Chapter 1

In the territory of the Raipozi Clan, the sun shimmered over the neatly arranged wooden houses. Gentle breezes weaved through the stone-paved streets, softly rustling the leaves of the trees. The scene was still, as if time itself had stopped—except for the faint sound of footsteps. A girl named Hyona walked alone down the empty street, her head bowed, and her eyes fixed on the ground. Her features masked a deep, hidden sorrow, while memories swirled in her mind like relentless whirlpools.

---

Flashback

Little Hyona lay on the ground, tears streaming endlessly down her face, her trembling breaths almost choking her. Standing before her was an old woman named Bervit, her gaze as sharp and cold as a blade. Her eyes held no trace of pity, while a group of children gathered around them, their faces marked with tension and fear.

Bervit pointed a finger at Hyona, her piercing voice slicing through the air:

"Listen well, children of the clan! Do not become worthless like Hyona!"

Hyona slowly lifted her tear-filled eyes to meet Bervit’s. Her small, delicate features were saturated with grief and betrayal. Bervit continued, her tone biting:

"There is no place for the weak among us! Anyone who cannot master magic does not deserve to live here!"

Hyona remained frozen in place, as if Bervit’s words had shackled her to the ground. Her gaze stayed locked on the old woman, while her harsh words echoed repeatedly:

"She is a disgrace to the Raipozi Clan!"

The children’s eyes darted between Hyona and Bervit, their worry evident in their expressions. Suddenly, a boy named Nicola stepped forward, holding a bucket filled with water. He approached Hyona with quick strides, the onlookers following him in stunned silence. Hyona, however, remained trapped in the storm of Bervit’s gaze.

Without warning, Nicola raised the bucket and poured the cold water over her. Her hair and clothes became drenched, and her head lowered slowly toward the ground, as if she wished to disappear from the world. Nicola burst into laughter, mockingly shouting:

"Clan trash!"

Bervit stepped closer to Nicola, patting his head with a trace of approval, while he smiled innocently. She said with an encouraging tone:

"Well done, Nicola!"

Nicola’s laughter echoed around Hyona, each wave striking her like a slap. She stayed on the ground, her gaze fixed downward, unable to escape the humiliating scene.

---

Present...

The laughter still echoed in Hyona’s mind, an endless loop of torment. Her heavy footsteps on the stone pavement broke the surrounding silence, while her expressionless face mirrored the frozen turmoil within. Finally, she arrived at one of the wooden houses. She paused in front of it, staring at the ground as though contemplating crossing a threshold that wasn’t just a door but a gateway to an inner world brimming with pain.

She slowly lifted her head, her hand extending toward the door to push it open.

Inside, darkness dominated the space, the sunlight failing to reach its corners. Chaos filled the room: furniture in disarray, dust coating every surface, and a silence so heavy it seemed tangible. Hyona stood in the doorway for a moment, her lifeless eyes scanning the house before stepping inside and closing the door behind her.

Her thoughts surged like waves in her mind:

"Even one child from each of the three clans is expected to master magic… But why me? Why couldn’t I learn magic when I was young?"

Her steps echoed faintly as she walked further into the house, her expression a mask that concealed her inner torment. Her eyes searched for answers that seemed impossible to find, while her thoughts whispered ceaselessly, unable to quiet.

—

In a sandy arena surrounded by short wooden fences, a young man named Nicola was training. He launched a kick toward his opponent, who skillfully blocked it. Nicola didn’t stop; his sharp eyes stayed locked on his target, and his leg moved with astonishing precision. Yet, his opponent flipped backward with remarkable agility, planting his feet firmly into the sand.

The two stood still for a moment, locking eyes in a silent exchange of challenge.

Suddenly, they charged at each other, sand flying in their wake. Nicola clenched his fist, sweat dripping down his cold, focused face. A transparent spark flickered in his right hand.

The man noticed the spark and thought excitedly to himself: "Finally… he’s managed to control his technique!"

With a fist charged with energy, Nicola struck the air before him. The sandy ground beneath them quaked, and the space around them distorted, unleashing a massive pressure that surged toward his opponent. The man could only smile in excitement before the powerful force pushed him back, slamming him into the wooden fence.

Nicola landed lightly on the sand, the spark in his hand fading. He smiled and exclaimed:

"Master Kaislo! I finally succeeded in using the Saitroma Technique!"

Master Kaislo stood up with a proud smile and said enthusiastically:

"I saw it! You’ve managed to manipulate space!"

Nicola raised his palm before his face, staring at it with a questioning look. He said:

"But I used it by accident! I don’t know if I can do it again… It’s still so confusing to me!"

Kaislo approached him with calm steps, teasingly saying:

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"You fool! You’ll master it with training. Don’t rush it!"

Nicola smiled with determination and replied:

"Understood, Master!"

The two began walking toward the building connected to the arena. As they walked, Kaislo initiated a conversation:

"Do you know what the strongest technique is, Nicola?"

Nicola’s face turned curious, and he replied:

"I don’t know. Is it the Time technique, Kurmo, or Unlimited?"

Kaislo chuckled mockingly and answered:

"None of those!"

Nicola’s eyes widened in shock, and he said:

"The techniques of the three clans aren’t the strongest?!"

Kaislo smiled and continued:

"Of course, those three techniques are the pinnacle of magic in this world. But… when one of the heirs of these techniques merges it with what’s called innate techniques, the result is an unstoppable force!"

Nicola asked with intrigue:

"Innate techniques? What are they?"

Kaislo replied in a mysterious tone:

"No one truly knows. Each clan keeps the secret of their innate technique hidden. But for our clan’s Time Technique, there are rumors that its innate counterpart is time manipulation!"

Nicola’s pupils dilated in astonishment, and he said:

"Time manipulation?! Does that mean the traitor Moryo Raiso can do that?!"

Kaislo shook his head with a smile and said:

"No! If he could, he would be the undisputed strongest sorcerer. But in this generation, you know who holds that title, don’t you?"

Nicola smirked and said mockingly:

"Sbyam Brius, right?"

Kaislo nodded in agreement:

"Yes. That sorcerer has become the very definition of power. But beyond that, there’s another technique hidden by the World Sages."

Nicola raised his eyebrows in surprise and said:

"The World Sages?... A technique?"

Kaislo smirked and replied mockingly:

"You’re still so ignorant, Nicola. Don’t you know about it?"

Nicola responded with a questioning tone:

"I don’t know. What is it?"

Kaislo continued:

"Its true name is unknown due to extreme secrecy. But in the world, it’s referred to as The Demon. It earned that name because it’s believed to have the power to annihilate the entire world."

Nicola froze in shock, while Kaislo’s expression turned serious as he added:

"This technique is heavily protected within the Mana Organization. Even the strongest sorcerers only know of its existence through the clan leaders."

Nicola remained silent, his thoughts swirling, as their footsteps echoed in the stone corridors of the building, the atmosphere thick with mystery.

---

In Hyona's house, cloaked in darkness from heavy, tightly drawn curtains, the atmosphere was oppressive and cold. Despite the evident cleanliness and order, the dim lighting gave the space an air of melancholy. Hyona sat at the dining table, her expression as rigid as stone, eating her meal slowly. Her gaze was fixed on the floor, her thoughts scattered like broken shards.

In the silence of the room, her mind churned:

"I've always hated the clan... To them, those without magical abilities are nothing but trash. Their lives mean nothing compared to that cursed power."

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from upstairs, breaking the heavy silence. Hyona lifted her cold gaze toward the staircase, where the silhouette of a figure began to emerge from the shadows. The first thing that caught her attention was a dark green scarf, followed by an elegant black outfit.

As the figure stepped fully into view, a face with sharp, unyielding features appeared, devoid of emotion. It was Moryo Raiso. His jet-black hair and frost-cold eyes added an air of authority and mystery to his presence. He stood still, staring at her with a gaze that seemed to pierce the soul.

Hyona spoke with icy detachment, as though she had anticipated his visit:

"You idiot! If anyone from the clan sees you here, they'll kill you—and my father too!"

Moryo showed no reaction. He walked with measured, heavy steps until he sat beside her. His voice, calm but sharp as a blade, broke the tension:

"I don’t care."

Annoyed by his indifference, Hyona leaned slightly toward him, her expression severe:

"Really? Do you even understand what this means? My father is risking his life hiding you here, and you just say you don’t care?"

Moryo remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor, as if her words weren’t even worth a response.

Hyona’s tone sharpened, tinged with mockery:

"Why did you come to the clan? Didn’t you get expelled from the sorcerer society after that incident? Don’t you realize you’re being hunted day and night? The clan wants to get rid of you at any cost after what happened in Ronda. You’re nothing but a disgrace to its legacy now."

Her words were like knives, but Moryo’s cold demeanor didn’t falter. He sat unmoving, his sharp features betraying no emotion. Hyona returned to her meal, signaling the end of the conversation. Silence fell once more, broken only by the faint sound of her spoon against the plate.

But then, Moryo’s voice shattered the stillness like a thunderclap:

"I’ve made my decision."

Hyona lazily raised her eyes, feigning disinterest. He continued, his tone charged with resolve:

"I’m going to do it. That’s the only reason I’m hiding here."

She glanced at him sideways, her expression void of curiosity, then returned to her meal, his words apparently meaningless to her.

Moryo, however, remained seated, his icy eyes fixed on the ground.

The silence reclaimed the room, but this time it was laden with tension, heavy with the weight of unspoken resolutions and fateful choices yet to be revealed.

—

Nightfall had descended over the Raipozi Clan's territory, with the silver moon dominating the sky, casting a soft glow over the area. Its light mingled with the silver lanterns dotting the streets, creating a serene yet imposing atmosphere. The streets bustled with clan members, moving with their usual calm beneath the shadow of the massive palace perched atop the mountain, a symbol of power and dominance.

Inside the palace, the majestic white walls reflected the gentle lights, while the golden engravings on the table and chairs exuded an air of luxury and authority. In the grand meeting hall, the four Raipozi Clan leaders gathered, their expressions a blend of tension and anger.

Tolimos, one of the four leaders, spoke first, his voice dry but firm:

"The Sages has lost its trust in us because of that heir... The Ronda incident brought us disgrace."

Roimelos retorted, his tone sharp with frustration:

"Yes! He's become a burden to us... We need to get rid of him at any cost."

Goki slammed the table with his hand, his voice rising in irritation:

"You fools! How can we kill him when we don’t even know where he is? He’s completely vanished!"

Roimelos nodded in agreement, adding:

"True… We’ve searched every corner of Kaisima Country, and there’s no trace of him."

Goki's frustration boiled over, his voice growing harsher:

"And on top of that, the Mana Organization is pressing us hard. His existence poses a direct threat to the entire clan!"

Tolimos remained silent for a moment before speaking with unshakable confidence:

"From this point on, we will stop searching for him."

The room fell into stunned silence. Roimelos asked, surprised:

"And what do we do then?"

Tolimos’s gaze swept across the room before he answered with conviction:

"We’ll make him come to us. We won’t chase him anymore."

The fourth leader, Oda, who had remained silent throughout the meeting, finally opened his eyes and smirked mockingly:

"And what’s the use of that?"

All eyes turned to him. Goki, his patience fraying, snapped angrily:

"What do you mean by that, you scoundrel?!"

Oda stayed calm, his voice dripping with sarcasm:

"Even if we manage to lure him into the heart of the clan, how will we deal with him when he possesses the Time Technique?"

Roimelos nodded in agreement, his tone somber:

"Yes, that’s true."

But Goki, unrelenting, slammed the table again, his voice thundering:

"I don’t care what happens! We must kill him and produce a new heir to this technique."

Oda chuckled mockingly as he rose from his seat:

"You won’t succeed… The four of us know very well how powerful the Time Technique is. And let’s not forget Moryo Raiso’s unparalleled mastery of it. Any confrontation with him will end in certain defeat for the clan."

With that, Oda left the room, his sarcastic smile lingering, leaving the other three leaders in stunned silence, grappling with the weight of his words.

---

At the base of the mountain, Oda walked calmly toward his home, muttering to himself with disdain:

"A bunch of fools… Plotting to kill Moryo Raiso when they can barely hold a candle to him. Any clash with him will lead to their inevitable downfall."

When he reached his house, he knocked on the door. After a few moments, Hyona opened it, her face as cold as ever. Oda greeted her with a faint smile, asking:

"Are you all right, my daughter?"

She replied curtly:

"Yes, Father."

He entered the house with measured steps, heading directly to the sofa where Moryo sat, motionless like a statue, his features void of any emotion. Oda looked at him and said:

"Moryo…!"

Moryo raised his cold eyes, his voice calm and detached:

"Mr. Oda… Welcome back."

Oda sat beside him, his expression serious as he asked:

"Are you well?"

Moryo responded with the same icy tone:

"I am fine."

Oda fell silent for a moment before addressing him firmly:

"Moryo…?"

Moryo turned his cold gaze toward Oda, replying:

"I’m listening."

Oda continued, his voice resolute:

"What brought you here?"

Moryo lifted his frosty eyes, locking them onto Oda’s. As Hyona approached quietly, observing the exchange, Moryo’s voice cut through the room like ice:

"Mr. Oda… I came here to destroy the Raipozi Clan."

Both Oda and Hyona were stunned, their expressions betraying their shock. But Moryo remained seated, his eyes radiating unyielding determination, his features as cold and unchanging as ever.

End of Chapter.