The Cost of Underestimation

It had become effortless for Northern to perceive the true essence of one's soul. Over time, a semblance of Chaos Eyes' ability had rubbed off on his mundane sight as well.

So, while it wasn't as clear as when he activated Chaos Eyes, he could still discern a person's intent to a reasonable extent.

He could see the truth, the lies, and the foolishness of mankind. Some of these emotions were too convoluted, tangled into a mess he couldn't quite navigate—like that of the girl he had just fought.

But others were as clear as the midday sky.

From the moment the red-haired boy spoke, Northern saw something lurking in the depths of his soul. It wasn't exactly a lie, but it wasn't a truth either.

And the more the boy spoke, the more that thing spiraled into a strange, creeping darkness.

Then came the suggestion—to use his weakest ability. Northern watched as that darkness settled, curling into a comfortable stillness.