Chapter 529: Let’s hunt

The following day arrived without either Nero or Khione paying much attention to it.

They had spent the morning and the better part of the afternoon enjoying the peace of the valley. After breakfast, they had wandered along the lakeshore, occasionally stopping to admire the scenery or simply sitting together beneath the trees.

There had been no training, no hunting, and certainly no competition over points.

For once, Nero had no intention of spending every waking moment becoming stronger.

Khione seemed perfectly content with that decision.

However, as evening approached, the artificial sky gradually darkened, and the familiar thought of the trial’s impending conclusion returned to them.

Today was the final day.

By tomorrow, everyone would be transported out of the pocket world, and the peaceful atmosphere that had surrounded them for the past two days would become a distant memory.

Nero lay on the grass with his hands behind his head, staring at the sky.

Beside him, Khione was reading through the information displayed on her bracelet.

Their scores had increased considerably during their previous hunts. Neither was particularly concerned about their rankings anymore, but with several hours remaining, there was still time to have some fun.

Nero turned his head toward her.

"Want to hunt?"

Khione lowered her bracelet.

’’Sure why not.’’

His lips curved into a smile.

"Wonderful."

"However, if you intend to drag me around the forest all night, I’ll freeze you to a tree and leave you there."

"How cruel."

"You’ll survive."

"I suppose I’ll have to take my chances."

Nero rose from the grass and offered her his hand.

Khione accepted it, allowing him to pull her to her feet.

They gathered their remaining belongings, checked their equipment, and began walking toward the forest.

Neither of them mentioned how little time remained before the trial ended.

There was no need.

They had already decided how to spend it.

***

They had walked for several minutes when Nero suddenly spoke.

"By the way, I’ve awakened two more Laws."

Khione glanced at him.

"Two more?"

"Yes."

"How many does that make now?"

"Six."

She stopped walking.

Nero took another step before realizing that his companion was no longer beside him. He turned around and found her looking at him with an expression that was difficult to interpret.

For several seconds, Khione remained silent.

Then she asked, "You awakened two additional Laws, and you’re telling me this now?"

"We’ve been rather busy."

"Busy doing what?"

"Enjoying ourselves."

She stared at him.

Nero smiled.

Khione closed her eyes briefly, as though reconsidering several decisions she had made throughout her life.

When she opened them again, her gaze had returned to him.

"Show me."

"Here?"

"Unless you’ve suddenly become shy."

"Never."

Nero lifted his right hand.

The air around them changed.

A faint disturbance swept through the surrounding vegetation, bending the grass and stirring the leaves overhead. It was subtle at first, almost indistinguishable from a natural breeze, but Khione immediately noticed the difference.

This wasn’t merely the manipulation of air.

There was an underlying authority to it, a presence that extended beyond his immediate surroundings.

The wind flowed around Nero’s fingers before gathering into a small spiral above his palm.

Khione watched it closely.

"The Law of Wind."

Nero nodded.

She had encountered wind wielders before. Some could generate powerful gusts, while others specialized in aerial movement or cutting attacks. The most talented could even manipulate air pressure to disrupt an opponent’s balance.

But what Nero displayed felt different.

The breeze responded to his slightest movement as though the entire surrounding atmosphere had become an extension of his body.

He could probably sense every disturbance in the air around them.

Every movement.

Every approaching enemy.

Perhaps even their breathing.

Khione’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Then the wind vanished.

The light around Nero’s hand seemed to dim.

A shadow stretched beneath his feet, spreading across the ground despite the absence of any change in the surrounding light. It climbed over his fingers like dark smoke before dissolving into the air.

Khione’s expression changed.

"The Law of Darkness."

"Correct."

For a moment, she simply looked at him.

Then she exhaled softly.

"That makes six."

"Indeed."

Khione resumed walking, apparently having decided that standing still and questioning him wouldn’t change anything.

Nero followed.

"You don’t seem particularly surprised."

"I’m surprised."

"You don’t look surprised."

"Would you prefer that I applaud?"

"That would be nice."

"Then you’ll be disappointed."

Nero laughed.

Khione glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

"Six Laws," she murmured. "I always suspected you might eventually wield all seven."

Nero’s smile faded for the briefest moment.

All seven.

That was what the world believed.

Long ago, humanity had come to recognize seven fundamental Laws, each representing a different aspect of the world’s power. Their knowledge had survived countless generations, passed down through records, academies, and the teachings of powerful awakeners.

But the truth was different.

There were nine stars within Nero’s inner world.

Nine seats of power.

Nine primordial existences connected to Laws that the world had long since forgotten—or never truly understood.

Khione knew nothing about those nine stars.

As far as she was concerned, six Laws were already an absurd accomplishment, and the seventh was merely the next possibility.

Nero had no intention of correcting her just yet.

Some secrets were better kept until the right moment.

Besides, he wasn’t even certain he understood everything about his own existence.

He glanced at her.

"Why seven?"

Khione looked at him as though the answer should have been obvious.

"Because you’re you."

Nero blinked.

She continued walking, her long white hair swaying gently behind her.

"You’ve never been particularly reasonable when it comes to what you can accomplish. Six is simply the number you’ve reached so far."

For once, Nero had no immediate response.

Then he chuckled.

"You have a remarkable amount of confidence in me."

"I know."

She said it so naturally that he couldn’t help smiling.

After a few more steps, Khione added, "Besides, if you awaken a seventh Law, you’ll probably tell me about it three days later while we’re eating breakfast."

"That sounds rather specific."

"Am I wrong?"

Nero considered the question.

"...Probably not."

Khione shook her head.

Their laughter drifted through the forest.

And somewhere beyond the trees, an unfortunate group of cadets was about to discover just how dangerous it could be when those two decided to have fun together.