Chapter 84: Chaos In the South (4)
High above the landscape, a luxurious flying carpet drifted on warm, swirling currents.
Melissa lounged comfortably between Jovian and Jack, but Jovian’s attention had already wandered.
’There she is...’ His long, flowing white hair stirred in the breeze as his blindfolded gaze locked onto the elegant figure in the distance.
And a spark of genuine interest — and perhaps a touch of competitive thrill — lit inside him.
"Well, looks like your dear rival has appeared as well," Melissa remarked with a knowing smile.
Jovian let out a soft chuckle and rose casually from the carpet.
"Well, I guess I should go say hello."
’I might as well introduce myself... there’s no point pretending I’m not curious’.
Without waiting for a reply, he stepped off the edge and glided smoothly through the air toward Sunya.
---
In the distance, Sunya’s eyes narrowed the moment she sensed him approaching.
She quickly assessed his demeanor, her posture tensing for a brief second. But when she realized he wasn’t radiating hostility, she allowed herself to relax — though only slightly, her guard still firmly in place.
Jovian landed lightly on her carpet, dropping down to sit beside her as if they were old friends catching up.
He leaned back casually, flashing her a playful smile.
"Seems like I have a stalker," he said with a light laugh. "Didn’t expect to see you so soon again after our little dance."
Sunya allowed a pause to settle between them, her eyes lingering on Jovian and then flicking to the space he’d claimed on her carpet.
The silence stretched—not tense but searching—as if she were weighing the intent behind his easy confidence.
Her gaze was sharp, calculating, betraying nothing of her true thoughts as she measured the man before her.
’Why is he so at ease around me?’ she wondered, fully aware she had defeated him in a hard-fought battle.
Normally, when skilled individuals were beaten, they reacted in any way but the calm, playful manner Jovian displayed.
Jovian was the first to break the silence, his tone deliberately light.
"I’m not sure we’ve had proper introductions," he said with a smile.
"I’m Jovian, the greatest swordsman—and apparently, Jovian the Fate Breaker... though I’m sure you’ve heard that tale before."
Sunya regarded him coolly, offering nothing but formality at first.
"Sunya. Disciple of the Academy of Lore." Her tone was measured, each word chosen with care, but open enough for politeness, yet closed enough to keep him guessing about her true thoughts.
For a breath, neither spoke again.
There was a gravity to the air, as if the meeting itself might tilt fate in one direction or another.
Their words skirted the boundaries of courtesy and challenge, each testing the other’s defenses—not just in power, but in wit and resolve.
Sunya regarded him with her careful composure, her eyes never leaving his face.
"You surely choose interesting moments to introduce yourself," she said, her voice calm but edged with a subtle wariness. "Timing seems to be your specialty."
Jovian shrugged, a practiced smile playing on his lips.
"Well, I must admit... I never like to miss a spectacle. But what about you, Sunya, Goddess of the Eternal Hour?
Care to enlighten me on what brings you to the edge of all this chaos?"
Sunya’s lips barely moved, a measured smile flickering and vanishing almost as quickly.
"Oh, please... I find that chaos rarely moves without a guiding hand. The Central Continent seems determined to keep the rest of us guessing."
Jovian tilted his head, "Hmm, I’m not sure what you mean. I’m only here to see this mysterious rival of ours."
-----
[You have achieved Sword Aura (Tier 7)]
[Your Battle Prowess has increased by +2.]
[You have unlocked a Sword Aura Domain.]
While distant chaos stirred beyond the borders of his domain, Akasha and Melvin stepped out of the weapons enlightenment arena a little earlier than expected.
Akasha glanced at the new status with a quiet smile, then he turned to Melvin.
The boy — no, the young man now — stood tall, short black hair framing a face carved with deadly calm.
His white eyes radiated cold resolve, the icy edge of his newly awakened Sword Domain making the air around him hum.
"There’s far more power waiting out there for us," Akasha said, placing a steady hand on Melvin’s shoulder.
"We just have to reach for it."
Melvin met his gaze without hesitation.
"Do you really plan to conquer the entire world?" he asked, voice steady and cold.
Akasha’s smile widened at the mention of this.
His eyes flickered uncontrollably — the haunting green leaves with blood-like droplets shifting and blooming into the image of ticking green clocks.
Melvin’s eyes widened slightly in shock at the literal transformation.
"Indeed. But that’s only the first step."
He gestured for Melvin to follow.
"Come along. It’s finally time to fill everyone else in..."
In a single thought, the space around them folded, and both of them vanished.
-----
They reappeared in the wide, open field where the disciples of the Academy of Veils were assembled before Harlan and the other Peak Masters.
The progress they had made was obvious—once only Tier 6 to Tier 8 disciples, even the weakest among them had now ascended to Tier 11, their auras radiating newfound strength.
As Akasha and Melvin strode forward, murmurs swept through the crowd like wildfire.
"Is that truly Lord Dream...?"
"Who is the boy with him?"
For the first time, many could truly perceive Akasha’s full appearance...
The glowing pale skin, elegant white-and-green horns catching the sunlight, neck-length white hair streaked with living green, pointed ears, and those mesmerizing eyes that seemed to hold both beauty and hidden danger.
Melvin walked beside him, projecting a sharp, icy presence that made nearby disciples instinctively give them space.
Amber stood near the front, her long brown hair swaying gently.
She watched Akasha intently, a faint, flustered smile playing at her lips.
"So, he really is just a pretty boy hiding behind all that mystery, huh?"
Harlan Steele stepped forward with the other Peak Masters, offering respectful bows.
"Lord Dream," the headmaster greeted formally, though Akasha could sense the careful calculation behind his calm eyes.
Akasha shook his head, waving off the formality with clear discomfort.
"Headmaster... there’s no need for all that." He said, before quickly changing the topic, "Where is Liliana?" He scanned the group.
Amber stepped forward, offering a polite smile.
"My mother hasn’t responded at all. Her seclusion this time must be particularly deep."
Akasha kept his expression neutral, though inwardly he wondered.
’She can’t truly be in seclusion... can she?’
Though things didn’t add up... he pushed the thought aside and addressed the entire gathering, his voice carrying effortlessly across the field.
"As many of you already know... I am Lord Dream, the ruler of Dreamer’s Peak."
A faint, conceited smile touched his lips.
"And... I’ll be arrogant enough to say that this is the beginning of a new day for the Academy of Veils."
His gaze swept over them — sharp, ambitious, and unyielding.
And... the disciples hung on every word.
"I don’t know how many of you truly understand what’s going on... but allow me to fill you in."
Behind him, Harlan Steele and the Peak Masters narrowed their eyes.
Tension rippled through their postures, but none dared interrupt.
’He’s.... about to cross a line,’ Harlan thought, jaw tightening.
Akasha continued, his tone casual yet commanding.
"You all fight for land, for resources, for pride... but that’s merely the surface. In eighty-nine years, every continent will be thrown into one grand battle — or war, depending on what phrase excites you more."
Murmurs erupted instantly among the disciples, spreading like wildfire.
Eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Even Amber’s warm expression grew serious, her full figure tensing as she processed the weight of his words.
Akasha glanced at Melvin with a small, approving smile. The boy’s cold, resolute face remained steady, but a spark of fierce loyalty burned in his white eyes.
’This... is what true ambition looks like,’ Melvin thought.
"Beyond this world," Akasha continued, voice steady,
"Far outside anything any of us — including myself — have ever witnessed, there is at least one confirmed faction waiting for that same deadline. They intend to claim this entire world as theirs."
Harlan stepped forward, mouth opening to speak.
"Lord Dream, this kind of—"
Akasha raised a hand, cutting him off without even looking.
Harlan fell silent, though his sharp eyes flashed with unease.
"While all of this is true," Akasha went on, "I have no intention of falling under anyone else’s authority. Nor do I plan to wait around for some distant deadline to dictate our pace."
His smile sharpened, carrying that ruthless edge.
"In five years, the two hundred of you — working alongside the rest of the Academy’s disciples — will conquer the entire Southern Continent.
In seven years, the Western Continent must fall.
In fourteen years, the Eastern Continent.
And in a total of twenty-one years... all four continents will belong to the Academy of Veils.
With.... No mishaps or excuses."
At such words... pure, deafening silence fell over the field.
Many disciples stood frozen, mouths slightly agape, unable to even process the sheer scale of the ambition being laid before them.
The air seemed thick, buzzing with awe, fear, and an unshakable sense of fate.
Surprised whispers spread through the crowd until one of the Peak Masters spoke, his tone edged with disbelief.
"Twenty-one... years? Even with our newfound strength... that’s cutting it close."
Akasha only shook his head in response.
With an easy flick of his hand, two hundred dazzling God Rank weapons and armor sets appeared out of thin air.
These treasures could easily let them withstand blows far beyond their level while also amplifying their combat strength tenfold.
"With these, your battle strength will increase dramatically. If you coordinate well, five years should be more than enough."
His smile sharpened, a hint of ruthlessness showing.
"Besides... things shouldn’t be too difficult. All the Kings and Queens of this world are already dead."
A heavy, stunned silence fell.
However, before anyone could even speak on the news, urgent messages suddenly arrived for Harlan and the Peak Masters.
In that moment... their expressions turned grim.
"Lord Dream.... the Academy is under invasion... by four factions."
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