Timeless Assassin

(Planet Juxta, Breakthrough Chamber, Leo's POV)

The air inside the breakthrough chamber was still, the walls lined with runes that muted every outside sound, leaving only the quiet rhythm of Leo's own breathing.

He lowered himself onto the smooth stone floor, crossing his legs as he rolled his shoulders back and stretched his body one final time, each tendon loosening, every joint unclenching, until he felt no lingering tension. His eyelids slipped shut, shutting out the world beyond these walls.

All stray thoughts, all lingering doubts, all distractions were pushed out of his mind like drifting embers extinguished in water. Only a single truth remained, echoing in the silence of his heart.

'The Transcendent Tier is me moving past the status of a mere mortal.' He thought, as he steadied his breathing, before recalling everything he had studied about this stage of ascension.

The path forward was clear, yet merciless.

To reach Transcendence, his mana circuits would first have to be widened beyond their current limits, forced open with violent surges of energy that would sear through his body like molten fire.

And from there, those same circuits would begin fusing closer with his nervous system and bloodstream, no longer separate pathways, but a single unified network through which mana could flow as naturally as breath.

The second stage was the most dangerous: the expulsion of excess energy.

For if he failed to release it cleanly, the volatile surge would rebound inward, collapsing organs, rupturing circuits, and snuffing out his life in an instant.

And finally, the body would undergo saturation—his entire form drinking in natural mana until every cell, every fiber, every breath was infused with it.

Success meant rebirth, the first step into a realm beyond mortality.

While failure meant death, or worse, being reduced to a broken shell of what he once was.

Leo's fists tightened faintly on his knees, but his mind did not waver.

He knew the risks. He had faced death too many times to count, but this was no reckless gamble. This was the next step….. an inevitable one towards his journey to become the strongest.

Drawing in a long, steady breath, Leo pushed his consciousness inward, past flesh and bone, to the faint hum of mana flowing within him.

'This is it….. today's my last day as a Grandmaster.'

—---------

(Meanwhile, Approaching Cult Territory, Su Yang's POV)

The Su Clan shuttle carved silently through the void as the oppressive glow of the Cult's airspace loomed ahead, its vast defensive arrays stacked one upon another like an invisible fortresses, as its presence frightened the Su Clan pilot, who looked terrified of flying ahead.

*Beep…* *Beep…*

Warning lights bathed the cockpit in red as a sharp, clipped voice burst through the communicator, carrying the chill of absolute authority.

"Unidentified craft, you are entering restricted Cult territory. You have sixty seconds to provide identification or you will be eliminated."

The pilot froze, his hands hovering uncertainly over the console as his eyes darted toward Su Yang in panic, but before he could utter more than a stammer, Su Yang had already risen from his seat, his golden gaze steady and cold as he reached forward and pulled the communicator from the pilots trembling fingers.

"This is Su Yang, son of Su Tang, Patriarch of the Su Clan," he declared, his voice neither pleading nor defiant, but rather composed, and heavy with intent.

"I do not come as an enemy, but as a messenger. I request an audience with the Shadow Dragon, Leo Skyshard."

The cockpit fell into silence, and for several long moments the only sound was the static hiss of the line, stretching out like an eternity as even Su Yang's pulse seemed to pound in his ears while the pilot held his breath beside him.

Finally, the comms crackled again, the voice returning, just as cold and unyielding as before.

"…Su Yang of the Su Clan. Identity acknowledged."

His shoulders eased slightly, though the words that followed made clear he was far from welcome inside Cult lands.

"Two escort crafts will rendezvous with you. You will descend in formation and follow all directives without deviation. Any attempt to alter course, to deploy weapons, or even to fire a single bullet will result in your immediate destruction."

The pilot flinched as though struck, yet Su Yang gave a small nod, his face unchanging as the static quiet returned.

"And upon landing," the voice continued, final and merciless, "you will surrender at once. You will submit to inspection, be bound in restraints, and be taken into custody. Only then will your request for an audience be considered. Disobey in any way, and you will not leave this airspace alive."

The comms cut off with a sharp click, and soon after, Su Yang saw them—two sleek escort crafts gliding into view, their hulls obsidian-black and marked with the glowing insignia of the Cult, their cannons already trained on him as though daring him to test their patience.

"Maintain course," Su Yang instructed quietly, his eyes never leaving the predators flanking them, as the pilot obeyed, sweat dripping down his brow as he guided their shuttle into formation, the escorts tightening around them like jaws around prey.

*Vrrrm…*

The shuttle descended through the thick atmosphere of Planet Juxta, the shields of the base shimmering into view below as rows of towers bristled with mana cannons that tracked their every movement, while hangar bays opened with mechanical precision, receiving them as though the whole base had been alerted for his arrival.

*Land*

The moment the shuttle touched down, the hiss of pressure locks echoed, and before the ramp could even lower fully, armed soldiers in Cult uniform surged forward, their synchronized steps shaking the metal floor as mana flared faintly off their weapons.

"Step out slowly, Su Yang of the Su Clan," a lieutenant barked, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Hands visible at all times."

Su Yang rose without hesitation, his cloak brushing against the edge of the seat as he moved calmly down the ramp, his golden hair glinting faintly beneath the harsh hangar lights, while his golden eyes met the rows of soldiers waiting for him.

Immediately, two of them approached, binding his wrists with glowing shackles that suppressed his aura, while others swept the shuttle with scanners, leaving not a single inch unchecked.

Su Yang remained silent, his jaw firm as the handcuffs locked tight, cutting off his ability to channel mana, yet his posture never wavered, his steps measured as he allowed them to escort him into custody.

This was the price of entering the Cult's lands uninvited, and if he wanted to meet Leo, then he needed to endure this humiliation first.