He is..!

After several minutes of shrieking in agony, Brien finally fell silent. He lay sprawled on the ground, glaring up at Finn with eyes seething with hatred.

His face was swollen and cut in a dozen places, testament to the savage beating Finn had given him. Of course he was furious.

But Finn didn't acknowledge the venom in his gaze. Calmly, he leveled the tip of his Black Iron Sword at Brien's other hand, intent on pinning it to the ground just like the first.

Brien couldn't even lift an arm to stop him. All he could do was glare, trembling with impotent rage.

The blade's point was just about to pierce flesh—

When a gentle, elderly voice echoed from the clouds above.

"Finn Doria."

Finn's hand halted mid-motion.

Slowly, he tilted his chin upward. His expression was solemn, as though he'd expected this.

"…Association Master Morris," he replied evenly, eyes lifting to the sky.

"I know my student's behavior has been disgraceful, and I understand your anger," Morris's voice continued, still soft. "But would you allow him this mercy? Your victory is already beyond question. I ask you, let him keep at least a shred of dignity."

Finn had known this was coming. What he hadn't expected was how gentle Morris's tone would be—devoid of threat or condescension.

He understood the reason.

It was only natural.

After this competition, the entire kingdom would know Finn's name. Morris needed to preserve goodwill at any cost. If the Alchemist Association wanted to prosper, they would need Finn's help—and the knowledge he possessed.

Besides, Finn had once mentioned the ancient alchemy book he'd found. If Morris could secure them, the Association might finally rival even the Crimson Blood Kingdom's Alchemy God Sect.

Seeing no further point in humiliating Brien, Finn parted his lips to reply—

—but Brien suddenly screamed.

"Teacher! Why are you letting this worthless peasant humiliate me?! I'm your student—! You should defend me! I want Finn Do—"

"Enough!" Morris's voice boomed, for the first time edged in cold fury.

Brien's words died in his throat.

"Do you even hear yourself?!" Morris asked loudly. "Have you no shame left? You lost in fair combat. Now you would have me punish your opponent simply because you were too weak to defeat him?!"

Morris took a shaky breath, his anger momentarily threatening to boil over.

"It is my duty to protect you when you are truly in danger—but this is not such a time. You came here to compete, not to murder. And as an Adventurer, you should learn to accept defeat."

For a heartbeat, the entire island was silent.

"…You have shamed me before the faction masters and Elders," Morris finished, voice low. "And before Lord Helbram himself. You've disappointed me."

Even though Finn couldn't see Morris's face, he could feel the cold weight behind every word.

Brien's mouth worked, but no sound came out.

He stared at the ground, jaw clenched so tight it trembled.

He still couldn't accept this. He hadn't even played all his trump cards—but in his current state, there was no way he could use them. And if he revealed them now, everyone would learn the secret he'd sworn to keep hidden.

Finn's gaze softened a fraction.

"…Since Association Master Morris has asked it of me," he said calmly, "I'll stop here, out of respect for you."

He bent and tore the golden bracelet from Brien's arm.

"You lost," Finn told him flatly. "And you have only yourself to blame for being too weak."

The golden bracelet fused with Finn's own, and at once, the surface shimmered brighter than before.

"Finn Doria," Morris spoke again, his voice composed once more. "Don't worry—we will honor your wager. As victor, you are entitled to a favor from the Alchemist Association. Whether it is rare materials, pill formulas, potions, or instruction in alchemy itself…you have only to ask after the Seven Great Faction Games conclude."

The offer was genuine—and also a carefully laid trap. If Finn accepted their tutelage, they might convince him to join the Alchemist Association permanently.

Finn was worth more than a hundred Briens.

With his legendary alchemy flame, his unparalleled skill, and the secrets he possessed…he could become the greatest Alchemist in the Sacred Dragon Kingdom. If that happened, the association would finally eclipse the Immortal Sword Pavilion and Ancient Darkness Island.

The other faction masters saw precisely what Morris was angling for. They sighed inwardly.

In the end, they could only watch as the Alchemist Association secured its future.

Noah let out a slow breath as well.

If Finn truly chose to join them, none of them could stop him. And none of them had the right to.

Finn offered a faint smile in reply.

He was not the kind of man who forgot debts of gratitude. But he had no intention of tying himself to the Alchemist Association.

He already knew more of alchemy than Morris ever would. Compared to the knowledge Finn held…the association's entire library might as well be a child's primer.

But of course, none of them could read his thoughts. They could only guess—and hope.

When the conversation ended, Finn swept his gaze slowly across the clearing.

"…That's enough of a spectacle," he said coolly. "Why are you all still hiding?"

His voice rippled across the broken square—and all around him, figures began to step into view.

Some were battered and dirt-streaked. Others were armed and unscathed. But all of them had been watching, waiting for the moment to strike.

A young man in a silver uniform strode forward, three boys and a girl trailing in his wake. His eyes flicked to Brien's mangled form—and in their depths swirled a cocktail of wariness and ambition.

He halted just a few steps from Finn.

"Finn Doria," Azur said with a thin smile. "You've hidden your strength well. If I'd fought Brien, I'd have struggled to survive that Illusionary Demon Knight."

This was Azur himself—the first to arrive and watch the entire duel from the shadows.

At first, he had been shaken. But as the fight dragged on, that fear had melted away.

He'd decided to bide his time.

After all, whoever won would surely be exhausted, their soulforce and stamina depleted.

And when that happened, he would appear to claim the victor's bracelet for the Immortal Sword Pavilion.

Finn had known exactly what Azur was planning.

But he hadn't cared.

He met Azur's gaze, silent.

Azur felt a vein in his temple throb. He forced himself to smile.

"…Still, after such a fierce battle, I doubt you have much power left. Even with a recovery pill, you'll need time to recover." Azur's voice turned cold. "I suggest you be sensible and hand over your bracelet. Otherwise—"

Finn raised an eyebrow.

"Otherwise what?"

"Otherwise," Azur said, "I'll take it from you by force. And you know you can't defeat me."

Finn threw his head back and laughed.

The sound rang out clear and mocking.

Lore, Ashe, and Ezekias emerged from the rubble to stand at Finn's side, eyes wary as they faced Azur's group.

"What's so funny?!" Azur snarled, red-faced.

"Azur," Lore said sweetly, "he's laughing because he thinks you've lost your mind. Or maybe he's just amused by how pathetic you are."

Azur's eyes flashed.

"Lore," he hissed, "you think you and your friends can challenge the Sword Seven? We have the numbers—and the strength."

Before Lore could reply, another voice joined in.

"And I'm here too."

Gerould appeared, three companions at his back. His gaze locked on Finn, ignoring Azur entirely.

"Even if you've beaten me twice, Azur, I've never once thought of you as a worthy rival," Gerould declared coldly. "The only opponent I acknowledge…is Finn Doria."

All around them, other groups began to step into view, weapons at the ready.

Brien was dragged away by members of the Alchemy Seven, who fed him a recovery pill. He shot Finn one last venomous glare before disappearing behind the others.

In another corner, Tiffanya and Hyon watched in silence. They were all that remained of the Ice Seven. Hatred burned so bright in Tiffanya's eyes it was almost palpable.

Finn finally stopped laughing.

He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.

Twenty pairs of eyes fixed on him as he began to count aloud.

"…Nineteen…twenty."

His smile was lazy and cold.

"If you really want to try and defeat me," he said, "maybe—just maybe—you'd have a one percent chance if you all attacked at once."

A stunned hush fell over the clearing.

Had the boy gone insane?

Laughter erupted.

"Hmph." Azur's voice was sharp with scorn. "You think you're untouchable? Even an ordinary 5th Level Scarlet Gold Rank could bring you down now."

He stepped forward.

"You've wasted everyone's time with your delusions."

Finn's companions glanced at each other, then back at him.

They knew better.

Finn looked Azur dead in the eye.

His voice was low and frigid.

"You know what I hate most?"

He raised one hand.

"…Being threatened by worthless trash like you."

Azur went rigid.

"If you think you're talented because you've reached the 7th Level Scarlet Gold Rank…" Finn continued softly, "then allow me to show you the truth."

He smiled—a slow, razor-edged thing.

"…You're just another piece of trash before me."

Every eye locked on his hand as it moved.

Weapons were drawn.

No one dared let down their guard.

But Finn didn't reach for his interspatial ring.

Instead…

He touched the other ring on one of his fingers.

[Concealing Ring +13]

Effect: Conceal and change the bearer's aura

Armament Grade: Rare

Quality: Top-tier

It wasn't an interspatial ring.

It was the ring.

Slowly…

He pulled it free.

--

BANG.

An immense aura crashed across the battlefield like a tidal wave.

Every young adventurer froze.

Their eyes bulged.

Cold sweat burst across every brow.

One by one, their weapons slipped from nerveless fingers.

Their knees buckled.

They began to tremble, unable to stand beneath the suffocating pressure.

Up above, every Elder and faction master went pale, jaws dropping.

--

This was madness.

It was impossible—

"He's not…a 1st Level Scarlet Gold Rank Adventurer…"

"…He's—!"