Shion Lan didn't know what to say. 'Why did I become stupid the moment I entered this place? I should've noticed Ark and pretended to stay calm.'
He couldn't find anything to say, so he remained silent. Ark spoke instead:
"Don't feel that way. After all, he is the disciple of a powerful person at the eighth level."
Wendy and Amy looked at him, wanting to know more.
"Shion Lan is the disciple of someone we cannot verify, known as the Radiant Star. In terms of power, he is at the eighth level, and his hidden actions are considered great contributions to the kingdom. That is all that can be said for now."
Shion was shocked. Ark examined him closely, thinking that Shion didn't know much about his own master.
"I know that person didn't tell you much, and your meeting with him might have been ordinary and calm, but his actions are a service to the kingdom."
Shion smiled helplessly.
'Aren't I the one who invented this character? How did he become this great? Eighth level?! What would happen if people learned all of this is a lie I made up? Public execution wouldn't be enough! Damn it! I deceived the Shadow Forces so much that they started making up their own stories!'
Aiten looked at him, thinking:
'It seems he knows nothing about him. Just like the director said, Shion was probably the worst person they could have met. Maybe he only accepted a master because he was desperate at the time.'
Ark coughed before speaking:
"Even so, what we're dealing with now will be because of your master."
No one in the room understood except Shion and Aiten.
"The Dark Crow, isn't it?" Shion said.
Ark smiled. "Yes. During his mission, Shion killed what we might call the heir of their kind. And when we examined the body, we realized something dangerous…"
Ark took a serious tone and continued:
"This young crow could have reached the ninth level and become a real threat with time."
Everyone was shocked, but Ark continued:
"And the large Dark Crow Shion faced was its father—a seventh-level creature. Yet it could speak the human tongue, which means it had the potential to reach the eighth level. But Shion activated his inheritance, and the Radiant Star appeared because of their strong connection to their heritage. With a single clean strike, he eliminated the crow, preventing another threat."
Ark continued:
"But with that, there was no leader for the flock, making them vulnerable to being targeted by slavery magic."
Shion pieced the information together.
"So you're saying there is an attack targeting the kingdom from a slavery mage, correct?"
"Exactly. That's why you all were gathered here—to discuss a plan to intercept them and find a way to win."
Everyone understood the gravity of the situation. Shion, however, had something on his mind, and Ark noticed.
"What is it?"
"Well, here we have the region chief, Aiten, a hero backed by the army and her student, and a hero backed by the Magic Tower and her student… so what business do I have here?"
Ark smiled.
"We want to know whether the Radiant Star will appear here or not. We also wanted his perspective and advice. From what we said earlier, you alone can communicate with your master, so we wanted some consultation."
Shion realized he was in trouble but went along with it. He closed his eyes and shifted to the Veins Realm.
He found Shi Yun Lan there. Before he could speak, Shion said:
"I'm in trouble right now, and I need you to use your technique to make me bleed heavily."
Shi Yun Lan stared at him in disbelief.
"I never expected you to be the type who enjoys torture…"
Then sudden realization hit him.
"So that's why back then, every time you died, you kept coming back for more pain! No no no, you need therapy, man!"
"Shut up, you basta—"
Shion couldn't finish his sentence as sudden pain overwhelmed him. Shi Yun Lan was smiling.
"You have no idea how much I enjoy killing you off-guard and seeing that weird expression of yours! It's refreshing, man!"
Shion immediately pulled out of the realm. At the same moment, realization struck Shi Yun Lan:
"I enjoy torturing that kid… I think I'm the one who needs a psychiatrist."
Meanwhile in the room, Shion's starry aura flared as he kept his eyes closed.
Amy asked, "Is it just me, or did this boy become more… handsome?"
"You felt that too?! I thought I was imagining it. He really has an aura that attracts girls. Too bad for him—if I weren't basically his older sister figure, I might've considered dating him."
Wendy's student looked at her in disbelief, and Wendy noticed.
"Do you want to say something?"
Her white-haired, blue-eyed student replied:
"Don't you think you're exaggerating? Even an older sister doesn't have that kind of beauty."
Wendy smiled proudly. The girl continued:
"It's more like the beauty of a married aunt with children about to get married."
Wendy's expression twisted into horror.
"You think I won't lay my hands on you, Beliza, daughter of the Sano family?!"
Beliza smiled gently.
"It's the truth. You're in your mid-forties and thinking about having a child?"
Wendy grew irritated.
"If not for your father, I would've killed you already! And didn't you hear Shion say how beautiful I used to be? You're just jealous!"
Amid this chaos, Shion coughed blood. His face turned pale rapidly. Blood leaked from his eyes, mouth, and nose as he collapsed.
"Shion!"
Aiten rushed and caught him. Everyone panicked, especially Ark, but Shion spoke normally:
"Don't worry. The issue is the difference in levels between me and my master is so big that even talking is exhausting. He warned me not to use star communication again unless I'm in danger so he can locate me and save me. Otherwise, I might die from it."
Ark didn't know what to say.
"My apologies, Shion. If not for my request, this wouldn't have happened."
Shion's silver eyes and starry aura shimmered as he said:
"My master ordered me to cooperate with you all, or he'll beat me senseless next time."
Despite his ridiculous remark, his presence remained dignified like a great star.
He continued:
"When I collapsed during the mission from the Dark Crow's pressure, and after the crow was dealt with, my master taught me how to handle Dark Crows of any level so I can fight them alone in the future—and also how to avoid the strong."
"Are you saying your master gave you a reliable method to deal with Dark Crows no matter their level?!"
Shion didn't answer. Instead, he asked for paper and a pen and began writing about the habits of Dark Crows and how easily they obey orders starting from level one.
"These are well-known facts in the entire army. I don't think this will help much," Amy said skeptically.
But Aiten interjected:
"Actually, there's something we didn't know about their habits and way of thinking. And Shion didn't know any of this the first time he went to them."
Shion continued to level two, then level three. Most of the known information was there, but several new points appeared—details they had never heard before, solving problems they didn't understand.
Aiten's expression turned serious.
"Starting from level four, this will be useful."
Indeed, Shion began writing rapidly. New details emerged—information only Ark of the Shadow Forces knew, and even he didn't know all of it. Weaknesses during aura activation, differences in thought processes, how to respond to commands, how to deal with the controller, and how far obedience could go.
He moved on to levels five and six, filling page after page. Everyone watched wide-eyed.
Then he wrote about level seven. There was a lot—though not as much as earlier levels—but enough to handle them with ease.
He also explained attack styles, aura types like Feather Aura, Claw Aura, Beak Aura, and the nature of the Dark Crow Domain, its mechanisms, and weaknesses.
Two hours passed. With Shion's writing speed, he filled a thick stack of papers.
"Will this be useful in the battle?" he asked.
"Yes! More than enough! I will inform the king of your achievements to reward you!" Ark declared.
But Shion refused.
"Tell him the credit goes to the Radiant Star. I only conveyed what he said."
'My lies about the Radiant Star have gone smoothly so far, but meeting the king personally is another matter. He's an eight-star duelist! Dealing with him would be signing my death!'
Ark tried again to give Shion credit, but he still refused.
However, Shion did want something in return.
He looked at Amy.
"My lady hero…" He bowed respectfully.
"I have a favor to ask."
Amy raised her head proudly.
"Ask what you wish. The Magic Tower will help you. But anything beyond level seven, I cannot decide alone."
Shion didn't understand why she assumed it involved his imaginary master.
"I need fire magic basics, spells up to the third level if possible, and a complex magic circle."
Amy thought for a moment, then smiled.
"You do have a point. I am the hero of blazing flames, the greatest fire mage in the kingdom. But I am also the Lady of the Magic Tower, and I will be busy preparing for war, so…"
She pushed her student forward proudly.
"This is my student, Rona Flair of the Flair family. A mid-level fire mage with five circles. She can help you with anything you need."
The light-brown-haired, green-eyed girl looked at her teacher with disappointment, then forced a smile.
"I am Rona Flair. I can be your fire magic instructor starting tomorrow."
"Thank you, Lady Flair, for your cooperation."
His silver eyes shone again, starlight flickering inside them.
Wendy also intervened:
"But you can't confirm fire magic quality without another expert, so Beliza Sano will help you as well. She is a five-star duelist of wind and ice. She can evaluate your progress."
Beliza glared at Wendy but let it go.
"I am Beliza Sano. I will be your instructor during your training. Consider us your seniors."
"Thank you both," Shion said.