It's Time

As an Alchemist—and thanks to Kurt's memories—Finn knew exactly what kind of potion this was.

It was a concoction capable of putting Adventurers to sleep the moment they inhaled it. Though harmless in the sense that it caused no permanent damage, it rendered anyone below Profound Rank utterly helpless.

He hadn't expected the intruders to deploy it so suddenly. Caught unprepared, he felt his limbs growing heavy. His vision blurred at the edges.

He tried to resist, gritting his teeth as he forced his soulforce to circulate, but the potion had already seeped into his bloodstream.

Slowly, inevitably, the darkness closed in.

Just before he lost consciousness, his dimming gaze fixed on the figure entering his room.

Clad in black from head to toe, their features hidden behind a stark white mask, the mysterious adventurer strode forward in absolute silence.

Finn felt himself tipping over, weightless, until strong arms caught his falling body.

The masked figure hoisted him over their shoulder as easily as if he weighed nothing and stepped back into the corridor.

Outside, the other six intruders were already waiting, each carrying an unconscious young adventurer.

"The first mission is complete," the one carrying Finn rasped to the others. "Let's move."

The rest nodded in unison.

In the next instant, all seven figures vanished.

--

"Just a few more hours," a voice murmured from high above, drifting over the rooftops like a cold breeze. "Then the final round of the competition begins."

Beside the speaker stood an old man, balanced atop a floating sword.

Together, they watched the faction house below, their eyes solemn, their presences hushed.

For a long while, they had been waiting—sensing, anticipating something—but as the minutes ticked by without incident, they could only sigh in disappointment.

"We expected…something," the old man finally said.

"Sect Master Noah," Marcus spoke up, awe creeping into his tone, "the Royal Clan's strength truly is terrifying. All forty-nine of their Royal Guards are Profound Rank adventurers—anywhere from the 3rd to the 7th Level. In our entire faction, we barely have twenty of such rank."

The two men hovering above were indeed Noah and Marcus.

And as Marcus revealed, the ones who had abducted the Soaring Seven were none other than the Royal Guards.

Noah nodded faintly, his gaze following the last flicker of the Royal Guards' presences as they disappeared into the night.

"They are the reason no one dares to challenge the current King," he said quietly. "They are his personal guard, and no one in the Royal Clan dares to oppose their power. And if that weren't enough, there is still Lord Helbram."

"The Royal Guards have withdrawn," Marcus said after a moment. "It's time we join Lord Helbram and the other faction masters."

Noah turned to leave, only to stop when Marcus spoke again.

"Sect Master…do you have no intention of ever returning to the Royal Clan? Of showing yourself before His Majesty?"

Noah looked back at him, his eyes reflecting a quiet weariness.

"The kingdom's affairs are too entangled, Elder Marcus," he replied softly. "My return would only make them more so."

Marcus fell silent, a troubled sigh escaping him. No one could have guessed what thoughts were turning in his mind.

Seeing his old friend quiet, Noah allowed himself a small, tired smile. Then he turned and finally drifted away into the sky.

Marcus followed wordlessly. In the next breath, their figures dissolved into the night.

--

Morning came.

Sunlight spread across the vast expanse of the Floating Island.

Deep in the primeval forest, a young man was sleeping peacefully, his back resting against the trunk of a massive tree.

The only sounds were the hum of insects and the whisper of the wind.

Minutes passed before there was any sign of movement.

Finally, the young man stirred—slowly opening his eyes.

It was Finn.

He rubbed his forehead, blinking at the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves.

"…Where am I?" he murmured.

As he spoke, memory flooded back.

His heart lurched.

He shot to his feet, immediately checking his hands—fingers splayed, searching.

The rings were still there.

A breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding escaped in relief.

Those rings hid his most critical secrets, especially the Concealing Ring—a Top-Tier Rare Armament capable of masking his true cultivation. If it had been removed, Helbram would have sensed everything.

But as he looked over his fingers, something else caught his eye.

A golden bracelet encircled his wrist.

It wasn't an armament.

More like an ordinary ornament, though he could feel faint traces of potent energy woven into its surface—no doubt crafted by a powerful adventurer.

Even so, he didn't dwell on it long.

Bracing one hand against the tree, he rose fully and scanned his surroundings.

He was still somewhere on the Floating Island.

'Why did those Profound Rank adventurers take us?' he wondered. 'And where are the others?'

Mind racing, he began walking, cautious and alert.

Hours crawled by.

Then—a voice boomed across the treetops.

It was so clear and resonant it seemed to echo inside his very chest.

"Good morning, young adventurers," the voice proclaimed. "You are likely confused about what has transpired. But do not be alarmed. Your abduction by the Royal Guards was part of the final round of the competition."

Finn recognized the voice instantly.

'Lord Helbram,' he thought. 'So this was all planned…'

Helbram's words continued, rumbling like distant thunder.

"You have no companions by your side, have you? That is intentional. For this trial, you must find your teammates before you can face the other factions."

"Even if you are the strongest among them, fighting alone will greatly increase your chance of defeat. Remember this well: A single tree cannot stand against a storm. To triumph, you must rely on each other."

--

Far away, at the entrance of the Auction House, a young woman in a red uniform emerged.

She lifted her gaze to the sky, her expression dark with irritation.

"Hmph! Was it really necessary to abduct us?" she snapped.

With an angry stamp of her foot, she stalked off into the forest.

--

"All forty-nine of you have been scattered across the Floating Island," Helbram's voice went on, reverberating over the canopy. "The entire territory is your battlefield. You are free to use any means you wish."

"You may have noticed the golden bracelets on your wrists. Protect them well. If an opponent seizes your bracelet and binds it to their own, you will lose your right to continue. You must then proceed to the stadium, where you will wait until the competition concludes."

"One final warning: As always, the Sacred Dragon Family forbids the killing or crippling of your fellow young Adventurers."

Finn listened carefully, his eyes thoughtful.

It was clever.

The faction masters knew that every young genius in the competition carried their own pride—their own conceit. They hated asking others for help.

But in this event, they'd be forced to cooperate—or perish alone.

No general could defeat an army by himself.

He tilted his head back, staring up through the swaying leaves.

A quiet, knowing smile curved his lips.

Then he set off again, deeper into the forest.

--

High above the island, fifteen figures hovered in midair.

Eight of them floated effortlessly without even a flying sword beneath their feet.

"Pri—Sect Master Noah," Helbram called, his voice unhurried.

Noah looked over, stepping forward with Little Red snoozing on his shoulder.

"Lord Helbram. What can I do for you?"

The old man studied him for a long moment.

There was something he clearly wanted to say—but for reasons of his own, he let it go.

Instead, he turned his gaze down to the lone figure moving below them.

"That boy," he said softly. "I find him fascinating. While he's been in the Cloud Soaring Sect…have you noticed anything…unusual?"

Every faction master turned, following Helbram's eyes.

All fell silent, listening intently.

Noah said nothing for a moment. His gaze softened as it rested on Finn's small silhouette among the trees.

"Lord Helbram…Finn has been with us for only three months," he said at last. "And in that time, he has rarely left his dormitory. He almost never interacts with the other Adventurers."

"Three months?" Helbram echoed, brows lifting. "How could he possibly become a Core Member so quickly?"

He knew the rules—every faction demanded its initiates undergo rigorous trials before ascending to the core ranks. Unless…

Unless the faction master himself intervened.

Noah hesitated. He wasn't sure he should speak of this—but in the end, he did.

He looked Helbram straight in the eye.

"Lord Helbram…you surely remember Kiden Sylveria."

"Who doesn't know that name?" Helbram murmured, voice low and almost wistful. "Every influential Adventurer has heard of that man."

Noah nodded.

Images stirred in his mind—echoes of old promises and older regrets.

He reached up to stroke Little Red's soft fur, then went on quietly:

"It was he who asked me to accept Finn into the Cloud Soaring Sect."

"…And have you seen him again?" Helbram asked at once, his tone sharpening.

None of the other masters were surprised by his reaction.

Everyone knew the name Kiden Sylveria—and the dangerous, tangled history behind it.

Noah slowly shook his head.

"He didn't come himself," he said, smiling faintly. "He only sent a letter. Marcus tells me…Kiden has reached the 9th Level of Profound Rank."

Helbram's expression shifted. A deep breath left him, half relief and half sorrow.

"I haven't heard news of him in years," he murmured. "Perhaps it is better this way. Better if he remains simply…an Institution Master. If he ever grows stronger again…things will become far too complicated."

Noah looked away, his voice dropping to a whisper only Marcus could hear.

"He made a promise to our teacher," he said. "He swore he wouldn't seek revenge. And I believe him. But…I don't understand…why did he have to suffer?"

Helbram gazed at him, searching his face.

His heart felt heavy—caught between old grief and a quiet respect.

"Do you not resent him?" he asked softly. "After all…isn't he the reason you suffered too?"

Noah was silent for a long while.

Then he exhaled, voice low and calm.

"Perhaps. But he's also the reason I'm alive. And in the end…maybe it was my own weakness that made him what he became."