CHAPTER 112 — BEYOND THE THRESHOLD

By morning, the house was already awake.

Plates clattered in the kitchen.

Eleanor was preparing something.

Holar drank his coffee at the table.

Clara had slung her bag over her shoulder.

She walked toward the door.

Percy straightened on the sofa.

“Don't leave.”

Clara stopped.

Holar lowered his coffee.

Eleanor poked her head out of the kitchen.

Galahad raised an eyebrow.

Clara slowly turned to Percy.

“What?”

Percy stood.

“There are things we forgot to do.”

Clara looked at her bag.

“I have training.”

“No.”

Clara narrowed her eyes.

Percy raised a finger.

“No training for a week.”

Silence.

Holar:

“What?”

Eleanor:

“Say that again.”

Percy spoke quite casually.

“I've informed everyone.”

Clara's mouth parted slightly.

“You didn't inform me.”

Percy:

“I just did.”

Clara:

“Percy.”

Percy quickly moved away.

“I told Helen too.”

Holar's expression changed.

“What did Helen say?”

Percy cleared his throat.

“You think you can change it on your own?”

Holar smiled.

“That's Helen.”

Percy continued.

“So I apologized.”

“Then I said something.”

Eleanor leaned against the counter.

“What did you say?”

Percy looked at Holar.

“Ever since my grandpa found me...”

“He hasn't been alone.”

“So I can't leave him alone now.”

Holar's smile stopped abruptly.

Percy continued.

“Helen softened too.”

Holar rolled his eyes.

“You little brat.”

Percy was grinning.

Holar picked up his coffee again.

“But the date I found you...”

He stopped.

Percy's grin grew.

Holar thought for a few seconds.

Percy tilted his head.

“You forgot, didn't you?”

Holar:

“No.”

Percy:

“You forgot.”

Holar:

“I remember.”

Percy:

“What day?”

Holar fell silent.

Percy clutched his chest.

“I'll remember this, Grandpa.”

Holar:

“Percy, well...”

Eleanor spoke from behind him.

“You hurt him.”

Holar turned to her.

“I noticed.”

Eleanor:

“Yes.”

Holar looked helpless.

“What do I do now?”

Percy laughed.

A few minutes later, Percy grew serious.

He placed a thick file on the table.

Then a second.

A third.

A fourth.

Holar looked at the files.

“What are these?”

Percy pulled out a chair.

“Grandpa.”

“These are going to the Pillars.”

Holar opened one.

Everything inside was handwritten.

There were drawings.

Core diagrams.

Elemental flows.

Warnings marked in red.

Holar's gaze slowly changed.

Percy:

“Maximum protection.”

“No one makes copies.”

“No one shows anyone else.”

Holar lifted his head.

“What did you find?”

Percy placed both hands on the table.

“I've noticed something recently.”

“Elemental harmony is very important for progression.”

Holar:

“We know that.”

Percy nodded.

“That's not what I mean.”

Eleanor came closer too.

Percy continued.

“It's not an additional form of progression.”

“The Core is already formed from Orin.”

“Orin flows inside it.”

“But...”

Percy placed a finger on the Core diagram.

“We can reinforce the Core again with elements.”

Holar's eyebrow rose slightly.

“Partial elemental harmony.”

Percy:

“Yes.”

“But not just that.”

He touched the files.

“I made separate calculations for each of them.”

“Their Core structures are different.”

“Their elemental weightings are different.”

“Their flow rates are different.”

“Their tolerances are different.”

Holar turned the pages.

Percy continued.

“If they do it right, they'll level up.”

Eleanor:

“How much?”

Percy shrugged.

“I don't know for sure.”

Holar looked up at once.

Percy:

“You're going to get angry again.”

Holar:

“Go on.”

Percy:

“Interplanetary One...”

“Maybe Three.”

He thought for a second.

“Helen, maybe Four.”

Holar closed the file.

“Percy.”

“Hm?”

“Do you realize what you've done?”

Percy:

“More or less.”

Holar:

“I don't like 'more or less.'”

Percy:

“I do.”

Eleanor laughed.

Percy took out another sheet.

“One more thing.”

Clara looked at him.

Percy showed the team seal.

“I'd already made the target Advanced Twelve.”

Clara's face fell instantly.

“Percy.”

Percy began reading.

“I haven't changed that.”

“This time...”

“I've added two more assignments.”

Clara:

“Have you lost your mind?”

Percy:

“Probably.”

“I'm reading.”

Holar leaned back in his chair.

“I'm listening.”

Percy pointed at the first line.

“Each member will turn one basic spell...”

“Into three different functions.”

Arthur's voice came from the communication crystal.

“What?”

Percy looked at it.

“Were you listening?”

William:

“You added us to the conference.”

Percy:

“Right.”

Charlotte:

“Three functions?”

Percy:

“Attack.”

“Defense.”

“Or movement.”

“The same basis.”

“Three different uses.”

Marcus:

“Hard.”

Percy:

“Yes.”

“Second assignment.”

Everyone fell silent.

Percy smiled.

“Ten minutes in formation without commands.”

Arthur:

“You won't give orders?”

“No.”

William:

“Clara?”

“Neither will she.”

Marcus:

“Communication?”

“None.”

Charlotte:

“Percy.”

Percy was grinning.

“You said you were one.”

“Prove it.”

Silence came from the communication crystal.

Arthur finally spoke.

“I hate you.”

A chapter from the place the author publishes was copied without consent; their official posting supports the writer.

Percy:

“I love you too.”

Holar looked at the files again.

Percy approached him.

“The energy part matters.”

“A lot of energy will be released.”

“Normally, it would disperse.”

“This method collects it.”

“Then safely takes it back in.”

Holar's eyes narrowed.

“Resonance.”

Percy snapped his fingers.

“That.”

Eleanor laughed.

“You're forgetting the name again.”

Percy:

“I remember what it does.”

“Let William remember the name.”

Clara:

“You invented the method.”

Percy:

“Details.”

The first file reached Richard Green.

Richard was alone when he opened the letter.

There was one sentence on the first page.

“Uncle Richard, don't rush.”

Richard raised an eyebrow.

A second sentence followed.

“Seriously, don't rush.”

Richard laughed despite himself.

Then began reading.

Percy's writing continued.

“All six of your elements are at one hundred percent.”

“First, feel each one individually.”

“Fire as fire alone.”

“Water as water alone.”

“Earth as earth alone.”

“Wind as wind alone.”

“Lightning as lightning alone.”

“Light as light alone.”

Richard closed his eyes.

Six energies appeared in sequence.

Percy's instructions continued.

“Then pairs.”

“Don't combine them.”

“Only feel them at the same time.”

Richard summoned fire and water.

They stayed separate.

Then earth and wind.

Then lightning and light.

Minutes passed.

Hours passed.

Sweat ran down Richard's forehead.

He moved to the next part of the letter.

“Now groups of three.”

“Then all six.”

“Again, don't combine them.”

“Only feel them as a single whole.”

Richard slowed his breathing.

Six elements circled him.

Without touching.

But in the same rhythm.

Richard's eyes opened.

“This boy...”

He turned the page.

There was a note from Percy.

“Now combine them.”

Richard's face grew serious.

The six energies drew together.

Orin trembled.

The room shook.

Richard stopped at once.

He saw the red line in the letter.

“If your Inner Core strengths are below...”

“Seventy-five percent, do not continue.”

Richard examined his own Core.

The layers answered in turn.

Seventy-six percent.

Seventy-eight.

Eighty.

Seventy-nine.

A small smile formed on his face.

“Just cleared the cutoff.”

He read the next instruction.

“Begin Resonance.”

“But don't draw the energy in immediately.”

Richard raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“Expand the energy pool.”

“Form a vessel from the elemental combination.”

Richard made a sphere from six elements.

It was hollow.

But its walls were made of the elements.

Percy's next line continued.

“Now pour your Orin into the vessel.”

“Not everything you have.”

“Don't lose control.”

Richard transferred his own Orin.

The vessel began to fill.

Scattered energy in the surroundings responded.

Was drawn into the sphere.

Purified inside.

Richard's eyes widened.

The energy entered impure.

But as it left the vessel...

It became pure Orin.

Richard held his breath.

Read the final part of the letter.

“Draw it into yourself slowly.”

“Capacity per use depends on you.”

“You can't do this continuously.”

“You're limited by the second law.”

Richard blinked.

“Thermodynamics?”

Underneath was Percy's note.

“Yes, it annoyed me too.”

Richard laughed.

Then drew in the energy.

BOOOOM!

His aura rose.

Half-Step Interplanetary Two.

The boundary cracked.

Richard's eyes opened.

Interplanetary One.

Another wave.

Interplanetary Two.

Richard struggled to breathe.

But the system was stable.

He drew it in once more.

BOOOOOOM!

Interplanetary Three.

Richard stopped immediately.

The room went completely quiet.

He looked at his hands.

Then at the letter.

“Percy...”

For a long time, he couldn't speak.

Finally smiled.

“Maybe...”

“Our world really will be saved through you.”

Sylvia's file was opened that same day.

Sylvia read the first two pages.

Then shouted.

“BOSS!”

Holar answered the crystal remotely.

“What?”

“Your grandson sent me a bomb.”

Holar:

“Instructions.”

Sylvia:

“Same thing.”

Holar:

“Follow them.”

Sylvia grinned and sat down to meditate.

Hours passed.

The first burst came.

Interplanetary One.

Sylvia's grin grew.

A second wave.

Two.

Three.

Four.

All the Pillars lifted their heads.

Richard felt it from afar.

“You've got to be kidding.”

Five.

The tower Sylvia was in trembled.

Six.

BOOOOOOM!

Sylvia opened her eyes.

Her hair was completely disheveled.

But a huge smile filled her face.

She picked up the communication crystal.

Said one sentence.

“I need to train that boy personally.”

She thought for a second.

“And protect him.”

She closed the crystal.

Amelia's turn came.

She read the instructions three times.

Didn't rush at all.

Took measurements at every stage.

Recorded energy loss.

Recalculated the vessel's structure.

Then put it into practice.

Half-Step Two.

The boundary broke.

Interplanetary One.

Amelia's eyes opened.

Then closed again.

Two.

Three.

The fourth burst shook the entire tower.

Interplanetary Four.

Amelia said nothing for a long time.

Then looked out the window at the city.

Picked up the crystal.

“This isn't just rapid progression.”

The Pillars on the other end fell silent.

Amelia continued.

“Percy is redefining progression.”

“He isn't forcing his way through the wall.”

“He's examining why the wall exists.”

“Then opening a passage.”

Richard listened closely.

Amelia's voice remained calm.

“One day, he may save the world.”

She paused for a second.

“Perhaps more importantly...”

“He may finish what his grandfather started.”

Helen finished her file in silence.

Began meditating.

Called no one.

Told no one.

Hours later...

Her aura rose.

Interplanetary One.

Two.

Three.

Then the fourth boundary broke.

Helen opened her eyes.

Looked at the file.

For a long time.

Then only said.

“Little genius.”

She closed the file.

Everyone at home was quiet.

Percy was eating.

Holar watched him.

So did Eleanor.

So did Clara.

Percy finally stopped.

“What?”

Holar:

“Is this new?”

Percy swallowed his mouthful.

“Yes.”

“It's that effective?”

Percy shrugged.

“Apparently.”

Eleanor frowned.

“Can it be used at Awakening level?”

Percy shook his head at once.

“No.”

“Absolutely not.”

Clara:

“Why?”

Percy put down his fork.

“The amount of energy gathered is too great.”

“The chance an Awakening could withstand it...”

“Zero percent.”

Holar:

“Advanced?”

“Still no.”

“Below Half-Step One is risky.”

Eleanor:

“So it's exclusive to the Pillars.”

Percy nodded.

“I made versions specifically for them.”

Then looked at Holar and Eleanor.

“But they're Pillars.”

“You're my family.”

Holar's expression shifted slightly.

Percy stood.

“Sylvia reached Six.”

Eleanor:

“Yes.”

Percy:

“I'm not letting her leave you behind.”

Sylvia's crystal lit up just then.

“I HEARD THAT!”

Percy switched it off.

“Now you didn't.”

Percy handed Holar two sheets.

“You've learned the technique.”

Holar took them.

Eleanor held her own page too.

Percy:

“But this isn't yours.”

Chaos Fire appeared on his fingers.

Holar's eyes widened.

“Percy.”

FWOOSH!

The pages turned to ash.

Eleanor:

“Why did you burn them?”

Percy:

“Because they won't be copied.”

Holar:

“I've memorized it.”

Percy:

“That was the point.”

Holar smiled.

“Good.”

Percy looked at Clara.

“There are two reasons I asked for a week.”

Clara:

“I'm listening.”

“First...”

He pointed at Holar and Eleanor.

“These two.”

Holar:

“These two?”

Percy:

“Respectfully.”

Eleanor laughed.

Percy turned to Clara.

“And second...”

He paused.

“I'll be apart from you for a long time.”

Clara's smile grew smaller.

Percy took her hand.

“So I want to spend time with you.”

Clara nodded.

“Okay.”

Percy suddenly grew serious.

“But first...”

Clara's face fell.

“Of course.”

Percy:

“Turn around.”

Clara:

“Okay.”

Clara turned.

Holar stood.

“What are you doing?”

Percy moved behind Clara.

“Perfect Match.”

Clara turned her head slightly.

Percy continued.

“It lets us understand each other.”

“I can feel the energy flow too.”

Holar's gaze sharpened.

Eleanor came closer as well.

Percy spoke to Clara.

“Draw in as much energy as you can.”

“But...”

“Never go beyond Awakening Two.”

Holar's expression changed.

“What?”

Eleanor:

“As much as Awakening Two?”

Percy:

“The amount drawn from outside.”

“Not the Core level.”

Holar exhaled.

“My heart stopped for a second.”

Percy:

“It'll stop again.”

Holar:

“Wonderful.”

Clara closed her eyes.

Energy gathered around her.

Percy stood behind her.

“Leave it as it is.”

“Now feel me.”

Clara's breathing slowed.

Perfect Match activated.

Two auras touched.

Eleanor's eyes widened.

Holar fell completely silent.

Percy sent in his own Orin.

But it wasn't an attack.

Wasn't pressure.

The energy took shape inside Clara.

An artificial heart formed.

Holar whispered.

“This...”

Eleanor:

“Isn't a Core.”

Percy:

“A temporary reservoir.”

All the energy Clara had drawn in...

Flowed into the heart.

Light affinity came.

Darkness affinity came.

Clara's reinforced layers opened.

Thirty-two percent internal strength...

Flowed into the artificial heart.

Percy released his yellow light.

Wrapped it around the heart.

“Pour it in slowly, Clara.”

“Leave the rest to me.”

Clara nodded.

The energy moved.

Percy didn't circulate it back and forth.

He purified it in one pass.

Then circulated it through Clara's body.

Brain.

Center of the chest.

Lower abdominal energy center.

Spinal line.

Arm and leg channels.

Energy spread everywhere.

Holar's eyes had gone wide.

Eleanor whispered.

“Perfect Match...”

Holar:

“Is this what it works for?”

Percy:

“Part of it.”

“Her flow isn't foreign to me.”

“Mine isn't foreign to her.”

Eleanor looked at Clara.

“This is incredible.”

Holar nodded.

“Two separate Cores...”

“Behaving as a single system.”

Percy smiled.

“Exactly.”

He released the last of the energy.

“The rest is yours, my love.”

Clara's ear reddened.

“Don't embarrass me right now.”

Percy:

“Okay.”

A second passed.

BOOOOM!

Advanced Four.

Holar lifted his head.

Advanced Five.

Clara's aura rose again.

Advanced Six.

Then...

BOOOOOOM!

Advanced Seven.

Percy's mouth fell open.

“Two levels at once?”

Clara laughed without opening her eyes.

The energy burst again.

Advanced Eight.

Another wave.

Advanced Nine.

And...

Stopped.

Clara opened her eyes.

“Is it over?”

Percy nodded.

“Damn entropy.”

Clara grumbled.

“I could've gone further.”

Percy laughed.

“Two things.”

Clara looked at him.

“First, congratulations.”

“You've passed me by two levels.”

Clara's smile grew.

Percy:

“Second...”

“Your assignment was Advanced Twelve.”

Clara:

“Yes.”

“You're very close.”

Clara puffed up proudly.

Percy:

“But I'm not allowing that.”

Clara's face froze.

“What?”

Percy smiled.

“Your target has changed.”

Clara narrowed her eyes.

Percy:

“For you specifically...”

“Awakened One.”

Holar nearly dropped his coffee.

Eleanor turned to Percy.

“Percy!”

Clara:

“You've gone mad.”

Percy:

“You're my soulmate.”

Clara went quiet.

Her cheeks turned scarlet instantly.

Percy was about to continue.

Clara:

“Your mate?”

Percy froze too.

“Soul...”

Clara:

“You want me to be your wife someday?”

Percy's face went scarlet.

“Let's hug.”

“And keep not thinking.”

Clara stared for two seconds.

“Okay.”

Percy opened his arms.

Clara hugged him.

CRACK.

Percy's eyes widened.

“Dial down the Advanced Nine!”

Clara:

“I'll never let go.”

Percy grimaced.

“Right now would be a good time to let go!”

Clara hugged tighter.

Percy:

“Aaaagh!”

“You're hurting me, Clara!”

Clara started laughing.

Holar slapped the table, laughing.

Eleanor covered her face.

Clara strengthened her foundation.

A day and a half passed.

The energy settled completely.

Percy checked occasionally.

Not a single layer wavered.

Clara's foundation had remained solid.

Percy finally nodded.

“Okay.”

Then turned to Eleanor.

“Mom.”

Eleanor smiled instantly.

“Oh.”

“Mom again.”

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“What's wrong?”

Eleanor:

“Nothing.”

Percy pulled out her chair.

“Your turn.”

Eleanor sat.

Percy stood in front of her.

“Your system is different.”

Eleanor:

“I'm not surprised.”

Percy:

“You can combine six elements.”

“But that isn't the real difference.”

Holar listened closely.

Percy continued.

“When you combine them, you create certainty.”

Eleanor's eyes narrowed.

Percy:

“We won't gather the energy.”

“You'll turn each element into a pill.”

Eleanor:

“And swallow them?”

Percy:

“Yes.”

Holar:

“Is that safe?”

Percy:

“For her, it is.”

Eleanor looked at Holar.

“You heard him.”

Holar:

“I only asked.”

Percy continued.

“Your main element is wind.”

Eleanor nodded.

“And...”

Percy narrowed his eyes.

“There's more to wind.”

Eleanor's gaze changed.

“How do you know?”

Percy:

“I don't.”

Holar closed his eyes.

“Here we go again.”

Percy:

“When I transitioned to Chaos Fire...”

“I felt something beyond it.”

“You must feel it too.”

Eleanor was quiet for a long time.

Then...

“Yes.”

Percy's eyes lit up.

“That's what you need to call.”

“Around the energy released...”

“Make the wind dance.”

“But not outward.”

“Toward yourself.”

Eleanor closed her eyes.

Twelve hours passed.

Two days in total now.

Eleanor was still meditating.

Then...

Her aura erupted.

BOOOOOOM!

Interplanetary Two.

Percy stood.

“It's started.”

A second burst.

Interplanetary Three.

Holar's smile vanished.

“This speed...”

The next wave was greater.

The fourth level...

Passed almost unseen.

Interplanetary Five.

Richard lifted his head far away.

Sylvia sprang out of bed.

Amelia dropped her pen.

Helen opened her eyes.

Another wave.

The sixth threshold shattered.

Then...

Interplanetary Seven.

Percy's jaw dropped.

“Mom?”

Eleanor didn't answer.

Eight.

All of Awakening City felt it.

People appeared at their windows.

Holar stood.

“Eleanor.”

Eleanor's aura swelled again.

Percy:

“Mom, enough?”

Eleanor didn't open her eyes.

Another explosion.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Interplanetary Nine.

Silence.

True silence.

Percy's mouth hung open.

Clara couldn't speak either.

Holar...

Only looked at Eleanor.

Eleanor opened her eyes.

Smiled.

“Voilà.”

Percy suddenly jumped at her.

“MOM!”

Eleanor caught him.

Percy hugged her tightly.

Clara joined them too.

Holar waited a few seconds.

Then walked over.

Hugged Eleanor.

“Congratulations, Eleanor.”

His voice trembled.

Eleanor looked at him.

A tear fell from Holar's eye.

Eleanor's face softened.

Percy suddenly stopped.

“Your assignments aren't finished, by the way.”

Eleanor looked at him.

Percy:

“This is only the first stage.”

Eleanor:

“Let me be happy for a minute.”

Percy:

“Okay.”

Clara laughed.

Percy examined Eleanor's aura.

Then looked at Holar.

“Now...”

He thought for a moment.

“Against that one deep in the forest...”

“You can fight together.”

Clara turned immediately.

“Against who?”

Percy looked at Holar too.

“Yes.”

“Against who?”

Holar's face went flat instantly.

“You don't need to know yet.”

Percy:

“Why?”

Clara:

“Who is it?”

Holar:

“Not yet.”

Percy looked at Clara.

Clara looked at Percy.

They narrowed their eyes together.

Holar:

“I know that look.”

Percy:

“What look?”

Holar:

“The look that means you're going to get yourselves into trouble.”

Clara:

“Nothing of the sort.”

Percy:

“Definitely not.”

Holar sighed.

Percy clapped his hands.

“Now...”

Holar looked suspicious.

Percy smiled.

“It's the world's strongest man's turn.”

He paused.

“Currently the second strongest.”

Holar's face fell.

Eleanor burst out laughing.

Percy pointed at his chair.

“Dearest Grandpa.”

Holar:

“I don't like being called that.”

Percy:

“Sit.”

Holar sat.

Percy stood before him.

“When you killed Lilith...”

“You used something.”

Holar's expression grew serious.

Percy:

“When you destroyed that tongue too.”

“I don't know what it was.”

“But I want you to call up that feeling.”

Holar nodded.

Percy continued.

“First...”

“Feel your Interplanetary Two power.”

“One hundred percent of it.”

Holar closed his eyes.

His aura filled the room.

Percy:

“Now...”

“Think how small it is.”

Holar's eyes opened.

“What?”

Percy:

“Do as I say.”

Holar closed his eyes again.

Percy took out a communication crystal.

Eleanor raised an eyebrow.

Percy:

“NOW.”

Screens lit up across Awakening City.

In homes.

In squares.

In academies.

In towers.

In defense centers.

Then the footage appeared.

Holar Jun.

In his pure white battle armor.

Advancing toward Lilith.

Another image.

Thirteen King Monsters falling.

Another image.

Eternal Strike clearing the path.

Another image.

Holar passing through Lilith's chest.

The city fell silent.

Then someone clapped.

A child.

“The First Savior!”

Someone else stood.

“The world's number one!”

A woman began to cry.

“He's protected us for two thousand years!”

The applause grew.

One street.

Then a second.

One city.

Then other cities.

Hundreds of thousands.

Millions.

Then...

The world.

Holar opened his eyes.

“Why did you do this?”

Percy smiled.

“So entropy won't stand in your way.”

Holar's expression changed.

Percy continued.

“This is positive energy.”

“Pure.”

“I didn't force it.”

“People are producing it themselves.”

Clara approached the window.

Applause came from outside.

Percy looked at Holar.

“About two hundred and twenty million people.”

“Most of their energy is turning toward you.”

Holar held his breath.

Percy:

“From every level.”

“Ordinary people.”

“Awakenings.”

“Pillars.”

“Me.”

“Clara.”

Percy looked at Eleanor.

“Even my mom.”

Eleanor smiled.

Percy placed a hand on Holar's shoulder.

“Don't draw any of it in.”

“Only accept it.”

Holar closed his eyes.

And...

The world flowed into Holar Jun.

Two more days passed.

Four days in total.

No one in the house slept properly.

Percy took measurements constantly.

Clara stayed beside him.

Eleanor watched Holar's flow.

Galahad waited at the door.

Finally...

The first burst came.

BOOOOOOOOM!

All the Pillars stopped at once.

Richard:

“It's starting.”

Sylvia stood.

Amelia opened her window.

Helen quietly looked at the sky.

Far away, Rowena lifted her head.

“This aura...”

Interplanetary Three.

Holar's body shone.

Then the energy compressed.

Three thresholds broke at once.

Four.

Five.

Six.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Rowena's eyes widened.

“Three levels?”

Percy laughed.

Eleanor laughed too.

“Keep going, old man.”

Holar's eyebrow twitched.

Seven.

The city trembled again.

The eighth threshold left only a vibration.

Then...

Interplanetary Nine.

The whole world felt it.

Lucifer lifted its head.

Crowley looked toward the sky from afar.

The King Monsters fell silent.

Holar kept going.

The end of the ninth level.

And...

A wall.

Enormous.

Holar's aura stopped.

Percy held his breath.

“Grandpa.”

Holar's body trembled.

The applause outside still continued.

People's voices rose.

“Holaaaar!”

“First Savior!”

“Living Legend!”

“The World's Strongest!”

Holar opened his eyes.

Tears streamed from them.

Then he shouted.

“ALL OF YOU...”

“I will protect forever!”

The world answered.

Applause...

Became energy.

Percy's eyes widened.

“Now!”

Holar accepted all the energy.

The wall cracked.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then...

IT BROKE.

For a moment, the world darkened.

The sky opened.

Truly opened.

Beyond the clouds...

The darkness of space became visible.

Stars shone in broad daylight.

Holar Jun rose into the air.

But he wasn't using magic.

There was no wind.

No Orin propulsion.

He was simply...

Rising.

And the voice came.

Across the entire world.

“AN ACHIEVEMENT BEYOND BELIEF!”

Everyone froze.

The Voice of the World continued.

“HOLAR JUN!”

“Congratulations!”

“YOU HAVE REACHED GALAXY LEVEL ONE!”

Silence.

One second.

Then the world erupted.

Shouts.

Applause.

Tears.

Laughter.

Even the Pillars couldn't speak.

Sylvia sank into a chair.

“Boss...”

Richard's eyes filled with tears.

Amelia looked at her hands.

“So there really is something beyond it.”

Helen only looked at the sky.

Rowena whispered.

“Galaxy...”

Galahad's knees trembled slightly.

“Grandpa...”

Eleanor was crying.

Clara clung to Percy's arm.

Percy's eyes were wide.

“He did it.”

Then he realized.

“No.”

He smiled.

“We did it.”

The Voice of the World spoke again.

“Announcing the new level's attributes.”

The air around Holar withdrew.

But Holar...

Wasn't breathing.

Still, nothing happened.

“The need to breathe has been removed.”

The world shouted again.

“Gravitational restriction removed.”

Holar looked down.

His feet hung in empty air.

He was flying.

Without using any magic.

Percy's mouth fell open.

“YOU MOTHER—”

Eleanor turned her head instantly.

Percy:

“Uh...”

“Incredible.”

The Voice of the World continued.

“The six-element system has ended.”

The six colors around Holar...

Vanished at once.

Holar's expression changed.

He had no fire.

No water.

No earth.

No wind.

No lightning.

No light.

In their place...

Came one thing.

It had no color.

But it was all of them.

The Voice of the World:

“New power unlocked.”

“LAW OF ELEMENTS.”

Eleanor involuntarily stepped forward.

“Law...”

Amelia repeated from afar.

“Not the elements themselves.”

Richard understood.

“The rule behind the elements.”

Helen smiled for the first time.

Sylvia:

“Boss turned on cheats.”

The Voice of the World continued.

“Your progression from this point onward...”

“Depends on your understanding of the Law of Elements.”

Holar closed his eyes.

Felt the new power.

The voice came again.

“Your current Law essence percentage...”

“Zero point zero...”

“Zero zero zero zero three eight percent.”

Percy:

“How small?”

William shouted from afar.

“VERY!”

The Voice of the World continued.

“Initial reward being applied.”

“Percentage raised to zero point one percent.”

Holar's body shone again.

The entire world trembled.

“Feel it.”

“Understand it.”

“And continue to advance.”

The voice disappeared.

The sky slowly closed.

The stars became invisible again.

But...

Holar was still in the air.

No one spoke.

Percy looked up.

Eleanor looked up.

Clara looked up.

Galahad's mouth was still open.

Finally, Sylvia's voice came.

“Boss?”

Holar looked down.

Sylvia:

“Can you really fly now?”

Holar vanished at once.

Then appeared behind Sylvia.

“Yes.”

Sylvia screamed.

“YOU MOTHER—”

Holar laughed.

Richard covered his face.

Amelia started laughing.

Helen shook her head.

Holar returned home.

His feet touched the floor.

Percy stood before him.

They looked at each other.

Holar's eyes were still full of tears.

Percy smiled.

“Congratulations, Grandpa.”

Holar said nothing.

Took a step.

Gathered Percy into his arms.

Hugged him tightly.

Percy was surprised for a moment.

Then hugged him back.

Holar rested his head against Percy's hair.

“Thank you, son.”

Percy's eyes filled with tears.

“I only showed the way.”

Holar drew back.

“No.”

“You created a new path.”

Percy was quiet for a moment.

Then...

His face grew serious.

“Grandpa.”

Holar:

“Yes?”

Percy cleared his throat.

“Now that you've reached Galaxy...”

Holar's eyes narrowed.

Percy:

“That two million...”

“Three hundred and fifty thousand we owe...”

Holar answered instantly:

“No.”

Percy:

“I haven't finished.”

“Still no.”

Percy clutched his chest.

“You're ruthless.”

Holar slowly smiled.

Percy:

“What?”

Holar's smile grew.

“You can't even imagine...”

“How much.”

Percy's face fell.

Clara started laughing.

Eleanor laughed too.

Galahad leaned against the wall.

Percy pointed at Holar.

“Reached Galaxy.”

“Zero character development.”

Holar:

“Infinite debt development.”

Percy:

“GRANDPA!”

The house erupted in laughter again.

And the strongest man in the world...

No longer fit within that world's limits.

CHAPTER 112 — BEYOND THE THRESHOLD

END