Soul system:Return Of The SSS-Ranked Troublemaker-Chapter 32: Jeju Island (9) Breaking Point

As Zion sat at the table, finishing his meal with Karina and Sera, a thought crossed his mind.

"I wonder how Yin is doing..."

The moment he finished eating, he grabbed an empty plate and headed straight for the food selection. Without hesitation, he piled on a variety of dishes, making sure to pick a little bit of everything.

With the plate full, he made his way to the lower floors of the base.

"Hm... it’s still open?" Zion noted, glancing at the usually sealed ground floor entrance.

Shrugging off the oddity, he descended the stairs.

Just as he reached the hallway, he froze.

From inside the medical room—a sound.

He quickly stepped back, hiding behind the doorframe.

Sniffles.

A quiet, trembling voice.

Inside, Yin sat on the medical bed, his face buried in his hands.

His shoulders shook.

His tears fell freely, staining his cheeks as he tried to wipe them away with trembling fingers.

"Dammit... I’m still weak..." Yin choked out, his voice barely above a whisper.

He clenched his fists.

"I... I should’ve listened to Zion...! Getting knocked out first was so fucking embarrassing..."

Zion’s chest tightened.

"...He’s crying. Should I go in?" he wondered.

But then—he hesitated.

"If I walk in now, it’ll only make him feel worse."

Instead, Zion made a deliberate, loud step on the floor.

THUD.

Yin snapped his head up, hurriedly wiping his face, his hands moving frantically to erase the evidence of his tears.

Zion pretended not to notice.

"Yin, are you awake? I brought you food!" he called out, his tone casual and energetic.

Silence.

Yin didn’t respond.

Zion stepped inside anyway.

His eyes landed on Yin, whose breathing had steadied—his body turned slightly to the side, eyes closed.

"...Faking sleep." Zion thought.

He let out a small chuckle but didn’t call him out on it.

Instead, he placed the plate of food beside the bed.

"Ah, looks like you’re still sleeping." Zion said lightly, making sure his tone didn’t sound too serious.

"I’ll just leave this here, then."

With that, he turned and left the room.

As he walked back upstairs, he glanced over his shoulder.

"Hopefully, he eats."

Two Weeks Off – Training & Growth

The students were granted a two-week break, a rare opportunity to rest, train, or socialize.

Some used the time to meet other students, while others focused entirely on improving their Aetheris and Mystic Arts.

Since the Pro Heroes had already given out books on how to awaken their abilities, many students eagerly took the chance to push themselves further.

Zion, however, barely even glanced at the book.

"I don’t need this."

He already had Aetheris—and as of now, he had no interest in Mystic Arts.

Eavesdropping on a Conversation

Meanwhile, Yin stood outside the base, having just finished his morning jogging routine.

As he caught his breath, he heard voices nearby.

A group of students.

They were talking—but about what?

Yin’s curiosity piqued.

Without thinking, he stepped closer, just enough to listen.

What he heard made his eyes narrow.

"Hey, did you hear about that student with rainbow-colored hair?"

"Elay? What about him?"

"I heard he’s getting trained by the Monarch of Primal!"

"What?! Are you crazy? Where the hell did you hear that?"

"Some of the students saw it earlier! The Monarch straight-up grabbed him! And I think Sir Jin approved it."

"Tch. Makes sense. That Elay guy can transform into a beast or... whatever the hell that thing was."

"Yeah, and don’t forget—he actually managed to land a solid hit on the Monarch. Sure, the wound healed fast, but still!"

The students continued chatting excitedly, unaware that Yin had been listening the entire time.

His mind raced.

"Wait... If the Monarch is looking for disciples... then maybe I can get in!"

But then—doubt crept in.

"B-but what if he rejects me...?"

He let out an awkward chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Still... there’s nothing wrong with trying, right?"

With that thought, Yin steeled his resolve—then took off running.

A Risky Request.

The forest was eerily quiet as Yin approached the area where the Monarch was last seen.

He pushed past thick branches, his breath uneven from sprinting.

Then—he saw them.

The Monarch of Primal and Elay stood in a small clearing.

Both of them were naked, their muscular physiques covered in faint battle scars.

Even in the dim light, their overwhelming presence was undeniable.

But Yin?

He didn’t even care about their lack of clothing.

His heart pounded, but he didn’t hesitate.

He dropped to his knees, panting heavily.

Then, with everything in him, he shouted:

"PLEA—PLEASE TAKE ME IN!"

His voice echoed through the clearing.

For a moment—silence.

The Monarch turned, his sharp gaze locking onto Yin.

Elay, on the other hand, didn’t even acknowledge him—as if this wasn’t his problem.

The Monarch’s golden eyes gleamed in the darkness.

"Look at me."

His tone was cold. Commanding.

Yin’s breath hitched.

Slowly, he lifted his head, his eyes meeting the Monarch’s gaze.

A moment passed.

Then—the Monarch smirked.

"Tell me your name."

Yin clenched his fists, determination burning in his chest.

"YIN... YIN KAISENBERG!"

His voice was firm, filled with pride.

The Monarch’s smirk widened.

"I like your attitude."

For a split second, hope flashed through Yin’s heart.

But then—

The Monarch tilted his head.

His expression turned amused.

"Although... aren’t you the student who got knocked out first?"

The words hit like an arrow to the chest.

Yin froze.

He didn’t speak.

His fists trembled at his sides.

His mind screamed at him to say something—to defend himself.

But no words came.

The Monarch’s smirk faded.

His voice turned cold again.

"Stand up."

Yin staggered to his feet, his legs weak.

"I have no interest in training the weak."

The words stabbed deeper than any blade.

"Go. I don’t waste my time on the talentless."

Yin’s throat tightened.

All he could do was nod silently.

Without another word—he turned and walked away.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

But in his heart, one thing burned—

This wasn’t over.

Yin ran.

"Me...? ME?! TALENTLESS?!"

His mind spun, his thoughts racing faster than his legs could carry him.

The words of the Monarch echoed in his skull, clawing at his pride.

His breath was ragged, his heartbeat pounding like war drums in his ears.

The sky above him darkened—thick storm clouds rolling in, swallowing what little light remained.

Then—the rain came.

Cold. Heavy. Unforgiving.

Each raindrop hit his skin like needles, soaking through his clothes, but he didn’t stop.

His frustration boiled over.

His fists clenched.

His vision blurred—not from the rain, but from the tears threatening to spill.

"FUCK...!"

His voice cracked with rage, shame, and helplessness.

Then—his foot slipped.

THUD—!

He crashed into the mud, his body slamming into the wet earth.

His hands dug into the dirt, fingers trembling as the cold rain mixed with the warmth of his tears.

He gritted his teeth, his chest heaving.

"Maybe... the monk was right..."

His nails scraped the mud, his anger twisting into something deeper—a painful, gut-wrenching realization.

"I’m still not ready..."

The storm raged on, the sky mirroring the chaos inside him.

For the first time in a long time—

Yin felt completely, utterly powerless.