Chapter 10

In a vast arena steeped in nature, towering trees stood like celestial columns piercing the sky. The gentle wind whispered through the branches, but it couldn't mask the sound of Suero's hurried steps. He was running with strength and enthusiasm, as if chasing a dream beyond the bounds of possibility. He thought to himself with unmistakable excitement:

“The event has begun! … We will win!”

His steps carried him quickly toward his goal, his eyes fixed on the sky, which was suddenly beginning to change. A massive translucent layer covered the sky, moving slowly but gaining strength with each passing second, encasing the entire arena like an invisible cage. Suero lifted his gaze to see the layer gradually completing itself, sealing the arena like a closed box. He said with confidence:

“It’s the barrier! This means Master Sbyam has left with Betma, and it also means we’ll either emerge victorious or not! But we will win.”

He kept running without looking back, as if the barrier that enclosed the arena was nothing more than fuel for his determination.

---

In Another Part of the Arena

Camyo stood calmly, exuding a quiet defiance, his sharp eyes locked onto Rita, who gripped her sword with unwavering resolve. Though a light breeze passed between them, the atmosphere was charged with combat-ready energy waiting to erupt. Camyo smirked as he looked at her and said mockingly:

“Am I really facing you?”

Rita replied confidently, tightening her grip on the sword:

“Prepare yourself!”

Camyo chuckled derisively, his tone dripping with arrogance:

“I’ve already secured victory!”

Suddenly, Rita lunged toward him, her speed incredible, like a storm uprooting everything in its path. Blue sparks began to dance around the sword, encasing it and enhancing its power and grandeur. With each step, the sparks intensified as though they were ready to explode. Rita shouted as she drew closer and closer, while Camyo watched her approach with a calm smile.

But suddenly, the sword froze in mid-air, as if an invisible force had stopped it. Rita’s eyes widened in shock. She tried to move the sword with all her might, but to no avail. She turned to Camyo, who let out a mocking laugh and said:

“I possess spatial manipulation, you fool!”

Rita felt a surge of unease but refused to show weakness. Camyo added with even more derision:

“This means I can control anything remotely!”

Before she could process his words, a massive rock shot up from the ground and struck her legs with great force, causing her to lose her balance. She nearly fell, but her indomitable will allowed her to perform an impressive acrobatic maneuver, twisting mid-air and landing firmly.

She looked at him confidently and said:

“Don’t underestimate me, idiot! I may be the weakest on my team, but I have skill!”

Camyo was momentarily surprised but then smiled with excitement and said:

“So you’re saying I’ll get some entertainment out of this?”

The two stood facing each other, their gazes charged with defiance. The fight between them was on the verge of erupting.

---

Elsewhere in the Arena

In a colder corner of the arena, where the wind danced among the tree branches, Baysal moved swiftly, her sharp eyes scanning her surroundings. Frustration was evident in her expression as she growled in annoyance:

“Where is everyone?!”

She continued running, but soon her lips curled into a sly smile as she thought sarcastically:

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“Are they all afraid of me?”

Maintaining her mocking grin, she moved quickly, hoping to provoke her opponent into showing themselves. Suddenly, without warning, a blazing fireball shot toward her with astonishing speed, like a flaming arrow from the depths of hell. Baysal noticed the sudden movement and stopped in her tracks, her face reflecting shock as she stared at the approaching spark.

The fireball drew closer, mercilessly consuming the distance between them. Her eyes filled with disbelief as she thought:

“Has it… has it got me?”

The fireball came ever closer, its glow illuminating the surroundings, its fiery presence bathing Baysal’s face in a bright, fiery hue. There was no escape. For a moment, she felt as though time had frozen, as if everything had ended. She shut her eyes tightly, bracing for the impact that would undoubtedly engulf her in flames.

Silence. No sound, no movement. She felt as if she were suspended between life and death.

Slowly, she opened her eyes. Her fear-filled gaze widened gradually as she took in the sight before her: the fireball had completely frozen in mid-air, just inches away. She gasped in a trembling voice, unable to believe her eyes:

“What?!”

Suddenly, Morio appeared beside her, his cold voice breaking the silence:

“Oi!”

Baysal turned quickly to him, her panic evident in her eyes. She stammered:

“Morio…? How?!”

Morio replied with calm detachment:

“You need to be careful. The fireball stopped because of my ability.”

She looked at him in astonishment, then back at the suspended fireball. She muttered softly, as if talking to herself:

“Time manipulation…”

Morio raised his hand slowly and said firmly:

“Step aside.”

Baysal didn’t immediately understand and asked, confused:

“What?”

He repeated more sharply:

“I said, step aside!”

Baysal took a few steps to the right, leaving the space between her and the fireball clear. Morio stared at the suspended fireball with a fixed gaze before lowering his hand abruptly, releasing its frozen state.

The fireball resumed its trajectory with immense force, striking a nearby tree trunk and causing a powerful explosion that shook the area and set the tree ablaze. The flames rose high, and the wind intensified, fanning the fire’s fury.

As Morio stared indifferently at the towering flames, a figure emerged from the shadows, clapping slowly. He approached at a measured pace, his voice dripping with sarcasm:

“Morio Raiso! The heir of the time manipulation technique from his clan. Impressive.”

Morio didn’t respond, only fixing his icy gaze on the newcomer. The man, Jan, continued his approach with a sly smile, saying mockingly:

“Are you rewarded for your talents?”

He laughed lightly before adding:

“He’s ruthless!”

Morio remained silent, but Jan didn’t stop his provocative remarks, continuing with a smirk:

“I heard that your father, Smart, desperately wanted the time manipulation technique. If he knew you inherited it, would he have killed you?”

Morio’s features darkened slightly, but his response remained calm:

“You talk too much.”

Jan chuckled lightly and said:

“True, I’m quite the chatterbox.”

Baysal interrupted angrily, shouting:

“Leader Morio!”

Morio glanced at her silently as she glared at Jan. She then declared challengingly:

“Leave him to me!”

Morio suddenly turned his back and ran off at incredible speed, seemingly vanishing into thin air. Jan looked puzzled and asked sarcastically:

“Where did he go? Did he flee?”

But Baysal, now wearing a smile brimming with defiance, said loudly:

“I’m your opponent, scumbag!”

Jan turned to her calmly, then said mockingly:

“Sbyam took a lot of praise as the strongest person, and yes, he truly is the strongest humanity has ever known! But… he took the credit my master deserves for training students! So, I’ll prove that Master Betma is better than him!”

Baysal smirked and gestured toward him, saying:

“Come at me!”

Jan laughed with equal mockery and said:

“As you wish!”

---

In another part of the arena, Suero was running tirelessly, his breath coming in rapid gasps, and sweat pouring down his brow. His heavy steps came to a sudden halt at a tranquil river reflecting the sun’s rays on its surface. There, on the opposite bank, stood Hambo, his cold gaze piercing the distance between them.

Hambo broke the silence with a calm and confident voice:

“You’re Suero, right?”

Suero, trying to catch his breath, stammered:

“Yes… and you’re Hambo!”

Hambo responded with chilling finality:

“You don’t need to continue your path.”

Suero froze in place, his eyes filled with a mix of exhaustion and confusion. He cautiously asked:

"What do you mean?"

Hambo replied in an unwavering tone:

"I mean you should give up being a sorcerer. Stop killing monsters to protect humans."

Suero's confusion deepened, but he composed himself and asked:

"Why would I do that?"

Hambo hesitated for a moment, as if searching for the right words. Finally, he spoke in an emotionless voice:

"Because they’re not worth protecting. That’s why I’m telling you—quit this job. You’re just a 17-year-old kid. Live your life in peace."

Suero stared at Hambo with a mix of skepticism and intrigue but didn’t interrupt. Hambo continued, his serious eyes locked onto Suero’s:

"You’ll die eventually, and to them, you’ll just be trash."

Suero replied with defiance:

"Why do you think like this?"

Lowering his gaze to the ground, Hambo furrowed his brows, and his voice took on a tone of hidden sorrow:

"Because I lived among them. I protected them. But to them, I was nothing more than a murderer. All sorcerers who sacrificed their lives for humanity are seen as killers. To them, we are nothing but tools for survival."

Before Hambo could continue, Suero attempted to interject, but suddenly Morio appeared. With a firm step, he placed a hand on Suero’s shoulder and pulled him back. Turning to face Hambo, his cold, sharp eyes burned with intensity. He spoke in an emotionless tone:

"Step away from Suero. Don’t poison his mind with your foolish thoughts."

Hambo met Morio’s piercing gaze with a calm expression that carried a hint of provocation. He asked quietly:

"Did I lie?"

Morio’s eyes narrowed dangerously, a silent warning of the storm brewing within. Hambo lowered his voice, almost whispering:

"They are despicable."

Interrupting sharply, Morio’s voice was as cutting as a blade slicing through the air:

"The despicable one here is you. I warned you not to mess with Suero’s mind! He is different. I see him as the one who will save humanity from the monsters."

Suero’s eyes widened in shock upon hearing his leader’s words, a flicker of newfound confidence igniting within him.

Morio continued with a strong, resolute voice, his words ringing like a blood-bound promise:

"From the very beginning, I saw something unique in him. He was just a boy who resembled Spailo, but… after his mother’s death and witnessing humans dying around him, he never wavered in his goal. From the start, he wanted to protect humans!"

Raising his voice with an edge of fury and an undercurrent of determination, Morio declared:

"That is why he will be the one to protect humanity in the future!"

Hambo remained calm, his cold demeanor unchanged, though his eyes scrutinized Morio with intrigue. Finally, he spoke softly:

"Let’s continue the event."

Hambo adopted a fighting stance, his features sharpening with resolve as he fixed his gaze on Morio.

Morio stepped forward, his sharp eyes locked onto his opponent as if preparing for a battle with no room for retreat.

---

End of Chapter