Kain's fingers closed around the object within the tree's mouth, and began to retract.
But as he did so golden light surged up his arm like a molten tide, flowing along his veins, washing through bone and spirit alike. It wasn't painful. It wasn't warm. It was… transformative.
The tree pulsed once more, its golden canopy shimmering like a living sun, and then the mouth began to close behind his arm.
Kain's eyes glazed.
But then, before he could even process what it is he'd grabbed—
DING.
A sharp, long lost chime cracked through the silence of his mind.
Then another.
Then five, ten, dozens more.
[WARNING: Extremely toxic substance detected— no action taken due to System lockout by external relic authority.]
[WARNING: External spatial shift detected. System's perception of Host's whereabouts is limited.]
[ALERT: System synchronization delayed due to priority lockdown by relic authority.]
[Calculating deferred messages… loading 257 critical alerts.]
His mind was immediately filled with a rising cascade of beeps, each one echoing louder than the last. Dozens—hundreds—of suppressed System notifications surged like a tidal wave. His ability to communicate with the System was prevented while in the relic, but it seems like after passing, or perhaps the inheritance itself, was releasing that restriction.
DING. DING. DING. DING. DING. DING—
Too fast.
He couldn't keep up with what they were even saying anymore. Not to mention that the incessant ringing was beginning to feel like a hammer smacking against a bell—only his mind was the bell.
He grimaced, eyes still closed as the torrent rushed through him. The System scrambled to interpret the influx of data while reconnecting to his consciousness.
And then, finally, the cascade began to slow. The notifications came less like a deluge and more like steady rainfall.
[SYSTEM RECOVERY: 100% of functions restored. Connection to Host: Stable.]
[Integration into Pangea: Stable]
[Update: Unknown artifact successfully transferred to host's Star Space.]
[Artifact Name: Seed of Continuance.]
Then, before Kain could even process what it was exactly he'd received—a seed, he guessed, based on the name—it was snatched from his hand by the System.
[Analyzing Seed…]
[Artifact contains Source-class encoding. Origin— Extinct world designator: Earth in conjunction with the %&%%$%]
[…Processing…]
[System Alert: Seed integration requested. Estimated impact: Moderate to High. Proceed?]
Kain didn't speak. He didn't need to. His intent alone was enough.
[Confirmed. Beginning integration… now.]
He felt the effects immediately.
The heart of Pangea, tethered to his very soul, trembled.
Aurem the golden dragon may think of himself as the supreme Overlord of Pangea, but as the one most intimately connected with the planet, Kain can confidently attest that the one with the greatest influence over the planet is, in fact, the Tree of Life.
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Quiet and without its own consciousness, its presence is often overlooked. But Kain knew that the progress of the planet, aside from his own cultivation, was heavily dependent on that tree.
Now that very Tree of Life, a vibrant emerald monolith with shiny metallic bark and surrounded by flourishing exotic plants and animals, began to shimmer violently.
And then—
[Alert: Compatible host found within Pangea.]
[Seed of Continuance transferring to Tree of Life.]
Soon, a familiar sight entered Kain's vision—the light of evolution.
'I didn't even know it could evolve still? Could Aurem as well, if the provided material was high enough in quality?'
Wherever the bright light landed, the grasslands bent as if pressed by an intense wind or an increase in gravity.
The skies overhead were filled with golden auroras. Animals all over Pangea, including the far-off Aurem and the Kraken-like sea lord under the sea, stopped in their tracks and looked toward the glowing horizon.
And at the center of it all, the Tree of Life began to change.
The bark cracked. Split. Reformed. What had once been lush green turned radiant gold. Its roots surged downward, expanding beyond the limits of the soil it originally grew on, now merging with the core framework of Pangea itself.
And its size—
It grew. And grew.
Into a giant made of what looked to be solid gold and light. Fortunately for the plant life below it though, it seemed to radiate with its own internal sun-like energy that not only didn't make the plants underfoot die from like of light, but seemed to increase their health.
When the changes in its appearance were fully done, now standing higher than many smaller mountains on the planet, something shifted again.
[Tree of Life has evolved: World Tree established.]
[New function unlocked: Sentience.]
[World Tree may now impart spiritual knowledge obtained from the inheritance and host soul memory to spiritually awaken the intelligence of native species. Status: Active Guardian of Pangea.]
[Alert: Soul Pool detected within Seed of Continuance.]
[Estimated soul quantity: 8.2 billion. Origin: Earth. Classification: Human remnants.]
[The Cradle has been updated.]
[New status: DNA + soul imprint archive.]
[Soul compatibility detected between archived humanoid species and stored souls.]
[Recalibrating species generation cost… complete.]
[Result: Drastic reduction in Source Energy expenditure when generating compatible intelligent life due to no longer needing to generate new souls.]
[Additional effect: Reborn souls will have no memories of their past lives but be able to learn and achieve spiritual awakening at a much faster rate than newly born souls]
Kain's chest rose with a quiet breath. His eyes remained closed.
Kain had always had the dream of adding some intelligent species like elves and dwarves to Pangea. Unfortunately, the cost was insanely high, even if they weren't exceptionally powerful. Now he understood that this was the cost of generating a suitably intelligent soul from scratch.
Moreover, the newly born souls would likely have taken extremely long to develop civilizations and cultures all over again from scratch to a level that Kain could find remotely useful.
Now, with the change of the World Tree, which seems to be targeted at increasing the average IQ level of Pangea, and the increased learning ability of the reborn souls, Kain's kingdom-building fantasies may come true within his lifetime.
[New directive formed: Permanent Resident Protocol unlocked.]
[Resident may be bound to Pangea's World Tree as an eternal steward and guide to the new intelligent lifeforms on Pangea. Transfer irreversible. One position available.]
The last of the golden light that was emitted from the seed had faded from his skin, absorbed entirely by the System, Pangea, and the new World Tree.
He stood unmoving, breath slow, as his mind processed all that had changed—the notifications, the changed functions to Pangea.
The silence in the courtyard stretched long.
Even the Unity tree no longer stirred. Its immense branches towered overhead and blocked out the majority of the sunlight.
A soft wind blew across the courtyard, rustling the remaining grass.
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Bai Lian hadn't moved.
She stood a few paces away, hands curled in front of her, gaze locked on him and watched as Kain 'obtained the inheritance.
Kain exhaled slowly.
His eyes opened.
And for a moment, he didn't say anything. He just stared at her.
Bai Lian tried to smile, but it came out tired, fragile around the edges.
"Congratulations," she said softly, voice steady despite the quiver behind it. "You won."
Her smile faltered slightly as she looked back at the seedbed where her sapling had once been.
"I didn't really expect to pass. But I guess I hoped, a little."
She glanced back at him, trying not to let the weight of that disappointment show too plainly. "Still… I'm glad it was you. Serena and you can reunite on the outside."
Kain's expression didn't change.
Bai Lian turned away, slow and quiet. Her footsteps were light, but they echoed far too loudly in the silence. The door that had once opened for them stood across the courtyard like a final chapter. Her pace quickened toward it.
"I guess I'll head back," she said, not turning around.
She didn't sound afraid. Not really. Just… resigned.
Kain's voice cut through the air like a quiet blade.
"You don't have to die."
Bai Lian froze.
She turned slowly, confusion creasing her brows. "What?"
Kain stepped forward, just once, golden light still fading slowly from his eyes and seeming to settle into the golden ring that now circled his pupils.
He didn't say anything at first. Just watched her.
Then, after a long pause:
"There's… a place."
Bai Lian blinked. "A place?"
"Somewhere else," Kain said. "Not here. Not the Eastern Continent either. You wouldn't be able to come back. But you'd live."
A faint line appeared between her brows. She stared at him like he'd just offered her a miracle and a punishment in the same breath.
"You're saying… I could leave the relic? That I wouldn't die?"
"Yes," Kain replied. "But you will never be able to return back home. And even your actions in the future may be limited…I'm not sure since you'd be bound to another creature."
Bai Lian didn't speak. Her fingers twitched at her sides.
"I can't promise it's what you'd want," he added. "But it's safe. It's stable. It's… alive. Heck, you may even end up living for far longer than you would have naturally."
Her mouth parted slightly. "Why are you telling me this?"
Kain looked away for a moment, then back.
"Because…you've been helpful to me," he said simply. "And I think… You are a good person. You deserve a chance to keep living. Even if it's not the life you expected."
Bai Lian's breath hitched. She looked down at her hands, curling them tight.
"You're serious," she whispered.
"I wouldn't be saying it otherwise."
Another silence passed, but it felt different from before. Not heavy, but searching. Fragile.
Then, finally, Bai Lian nodded. "Alright. I'll go."
Kain said nothing more.
But somewhere deep within him, the World Tree began to glow like the second coming of the sun.
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Thankfully, the target he was speaking to, the System, understood it right away.
[Confirming permanent resident transfer to Pangea's World Tree Stewardship Protocol… confirmed.]
The confirmation tone felt softer than usual. No cheerful jingle. No satisfying click. Just a quiet blink in his mental space, followed by a ripple of pressure through the air that made his skin prickle.
Bai Lian's expression was unreadable.
She stood a few paces away, hands loose at her sides. She didn't speak, but he could see the tension in her shoulders, the subtle shift in her stance, like someone trying to brace for impact without knowing from which direction the attack would come from.
Kain understood. He was nervous too. More than a little, actually.
Not because he doubted choosing her. But because, this would be the first time someone else would be entering Pangea in full.
Not just a fragment of someone's consciousness sent in to form a contract and wouldn't even retain any memories of the experience, but an entire person.
It was different.
Bai Lian looked at him one last time.
"…Guess this is it," she said. Her voice was steady. Barely.
Kain gave her a small nod. "You'll be safe," he said. "I think."
She laughed. It was a quiet, brittle sound. "Reassuring. You—"
And then—without flash, without sound—she vanished.
She simply was there one second and then gone the next.
And at the same time, a subtle change appeared in Pangea.
Kain closed his eyes to look into his star space instinctively.
His consciousness appeared on Pangea next to the World Tree. High above him, in the endless golden canopy of the newly awakened World Tree, a single fruit began to form.
It emerged not from a branch, but from the very trunk—thick and radiant, its skin glowing faintly with green and gold veins. The size of a small person.
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His heart stuttered.
He could sense Bai Lian was inside. Not asleep. But not fully conscious either. Somewhere in between.
After communicating with the burgeoning consciousness of the tree mentally, it understood its purpose. The tree wasn't just binding with her—it was rebuilding her. Making her into something else not wholly human that could better assist it form the side.
"What does that even mean?" he muttered under his breath. "Rebuilding how?"
The World Tree didn't answer. But its presence buzzed faintly in the back of his mind, like static. Not a fully fledged, coherent thought. Just… intent.
The fruit pulsed gently. Alive.
From the surrounding forests, creatures began to gather.
Within the grand landscape of Pangea, these creatures were undeniably at the bottom of the totem pole. Not a single one being higher than orange-grade, and most only being white or red-grade.
However, the peacefulness of the regions near the World Tree and abundance of resources, meant that many of these creatures flocked to its vicinity.
First, a few small and curious herbivores appeared. Then a flock of birds. A pair of luminous deer. A snub-nosed tree bear padded over on all fours, sniffed the glowing fruit once, and tried to lick it.
Its tongue sizzled faintly on contact. The bear recoiled, eyes watering, then sulked away into the dense foliage surrounding the tree like a child denied candy.
Others tried too. A scaled fox. A weasel. A juvenile bird flew through the air and gently booped the fruit with its beak before giving a squawk of disappointment and gliding off.
None succeeded.
The fruit remained untouched.
Kain stared at it for another minute, then closed his eyes. His senses pulled back from Pangea, from the World Tree, from the stirrings of its changing wildlife.
A shimmer appeared in the air in front of him, before it expanded to the size of a doorway.
The relic was done with him.
"Guess I'm going back," he muttered. He hesitated, just a second, before stepping through.
———————-
Meanwhile, in the Verdara Trial…
Soreia didn't scream. She didn't cry. She just knelt in the cracked earth, she glared at Cassian with eyes full of hatred, surrounded by the corpses of her spiritual contracts.
All of them. Every single one.
Dead.
Or on the verge of dying, at least.
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The air stank of blood and burnt flesh. Scorch marks striped the shattered stones of the relic floor. Cracks ran in all directions like the aftermath of a siege. Even the sky overhead looked wrong—like something had burned through it.
The dragons had done this.
Cassian's dragons.
Of the six he entered with—4 adults and 2 juveniles—the light attribute juvenile—the smallest of the bunch—lay dying a few feet away. Its side had been ripped open, barely clinging to life, breath rattling in its throat.
Cassian knelt beside it.
His armour was scorched. But despite the shaking of his pupils, his hands were steady as they touched his contract.
He didn't say anything. Just placed his hand on the dragon's flank and let it feel his presence.
It tried to lift its head. Failed.
Cassian's jaw clenched. His other hand curled into a fist. And somewhere behind him, his remaining dragons roared—low and savage—and tore the last of Soreia's contracts apart in a single sweep of flames, teeth and claws..
Soreia didn't react. Not even when the vines began to creep toward her. She simply continued her murderous glare.
They looped around her ankles. Her wrists. Her waist. Their sharp thorns digging into her skin.
She didn't resist.
She unequivocally had lost.
And so the Verdara relic was dragging her away.
All the while, her gaze never left Cassian. As hatred filled her heart, she comforted herself with the knowledge that he would definitely not meet a good end either—she'd made sure of that.
Although he may not know it, ever since she decided to use that, she'd sentenced him to a mutual death. His death would just take a little more time to catch up with him…
Cassian didn't watch as she was dragged away.
He was looking only at his dying contract, hoping that him successfully obtaining the inheritance would mean that it could be saved.
'Speaking of the inheritance…' He turned to look at the flower only a few feet away.
It was massive. Ancient. Nestled in the heart of the battle-scarred field. Its petals folded tight like a clenched fist.
Cassian stepped forward.
The flower opened.
And swallowed him whole.
As the petals closed around him, he only had a single thought:
"This had better be worth it."
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Ah. It's this again…' Kain thought as he was reminded of just why he hated teleporting.
Just when he'd thought he'd grown accustomed to it, he was reminded of just how horrible it could feel when the distance was extended again.
There was pain. Then nausea.
Then something worse.
It was like every atom in his body was trying to reintroduce itself to the laws of reality all at once—and none of them were doing it politely. His lungs clenched, his skin buzzed, and his stomach executed a full backflip while forgetting to bring the rest of him along for the ride.
Long-distance spatial transfer was never fun. Doing it from a high-level relic, that he expected wasn't even on the same continent as his home was a whole new level of unpleasant.
The world snapped into place around him with the force of a slammed door.
He dropped to one knee on cold stone, gasping like a fish tossed onto a dock. The air smelled faintly of incense and damp stone. Familiar.
Dark Moon College.
He was back.
Sort of. Physically he was back, but mentally…
Perhaps as an aftermath from the trials in the relic or the long-distant teleportation, his mind and senses didn't seem to have fully returned yet. There was a dreamlike quality that seemed to cover the surroundings in a filter as if his brain was still buffering.
It took a few seconds before sound registered.
Voices. Low. Nearby.
His vision steadied.
The relic gateway—a shimmering doorway of light—stood behind him half forgotten. On the other side, only a few figures remained. Most of the students had clearly already exited. Based on the length of his trial and Serena's, they must have been inside far longer than anyone predicted. Long enough that nearly everyone had returned to their dorms.
Only a small group remained near the relic exit, standing just outside the radius of the wards and sigils supporting the relic entrance.
And at the center of that group was Serena.
Bridge and Kain's other friends were gathered around her. Their faces all looked grim, confused, and… sad?
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They were talking in low tones. Serena's posture was stiffer than usual, her arms folded across her chest in that way she always did when she was trying not to feel something.
Except… her face.
Her face wasn't cold.
It was devastated.
There were cracks showing in her mask, hair slightly messier than normal, a sharp line in her jaw that meant she'd been clenching it for too long. She looked like someone trying not to break, surrounded by people trying to extract information from her she didn't even want to think about.
Kain blinked in surprise at the unfamiliar expression on her.
And then the gateway behind him flared one last time, like a farewell signal, before it began to shut down.
A ripple spread across the ground like a heartbeat.
Every head turned.
Every conversation stopped.
Serena looked up—her eyes wide, wild, and disbelieving—and then before anyone else could react, she ran.
She sprinted across the stone floor like a snapped arrow, eyes locked on only one thing.
Kain barely had time to register the movement before she slammed into him.
Her arms wrapped tight around him, nearly knocking the breath out of him again. Her head buried against his chest, hands clenched into his back like she was trying to burrow into his body.
He stood there for a second, arms stiff, before slowly wrapping them around her in return, and resting his head on her own. All the thoughts about what to tell her left his head as a sweet floral scent surrounded him.
And warmth.
And softness.
No words were spoken between them.
Just the quiet sound of someone breathing again after holding it far too long.
Unfortunately, the moment didn't last long—
"Woooow," Bridge dragged out his words theatrically with feigned betrayal. "Dude forgets everyone the second there's a girl around. Not even sparing a glance at his brother. I raised you better than this."
Kain rolled his eyes at the interruption to his and Serena's reunion 'You raised me? Which of us is the older brother exactly…?'
Addison and Aiden made identical choking noises that might've been a cough, or a laugh, or both.
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"I give them two weeks before they're holding hands in public," Finn muttered.
"I give them two days," Elias said, one-upping him while Leonara held back a smirk from the side.
Kain sighed audibly.
Serena didn't pull back right away, but she did turn her head just enough to shoot a deadly glare at the others over her shoulder. A pulse of cold spiritual pressure hummed faintly through the air.
They all wisely took a step back.
Then Bridge, massive and grinning like a lunatic, marched forward and grabbed Kain in a full-bodied hug the moment Serena stepped back.
If Serena had been soft and floral, Bridge was like a massive bulldozer.
"Urrgh—Bridge—air," Kain gasped, ribs groaning under the pressure.
"I thought you were gone, bro," Bridge said while patting him hard enough on the back to bruise. "Don't do that again. I even started to plan out the menu for your funeral and everything."
"Was there cake?"
"Of course."
Kain wheezed a laugh and slapped his friend's back twice until he let go.
Then someone else stepped forward.
Vice Chancellor Darrow.
The older man looked calm, but his eyes—a piercing, pale grey-ish blue—locked onto Kain and Serena with something deeper than curiosity. He walked slowly, hands clasped behind his back.
"I'm glad you returned safely."
Kain straightened a little. "Yeah. Just now."
Darrow glanced toward the still-humming relic portal, then back at the two of them.
"Halfway through the trials, we lost your signal," he said calmly. "We assumed… many things. But ultimately, we decided to assess your performances based only on the data collected during the early stages."
Kain didn't respond.
Serena tilted her head. "So we won't be receiving any official credit for the later trials?"
Darrow's mouth twitched at the edge. It wasn't quite a smile.
"No. Officially, no," he said. Then he looked at Kain more directly. "But I have a feeling you received your rewards regardless."
His gaze lingered for a moment longer, then he turned away.
"Welcome back," he said over his shoulder, before vanishing into the crowd of remaining staff.
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It was strange, how quickly life tried to return to normal.
After the dramatic exit from the relic, the reunion, and the cryptic send-off by Vice Chancellor Darrow, Kain and Serena found themselves—somewhat awkwardly—resuming the routines of daily academy life. Classes restarted, professors resumed handing out assignments, and the topic of conversation across the College had already shifted to the upcoming re-rankings.
Despite everything, life returned to normal.
What hadn't returned to normal, however, was their ability to talk about what had happened.
Kain hadn't been present for the relic's speech on the mental restriction on discussing the inheritances, and discovered the limit the hard way.
He'd tried to explain the inheritance trial to Bridge—just the basic framework of the 'Quiz Game'—and immediately felt a wall slam down inside his own thoughts. Not a mental block, not quite. More like a presence pressing gently but immovably against his ability to speak.
Words simply… didn't form.
Bridge had stared at him for a good five seconds before joking that Kain had either forgotten how to speak or suffered brain damage from too much recent excitement.
Serena, when questioned, had quietly confirmed the same restriction.
" Relic said that we can't talk about it," she said flatly one evening as they sat across from each other on the stone ledge behind the east dorms. "Not to anyone not involved. Even to each other we can't disclose the details of our inheritances."
Kain raised an eyebrow. "We can talk a little. About the surface level, at least."
"A little," she admitted. "But if I try to talk about what is actually included in my inheritance…"
She trailed off. Kain noticed her knuckles tightening slightly against the stone.
He exhaled through his nose. "Yeah. Same."
They spent the next hour comparing the edges of what they could discuss, trying to find the seams in the silence.
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While they couldn't speak of what happened inside their respective trials or their inheritances, to anyone that didn't stop them from learning about what happened to others. Or rather, it didn't stop Serena.
Her family connections gave her access far more information than Kain about what went on in the Imperial Court. Cassian had survived the Verdara relic. Soreia had not. The official reports listed her as lost or presumed dead.
But, rumour as it, something about Cassian had changed. He was colder now, more reclusive. Serena said whispers in the court spoke of sudden hostility—specifically toward the Eyeris clan. No one knew why. The Eyeris had influence, but even they had begun to feel the Crown Prince's displeasure. Political pressure, property seizures over supposed tax evasion, stalled favours…
"He's pushing," Serena had said flatly. "But even as Crown Prince, there's only so far he can go. The Eyeris clan is old. Their roots are deep. And this country as a whole relies to heavily on their gifts to determine its future actions."
Kain could only nod, not fully understanding the world of the nobles. More than the changes in Cassian. He cared more about his own changes—including his sudden 'super strength'.
Thankfully, Serena obtained the Thar'Ameth inheritance and was looking for the answers for him…although so far there wasn't much success.
Meanwhile, he also focused on unlocking the breadth of what the Earth inheritance had given him.
Pangea, nestled deep inside his star space, was now evolving rapidly. And the World Tree—towering and golden—was the epicenter of that change.
To his shock, the World Tree, while not much of a fighter, held immense knowledge. Libraries worth.
Scientific data. Research archives. Dissertations, white papers, experimental findings. All drawn from Earth—but not the Earth he remembered. These weren't the works he had access to as a college student. These were the findings of scientists that were kept secret from the masses and the sudden boom in research during the last days of humanity, when their backs were up against the wall.
Thought-transfer chambers, memory-encoded bloodlines, photosynthetic human tissue, and more. Technologies so advanced and strange they felt like bad science fiction—except they were real. Entire fields he didn't even believe were possible now appeared to be quite far a long in their conception before the Earth was destroyed. Entire fields he had no idea even existed.
And the System now had access to all of it.
Some discoveries were immediately practical.
Others? Deeply concerning.
Still others… tempting.
Aetheric Mind Mesh: A newly developed experimental material that allowed simultaneous group cognition sharing over long distances.
Floral Nexus Array: a massive terrain-locked structure that accelerated natural evolution over time by artificially and repairing DNA in a non-random manner that favored beneficial mutations.
Kain bookmarked dozens in his mind to check out later, and maybe even develop in the real world.
Another change was that he now had enough Source Points—thanks to the inheritance—to introduce multiple intelligent species to Pangea.
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He could birth civilizations.
Literally.
But he hadn't… yet.
Because while the World Tree was ready, the rest of the planet was not.
Aurem wouldn't tolerate it. Nor would the oceanic tyrants, or the other apex predators of these forests. Kain could introduce sentient life today and it will likely get eaten by tomorrow.
He decided to wait.
Wait for Bai Lian.
Hopefully, the so-called 'Steward Protocol' would do as described: she would awaken, and she would guide them.
Another new event was that, due to his performance in the first few trials that the College could see, he got a decent amount of school credits to exchange for Evolutionary Base materials…or perhaps the teachers just wanted to invest in him since they thought he'd likely represent the school again.
So, due to the (suspiciously) high rating for his performance in only a few trials, Kain had enough to exchange for evolutionary base materials compatible with Queen.
Unfortunately, the Simulator ran several times and he even enlisted the help of VERA to help him narrow down the best materials, located at the College and on Pangea. But the best output wasn't that impressive:
★★★☆(3.5 stars.)
Kain stared at the rating for a long time.
Good.
But not great.
Not like the OP 5-star ratings of Bea and Aegis.
He wanted more for her. And so her evolution was put on hold.
But there was another contract that quickly garnered his attention instead—no two contracts. After the inheritance integrated with the System, it seemed to have quietly received a boost.
Meaning that System Profiles of Vauleth and the unknown creature born from his fifth star were now available.
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[System Notice: Decryption initiated… Partial Profile Recovery in Progress…]
———————-
Nickname: Vauleth
Species: Red Coloured Dragon (Re%$#vi$&s → [Retrovirant])
The Red-Coloured Dragons, also known as the Crimson Tyrants, are the strongest and leaders of the Chromatic 5-coloured True Dragons and the favourite children descended from the evil dragon goddess of greed Tiamat (&%%& &%&%& $%&$$ → [This dragon, however, is not a true descendant. Its soul and biology were hijacked in-utero by a microscopic parasitic entity of unknown origin]). Red dragons have been reported to cause immense ruin, death, and destruction due to coveting even ordinary jewels.
They are the embodiment of arrogance, ruling over their domains with an iron claw and seeing all other creatures as either subjects to be ruled or threats to be annihilated.
Born with an innate connection to fire and destruction, Red Dragons typically thrive in volcanic regions, although they may choose to dwell in mineral-rich caves and mountains. Their prolonged presence is capable of altering the environment to become more hostile and inhospitable to lesser beings. Their intellect rivals their might, making them cunning tacticians and fearsome foes. (%%&f&% &%& &s% $ &%&g%& $& # #&&$h&$&#&… → [[Description Unlocked]: This parasitic micro-organism latches onto higher-grade embryonic lifeforms prior to their birth, hijacking their genetic fate pathways and spiritual resonance before consciousness can form. It assumes the complete biological and metaphysical profile of the host species—living as them in every measurable way. However, due to imperfect integration with superior dragon DNA, this instance suffers from fate-lock instability, rendering it sterile, unable to develop mature sexual traits, and permanently arrested in juvenile-stage physical, mental and spiritual growth.])
Quality: Platinum (S&$#&&l → [Special—Platinum by way of the quality of absorbed genes])
Spiritual Power Grade: Blue
Species: Dragon (%&$&# → [Retrovirus])
Attributes: Dragon, Fire (%&$$ → [Fate])
Skills:
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X – Abs%&ute Mimic&% → ([Absolute Mimicry [Description Unlocked]]): Vauleth's core is a parasitic retrovirus capable of fusing into the genetic architecture of host species. Upon infection, it rewrites dormant or incomplete DNA blueprints and hijacks the form entirely. Only viable against low-consciousness or damaged embryonic states. Partial mimicry of traits may occur when that target is too high in quality, leading to an imperfect body.
Temporary Skills based on Host:
SSS-Due to the bloodline inheritance of Coloured True Dragons that intimately connects them with their almighty dragon ancestor Tiamat, all True Dragons are immune to Abyssal corruption as long as it is not directly from the 'Great Mother'.
SS-Dragon's Breath: It unleashes a torrent of fire hotter than molten lava, capable of reducing fortresses to ash in seconds. This flame burns not just with heat but with abyssal intensity, consuming everything it touches, including magic defenses.
SS-Draconic Fury: When enraged, the Red Dragon's physical strength and speed increase exponentially. His claws and fangs become sharper, and his scales harden to near-impenetrable levels. This skill transforms him into a whirlwind of destruction, capable of tearing through even the toughest defenses.
S-Scorching Barrage: The Red Dragon releases a rapid series of fireballs, each one capable of causing massive explosions on impact. The barrage can be directed at multiple targets or concentrated on a single enemy, making it a versatile offensive skill.
S-Molten Armor: The Red Dragon's scales heat up to extreme temperatures, creating a protective layer of molten armor. This armor not only enhances his defense but also damages any enemy that comes into direct contact with him.
[…]
————————
Kain focused on the glowing System panel, staring at the slowly stabilizing lines of text as if they'd started speaking in a new language.
The information that had previously been obscured and hidden away was now as clear as day.
And after absorbing this information, a lot of his confusion was cleared up about Vauleth, Vauleth's origins, and the inability of the System to generate a decent profile for him.
Vauleth wasn't a red dragon. Not really. Maybe genetically there was a lot of similarity, but not spiritually, not even conceptually. He was a parasite. A microscopic interloper that hijacked a still-forming creature and made its life his own.
He wasn't just pretending to be a dragon.
He was a dragon. Every cell, every fire-spitting reflex, every strand of aura—but only because he had overwritten the original so thoroughly that even the System couldn't tell where the original egg ended and Vauleth began.
Until now.
He also understood why Vauleth likely had to restart as a new dragon every couple of decades.
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A real red dragon matured. Gained power. Developed secondary sexual characteristics and found a mate to reproduce.
But Vauleth—he was stuck.
Frozen in the form of an older juvenile just before adulthood forever.
The moment the Coloured Dragon Clan noticed that one of their own wasn't aging—or worse, couldn't reproduce—it would've triggered suspicion. Maybe even extermination for this 'abomination.'
Kain rubbed his face with both hands.
It also explained why the System struggled to scan him. Why everything had looked garbled. The Retrovirant hadn't just taken over the unborn dragon—it had stolen its fate. Its dragon name. Even its quality, species, attributes, and skills.
If the creature had embedded itself into something simpler, like a Boulder Ant—a bronze-tier insect-type spiritual creature—then the 'hijacking' would've likely been seamless, and there would be no trace of anything wrong. No blurred out text in the System Profile to untangle.
It was only because Vauleth had dared to infect something too powerful that the cracks in his façade eventually showed.
Kain also realized once again that the System wasn't omnipotent or infallible.
Then he frowned.
How does this information help him perfect Vauleth? The one thing Kain knew he was desperate for—to be truly indistinguishable from a true dragon.
Vauleth had a crush on Galadriel.
A dumb, boyish, hopeless crush.
But Galadriel wasn't just any dragon. She was the heir to the Red Dragon King. The absolute peak in pedigree and power to match.
For Vauleth to stand beside her, he'd have to become everything he was pretending to be.
A real man.
A real dragon.
One stronger than her.
And that? That would be damn near impossible with his corrupted DNA and this 'fate-locked' growth.
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Kain's gaze lingered on the last line of Vauleth's profile before moving on. Now that he knew more about Vauleth, he could reasonably work to find a solution. Now his greatest mystery was no longer the red dragon, but rather…
Another profile that had appeared.
One that he had unfortunately been unable to read since he first sensed something 'off' or rather 'living' in his fifth star after it had nearly collapsed.
Looking at the new icon, he swiped through the air, fingers slightly trembling—thankfully, nobody was with him in his school laboratory that could judge him for his strange behaviour. He got tense, not from fear, but from the same tension that comes from unsealing something long overdue.
The System chimed softly.
[New Profile Detected: Unregistered Lifeform…Decryption Successful.]
Of course. The fifth contract. If it could even be called that…
Kain wasn't even sure how it even came to be or if it was truly alive.
Back during the first trial of the inheritance relic, things had spiralled out of control. Too much Source energy, too fast. And the System was no. longer around to support him.
He stupidly (or maybe smartly?) tried to shove all of the energy into his fifth star, but it couldn't handle the influx. The star had begun to rupture. No amount of compression or flow adjustment had worked. It was as if the whole foundation of his being had decided it was tired of keeping itself together.
Until the artifact he had obtained earlier, as if by fate, intervened.
The brace, housing a fragment of his own soul from a version of him that had given in to Source energy completely, came to the rescue.
The moment that fragment fused with the unstable star, it didn't just stabilize it.
Something had emerged.
A tiny breath of life born from madness.
Unfortunately, its true form remained a mystery.
Until now.
Rubbing his hands together in anticipation, he selected the profile.
The light changed.
A soft purple glow—distinct, almost otherworldly—shimmered into the air. The system projected a full 3D model of the creature.
Kain blinked.
It looked… like a spore. Half-fungal, half-plasmoid. Translucent. Veins of pure violet ran through it like capillaries, and at its core pulsed a faint Source-light, like the rhythm of a heartbeat… Or maybe a ticking bomb.
And then the profile began to scroll.
[System Notice: Contract Registered — Profile Available]
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Nickname: —
Species: Source-Eating Spore
A strange lifeform that came into existence during an explosion Source energy and the intervention of a mysterious artifact. It resembles a kind of energy-eating fungus, spreading out in thin threads that can connect to other spiritual systems like wires to a battery. The more energy around it, the stronger and more active it becomes. And it always seeks more—especially the unstable, wild kind of energy that most beings avoid.
Quality: Diamond
Spiritual Power Grade: White (Newly Born)
Type: Fungal
Attributes: Source
Skills:
X – Core Conduit [Passive]: The Source-Eating Spore exists in a constant state of energy metabolism. It draws in ambient spiritual and elemental energy—regardless of type or origin—and converts it into pure Source energy. This energy can be funnelled directly to the Contractor or to any bonded contract, increasing their spiritual power reserves and reducing fatigue. Acts as a living battery, storing excess energy for future use. Cannot self-initiate attack or defense without external triggers.
SS – Radioflare Meltdown: The Spore violently releases a burst of all stored energy in a wide-area blast when badly injured. The power of the blast is proportional to the amount of stored energy and can reach cataclysmic levels far beyond its actual spiritual power grade in strength. Energy discharged is lost entirely unless redirected through Core Conduit beforehand.
S – Saturation Link: Temporarily creates a spiritual tether between the Spore and a chosen target (contract or contractor). While linked, the target continuously receives filtered Source energy, boosting skill strength, spiritual skill release speed, and energy recovery. However, excess input risks instability in both the Spore and the recipient, which can cause wild fluctuations or forced cancellation.
A – Recursive Drain: Latches onto a long-lasting enemy skill (i.e. shields, energy armours, etc.) and drains it of power over time. Stored energy is either kept in reserve or sent to a companion. The more complex or volatile the target, the faster it is digested. Releasing this drain prematurely by the opponent may cause a shock backlash to the target, interrupting their casting or technique channelling.
B – Refract Shell: Due to its quasi-physical structure, the Source-Eating Spore cannot be targeted by standard spiritual detection or scanning skills below orange-grade in spiritual power. Its energy signature mimics background noise, making it hard to distinguish even when active. However, direct attacks or aura-focused detection can still reveal its presence once engaged.
Kain stared at the profile for a long time.
Then, slowly, a smile tugged at his lips.
He hadn't planned this. Not even a little.
But somehow, without realizing it, he'd assembled a complete team for a gaming nerd like himself (or at least his past-life's self):
The tank Aegis on the frontline—sturdy, immovable, a living shield to protect Kain and the others.
The healer Queen provided timely medical assistance.
The Vespid Guard were like a combination of scouts, since he often used them as such, and rangers as they bombarded enemies with their projectile stingers.
The red dragon Vauleth was raw fire and destruction. The heavy damage dealer.
Bea was more like a control or mind-mage build. Without involving her physical body in the battle, she confused, controlled, and disoriented—classic crowd control.
And now this…
The classic support build. A living battery of Source energy. Providing buffs on attack speed and strength, refilling energy reserves, and reducing the strength of enemy skills.
"…I built a damn dungeon raiding party" Kain muttered. "Anyways, welcome to the team buddy!"
No one replied, but the faint pulsing of the spore on the screen seemed to glow a little brighter in greeting.
"I guess I should take you for a test run…"
—————–
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Kain stood alone in one of the lesser-used specialized training rooms available within the College.
Lesser used, not because it wasn't good, but because the hourly rate to rent it out was unaffordable for the average student who was not in the Top 5 or religiously farmed school credits by completing missions.
He walked to the center of the room and released all of his contracts…including one that he'd never seen before in person.
A violet mist coalesced from nothing, pulling together into a small, half-spherical shape that floated mid-air. But despite the dramatic visual effects of its entrance…it was only about as big as the tip of a needle.
Kain had to squint his eyes until his vision blurred before he could just barely make out that there was a purple floating dot in front of him.
"…You've got the entrance of a final boss," Kain muttered underwhelmed, "and the body mass of a speck of sand."
The Spore hovered, pulsing once. Proudly. Or as proudly as a violet dot the size of a flea could manage.
"Alright team," Kain called, glancing at his other contracts as they took formation around him. "This is our new member. Say 'hi' newbie." The purple speck bobbed up and down on cue. "Group assignment. We're going to see what this baby can eat. But keep it gentle. You're all several grades above it."
He looked at Aegis first.
On command, the golem raised one stone arm. A slow ripple of amber-tinged kinetic pressure waved toward the spore. Since the gap in strength was so big, he didn't even bother using a skill, just manipulated some earth attribute energy and roughly sent it toward the spore as gently ass possible.
The spore shuddered slightly… and inhaled it. Clearly, it had no issue with traditional elements.
Kain blinked.
"Okay. Queen. Some life-attribute energy."
The Vespid Queen wiggled her antennae and released a soft pulse of life-attribute energy. The spore twitched and absorbed that too—like it had been starving for it.
"Bea?"
The amoeba, the smallest of the bunch and still invisible to the naked eye, then released the Pale Thought Field. The first contract to actually use a real skill and not just roughly release energy. Bea was gentle, but Kain could tell it was still too much.
The spore wiggled and expressed a sensation of pain.
Kain's eyes narrowed.
The spore pulsed again. It was larger now—barely—but enough that he could actually see it without squinting. About the size of the end of a Q-tip. Its surface shimmered with swirling color, and its body vibrated and moved erratically like it had just downed three espressos.
Despite expressing pain, it still asked for more.
"All right…," Kain said slowly. "One more."
He looked at Vauleth. The dragon arched looked hesitant but still performed.
A thin line of flame spewed from the dragon's mouth. It was barely more than the flames of a gas stove—but far stronger in strength.
The spore hovered in place as the fire reached it—then expanded in a sudden jolt, swallowing the flame like it was hot chocolate on a winter morning.
And then it wobbled.
Violently—
Toooot
–and emitted a long, drawn-out fart sound.
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Kain took a step back upon hearing the suspicious noise and as an unusual wave of some substance headed toward him. "Ugh…"
Thankfully, it wasn't a real fart that headed in Kain's direction, but rather an uncontrolled torrent of pure spiritual power converted from all of the energies that it had absorbed. Once it released the 'fart' a flood of Source energy filled Kain's body. He staggered as his spiritual power reserves surged back up. Fifty percent. It was around a 50% refill of his max capacity in an instant.
'Not bad…and this is only at white grade…'
Bip Bip
The now deflated purple dot came to Kain and began to bob up and down to catch his attention.
Its newborn mind tried its best to communicate through the link, not with words, but with emotion.
Well, just one emotion…desperate hunger.
Its entire body seemed to be screaming 'MORE!'
Kain stared blankly.
"You're still hungry? You look like you just ate until you almost combusted."
The spore glowed again, and two areas on opposite sides temporarily bulged out slightly more. If it had cheeks, they would've been puffed out.
"You know what? You're a glutton."
He gave it a long look.
"…Glutty? What about Chompers? Nibbles? Or NomNom? Chewy?"
The spore pulsed once—vibrating with unmistakable approval, but it glowed slightly brighter at the last option.
"Okay…your tentative name will be Chewy…" he murmured while grabbing it from where it floated in the air and realizing that it did indeed have a slightly squishy or 'chewy' texture. It felt kind of like a miniature stress ball in his hand.
"EEEEP!"
"Ahem…sorry!" Kain stopped his aggressive squishing and let Chewy float free again.
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————————–
Time passed…
Over the next couple of weeks, Chewy became a semi-permanent addition to Kain's shoulder. The spore's appetite remained endless, but it had gotten better at communicating preferences. Chewy vibrated violently with excitement for high-energy elemental attacks, gave a more mellow buzz for when Aegis built walls of earth it needed to absorb energy from, but it once even fainted in happiness after absorbing a few drops of earth and abyssal hybrid energy from Aegis.
Kain had to scold it for that last one. What use are you if you faint from excitement in battle!?
In addition to regular training, Kain, alongside Bridge and the rest of their group, took a few low-level missions around the outskirts of Dark Moon City. Escort caravans. Retrieve rare herbs. Help defend a merchant's private warehouse until a deal was completed. They weren't glamorous jobs, but for the others they were challenging enough to serve as solid practice.
For Kain, they were practically a vacation. Especially when compared to he life-or-death missions in the Order.
Sometimes he didn't even need to summon a contract. He watched Bridge and the others work hard with a mix of amusement and pride. Occasionally, he let Chewy loose to get some more combat practice, which the little spore did with enthusiasm. Its body would swell slightly after each snack before deflating with an exhausted but contented wheeze.
Kain wasn't sure if it was due to its ability to efficiently absorb various energies, or if it was due to its high quality, but it took only a few weeks to go from white-grade, to red-grade, and now be on the verge of breaking through to orange-grade.
Kain also stayed in regular contact with his business team.
Collin—his assistant, secretary, and overall business manager—continued to be the MVP of Kain's operations.
"We've received full regulatory approval for the FMT pills," Collin reported over a secure call, voice carrying evident excitement. "Not only that, but the military has become our biggest client. They've integrated the Clear Spring Wolves into active combat units. The healing and offensive abilities of them are just too good to pass up."
Kain raised a brow. "So we're officially war profiteers now?"
Collin choked slightly on whatever liquid he was drinking on the other side of the line. "Er… profit-optimizing public servants?"
"Much better."
There were also updates about the silkworm project.
"We had to increase our moth and butterfly workforce by 300%," Collin said while flipping through what sounded like a stack of papers. "Ever since your calculations for balanced elements in the silk allowed them to evolve into their tertiary Elemental Fairy forms, there has been a massive boom in the number of people contracting Silkworms. Even better, or worse depending on how you look at it, the textile industry has gone feral for the generated silks. High-end clothing brands are offering triple the usual price per unit."
"And supply?"
"Barely meeting demand. We may need you to come down with you mental-attribute contract. Then we could accelerate the training for the Silk Moths and Butterflies."
Kain made a note to mention it to Bea…
As for the spiritual beer business, the tide was finally turning.
Knockoffs of the popular Spiritual Beer were still popping up, but with the new verification system in place, customers had gotten smarter.
"We implemented the official distributor registry," Collin continued. "Now, any certified business has a registration badge, and consumers can look them up before buying. Sales of fakes have dropped by 80% in the last month alone."
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Kain leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. "You're doing good work, Collin. Keep it up."
Collin's large grin was evident even over the phone. "I am, indeed, the most loyal servant of capitalism."
Meanwhile, there was no news from Darius, Malzahir, or the others trying to locate his 'sister'. Not much, anyway. They were safe—that much Kain knew—but updates were sparse. Infiltrating the enemy took time and even more caution.
Still, a part of him itched with the lack of contact. But he pushed the unease aside.
Because right now, he was inside his lab.
And something big was happening.
A task Kain had taken on long ago was finally about to see results.
And now, standing in front of him, was the result.
A massive creature towered over his College lab's reinforced floor—a massive boar-like entity, its metallic armor seemingly grown from the bone and muscle itself. The plating was jagged, crude in shape but impossibly durable, gleaming with veins of copper and titanium-tinted spiritual energy. Each breath it exhaled came with a faint grinding sound—like old gears turning slowly beneath its skin.
"Waaa!"
A sob erupted from the corner.
A rather large and heavy-set man, stumbled forward with tears pouring down his broad cheeks.
The boar turned toward him, let out a low, almost reverent grunt, and gently pressed its armoured forehead into the man's chest in affection.
Indeed, this was Kain's assistant Dravis and his Ragin Steel Boar…or rather, the evolutionary form of the Ragin Steel Boar that had been lost to history.
Kain had already settled the requests of all of his other lab assistants—except for Dravis. Thankfully, knowing the difficulty of his request, Dravis had been incredibly patient. Even better, after travelling through various relics that gave a peek into the history of long-extinct city-states, Kain finally got a clue to the missing piece in its evolution. In combination with his System to double-check that it would work, the evolution was a guaranteed success.
'Looks like I'll have another evolutionary patent to my name…' Kain thought smugly.
Kain took a step back from the affectionate man and pig pairing to give them space.
The scene was almost touching.
Almost.
Then—
Ding!
A new notification appeared on Kain's communication device from the school:
[The final 'Re-Ranking Event' begins in exactly 16 Hours. Please report to the designated location no later than 9 am. Find directions attached.]
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!Elias adjusted the sleeve of his long black hoodie, eyes darting around the plaza like a hungry vulture surveying prey.
The black garment hung loose, oversized and heavy with mysterious stains. The clothing pulled over his head to shade his face, along with his sickly pale skin, and dark circles around his shifty eyes made anyone looking at him only think of one thing…suspicious.
"Ladies, gentlemen, poor first-years who haven't yet learned to fear the what it means to have a deficit in school credits," he called, voice nasally and somehow both flat and persuasive, "the Re-Ranking Tournament is upon us. And what better way to celebrate this grand event than with a harmless, entirely school-sanctioned—cough—betting station."
The little stand he'd set up near the edge of the Main Plaza was…not exactly authorized. Nor subtle. It was a folding table covered with a suspiciously sparkly purple cloth, a wooden sign that read "Eli-bets" in wobbly lettering, and a chalkboard labeled "Odds: Updated Hourly. Maybe. No promises on the accuracy of said odds is guaranteed."
Kain wasn't here yet, but his name already sat scrawled at the top of the low-risk/high-reward list.
Elias grinned like a man who'd tasted victory and immediately demanded seconds.
"Two-to-one odds on Kairos staying in the top five. Five-to-one odds Serena wears white. Double the reward if both Serena and Ranya wear white…"
Like a skilled salesperson Elias called out all the various betting categories. The covered a broad range of categories and many had little to do with the matches themselves. There were bets on how many student will trip going up on stage, if a certain well known candidate will wear a certain colour, if certain couples will last to face one another, the number of couples that will break up after the re-ranking, and more…
"…And most excitingly of all, place your bet on who you think will be the final victor between the current top 2: Kain and Serena."
A student walked past, pausing. "Kain? Losing? Didn't two of his contracts advance to blue-grade? Isn't Serena still a 5-star beast-tamer?"
Elias leaned forward, voice dropping to a conspiring whisper. "Ah, but see, I happen to be close friends with the guy. Which means I know something the rest of you don't…"
The student's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Absolutely. Look at him lately. Doesn't sleep. Stressed out. He's hinted that he's going through a horrible breakup. Heart completely shattered! One bad matchup and boom, he crumbles. He may not even make it to the finals. Trust me, I wouldn't lie to you unless I was getting paid for it."
'Which I am…'
That seemed to be enough. Coins were exchanged.
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Elias pocketed them like a man accepting a sacred trust.
Then someone else approached—but this time, wearing the official robes of a faculty member.
Elias quickly dropped into a seated position and slapped a copy of the school handbook open on the table. 'Ah yes, nothing suspicious here, just reading up on ethical standards in scholarly competition!'
He was only short of whistling a tune loudly to complete his show of feigned innocence.
It was Assistant Professor Thale, one of the lower-ranked instructors from the pharmacological studies department, not the beast-taming department. But that wasn't a surprise, students and faculty from other departments regularly came to watch the re-ranking ceremony. And although not exceptionally strong combatants, many of them were beast-tamers themselves, as well. Thales stopped in front of him. A wiry man with a perpetually hunched posture and stern expression.
Elias tensed in preparation of a verbal tongue lashing…
Thales leaned forward. "1000 credits on Serena reaching first. 600 credits if she beats Soren specifically. And 500 on one other category…"
Elias relaxed and let out a sigh of relief.
He raised an eyebrow. "A bold choice, Prof. What's your last bet?"
Thale looked around quickly, then whispered, "I don't really care. You can choose… Maybe if the third-year couple, Ana and Han break up over the reranking? Just don't write my name."
Elias handed him a blank token. "Of course not. You'll be known only as 'Mysterious Chemical Enthusiast A.'"
Thale grunted in approval and scuttled off.
Elias leaned back, grinning.
Just another day as a thriving businessman.
Time passed and it got closer to the beginning of the competition.
A low constant buzz filled the plaza as more and more people—competitors, staff, and members of the audience— arrived and began to speak with one another.
More professors also appeared—this time, including a pair of assistant lecturers, their faces conspicuously covered by oversized hats, masks, or sunglasses. They casually drifted toward the betting booth while pretending to examine a nearby vending machine.
Elias didn't blink. He just reached beneath his table and pulled out the Staff Ledger.
"Code name?"
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"…I-Heart-Plants…," one muttered from the Agricultural Department.
"…Acid-Trip…" said another in the Alchemy and Elixir Department
"Gimme-Money…" said the last one from the Physical Combat Department in a tiny voice while nervously readjusting his half-mask to make sure that not too much of his face was revealed.
Elias nodded solemnly. "Welcome, brothers in budgetary suffering."
Surprisingly, despite being in completely different positions. Both the students and the lower-ranking Assistant Professors were in similar positions. Both needed school credits to exchange for rare materials for their spiritual creatures…and both felt like they never had enough.
Each professor completed the transfer of credits to the account Elias had designated and scribbled on the betting sheets what bets they wished to place. One of them dropped a note: 'If Dean Halbrecht of the Agricultural Department asks, I was in the greenhouse.'
Elias didn't even read it before tucking it into his sleeve.
A few moments later, Bridge arrived, dragging along two more reluctant-looking students.
"Hey Elias," Bridge said brightly, "these two said they were thinking of betting against Kain and I told them that was a fantastic idea."
Elias practically beamed. "That's a wonderful idea, Bridge! How kind of you!"
He welcomed the newcomers with theatrical flair.
"Here at Eli-bets, we pride ourselves on discretion, fast payouts, and mathematically dubious odds calculations."
As the plaza continued to fill with students and faculty, the buzz of excitement for the re-ranking grew louder.
A student ran past holding an official bracket schedule. Elias snagged it as they passed and unfurled it across the table.
Match-ups hadn't been finalized yet, but the rumor mill was in full swing.
"Oh, this is interesting…," Elias murmured.
As the sun reached its peak, the energy in the air turned electric.
And as Elias leaned back in his chair, hands full of various paper slips, each one representing a bet and great wealth.
With a smug little smirk playing at the corners of his mouth, he murmured:
"Let the gambling—ahem, scholarly speculation—begin."
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