Kai didn’t know exactly what would happen when the Night Elevation happened.

And he really needed to be careful.

Now, at eighty percent, he could sense that the extension of his Primordial Lock was forming another spherical core—at the base of his stomach. He was ninety-nine percent certain that it was going to form his second Primordial Lock.

As impossible as that sounded, he was now really sure about it.

If he succeeded in this, he would, without a doubt, grow even stronger.

But he wasn’t sure if he was ready to tackle this.

Since Noxian told him that he couldn’t enter the House of Nigh —until he tackled this Night Elevation phenomenon, the test might not involve using his raw strength. Perhaps, like understanding an Ending Fragment, his mind would play the bigger role.

Not to mention, the Night Elevation would only become harder the longer he drags it out.

So, with those factors in mind, tackling it now made sense.

But Kai didn’t know what would happen, and there’s a chance he’d attract too much attention if he tackled it right now in the Fire Swamp. Other than Awakened Monsters and Star Beasts, it would be worse if a student came across him.

For a Lesser Angel, inciting a phenomenon of his Patron God should be impossible.

A Patron God wouldn’t favor Supernals with one or even two Divine Locks.

Kai would be brought to be reviewed by the Association of Angel Academies if he could.

Better for him to wait until he returned, at least.

"Let’s push a little bit further," Matilda’s voice seeped into his ears, pulling his attention. "We are so close to getting the amount we needed. Let’s make one last push and get out of here. It might only be me, but you looked like you have a lot on your plate."

"Agree," Kai nodded. "Let’s get this over with."

A few hours passed, and when the night settled for good, they got the mana ores they needed.

Or at least, based on their calculations, they should have more than three thousand mana ores.

It’s time for them to leave.

Matilda swept her gaze around, keeping an eye on the surroundings, while Kai dug out the mud covering the hole in the bark to take the mana ores. It was their nearest tree storage with more than five hundred mana ores inside.

"Should I go on ahead and call the Pegasus?" She asked without looking. "Or do you prefer us to stick together?"

No answer.

On her periphery, she noticed Kai was squatting down in silence.

"Kai?" She called again and finally turned. Only then did she see the stiffness of his body as he stared into the inside of the hole. A frown creased her face as her anxious mind instantly wandered to the worst-case scenario. "What’s wrong?’

She peeked inside the hole and saw not a single mana ore inside it.

It was completely empty.

At first glance, one might have thought they’d picked the wrong tree. But the mud covering the hole, as well as the deep slash marks they’d left behind, proved otherwise. They were at the right three, no doubt about it.

Just that the mana ores weren’t there anymore.

Someone took them.

Kai’s hand clamped onto the bark, fingers digging in harder with each passing second until the wood splintered beneath his grip. It crumbled to shards in his fist. Everything had been going smoothly, too smoothly.

Of course, something had to go wrong at the very end.

Despite his attempt to avoid trouble, trouble came to him.

"Let’s calm down for a second. If it’s only one spot, then we can still make up for it. We still have the entire night," Matilda assured, calming him down, though her mind was fretting over how someone could find their stashed mana ores. "Let’s check the other spots first."

"No," Kai stood up and gripped the handle of his scimitar tightly. "If someone knew about our stashes, then someone must’ve been tailing us without us knowing. And if that were the case, it’s highly likely the other stashes were emptied, too."

Nobody would accidentally stumble across the stashes.

Kai and Matilda stashed their mana ores inside a tree precisely to avoid that from happening.

So, it was clear someone had been following them.

And for them not to notice anything odd, then this stalker is someone strong.

Kai walked away.

"What are you going to do?" Matilda asked, stopping him mid-track.

"I’m going to hunt them down, of course—and take back what’s mine." Kai glanced over his shoulder, and from that angle, Matilda could see it. His eyes had already been swallowed by darkness. No whites. No pupils. Just the night staring back at her.

It was the same look he’d worn in Ixos.

She saw those eyes before their duel.

A look that only registers the understanding of kill or be killed.

"I’m coming with you."

"No."

"Don’t be ridiculous. Someone has to make sure you hold yourself back. You promised."

"You will have to only trust me to keep my promise," Kai said and turned his body sideways. "Besides, we’re dealing with the Ichor Legion here. What do you think would happen if they caught you, a High Angel, helping a Lesser Angel?"

Even Bree, who only helped him get his footing in the academy, was punished.

Matilda would surely be punished more severely.

Not to mention, as they are now Blooded Angels, the punishment would be harsher.

As much as she wanted to argue, Kai was right.

Matilda didn’t care about the punishment, as it’s probably something that’ll hurt but not kill her, but she was afraid that her family would also be punished. And for that, she couldn’t be rash.

"Let’s separate to search for the thieves, and meet back here at dawn."

"..."

Kai told Perion to check the other stashes in case there was one that the thieves missed.

It was highly unlikely, but he sent Perion anyway.

Once that was settled, Kai broke into a sprint and activated Nigh-phantom. His presence bled away until he was little more than a phantom. Adrenaline surged through his veins, providing him with the boost in speed that he needed.

Finding the thieves should be easier now with his speed.

Unlike him, who could avoid being detected by Awakened Monsters, the thieves couldn’t.

At least most likely couldn’t.

Kai only needed to listen for a commotion, and he would find his thieves.

...

Meanwhile, a mile away, a figure threaded the dangerous terrain with panic in his eyes.

He’s a small student but has horns protruding out of his head—a characteristic of a Supernal with the bloodline of a Divine Beast. Just then, his eyes flashed in relief at the sight of a really big ancient tree.

A big banyan tree with floating roots dangling down from its sprawling canopy.

"I don’t know what was going through Chester’s head when he sent me, out of all people, to scout the Star Beasts, but screw that. I am not risking my life. Why would I do this properly if I know there’s a chance that I’m going to be their first meal?" He cursed Chester under his breath and scaled the massive banyan, deciding it would serve as the perfect shelter. "I’ll head back after an hour or so. Let him wait."

For a good moment, the student stayed there.

He leaned back against the tree and extended his legs in a comfortable position.

Several growls scared him a couple of times, and a few Awakened Monsters passed by right underneath him—but he was safe. None even thought of looking up. as they are mostly steel-tusked boars.

Half an hour in, he heard the sound of rushed footsteps.

Fearing that it might be one of his friends from the Ichor Legion, he hid properly.

But the footsteps stopped.

"Hmm?" A frown crept to his face behind the mask, not seeing anything in the area, though the footsteps were surely heading his way. "Am I hearing things?" He picked his ears with his pinky. "I swore I heard someone approaching." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Just then, his eyes widened.

Someone emerged from the darkness. No, not someone, but something.

A sounder of steel-tusked boars emerged and sprinted away with squeals in their throats.

"Awakened Monsters?" The student’s frown deepened. "I don’t think so."

He still doesn’t believe that was everything hiding behind the darkness.

Even though the Fire Swamp kept his nerves stretched tight, he believed his ears. That sounded earlier—it had been footsteps. Rushed footsteps and a certain human. A student. He remained completely still, breathing shallow, waiting until he was certain the coast was clear.

Another thing emerged from the darkness.

It shot towards him.

The student was startled, but realized that it was a stuffed leather sack.

Someone had thrown it directly at him.

Thud—!

The leather sack struck him square in his chest, a solid thud that left a throbbing ache behind.

He caught it on instinct when it fell—glancing down in confusion. "Is someone messing with me? What the fu—?" The words died in his throat suddenly. Through the opening, something glinted brilliantly.

Curious, he pulled the sack wide, and his eyes nearly burst from their sockets.

Hundreds of mana ores lay nestled inside, their sparkles winking at him like a lover’s promise.

"Am I... dreaming?"

Just earlier, he thought he was going to die as the Fire Swamp was incredibly dangerous.

A regular Angel like him wouldn’t be able to survive alone.

But staring at the mana ores now, maybe coming here had been a blessing in disguise. "Who gave these to me...?" He scanned the darkness from which this sack came, then quickly shook his head. It didn’t matter. "Angels aren’t allowed to use mana ores to grow stronger, but taking a little won’t hurt, right? No one would ever know."

Greed clouded his eyes.

Frustrated that he was forced to be the errand-dog for Chester, he wanted to grow stronger.

He wanted to get rid of the condescending gazes.

If he needed to do something a bit illegal to achieve that, then he would do it.

After all, the Flame Swamp was under no supervision.

Nobody would know that he absorbed a few mana ores as long as he’s not being obvious.

As long as his increase in strength isn’t too unnatural.

Just as he took one out and prepared to absorb it, a light tapping sound seeped into his ears.

The sound came from behind—a soft tap, like someone landing gently on the branch at his back. A cold chill slithered down his spine. He knew someone was there, only a few feet away, but he couldn’t feel any presence at all.

As if the person wasn’t even there or alive.

"Stealing from someone is a really bad thing," A chilling voice whispered. "But stealing from someone desperate... That is a really dumb thing to do."