CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: EXIT FROM THE GATE

The smell of burning flesh was horrific, and as the smoke cleared, it revealed a chilling landscape.

Flesh and blood decorated the sand as the monster no longer moved.

The part with the mouth was sliced into numerous small pieces, with fangs sinking here and there into the sandy ground.

The other part, bombarded by Lian, was even more gruesome. The body was smoldering as the fire consumed what remained of the carcass.

"It should really be over now..." Lian murmured as he sat on the scorching sand, his face exhausted from the effort. With those last fireballs, he had squeezed out every drop of his mana, his body drained but triumphant.

Beside him, Seline observed everything with a mixed expression of disbelief and disappointment. She was disappointed in herself for being so weak... I have to get stronger. When I get out of here, I’ll use all my savings to buy pills and cultivation techniques, not food... she thought, visible pain in her eyes, a burning resolve to rise above her limitations.

Freddy wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, panting. "Okay... now someone explain that lightning." he said, pointing his sword at the clear sky as if interrogating the gods themselves.

Lian had the same doubts as he observed a clear, cloudless sky, the absence of any storm adding to the mystery.

"Maybe there’s someone else besides the three of us?" Seline asked with a soft voice. The pain she had felt earlier had subsided, but the trauma would linger for a while...

"That thing made quite a racket..." A faint voice, as if from someone just waking up, drew everyone’s attention.

Atop a dune, a figure moved slowly, as if each step required immense effort. Half-closed eyes, a black robe, and an expression torn between boredom and sleepiness.

"...and I just wanted to sleep—" she added with a yawn.

A surreal silence followed.

"Who are you?!" Lian blurted out in disbelief. The figure before him emitted no hint of aura or mana, appearing as an ordinary human.

"It doesn’t matter..." she said, continuing to walk laboriously toward the worm’s direction.

As soon as those words left their mouth, a series of swirling energy particles gathered together.

Under the excited gazes of Freddy, Seline, and Lian, an immaculate portal appeared a few meters away from the worm’s carcass.

"There it is!" Lian shouted with excitement. He could not wait to start his academic life; he was fed up with living in a desert with nothing around. Fortunately, he had met Seline, or else...

Reaching this line of thought, Lian suddenly felt sad. Does this mean I won’t see her again? A regretful expression painted his face as he turned to steal a glance at the girl beside him.

Unlike Lian, Seline had an expression of pure determination. She wanted to return and become stronger; she could not let Lian steal all the glory, her competitive spirit reignited by the challenge.

Thinking of this, Seline turned to Lian, only to see him staring at her intensely, his gaze carrying an unspoken weight.

"What’s wrong??" The girl blushed instantly, looking away to the opposite side. Her mind replayed Lian’s intense gaze, making her blush even more, her heart racing under the unexpected scrutiny.

"N-nothing—" Lian scratched the back of his neck with a goofy smile.

A laugh echoed in the awkward silence as a hand landed on both their shoulders at the same time. "Great job, kids. Now we can finally get out of here," Freddy said.

Lian and Seline merely nodded at Freddy with smiles. This was a goodbye...

Meanwhile, the mysterious figure who had struck the boss with lightning continued walking at a pace too slow even for an ordinary person. It was hard to watch.

"Here, Lian, you deserve this." Freddy tossed a spherical object toward Lian, who caught it with a surprised look. He had not expected to receive it, honestly.

"I can’t accept!" he replied before a light elbow nudged his side.

"If you don’t deserve it, then none of us do." Seline’s smile was genuine as she nodded slowly.

"Then thanks—" Lian said with a nod.

[Mana Core: Silver 1]

[Unable to absorb!]

Lian had expected as much. He was still too weak to absorb it, the core’s power far beyond his current capacity.

As he thought about it, his gaze involuntarily fell on the sluggish figure approaching the portal. They had not batted an eye about obtaining the Silver 1 Mana Core; all their energy was spent reaching the portal.

Judging by their walking pace, it would take at least several minutes...

"So this is goodbye..." Lian murmured, looking at the two, especially Seline.

"Hey, have you already forgotten?!" the girl snapped, stepping toward Lian. "You owe me those meatballs!"

Silence—

Then a laugh broke the atmosphere. "Kids, it’s obvious you’ll meet again! The world is big, but fate is mysterious. We met here for a reason, and that means only one thing..." Freddy said with a carefree smile as he turned toward the portal.

"...we’ll definitely meet again!"

The three continued chatting, reminiscing about the moments they shared... not forgetting how Freddy had beaten both of them during their first encounter, a memory that brought both laughter and grimaces.

Seline and Lian nodded happily as they walked toward the portal.

The mysterious figure from earlier had just passed through the portal; now only the three of them remained.

After exchanging farewells, they crossed the portal one by one.

"Finally, I’m going home... I wonder what the old man and my mom will think of me... not to mention Mira," Lian murmured softly as he took his final step into the portal. "I just hope they’re okay..."

With a hum, Lian closed his eyes.

"I feel like I’ve forgotten something... but I can’t figure out what—" he continued as he passed through the portal.

A moment later, the world became visible again as Lian raised his head to observe the walls of the Astralis Academy...

"What the hell?!?"

---

Author’s Note!

What’s going on?! Can a boy like Lian, with such a thirst for learning, ever go to school in peace??

Help him! Every Golden Ticket, every Power Stone, and every comment can help him escape his captivity!