Bang…

"Idiot… don't you dare die on me!"

Calus felt his mind foggy as he heard a familiar voice. Fre's shout jolted him awake.

His eyes snapped open as the cheers of the crowd entered his ears.

Yes.

They were still in battle.

Calus slowly stood up from the ground, his eyes blazing red.

"Princess…" Calus called out as her white eyes locked onto him.

"I'm sorry for this," Calus said as his expression changed.

The atmosphere instantly grew even colder as the fog surrounding the arena dissipated.

A terrifying golden aura erupted from Calus, covering the entire arena.

His aura increased from one-star Gold Realm, to two-star, and finally…

Three-star Gold Realm.

The arena slabs cracked, and even the stands trembled under the pressure.

Calus's body turned into a golden figure as he moved.

Arie was not idle either.

The moment Calus moved, she attacked as well. Intense cold surged toward him, making his body tremble.

But the golden energy instantly scattered the frost as Calus regained control and pressed forward.

Bang!

His fist connected as Arie blocked the strike.

Her feet slid several meters across the arena floor.

Her silver aura flared as the ground beneath her shattered while she moved.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The two fought like dancers in a deadly performance, moving at incredible speed.

At this point, they appeared as blurs of light inside the arena.

One silver.

One gold.

Their lights clashed and intertwined.

Although Arie was powerful with her terrifying physique, Calus was stronger.

And not just any three-star Gold Realm expert.

His strength had already reached the absolute limit of the three-star Gold Realm.

Soon, Calus seized an opening.

Bang!

Arie was blasted out of the arena, unconscious.

The protective dome receded, and several figures rushed forward to carry her away.

"Calus wins!"

With the referee's announcement, the crowd erupted in cheers.

Calus was then asked whether he wished to join the Senior League, and he agreed.

He fought strongly and even defeated a few senior students.

But in the end, he lost.

So he quietly retreated as the competition continued.

---

In a nearby room, Calus was changing his clothes when a figure suddenly appeared.

"Oh, Chosen One. You're making quite a wave right now. I'm sure after this competition, your name will spread far and wide, right?" Lisa teased.

Calus frowned.

"It doesn't matter. I'm only focused on my goal," Calus muttered.

Lisa laughed softly.

"Maybe. Maybe not. But I think you need a stronger push to reveal even more of your strength. How about the death of your best friend? Would that fuel your desire for power?"

"Tell me… will you go crazy? Will you pursue strength and become a terrifying expert?"

Lisa's voice carried a playful yet chilling tone.

Calus's expression turned cold.

"Empty words won't work on me," Calus said as he walked out.

"Really? Well, Calus… tonight… Fre will die."

Calus paused slightly before frowning.

"We'll see," he muttered as he closed the door.

Today was the final day of the competition.

The former senior champions, all Platinum Realm experts, were fighting their final match.

Mabi was among them.

It wasn't that her opponent was weak.

It was simply that Mabi was too strong.

She defeated her opponent effortlessly and claimed the throne as champion.

Fre and Calus watched from the stands, but Calus's mind was elsewhere.

Over the past few days, Lisa had constantly teased him, trying to provoke him.

But he had endured it.

Yet today…

She had threatened to kill Fre.

She had never gone that far before.

And when she said it…

A murderous intent followed.

Calus was certain.

That crazy woman might really kill Fre tonight.

But why?

And why did she keep hinting that he needed to grow stronger?

What exactly were they planning?

And why did they want him to become stronger?

It felt as if the world itself had changed.

The timeline had deviated so much that Calus no longer knew what was real or who he could trust.

Even while his senior sister fought on stage, his mind wandered elsewhere.

"She actually won, and quite easily too! She's so strong!" Fre said excitedly.

Calus snapped out of his thoughts.

"Yeah… yeah," he replied absentmindedly.

Fre frowned.

"These days you've been absent-minded. What's on your mind? Or is it because you lost? Don't worry about it," Fre said with a smile.

Calus sighed.

"No, bro. It's nothing."

Although Fre looked suspicious, he couldn't force Calus to talk.

Sigh… it's far more complicated than anything you could know, Calus thought.

Soon the closing ceremony ended.

This time, the Eastern Continent finished third, which shocked many people.

Calus had done his part.

His senior's

carried the rest.

And the Eastern Continent succeeded.

More resources would now flow toward them.

Everyone was happy.

Everyone except Calus.

His mind was still restless.

As they returned to their inn, Mabi suddenly stopped him.

"Champ! Did you see how your senior sister won?" Mabi laughed as she grabbed Calus by the head and hugged him tightly.

"Yes… you're very strong. You did well," Calus said with a forced smile.

"Good, good," she said, finally releasing him.

Then her expression became serious.

"Now there's something more important to discuss , … something important for your future that I want to tell you about."

For the first time that day, Calus's worry about Fre paused.

"I'm listening, Senior Sister," Calus said.

"You must be wondering where Arie disappeared to after the match. And some of the other strong students as well," Mabi continued.

Calus nodded.

He had noticed their sudden disappearance but had been too distracted by Lisa's provocations to think deeply about it.

"Well… they have been invited to a special training program," Mabi explained.

"It's meant to cultivate talented individuals across the five continents. You will answer directly to the royal family, but you will receive unlimited resources to grow and pursue your dreams."

"And your family will also be protected."

Calus's eyes widened.

A huge realization struck him.

No wonder…

You must know , Half-Step God Realm experts were ancestors

of families and yet people like Mabi and others had already reached Half-Step God Realm at such a young age.

So there had been a secret training program all along.

Calus nodded.

This was good.

Showing his strength had opened opportunities for him instead of hiding it.

"Hmm… Senior Sister," Calus said thoughtfully.

"Am I the only one you're inviting? Am I the last? Won't you invite more people… or can I recommend someone?"

He was thinking of Fre.

If he and Fre could go there, then they might finally be separated from Lisa, and he wouldn't have to worry every day. But Mabi poured a cold basin over his thoughts.

"Champ, I'm sorry. I know you have friends and all, but it's strictly for very talented individuals, monsters among geniuses. So just being a genius isn't enough. And yes, you are the last one."

"So what do you say? It's abrupt, but think about your future," Mabi said as she waited for Calus's reply.

Listening to this made Calus frown.

Now that plan was thrown off. But then again, should he stay and protect Fre as they grew? Even he knew he couldn't reach the Half-Step God Realm before that incident happened maybe the King Realm at best.

Then he would lose Fre.

But if he left now, even if Lisa was out of the way, Fre might still be targeted. And they already know about his rebirth,so

the incident might happen ahead of time.

Calus was really unsure of what to choose.

It had become a choice between a short-term goal and a long-term goal.

"Senior Sister, can you give me some time to think?" Calus asked as Mabi pondered.

"You can."

"But you only have until tomorrow because everyone leaves tomorrow, same as us. So by then you must have decided. Tonight, you should think it through," Mabi said.

Calus smiled.

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

Calus clasped his hands together and bowed as Mabi disappeared.

When she was gone, he raised his head and muttered,

"Fre… damn it."