Chapter 228 — A Guild of Chaos
The dawn had not yet risen, but the guild was already in motion.
Well… partly.
In a corner of the hall, Kronn was still asleep.
Same position.
Same wall.
Same snoring.
Seline walked past him, stopped, stared for two seconds… then placed a blanket over his head.
— There.
— …
— Portable silence activated.
She walked away, satisfied.
A minute later, the wall vibrated slightly.
— …
— No.
— YES.
Seline turned slowly.
Kronn had only changed position.
The wall, however, had gained a fist-shaped crack.
— …I refuse to admit this is real, she murmured.
---
In the training yard, Aeris was still there.
Standing. Focused.
Breath calm, steady.
His core vibrated softly.
Not violently.
Not like the day before.
This time, the flow moved better.
Azevran watched from a distance, arms crossed.
— You're progressing.
— I feel it… Aeris replied. It's like my body… finally understands what it's supposed to do.
— Normal. You're not forcing anymore. You're listening.
Aeris slowly activated his Tempesborne Form.
A subtle veil of energy wrapped around his body.
No explosion.
No pain.
Just… control.
— Good, said Azevran. Now, move.
Aeris took a step.
Then another.
Then vanished.
— …
— …
— Oh, Azevran muttered, surprised.
Aeris reappeared three meters away,
And struck a training dummy that exploded in a devastating wave, sweeping away everything behind it.
— I DIDN'T MEAN TO!
A second dummy fell.
Then a third.
— …That wasn't even the one he aimed at, Azevran murmured.
Nyss, perched on a rooftop, burst out laughing.
— Oops.
— NYSS! shouted Seline from the entrance.
— What? This time it was him!
Azevran observed Aeris carefully.
— Interesting.
— That's not supposed to happen, right? asked Aeris.
— No.
— Great.
Seline approached, arms crossed.
— Breathe. You didn't "disappear." You managed to circulate the flow through your whole body, which let you move so fast it looked like you vanished, then you reappeared in front of the dummy and, with immense control, released the energy in your strike.
She paused.
— Honestly… masterclass.
Aeris blinked.
— …Thanks?
Nyss grinned.
— Looks like we won't need to stabilize your core.
— Stop saying that like it's ominous, grumbled Azevran.
---
Meanwhile, in a dim corridor…
— I'm shocked by everything you just said, Kae admitted. I should've suspected as soon as you told me Baryon is 140 years old. How can a human even be that age?
Oris shrugged.
— Strange you didn't doubt it, honestly.
Then he added, casually:
— I think he's already delivered the materials I asked for to craft me a new feather.
— But to you, Baryon… is he like a father figure? asked Kae.
Oris gave him a strange look.
— You trying to imply I'm close to a hundred myself?
— That's not what I meant, Kae replied. I just feel like you two are… close.
— I wouldn't say that, but it's not far off. And for the record, we're about the same age, Kae. I'm not old.
Kae sighed.
— Go on.
Oris looked ahead.
— When I was born and opened my eyes… he was the first person I saw.
He paused.
— You could say he's like a father to me. But I don't call him that. He told me I'd been abandoned by my parents and that he would take care of me.
— And you believed him? asked Kae.
— I was a baby, Oris replied seriously. Didn't have much choice.
Then he added:
— But I remember that even at birth, I already had tattoos. Runes. And in my left eye, the inverted rune.
Kae frowned.
— You have no memory of your parents?
— None.
— Then I doubt you were abandoned. If that were the case, you'd have seen them at least once.
He stared at him.
— It's deeper than it seems.
Oris shrugged.
— Meh. Solving that mystery won't get us anywhere.
Then he smiled.
— And honestly, as long as I can pay my stuff and cast runes, I'm fine.
— You're really weird.
— Thanks.
---
Back in the yard, Aeris inhaled deeply.
The flows stabilized around his core.
His green hair lengthened down his back.
A green glow covered his body.
He felt a sensation of lightness… and power.
— …Oh no, Azevran murmured.
Aeris entered the true Tempesborne form.
He made a simple backhand motion.
The entire training ground was swept away.
The ground cracked.
The walls trembled.
A tree… vanished.
— You did it, said Azevran, genuinely impressed.
Nyss applauded from the rooftop.
— Magnificent!
— GET DOWN FROM THERE!
---
A massive BOOM suddenly echoed in the hall.
Everyone froze.
— …
— …
— What was that? asked Seline.
They turned.
The wall.
Again.
Kronn had just woken up.
— …Why is everyone staring at me?
— YOU BROKE ANOTHER WALL, shouted Lysandra from upstairs.
— Oh.
— WHAT DO YOU MEAN "OH"?
— Sorry?
Silence.
Then Lysandra sighed.
— I give up.
---
Aeris watched the scene, torn between laughter and disbelief.
Azevran placed a hand on his shoulder.
— You see?
— What?
— You're not in a normal guild.
— I'd noticed.
Aeris smiled despite himself.
His core vibrated softly.
Stable.
From the back of the hall, Oris shouted:
— WHO TOUCHED MY MONEY?!
— WASN'T ME! Nyss replied.
— I SEE IT IN YOUR HAND!
— TECHNICALLY NO, it doesn't exist anymore.
— I'LL CURSE YOU!
— Already did.
The guild came back to life.
Ever more chaotic.
Ever more dangerous.
And strangely…
no one would have wanted to be anywhere else.
Chapter 229 — Chaos, as Always
The calm didn't last.
It never lasted in this guild.
In the main hall, Oris was still frantically rummaging through his coat.
— I had them right here. — HERE. — My money can't just disappear.
Nyss walked behind him, hands innocently clasped behind her back.
— Maybe you should invest in a "memory" rune. — Or a "don't lose your money like an amateur" rune.
— I SAW you earlier! shouted Oris. — You did something weird with your hand!
Nyss tilted her head.
— That's defamatory. — And technically false.
Kae sighed.
— Nyss. — Give him back his money.
— …Fine.
She opened her hand.
Nothing.
— There.
Oris stared.
— THERE'S NOTHING. — Exactly. — Your money still exists. — Just… not here.
Silence.
— … — … — Where did you send it? asked Kae, already tired.
Nyss thought for a second.
— Hmm. — Somewhere safe. — Very safe.
— SO WHERE?!
— I'd say… — In a micro-shadow zone folded in on itself. — Stable. — Almost inaccessible. — And totally invisible.
Oris fell to his knees.
— That was ALL my budget…
Nyss placed a hand on his shoulder.
— Relax. — I'll give it back. — Someday.
— SOMEDAY?!
---
Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Aeris was sitting on a bench, out of breath. His green hair had returned to normal, but his core was still faintly pulsing.
Seline handed him a bottle.
— Drink. — You just redrew half the training ground.
Aeris took a gulp.
— Sorry… — I feel like my body is moving faster than my head.
— Welcome to the club, replied Seline. — Now imagine when your head catches up.
Azevran observed the cracked ground.
— Your Tempesborne Form is evolving. — It's no longer a transformation. — It's a state of synchronization.
Aeris blinked.
— Is that… good or worrying?
— Yes.
Nyss suddenly appeared beside them.
— Congratulations. — You've just joined the list of people "to keep an eye on."
— Great… murmured Aeris.
— Don't worry, she smiled. — You're still far from becoming a problem.
— "Still"?!
---
In the hall, Kronn stretched with a yawn.
— I dreamed I broke a wall. — It was weirdly realistic.
Lysandra screamed from upstairs:
— KRONN. — DON'T. — MOVE. — ANYMORE.
— …Okay?
He took a step.
CRACK.
— …Oops.
Silence.
Then a collective sigh swept through the guild.
Kae rubbed his face.
— We'll have to reinforce the walls. — Again.
Oris slowly stood back up.
— With what money? — MINE is in the void!
Nyss raised a finger.
— Technically, it's not the void. — It's worse.
---
Aeris watched the scene. The chaos. The shouting. The broken walls. The absurd arguments.
And despite it all…
He smiled.
Azevran noticed.
— What? — Nothing. — I was just thinking… — If this is what an S-rank guild looks like…
He stood up.
— Then I really want to reach it for real.
Seline nodded.
— You will. — But remember one thing.
— What?
She pointed to the hall, where Oris was chasing Nyss while yelling, Kronn was fixing a wall he had broken, and Kae was threatening to go live alone on a mountain.
— Here, power won't save you. — Adaptation will.
Aeris chuckled softly.
— I think I'm starting to understand.
At the back of the hall, Oris shouted one last time:
— NYSS IF YOU LOSE MY MONEY I'LL CURSE YOU FOR SEVEN GENERATIONS!
— Too late, she replied. — I've already started.
The guild vibrated.
Unstable. Loud. Dangerous.
But more united than ever.
Chapter 230 — Testing the Limits
The next morning.
Well… "morning" was a very relative concept at the guild.
In the hall, Lysandra stood with arms crossed, her icy gaze inspecting the damage.
Two cracked walls.
A pillar patched up with what looked like… a table.
And the floor still scarred by Aeris's shockwave.
And in the middle of it all…
Kronn.
With a hammer.
Upside down.
— "…Why are you holding the tool by the head?" Lysandra asked.
— "Like this," Kronn replied calmly.
— "I damage the wall less."
Silence.
— "…It makes sense in your head, doesn't it?"
— "Yes."
Lysandra slowly closed her eyes.
— "I'm going to meditate."
— "Good idea," Seline said as she passed.
— "Take an hour."
— "An hour?"
— "So you don't kill someone."
---
In the courtyard, Aeris was already standing.
Not training.
Just… standing.
He looked at his hands.
His core was calm.
Stable.
But present.
Azevran arrived behind him.
— "You still feel the flow?"
— "Yes… Even without activating the form."
— "Normal. You're no longer entering the Tempesborne Form. You're carrying it."
Aeris inhaled.
— "And if I lose control?"
— "Then you'll break something."
— "…."
— "Look around you. You wouldn't be the first."
Aeris gave a faint smile.
— "So what are we doing today?"
— "Today… we'll test your limits. But intelligently."
Nyss appeared, sitting cross‑legged in midair.
— "Oh, I like that. Limits are overrated."
— "Nyss," Azevran said without looking at her, "if you interfere—"
— "Relax. I'm just watching. Maybe."
Seline arrived, arms full.
— "Today's program: a duel between you… and Dervan."
Aeris:
— "What?! You want to kill me?!"
— "No," Azevran replied.
— "Dervan won't kill you."
Dervan approached, hands in his pockets.
— "Rank S hunter."
Aeris's eyes widened.
— "A RANK S?!"
— "What are you afraid of?" Dervan said calmly.
— "I promise I won't kill you."
Kae arrived.
— "Oh yeah… That's rough. Good luck, kid."
— "You'll need it," added Oris.
— "Try not to die."
— "It's my dream to reach rank S! I won't give up!"
— "That's the mindset you need," said Azevran.
Aeris took his stance.
Dervan didn't move.
Hands still in his pockets.
— "Ready."
— "Go."
Aeris vanished.
He rushed forward at incredible speed and struck Dervan head‑on.
POUM.
Silence.
Dervan hadn't moved.
Not even a brow raised.
Aeris felt something scream in his instincts.
Move.
Too late.
Dervan's gaze fell on him.
Aeris stepped back, heart tight.
— "Is there still such a difference in level… Despite everything I've done… It's unthinkable…"
Dervan pulled one hand from his pocket and gestured.
— "Come again."
— "Primordial Zephyr Hurricane!" Aeris shouted.
The surge of wind crashed down on Dervan.
A simple backhand.
The attack dissipated.
— "What…?"
BAM.
A punch sent Aeris flying.
He barely got up.
— "He's fast…!"
CRASH.
A kick hurled him against a wall.
— "You're really that weak?" Dervan asked.
Aeris growled.
— "I can't… I refuse to be this weak…!"
He screamed.
A massive flow erupted around him.
Nyss tilted her head.
— "Ooooh. He's starting to get interesting."
Dervan just glanced.
Aeris's hair glowed green.
He began to float.
Then vanished.
He attacked from every side.
Invisible.
Furious.
— "Behind you!" Kae shouted.
Too late.
Dervan caught Aeris's arm mid‑strike.
— "What—?!"
He lifted him.
And slammed him into the ground.
BOUM.
The floor cracked.
Dervan looked down calmly.
— "Too sloppy."
He tossed Aeris aside.
Aeris rolled across the ground, gasping.
— "…I… I still need… to progress…"
Nyss smiled.
— "Good news. You're still alive."
Oris crossed his arms.
— "Bad news. He hasn't even warmed up."
Dervan slipped his hand back into his pocket.
— "Shall we continue?"
Aeris clenched his teeth…
and smiled faintly.
— "Yes."
Chapter 231 — Lessons in Survival
Dervan released Aeris after slamming him into the ground.
The training field cracked under the impact.
A cloud of dust rose slowly.
Silence.
Aeris remained pinned to the ground, breathless, arms trembling.
Every inhale burned his lungs.
— …
— …
Nyss tilted her head from the edge of the field.
— "Well. He's alive. That's already a victory."
Seline frowned.
— "Dervan, you're going a bit too far."
Dervan looked at Aeris on the ground, expressionless, hands already back in his pockets.
— "I didn't even hit him seriously."
Aeris coughed violently.
— "…WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'NOT SERIOUSLY'?!"
Kae winced.
— "Ouch. That was educational."
Oris nodded.
— "Yeah. The kind of lesson you pay for with your bones."
Aeris clenched his teeth and tried to stand.
His legs gave out immediately.
— "Tch… I… I can't stay down…"
Dervan approached slowly.
— "That's the difference. You have power. Speed. A good core."
He stopped in front of him.
— "But you still think like someone who attacks. Not like someone who survives against someone stronger."
Aeris lifted his head, panting.
— "So what… I'm just… too weak?"
Dervan stared at him for a long moment.
— "No. You're impatient."
A brief silence.
Then Dervan extended his hand…
And helped Aeris to his feet.
Everyone blinked.
— "Ooooh," murmured Nyss.
— "He's being nice today."
— "Never repeat that," Dervan replied without looking at her.
Azevran crossed his arms, visibly satisfied.
— "You lasted longer than expected. And you forced Dervan to take one hand out of his pocket."
Kae's eyes widened.
— "Wait. That wasn't normal?!"
— "No," Seline answered.
— "Normally, he doesn't even get out of bed."
Aeris inhaled deeply.
— "So… I progressed?"
Dervan gave a slight nod.
— "Yes. But if you keep fighting like this…"
He placed a hand on Aeris's shoulder.
— "You'll die before reaching rank S."
Aeris clenched his fist.
— "Then teach me."
A heavy silence settled.
Then—
— "Oh."
Veyra, who had been watching without intervening, finally smiled and stepped forward calmly.
She floated slightly above the ground, arms crossed, perfectly relaxed.
— "Now it's getting interesting."
She passed in front of Aeris, eyes sparkling.
— "Dervan won't teach you how to win. I'll teach you how not to lose."
Dervan sighed.
— "Of course you're getting involved."
— "Shut up," she replied calmly.
— "You strike too straight. He needs to learn to avoid you."
Aeris looked at her, a little worried.
— "Uh… You're going to hit me too?"
Veyra smiled.
— "Of course. But differently."
Nyss burst out laughing.
— "Poor Aeris. He thought he was training. He signed up for collective survival."
Aeris suddenly forced himself up.
His core pulsed violently.
A wave of green energy exploded around him, lifting him off the ground.
— "HE'S GETTING UP?!" Oris shouted.
— "Bad idea," Kae replied.
Aeris screamed:
— "Tempesborne—"
— "Stop."
The voice cracked through the air.
Aeris's flow froze instantly.
Literally.
His body suddenly became… too heavy.
He collapsed to his knees.
Veyra now floated above the field.
— "Breathe," she said calmly.
— "I just lowered the gravity around you. And raised it a bit around Dervan. To balance."
Dervan slowly turned his head toward her.
— "You're interfering."
— "I'm regulating," she corrected.
— "It's pedagogical."
Nyss smiled.
— "Oh. I like this version."
Seline sighed.
— "You're all unmanageable."
Veyra descended gently and placed a finger on Aeris's forehead.
— "Listen closely, future rank S. You want to beat a monster like him…"
She pointed at Dervan.
— "…by playing his game. Bad idea."
Aeris panted.
— "But… he's too strong…"
— "Obviously," she replied.
— "He's rank S."
She smiled.
— "But you're not supposed to beat him. Just survive the training."
Dervan nodded.
— "Exactly. If I wanted to defeat you… you wouldn't still be conscious."
Aeris swallowed hard.
— "…Ah."
Oris burst out laughing.
— "I like this guy. He's honest."
— "A bit too much," added Kae.
Veyra snapped her fingers.
The ground around Aeris warped slightly… then returned to normal.
— "Last lesson of the day. Power is good. But the way you fight…"
She smiled.
— "…that's what separates rank A from rank S."
Azevran placed a hand on Aeris's shoulder.
— "You progressed. But most importantly, today you learned something essential."
— "What?" Aeris asked.
Dervan answered for him.
— "That even with an evolved form… you're still human."
He paused.
— "You master the Tempesborne Form. You control your abilities. Your power is real."
He fixed his gaze on him.
— "But you still don't know how to fight. You rush. You unleash your strength without thinking. And against someone stronger… it kills you."
Silence.
Then, from the entrance:
— "I'm human too. And I'm hungry."
Kronn yawned.
— "KRONN!" Lysandra shouted.
— "YOU JUST MISSED AN IMPORTANT MOMENT!"
— "Ah. Sorry. I blinked."
— "LUNCH BREAK BEFORE SOMEONE DIES!" she shouted.
Oris raised his fist.
— "MY TREAT!"
— …
— "IF NYSS GIVES ME BACK MY MONEY!"
Nyss smiled innocently.
— "We'll see."
Aeris lay down on his back, staring at the sky.
Exhausted.
Beaten.
But alive.
And for the first time…
He truly understood what it meant to aim for rank S.