Thinking about it now, the "backing" he had in the past barely counted.
The Alliance.
The commander who had given him Bone Protector and Wind Carnage Requiem.
At the ti, it had felt significant.
But after arriving in Tristan?
Adam could tell the truth.
That commander had only been at the Profound Lord Realm.
Which, from what he had seen recently...
Wasn’t anything special.
Redy continued.
"The Family definitely investigated you."
Adam nodded slightly.
That part was true.
When Ross ca for him earlier, the agent had recited details about Adam’s entire background.
At the ti, it felt like intimidation.
Now he understood.
It had been confirmation.
They had already checked.
Redy folded her arms.
"But now the situation is different."
"You have a Saint backing you."
"And you’re publicly recognized as a Saint’s disciple."
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"They won’t act as brazenly as before."
Adam tilted his head.
"Is it really that simple?"
Redy shook her head.
"Nothing is simple when Saints are involved."
The room fell quiet for a mont.
Then Adam asked the question that had been bothering him.
"So why fake my death in the first place?"
"And what exactly did you an by misdirection?"
Redy smiled faintly.
"Because your ’death’ creates a very specific impression."
She leaned forward slightly.
"The Family will assu you’re extrely valuable to the Saint behind you."
Adam frowned.
"That doesn’t make sense."
Redy explained calmly.
"Becoming a Saint isn’t just about absorbing essence."
"It’s about impact."
"Influence."
"Your actions must leave a mark on the world."
She gestured slightly.
"That’s why the Family spreads chaos."
"It’s the easiest way to create large-scale impact."
Adam’s eyes narrowed.
That actually made sense.
Redy continued.
"And because of that requirent..."
She paused briefly.
"Saints gain access to an ability that no previous realm possesses."
Adam sat up slightly.
"What ability?"
Redy’s eyes glead faintly.
"It gives a Saint..."
She paused again for effect.
"...a miracle."
****
Ross’s eyes suddenly snapped open to see an endless darkness.
He found himself standing in a vast void with no ground, no sky, just an infinite black expanse that swallowed everything.
For a mont, he instinctively reached for his neck.
Even though he knew the truth.
The Ross that died in Tristan had only been a decoy created through his special talent.
And yet...
He could still feel a faint phantom sting across his throat.
The mory of Adam’s blade.
Ross’s expression darkened.
Back from the dead...
And now even more troubleso than before.
The thought alone sent a chill through him.
But it wasn’t the most frightening thing in this place.
Because Ross was not alone.
In front of him, a massive figure towered in the void.
Its form looked like a warped shadow stretched into sothing almost humanoid.
But the proportions were wrong and distorted.
Its presence pressed against reality itself, making the void ripple around it.
Just standing before it felt like being crushed beneath an ocean.
Ross imdiately dropped to all fours.
"I greet the Saint."
His voice was respectfully submissive but the void remained silent.
Ross didn’t move.
Didn’t breathe too loudly.
Didn’t even lift his head.
He simply waited, as monts passed.
Or maybe minutes.
Ti ant very little in this place.
Then the Saint finally spoke.
"Ross."
"You failed ."
The words echoed through the void like distant thunder.
Ross stayed silent.
The Saint continued.
"You were given a simple task."
"To kill a presud nobody."
"And yet you failed."
Ross still didn’t defend himself.
Excuses would only make things worse.
Then the Saint’s voice sharpened slightly.
"Speak."
Ross lowered his head further.
"I believe a Saint interfered."
The massive shadow grew quiet and for a mont nothing moved.
Then the being released sothing resembling a sigh.
But the sound was... wrong.
Like a creature that had long forgotten how humans expressed emotion.
"I am aware."
The Saint’s presence stirred slightly.
"And it appears..."
The shadow leaned forward within the void.
"...a miracle was used."
****
Ross froze.
"A... miracle?" he muttered in disbelief.
The Saint’s voice echoed through the endless void.
"Yes."
Ross’s thoughts raced.
A miracle... was used to save him?
That ant only one thing.
A Saint had personally intervened.
And not just intervened.
They had spent a miracle on Adam.
Ross felt cold sweat run down his back.
He knew exactly what a miracle was.
It was a power that existed only at the Saint realm.
With it, a Saint could heal almost anything.
Even restore soone who had already died.
But the ability ca with a severe limitation.
Miracles were not sothing a Saint could use freely.
Each use required an extrely long recovery period.
That ant every miracle was precious.
Which made the implication terrifying.
A Saint had spent one... for Adam.
Ross’s breathing beca uneven.
If that Saint decided to pursue him for targeting their disciple...
He might disappear from the world without even knowing how he died.
The Saint’s voice cut through his thoughts.
"Are you afraid, Ross?"
Ross imdiately bowed lower.
"I apologize for showing weakness."
The Saint responded calmly.
"This is nothing new."
Ross remained silent.
Then the Saint continued.
"Our plans will change."
"For now, we will leave the Eden Group’s girl... and the new Saint disciple alone."
Ross blinked in surprise.
The Saint continued.
"We have greater matters to attend to."
"You will receive a new task."
Ross raised his head slightly.
"Outside the Alliance."
Ross frowned slightly.
He didn’t ask questions.
That would be inappropriate.
Instead, he simply bowed.
"I understand."
"The details will be sent to you."
Ross nodded.
Then his figure faded from the void.
Monts later, only the Saint remained.
The massive shadow sat silently in the darkness.
"I wonder..."
"Which Saint intervened?"
The void offered no answer.
After a mont, the Saint spoke again.
"Never mind."
"We will no longer interfere in their territory."
"There will be no need for conflict."
A pause.
Then the Saint’s voice turned colder.
"But that does not an..."
"...this malice will be forgotten."
The void trembled slightly.
Then the Saint vanished.
And the darkness returned to silence.
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