I was in my early twenties by now.

  Our combat training had long since surpassed anything you could call “professional.”

  Every confrontation between us was no longer a lesson between teacher and student—

  It was a battle, a clash that mimicked real life and death.

  Offense and defense, deception, reaction, the simulation and suppression of killing intent—

  Every move tested whether I was still a child, or a true warrior.

  And yet—Nox showed no sign of exhaustion.

  Not ever.

  I stared at him, puzzled.

  “Nox, are you… even taking this seriously?”

  He looked at me quietly, his tone flat as always.

  “If we’re measuring by human standards, then yes—right now, you’re among the best.”

  “And in this current body configuration, I am giving it my all.”

  I was silent for a moment.

  But another question had already risen in my heart.

  “In the stories of Hermes-IX and Felix, you’ve both shown your chimera form.

  Why have you never used it on me?”

  Nox shook his head.

  “Because it wouldn’t be fair.”

  “Do you often use that form in battle?”

  His tone didn’t change.

  “Not often.

  The full chimera form is too extreme—Earth itself can’t withstand it for long.

  But I do occasionally use smaller transformations…

  against people who think they’re strong.”

  I stared at him.

  “Who?”

  “Generals. Swordmasters. Human body scientists. All sorts.”

  I gritted my teeth.

  “And how did they feel?”

  He paused briefly.

  “Most of them—felt despair.”

  My heart skipped a beat.

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  I suddenly looked up at him, no longer avoiding his eyes.

  “I want to try it.”

  He said nothing at first. Then he nodded, silently turning to find Luma.

  The three of us set out together, walking far—

  So far that we couldn’t even see the edge of the city anymore.

  Luma stopped and looked at Nox.

  “This place is good.

  Four hundred li west of here is open wasteland.

  No one lives there. Perfect for a fight.”

  Nox didn’t say much.

  He simply began warming up.

  Behind him, wings began to unfurl—huge, monstrous wings.

  As they stretched wide, the air whipped into motion, dust swirling around us.

  He held out a hand.

  “Hop on.”

  I jumped onto his back.

  Luma activated her propulsion system, her voice calm,

  “Don’t worry. I’ll be watching.”

  As we flew, I let out a loud shout.

  Not because I was afraid.

  But because I was excited—ecstatic.

  For the first time, I was this close to their world.

  Nox didn’t respond.

  But I saw it—the corner of his mouth curled up.

  When we landed in the uninhabited zone, I leapt from his back, eager.

  “I want to see it.”

  Before he could answer, Luma spoke first.

  “How much do you plan to use?”

  Nox answered precisely,

  “Two meters tall. 150 kilograms. Fifteen meters per second. Partial beast traits.”

  Luma nodded.

  “Two to three tons of impact force.”

  She turned to me, stepped forward, and placed a hand gently on my shoulder.

  Her voice was unusually serious.

  “I’ve installed defensive armor in your body.

  You won’t feel it, but it can withstand up to six tons of force.

  Which means—you can survive three hits.”

  She paused. For a rare moment, her eyes showed clear concern.

  “On the fourth—you’ll die.”

  I swallowed hard.

  She said it softly—but those words carried the weight of death.

  Before I could process it, Nox’s body began to shift.

  It wasn’t graceful.

  It was a complete reconstruction.

  His legs became those of a great beast.

  His arms lengthened like an ape’s, claws forming from his palms.

  Wings still outstretched—

  He was no longer human.

  My instincts kicked in.

  I knew his burst came from jumps.

  His range was larger than it seemed.

  And he still had aerial advantage.

  He looked at me.

  “Ready?”

  I nodded.

  Not because I was confident—

  But because this was how I chose to love them.

  To understand him.

  To understand them.

  To understand what kind of loneliness such power could carry.

  In the next second, he charged.

  I saw it.

  But he was too fast.

  The first strike—I blocked it.

  The second—I couldn’t react.

  The third—I was sent flying.

  Pain tore through my nerves like fire.

  My consciousness shook violently—

  Two defenses gone. Only one left.

  I began dodging.

  Searching for rhythm, for timing.

  Testing, analyzing—doing everything I could to keep from being hit again.

  But even with everything I had, Nox’s attacks came one after another.

  And though I dodged, none of them were perfect—small wounds began to accumulate.

  Finally, once I had adjusted to his attack tempo, I made a decision.

  I would gamble everything.

  One more hit—

  I’d take it.

  And counter.

  He was standing on one leg.

  I saw the opening.

  I took the hit—

  And knocked him off balance!

  An opening!

  But my body warned me—danger.

  And it was right.

  With his long arms, he braced against the ground and swept his leg across at full force.

  I raised my left arm to block.

  I heard the crack.

  I flew through the air—

  Then everything went quiet.

  Eyes open.

  Blood at the corner of my mouth.

  But I was laughing.

  Because I had seen it.

  Felt it.

  The despair others felt in front of them—

  I finally touched it.

  Nox rushed over, more panicked than I had ever seen him.

  He didn’t even shift back to human form—just clumsily tried to check my injuries.

  That awkwardness only made me laugh harder.

  Luma stayed calm.

  She rushed over, stabilized my wounds, and ensured nothing was critical.

  Once I was stable, Nox sat beside me.

  I leaned on him and muttered,

  “You really hit hard, Nox.”

  He hesitated a bit.

  “Because… I respect your decision.”

  I chuckled.

  “No wonder you said people feel despair.

  This gap—

  Only those who truly face it will understand.”

  He said softly,

  “I’m sorry.”

  I shook my head.

  “No… Thank you, Nox.”

  I was smiling—

  Maybe from the pain.

  Maybe because—

  I had finally gotten a little closer to them.