William leaned forward, his voice steady but thoughtful. "The Elite Werewolf and the Thieves Leader are likely Sequence 8 Beyonders. As for Hope… his true form is probably Sequence 7, more powerful than either of them."
He paused, his gaze shifting to the fragment in his hand. "Hope isn't just a master of black magic in Skull Valley; his status and strength are far beyond ordinary Beyonders."
The Forum Master nodded, his expression tense. "So… does this mean Sequence 9 fragments of Hope will keep emerging from the Black Forest?"
William frowned slightly. "I can't say for sure. But have you forgotten the Hope we encountered at Shadow Castle?"
That version of Hope wasn't a mere Sequence 9. It had power far exceeding that level. William recalled the chilling memory vividly.
