Scar descended the grand staircase, his midnight-blue suit perfectly tailored to project the quiet confidence of a noble heir. As he reached the ground floor and stepped into the ballroom, the classic noble party aesthetic of the Glacier Palace hit him in full force.
The sweeping ballroom was a vision of high-class elegance, illuminated by enchanted crystal chandeliers. The guests—about two dozen of them—were dressed in immaculately crafted gowns and formal wear. You could tell they were of the highest class just by their appearance alone.
At the far corner of the hall, a team from BuzzRealm; a multinational news media company, was quietly setting up their holographic cameras and broadcast equipment. The purpose of this gathering wasn't just to entertain a handful of nobles; Felicity intended to tell the entire world about Henry's newly discovered powers and his condition. The speech was going to be streamed globally.
As Scar stepped into the threshold of the ballroom, the presenter stationed by the grand doors straightened up, his voice booming over the soft classical music.
"Presenting Henry Augustus Myers, Son of Felicity Myers, Leader of the Glacial Order and Sovereign of Arcadia!"
Instantly, the music in the hall stopped. Everyone turned their heads toward him in unison.
Scar was stunned. The sudden presentation and the sheer weight of their collective stares left him frozen on the spot, entirely unsure of what to do. As he stood there, the guests began to murmur among themselves.
"Is that really him?" a noble whispered behind a glass of champagne. "He looks much younger than I expected."
"He looks even more handsome in person," a young female heiress murmured to her friend, blushing slightly. "Look at that bone structure. Mmm."
"Too bad he's powerless," a stern-faced older man grumbled from the side, his voice dripping with condescension. "He's a scorn to the Myers family legacy."
"I heard he ran away from home and was found in the untamed forest," another chimed in, leaning closer to his circle. "It's a miracle the boy survived a single night out there without an ability."
Scar swallowed the sudden tension, forcing his shoulders to relax. He took a steady step into the hall, projecting an aura of cold, quiet confidence, masking the predator beneath the silk lining of his vest.
Before the murmurs could swell, Felicity broke away from a conversation with an elegant, older woman and glided smoothly toward him.
"Look at you," Felicity said, her sapphire eyes bright with genuine admiration as she stepped into his personal space. "You look absolutely stunning."
Scar's brow furrowed slightly as he leaned in close, keeping his voice below the ambient noise. "I wasn't expecting so many people." He scoffed.
Felicity laughed softly. "There are barely thirty people here, Roy. I understand you're nervous, but you shouldn't be. I will be with you the whole time."
"I'm not nervous," Scar corrected coldly, his purple eyes darting across the room. "Just... overwhelmed. I don't like the way they're staring at me."
"They are simply excited to finally see you," Felicity reassured him, her voice a soothing contrast to the heavy atmosphere. "You have spent years refusing to attend any event whatsoever. This is your first social gathering."
"I hope it's my last, too." Scar muttered.
Felicity chuckled, hooking her arm through his and pulling him toward the small stage where the orchestra was playing. She signaled the musicians to kill the music. They stopped playing instantly.
Felicity smiled in satisfaction and turned to face the crowd, her posture radiant and unyielding. "May I have your attention, please?" she said. When she spoke, she didn't use a microphone or an acoustic boost; her raw, internal mana vibrated through her vocal cords, causing her voice to boom and reverberate effortlessly across every corner of the vast hall.
The room fell completely silent as everyone turned to face her and Scar on the stage. Felicity glanced toward the BuzzRealm media team in the corner and gave them a subtle nod to begin streaming.
The team leader, a sharp woman with a datapad, nodded back and signaled her crew. She lifted three fingers, counting down silently.
"We're live in 3, 2, 1…"
As the red broadcast lights flared,
Felicity put on a warm, flawless smile. "Good evening, my esteemed friends, colleagues, and citizens of the Atlas Nation. Thank you all for gathering here on such short notice. Today, we are here to celebrate the return of my son, Henry," she said, gesturing gracefully to Scar, who stood beside her in aloof, unblinking silence. "But beyond our relief, I have a monumental announcement to make regarding his future."
The nobles leaned in, their expressions sharp with curiosity.
"Following his rescue from the outer perimeter, Henry underwent a rigorous, comprehensive body scan at our elite medical facility," Felicity explained, her voice carrying a tone of measured gravity. "The diagnostic results revealed a biological wonder. Henry has developed mana cells."
A collective gasp echoed through the ballroom. The nobles exchanged wide-eyed looks, a sudden wave of frantic whispering breaking the silence. A late-awakening was an almost impossible feat. There have only been two or three cases in the last decade.
"Yes, it surprised me just as much as it surprises you," Felicity continued smoothly, controlling the narrative with masterclass precision. "We all believed his threshold for mana integration had closed years ago. However, the medical board believes that the sheer, brutal trauma of surviving in the unforgiving wilderness pushed his latent biology to its limit. The harsh conditions forced his cells to finally awaken in an act of survival."
That final statement was the tactical masterstroke. The explanation was so visceral, so biologically poetic, that the skeptics in the crowd immediately bought the story.
"It makes sense," a high-ranking military official noted firmly. "A normal teenager without mana would have been torn apart by F-rank beasts within an hour. The awakening is the only logical reason he's standing here."
"Pushed to the absolute brink of evolution," another noble agreed, nodding in awe. "What a remarkable genetic resilience. The boy is truly a Myers."
Frantic congratulations began to fill the room. In a single sentence, Felicity had wiped away seventeen years of public shame. Henry Myers was no longer the powerless disgrace of the dynasty; he was a genetic marvel.
Felicity smiled gracefully, raising her hand to gently quell the applause. Her expression slowly turned somber, her eyes dimming with a performative touch of maternal grief. "Thank you for your kind words. However... I am afraid to inform you that with this delightful development also comes some terrible news."
The crowd quieted instantly, hanging on her every word.
"The trauma that awakened Henry's power came at a devastating psychological cost," Felicity said, her voice dropping into a soft, aching register. "The neurological scans indicate that the severe physical trauma to his skull, combined with the psychological terror of his ordeal, fractured his mind. Henry has developed a profound dissociative identity disorder."
Another wave of shock rippled through the room.
"An identity disorder?" an elegant woman gasped, clutching her pearls. "Like a split personality?"
"Yes," Felicity sighed, inclining her head sadly. "The fracture is extensive, and the psychiatric board believes the damage to his original neural pathways is irreversible. He will likely carry this condition for the rest of his life."
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. The jealousy and suspicion evaporated, replaced by a deep, heavy wave of high-society sympathy.
"Is he going to be alright?" a older lord asked, looking at Scar with genuine pity. "Does the boy require permanent institutionalization?"
"Thankfully, no," Felicity assured them, her voice full of fierce protection. "The condition is manageable. While his mind has split, the primary alternative consciousness that has surfaced has been thoroughly evaluated. He is calm, rational, and gentle. There is absolutely no danger to the public. All Henry needs now is proper care, space, and unwavering support from his family and his peers as he adapts to this new reality."
"Poor kid," a young noble whispered to his father. "To finally gain the power of his bloodline, only to lose half of his mind in the process."
The room flooded with soft, supportive murmurs. Expressions of deep sympathy and political solidarity were directed toward Felicity and Scar.
Scar analyzed the crowd coldly. He knew exactly what this was. They weren't mourning a broken boy; they were performing a calculated display of affection and respect for Felicity Myers. If he had been some random nameless commoner, they wouldn't have given a damn if his mind was shattered into a thousand pieces.
"Lady Felicity," a prominent guild master called out from the front tier. "If he has developed mana cells, what exactly is his ability?"
Felicity's somber mask instantly cracked into a proud, knowing smile. "I am glad you asked. As many of you know, only several people in the world hold the potential to manifest more than one ability over their lifespan—a trait I happen to possess as well," she explained. "I am pleased to inform you all that Henry now fits that rare category."
The crowd stirred again, absolute shock paralyzing the room. Even Scar was stunned, his eyes narrowing in surprise. This revelation was not part of the plan.
He looked at Felicity, subtly mouthing the words; "I do?"
Felicity didn't look at him. She simply smiled at him and whispered: "Trust me."
"Are you saying the boy has multiple abilities?" the guild master pressed, his voice strained with awe.
"According to the tests, yes," Felicity declared. "He possesses the capacity to unlock two or more abilities. But for now, he has only stabilized his primary ability." She stepped back slightly, gesturing to the open floor of the hall. "Henry, if you would be so kind as to demonstrate your ability to our guests."
Scar frowned. Ugh! Do I have to? he sighed in his mind.
But Felicity somehow heard it.
"Yes." Her voice echoed telepathically in his head. "It'll be more convincing that way."
Scar wasn't even fazed that he heard her voice in his mind. She was psychic, after all. Telepathy didn't come as a surprise to him.
He closed his eyes for a fraction of a second and focused on his speed. Then… he moved.
FWOOOSH.
To the crowd, there was no transition. There was only a sudden displacement of air that caused the dresses of the noblewomen to rustle sharply. A brief, untraceable blue blur cut through the center of the ballroom, and in less than a quarter of a second, the stage was empty.
"Where did he go?" One nobleman asked.
From the far, opposite end of the grand ballroom, thirty meters away, Scar was casually leaning against a massive crystalline pillar, his hands tucked neatly into his pockets.
"Over here," he called out, his voice cutting through their confusion.
The nobles whirled around, their jaws dropping in collective bewilderment.
"I didn't even see him move!" a high-ranking explorer gasped. "That's insane!"
"I don't think he teleported. That was pure speed," another noted, analyzing the lack of elemental residue. "But my… what an incredible acceleration."
With another sudden WHOOSH of air, Scar blurred back across the room, materializing perfectly beside Felicity on the stage without a single hair out of place.
"As you can see," Felicity concluded, her voice laced with triumph, "he has unlocked an enhancement-type ability. Super speed."
The room erupted into animated chatter. People with speed based ability were highly sought after by corporate and military sectors alike. After element-type abilities, powers like super speed and energy manipulation were the most rated in the world.
"Since Lady Felicity is his mother, I wouldn't be surprised if he later develops cryokinesis like his sister, Emily," a noble lord theorized loudly. "Imagine a speedster who can flash-freeze an entire battlefield while moving at Mach speeds. Incredible!"
"A powerhouse in the making," another agreed.
Felicity made a signal to the media team, who immediately cut the live stream. Then she offered a final, elegant bow to the audience. "Thank you all once again. Please, enjoy the wine, the cuisine, and the hospitality of the Palace." she announced as the orchestra resumed a soft, upbeat classical melody.
The rigid formality of the room dissolved back into a standard, high-society mixer, though every single conversation now revolved strictly around the information they had just been fed: the late-stage awakening, the tragic split personality, and the terrifying potential for multiple high-tier abilities.
As they stepped off the stage, Scar leaned toward Felicity, his voice a sharp whisper. "Why did you tell them I have the potential for multiple abilities? We didn't agree to that lie."
Felicity offered a sly, knowing smile as she led him into the crowd. "But it isn't a lie, Roy. The legacy and power you hold belonged to Hermes. And the God of Speed wasn't known for his swiftness alone. He was a multi-faceted deity who held dominion over travel, commerce, and language. That granted him multiple abilities. He even possessed the capability to manipulate and summon lightning."
Scar's eyes widened slightly. "Lightning?"
"Yes," Felicity murmured, her eyes flashing. "And with time, training, and the right system parameters, you will be able to use it too. Now, come along. There are people here i want you to meet."
Before he could argue, she hooked her arm through his again, pulling him straight into the shark tank of noble families.
For the next thirty minutes, Scar was subjected to a grueling gauntlet of fake smiles, patronizing comforts, and passive-aggressive political networking. Nobles cornered him, asking leading questions about his time in the forest or his mental state. Scar refused to answer a single one, maintaining a cold, unbidding silence. Felicity, ever the professional politician, smoothly covered for his hostility every single time, laughing off his silence as a symptom of his "condition."
Finally, Scar pulled away slightly, his jaw tight. "I can't do this anymore. If I have to endure one more fake smile or empty condolence, I am going to drop the act and throw a tantrum right here." he threatened.
Felicity hummed softly, adjusting his silk tie. "Okay, fine. Let's have one last introduction then. But pay close attention—the people we are about to meet are the most powerful and important figures here today."
She guided him toward a secluded, high-ceilinged corner of the ballroom where a small group stood completely separated from the rest of the guests. The group consisted of three people: a man and a woman in their early fifties, and a teenage girl.
The older man and woman were dressed in austere, high-class dark garments, but the sheer, crushing density of the aura radiating from their bodies was immense. They exuded the strongest aura Scar had felt besides Felicity's since arriving in this world. He was instantly fascinated by their power metrics.
But the moment his gaze shifted to the teenage girl standing beside them, his heart skipped a beat.
She was exactly his age. Her long, vibrant pink hair flowed gracefully down the back of an elegant, shimmering white gown that seemed to glitter under the chandelier light. She wore pink high-heels, looking every bit the part of high society royalty, but her expression was identical to the one she had carried in the jungle: an indifferent, unapologetic boredom.
It was none other than Rose.
As they approached, the older woman was leaning in, speaking sharply to the girl. "Rosalia, please. At least pretend to smile. This is a party for heavens sake."
The older man merely let out a booming laugh, waving his hand. "Oh, let her be. The girl hates these events just as much as I do," he chuckled.
"You keep spoiling her, Richard," the woman scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Trixie! Richard!" Felicity called out, her voice warm and genuinely affectionate.
The couple turned, their faces instantly brightening as they saw Felicity and Scar approaching. The woman stepped forward, embracing Felicity in a tight hug, both women lightly kissing each other's cheeks in a classic noble greeting. When they separated, Felicity offered her hand to the man, Richard, who shook it with a firm, respectful grip.
"Henry, I'd like to you to meet Richard and Beatrice Belmont," Felicity introduced, turning to Scar. "They are the rulers of Iris City and the leaders of the ShadowCrest Faction." She then faced the Belmonts and gestured proudly to Scar. "And this is my son, Henry."
"Ah, the little Ice Prince," Beatrice cooed, her expression softening as she reached out and playfully pinched Scar's cheek. "Look at you. You've grown so much since the last time I saw you in the capital." She then turned, pulling the pink-haired girl forward by her forearm. "And this is our granddaughter, Rosalia. Say hello, Rosalia."
Rosalia looked at Felicity, performing a flawless, deeply practiced noble curtsy. "It is an honor to see you again, Lady Felicity," she said, her voice smooth and regal.
"The honor is mine, Rose," Felicity smiled warmly. "Look at you, you look absolutely stunning."
"Thank you. You look amazing too." Rose said. Then, she shifted her green eyes directly onto Scar. The moment their gazes locked, her pristine, royal facade cracked. Her green eyes narrowed into slits of pure, venomous hatred, and her fingers clenched into tight fists against the silk of her white gown. She stared daggers straight through his face.
Scar merely offered a slow, wry, completely innocent smile, acting as if he were meeting a total stranger for the very first time.
Beatrice noticed the intense, unblinking glare Rosalia was leveling at the boy, entirely misinterpreting the hostile chemistry. She chuckled softly, leaning toward Felicity. "Well, look at that. It seems the young ones have quite a bit to look at. Why don't we leave the children to themselves while we discuss adult matters in private?"
"That is an excellent idea," Felicity agreed.
No, it's really not! Scar screamed internally, his mind flashing with immediate red flags. He tried to project the thought telepathically to Felicity, but she ignored the plea.
Instead, she turned to him, her smile tight. "Hang out with Rosalia for a bit, Henry. I'll be right back." She said.
"I'd rather not," Scar said bluntly.
"You have to," Felicity whispered back, her voice laced with a lethal, smiling sweetness. "Or else no more allowance for you."
Rose also protested to her grandmother, her voice sharp. "Grandma, please. I don't want to stay here anymore," she pleaded. "I want to go home."
"Nonsense, Rosalia," Beatrice scolded lightly, tapping her shoulder. "Stay here and talk to Henry. Perhaps spending time around kids your age will make you less... grumpy."
Rose shot a desperate, pleading look at her grandfather for backup, but Richard merely let out a helpless sigh, chuckling. "Sorry, honey. But your grandmother is right on this one. Enjoy yourselves, kids."
With a final round of waves, the three powerful sovereigns turned and walked away toward the private wings, leaving the two teenagers standing alone in the quiet corner.
For several long, heavy seconds, they just stood there, staring each other down. Scar subtly shifted his weight, fully expecting her to materialize an energy blade and lung at his throat right there in the ballroom. Instead, Rose let out a sharp, disgusted click of her tongue, turned around sharply, and marched toward the nearest long catering table to pour herself a crystal goblet of juice.
Scar didn't know why, but his feet moved on their own. He followed her.
As she aggressively poured the dark juice from a silver jug, Scar leaned his hip casually against the edge of the table beside her, crossing his arms. "So," he murmured, his voice low enough to escape the surrounding chatter. "do your grandparents know you sneak into the hunting grounds to illegally hunt beasts?"
Rose didn't stop pouring. She didn't look at him. But her response was a sharp and immediate. "And does your mother know that her precious, traumatized son is a conniving, degenerate little thief?" She retorted.
Scar was instantly silenced. He blinked, a bit stunned by her quick wit. He didn't even attempt to deny the accusation. Instead, a dark smirk spread across his face. "Okay. Fair enough. I believe that means we now have a mutual agreement not to tell on each other."
Rose slammed the silver jug back onto the table, the liquid sloshing over the rim. She whirled around to face him, her green eyes blazing. "So you did steal my cores!"
"Yes, I did," Scar chuckled, entirely unrepentant. "And there is nothing you can do about it."
Rose growled in anger. A faint crackle of pink energy rippled across her fingers, her eyes glowing faintly. "Is that a challenge, Myers? Because I would be more than happy to go another round with you right here, right now."
Scar looked down at her glowing hand, then back up to her face, his smile widening. "No, you wouldn't. Not in front of all these people. And besides, I'm not challenging you, Rosalia. I am merely stating a fact," he stated. "Right now, there is nothing stopping me from going to your grandparents and telling them exactly what you do with your free afternoons. I bet they'd be thrilled to know their granddaughter is operating as an unregistered hunter."
Rose frowned. "You hunt illegally too," she sneered right back at him. "There is no way you already have a Hunter's license."
"I don't," Scar said flatly. "But my mum already gave me permission to hunt. And since my mum is the ruler of the city, that automatically makes me a certified hunter."
Rose gritted her teeth. The pink energy around her fingers slowly dissolved back into her skin as she realized she had zero leverage. She took a deep, forced breath, trying to regain her royal composure, and forced a tight, artificial smile.
"Fine," Rose sneered through her teeth. "You win this round. But you better watch your back, jerk. This isn't over." She raised the crystal goblet, downed the juice in one massive, aggressive gulp, and slammed the empty glass onto the table. Then, entirely unexpectedly, she stepped directly into his personal space and let out a deliberate burp right into his face.
Scar gasped, completely caught off guard as he recoiled.
Rose gave him one final, piercing look of pure malice, turned on her high heels, and walked away into the crowd, her white gown flowing behind her.
Scar stood by the table, recovering from the surprise burp. A grin spread across his face as he watched her walk away. He thought back to their fight in the forest and remembered how resilient and physically strong she was. "I wonder what her rank is," he hummed to himself.
In this world, humans who awakened abilities were usually categorized across a rank hierarchy stretching from F-rank all the way to SSS-rank. The ranking was determined by an elite metric calculated from three core pillars: Mana cell count, Energy level, and Ability mastery. This tier system maintained the global balance of power. Felicity was an SSS-rank mage—one of only three on the entire planet who held that title.
Most ordinary citizens or corporate workers never bothered to take the ranking exams unless they specifically pursued careers as professional Hunters, mercenaries, military soldiers, or explorers. Unless they just wanted to hold it as a prestigious title. This was why children and teenagers rarely possessed an official rank; they were supposed to be in school, preparing for their career paths.
However, some kids and teens reached very high ranks even before taking the exam. Emily, for instance, had taken the exam at eighteen and was already at A rank. Currently, she was at S rank, making her the youngest S-rank in the entire nation. It was an historic achievement. It was the reason Felicity was still baffled as to how Scar had managed to overwhelm her so easily during their spar.
Watching Rose disappear into the crowd, Scar exhaled. "But she probably doesn't have a rank yet."
[Why don't you check and see for yourself] Miley's voice chimed into his mind.
Scar raised a brow. "How?"
[Did you already forget the skill you got from that Giftbox yesterday?] Miley sighed. [You unlocked the 'Eye of Horus'. It possesses an active 'Inspect' feature designed specifically to scan and aggregate a target's info]
Scar's eyes flashed. "Oh, right. I completely forgot." He looked around the room. "How do I trigger it? Do I have to chant a command like Accelerated Perception?"
[No] Miley instructed. [Simply lock your gaze onto the target, concentrate your intent, and mentally activate the skill.]
Scar focused his mind, his eyes locking onto Rose's retreating form as she walked toward her grandparents.
Then, a sharp, digital ping resonated in his skull and a clean, structured holographic read-out materialized in the air right in front of his eyes.
[Eye of Horus: Inspect Activated]
——————
*Name: Rosalia Belmont
*Age: 17
*Rank: A
*Abilities: Energy Manipulation
*Hp: 800/800
——————