The Next Day

    After trying out their new abilities, everyone returned and rested for the next day to come.

    In the morning, Jake woke up as usual, but when he went to his kitchen, he found a new guest sitting on the sofa.

    Jake turned to look at him and saw a tall, muscular man with an unusual aura that seemed to be suppressed by the ring on his finger.

    Jake instinctively used Akashic Sight on him.

    *****

    Name : Dio Granvis

    Race : Tainted Dryad/Human

    Core : Umbra(Pseudo white)/ Black Emerald (White) (Tainted)

    Core Energy : Shadow Abyssal / Lifeless or Black Emerald Mana

    Rank : E+

    Description : A half human and half Fey hybrid, with best of both world, now is tainted by the huge resentment he faced after his mother was tortured and she died.

    *******

    Seeing the information provided by the Akashic Sight, Jake fell silent and then sat across from Dio.

    Dio''s features were stoic and hard, the once lively face now looking like a dead mask, perpetually angry, sad, and burdened with the weight of the world''s pain. Jake didn''t say anything for the time being.

    "Aren''t you going to ask something?" Dio eventually said, breaking the silent atmosphere.

    Jake took a breath and asked, "Do you want me to?" looking at him.@@@@

    Dio raised his head, his black abyssal eyes staring back at Jake''s purple crystal-like eyes.

    After a moment of intense silence, Dio replied, "I suppose it doesn''t matter. Everyone always wants to know about the past that haunts me." He leaned back, his eyes still fixed on Jake. "How is life going for you?"

    "I mean, I learned you are no some kind of bigshot here," Dio tried to chuckle, but his dead eyes and bright smile created a starkly contrasting expression.

    Jake allowed himself a small, wry smile. "Life''s been... complicated. Trying to navigate through everything with new knowledge I learn everyday and the responsibilities they bring." He paused, studying Dio''s expression. "But I guess we all have our burdens to bear."

    Dio''s smile faded, and he nodded slowly. "We do. And sometimes, those burdens define us more than we like to admit." He glanced at the ring on his finger, the aura around him subtly shifting. "But maybe, just maybe, we can find a way to lighten the load. Together."

    Jake''s expression softened slightly. "Maybe. So, what brings you here, Dio? What are you looking for?"

    Dio smiled wryly and said, "I don''t know."

    "The one who was teaching me all this time said I need to interact with others and not be an introvert, but... I don''t know if I can do it or not," Dio admitted, sighing in relief.

    "We will help," Jake said, patting Dio''s back.

    "We?" Dio raised his brows and then chuckled. "You don''t mean those who are eavesdropping now, right?"

    Tista and the others, who were leaning behind the wall, smiled awkwardly and came forward.

    Jake grinned. "Yeah, those guys. We''re all in this together."

    Tista stepped forward, extending a hand. "Welcome, Dio. We''re here to support each other, no matter what."

    Jake''s thoughts were interrupted by Dio''s curious gaze. "What are you thinking about?"

    Jake snapped back to the present. "Just pondering the mysteries of our world and how we''re all connected. Dio, you have incredible potential. Maybe more than you realize."

    Dio raised an eyebrow. "Potential, huh? That''s one way to put it."

    " still you haven''t answered mu question" Dio said.

    "Is it necessary for you to know?" Jake leaned back and asked helplessly.

    Dio nodded seriously.

    Jake rolled his eyes back and then said, "Yes, it was me."

    "As I entered inside, I had a fight with an Infernal. After capturing it, I soul-searched him and learned of the Infernals'' plan. To prevent it, I used an artifact, a powerful one, to aid me. I cast an illusion on everyone and then sent them inside a pocket space."

    "After that, I trailed after the Infernals but stopped myself from engaging when I saw there were more than hundreds of them, and not to mention the minimum rank among them was Baron."

    "So yeah, I did the illusion thingy," Jake shrugged and said.

    Dio nodded and asked, "What was their plan?"

    "Nothing mind-boggling, just killing the students and then infiltrating the academy by disguising as them."

    "After that, they had to integrate with society and, when the war starts, they would backstab at major points and kill major cities of us Celestarians."

    Dio''s expression hardened. "That''s worse than I imagined. Thanks for stopping them."

    Jake waved it off. "Just doing what I can. We''ve got a lot on our plate, and we need to stay ahead of these threats."

    At another location.

    ".... Ahead of this threats"

    Rami close the screen, as Jake stopped at this point.

    " so it was him" Michael nodded and said.

    " well cant blame him for it" Myre said.

    "surely he could have informed us about it" Luna commented.

    Tami ignored them and looked at Ragur.

    " was his words true?" Rami asked seriously .

    " Yes, he is saying the truth " Ragur replies.

    Rami looked at him and then asked " You said the same thing laat time"

    Ragur : "..... "

    Others : ".... "

    Rami shook his head and said "It seems Jake has a way to avoid your Pavitar Eyes"

    " Still, there was nothing wrong with the students who were victim of Jake"

    " And his friends seem to have acquire some legacies core, they have integrated it with thiers, and they don''t have the mean to hide it like Jake" Rami said remembering the observation he noted when he dropped Dio at Jake''s home.