Chapter Nine: Sean, Master of the Unknown – Part Four
Krix stepped forward, raising his hand slightly.
At once, everyone felt a spiritual weight descend upon the hall. Even the air itself seemed to listen.
He spoke in a deep voice that struck hearts before ears:
"You have now… crossed into another world."
"A higher world…"
"The world of Path Masters."
A heavy silence filled the hall.
From this moment," Krix continued, "you are no longer spoiled children of your families… nor mere residents of small cities."
"You are a project of power… a project of an empire."
He paused briefly, then resumed with a firm tone:
"In the academy… we will teach you the fundamentals."
"How to absorb energy… how to fight… how to innovate… how to create…"
"And how to become true pillars of this nation."
Some heads lifted with pride…
Others trembled.
Krix clenched his fist:
"You are the children of Nubia."
"We are at peace now…"
"But peace… does not last."
"At any moment, war may erupt… borders may collapse… and the world may burn."
He raised a finger toward them:
"And when that happens…"
"You will be the ones who lead this country."
"You will carry the blood of the empire on your shoulders."
His voice intensified:
"Remember this well: ordinary humans… are merely numbers."
"But the life of a single Path Master… is worth a million humans."
The hall shook with silent shock.
"Do not forget," he added sharply, "the Path you received—whether rare or common—has no inherent value."
Whispers spread, but one glance from his red eyes silenced them instantly.
"There has never been a strongest Path…"
"But there has always been… a strongest Path Master."
He gestured across the hall:
"This year… will determine your future."
"Those who excel will join the National Guard… the Hall of Scholars… or the Rune Tower—where the miracles of this era are forged."
"And those who fail…"
"Will become nothing more than Path Masters in small cities… with no real worth."
His voice softened slightly, though its authority remained:
"And remember… the most important thing a Path Master possesses… is resources."
"When you reach the Seeker rank… and open your Spirit Land… you will truly understand what that means."
He stepped closer to the edge of the platform:
"No matter your Path… persevere… fight… carve a great legacy for yourselves."
"Effort… never vanishes."
Then he concluded with a shout that ignited their blood:
"From this day on… your true story begins!"
Krix's words echoed through the hall like hammers striking the souls of the audience.
Each sentence was like an alarm bell awakening something dormant within every Path Master.
Sean sat at the back, as usual…
Hidden from attention.
But for the first time in a long while, it was not just his body listening—
His soul was.
At the words:
"There is no strongest Path… only the strongest Path Master…"
Something inside him trembled.
He did not understand it.
It was not excitement.
Not hope.
Not pride.
It was something raw.
A strange, sharp feeling—as if brushing against the edge of a world he had never known.
He felt awe.
As though the air grew heavier…
The light slower…
And existence itself deeper than he had ever imagined.
He raised his head unconsciously.
Looked toward the stage…
Toward Krix…
Then toward the high ceiling—
As if, for the first time, his soul was trying to look upward.
Far away, within the Spirit Stone…
John watched in silence.
When that spiritual tremor passed through Sean—
He felt it clearly.
"This feeling…"
He murmured internally.
"He's… getting close."
Such disturbances did not happen to empty people.
They happened to those standing at the edge of something—
At the threshold of a path…
Without yet stepping onto it.
"This is not a second awakening," John thought calmly.
"Nor true awareness."
"It's… an attempt to touch existence."
He observed carefully:
"He is still far."
"He touched the door… but hasn't opened it."
"He approached the path… but hasn't entered it."
And yet—
That was enough.
Enough to prove that this boy…
Was not just a worthless shadow as others believed.
Inside that frail body…
Something had begun—
Even if weak—
To be born.
Class 10
After the ceremony, students began to disperse, each receiving their identification number and assigned class.
Sean walked through the academy's vast corridors.
Towering walls.
Marble columns.
Massive glass windows reflecting light as though containing the empire's history within them.
His steps were silent, as always.
Just a shadow moving through greatness.
Eventually, he reached a massive building resembling a small fortress.
Above its door hung a large sign:
10
He hesitated briefly—
Then pushed the door open.
Inside, the hall resembled a royal chamber.
Immense space.
Seats arranged in a semicircle.
A raised platform at the front.
Among the seated students, his gaze landed on two familiar figures:
Megan Bolton—
White hair like snow.
Calm blue eyes, sharp with a winter's cold.
Beside her—
Roman Bolton—
Hair red like flame.
Eyes full of life and arrogance, as always.
They noticed him immediately.
Roman smirked, raising a hand slightly:
"Oh… it's you. Come here."
It wasn't friendly—
But not insulting either.
It was the call of someone used to being obeyed.
Sean approached quietly, bowed slightly as usual, and sat beside them.
Roman smiled:
"No need to be awkward… we're all at the same level now…"
He chuckled—a laugh balanced between mockery and truth.
Megan said nothing.
She simply looked at Sean with a cold gaze—
But this time…
It wasn't pure contempt.
There was a faint trace of acknowledgment.
Only because…
He had become a Path Master.
Sean remained silent, hands clasped, barely daring to lift his head.
The Teacher
Minutes later, silence settled over the hall.
Then—
The door opened.
A man entered.
He wasn't tall—
But his presence alone filled the room.
Golden hair.
Golden eyes like a condensed sun.
Steady steps that did not waver.
He stood before them and spoke clearly:
"My name is Nito."
"I will be your instructor this year."
The atmosphere trembled.
Even the air seemed to shrink in respect.
"I am a Path Master…"
"At the Transcendent level."
Sean did not move.
But inside the Spirit Stone—
John's heart jolted.
"…Transcendent?"
In John's time, Adept was nearly the peak he had witnessed.
And here—
A mere classroom instructor…
Was Transcendent?
"This Nubia… which the world thought destroyed…"
"Was never weak."
John could not hide his astonishment.
Among the students, fear spread.
Even nobles…
Even those with rare Paths…
Fell silent.
Nito smiled faintly, aware of his effect:
"This class contains 52 students."
"You… are holders of rare Paths."
He scanned their faces:
"Blood Paths… Ice… Spirit… Sound… Darkness… and more."
He continued practically:
"You may notice something—other classes group similar Paths for easier training."
"But you…"
"Are a special case."
He sighed lightly:
"Teaching you… is difficult."
Then his expression hardened:
"And now… introductions are over."
He stepped forward:
"I will explain the system of Path Masters."
The System of Path Masters
Nito stood calmly, then spoke with unquestionable authority:
"First—you are now at the Awakened stage—the first threshold."
"From here, the world of Path Masters is divided into ten minor layers."
He raised his hand as if drawing an invisible ladder:
"How do you advance?"
"How do you move from mere Awakened… to giants who walk the earth?"
"It depends on three pillars:"
"Understanding… Skill… and Intent."
Silence filled the hall.
"Understanding," he continued, "is your comprehension of your Path—its laws, nature, and essence."
"It cannot be taught from a book."
"It cannot be inherited."
"It cannot be copied."
"It is something you build alone…"
"From experience… from trauma… from life."
He pointed to his chest:
"Skill… is what you develop from that understanding."
"Combat techniques, energy control, attack and defense methods…"
"Understanding without skill… is incomplete."
He paused.
Then his gaze grew heavier:
"But the most important pillar…"
"Intent."
His voice deepened:
"Intent is your inner core."
"Some seek knowledge."
"Some seek glory."
"Some seek power."
"And some…"
"Seek killing."
Several students swallowed nervously.
"Intent differs from person to person."
"It is tied to your will… your determination."
"The stronger your will… the greater your power."
He smiled faintly:
"When you reach Transcendent… and break through four realms…"
"Only then can you cast advanced techniques—and certain forms of magic."
"Here… the real difference between Paths begins."
He pointed at Roman:
"Body Path—immense physical strength… weak magic."
Then at Megan:
"Elemental Paths—the opposite. Strong magic… weaker bodies."
Then, firmly:
"And here… resources become critical."
He paused to let the words sink in.
"At the Awakened rank, your body can store very little—only one weapon."
"I will teach you how to absorb energy… and how to forge a spiritual weapon."
"Weapons are not just metal."
"They are part of your soul."
"You can create them through your Intent… or obtain them ready-made."
"But the best weapon makers…"
"Are Blood Path Masters—because crafting requires the user's blood."
Soft laughter rose—
Then faded quickly.
"Awakened rank does not extend lifespan," Nito continued.
"But it preserves vitality."
"Average lifespan: 80–90 years… if you're not killed."
He chuckled softly:
"And trust me… most Path Masters don't die naturally."
He continued:
"At Seeker rank: average lifespan is 100 years."
"Adept adds stability… not much lifespan."
"Transcendent increases lifespan by 200 years—average 300… some reach 400."
Then calmly:
"As for Legendary…"
"That's another discussion."
"Average lifespan: around 800 years."
He lifted his head slightly, smiling:
"For example…"
"I am 80 years old."
The hall erupted in stunned murmurs.
Sean's eyes widened slightly.
Inside the Spirit Stone, John exclaimed:
"Eighty… and already Transcendent?!"
"He's a monster… a true genius!"
Nito continued:
"The first half of this year—I will teach you everything about the Awakened world."
"The second half—if you reach Seeker—you will enter advanced classes and receive valuable techniques… for free."
He scanned them:
"Those who remain stuck at Awakened…"
"Will lose that opportunity."
"And fall behind."
His voice lowered, heavier:
"This year… is the most important of your lives."
"Success here… changes your future."
"Failure…"
"Leaves you ordinary—no matter how rare your Path is."
Then firmly:
"Work hard… or leave your place to someone who deserves it."
Silence fell.
The weight of the future pressed on every heart.
Sean sat quietly—
But something inside him ignited.
A vague desire.
A goal not yet clear—
But undeniably present.
Outside – The Ront Family
While John's consciousness remained within the Spirit Stone…
The outside world, within the Ront family, was quietly burning—
The kind of fire that makes no sound…
But consumes everything from within.
Inside a grand hall of the estate, Jimmy Ront sat before a massive screen.
Beside him sat his fiancée—
Liza Pharaoh.
Liza—
An Adept-level Path Master, not yet twenty.
Her beauty was unsettling.
Flawless white skin.
Smooth black hair.
Calm black eyes—
The calm of someone who sees the world as a chessboard.
Jimmy resembled his brother John.
Black hair.
Black eyes.
But his gaze was different—
Softer.
More hesitant.
On the screen appeared Khaled Pharaoh.
Dressed in formal dark attire, the imperial flag behind him.
His voice filled the hall with calculated confidence:
"What the imperial family is doing now… is disgraceful."
"I strongly oppose the policy of exterminating weaker families under the pretext of stability."
He paused.
Then continued:
"We live in a civilized society."
"Power does not mean we plunder…"
"Nor crush the weak because they are inconvenient."
"What is happening is not protection…"
"It is forced redistribution of resources under fragile legal cover."
The camera moved closer.
"When a family is destroyed today for being weak…"
"Another will be destroyed tomorrow for being unnecessary."
"This is not order…"
"This is hunger for power."
He concluded:
"A state built on fear… will only ever be ruled by it."
The screen turned off.
Silence.
Liza broke it calmly:
"We are at war, Jimmy."
"A war for control of the empire."
"What you call extermination…"
"Is eliminating future threats."
Jimmy looked at her—
But his eyes were not at ease.
Something stirred within him.
Something like guilt.
"What's wrong with you?" she asked, watching him.
"Since your family became subordinate to us… you've been distracted."
She leaned slightly closer, her tone softening:
"You know this is the best possible outcome for you."
"I even told my brother Jacob to treat you well."
"No dangerous missions."
"We protect you."
She paused:
"Are you angry with me?"
"Because of your family?"
Jimmy looked at her quickly—
As if afraid of being misunderstood.
He forced a small smile:
"Impossible, my dear… how could I be angry with you?"
Then lowered his voice:
"I'm just… worried about my family."
"They think differently."
"They won't accept subordination easily."
"I'm afraid they might do something foolish."
Liza looked at him steadily:
"Didn't they sign the Soul Contract?"
"They can't rebel."
Jimmy fell silent.
A long pause.
"…Yes."
But inside—
That silence was not acceptance.
It was fear.
Because he knew—
Soul Contracts do not stop madness.
Do not stop desperation.
And do not stop someone like John…
From breaking everything—
If necessary.