The Academy was not the same anymore.
Eron's name was no longer whispered—it was spoken with awe or fear, depending on who you asked.
"He cracked Judge-class barriers like nothing…""They said the pressure from his mana caused auditory hallucinations.""His summons didn't even move. That wasn't magic. That was a curse given form."
The faculty was divided.
Some saw him as a threat. Others, a prodigy too rare to contain.
But none dared confront him.
Because whatever that Overdrive moment was?
They had never seen power like that from a Level 20.
The room was quiet—sunlight filtered through the crystal glass, painting warm beams across the bed.
Neha opened her eyes.
"…Where's…?"
"I'm right here." Eron's voice.
She turned. He sat beside her, arms crossed, looking tired—but alive.
"You nearly died."
She smiled weakly. "But you stopped it."
There was silence for a while. Just breathing, just being.
Then Neha added softly, "I heard… you broke the arena."
Eron didn't answer.
"…Would you do it again?" she asked.
He met her eyes. "If anyone even thinks of hurting you again—yes."
Her cheeks flushed. She closed her eyes again, tears forming, but smiled through them.
"…Then I'm glad I'm yours."
Headmaster Altherion Vael, Archmage of Echoes, waited behind an obsidian desk laced with magic inscriptions.
Eron stood calmly.
The man didn't speak at first. He just stared.
Then—
"You're different."
Eron didn't respond.
Altherion continued, "We've trained prodigies. We've seen Blessed. Even Reincarnates. But you—you don't follow any of our world's progression systems."
Still, Eron remained silent.
The Headmaster sighed. "I'm not here to dissect you. But I'll offer you something few have earned."
He waved his hand. A crystal projection appeared—showing a swirling, forest-covered mountain dungeon, sealed by ancient glyphs.
Name: Iskar's Hollow – Ownerless Legacy DungeonType: Scaling AdaptiveAuthority: BindableMax Party: 3Regeneration Rate: 1 dayRewards: UnknownStatus: Unclaimed
"This dungeon was originally owned by a Warlord-class hero five hundred years ago. It's never been reactivated—until now. And it responded… to you."
Eron raised an eyebrow.
"You're giving it to me?"
"I'm offering it. If you accept, it becomes your personal trial ground. You can train, test, and evolve. No instructor, no limitation. Only survival and growth."
"And the catch?"
The Headmaster's eyes narrowed. "You're going to reach Level 30, aren't you?"
Eron didn't answer.
"I don't know how, but I know that whatever you are… Level 30 is a threshold. A world-breaking one."
Eron simply said: "Then I need to be ready."
System Notification
[Dungeon Ownership Option Available]▸ Bind Dungeon: Iskar's Hollow▸ Rewards Scale Based on System-Leveling Logic
▸ Recommended Use: Mid-Tier Skill Fusion, Summon Evolution Grounds▸ Note: Dungeon adapts based on user's current Summon Party
Dungeon Bound: [Yes]
[System Note: Level 30 will trigger Evolutionary Sync Event]
Eron looked up at the Headmaster.
"I'll take it."