’This is like being born all over again.’

Ravian was still examining his appearance in the reflection.

He had guessed that his appearance would not remain the same after the transformation, especially after the reconstruction of his facial bones and skin. And yet, the difference was unreasonable. Even his lips had become fuller and more defined than before.

But now, with all these changes, a much larger problem had appeared.

’What am I supposed to tell the others when I return to camp looking like this?’ Worry began to creep into Ravian’s heart.

Returning to camp like this would draw all kinds of suspicion. He had grown roughly five centimeters taller, now standing at around 185 centimeters, and his body had become visibly broader, with a more muscular build than before. It was not the kind of sculpted physique people imagined, but his current frame was clearly more lethal and pronounced than it had been.

Combined with the suspicion that had existed from the beginning after the "Fate" incident, this would cause him problems he could not even imagine, especially with people as overly cautious as Caesar and Antonius, who would not let the matter pass quietly. In fact, when things were laid out this way, Ravian would not be surprised if he were arrested and interrogated the moment he returned.

’Damn it.’ Ravian cursed inwardly. It had never occurred to him before that the transformation he had undergone would lead to these kinds of consequences.

’Should I just not go back?’

The thought crossed Ravian’s mind, and it seemed reasonable to him. In the end, his chances of uncovering secrets would be better inside the Empire itself rather than here on the border.

He was also certain that his chances of being exposed to danger there would be far lower than fighting and training here almost every day.

’But I don’t think that old man Karius will let me go that easily... In fact, I’m surprised he hasn’t sent anyone after me yet.’ Ravian thought as he sat on the riverbank and looked around with suspicion, but he quickly shook his head and focused on what he needed to do.

’Should I go and meet him?’ The thought came to him. It would be better to meet him and tell him before leaving, but doing that would be sheer foolishness. He did not truly know what was going on inside Karius’s mind, nor what his reaction to the current situation might be.

’And there is another option...’ Ravian thought as he stared blankly at his reflection in the water.

’Going to an entirely different empire and staying away from all these dangers.’

That was the ideal option for Ravian.

But the only dilemma was that he was now an Awakened, not just an ordinary young man. Because of that, going to another empire or kingdom would require caution so no one discovered that he had come from a different empire. Otherwise, he would be arrested on charges of spying for another empire.

There were many risks waiting for Ravian no matter which option he chose, but he did not complain. It was not in his nature. He might make a sarcastic joke from time to time, but he did not waver when the moment came to make a decision.

’And I won’t regret it, no matter what it is.’ Ravian thought as he looked behind him again, in the direction he had come from earlier.

"Alright then."

Ravian stood up and quickly brushed off his clothes with his hands.

He was about to set off, but then he looked up at the sky and saw that the sun had almost fully risen.

’I think I need to wait until evening.’ Ravian decided as he looked at the forest, fully aware of the risk he was about to take. Then he set off into the depths of the forest.

Ravian decided not to return to the same cave as before. He changed the place where he would hide as a precaution, and chose to use this free time to observe the wall, learn the timing of the patrols and guards, and try to estimate their ranks.

As for how he would do that...

Only he knew.

...

Six hours passed, and it was now afternoon in the camp.

In the Death Squad camp.

"So you’re saying he left at dawn with the orc and said he would return soon, but hasn’t come back since?" Kael asked with a frown, looking at Malrik as they all gathered in the middle of the camp. Every elite member was present, along with some of the Tenth-Rank members.

"Yes, that’s exactly what happened. He was also supposed to meet Lysandra, wasn’t he?" Malrik confirmed, then turned to Lysandra.

"Yes. We spoke." Lysandra nodded briefly, and anyone present could tell that her mood was not the best at the moment.

"And no one has seen him since?" Elias asked this time, and everyone answered by shaking their heads.

"We should tell Sir Karius about this," Darius said, carrying his massive sword on his back as he prepared to head toward the central building in the camp.

"No need," Malrik said suddenly.

"Hah?" Darius did not understand Malrik’s intention.

"Sir Antonius came by a few hours ago and spoke with me. They know Ravian is outside the camp, which means they were secretly watching him. Something like him not returning until now is certainly known to them," Malrik explained.

"And what if something happened to him and we don’t know?" Evelyne asked this time, worry clear in her eyes.

"Unfortunately, we can’t do anything. Sir Antonius also directly relayed Sir Karius’s order that we are not allowed to follow him into the deep forest," Malrik said, his own expression no better than hers.

During all of this, Kael had been listening quietly. His expression was unreadable as he stared in the direction of the deep forest.

...

"You can’t find him?" Karius said, his expression calm... far too calm.

"Yes, my lord," Antonius said, swallowing with difficulty.

"Is this a joke?" Karius said, his expression not changing in the slightest.

"N-No, my lord. I did not find him when I returned to search for him a little while ago."

"The last trace I could find of him was in the cave. There was a large amount of blood there, and it definitely belonged to a human. But after that, every trace vanished, as though he had never existed in that place to begin with," Antonius said, anxious tension appearing on him for the first time. His eyes were wide, unable to believe that he could not track a young man of the Tenth Rank.

It was as though he had suddenly vanished from existence.

As though he had been... erased.

"Let’s go," Karius said as he rose from his desk chair, took his sword, placed it in the sheath at his waist, and put on the light leather armor he had worn when he went to the city before.

"My lord? You are going personally—" Antonius barely managed to speak before Karius cut him off.

"Yes. I was the one who ordered the surveillance on him to be lifted, and what happened is part of my responsibility. Besides, I cannot leave my disciple’s fate unknown like this," Karius said, his eyes gleaming white, the same color as his aura, as he looked through the window toward the deep forest on the horizon.

...

In an unknown cave deep within the forest, a white-haired young man sat with his eyes calmly closed, an expression of pure concentration resting on his handsome, noble face. In front of him lay the remains of some rabbit meat.

Then the young man’s expression suddenly relaxed even further.

Soul Ascension.