Unbeknownst to anyone—while Zane and his team were orchestrating their bold scheme at the entrance of Titan Ruin, collecting "entry donations" from students and even teachers—a group of figures stood silently deep within a nearby woodland.
A dozen individuals, cloaked in black from head to knees, watched the scene unfold.
"Why are we stopping here?" one of them asked in a hushed voice.
"We can’t afford to be exposed to the Academy forces," said Yublee Hills, known infamously as the Devil-Daughter. "Besides, the drones are monitoring everything. We’ll enter once they’ve all gone inside."
They waited in silence, observing in awe as Zane and his group manipulated the situation—cornering the others into paying for passage, even strongarming the teachers.
These cloaked figures belonged to the Villain Camp, an organization opposed to everything the Academy stood for—its values, its discipline, and its loyalty to the crown.
A few of them began whispering praise about Zane and his cunning tactics.
"Impressive how they pulled that off—no hesitation, even with teachers present."
"Quiet!" Yublee snapped, her cold voice shutting them up instantly.
They waited patiently.
Eventually, they saw Zane and his party pass through the gate. The swarm of bee-sized drones soon followed, and then, with a low rumble, the massive stone gate sank into the ground—completely sealed.
Yublee gave a subtle nod.
In a blink, their silhouettes flickered like dark phantoms and vanished from the woods.
A few minutes later, they reappeared before the very pillar that Zane had used to open the gate.
But unlike the Academy students, this group had come prepared. Their mission was far more dangerous—and their goal more specific: extract the Titan relics and magical weapons hidden deep within the ruin.
Yublee reached inside her robes and pulled out a crimson, egg-shaped orb. Without hesitation, she placed it into the indentation on the pillar’s surface.
The ancient pillar, engraved with faded murals and cryptic lines, suddenly reacted. Glowing runes illuminated in bright hues—red, green, gold, and violet—as the orb melted into the structure like water into a sponge.
With a rumble, another massive stone gate rose up from the earth—identical to the one Zane had opened.
"Devil-Daughter," a youth with heterochromatic eyes spoke, "shouldn’t we wait for the Devil-Son?"
Yublee shook her head firmly.
"We’ve already lost enough time. Our mission comes first—not him. Let’s move."
She gave a sharp gesture.
The cloaked team darted into the newly revealed tunnel, moving fast. Unlike the students, their presence remained completely hidden from the Academy’s surveillance systems.
They had snuck in under the guise of the First Phase of the Ranking Tournament.
Fresher Meet Village – Earth
Back on Earth, in the Fresher Meet Village, the atmosphere had reached a fever pitch.
Crowds of spectators stared at the enormous virtual displays hovering in the sky—broadcasting live footage from Mars.
But this time, the excitement wasn’t just about monster kills or rankings.
It was the rush toward Titan Ruin, triggered by the unexpected announcement from the Academy Director, that had turned the tide.
Cheers, laughter, and screams filled the air.
The betting arenas overflowed with awakened citizens placing frantic wagers on their favorite candidates.
Every street corner, tavern, and open space in the village was packed—awakened people from across the city gathered to witness the pivotal moment.
Even noble families and high-ranking officials from the powerful Super-Families had descended upon the village. They had come to observe the performance of their younger generations, all competing in this year’s Fresher Ranking Tournament.
It had evolved into more than a tournament.
It had become a festival—a grand celebration across Artemis City, the City of Awakened.
Currently, Director Aaron and Pudge sat in their usual courtyard, playing their daily chess match. Half their attention remained on the board, while the other half was fixed on the enormous virtual display hovering above the stage—broadcasting scenes from Mars in real-time.
Pudge moved a rook across the board, not with his hands, but with sheer will.
That alone wasn’t unusual. Everyone at their level could levitate objects effortlessly. What no one else in the audience realized, however, was that this wasn’t just a game of chess—it was a silent battle of laws between two titans of power.
"Why do I feel like your laws are improving rapidly?" Aaron asked, eyes still on the board.
"Nah, you’re misjudging," Pudge replied with a smirk. "My pace of progress has slowed to a crawl. It’s just that your understanding of your own laws is still a few steps behind."
His tone was confident—borderline arrogant.
It was a subtle jab, as if saying: I’ve already surpassed you. I’m just playing at your level to keep things interesting.
Aaron didn’t take offense. Instead, he chuckled and nodded in acknowledgment.
"This is our fourth game. If I win this, the score will be tied," Aaron mused aloud.
"Oh, you wish. Not gonna happen," Pudge said, grinning as he moved another pawn—clearing Aaron’s bishop in the process. Find the newest release on novｅlfire.net
Suddenly, both of them stopped and turned their full attention to the screen.
A new scene had appeared: Zane was crafting a makeshift boat and calmly drifting down a wide river—choosing to ride the current while others sprinted on foot toward the distant city inside the Titan Ruin.
Their interest piqued.
"That’s... different," Aaron murmured.
It wasn’t just the two of them. The crowd watching the broadcast back on Earth was buzzing.
Some praised Zane for his ingenuity. Others scoffed—still judging him harshly due to his family background. Though no one said it outright, many had branded Zane a heretic, simply because of his bloodline. The sins of his father still lingered in public memory.
"Look at him. Calm as ever. Clever choice," Pudge noted, nudging another chess piece forward.
"Why did you announce the presence of the Ruin publicly?" he asked, more seriously this time.
"To make things more interesting, of course. Look around—do you see a single bored face?" He gestured toward the arena filled with spectators, shouting, laughing, and placing bets.