Mass release In honour to the support {18/10} Your journey continues on мѵʟ
The atmosphere in the testing facility was electric. The seats surrounding the main stage were filled with an array of prominent figures—each person of power representing a cornerstone of Kyota's security and future.
At the head of the assembly sat Seo Jihnyuk, head of the board, flanked by his peers: Wukong, the battle-hardened strategist; Vicky Shaw, a woman known for her sharp intellect and sharper tongue; and Rachael, who had recently returned from the dead, thanks to some miraculous intervention from the hospital, or perhaps something darker.
Rounding out the group was Rudeus, the newly appointed leader of the Hunter's Association, replacing Hendricks after the man's recent downfall.
Among the military ranks sat Commander Asher, the man responsible for Kyota's defense and weaponry against the alien forces. He was as imposing as the interplanetary vessels under his command, his mere presence a reminder of the constant threat looming beyond the planet's borders.
These were the elite—watching with anticipation as Axel and the others took their places. Axel, however, sat apart from the group, his mind occupied with the swirling thoughts of what was about to happen. His face remained impassive, though the storm brewing within him was anything but calm.
His solitude was interrupted by the familiar voice of Velerium, manifesting in the space around him, invisible to all but Axel. The ethereal being's form flickered as if struggling to maintain its connection to the material world. Velerium had been severely weakened ever since Axel had broken through to S-rank. His once majestic figure now appeared as little more than a translucent silhouette.
"Master, it seems... impossible to break it," Velerium's voice echoed in Axel's mind, barely above a whisper, burdened with the weight of failure.
Axel clenched his jaw, the reminder of his curse gnawing at his patience. The truth curse laid upon him by the wretched god Mictlantecuhtli had stolen his ability to lie—a tool Axel had wielded with precision for years. Now, only in rare moments could he twist the truth, and even those instances were fleeting. His reputation, one he had painstakingly built, was now at risk of unraveling.
"You're telling me there's no way to break this damn curse?" Axel's thoughts were sharp, slicing through his calm façade. "Do better, Velerium. I need a solution. This curse—it's jeopardizing everything. It's tarnishing the reputation I've crafted."
Velerium's form flickered again, dimming further as it began to fade. "Perhaps... next time, build a reputation that thrives on chaos... Then spoiling it will only add to your strength." The faint smile in Velerium's voice was palpable, but it only deepened Axel's scowl.
Axel waved the spirit off with an irritated gesture. "Go disappear somewhere else, idiot." His voice was barely audible, his frustration laced in every syllable.
As if on cue, the double doors to the testing facility flew open with a loud crash, pulling everyone's attention toward the entrance. A figure strolled in, commanding the room with the arrogance of a man who thrived on power and attention.
Axel's heart sank as he recognized the man immediately.
Headmaster Marion.
The same man who had once stood as Axel's greatest supporter during his training, who had encouraged him to push beyond his limits. And the same man who had labeled Axel a failure, a "trash" SS-rank, after his binding had failed to meet the academy's expectations.
Marion's presence was like a punch to the gut, reigniting all the anger and humiliation Axel had buried deep within him.
As Marion walked to the front of the room, he locked eyes with Axel for a brief moment. There was no smile, no recognition, only a cold indifference that cut deeper than any insult.
Axel's hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms. His jaw tightened as the memories of Marion's betrayal flooded back. He had been cast aside—labeled defective and left to fend for himself in a world that valued power above all else. And now, the man who had started it all was here again, watching, waiting to see if Axel would fail once more.
But Axel was not the same person he had been back then. He had clawed his way back from the edge of oblivion thanks to the system, and he would be damned if he let Marion—or anyone else—see him as a failure ever again.
The room fell into a heavy silence, all eyes on the headmaster as he took his seat among the board members. Axel's blood boiled beneath his calm exterior. This was his moment. He would not let the ghosts of his past overshadow his future.
Axel exhaled slowly, forcing his body to relax. His time was coming. He could feel it.
This was not just another test. This was his redemption.
And he would not fail. Today he would be the one to disgrace the Headmaster. By all means necessary.