Hakan:
"So you're back."
He stood still in front of Edie. His gaze no longer carried contempt, but a strict scrutiny.
Looking over the wounds on Edie's body, he remained silent for a few seconds, examining each bruise and cut closely without saying a word, only giving a slight nod.
Suddenly, Hakan turned around and raised his fist.
A surge of Nifow burst from his body like crashing waves, and he delivered a heavy punch straight toward the forest ahead.
The air screeched. The ground trembled.
A line of trees collapsed as if swept by a storm.
Hakan:
"That is the power of endurance—of someone who has lost everything."
Hakan:
"Starting tomorrow morning, we train."
From that day on, Edie was forced by Hakan to train from dusk until dawn, without a single proper break.
His body gradually broke down, feeling like it could collapse at any moment.
But because of that, muscle started to form, and his reflexes became sharper.
During a rare short break, Edie panted and winced, then asked:
Edie:
"How many levels does Nifow have…?"
Hakan:
"Unlike mana—the common energy with 7 ranks: F, D, C, B, A, S, and W—Nifow only has four levels: X, Y, N, and Z."
Edie:
"Who came up with that chart? There's no order at all."
Hakan:
"Because it wasn't made for normal people. Nifow isn't an energy for spellcasting.
It's emotion. It's survival instinct compressed to its limit.
Got it?
You're not learning how to win. You're learning how to survive."
Edie:
"Well, after all this training, I must be at level Y by now, right?"
Hakan:
"Right now, you're at level X.
The starting level of Nifow.
For normal people to reach level Y, it usually takes a few years—if they even live that long."
Edie wiped his sweat and gasped for breath:
Edie:
"Then what about becoming a Master?"
Hakan smirked coldly, voice rough:
Hakan:
"To become a Master, to reach the peak of a power path—it takes 10 to 15 years on average."
Hakan:
"But with me, if I wanted, I could help someone reach Master level in just 6 to 8 years.
If they're crazy enough."
Edie:
"Then I guess I'm not crazy."
Hakan:
"Already scared?
You know the Tore, right?
They're hermits who torture themselves to grow stronger.
They're freaks.
Each one looks terrifying and has to wear masks to hide their scars."
Edie:
"There really are some weird-ass ways to train in this world."
Hakan:
"You'll get used to it once you've been through enough."
After two months of relentless training, once Edie's body barely adapted to the harsh intensity Hakan demanded, he said nothing more.
He simply led Edie to a clearing deep in the forest.
Waiting for him there was the Medas snake itself—the beast that had once crushed him during his early days here.
Hakan:
"Fight it. If you die, that's one less mouth to feed."
Facing the snake again, Edie thought he'd grown stronger.
But no—
Within minutes, his body was shredded by tail whips, hooked fangs sharp as sickles, and a thin poison mist seeping from its scales.
He was flung into a rock, blood splattering the ground.
His life hung by a thread, only saved because Hakan stepped in at the last moment.
Edie:
"Why is this thing so strong… hurts like hell."
Hakan:
"Because you suck."
From that day forward, every evening after grueling physical training, Edie would drag himself to the small arena where Medas waited.
Even when his body was bruised, he fought.
Even when his hands trembled, he fought.
Every time he fell, he pulled himself back up—by teeth, by willpower that sliced through his own flesh.
Week one: he lasted five minutes.
Week two: he learned to read the snake's movements and dodge a few strikes.
Week three: with an instinctive sidestep, Edie tore its jaw apart.
The snake's body fell like a collapsing wall.
Edie dropped to his knees, drenched in blood—both its and his own.
Hakan approached:
Hakan:
"Good. Now the real training begins."
Two months had passed since the training began.
Edie no longer saw it as training.
It was brutal torture—merciless and unforgiving.
Every day, Hakan beat him until he collapsed, bruised all over, barely breathing.
The worst part: Edie wasn't allowed to fight back.
Hakan:
"Taking a beating is the first lesson for the weak."
Edie: (gasping)
"I'm strong, so I don't need to train anymore."
Hakan:
"Only by getting used to being beaten, will you learn to get back up."
Edie hated it. But he didn't leave. He didn't run.
Thanks to the Zen blood in his veins, his wounds healed quickly.
And because of that, Hakan pushed his limits even further.
His training started to resemble the Tore—the mad hermits who self-mutilated for strength.
Every time Edie endured extreme pain, his body grew stronger.
Each deep wound brought him a step closer to true power.
Hakan took full advantage of that.
Every week, when training ended, he threw Edie into the sea.
No weapons. No preparation.
Just a bare body tossed into hostile waters where sea monsters many times larger than humans roamed.
Hakan:
"What you need is instinct.
And instinct only shows itself when you're facing death."
Edie:
"Then just let me die already. I'll go win the world championship afterward."
And Edie—though scared, though exhausted to the point he couldn't even feel his heartbeat—kept struggling in the whirlpools, kept fighting with bare hands, torn flesh, and blurred vision from blood and saltwater.
No one knew what he'd become after all this.
But clearly… Edie was no longer the weakling he once was.
A light rain fell.
Edie was crawling up from the sand after a hook punch from Hakan sent him flying several meters.
His whole body ached. His shirt was torn to shreds. Blood dripped from half-healed wounds.
Hakan stood with arms crossed, saying nothing.
A footstep echoed from behind.
Jinna (shouting):
"That's enough!"
Hakan turned around.
A girl in an academy cloak stepped out from the trees.
It was Jinna.
Umbrella in hand, face cold but eyes showing concern.
Jinna:
"This isn't training anymore—it's torture."
Hakan: (raising a brow)
"Exactly.
I'm torturing him.
So that someday, your beloved boyfriend will be able to protect you."
Edie slowly stood up:
Edie:
"It's okay. This is… something I agreed to."
Jinna looked at Edie, stunned.
The hot-headed, impulsive boy she once knew now stood like a stone in the sand, sweat and blood dripping, but eyes firm like forged steel.
Jinna:
"You've changed."
Edie:
"I've changed.
But my love for you hasn't."
Jinna:
"You're the worst. Bet you used that line on every girl."
She walked over and wiped the blood from his face with a cloth.
Then turned to Hakan, slightly bowing:
Jinna:
"Still… thank you.
Maybe he really did need someone like you to straighten him out."
Hakan said nothing, just waved a hand to signal Edie to take the afternoon off.
Jinna watched as Edie walked toward the resting shed—back straight, even as his steps staggered.
To her, Edie was no longer the hot-headed boy known for impulsive punches.
He was now someone walking step by step into the abyss… to carve out a path to the summit.
Morning came.
The small kitchen warmed up with sunlight and the smell of fried eggs.
Hakan sat leaning back in a chair, holding a hot cup of coffee, one leg propped lazily on the table as if life held no troubles.
Edie brought over a plate of toast, sitting across from him, hair still damp with sweat from the early training.
Edie (teasing):
"Every morning I saw you cooking early and felt bad.
I wanted to help, but I couldn't wake up."
Hakan:
"What help?
You can't even cook.
Don't pretend to care."
Edie glanced at him:
Edie:
"No one would ever think you're a janitor.
I mean… the way you silently punch through walls and all."
Hakan:
"Let them think whatever.
I like being in the background.
Just remember—if the foundation isn't strong, the whole building collapses."
A moment of silence passed.
Sunlight reflected off the glass cup, making the scene feel almost peaceful.
Edie:
"Today I finally go back to school.
No more torture—haven't been this happy in ages.
But I wonder how people will react."
Hakan:
"Don't worry about them.
Who the hell are they to do anything to you?"
Edie gave a small smile.
But his eyes were firm.
Hakan:
"Go on.
I'll come later too.
The mop broke yesterday—gotta buy a new one for the school."
School mornings were always busy.
But today felt more energetic than usual.
Because someone everyone thought would never come back… was walking calmly along the stone path toward the front gate: Edie.
On the other side, near the gate, Jinna was waiting.
Leaning lightly against an old flame tree, cup of hot milk in hand, eyes watching the crowd.
When she saw Edie, tall and wearing the same simple clothes, she smirked:
Jinna:
"You still look like someone who just survived the wilderness."
Edie snorted a soft laugh:
Edie:
'Survived' is a good word.
Feels pretty accurate."
Jinna:
"Not joking.
Your face always looks like someone just punched your left cheek."
Edie:
"They did.
More than once."
Jinna handed him the rest of her milk:
Jinna:
"Drink it.
If you yawn in there, people might say you're on drugs."
Edie:
"I tried that once.
But now I've got you, babe, so I behave.
No more wild stuff."
They walked through the school gate side by side.
Immediately, strange glances and whispers poured in like waves.
"He's the one who got suspended…"
"Scary. Heard he beat someone until they were nearly a vegetable."
"Why's Jinna with him?"
"Maybe she got forced?"
Jinna walked on unfazed, eyes not even glancing around.
Edie's eyes lowered slightly, saying nothing.
Until a mocking voice rang out to their right—
Sui:
"Hey Jinna, you sure have exotic taste.
Hanging out with someone who almost went to juvie—and looking all cozy too…"
The speaker was a tall male student with slicked-back hair, leaning against the ground-floor railing with a group of laughing friends.
Edie stopped.
He didn't turn around.
But Jinna could feel the air around him turning cold.
Slowly, Edie turned toward the voice.
Edie:
"Say what you want to me, but leave others out of it."
Sui smirked:
"Oh? The hero's getting angry now?"
Edie:
"If you're so eager, let's settle it on the floor."
Sui:
"Fine by me. I'm not scared of you."
Edie nodded:
"Battle arena. After school."
Sui shrugged:
"I'm just afraid you won't show."
Jinna frowned and pulled Edie's arm, but he only replied calmly.
Jinna:
"So childish. You let them provoke you that easily?"
Edie:
"Well, I already challenged him. Can't let your husband get laughed at, right?"
Jinna (angrily):
"Who's your husband, huh?! Don't go issuing challenges like that again!"
Class passed heavily. Though it had been a while since Edie returned, he still remembered everything—the desks, the people, the vibe. The teachers kept a certain distance, and the students whispered even more.
When the dismissal bell rang, students started packing up. Edie didn't head home—he turned toward the training hall. He didn't say a word, but Jinna quietly followed, keeping just far enough not to distract him.
At the free battle arena, students had formed a large circle. They were all eager to see Edie, the so-called "girl chaser," get knocked out. Though Sui was one year below, he was already considered one of the strongest fighters in both first and second years.
The match between Edie and Sui stirred up the entire eastern courtyard. Students gathered, pushing each other for a better view. Up on the second-floor balcony, a white-haired man stood silently, arms folded—Professor Elmir. He rarely watched student battles. But today, he came.
"Match start!"
Immediately, Sui lunged forward, a fierce red aura blazing from his arms. He threw a crushing punch—but Edie just tilted his head slightly, dodging as if brushing away a fly.
Edie:
"That's it? Weak."
The crowd buzzed. Some laughed out loud. Sui seethed with rage, his aura flaring even more wildly. But the more he attacked, the more he got hit—Edie had started countering.
A sweeping kick laced with Nifow. Then a mere touch on the shoulder disrupted Sui's aura, sending it into chaos.
Up on the balcony, Professor Elmir squinted.
That was unmistakably Nifow. A unique pressure on the aura, just fast enough to slice the air—yet flexible, like traditional martial arts. It was Nifow at Y-rank, perhaps even more refined than anything he had seen before.
Elmir:
"Uncannily similar…"
Back on the floor, Edie had closed in. A flurry of punches to the torso, targeting the weak spots without armor.
Edie:
"You're still green."
He channeled a vortex of Nifow into his right fist and launched a final blow, sending Sui flying off the ring.
"Winner: Edie!"
While the crowd erupted, and Jinna ran down with a mix of shock and delight, a figure stepped in from the edge of the ring.
Elmir:
"Edie, is that right?"
Both turned. It was Professor Elmir.
Elmir:
"Do you have a moment? I'd like you to come to my office."
Edie (raising an eyebrow):
"I haven't caused any trouble, just so you know."
Elmir chuckled:
"Not at all. I just want a word."
Jinna whispered:
"When he invites someone, they either agree or never hear the end of it."
Edie:
"As long as there's tea and snacks."
⸻
Inside Professor Elmir's Office
Located on the top floor of the research wing—a place few had ever entered. The room was eerily quiet, lined with energy maps, research papers, and strange artifacts sealed in crystal containers.
Elmir:
"That move earlier—was that Nifow?"
Edie:
"I'm not sure."
Elmir:
"Who taught you? The way you moved—it reminded me of someone I saw on the battlefield. 'Deathbringer' Hakan."
Edie flinched:
"I don't know him. I didn't learn from anyone."
Elmir:
"Really? You look uneasy. Did I scare you with something I said?"
Edie:
"Just a bit on edge. You're known for saying things that either make people cry… or break them. I'm not sure which."
Elmir paused for a moment, then walked over to his desk. He touched a silver pendant floating mid-air in the center of the room.
Elmir (in a low voice):
"Our light is eternal. We are the chosen, meant to bring peace to the world."
Edie:
"I don't get it. Is that your life motto or something?"
Elmir:
"Oh, no… just an old saying. You're free to go."
Edie stepped out of the office, heart still pounding. The conversation hadn't been long, but it felt like being peeled open from the inside.
The hallway's glass walls were bathed in sunset red. Edie walked slowly, the words "eternal light" still echoing in his mind. He smirked—yet somehow, the phrase gave him chills.
It was nearly dark when Edie reached home.
Too quiet.
He stepped into the yard—and as his foot landed, something squished underfoot. Looking down… a severed hand. Blood still fresh.
Nearby, corpses scattered across the ground, twisted, mangled. The walls bore slashes, punches, scorch marks—like something had burned them from inside.
The front door was ajar. Edie pushed it open—and the sight froze him solid.
In the middle of the living room stood Hakan, motionless like a statue. Blood soaked his legs. His calloused hands gripped the throat of the last survivor.
The man flailed, eyes rolled back, limbs twitching like his soul was being crushed.
He screamed:
"Our light is eternal…!"
Crack.
The sound of a neck snapping rang through the room like dry wood breaking. The body slumped like garbage to the floor.
Edie:
"Who were they? Why did you kill them?"
Hakan sighed:
"Remnants of Sill. They wanted me to rejoin. Planned to attack Bellasia Academy for the Gana manuscript."
—End of Chapter—