The air crackled with a strange, static hum. A deep violet glow flickered into existence, warping the space beside Keon like rippling water. The glow expanded, stretching outward until a perfect sphere of swirling purple energy hovered just a few feet above the ground.
Azira tensed, shifting her stance, while Darlic's fingers twitched near the control panel. The training bot, though powered down, seemed to shudder slightly as if reacting to the anomaly.
Then, a figure stepped through.
Victor Jhon.
He moved with the casual confidence of someone who had done this a thousand times before, stepping onto solid ground as if walking through a door rather than bending reality itself. His sharp eyes scanned the room before settling on Keon. Without a word, he reached into his coat, pulled out a familiar bundle, and with a flick of his wrist, tossed it toward him.
Keon caught it effortlessly, the weight instantly familiar. His old clothes. And wrapped within them—his Cloak of Disguise.
For a moment, Keon simply stared, the feel of the fabric sparking memories of who he used to be before everything changed. He slowly ran his fingers over the material, suppressing the smirk threatening to tug at his lips.
No one else in the room knew what that cloak truly was. No one but him.
Azira raised an eyebrow. "Uh, mind explaining what's going on?"
Victor Jhon exhaled, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Nope."
Keon, still holding the cloak, chuckled under his breath. "Yeah. That tracks."
Keon ran his fingers over the familiar fabric one last time before exhaling softly. Without hesitation, he reached out—not physically, but with his will.
A subtle shift rippled through the air around him.
The space near his palm distorted, like an invisible thread being pulled loose from reality itself. The bundle of clothes and the Cloak of Disguise flickered, then vanished in an instant—drawn into the void of his Rift Storage.
Unlike his Rift Barrier, which warped and controlled space within his immediate reach, Rift Storage was something entirely different. A separate skill granted by the system, it existed outside of normal space—a personal dimension where Keon could store and retrieve items at will.
It was weightless. Boundless. Secure.
And most importantly, no one else could access it.
Victor Jhon's sharp gaze flickered with something unreadable, but he said nothing. Azira, however, narrowed her eyes.
"Okay, I'm not crazy, right? He just made that vanish into thin air."
Keon smirked, flexing his fingers. "Something like that."
Darlic, who had remained silent up until now, simply sighed and muttered, "Great. Another one who bends reality."
Keon raised an eyebrow at Victor Jhon. "Another?"
Victor Jhon adjusted his coat. "That's for later." His gaze shifted toward the others. "Has he been introduced yet?"
Azira nodded. "Yeah."
Darlic gave a simple, "Yes."
Even the damaged training bot let out a weak, static-filled beep.
Victor Jhon glanced at it for a second before turning back to Keon. "Good. Saves time."
Victor Jhon took a step forward, his coat settling around him as the portal behind him faded into nothingness. His gaze locked onto Keon, steady and unreadable.
"Alright," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Let's give you training now."
Keon's eyes narrowed slightly. The words sank in, but something about the way Victor Jhon said them sent a ripple through his thoughts.
"…What?"
Victor Jhon studied Keon for a moment before speaking. "What are your physical capabilities?" His tone was even, but there was an edge of expectation beneath it. "Do you know self-defense? Any martial arts?"
Keon hesitated, scratching the back of his head. "Umm… maybe?" He gave a small shrug before adding, "I'm good at running away."
Azira burst into laughter, her voice sharp and unrestrained. "Oh, that's priceless!" she managed between laughs. "Good at running away—great survival instincts, I'll give you that."
Victor Jhon, unfazed, simply crossed his arms. "Alright then. From now on, don't use your Espria until you've at least managed to defend yourself."
Keon narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by that?" His voice carried a hint of caution, sensing there was more to this than just a simple training session.
Victor Jhon didn't hesitate. His stance remained firm, his gaze steady. "We're going to push your limits. You'll be given specialized equipment and combat robots—tools designed to increase your physical ability and refine your hand-to-hand combat."
The weight of his words settled in the air like an unspoken challenge. There was no room for argument, no space for escape. This wasn't just a suggestion. It was a decision already made.
Keon let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. "I have a lot of questions…" He paused, then shook his head. "But I won't ask. I'd rather not dry my brain out any more than it already is."
Victor Jhon exhaled, tilting his head slightly as he studied Keon. His tone remained calm but carried a hint of amusement. "Do you remember when I said you could be taken on a tour after your introduction was done?"
Keon blinked, his mind sifting through the whirlwind of events that had unfolded. He let out a small sigh, rubbing his temple. "…Barely." His voice was dry, as if the sheer amount of information had already worn him down.
Victor Jhon let out a short breath, his gaze shifting between Keon, Azira, and Darlic. The air around him carried an unshaken authority, his presence effortlessly commanding the space.
"Alright, then." His voice was firm, yet relaxed. He turned slightly, glancing at Azira and Darlic before finishing, "I'll leave that job to you two."
There was no debate, no room for argument—just a simple decision set in motion.
Azira smirked, stretching her arms behind her head. "Oh, this'll be fun," she said, her voice carrying a mix of amusement and mischief. "Try to keep up, kid."
Darlic, in contrast, simply adjusted his gloves, his expression neutral but focused. "We'll make sure you understand everything you need to," he stated matter-of-factly, already considering the most efficient route for the tour.
Keon exhaled, glancing between the two. "Great," he muttered under his breath. "Another whirlwind of information. My brain is going to love this."