The wind moved quietly across the broken courtyard of the Mountain of Dao.

  The bodies of the royal guards were already gone. Manki had burned them before sunrise, leaving no trace behind.

  But the tension remained.

  Dago sat on the edge of the stone platform where the fight had happened. His eyes were fixed on the ground, replaying the monk’s words again and again.

  “The technique you used… was not born from pure creation.”

  “It was ruthless destruction.”

  He clenched his fists.

  “What does that even mean…?”

  Behind him, Manki stood near the temple gate, silently observing.

  The old monk could see the storm inside the boy’s mind.

  Dago finally stood up.

  “If you won’t explain it… I’ll find out myself.”

  Manki raised an eyebrow.

  “And how do you plan to do that?”

  Dago sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor.

  “By looking inside.”

  The monk watched quietly as the boy closed his eyes.

  The world slowly faded away.

  The sound of the wind disappeared.

  Dago’s breathing slowed until his mind slipped into deep meditation.

  At first, there was only darkness.

  Then faint images began forming.

  Broken skies.

  Burning realms.

  Endless armies floating in cosmic space.

  And in the center of it all stood a man.

  Tall.

  Calm.

  His presence alone bent reality.

  On his hand was a glowing dragon-shaped mark.

  Dago’s heart trembled.

  Father…

  The man was Rajock.

  Around him stood nine other figures. Their auras were overwhelming, each one radiating the authority of a realm ruler.

  One of them spoke coldly.

  “You’ve gone too far, Rajock.”

  Another ruler added,

  “Your power has broken the balance of the royal realms.”

  Rajock’s voice was calm.

  “You call it imbalance.”

  He slowly raised his hand.

  “I call it evolution.”

  One of the rulers stepped forward angrily.

  “You threaten all realms. You cannot be allowed to exist.”

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  Rajock smiled faintly.

  “You gathered nine rulers… just to stop me?”

  Another voice echoed.

  “Even you cannot fight the authority of the Royal Realms alone.”

  Rajock looked at them one by one.

  Then he said quietly,

  “We’ll see.”

  The dragon mark on his hand began glowing.

  The vision suddenly shattered.

  Dago opened his eyes.

  But he wasn’t on the mountain anymore.

  He was standing inside a massive dark void.

  Chains stretched across the sky like enormous pillars.

  And in front of him…

  Something enormous moved.

  A gigantic beast was bound by countless celestial chains.

  Its body was larger than mountains.

  Its eyes slowly opened.

  They were ancient.

  Terrifying.

  The beast stared directly at Dago.

  Then it spoke.

  Its voice shook the void itself.

  “So… the son of Rajock has finally visited me.”

  Dago froze.

  “You know my father?”

  The beast chuckled deeply.

  “Of course.”

  Its gaze examined Dago carefully.

  “Your cultivation stage is weak…”

  Dago frowned.

  “…but your foundation…”

  The beast’s eyes narrowed.

  “…is on par with a Realm Breaker.”

  Dago felt chills run down his spine.

  “Where am I?”

  The beast ignored the question.

  “You shouldn’t be here yet.”

  Its chains rattled violently as it moved slightly.

  “You are far too early.”

  Dago stepped forward.

  “Tell me about my father.”

  The beast stared at him for a moment.

  Then it smiled faintly.

  “That answer… will destroy the world you believe in.”

  Before Dago could speak again—

  The beast raised its claw.

  A strange energy surged through the void.

  “You’re not ready for this place.”

  The beast’s voice echoed one last time.

  “Return when your seal breaks.”

  The world collapsed instantly.

  Dago’s eyes snapped open.

  His breathing was heavy.

  Sweat covered his forehead.

  “W-What was that…?”

  He looked down at his hand.

  The seal placed by his mother was glowing faintly.

  Thin cracks were forming across it.

  Dago’s eyes widened.

  “It’s… breaking…”

  Manki walked over slowly.

  “You felt it too.”

  Dago looked up at him.

  “What exactly did my mother seal inside me?”

  The monk stayed silent.

  Dago stood up.

  “If the seal breaks here… that power will come out again.”

  Manki nodded slowly.

  “And the Royal Realms will notice.”

  Silence filled the courtyard.

  Dago looked at the mountains surrounding the monastery.

  Then he said firmly,

  “I have to leave.”

  Manki studied his expression.

  “Running away?”

  Dago shook his head.

  “Getting stronger.”

  The boy clenched his fist.

  “If I don’t control this power… it’ll destroy everything around me.”

  Manki crossed his arms.

  “And how exactly will you do that?”

  Dago looked toward the storage room of the monastery.

  “With the things you taught me.”

  Over the next few days, the peaceful mountain changed.

  Dago began studying Manki’s ancient cultivation manuals.

  Alchemy.

  Weapon forging.

  Energy refinement.

  Every night the mountain echoed with the sound of hammer striking metal.

  Dago began refining spiritual swords using the mountain’s ores.

  During the day he hunted spiritual beasts in the forest valleys.

  Each beast carried condensed energy within its core.

  Dago used that energy to strengthen his cultivation.

  Manki watched all of this quietly.

  One evening he approached Dago while the boy was grinding herbs for pill creation.

  “You’re pushing yourself too hard.”

  Dago didn’t stop working.

  “I don’t have time to be slow.”

  Manki sighed.

  “You remind me of someone.”

  Dago paused.

  “My father?”

  The monk didn’t answer.

  Instead he asked,

  “Do you regret leaving?”

  Dago looked toward the distant horizon.

  “No.”

  He placed a newly refined sword on the table.

  “But next time someone comes for me…”

  His eyes sharpened.

  “…I won’t lose.”

  Manki nodded slowly.

  Perhaps the boy was right.

  But deep inside, the old monk knew something terrifying.

  The power growing inside Dago…

  Was not meant to be controlled.

  In a distant realm far beyond the mountain…

  A ruler suddenly opened his eyes.

  The throne room trembled.

  He whispered quietly,

  “The seal…”

  His gaze turned toward the lower worlds.

  “…is cracking.”

  Back on the Mountain of Dao, Dago stood at the edge of the cliff at dawn.

  His bag was packed.

  Several swords hung on his back.

  Manki stood beside him.

  “Are you ready?”

  Dago took one last look at the monastery.

  Then he nodded.

  “Yes.”

  But neither of them noticed—

  High above the clouds—

  Something was already watching them.