Valhalla Region, Xing Tribe Base
Deep underground, where the Xing Tribe's prison lay hidden beneath layers of stone and secrecy, the air was thick with tension. Dimly lit torches flickered against damp, ancient walls, casting long, ominous shadows over the gathering of warriors and elders. The scent of molten rock and charred mana residue still lingered in the air—a silent testament to the impossible.
Xenos and David had escaped.
The gathered men and women wore expressions of disbelief and fury. Murmurs filled the chamber, some cursing the failure of their captors, others whispering doubts about how such a feat had been accomplished. No mere prisoners had ever broken free from the Xing Tribe's hold—let alone with so few casualties.
At the heart of the commotion, the Elder of the Xing Tribe stood tall, his face shadowed by the weight of responsibility. His voice was solemn, carrying the authority of generations past.
> "We must find them before the other regions exploit this weakness," he declared gravely. "Our position here is tolerated only because of our ancestors' influence. The Valhalla region will not stand idly by if others claim the Transmigrator. We cannot afford to lose them."
A bearded warrior, Xing Huo, stepped forward, his eyes blazing with barely restrained fury.
> "Elder," he growled, "we anticipated such treachery. My men placed specialized mana cuffs on their wrists, infused with tracking enchantments. We can trace them. Grant me the honor of leading the hunt."
The Elder's brows lifted, his solemn expression breaking into a thin smirk of approval.
> "Impressive, Xing Huo. Very well. Take your best men and pursue them. I will send reinforcements along the way—but hear me well." His voice hardened. "Do not kill them. We need them alive."
Xing Huo bowed deeply, his voice unwavering.
> "I understand, my Elder. I will bring them back."
As the warriors began preparations for the hunt, Xing Lee, a young woman among the assembled, frowned deeply, her fingers tightening into a fist.
She could not believe it. Xenos and David had escaped?
> How? Were they fools? she thought, her mind racing. Even if they fled, they will be caught in mere hours. Yet… I thought I had deceived them, played them into submission. But it seems—
She exhaled sharply.
> —they had fooled me instead.
For the first time, doubt crept into her heart. Was their escape truly foolishness? Or was it something else entirely?
> No one here has freedom. Yet they fought for it anyway...
The Elder's voice cut through her thoughts.
"The search begins now. But be cautious—other regions may have already sensed the Fated One's presence. If a war emerges, we will call upon our allies. We must act before it is too late."
Xing Lee lowered her gaze, struggling with an emotion she could not quite define.
Do they truly deserve to be hunted? What crime have they committed?
She glanced at the warriors departing with lethal intent in their eyes.
Perhaps… power is the only thing that matters in this world. But will they survive against these odds?
She allowed herself the faintest of smiles.
Let's see.
---
Deep Underground – A Hidden Observer
In the unseen crevices of the prison's shadows, a figure stood, veiled by magic. Ansortin Michael, an elite of the Ansortin Tribe, remained still, listening, watching.
His mana manipulation made him completely invisible to ordinary eyes.
So, he mused with amusement. The captives escaped. Interesting.
His lips curled into a smirk as he reached into his robes, producing an epic-tier artifact, a relic designed to send signals across vast distances.
>Now is the perfect opportunity.
With a practiced motion, he activated the artifact, sending a silent message to his tribe.
> "The Fated One has escaped. Now is the time to capture him. Move swiftly."
He let out a breath of satisfaction.
> Only a Type-2 Diviner could detect this transmission. Fortunately, there are none here.
His eyes glinted.
The game begins.
---
Some Distance Away ,
Beyond the sprawling valleys and treacherous cliffs, a group of knights in gleaming armor finally breached the borders of Valhalla. Dust clung to their cloaks, their armor bore the scars of the journey, but their spirits burned with determination.
At their helm, Ansortin Mortis, a formidable warrior and leader, raised his sword high. His voice carried across the ranks, firm and commanding.
"My soldiers, do not falter! We have reached the Valhalla region at last. Ansortin Michael has sent the signal—our path is clear. We move now! Enrage your spirits, sharpen your blades! The Fated One must be ours!"
The knights roared in unison, their battle cries shaking the air as they surged forward.
---
In the depths of a dark, secluded realm, void of any visible entrance or exit, Xenos and David sat in the silence.
David's breath was uneasy, his hands clenched into trembling fists.
"Are we truly safe here?" he asked, his voice betraying his fear.
Xenos, ever unshaken, barely spared him a glance.
"For now. This place is not simply hidden—it exists like an atom, undetectable unless we move."** "Use this time wisely. Focus on your dark divine power. Understand it."**
David hesitated before nodding, closing his eyes in concentration.
Meanwhile, Xenos' thoughts swirled with calculated precision.
As expected, someone from another region was watching…
A flicker of an image entered his mind—Xing Lee.
When she had attempted to heal him, he had left a trace of his mana within her. That very mana now whispered its knowledge to him.
So, they are already aware that we escaped.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
Xing Huo? His tracking cuffs?
He flexed his fingers, recalling the moment he had effortlessly broken through the enchanted bindings and discarded them in a distant location.
> They will chase after nothing.
Still, a hint of concern lurked in his mind.
> Crossing the region will be difficult. Reaching Towins Academy... even more so.
But no matter how formidable the obstacles, his resolve remained unbroken.
"Even so… I will do it."
His gaze sharpened with unwavering determination.
"I choose my freedom."
---
Ten minutes passed in silence. Then, within the darkness, a shimmering portal materialized—a gate of pure shadow.
Without hesitation, Xenos and David stepped through.
Their journey to Towins Academy had begun.