Chapter 142: 142 Returnee.

Black clouds parted, revealing glaring silver eyes that bathed the land in their gentle glow.

Time slowed down, no, it stopped, and all living things around Jin stopped mid-way, with no sound or feeling, only a scenery that seemed void.

A figure draped in a brown cloak stood a dozen meters from Jin’s place; its height was approximately taller than his, and hidden beneath its huge cloak, a smirk sent a chill crawling up his skin.

Jin’s left hand tensed, summoning his katana, and leapt back to gain distance.

He shifted his foot and prepared his middle stance; his emerald eyes flashed in golden colour.

’Golden aura?’. Jin widened his eyes, watching a familiar aura radiating from the mysterious man.

It was a feral and divine aura that prompted him to stare in awe with his knees bent.

If not for his experience in facing a similar situation, Jin would probably submit himself to the person.

That was one thing he wouldn’t do.

As someone who had a bit of prejudice against the Olympian, he couldn’t act rashly and decided to abide by the man’s rules.

Jin exhaled, loosening the tension in his body and straightening his posture. He lifted his gaze to see the man with a carefree smirk rubbing his chin.

“That’a marvelous, I never thought a mortal could grow to such extent”.

“Pardon me?”. Jin tilted his head, trying to act oblivious toward the man.

However, the man shook his head as he raised his hands.

“It’s useless, kid. I’ve seen everything”.

A stifling pressure hit him like a fountain from above, pushing him toward the ground.

Jin gritted his teeth as he tensed all the muscles around his body. His breath turned ragged, and cold sweat drenched his back.

He felt a gentle tap on his shoulder, prompting his body to act instinctively and grabbed the katana hilt.

In one breath, Jin drew his blade; a silver glint shone under the dim place. He shifted his footwork and stopped the blade inches away from the man’s neck.

No, it was stopped by something invisible, something that was still out of his reach as a mortal.

“Hm, you’re quite an interesting Mortal”.

With a chuckle, the man vanished from his sight and reappeared a few meters on Jin’s right while holding a thin staff the same height as him.

It has a pale blue and green colour mixed in a spiral, following the two symbols of snakes fighting over a red jewel on its tips.

Jin exhaled sharply, washing away the tension in his body and gulped, still wary about the man’s identity.

He gazed at the man with katana in hand, noticing the man leaning forward with a deep frown on his expression.

“Ah, I see now. I see your plan..”. The man slapped his knees and threw his gaze toward a faraway place.

“Ahaha, interesting”. The man extended his hand forward and flicked his fingers, letting the world return to its former state.

A violent wind blew the surrounding area, giving him a gentle tune from the dancing grass, rustling harmoniously as the man’s figure disappeared.

“Who was that?”. Jin tightened his grip on his katana and washed away the tension in his body with a sigh.

{I’m warning you, kid, never use that power within the mortal world… It is still not that time}

Jin held his breath, turning his attention sideways, but found no presence around. Another voice rang in his ears, jolting his brain on guard.

{The sky will notice you. Try to keep a low profile. For now…}

He turned to the moon, its light cascading to create a breathtaking view of the night.

This time, the boy finally exhaled in relief, for the man kept his stance neutral without agitating him.

Although his presence alone was enough to agitate Jin.

But Jin realized that ever since the man emerged from nothing, his instinct as a warrior didn’t notice a bit of malice within the man’s demeanour.

Or is it just because his presence was tremendous that it dulled Jin’s judgment?

Whatever it was, he must at least listen to the man’s words about the power of Anima inside him.

“The sky will notice, huh?”.

Jin sheathed his katana and stared into a faraway sky in the west. “I’m still nothing compared to them”.

His voice faded like a distant echo, leaving a lingering whisper that told him to keep him focused on the matter at hand.

The boy shook his head and stuffed the katana in his hand, exhaling. “I should go to sleep”.

As the boy walked off from the field, away from the mansion in the distant sky. The man who wore a cloaked float while observing Jin’s figure vanished inside the mansion.

“So, he is the one, huh?”.

The man rubbed his right neck, the one that almost got slashed earlier.

He felt a warm liquid wetting his palm, along with a stinging pain that sent chills down his spine.

“Ahaha, this is insane”. The man looked toward his palm, which was smeared with golden blood.

’That was his power without Anima?’.

His lips parted, revealing a joyous grin. “I shudder to think if he could use Anima”.

“No, he can actually… I’m the one who forbids it”.

The man cracked a laugh in the middle of the night, his deafening laugh laced with madness.

“Now, what should I do? Should I tell Ares or let him discover the boy?”

His laugh decreased as his mind began to play out multiple scenarios, trying to create a perfect story that would amuse him in this dull world.

The smile he showed at the end faded as his figure receded.

***

*Tack!

An intense showdown was unfolding within the academy’s field, bringing together Silvia and Allen, who had asked her to spar.

Allen’s golden aura danced around while he swung the sword to strike at Silvia’s opening.

But unfortunately, Silvia was undeterred. She was like a ragging tide that slowly piled up before swallowing the golden light deep into the abyss.

Silvia deflected Allen’s attack as he tightened his grip on the wooden sword with a hardened face. Allen retreated and set another plan.

Several minutes passed since the spar, but Leon was unable to draw Silvia from her place.

Her composure in dealing with the barrage and control of her emotion did not unleash any counter, making the other, especially swordsmen, gulp in frustration.

Allen inhaled deeply and intensified his attacks. He came from below, behind, using feints in between, but all of those were meaningless in front of a mountain of ice.

Jin, who observed from the side. His brows twitched, seeing Allen’s composure crumble as he launched a rash decision.

“That idiot”. Jin exhaled in exasperation.

It’s true to his words; Allen, with his brows, knitted, reappeared beside Silvia.

As it turns out, it was his afterimages, for his real body was on the front.

He thrust his sword forward, aiming at Silvia’s chest, but a chill ran down his spine.

Allen stopped his breath momentarily, feeling the world around him turned upside down and felt a tremendous impact on his back, blasting away the breath he held.

“Gahak!”.

A shadow loomed over, pointing her bokuto at the boy’s face.

“This is my win”.SIlvia’s voice was cold, like a dead winter that froze the atmosphere around.

“Yes, it’s my loss”. Allen exhaled and raised his torso to sit, noticing another shadow approaching him.

“You guys did a good job”.

Jin approached, extending his hand to help Allen stand.

“Thank you”. Allen grasped the hand and let his body pull upward.

“How did I do?”.

Silvia hopped to Jin’s side, her face hardened, waiting to hear her master’s approval.

Jin nodded and patted the girl’s head, exhaling a relief.

“Your swordsmanship finally reflects who you are. Keep refining it, Silvia”.

“Um, thanks. I will”.

A slight blush appeared on her cheeks as Silvia loosened her tightened facial face.

Allen scratched the back of his head, feeling awkward for being a third wheel, and slowly separated from the two. He jolted when he felt the cold touch of a wooden sword on his shoulder.

“…Jin, how did I do?”. Allen twisted his neck, peeking through his shoulder and saw Jin shrugged his shoulders.

“You should control your temper more”.

Jin smacked the white-haired boy’s neck lightly and let him walk away toward his own group of Lily and Tania.

While Allen stepped outside the field, Iris and Lucya walked toward Jin with a bright expression on their faces.

“You’re getting stronger Silvia”. Iris threw a clean towel, which Silvia caught midair.

“Thanks, Iris”.

“Don’t forget to drink, your face is a bit red. Or, fufu, is it perhaps because our darling Jin did something to you?”.

Lucya slipped into the girl’s group, staring at Silvia’s azure eyes with a devilish grin that made the cold girl avert her gaze.

“N-Nothing much, Jin was…”.

“Aww, Silvia, you are embarrassed, cute~”. Lucya peeked through Silvia’s side; her lips kept grinning to her ears.

“Enough with the tease, Lucya”. Iris lightly poked the princess’s forehead, making the atmosphere in the group merry.

Jin blinked in surprise, seeing Iris’s usual brazen and rough personality, now softened and acting like a big sister around the group.

“Okay everyone, I want your attention, please”.

A loud clap and Dannan’s words echoed across the place, bringing the students’ attention to him.

Behind the man were several people wearing the same academy uniforms.

“Teacher Dannan? Who are they?”.

Lily raised her hands, asking the same questions that sprouted from every student in Alpha Class.

“Ah, I will introduce them to you, students. Meet your seniors”.

After he said that, a single girl with a striking appearance stepped forward.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, junior from Alpha Class”. She swept her gaze around the place before stopping at Jin’s side.

“My name is Selene”.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep