Chapter 38 — The Shadow of the Immortals
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Kael Grenfort:
I threw the cloth over myself. As it fell over me, some kind of power wrapped around me like a second skin — and I became invisible. A faint electric current ran beneath my skin — light, but distinct. My breathing slowed instantly. The sounds around me muffled, as if a transparent wall had formed between me and the world.
At that moment, the space in the room trembled like a wave. A portal opened before us.
The first to step out was a tall, broad-shouldered man, his hand resting on his sword's hilt. His eyes scanned the room in an instant.
"Hello, Dzao. It's been a long time. You have things to explain to us…"
"I have nothing to explain to you."
When I saw the second man step through, my eyes widened.
Zegfort Hamel.
"Hello, Dzao…"
"Hello, Hamel…"
They walked toward each other. I thought they might fight…
Instead, they embraced.
"Hello, my friend Hamel. It's been five years since we last met."
"Yes, what can I say, Dzao? We really should organize some kind of gathering."
"Yes, I've thought about that a lot too."
They spoke warmly — like two old men reminiscing about ancient days. Dzao's hands rested on Hamel's shoulders, and Hamel chuckled, shaking his head.
---
A short while later.
"In short, Dzao, the empire sent me and Jeyms to interrogate you."
"You know, fine, this is boring. Why did he come?" he said in a mocking tone.
Jeyms stood there, enduring it. For the past five minutes, Dzao had been mocking him without pause.
"Hey, enough! Stop mocking him!"
"Fine, I won't mock him. There's nothing worth mocking anyway — he's just trash," he said, wrinkling his nose.
Jeyms looked down at the ground for a moment. His hands clenched at his sides. Then he looked at Dzao — as if his patience had finally run out.
And he appeared behind Dzao.
In the blink of an eye. I didn't even see him move. I only saw his fist aimed straight at Dzao's face — charged with mana, bright, deadly.
In that instant, Dzao caught his hand and stopped it.
And slowly turned toward him. His fingers squeezed Jeyms's wrist until his bones creaked.
Even though Jeyms's fist didn't touch Dzao, the shockwave burst through the room.
The wall cracked. A large, deep fissure — from ceiling to floor.
The table and shelves turned to dust. Books, papers — everything flew into the air, then fell to the ground.
Because I was in the same room and my power level was far below theirs, blood began to trickle from my ears.
Arghh…
A ringing sound in my ears. The world fell silent.
Quiet, quiet… I can't hear anything.
Dzao looked around. His eyes surveyed the destruction — cracks, dust, shattered furniture.
"My room…" he said slowly, quietly. He squeezed Jeyms's fist tightly, staring into his eyes.
"Not just your room. Mock me one more time, and I'll destroy your entire school," Jeyms said, looking him in the face.
"Ohhh, fool," Hamel said, scratching his head.
"What did you say?"
"I hate repeating myself."
Their auras were felt throughout the entire city. Many people collapsed from the pressure alone, and some were injured. Screams and panic from outside.
"Calm down…" Hamel said, grabbing both their arms and pulling them apart. The strength in his hands was like iron.
Hamel's aura was even stronger. The air grew heavy, breathing became difficult.
So this is the power of the Immortal level…
Madmen. They're trying to hold back their power as much as possible — otherwise, what would happen to this place?
Hamel looked at both of them in turn. Warning in his eyes — one more move, and I'll interfere.
And they both calmed down. Their auras faded slowly. The air grew lighter.
"I swear I will destroy him. Out of respect for you — I will stay silent for now," — said Dzao.
"Well, Jeyms, you may leave. I will handle him myself," — said Hamel.
"But in this matter, I have the primary role," — said Jeyms.
"I know that. I will handle him myself," — said Hamel.
"But…" — Jeyms began.
"But no," — Hamel cut him off, staring straight at Jeyms. "Do as you wish."
Jeyms silently stepped back into the portal and quickly disappeared.
So this is the power of the Immortal level.
I'm seeing it firsthand — both of them tried to hold back their power as much as possible. It could still cause great harm to ordinary people. Even if a few such strikes were unleashed outside without hitting anything…
---
Dzao looked at Hamel.
"The reason for coming here… A few days ago, a large-scale time spell was used. I know it was you. There's no one else this powerful here," he said, shrugging.
"Well, I can explain it. As long as it doesn't take too much of your time," Dzao said.
"No, that won't do. And as a result of that spell, two people died and one was injured. The two who died were both at the border of the spell's expansion — because you extended the area. They ended up at the edge of the expanded zone. Their bodies were cut in half. The injured one lost an arm," Hamel said in a serious tone.
Dzao fell silent. His hands rested on the table — his fingers trembling slightly.
"I will personally compensate the affected families. I didn't think this would happen, honestly," Dzao said.
"Well, it doesn't matter. Don't dwell on it. They were ordinary people — but still…"
He sighed deeply.
A moment of silence fell.
"Even after centuries of life, you're still like an immature young boy, aren't you, Dzao?" he said.
"You're not one to talk," Dzao said, placing his hand on Hamel's shoulder.
"Well, hurry up. They'll start bothering me too," Hamel said.
"Fine."
Dzao walked toward the desk and removed the ring from it.
"What are you doing, Dzaaaooo?"
"Nothing. There's someone who needs to take these — so I'm removing them."
"Yes, let's go."
He opened a portal and slowly stepped inside.
---
Kael, can you hear me?
He began speaking through telepathy. At first I was confused and didn't understand, then it suddenly clicked in my mind.
"Yes, I can hear you, sir."
"After I leave, take the rings. They contain artifacts that will help you survive while I'm away. When I return, you can give them back," he said, stepping toward the portal.
"Hey, hey, wait!"
Hamel pushed Dzao back and entered the room.
"Why are you back again?"
He looked straight into my eyes.
"Emm… got it."
Oh, what is this?
He started walking straight toward me. I immediately sat down on the floor and tried to press myself as close to the desk as possible. My heart was pounding furiously.
He stopped in front of me. I realized he wasn't looking at me — he was looking at something on the desk.
"Oh, look at this, Dzao!"
He lifted a small bottle of wine.
"This is 200 years old! Will you drink with me?"
He walked toward Dzao, wine bottle in hand.
"Yes, let's drink. Once the work is done," he said.
"Fine, then let it stay with me until this matter is settled. Then we'll drink," he said and stepped inside.
The portal began to close. Hamel's final words — heard only by me.
"Kael, be careful. Especially of the woman who walks with that girl named Lilith. She already knows who you are. In my absence, she might attack — through her own agents."
And the portal closed.
---
I removed the cloth from myself.
"Ohhh... my God. A group of insane old men."
How old are they anyway?
I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
Then I picked up the ring from the desk. It felt warm, as if something inside it was alive.
"So these rings contain artifacts..."
"With these artifacts, not even gods will be able to kill me..."
I placed every ring inside my storage ring.
"...or at least, I hope so."
Then I looked toward the large window at the end of the room.
The corridor would be full of teachers after everything that had happened...
Too troublesome.
I opened the window.
A cool evening breeze rushed inside.
Without hesitation, I jumped.
Landing silently outside the academy building, I brushed the dust from my clothes.
"Much better."
I glanced once toward Dzao's office.
Then I turned around...
...and walked toward the city.
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