Veya couldn't hold it back anymore as large tears streamed down her face. Her body trembled while the rest of the students remained silent.

On this day, one of them had been brave enough to lay down his life for their sake.

Not only were they shocked, but they were also disgusted with themselves.

They had only stood there and watched.

Not a single one of them stepped forward to help.

They had simply accepted it.

And now…

…he was dead.

Just as they began blaming themselves and falling into despair, someone suddenly landed from the sky.

Bam!

Their eyes widened in shock.

Azar was still alive.

But barely.

His body was thin and hollow, and he was completely unconscious.

Yet he was being carried in Tofan's arms.

Drip.

Drip.

At first, the students rushed toward Teacher Tofan, but slowly, their steps came to a halt as their expressions twisted in horror.

"Teacher… Tofan?" Veya called out shakily.

Hearing this, Tofan turned toward them.

Some students instantly collapsed to the ground.

One of Tofan's arms was gone, ripped clean off from the shoulder, while blood still dripped down his body as he used his remaining arm to carry Azar.

"Don't worry. You are all safe now," Tofan said calmly as he cast a teleportation spell and took everyone away.

Almost at the exact moment the giant tree died, the dome covering the academy disappeared.

The Dean was already hovering above the island.

He silently watched as Tofan left with the students.

His expression was unreadable.

After all, he had realized that Tofan was no ordinary teacher.

From the residual mana lingering across the battlefield, it was obvious that two Tier 5 Magi had fought there.

And since Tofan was the only one present…

…it meant he had been one of them.

So Tofan was actually a Tier 5 Magi.

Not impossible.

But Tofan was far too young for that.

Most likely, he originated from Continent A.

Just then, Vash appeared nearby, a Tier 5 aura radiating from his body.

"Dean…" Vash called out, his own body covered in blood.

The Dean frowned slightly.

"So not one… but two…" the Dean thought inwardly as he sighed.

"Where are Tofan and the children?" Vash asked.

"Tofan and the students should already be back at the academy," the Dean replied calmly.

"You should also take care of your injuries."

The Dean paused briefly as his eyes swept across the ruined island covered in strange markings.

"And perhaps… when you return to Continent A, inform your family about this new organization."

With those final words, the Dean disappeared, leaving behind only a single mark engraved across the island.

"X16."

The name of the organization responsible for the attack was finally revealed.

Seeing the Dean leave, Vash suddenly chuckled as he stood upright as though nothing had happened.

"Hm… it would've been better if Tofan had been more heavily injured than this, but I suppose this outcome is acceptable as well," Vash muttered softly before disappearing himself.

---

Back at the academy…

Tofan sat expressionlessly beside Azar's unconscious body while the nurses treated him carefully.

Although there were healers capable of regenerating his missing arm, they existed only in Continent A.

And even then, such healing was only possible if the limb had been severed by a normal weapon.

But the attack that took Tofan's arm had been infused with a powerful spell.

And it was definitely not a Tier 5 spell.

From this day onward…

Tofan had become a one-armed man.

"Please, you should rest as well. You are also a patient," one of the nurses said worriedly.

Tofan merely nodded but showed no intention of leaving his seat.

The nurse sighed softly before walking away.

The moment he sensed the chant of that forbidden spell, Tofan had recklessly increased the intensity of his battle in order to escape from that strange being as quickly as possible.

But because of that reckless decision…

…he lost one of his arms.

Yet when Tofan looked at Azar's breathing figure, all the sadness in his heart faded away.

"You might truly become the hope of the future," Tofan thought silently.

After all…

Azar was the first person to ever survive the backlash of that forbidden spell.

---

Far away within the Abyss, inside Void's multiverse…

Elements floated around Void as he muttered softly,

"The Magi power system…"

"Hmm… magic, affinity toward spells, control…"

Void studied the system quietly.

Was this the correct path?

No.

There was no such thing as a "correct" path.

What existed were merely beings unsatisfied with their limitations.

Their greed…

Their endless desire for power…

It drove them to pursue greater and greater strength, even at the cost of destroying planets and universes.

One conquest after another.

On one side floated the limited knowledge Void possessed about this new Magi system.

On the other side floated the orb of rules he had obtained from the SCP universe.

Only one question remained.

Would the Magi system help him better understand the Rules themselves?

With that thought, Void slowly closed his eyes once more and continued meditating.

---

Back in the Magi World…

At the edge of Continent C, inside a dark room within an inn…

Two figures could be seen standing with their backs turned toward one another as they spoke quietly.

"How did it go?" the first figure asked.

"It was a success. The bond between the two of them has grown stronger, and his name will undoubtedly reach the First Continent," the second figure replied calmly.

"Hm. Good. What about X16? Did they perform well?" the first figure continued.

"Yes. Quite well, actually. Their existence will soon become known across the continents."

"And more importantly…"

"They were responsible for bringing the two of them even closer together," the second figure answered.

"That is good then."

"We can officially say the first stage was completed perfectly," the first figure said calmly.

"Yes," the second figure replied.

And with that…

…the two figures vanished into darkness.

---

Azar did not wake up for an entire month.

During that time, he constantly dreamed about what his parents must have felt…

About what the Braven Family had become without him…

He also dreamed about his teacher.

The disappointment within Tofan's eyes.

Soon, those dreams twisted into nightmares, causing Azar's brows to furrow repeatedly even in the real world.

But eventually…

…the nightmares came to an end.

"Ha… ha… ha…"

Suddenly, Azar's breathing spiked violently.

Tofan was the first to notice as he immediately grabbed Azar's hand.

He had remained beside Azar the entire time, silently blaming himself for not being a better teacher.

Because of his lack of strength…

Over four hundred students had died.

And every single one of them had been a genius.

At the very least, reaching Tier 4 would not have been difficult for most of them.

Yet now…

…they were dead.

Tofan blamed himself so much that guilt had completely consumed him.

For the past month, he had barely slept.

"Where… am I?" Azar suddenly groaned weakly as his eyes slowly opened.

The moment Tofan heard his voice, his eyes lit up instantly as he tightly hugged Azar.

"Kid… you're alive," Tofan said emotionally.

Bang!

The door burst open as Azar's parents rushed into the room.

Their faces were filled with joy as they hurried toward him.

"Azar is awake!"

The news instantly spread throughout the hospital.

Outside, Veya and the remaining students jumped in excitement upon hearing it.

Even the Dean, who stood nearby, finally released a relieved sigh.

This child…

He had finally awakened after an entire month.

And it was not only them who had been worried.

Even people across Continent C had been deeply concerned ever since the students and Tofan returned to the academy.

The news about everything that had happened on the island had already spread everywhere.

Of course, the families of the deceased students were overwhelmed with sorrow.

The academy had done its best to comfort them and offered as much compensation as possible.

But…

Could any amount of compensation truly replace their children's lives?

For some, perhaps yes.

For others, maybe.

But for the vast majority…

Never.

Without a doubt, the King of Continent A had personally stepped in to calm the public after all, the ten

continents had suffered attacks simultaneously.

And the name "X16" carved onto the island had fully demonstrated the terrifying might of that organization.

Veya smiled softly as she instinctively wanted to move closer.

But her body stopped midway.

Who was she to Senior Brother, really?

Inside that room were his parents, Teacher Tofan, and the people truly closest to him.

Even the Dean himself remained outside, waiting for Azar's parents and Tofan to finish first.

Her expression dimmed slightly.

But only for a brief moment before she smiled once more.

What truly mattered…

…was that Azar was alive and safe.