Inside the throne room of the 3rd mansion, a heated conversation was unfolding—one that would decide Ren's fate.
"You know the rules!" Diana's voice rang out, fierce and unwavering.
"So why do you keep insisting on him staying?" Kishun the 3rd elder, said his tone heavy with authority.
"Because he is our son!" Diana cried, her voice trembling.
"How would I be able to face myself, knowing my son is out there, all alone, in his condition?"
"Huh? Tell me," she pleaded, tears streaming down her cheeks, clutching at the elder's robes as if letting go meant losing hope entirely.
"The rules are the rules," Kishun said firmly. "We can't go around changing them—or breaking them—especially me. As an elder, even the slightest hint of partiality would mean my position. Got it? Did you hear me?"
"But—" Diana stammered, desperate, "how can I just stand by and watch?"
Kishun's face softened slightly, but the harsh edge remained. "You know he is not our biological son, Diana. Otherwise, why would he be in such a situation?"
The words hung in the air like a blade. Immediately, Kishun clamped his mouth shut, realizing his mistake, but the damage was done.
Silence followed. Heavy, suffocating silence.
Outside the room, Ren sat with his back against the door, legs planted on the ground, elbows resting on his knees, hands cradling the back of his head. His gaze was fixed downward, tears silently sliding down his cheeks.
Listening to Diana and Kishun quarrel, his adoptive parents pleading and arguing over him, Ren's chest ached. His mind drifted back to days ago—the day he awakened his "trashy" class. After someone had called him a trash, he had left the Awakening Grounds in devastation, the memory of that humiliation still fresh.
Later that day he made his way to the general training battle center in the clan. But before he could settle, a familiar voice cut through the air:
"Hey! Trash!"
Turning around, a fist crashed into his face from the side, knocking him to the ground.
"Hahaha!"
"The big smart boy has finally joined us," a mocking voice sneered.
"Mister Smarts? Are you there?"
Ren looked up to see Riande—the uninvited guest, and one of his oldest, fiercest rivals. Ever since childhood, Riande had found ways to bully him, sometimes bringing his small gang along. Erin and Eric had helped Ren survive those years, but the torment never fully stopped—until the day Ren fought back. That was the day they started calling him Mister Smarts. That was the day he earned respect.
"Hey, smart head!" Riande called again, closing the distance.
Ren barely had time to react before a sideways kick slammed into his stomach, curving his body like a crescent in midair before he collided with a pillar.
"Hahaha! Trash!" Riande laughed, eyes glinting with malice.
Blood spurted from Ren's mouth, and he mouthed a curse. "F#ck you."
Enraged, Riande charged again, fists balled, ready to crush him.
Ren's lips curled into a small, defiant smile. Summoning every ounce of strength, he pushed forward with his hands and feet like a coiled bow, driving into Riande's midsection with a headbutt that sent the boy tumbling backward onto the ground.
Clutching his stomach, Riande groaned. "Dickhead… you just made it worse." He breathed heavily, eyes narrowing. "I was just trying to make you suffer a little, but now… now you'll face my wrath."
With a growl, Riande summoned his class, a wicked grin spreading across his face. It was clear—he had been waiting for an excuse to unleash it.
"Truewolf Transformation… activated!" Riande muttered, bones cracking and realigning as his body twisted, expanded, and reshaped itself.
With a howl he dashed towards Ren, with claws and fangs flashing.
With a howl, Riande lunged at Ren, claws and fangs flashing.
Flash.
Bang.
It happened so fast that all Ren could register was a blur of silver, and then… Bang!
Riande's body was slammed into the side of a nearby building, embedded deep in stone and rubble.
Turning toward the source of the sudden rescue, Ren saw the silver blur begin to shift—bones and joints snapping and realigning, fur receding into the body.
A moment later, standing where the werewolf had been, was a tall, handsome male, hair as silver as moonlight, his sharp features framed by the fading glow of transformation.
"Hey, smart head. How's it going?" the figure called, his voice teasing.
"Eric?" Ren's voice cracked with disbelief. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the—"
"Shush!"
"Erin sent me to check on you," Eric said, his tone sharp but calm. "I thought she was being overprotective, but… I was wrong. Her instincts are always spot on."
Ren swallowed, feeling warmth in his heart.
Eric's gaze shifted to Riande, still pinned in the wall. "I should've finished him a long time ago when I had the chance," he muttered, crouching low, his body transforming back into a wolf in a fluid, predatory motion. Ready to strike.
"Eric!" Ren called, holding him back.
"Do you know why the elders always team you up with Erin and never let you go alone?" Ren asked, as he struggled to rise, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"Because you're always hot-blooded. You act before you think… and that's dangerous," Ren said, eyes locked on the immobilized Riande.
Ren's hands gripped Eric's shoulders firmly. "If you kill him… do you know what would happen to you?"
Eric's gaze softened slightly, acknowledging the weight in Ren's words.
"He's not worth it," Ren said finally, his tone steady despite the pain.
A long silence stretched between them.
...
Inside the throne room, the conversation was nearing its end.
"It's settled, then," Kishun, the 3rd elder, said firmly. "He must leave the clan or face the consequences."
Diana's eyes shimmered with tears. "You don't want to see that happen, Kishun," she whispered.
Kishun bent down, lifting her gently to her feet. "This is the only thing I can do."
"Ren…"
"Ren! Come in! I know you're there!"
The elder's voice snapped Ren from his thoughts.
He rose, wiped his face, and stepped through the double doors. Bowing his head, he spoke Calmly, "At your command."
"Get up, Ren," Kishun said, his tone gentler now. "You shouldn't act like that when we're alone."
"You know why I called you, right?"
Ren nodded. "Hmm."
"Good. That saves us some explanation. According to the rules of the Vishun Clan, since you haven't awakened a class connected to the clan, you must either face elimination or be exiled. Which do you choose?"
Gritting his teeth, Ren thought, I will not die. I will prove the world that a Half can still climb to the top.
"I choose to be Exiled," he said.
Kishun nodded. "Good. Tomorrow, the Elders will summon you publicly. Stick to this answer. When you are teleported outside, someone will meet you. He will give you what you need—and then you will know what to do."