Ryu casually replied: "Enough to rival gods."

Thalanor stumbled forward, jaw slack. “I–I need her on payroll.”

Yoru hovered back to Ryu, smiling adorably.

“All fixed!”

Ryu rested his hand on her head. “Good job.”

Aeris finally stood, fully healed, brushing dust from her celestial robes.

She stared at Yoru for a moment, then at Ryu.

“…You brought an Origin Spirit into my Guild.”

Ryu shrugged. “She follows me everywhere.”

Thalanor blinked. “Follows…? Everywhere?”

Ryu answered casually:

“She’s my familiar.”

The words dropped like a meteor.

Aeris froze.

Thalanor’s jaw detached from existence.

Cael’s brain blue-screened.

Even Yoru tilted her head, as if only now remembering that yes, she was indeed bound to Ryu.

Aeris took a step back, eyes wide:

“…Excuse me?”

Thalanor pointed at Yoru with both hands, stuttering:

“F–F–FAMILIAR?! That—that’s an Ancestral Origin Spirit! Those beings don’t make contracts! They don’t— They can’t— They don’t even acknowledge mortals unless—unless—!!!”

Yoru puffed her cheeks. “I acknowledged Ryu.”

Thalanor spun to Ryu, utterly offended by reality. “What did you do to earn the loyalty of an Origin Spirit?!”

“Nothing,” Ryu replied.

Aeris narrowed her eyes. “You absolutely did something.”

Ryu shook his head. “I really didn’t.”

Yoru raised her hand cheerfully. “Oh! Oh! I remember! I chose him because he was extremely cute.”

Ryu stared at her.

Aeris stared harder.

Thalanor silently prayed for strength.

But Yoru suddenly softened, her tone shifting—gentle, ancient, knowing. Her spirit-light dimmed to a calm glow.

“…But that’s not the real reason.”

The air subtly tightened.

Even the mana in the arena stopped moving.

Yoru looked at Ryu with quiet seriousness.

“I chose you because you’re a prodigy, Ryu. Since the moment you were born… your soul was stronger than anything I had seen in centuries. Your talent, your affinity, your spirit-thread, your mana density… everything about you screams ‘exceptional.’ One of the strongest beings walking this world.”

Her voice echoed—not loudly, but with weight that pressed into the heart.

Ryu blinked, a little thrown.

And before he could speak—

Aeris, Thalanor, and Cael all responded in perfect sync:

“We know.”

Ryu froze.

Aeris crossed her arms. “You think we didn’t notice?”

Thalanor huffed. “Do you have any idea how many times you’ve broken our detectors?”

Aeris jabbed a finger toward Yoru. “And you—YOU just confirmed what we’ve suspected for centuries.”

Thalanor nodded gravely. “Ryu Aetherion… you were terrifying before. Now you’re terrifying with proof.”

Yoru smiled proudly, hugging Ryu’s arm. “I knew it from the moment I sensed his soul.”

Ryu, buried in attention he never asked for, simply muttered:

“…This is why I don’t tell people things.”

Aeris stepped closer, tone turning serious again.

“And this is why we need to talk.”

Ryu said, “Done staring?”

Aeris wiped her mouth, regaining her composure inch by inch. “…Barely.”

She inhaled.

Then her expression hardened, her voice lowering to something serious — heavy — meaningful.

The fight was over.

The arena was restored.

And now nothing stood between Ryu and the truth.

Aeris stepped forward, her gaze locking onto his.

“…Ryu. It’s time I tell you everything I know about the Fallen Luminaries.”

“I don’t need everything. I know about the Heavenly King — Lucien, the Wanderer of the Depths — Naelith, the Angel of Death — Seraphel and the Arch Bearer of Sins — Vaelgarde.” Ryu replied simply. “Every bit of information matters.” Ryu said with a hint of gratitude.

“To eliminate further questions, I only know about only 2 others aside from the names you just told.” Aeris responded. Aeris starts, “The information I have is…”