...Liege, I will grow stro...stronger!”

Intrigued by his persistence, Jay decided to delve deeper. Using his║SOUL EYES║, he began reading Akor’s thoughts, shifting his focus to the memories that drove the Atlan’s determination. Earlier, during his escort to the Atlans’ hideout, Jay had only skimmed through the general knowledge of their planet. Now, he sought something more personal.

As the memories unraveled, a clearer picture of Akor’s life emerged. Unlike most of the Atlans’ Alpha Chosen—who were among the Sea Lord candidates of their generation—Akor had never been in contention for such a title. Yet his lineage carried considerable influence on his planet.

He was the grandson of a former Sea Lord, a figure revered by their race. From a young age, Akor had been surrounded by praise and high expectations, and he grew up idolizing his grandfather. He dreamed of one day becoming a Sea Lord himself.

But as Akor matured, it became apparent that his talents fell short. His combat skills and strategic expertise were nowhere near the level required to compete for the position.

Despite his unwavering dedication and tireless work ethic, he failed to meet the standards of his peers. The crushing reality of his inadequacy extinguished his dreams, leaving him adrift and uncertain of his purpose.

However, when Akor was selected as one of the eleven Alpha Chosen from their life planet, his hope was rekindled. He saw the Alpha Program as an opportunity to prove himself, to carve out a path to greatness even if he could never become Sea Lord.

Now, obtaining a Grade-7 Water Innate Talent and unrelenting determination kept his belief alive—one day, he would achieve something meaningful, something that would make his grandfather proud.

Jay absorbed this information with detached curiosity, understanding now why Akor was so adamant about following him. To Akor, pledging himself to someone of Jay’s power was a way to align himself with greatness. It was a chance to realize his dream in a different form, even if it meant dedicating his life to someone else’s cause.

Jay gazed down at the kneeling Akor, his expression unreadable as he began to speak.

“If you can stand straight on your feet under this Suppression,” he said casually, “I’ll consider letting you follow me.”

With that, he increased the intensity to nearly half of its full capacity, the sheer pressure radiating like a crushing force aimed squarely at Akor. Jay’s gaze remained steady, even as the male Atlan’s body froze under the oppressive weight.

From Akor’s memories, Jay knew him to be hardworking, loyal, and prideful, but those qualities alone were insufficient in the face of true power.

What Jay was doing wasn’t just a test—it was a lesson. He wanted Akor to realize his weakness and the gap between their strengths. Jay hoped this would make him reconsider his resolve and quit bothering him.

When they had first met, Akor had underestimated Jay, carelessly speaking with arrogance, assuming he was the stronger one. Such brash behavior could easily lead to his downfall. Jay had no interest in shouldering the responsibility of someone so short-sighted and reckless.

Akor strained to move, his muscles taut, but his body refused to respond under the overwhelming pressure. Seconds turned into agonizing moments as he remained locked in place, gritting his teeth so hard that Jay thought they might crack.

A full minute passed, and still, Akor refused to yield. His body trembled violently, as if chilled to the bone. The effort to resist was clearly taking a toll on him, but he remained steadfast, his determination etched into his straining face.

Jay frowned slightly. He had expected Akor to give up by now, especially since the pressure was equivalent to an unbreakable wall to someone of his power. Deciding he’d had enough, Jay increased the intensity to three-fourths of his full capacity, intending to force Akor into submission.

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This was no longer just about testing him—Jay had other matters to address with the Atlans and wanted to conclude this charade quickly.

To Jay’s surprise, Akor still didn’t give up. The trembling in his body gradually eased, and his breathing grew steady, though his face stayed tense with concentration. Just as Jay was about to push║RULER’s PRESENCE║to its full capacity, his║Mind Eye║detected a faint white glow emanating from Akor.

The change was subtle yet undeniable. Akor’s shaking ceased entirely, and a strange calmness enveloped him. Jay’s║SOUL EYES║picked up a single vivid memory surfacing in Akor’s mind.

In the memory, a younger Akor had tears streaming down his face as he sat beside an old, frail Atlan lying on a bed. The elderly figure was none other than Akor’s grandfather—a Sea Lord from two generations prior.

Though the former Sea Lord’s body was withered and weak, his gaze was piercing, carrying the weight of countless battles fought and wisdom hard-earned. His time was nearing its end, and the scene was steeped in the bittersweet tragedy of life.

“Little Kor,” the old Atlan said with a gentle yet firm voice, “I know you wish to become a Sea Lord, but don’t fixate on it. If you cannot achieve it in the future, let that be all right. Make it your journey, not your destination.”

Akor sniffled, the torrent of his tears slowing as his grandfather’s voice reached deep into his heart.

The old Atlan leaned back, his gaze lifting toward the ceiling as if seeing far beyond it. “Let me ask you something,” he said thoughtfully. “Who do you think is the strongest Atlan in the history of Atlanis?”

Akor’s teenage face scrunched in contemplation before he responded with youthful certainty, “Umm… isn’t it you, Grandpa?”

A soft, bittersweet chuckle escaped the old Sea Lord’s lips. “Sea Lord is just a title,” he replied, “a mantle that comes with responsibility and power. But many have existed who were stronger than any Sea Lord. They were those who pursued the hidden treasures of our planet—relics and secrets capable of breaking the limits of our race.”

Akor’s eyes widened, his tears forgotten as curiosity lit his expression.

His grandfather continued, his voice tinged with awe as he recounted the tales of old. “Finding those treasures was no simple feat. They were hidden in the most dangerous regions of Atlanis, surrounded by monstrous aquatic beasts. Only the bravest among us dared to seek them out. Some succeeded, and in doing so, grew stronger than anyone could imagine. I once met one such individual in my lifetime.”

The teenage Akor gasped at his grandfather’s revelation. Though the story sounded almost mythical, he didn’t doubt it for a moment. His grandfather’s tone carried a conviction that left no room for skepticism.

The old Atlan’s gaze grew distant, his eyes misty with reverence. “Back when I was your age,” he began, “I wasn’t talented at anything required to become a Sea Lord. I wasn’t chosen as a candidate for my generation’s Sea Lord title, and I thought that was the end of my dreams.” He paused, the weight of his words settling over Akor like a heavy tide.

“But do you know how I eventually became a Sea Lord?” the old Atlan asked, his gaze sharpening. “Do you know how I earned the title of ‘The Strongest Sea Lord’?”

Akor shook his head, his curiosity and admiration growing by the second.

“It all happened because of a single decision I made,” his grandfather said, a flicker of pride lighting his weary face.

The old Atlan’s voice softened as he recounted the pivotal moment of his life. “On a military expedition, my entire squad was slaughtered by a horde of aquatic beasts. I was the only survivor, running for my life, fully aware that I would soon meet my end. But fate intervened. By sheer luck, I stumbled upon the abode of an extraordinary individual. His home was deep within the turf of those very beasts that had annihilated my squad.”

Akor leaned forward, hanging on every word.

The old Sea Lord’s eyes shone with respect as he spoke of the figure who had changed his life. “That individual fought barehanded, defeating the beasts as if they were nothing. He saved me from the brink of death. That encounter broadened my view of the world, making the title of Sea Lord seem so insignificant in comparison to his strength and wisdom.”

He paused, his voice thick with emotion. “From that moment, I followed him, learning everything I could. Under his guidance, I grew stronger—not just in body, but in spirit. That is how I eventually earned the title of Sea Lord. And though I never told your father this story, I am sharing it with you.”

The old Atlan turned his gaze back to Akor, his eyes softening. “You may lack talent, Little Kor, but your will to grow stronger is something I haven’t seen in a long time. It reminds me of myself in my younger days. Hold onto that will—it may one day lead you to a path even greater than you can imagine.”

The old Atlan then looked deeply into the young Akor’s eyes and spoke with unwavering conviction. “Remember this, little Kor. If one day you meet someone so strong that your instincts tell you there’s no way you could ever defeat them—if their presence feels like an insurmountable mountain—then follow that person with all your heart. Even if you can’t become as strong as them, you’ll one day reach heights that few could ever achieve.”

Akor nodded, taking his grandfather’s words to heart. Yet, Akor had never encountered anything like what his grandfather had described—not the Sea Lord, nor anyone else. But now, under the oppressive pressure, those memories resurfaced, vivid and alive.

What caught Jay’s attention, however, wasn’t Akor’s memory but MJ’s sudden words ringing in his mind, ‘Master, under your Tier-suppression and his sheer will to follow you, it seems Akor has accidentally entered the state of enlightenment so early in the Trial Program.”’

Jay’s eyes widened at the revelation. The state of enlightenment was exceedingly rare and difficult to achieve. It was a pivotal moment where one’s mastery, after reaching the peak of Minor Mastery, could advance to Major Mastery by discovering their True Essence. Without enlightenment, no further progress was possible.

In Akor’s case, success would mean his║Minor Water Mastery║evolving into║Major Water Mastery║, breaking past the 1st Universe Limit. The difference between Minor and Major Mastery might seem small, but in terms of power, it was a monumental leap—and an incredibly hard one to make.

Jay watched Akor closely, who sat still, immersed in the rare and fragile state of enlightenment. Understanding how crucial this moment was, Jay maintained just enough suppression, ensuring no disturbance could disrupt Akor’s breakthrough.

Jay’s motives weren’t entirely selfless. Beyond seeing if Akor could succeed, he wanted to analyze the phenomenon himself. If Akor’s condition offered any clues about entering the state of enlightenment, Jay intended to learn from it.

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