Chapter #53
They decided to try it right there.
Hifung stood facing Yuita, about thirty meters apart.
Yuita: "I'm ready. Release it whenever you want."
Though still uncertain and hesitant, Hifung nodded.
Hifung: "O-okay."
He raised his right hand toward Yuita, wrapping it in a large surge of red aura. Then, with a swift motion, he released it. The aura shot toward Yuita at high speed.
Yuita immediately raised his right hand, summoning his blue aura, and launched it forward to clash with Hifung's attack.
The collision of red and blue aura erupted violently, sparks of energy snapping like lightning all around them.
From a nearby classroom, Kobayashi and Ray noticed what was happening. Kobayashi's students, however, were too busy working on their assignments to pay attention.
Though Yuita's aura was visibly larger than Hifung's, the clash grew unstable, until finally—
Boom!
The explosion rattled the area. Yet, when the smoke cleared, a remnant of Hifung's red aura still lingered, surging toward Yuita. Both Yuita and Hifung froze in alarm.
Yuita quickly forced out more aura, struggling to hold back the remnant blast with both hands.
Seeing him strain, Hifung panicked.
Hifung: "Sir! Are you okay?"
He rushed toward him, but Yuita stopped him with a shout.
Yuita: "Stay back… I don't need your help!"
Yuita gritted his teeth, barely holding the aura back until—
Boom!
It detonated again, sending both of them flying.
Hifung landed on his feet and quickly ran to Yuita, who was sitting on the ground.
Hifung: "Are you alright!?"
Yuita's hands were scorched from the blast.
Yuita: "Hah… I'll live."
From afar, Kobayashi looked on in shock, bewildered by what he had just witnessed. Ray, meanwhile, kept his eyes fixed on Hifung, his mind racing.
Yuita rose to his feet, staring directly at Hifung.
Yuita: "At last."
Hifung: "Huh?"
Yuita: "Come with me. I'll tell you a legend of this kingdom."
Hifung: "O-okay?"
The two walked off together toward another part of the academy. Watching them, Ray eventually turned and followed.
---
Yuita and Hifung walked down a corridor, heading toward a certain room. Suddenly, Ray came running up from behind.
Ray: "Hifung!"
Both Hifung and Yuita turned to see her.
Hifung: "Ray?"
Ray: "I'm coming with you."
Hifung blinked in surprise, but Yuita gave no objection, remaining silent as if in agreement.
So, the three of them went together.
Inside the room, Yuita lit a torch with fire magic. The flickering light revealed a stone on the floor, its color different from the others.
Hifung: "Hey… this one looks different?"
Yuita: "Yes. This is the secret chamber behind the old legend."
Ray: "A legend?"
Yuita crouched down and slid the odd stone aside.
Yuita: "Yes… the legend of the hidden room belonging to the one who created this world."
Ray and Hifung froze in shock. Neither of them had ever heard anything like it.
Beneath the stone was a staircase leading deep underground.
Hifung: "A staircase?"
Yuita: "Come."
The three descended.
At the bottom, the place was dark and thick with dust. Yuita grabbed another torch from the wall, lit it with fire magic, and placed it in its holder to illuminate the chamber.
As the light spread, Hifung and Ray gasped.
Before them stood a massive ancient gate, coated in dust, carved with strange engravings, and built with two imposing doors.
Ray: "What is this?"
Hifung: "It looks… really old."
Yuita stepped forward, gazing at the gate.
And then, he began his story.
---
Three thousand years ago…
Yuita: "A god descended into this world, wielding an aura of pure white."
Yuita: "Behind him stood the Dragon of Destruction—said to be the mightiest dragon of all. With a flap of its wings, it could destroy ten stars in an instant."
Yuita: "They say that god was the very being who created this world, along with the systems that govern it."
Yuita: "He was the source of all magic that exists."
Yuita: "He was called Imperium—the Creator God, whose power surpassed the imagination of mortals."
---
Back to the present…
Yuita: "It's said that the room beyond this gate was where the god lived while he walked this world."
Hifung and Ray were silent, trying to process the tale. Then Hifung frowned.
Hifung: "Wait… if he was a god, wouldn't that mean he couldn't die?"
Yuita: "Correct. Those with vast chi energy can halt their own aging. But… that god vanished. To this day, no one knows where he went."
Yuita: "Some say he ascended to the higher realm. Others say he chose death after living countless ages."
Hifung: "I see…"
Ray: "Then… why did you bring Hifung here?"
Yuita smiled faintly.
Yuita: "Because this gate can only be opened with a special kind of energy, unique to each person."
Hifung: "A special energy?"
Both Hifung and Ray widened their eyes at the same time.
Ray: "Don't tell me—"
Yuita: "That's right. Aura. But my own aura cannot open it."
Yuita: "I only discovered this gate after Hery left, so I've never tested it with red aura before."
Yuita: "As you know, every person's aura has a different color, each with its own nature."
Hifung: "So… you want to try opening this gate with my aura?"
Yuita: "Yes."
Ray: "Wait, wait, wait!"
Her instincts screamed danger.
Ray: "We don't even know what's behind this gate! Even if Hifung can open it… what if it's something dangerous?"
Both Yuita and Hifung hesitated, worry flickering in their eyes.
Yuita: "But if we never open it, we'll never know."
Hifung: "He's right."
Seeing that both of them were ready to take the risk, Ray reluctantly gave in.
Ray: "…Fine."
Yuit
a and Hifung sighed in relief.
Hifung raised his right hand, pointing it at the center of the gate.
He glanced back at Yuita and Ray one last time… before releasing his aura.