Seeing Her Again

Noah and Marcus nearly gaped, their eyes wide as Finn's declaration sank in. Their mouths hung slightly open, and for a moment neither could fully accept the words they'd just heard. They had thought—hoped—that he finally understood everything they had tried so hard to explain. They had done all they could to make him see that they had never wanted to break their promise. And yet, in this single, calm statement, it was clear he still did not wholly believe them.

When Finn noticed how stunned they were, he forced himself to smile. His voice was soft, almost gentle.

"Please, don't think that I'm severing my ties to the Cloud Soaring Sect out of anger or hatred. This is simply the path I have chosen—and the path forced upon my clan. I don't wish to drag your name through the mire of my vengeance. This war isn't yours. It is mine—and mine alone. Between me, the Nine Ice Family, the Ice Feather Sect, and even the Crown Prince himself."

He paused, and his gaze dropped briefly to the floor before lifting again.

"All of this began with me. The arrangement to marry Tiffanya Frois—that was the root of the war. If not for that agreement, none of this chaos would ever have happened. And if greed hadn't poisoned so many hearts, it would never have come to this."

"My clan was at peace… We lived simply. We did nothing to harm them. We never defiled their name. They began this war—and I am the one who will end it."

He drew in a quiet breath, and the quiet in the chamber seemed to deepen, pressing on every heart.

"I have no other choice. Their sins have long passed the point of forgiveness."

Noah and Marcus locked eyes with him. In that moment, they could see it plainly—he would not be swayed.

Marcus exhaled heavily. His voice came low and solemn.

"If…if this is truly your decision, then there is nothing more we can say. If you truly wish to leave the sect to follow your convictions, we will not stand in your way. I have only one request…"

He paused, his voice roughened with emotion.

"If one day…you change your mind and wish to return, know that the Cloud Soaring Sect will always be open to you. You have brought honor to this sect—honor to our name—and you are our pride."

Finn's smile trembled faintly. His voice came soft and filled with sorrow.

"Of course, Elder Marcus… Sect Master Noah. My entire Azure Wood Family is grateful to you both. We will always be allies, no matter what happens. And I will never forget that I was once part of the Cloud Soaring Sect. Even if my time here was brief… I have learned much as an Adventurer, and I will carry those lessons for the rest of my life."

The three of them fell into silence, gazing at one another in a wordless, heavy stillness. A strange, bittersweet feeling weighed on each of their hearts, and for a moment, no one could speak.

At last, Noah closed his eyes and let out a long, quiet sigh. After several heartbeats, he opened them again and said with quiet formality:

"I, Noah Vildar, Sect Master of the Cloud Soaring Sect, hereby strip you of your title as a core member. From this moment on, you no longer bear any ties to the Cloud Soaring Sect."

His voice turned colder, more ceremonial.

"Along with your title, I strip you of the right to wield the techniques and skills you have acquired within this sect."

Finn's smile did not vanish, but grief was written plainly across his face as he listened to Noah's words. He reached for his interspatial ring, and in the next instant, two items materialized in his hands.

[Black Iron Sword]

Armament Grade: Rare

Quality: High-tier

Damage: 470

Yes—one of the objects was none other than the High-tier Rare Armament Ashe had given him. The other was a medallion engraved with the symbol of the Cloud Soaring Sect.

Finn stepped forward, offering both items to Noah with a respectful bow. Then he lifted his gaze to meet Noah's eyes.

"And I, Finn Doria, scion of the Azure Wood Family, accept the removal of my title as core member. I also swear that the techniques and skills I learned here will never be used again. I return to you this medallion—the symbol of my membership—and this weapon bestowed upon me by the Cloud Soaring Sect."

His voice quieted into finality.

"From this day on, I, Finn Doria, have no further ties to the Cloud Soaring Sect."

Silence fell—deeper and heavier than before. No one wished to break it, for to do so would be to acknowledge that this parting was real.

There was no choice—if Finn were to truly sever his ties, this ritual had to be performed. And so, at last, Noah drew a shuddering breath and extended his hands. He accepted the medallion and the sword.

He looked up and met Finn's gaze—and there, he saw sorrow so profound it nearly made him look away.

If not for the cruel chaos surrounding Finn, none of this would have been necessary. No Adventurers would have been caught in the bloodshed. No farewells would have had to be spoken.

"Finn," Noah said quietly, "though you are no longer a member of this sect, you may always visit. And do not worry—I will announce your departure formally at dawn. From that moment, you will have no more obligations to the sect's laws."

"The entire Cloud Soaring Sect is proud of your determination and courage. Your name will never be erased from our history."

Finn nodded once, his expression solemn. Then he reached for his interspatial ring once more. A slender sword appeared in his grasp, its scabbard ornate and gleaming with a golden luster.

Noah and Marcus instinctively looked closer. The instant they sensed the sword's aura, their hearts stuttered. A tremor passed through them—this was unlike any weapon they had ever encountered.

"A—An Epic Armament!" Noah blurted out, stunned.

[Lightning Rhino Sword]

Armament Grade: Epic

Quality: Low-tier

Damage: 39,942

Its scabbard was pure gold, engraved with lavish designs. In Finn's memory, this blade had been forged from the horn of a Lightning Rhino—a vicious beast whose horn brimmed with energy. Just as its name implied, it carried the power of lightning.

Without warning, Finn tossed the sword. Noah, startled, caught it reflexively.

"Finn—what is the meaning of this?" Noah demanded, unable to hide his astonishment.

In his entire life, he had never held an actual Epic Armament. As a child, he had seen one only in his father's hands—and even then, it had been so treasured it was rarely displayed.

To possess even a Low-tier Epic Armament was enough to start wars. And with it came danger that no sane man would take lightly.

Finn's eyes met his, grave and unwavering. He extended an empty hand as he spoke.

"It is a gift—a gift for everything you have done for me and my clan. Please…accept it, so that I may leave here in peace. If not for you, the war between the Nine Ice Family and my clan would have begun much sooner."

His voice steadied.

"That sword is called the Lightning Rhino. And as a Low-tier Epic Armament, with sufficient power, it can shatter even a Top-tier Excellent Armament's shield or armor."

Noah and Marcus stared at him, speechless. This was the treasure every Sky Rank Adventurer in the Sacred Dragon Kingdom dreamed of—and here stood a young man treating it as if it were no more than a simple token of thanks.

Noah wanted to refuse—but the resolute light in Finn's gaze made it clear no refusal would be accepted.

"…Who are you really, Finn?" Noah whispered.

To so casually give away an Epic Armament… it only deepened the enigma surrounding this young man. It felt as though he knew nothing about Finn at all—only the surface of what he was capable of.

To reach the 9th Level Profound Rank at such a young age—his talent must be something born only once in a thousand years. A miracle in a third-rate kingdom like the Sacred Dragon.

And yet…they had failed to treat him as he deserved. And so, things had come to this.

A long moment of silence passed between them. At last, something else occurred to Finn. He looked at Noah, brow creasing.

"There is one more question I have, Sect Master Noah."

Noah roused himself from his thoughts and turned to him.

"Ask whatever you wish. After gifting us a Low-tier Epic Armament, no question is too great."

Finn nodded.

"The six mysterious Adventurers who secretly aided my clan… Were they Ashe and the other members of the Soaring Seven?"

Though he had long suspected it, he needed to hear it confirmed from Noah's own lips.

Noah sighed.

"Yes. It was them. I still don't know how those six young ones advanced to Profound Rank so quickly. I've asked them more than once—but they refused to answer. Wait…"

His eyes widened.

"You—were you the friend Lore Lilytel spoke of?!"

Noah froze mid-sentence as realization struck. Lore had often mentioned a friend to whom he owed everything. And apart from Ashe, there was no one Lore ever trusted so deeply.

If Finn could give away an Epic Armament so easily—he could just as easily have given them the resources to rise in power.

Finn smiled faintly.

"Perhaps I did help…but it was their own strength that carried them forward. I only gave those pills to Lore. It was his choice to share them with the others."

Yes—he had granted them only to Lore, at the young man's heartfelt request. Finn had respected his determination to save his family from Azur.

Hearing this, Noah and Marcus exchanged another glance. They drew a quiet breath, their gazes steady.

They did not know where Finn found such treasures—but even if they wished to ask, they understood it would be pointless. Everyone had their secrets.

After a moment, Noah spoke again.

"When we learned that Gastavo intended to march on your Azure Wood Family, I recalled them to the sect and confined them temporarily. Even if they had stayed, it would have only brought more chaos."

Finn nodded. He understood—and did not argue further.

He bowed slightly, slipped his Concealing Ring onto his finger, and met Noah's eyes with quiet finality.

"Sect Master Noah, Elder Marcus… Before I leave and confront the Nine Ice Family, I'd like to see them. Just once."

--

In a small, dim chamber, a young woman sat in silence, letting the moonlight spill across her striking violet eyes.

The room was little more than a square cell, with only a single window to let in the night's cold glow. That light was the only thing that broke the darkness.

The girl in the red uniform was none other than Ashe.

She had been confined here for days. Marcus visited often—but each time, he left without lifting the heavy sorrow in her gaze.

She was consumed by guilt.

She couldn't help the Azure Wood Family—the family of the man who had saved her life again and again. She felt worthless, powerless.

From the moment Finn rescued her from the Supreme Mantis Shrimp, something had unsettled her heart. Even in the Mystic Treasure Realm, she had felt safe with him in a way she could not explain.

She had seen the way he worried when she wept. He was the only person who had ever witnessed her crying like a child…the only person to whom she had confessed her dreams.

And no matter how she tried to deny it, she could not deny her heart's truth.

Every woman dreamed of standing beside a man brave enough to lay down his life for her. And she had seen that courage in Finn.

According to Sierra, to spare her body worse harm, Finn had consumed a forbidden pill—risking everything to save her.

Her heart had begun to soften, little by little.

But now…there was no more hope.

The man who had made her feel such things was gone—because he had cast aside his life for others.

Tears slipped down her cheeks. She could not stop them as the memories returned—every kindness, every moment she could never repay.

And it was all because she had been too weak.

CREAAK.

The door to the small room swung open.

Quickly, she wiped her tears, forcing her expression into one of brittle defiance. She would not let them see her like this—especially not Marcus or her adoptive father, Noah.

"I want to be alone…please," she said coldly, her voice unsteady.

Her back was to the door, so she did not see who had entered.

The figure who stepped inside wore simple brown clothing. A warm smile curved his lips, and silver hair glimmered in the darkness. His golden eyes were bright with amusement.

"Do you truly not wish to see me, Miss Ashe?" came a familiar voice.

Ashe froze.

That was not the voice of an old man.

She spun around, suddenly alert—and when she saw his face, her breath caught in her throat.

A wild, impossible relief surged through her.

"Finn… Doria?" she whispered.

Finn only smiled wider. He started to speak—

—but before he could, Ashe lunged at him, drawing her beautiful sword and pressing it to his throat. Her face was pale, her hands trembling.

Finn didn't flinch. His smile never faded. He gazed calmly into her furious eyes.

"…Is this truly how you greet someone you're happy to see, Miss Ashe?"