Noah lay sprawled on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

The days of adapting to grueling routines and collapsing into sleep were over, and she now had enough energy left to chat. Though she'd probably fall asleep in a few minutes anyway.

She turned her head sharply to the side.

She watched Ichinose Yui, dressed in character pajamas, wriggling her way under the blanket.

"Nose. Tomorrow marks two years since we started training."

"Time flies so fast. I still vividly remember the scenery of Elysium Academy City and Orion Academy."

"I know, right~"

Noah's gaze remained fixed on her. Not sharp like an arrow, but with a sly look.

Finally, Ichinose opened her mouth.

"...Is there something you want to say?"

"When are you going to confess, Nose? I'm going crazy just watching. Even Aunt Momo's smile seems to be cracking a bit."

"We're in the middle of training. We should refrain from things that might affect us. Like you visiting Ro, Rohan's room at dawn... I don't think that's appropriate...!"

She was right. But unable to follow her own advice, Noah pouted.

After all, Rohan had left for isolated training four months ago, and she hadn't been able to visit him. For a young woman in her prime, it was truly difficult to endure without releasing energy during training.

And it wasn't just Noah's situation. Sion, Clara, and Lete were in the same boat.

"Setting that aside! So you're not going to confess?"

"...Not during training."

"Hmm, at this rate, my walls might crumble first? I used to try to devour Rohan, but lately I'm easily overpowered, and when he restrains both my hands, my heart pounds. So—"

Ichinose pulled the blanket up to her face, signaling she didn't want to hear any more.

Noah laughed heartily at her friend's reaction before closing her eyes.

The next day, Seolho returned with Jane and brought news.

Rohan had finished his training early.

*****

"Ah! That feels refreshing!"

Left alone, Rohan stretched on a rock overlooking the ravine.

Then he sat down. He placed beside him the bag that Yuho had packed in the ice flower.

This was the perfect spot to receive his final transcendence. The breeze was clear and pleasant.

'Two years. Short in some ways, but in your golden twenties, two years can be longer than Tigrova's borders.'

Yet it was time well spent, with no regrets.

Only pure satisfaction remained in his heart.

'...Even this moment of reflection is valuable.'

Rohan had achieved growth that could be called miraculous several times over.

Anyone watching might point fingers and say time isn't fair, but it was all thanks to everything he had built up until now.

Talent gained by swallowing embers with his life as collateral, fighting with all his might through near-death experiences, rich experiences, confrontations with and survival against the strong, plus a solidly built foundation—all this provided the sturdy base for a massive pillar to stand.

Without a solid foundation, he couldn't have accepted such specifications.

[Your final transcendence shines]

What would it show this time?

—Crack!

As always, the sound of space shattering like it had been punched announced the beginning.

He focused his mind, not wanting to miss a single moment, filled with anticipation.

'Huh?'

But the scenery before him didn't change. He could still only see the ravine.

Rohan stared at the cracked space. Light flowed through the cracks, and a soccer ball-sized mass appeared, floating gently.

It radiated clear light and warmth. Rohan observed the slowly approaching light.

'A fireball?'

It looked like a very small sun.

It descended slowly as if wanting to nestle in his arms like a pet. When Rohan carefully received it with both hands, it absorbed directly into his body.

A notification window appeared, indicating he had completed his final transcendence.

[When using Weakness Bestowal, you can apply all attributes as weaknesses]

[Shop points are randomly recharged hourly]

[You can stack lower swords beneath the Heaven Sun Holy Saint Sword, and stacked swords do not consume mana]

[Armor penetration is added to the Heaven Sun Holy Saint Sword]

Knowledge seeps into his mind, completing his understanding.

Concise. Yet groundbreaking.

'I no longer need to select weakness attributes.'

This was truly excellent. Until now, he had to choose between physical or flame attributes depending on the situation.

It was even better considering the lovers he would be moving with from now on. With the range designation he had mastered through training, its versatility would shine.

And then the Heaven Sun Holy Saint Sword.

When throwing the second sword, Dawn Sunset, he could use the first, lower-level sword, Flame Cut.

This meant Flame Cut would no longer consume mana.

'...The mana circuit of the Heaven Sun Holy Saint Sword has become even cleaner.'

It would make ordinary martial artists dizzy, but to Rohan, it was clear.

It had changed again from the form he had modified during months of training. It was like what Rohan might have achieved after years of careful consideration. He could minimize casting time to create a situation worthy of the term "stacking."

He couldn't be more satisfied.

Now his development was entirely in his own hands.

'Let's go.'

Rising from his spot, Rohan flew toward the city center of Tigrova visible in the distance.

Before heading south, Rohan first took a quick bath in an unnamed city in Tigrova.

He changed into clothes from the bag Yuho had packed and headed to a hair salon.

'Their skills were really good.'

Originally, the maids serving the Frozenheart family at the snow mansion would cut his hair. Even when he nodded off from training fatigue, they would cut it perfectly.

But since he'd been away from the mansion for isolated training, his hair had grown unruly. His bangs were poking his eyes.

While he could clean his chin by running mana-wrapped fingers over it, doing the same to hair would definitely ruin it.

After leaving the salon, Rohan finally dug through the bottom of the bag Yuho had packed and pulled out his phone.

When he tried to turn it on, it showed a low battery warning.

'Ah.'

He should have asked to charge it at the salon, but the battery had died from not being used during his isolated training.

He thought for a moment.

'Sitting around charging seems like a waste of time.'

He wanted to get to the south as quickly as possible, and then to the academy city.

Alongside that thought, the idea that he should contact Juyeon and Carrot kept bubbling up.

'Surprise?'

It was a dilemma. Showing up unannounced during a busy period might be more of a burden.

He would need to check Orion Academy's schedule before deciding.

'I'm sure I can find a place to charge in the south.'

Rohan visited a nearby government office, stated his destination, received a map, and then...

He started running full speed.

..

..

He must have followed the map correctly. Rohan could see a long bridge stretching out before him.

Below the bridge was a pitch-black sea that reeked of pollution. Shadows of monsters large and small undulated in the water.

It seemed nearly impossible to sneak in or out through the sea.

'Just looking at the water gives me a sense of what the south is like.'

He tapped along the bridge with precise footsteps.

Reaching the end in an instant, he cleared his throat and deliberately made footsteps, causing lights to flash on.

The guards protecting the road to the south had a different aura. They were covered in thick equipment and carried heavy guns.

"Please state your purpose for visiting."

"I'm from the south. I'm visiting because I miss my hometown."

This level of business shouldn't be a problem.

The guards looked at each other, nodded, and pointed to a machine right in front of them.

"Please place your fingerprint."

He followed the standardized procedure. Rohan placed his hand on the indicated machine. After about five seconds, a green light came on.

If he passed this, there was no reason to stop him.

Told he could enter, Rohan headed inside and quickly crossed the bridge.

"Oh."

It was pitch dark. It was a completely different world from the outside, as if electricity reached only a small portion of the area.

He opened the notebook with information given by Kun Ardo. He briefly read the location of the Hyperion mansion and delved deeper.

The further in he went, the stronger his impression of the south became.

Rohan's first impression of the south was that they could film an apocalypse movie right away.

Despite his body being from this place, he felt no familiarity or joy. Only a sense of novelty.

'It's worse than I thought.'

Using the ruins of buildings that had collapsed who knows when as stepping stones, he primarily tracked locations where people gathered.

An irregularly flickering sign caught his eye.

It had drawings of guns and overflowing beer mugs.

Rohan was puzzled about the establishment's identity.

'Gun shop? Or a bar?'

Maybe it was both simultaneously.

In a fallen country ruled by monsters and criminals, weapons and alcohol would be essential for survival.

'I could get some information... and maybe charge my phone?'

Rohan arrived at the store with silent, light steps.

Without hesitation, he opened the door.