At the first ray of sunlight, the city was nothing but chaos. Half of the castle lay in ruins. Several inhabitants were agonizing and dying, poisoned by Dono's venom.
At the same moment, Rieze and Ulturion went to meet Dono. In the house, Rieze sat down on a chair and said:
— I hope you're ready, Dono.
— Why so much pressure? The show doesn't start until tomorrow, replied Dono.
— Unfortunately, I'm afraid our guest has decided to speed things up, retorted Rieze.
— How much time do we have left? asked Dono.
— Hmm… I'd say either mid-day or by the end, answered Rieze.
— That could work, then, said Dono.
Rieze turned her attention to Ulturion.
— By the way, I didn't get a chance to ask, but what rank are you at in the Human Realm? she confided.
Rieze's expression became perplexed.
Is he messing with me? she thought.
— … We're all in the Human Realm, but I'm asking about your rank, she clarified.
Seated in the lotus position, Ulturion took a few seconds before responding.
— At the master stage. I'm approaching the highest level of the Human Realm.
— … But why say "master"? There are nine ranks in the Human Realm, Rieze wondered.
— That's the path for those who will never surpass the Immortal Realm, explained Ulturion.
— Explain yourself; you're intriguing me.
— My method is similar to yours, but it's divided into three stages: amateur, intermediate, master. As soon as we awaken, we already possess our aura, of course too weak to manifest at first.
— Okay, but even with our method, it's enough to activate the aether within us to develop the aura, said Rieze.
— Yes and no. When I became a cultivator, the aether in my body activated right from the start. Thanks to this method, if you activate it from the beginning, it follows your progression. For the aura, it's the same: it evolves with your level. But anyway, I'm talking a lot when I don't even know the name of the Realm that comes after the Immortal Realm. If I had to rank myself according to your system, I'd be at the eighth, but I can fight on equal terms against a ninth rank, explained Ulturion.
— That's very interesting, what you're saying, said Rieze.
— But when are you going to mention that this way of cultivating is suicidal? interjected Dono.
— … You noticed, said Ulturion.
— Of course. With your method, you risk dying. When becoming a cultivator, it takes time to stabilize your body until it gets used to the new power. You want to do that and, at the same time, explode the aether you've absorbed throughout the process. The survival rate must be ten percent, according to me, threw Dono.
— What can I say? I like the risk, and here I am in front of you, right? replied Ulturion.
Dono stared at Ulturion for a moment, then returned to his activities.
Elsewhere, at the same moment, Simone and Hikiri were already at the port. Simone wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
A few minutes later, Asti and Darlius arrived.
— Don't hurry yourselves, mocked Simone.
— And why are you here? I thought we were meeting at the boat, asked Asti.
— Because…
— Because Simone thinks we're going to be late, interrupted Dina, emerging from a shadow flat on the ground.
— That's scary… people coming out of shadows, teased Hikiri.
Dina responded with a middle finger.
— Fuck you, Hikiri.
— Stop it, both of you! You think this is the time? exclaimed Simone.
Despite her words, Hikiri and Dina continued to glare at each other with disdain, a mocking air on their faces.
— Does anyone know where Aconé and Tony are? asked Simone.
No one knew where they were.
In Kelvin's house, Tony was sitting on the table, legs crossed. Aconé stood right behind him.
— Tony, I don't know what that child meant to you, but we have to go, pleaded Aconé.
Despite her pleas, Tony heard nothing. He had isolated himself in his consciousness, which no longer resembled a training ground as before, but a black space illuminated by shades of red, black, and a bright light. In the background, a wall seemed close to ruin. Tony floated in a colorful sky, eyes closed, face blank.