"Thank you for not battling it out with Gates, Mr. Hearst."

As soon as Clark landed on the ground, Headmaster Hans was there to welcome him with a huge smile on his face.

​​

"So this is the student?" He asked, looking at Van who was wrapped in a pod of blood, "I don't really remember his face. Probably an underwhelming student so I don't see him that much."

"For a man who could read minds, you are terrible at lying, Headmaster Hans."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Mr. Hearst."

When Clark heard those words, a scoff came out of his nose. "Out of all the Holders of your generation, you are the sliest one. You're the only person that could have notified that freak in coming here. If I was not here, then the Explorer Association would have surely taken a hit on its name, would it not?"

"You jest, you jest. Tarnishing the Explorer Association? Why would anyone want that?" Headmaster Hans waved his hands as he let out a light chuckle, the few lights that seeped into the Academy reflected on his shiny bald head.

Hearing Headmaster Hans' words, Clark once again let out a tiny scoff. He looked at him a few seconds more before walking away without saying a single word.

"Chris, gather your team, and let's go. We will escort the city guards all the way to the Pit."

"P… please, sir. Let us take care of this. My team and I can handle it from here." Chris quickly said as he approached the Chairman.

"Handle it?" Clark frowned upon hearing Chris' statement. He then looked around, checking the expressions on the faces of the students-- no. The onlookers that saw everything that had happened here today.

The Explorer Association, along with the city guards, had a hard time arresting a boy that was already trapped inside the Academy. Once the Circle gets a word of this, he would surely be called by them, questioning his skills to lead the association.

Being overwhelmed by Charlotte was alright and could be excused, but having trouble in hunting a boy? Their reputation has already taken a hit.

"You think you can handle Charlotte if she comes back?"

"That--"

Before Chris could even say anything, Van, who was previously floating beside Chairman Hearst, was thrown towards him and all he could do was catch him.

"Don't worry, that thing would no longer be able to… move."

For the first time since he got here, Clark stuttered. From the start, he was using external blood in order to shackle and restrict Van's movements. But now that he was manipulating the very blood that flowed through Van's veins, he could not help but furrow his eyebrows.

Each person had a unique flow depending on the beating of their heart. Clark's most difficult skill was controlling someone's movement through their blood, as a live source usually tends to move, making it hard for him to gain control.

But a thousand years made it almost as easy as breathing for him. But still, some were harder to control than others. In the case of Charlotte, her blood felt too heavy to even move. For Headmaster Hans, it was as if every drop of his blood had a life of its own. For Angela Elton, well… let's just say he won't even attempt in manipulating her blood.

If there was someone he should fear more than Charlotte, it was Elton.

But now, he had to add someone on that list-- Van.

His blood was… slippery, and if the Chairman lost focus for even just a single second, his control would loosen up. For someone of Van's level… this should be impossible.

"...But tie him up just in case."

"Y… yes, Chairman."

Hearing the tone in the Chairman's voice, Chris could only follow him.

And so, finally, after a whole day, the incident that decided the fate of the whole world has drawn its curtains.

A student, without even being given a voice, was dragged away in chains. A friend, without even able to say goodbye, left the Academy for perhaps for the last time. A boy, who probably had the simplest dream in the world, rendered helpless by fate.

And soon, he will only become a memory for the people that were here today. No one could hear him. No one could hear his thoughts. No one could hear his screams… well, except for Headmaster Hans.

'Survive, Mr. Evans. Survive long enough to see the real world. Survive long enough, and we will come for you…

...Your mother will come for you.'

***

"Hm… I wonder where Van is, could they be in Victoria's place?"

Back in Van's house, Andrea was sitting alone at the table. The food that she prepared has already gotten cold. She was already rushing on her way home as her shift turned longer than she expected, but it would seem her worries were unfounded as Van was still not home.

Weird… She was sure that Van would have said something if he and the guys were spending the night someplace else.

"Ms. Andrea!"

Her thoughts were then disrupted as one of the men that Sarah tasked to guard her suddenly barged into the house. Seeing the panicked look on his face, Andrea could not help but be worried.

"What… what is it!?"

"We need to go, now! Ms. Sarah has sent someone to escort you away from here!"

"What? Why!? What's happening?"

"Your brother… your brother has been arrested, and some of the members of the Explorer Association are on their way here as we speak!"

"What!? Evans!? Take… take me to him right now!"

"I am afraid we can't do that. He… is already on his way to the Pit."

"What!?"

Hearing the man's words, Andrea felt her whole body become weak. The Pit was reserved for the worse of criminals, and Van was sent there?

"Please, Ms. Andrea. We have no time. We need to leave now!"

"I have to see my brother!"

Even with her heart beating erratically and the sweat forming on her back, Andrea still had the strength to run as she rushed out of the house. However, as soon as she stepped outside of the house, she felt her whole vision turn dark.

"I am sorry, Ms. Andrea. We have strict orders to bring you to safety."

Were the last words that Andrea heard before completely losing consciousness.

***

A few hours later, in an area surrounded by what seemed to be countless guards, a colossal gate opened. A gate that was thicker and even bigger than the one in the Academy, and surrounding it was a dome, also similar to the barrier that was being used in the Academy.

"Don't untie him and just throw him straight inside."

"W… what!?"

And inside that dome, right in the middle, was a White Portal, a Rank F Portal-- The Pit.

"But… that is against our regulations, sir. The boy will die if we throw him--"

"Just throw him."

And in front of that Portal, was Chris, talking to a member of the guards that was now holding the chained Van.

"I… I can't, sir."

Hearing the guard's words, Chris could not help but let out a loud sigh that echoed throughout the dome. He then looked at the guard in front of him straight in the eye…

...before kicking him into the Portal along with Van.

"!!!"

The guards that saw this immediately raised their weapons towards Chris and cast their skills. Everything was so sudden that they could not even react.

"W… why did you do that!?"

"Don't think that just because you're from the Association you could--"

"Stand down!"

Before the guards that were approaching Chris could do anything, one of their superiors ordered them to sheathe their weapons and retract their skills. And then, with a smile on his face, bowed towards Chris.

"Sir Chris, please. Let me handle this. The Chairman is already waiting for you outside."

"Hm."

The guard leader's tone was filled with respect. Chris, on the other hand, just nodded his head and left without even a single word, not even glancing towards the guards that had their weapons pointed at him earlier as he exited the dome.

"Is it done?"

And as soon as he was out of the gates, Chairman Hearst's words whispered into his ears.

"Yes, Chairman. The boy shouldn't be a problem in the future, they did not untie him as you ordered."

"Good, that's good. We can all finally rest." Hearing Chris' words, Chairman Hearst let out a short sigh.

"What about Sarah?"

"I'm sure she will come back once she's done playing her games. If not, then you can just drag her home. Let's leave, we've already spent way too much time here."

"Yes, Chairman."

And with a final look towards the Pit as the gate closes, Chris followed the Chairman, a huge and satisfied smile forming on his face.

Finally, he got rid of another obstacle. Sarah had spent way too much time and resources on the boy. Time...

A time that could have been well spent… on him. He did this for her, Sarah would surely realize this in the future.

Everything that he did, he did for her. He belongs to Sarah…

...and Sarah belongs to him.

***

"Are… are you alright!?"

"H… ha?"

Van could feel his brain melting as a sudden burst of light blinded him as soon as the blindfold on his face was taken off. He could finally move again but didn't. Because doing so drowned his whole body in pain.

Instead, the only thing he could do was move his eyes which were slowly recovering.

And as soon as it fully recovered, his trembling eyes widened in shock as he saw what surrounded him.

"This… this is the Pit?"