The auditorium fell into a quiet stillness after Seraphina's final words.
The weight of what had just happened lingered in the air.
They were no longer students.
They were no longer bound.
They were… free.
Free to ascend.
Free to die.
Free to become something greater.
Seraphina stood before them, her gaze softer now, yet carrying something deeper beneath it.
"Deities… now your graduation is completed."
A few of them exchanged glances, but no one spoke.
She continued.
"I know what you're thinking—but hear me out. This is considered graduation because I, as the principal, get to show you and explain what soul power is. And you all understand it now."
Her eyes swept across them—each one of them.
Eryndor.
Rein.
Stellar.
Kaelus.
Darius.
Alucard.
Tina.
Dova.
Isly.
"I've watched you grow," she said quietly. "So I'll give you more than what's required."
A pause.
Then her tone shifted—serious, grounded.
"To ascend to the Upper Realms… you must go to the Land of the Sun People."
That name alone carried weight.
"They are the gatekeepers," she continued. "They determine if you are worthy. And more importantly… if you understand your soul power."
Rein folded his arms slightly.
"And if we don't?" he asked.
Seraphina didn't hesitate.
"They will teach you."
Then she added—
"And I should tell you… everyone on that land is at my level."
Silence.
A heavy one.
Eryndor's eyes sharpened slightly.
That wasn't a warning.
That was a reality check.
Seraphina took a step closer.
"I only ask one thing from all of you."
Her voice softened again—but it carried a firmness that none of them had ever heard before.
"No matter how much time you lose… don't give up."
A pause.
"I'm not saying that because you're weak."
Her gaze hardened.
"I'm saying it because… you will lose."
No one spoke.
Because they understood.
This wasn't Atlas anymore.
This wasn't mid-level threats.
This was something else entirely.
She exhaled lightly, then continued.
"The Higher Realms… are structured like this."
Her hand lifted slightly.
"From here—this universe, with its planets—you have the Mortal Realm."
Her fingers moved.
"Noxis Realm."
"Celestial Realm."
"Outer Layer Realms."
"Elemental Thrones."
"Spirit Realm."
"The Star Courts."
"The High Void Fields."
"The Unreachable Zenith."
"And finally…"
She paused.
"The All-Encompassing Realm."
Even the air felt heavier after she said that.
"But…"
Her eyes dimmed slightly.
"A few years ago…"
"Overnight…"
"Something… or someone… changed the structure of existence."
That made them react.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
But subtly.
Eryndor's eyes narrowed.
Darius' shadow flickered.
Rein's aura shifted for a split second.
Seraphina noticed.
But she simply shook her head.
"Don't worry about it."
That alone made it more concerning.
"Stand."
They all rose instantly.
Without hesitation.
Without delay.
Seraphina walked toward them slowly.
One by one—
She placed a medal on each of their uniforms.
A symbol.
A mark.
A farewell.
She stopped in front of Eryndor last.
For a brief moment—
Their eyes met.
Something unspoken passed between them.
Then she stepped back.
"I'll miss you guys…"
A faint smile.
"So don't go dying on me."
They all bowed.
Together.
Unified.
"Thank you for everything, Headmistress."
She nodded.
"Deities… you may now go."
A pause.
"The Land of the Sun People is in the far northeast."
They turned.
And walked out.
The moment they stepped into the courtyard—
The world felt different.
The sun was high.
The wind moved gently.
Birds flew overhead.
And the academy—
Was loud.
Lower-class students.
God candidates.
Mortals with sparks.
All of them shouting.
Cheering.
Screaming their names.
They were legends now.
Living ones.
Eryndor stood at the front.
He looked up at the sky.
Then at the horizon.
Then back at his team.
His voice was calm.
Steady.
"Are you all ready?"
Kaelus smirked.
Rein cracked his neck.
Darius' shadow shifted.
Stellar exhaled lightly.
Alucard grinned.
Tina nodded.
Dova clenched his fist.
Isly smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
All of them.
At once.
Eryndor nodded.
"Then let's move."
They vanished.
Back inside the academy—
Seraphina stood by the window.
Watching the sky where they had disappeared.
Like a mother…
Letting go.
Footsteps echoed behind her.
She didn't turn.
"Did you come to lose another game of chess, Lysan?"
A soft chuckle.
"I give up," Lysan said, stepping beside her. "I can't beat you."
He glanced out the window.
"They're… something else."
Seraphina smiled faintly.
"Yes."
"They are."
Lysan looked at her carefully.
"I came to check on you."
A pause.
"They're heading to your home."
Silence.
Then—
"I have my reasons… for not going right now."
Lysan sighed.
"I figured."
He turned to leave.
But stopped at the doorway.
His voice softer now.
"It would be nice… if you didn't pressure yourself so much."
Then he left.
Seraphina remained there.
Silent.
Still.
Watching the sky.
Far away in a place called — The Border
Nine figures moved through the trees like streaks of light and shadow.
Leaping.
Gliding.
Vanishing.
Then—
They stopped.
Landing in a clearing.
One by one—
Masks came off.
Veils dropped.
Eryndor looked around.
"This works."
He glanced at the others.
"We'll keep watch here for the night."
Kaelus stretched.
"Say less."
He stood.
"I'll grab some wood."
Rein smirked.
"I'll get the meat."
And just like that—
He vanished.
Moments later—
He returned.
Dragging a massive boar.
Alucard stepped forward.
"I got it."
Blade flashed.
Clean.
Efficient.
Precise.
Isly crouched near the fire.
"Give me a minute."
Chaos magic flickered subtly—
The flames adjusted.
Perfect heat.
Perfect control.
Meanwhile—
Darius leaned against a tree.
"Hold up…"
He reached into the shadow beneath him.
Pulled something out.
A brown gourd.
Tina's eyes widened.
"Is that…"
Darius grinned.
"That's right."
"Golden Elixir Wine."
Kaelus laughed.
"Yo… you've been hiding this??"
They sat.
Ate.
Drank.
Laughed.
No battles.
No pressure.
No enemies.
Just—
Them.
Eryndor leaned back against a tree.
Looking up.
At the night sky.
Stars scattered across infinity.
"…this reminds me of the Astral Sky."
He watched quietly.
Then—
The constellations shifted.
Subtly.
Almost like they were… aligning.
His thoughts drifted.
"Since I reincarnated in this world…"
"…this is the first time I've sat like this."
A small smile formed.
"If we did before…"
"…it was just me and Kael."
He glanced over.
Kaelus was arguing with Rein.
Darius was laughing.
Stellar was quietly eating.
Tina and Isly were talking.
Alucard was sharpening his blade.
Dova was drinking like his life depended on it.
"…but now…"
"…more allies."
"…more friends."
His gaze softened.
Then sharpened again.
"From Spark…"
"Ember…"
"Arcane…"
"Aether…"
"Arcane Master…"
"Ether Master…"
"God Candidate…"
"True Low Deity…"
"…to Mid Deity…"
"I've come a long way."
A pause.
"…and yet…"
He looked deeper into the sky.
Beyond the stars.
Beyond the visible.
"I still have a long way to go."
The camera rose.
Higher.
Higher.
Into the sky.
Far away —
A realm untouched by ordinary existence.
Where light and void coexisted in silent equilibrium.
Two figures sat across from each other.
A Go board between them.
Nearly finished.
Oroborus smiled.
"Just one more step…"
"…until the real event begins."
He placed his piece.
Mercury watched.
Calm.
Precise.
" Yes..this part of the process is not always easier though"
Then—
Moved.
"I win."
Silence.
Oroborus stared at the board.
Then sighed.
"…let's run it again."
The pieces reset.
And far below—
Across realms—
Across existence—
Something…
Had already begun to notice too.