The Star-Hunter Venerable Zendaya—who had been gazing calmly at the spot where Grey once stood—shifted her attention toward a chair on her left.
Reality began to fracture, revealing Yuta seated there, sipping from a teacup with an air of aristocratic refinement.
"Well done, Star-Hunter Venerable Zendaya. You deceived the final Board Venerable, Ping Tao Xin—along with all the others—leading them to believe you intended to kill me. Brilliant! Quite a masterful performance for a whore!"
Yuta spoke softly, his expression unreadable.
Zendaya remained entirely unfazed by his words. After all, her lineage evolved through the act of sexual intercourse; she had long since accepted her reality, as this was the only path for her to advance without resorting to the use of her wings—her Star-Hunter wings.
"You are rather harsh toward a lady such as myself, Venerable Yuto—Venerable of the Great Creation!"
Zendaya replied with a mocking tone, before dissolving into ancient dust and vanishing from the spot.
Just before she disappeared completely, she added, her voice dripping with sarcasm:
"Do remember your promise, Venerable of the Great Creation, Yuto!"
Yuta watched her go, entirely indifferent. There were many things weighing on his mind; as for the matter of satisfying the sexual desires of the esteemed Star-Hunter Zendaya—that was the most trivial item on an endless list of concerns he had to attend to.
"The first phase is nearing its end. Not much remains. There's an upcoming gift, the millennium celebration of the Demon Realm's defeat, the Summer Festival, the completion of the 'Bond,' and the evolution of his physical body to the second stage—not to mention a host of other things."
"The esteemed Star-Hunter Zendaya has begun to grow suspicious of Grey de Molière and the other children accompanying him. This is becoming quite interesting."
A few minutes later, once the esteemed Star-Hunter Zendaya had departed and he had organized his thoughts, Yuta left the guest hall located within his own personal spiritual realm.
He began to wander through the streets of Yospikers, taking in the beauty of the city as he strolled along.
Before long, all eyes were upon him. He was the strongest first-year student at the Versalkin Academy, had emerged from Gigua Island without a single scratch, and had even killed Edward—a man who had single-handedly cleared several dungeons with complete ease.
All of this made people realize the extent of his terrifying power. Furthermore, he was the man behind companies operating in fields like technology, alloy manufacturing, and other sectors that had never existed before—making him one of the wealthiest individuals in the human realm.
Naturally, it was no surprise that all eyes were fixed upon him. Some sought to make his acquaintance, while others aspired to secure a position under him—a job that promised good pay with minimal effort. It was a dream shared by many.
Yet, there were also those who harbored deep-seated grudges and wished him dead. In the world of commerce, Yuta was a thorn in the side of every other merchant, as he held a monopoly over 55% of the global market.
Furthermore, he employed 37% of the workforce; his working conditions were so favorable that some viewed him as an angel sent by fate to bestow mercy upon them. This was in addition to his dealings in goods that, by all rights, should not have even existed in this era.
Yuta paused, his gaze falling upon four individuals of the "Sacred Ruler" rank.
They stared back at him, their expressions laced with mockery.
Having emerged from a brutal, all-out war just hours earlier, they assumed Yuta had been left severely weakened.
Yuta, however, ignored them entirely—he simply did not care. Besides, settling his disputes with other merchants from across the five continents was a trivial matter for him.
Once the Summer Festival—to be held in the city of Berhais this weekend—had concluded, no merchant would dare to take any action against him.
A flicker of rage crossed the face of one of the men as he watched Yuta's indifferent demeanor.
"You... you...!"
In a matter of seconds, the body of one of the mercenaries collapsed into a pool of blood, leaving everyone in a state of shock.
"Did you see that?! How did he do it?!" "He's incredibly powerful! After all, he's the master of the world's largest corporations, and the strongest first-year student at the Versalkin Academy!"
"What?! Rumor has it he killed three 'Rulers'—and that was only a few months after he joined the Versalkin Academy!"
"Is that all you know? He even challenged the Magic Master, Belgurd Kethali! Not to mention, he defeated Gia Guilford—heir to the Duchy of Guilford—as well as Gother MacTire, heir to the Duchy of MacTire, and Jian Yi, heir to the Mount Hua Sect!"
"I heard he walked off the island of Jigwa as if he'd just been taking a stroll in his own backyard—as if he hadn't just fought brutal, ferocious battles against the island's monsters and the Scorpion Organization!"
...
...
...
Whispers swirled, a chaotic blend of truth and lies. Yuta made no effort to correct any of it—whether the claims were accurate or entirely fabricated.
In either case, he stood to gain from his growing reputation; while a good reputation might travel a mile or two, a notorious one could spread across thousands of miles.
Yuta cast a cold, chilling smile toward the remaining mercenaries, then lunged at them like a frenzied beast, tearing them limb from limb.
The ground was soon littered with human remains—flesh, blood, and shattered bone—as Yuta transformed a section of the city of Yuspeakers into a makeshift execution ground. "In this world, it's either kill or be killed! They wanted to kill me, but in the end, it was I who killed them. Isn't life absurd? They're sent out, fully expecting to be the ones doing the killing—only to end up dead themselves! Hahahaha! Fate is truly fascinating! Hahahaha!"
Yuta spoke, laughing boisterously; the echo of his laughter was enough to strike terror into the hearts of everyone present.
"I am Yuta Caseral! Anyone who dares to consider themselves my master—I shall kill them! I belong to no one but myself. Today, I walk upon the earth; tomorrow, I shall traverse mountains and rivers; and eventually, I shall rise above everything, until I become an absolute power!"
Yuta's words rang in everyone's ears—some perceived them as an expression of courage, while others This was a provocative act—one that could even be construed as an insult to the Human Empire and its emperor, Junhars Junlfin.
Yet, no one said a word. After all, everyone knew just how powerful Yuta Caseral was, and they were equally aware of the limits of their own strength. To act with such recklessness and arrogance would only lead to a pathetic death.
Having achieved his goal—earning a notorious reputation—Yuta continued on his way. In many respects, a bad reputation is far more advantageous than a good one.
A few minutes after the incident, Yuta arrived at an empty training ground.
With a sharp gaze, he thrust his fist toward the space beside him. The very fabric of existence began to shatter, revealing Reinhardt, who had been hiding in the liminal space between being and non-being—much like Yuta himself had done when the Star-Hunting Venerable, Zendaya, was speaking with Grey.
Reinhardt stood stunned for several seconds before fixing his eyes on Yuta.
His expression was cold, and a pungent, acrid scent emanating from Yuta reached his nostrils. Yuta's own face remained icy, radiating an aura of absolute authority and overwhelming presence.
"Baron Yuta Caseral, is it? From the city of Uberghai, near the city of Berhais—correct? In any case, I have come to tell you something of great importance."
"You would do well to keep your mouth shut tight; otherwise, you might just lose your head. Is that clear, Lord Yuta Caseral?" Reinhart de Moliar's tone was heavy with a terrifying, murderous intent.
Yet, Yuta remained entirely unperturbed. After all, he was an Emperor of the entire existential path—a being who had lived fifty million years in his previous life and another seventy thousand in his current one. How could a mere Second-Wing combatant possibly intimidate him or pose any real threat?
Silence descended for several minutes, during which Reinhart and Yuta simply stared at one another, neither uttering a word.
"Duke Reinhart de Moliar—I care not who you are. You are nothing more than a Second-Wing master; do you truly believe you can kill or threaten me? Your words are trivial and pathetic."
"For now, I shall pretend I heard nothing. Your time to die has not yet arrived, so cast such thoughts from your mind—and do not delude yourself into believing you can control me. Otherwise, you know full well what I mean."
Yuta spoke with absolute authority and overwhelming power, leaving Reinhart's expression a mixture of shock and utter disbelief.
Reinhart was left speechless; the situation was as shocking as it was unexpected. In Yuta's eyes, a Second-Wing master was nothing more than worthless trash—even though Yuta himself appeared to be no older than a fifteen-year-old boy.
Reinhart was one of the most formidable entities in this fantasy world, ruling over the Atharianis region—a territory that, when compared to a standard realm encompassing six worlds, was no more than a single drop in a vast ocean. Nevertheless, Yuta looked at him with clear disdain. Yet, his aura and his non-human presence made it evident to Reinhardt that this was an opponent who could by no means be taken lightly.
"Are you from outside this fantasy world, or what, Yuta Caseral? That is, if that is even your real name."
Reinhardt spoke calmly, while Yuta gazed into the void.
Then, Yuta turned his eyes toward him and said:
"Hmm—who I am is none of your concern. But mark my words well: if you act foolishly toward me, you will pay a heavy price. Do you understand, Master Reinhardt de Moliar?"
Reinhardt remained silent, staring at Yuta. Fully aware of the man's terrifying power, he chose the wisest course of action: to pretend that nothing had happened.
In this ordinary world, there existed twenty entities whose power far surpassed his own—and Yuta was one of them. For Reinhardt, his own life was a hundred times more important than anything else.
Reinhardt departed without a word; what he had heard and witnessed was enough to make him realize that the road ahead—the path to becoming the strongest—was still a long one.
Power, knowledge, and experience are the foundations for any fighter who aspires to become invincible. Lacking any one of these, one becomes mere prey for entities far stronger than oneself.
This had been Reinhardt's philosophy his entire life—until the day he discovered that he possessed neither sufficient power nor enough knowledge, a realization that ignited within him an overwhelming desire to become stronger. A smile appeared on Yuta's face as he gazed at the spot where Reinhardt had been standing.
"The plan worked just as expected. You truly are a despicable scoundrel, Reinhardt de Molière! Hahahaha!"
Yuta remained staring at the empty training ground for a moment before stepping into it, a wooden sword gripped in his right hand.
He began to swing the blade, slicing through both existence and non-existence. He lingered for a few seconds, observing the rift he had carved into reality, before mending it.
"A death game, a vengeful warrior, a sage restored to his youth, a girl and her cat, a cook growing ever stronger... so many unknown paths. Alive today, dead tomorrow—what a bizarre world this is."
"Yet, I shall always remain, and I will always return to face whoever dares to challenge me."
---
Elsewhere, Gia sat on a chair in the garden of the Guilford family estate, located in the city of Yuspeakers.
She opened her crimson eyes, gazing toward the sun as it neared the horizon, signaling the end of the day.
She continued to watch the setting sun with a calm, steady, and composed expression.
As time passed, the shadows lengthened, and stars emerged across the sky, adorning it like a tapestry.
"A chapter of my life has come to a close. The old Gia Guilford is gone—and with her, the era of her own ignorance."
Gia let out a sigh—a breath that held both relief and a lingering sense of bewilderment; for the events that had transpired were not things that could be so easily cast aside or ignored. In this world, one does not move forward by forgetting everything that happened in the past; rather, one transforms that past into fuel—propelling oneself toward growth, and becoming stronger, more experienced, and more knowledgeable as time goes by.
Life does not bestow strength, knowledge, or experience so easily; one must strive and persevere. Everything of value must be earned; one must prove oneself worthy of what one aspires to attain.
Moreover, if you do not secure something through your own effort and strength, who would simply hand it to you for free? After all, everyone naturally desires to live and to keep moving forward.
Only fools risk their lives for others—a path that, in the end, can only lead to their own demise.
"The millennium celebration marking the defeat of the Demon Realm is set for June 4th, and the final examination will take place on June 27th, as scheduled. Versalkin Academy is truly repulsive—utterly unbearable."
"Regardless, my objectives have nothing to do with the final exam; they concern the summer festival taking place in the city of Berhais this weekend."
"Yuta Caseral—what an infuriating individual! What am I to do? I'm so conflicted. There are power levels that transcend the 'Master' and 'Ruler' tiers—not to mention hidden tiers of strength. It's all so deeply unsettling."
As she pondered these matters, Jia's tone betrayed a mix of confusion, irritation, and anxiety; after all, the unknown is always far more terrifying than the known.
Jia pressed a hand to her face and let out a long, weary sigh, heavy with exhaustion. Simply contemplating the state of the world was draining.
Lost in her thoughts, she heard the voice of a maid nearby, and her expression instantly reverted to its usual, icy composure.
"What is it?"
The maid remained silent for a few seconds before speaking, her voice tinged with nervousness:
"Lady Jia Guilford, someone wishes to see you. He identifies himself as the last 'Revered of the Board'—Ping Tao Shin."
Jia's eyes widened, and a sensation akin to déjà vu washed over her; she rose from her seat, almost without realizing it. "What does he want from me? He's such an annoyance—he keeps ruining my plans! The last 'Board Venerable,' Bing Tao Xin... *sigh*!"
The maid looked at Jia with a puzzled expression; the way she spoke suggested she had known this person for a long time.
Confused, she asked:
"My lady, do you know this 'Venerable'—Bing Tao Xin?"
"..........."
Jia was left speechless for a split second before replying:
"Yes, I know him quite well. Besides, that is none of your concern, Lady Laurie."
Laurie bowed, looking slightly apprehensive, and said in a hushed tone:
"Forgive me, Lady Jia Guilford. It's just that he's a complete stranger, and I was worried about the safety of the Magic Emperor's daughter—you, Aster Guilford."
Jia's pupils flickered at the maid's words, and she quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.
"Lady Laurie, see to his requests. Bring him some black tea with four spoonfuls of sugar, and serve some sweets as well. Make sure they're very sugary—our guest has quite a sweet tooth."
"Very well, Lady Jia Guilford."
The maid left immediately, leaving Jia behind with an expression that was utterly impossible to decipher.
"Wait—what did I just say? I don't know this 'last Board Venerable,' Bing Tao Xin, at all!" "But he bothers me—I know his temperament, his likes, and his dislikes. He is truly infuriating! I've found myself repeating that word quite a lot lately. More importantly, though, I need to figure out what I should do now."
"It seems he knows me, too. There's some history between us that I can't recall—which suggests there's a great deal hidden beneath the surface."
---
A few minutes later, in the guest hall of the Guilford family estate, the Last Go-Board Venerable, Ping Tao Xin, sat on a plush sofa, calmly sipping hot tea.
"So, he hasn't forgotten what I like. How amusing—you fool."
There was a hint of mockery in the Last Go-Board Venerable's tone.
He then added, glancing toward the spot where Jia would soon appear:
"We're going to have a long, and very interesting, conversation."
The Last Go-Board Venerable's gaze remained steady as he waited for Jia—his tone implying that he knew far more about her past than he ought to.