Far away from the nightmare trial, beyond the blood-soaked forests and the ancient ruins where gods were whispered to have once been born, the human world still continued peacefully.
Cities still glittered beneath artificial stars.
People still laughed
Music still played.
And powerful families still gathered in luxurious halls to celebrate strength and status.
Yet inside a silver aircraft cutting through the night sky, three people sat in heavy silence.
And the silence felt colder than death itself.
---
A few hours earlier…
Rylan and Seraphine had finally returned home after surviving their dreadful Sovereign Trial.
The moment they stepped into their mansion, the servants immediately knelt.
Not because they were ordered to.
But because the pressure leaking from the two was terrifying.
The trial had changed them.
They no longer felt like ordinary humans.
Their presence alone distorted the atmosphere slightly.
Their armor was broken and stained with blood.
Deep scratches covered parts of their bodies.
Even their cloaks looked as though they had survived a war between gods.
Yet despite their exhausted appearance…
Their eyes had changed.
They were now sovereigns.
---
Rylan entered the restroom first.
Hot water poured over his body while traces of blood and dust washed away.
He closed his eyes quietly.
For a brief moment, the horrifying memories of the trial flashed through his mind.
Planet-sized creatures.
Rivers of corpses.
Ancient beings beyond imagination.
The Sovereign Trial had nearly killed them multiple times.
But somehow…
They survived.
After freshening up, Rylan stepped out of the restroom.
Now he looked completely different.
He wore a fitted black shirt with the upper buttons left half-open casually.
Black trousers rested perfectly against his legs while polished dark shoes reflected the room lights.
A loose black tie hung lazily around his neck.
His long dark hair had been packed neatly behind him.
He looked elegant.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
Like a king returning from battle.
---
Meanwhile, Seraphine emerged from another room moments later.
And even Rylan paused briefly.
She wore an elegant white gown that flowed beautifully around her body.
Her silver hair had been arranged carefully behind her back.
White heels clicked softly against the marble floor as she walked.
She looked breathtaking.
But beneath that beauty…
Was a terrifying existence capable of freezing battlefields.
Even the servants avoided direct eye contact instinctively.
---
Rylan stretched lazily before smiling faintly.
"Well," he said calmly, "now that we've become sovereigns, I'm sure our son's status will improve when he returns from his trial."
Seraphine glanced at him before shaking her head softly.
"That's not how our family works."
Her voice was calm and graceful.
"You know perfectly well that in our family, reputation must be earned personally."
"No one rises because of their parents."
"If titles alone mattered, we would already be among the highest families simply because of your father's reputation as a transcendent."
Rylan chuckled lightly.
"I know."
He walked toward the massive glass window overlooking the city.
"But still… Jade is our son."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"That boy is stubborn enough to survive anything."
For a brief second, Seraphine's cold expression softened slightly.
---
Then suddenly—
SHHHHHHHH!
An aircraft descended from the sky and landed smoothly outside their mansion.
The lights from the aircraft illuminated the front yard beautifully.
Rylan smirked.
"Father's finally here."
The aircraft door opened upward slowly.
Then an elderly man stepped out.
Asterion.
Despite his age, Asterion looked incredibly imposing.
His silver hair was combed neatly backward.
He wore a luxurious dark-blue suit decorated with ancient golden patterns.
His eyes were calm.
Wise.
And terrifyingly deep.
The aura around him alone made the air feel heavier.
A transcendent.
One of humanity's monsters.
Asterion looked at the two and sighed dramatically.
"Can we get going already?"
"The ball already started."
Rylan laughed lightly.
"You're the one who insisted on picking us up personally."
Asterion snorted.
"You two just became sovereigns. Of course I'd come personally."
Seraphine walked toward the aircraft gracefully.
"You just wanted to show off your aircraft."
Asterion coughed awkwardly.
"That's… not entirely false."
---
The three entered the aircraft.
The interior was luxurious beyond imagination.
Soft golden lights illuminated the cabin.
Expensive black leather seats lined the sides.
Transparent crystal screens floated in the air displaying city information and aerial routes.
The aircraft rose into the sky smoothly.
Below them, the city glowed magnificently.
Flying vehicles crossed the skies.
Towering buildings pierced the clouds.
Massive holographic advertisements floated above streets filled with people.
Human civilization looked prosperous.
Powerful.
Advanced.
Yet even this civilization feared the nightmare trials.
---
Asterion crossed his legs calmly.
"So," he began casually, "where's Nora?"
"She became an initiate recently, didn't she?"
"And beast rank too."
Rylan nodded proudly.
"She inherited Seraphine's talent."
Seraphine sighed softly.
"She wasn't home when we returned."
"Our tracker showed she was at a friend's residence."
"She probably doesn't know we're back yet."
Asterion smiled faintly.
"That girl has potential."
"She'll become terrifying someday."
---
The atmosphere remained peaceful for a few moments.
Then Asterion suddenly asked another question.
A simple question.
One that instantly shattered the calm atmosphere.
"What about Jade?"
Silence filled the aircraft immediately.
Asterion frowned slightly.
"Is his body stable in the sleeping pod?"
Rylan's face froze.
Then suddenly—
"F*ck."
Asterion's eyes narrowed instantly.
"…What?"
Seraphine's expression slowly changed.
Rylan sat upright immediately as realization crashed into him completely.
Asterion stared at both of them carefully.
"What do you mean by 'f*ck'?"
"Wasn't Jade placed in the sleeping pod before entering the trial?"
No one answered.
And that silence alone…
Terrified Asterion.
Seraphine slowly placed a trembling hand over her mouth.
"The day Jade left for Atria…"
Her voice became quieter.
"…we forgot."
Rylan's pupils shrank violently.
Asterion immediately sat upright.
"What do you mean you forgot?"
Seraphine's breathing became uneven.
"He said goodbye to us…"
"And because we were preparing for our Sovereign Trial…"
"We completely forgot to place him inside the sleeping pod."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even the aircraft engine suddenly felt distant.
Asterion stared at them in disbelief.
"You're telling me…"
"…Jade entered the trial physically?"
Neither of them answered.
Because the answer was obvious.
And horrifying.
---
The sleeping pod existed for one purpose.
To preserve the physical body safely while the spirit entered the trial.
That way, if someone lost limbs or suffered fatal injuries spiritually, their true body remained unharmed.
But Jade…
Had entered physically.
Meaning every wound he received…
Was real.
Every scar.
Every broken bone.
Every near-death battle.
Everything.
If his organs failed there—
He would die permanently.
If he lost an arm—
He would lose it forever.
And worst of all…
If he returned critically injured…
There would be no sleeping pod to stabilize his condition.
---
Seraphine suddenly burst into tears.
The cold calculating woman who could freeze armies…
Was now trembling helplessly.
"How could I forget something like that…"
Rylan clenched his fists tightly.
The aura leaking from his body shook the aircraft violently.
The walls creaked.
The driver nearly lost control.
Asterion immediately released his transcendent aura to stabilize the aircraft.
"Control yourself!"
BOOM!
Rylan punched the armrest beside him.
The reinforced metal dented instantly.
"How were we this irresponsible?!"
His voice cracked with frustration.
"We left our son there physically…"
"For an entire year…"
Seraphine lowered her head while tears continued falling silently.
"We don't even know if he's alive…"
Asterion's face darkened heavily.
Even he didn't know what to say.
Because this mistake…
Was catastrophic.
---
After a long silence, Asterion finally spoke quietly.
"The worst part…"
"If Jade returns injured…"
"There may be nothing we can do."
Rylan closed his eyes painfully.
Asterion continued calmly.
"The sleeping pod was created to preserve the body while the spirit challenged the trial."
"But Jade's actual body entered."
"If he comes back severely wounded…"
"He could become crippled."
"…or worse."
The words hung heavily in the air.
Seraphine covered her face completely.
Rylan stared outside the aircraft window silently.
The city lights below looked distant now.
Meaningless.
After a long moment, Rylan finally whispered softly,
"Becoming a sovereign…"
"…was not worth losing our son."
Seraphine grabbed his hand tightly.
For the first time since surviving the Sovereign Trial…
The two mighty sovereigns looked powerless.
Not because of monsters.
Not because of enemies.
But because they had failed as parents.
---
Eventually, the aircraft began descending.
A massive palace-like structure appeared below them.
Golden lights illuminated the enormous building beautifully.
Hundreds of luxurious aircraft surrounded the area.
Music echoed softly into the night sky.
Tonight was the Sovereign Celebration Ball.
A gathering where newly advanced sovereigns were celebrated by nobles, corporations, military leaders, and transcendents.
The entire world would praise Rylan and Seraphine tonight.
Yet neither of them felt victorious anymore.
---
The aircraft landed smoothly.
The door slowly opened.
Immediately—
FLASH!
FLASH!
FLASH!
Bright camera lights exploded everywhere.
Reporters rushed forward excitedly.
"Sovereign Rylan!"
"Sovereign Seraphine!"
"How was the Sovereign Trial?!"
"Did you encounter planet-class creatures?!"
"What rewards did you obtain?!"
"Is it true you conquered a forbidden ruin?!"
Countless voices shouted endlessly.
Yet Rylan and Seraphine barely heard any of them.
Because at that moment…
Only one thought remained in their minds.
---
Was Jade still alive?