[106] "Consequence"

[The next day, in the morning]

[Shinhwa Hospital]

Jisuk struggles to open his eyes with difficulty and settles on the bed, focusing his gaze on Wooin and Subin, who have already regained consciousness and are watching him. He then looks for Jiwoo, but can't find him in the room.

"What about Jiwoo?" asks Jisuk with concern.

Subin shakes his head, showing that he doesn't know, while Wooin replies, "We don't know. We woke up a few minutes before you, but we don't have any idea."

Jisuk frowns and starts to remember everything that has happened. Just as he is about to say something, the door to the room opens and Jiyoung and Inyhuk walk in.

"Sister," Jisuk says.

Jiyoung nods and asks. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," Subin replies with a smile on her face.

Wooin nods coolly, while Jisuk doesn't answer and asks on everyone's mind, "Where is Jiwoo?"

The mood in the room immediately changes, and an awkward silence settles in, alerting the three young men that something terrible has happened.

Inhyuk sighs and responds earnestly. "We don't know where Jiwoo is."

"We found you guys in an alley, badly injured, but Jiwoo wasn't with you. That's why we came here as soon as you woke up, we want to know what happened to you," Inhyuk concludes, leaving the room in complete silence and the three young men completely shocked.

"Jiwoo wasn't with us?" Subin repeats, his face full of worry.

Wooin and Jisuk are shocked at the revelation.

"Please remain calm for now. We don't know exactly what might have happened, maybe Ares or Kayden have some information about it," Inhyuk suggested in an attempt to calm the situation.

Jisuk broke free from the bedsheets and struggled to stand up, letting out a cry of pain. "Argh!" with difficulty and a distressed expression on his face, he added. "Jiwoo was carried by a woman."

Hearing Jisuk's words, Jiyoung and Inhyuk changed their expressions and became alarmed at Jiwoo's condition.

"Jisuk, lie down. We will search for Jiwoo more intensely," Inhyuk said.

"I have to help..." interrupted Jisuk.

Jiyoung spoke earnestly. "Lie down on the bed. We'll take care of it. Just concentrate on getting well."

"Sister..." muttered Jisuk, looking at Jiyoung.

"I won't repeat it," Jiyoung said with determination. Then, he turned his gaze to the three young men and said. "Please tell us what happened to them."

The three young men nodded in unison, and Subin was the first to speak. "We were staying at Jiwoo's house, and suddenly, we heard noises. We went out to investigate and saw several dead Shinhwa members, killed by a man. Then, he asked us who Kayden's disciple was and Jiwoo introduced himself. There was a confrontation between them, but the man was incredibly strong, and we couldn't defeat him."

Jiyoung frowned and Wooin added. "In addition, there was another person. He had white hair and was dressed completely in black. He wore a black mask covering his mouth."

"Exactly, if I'm not mistaken, that man dressed in black called Dran the guy we fought," Jisuk commented with a serious tone.

"I'll immediately look for him," Inhyuk said.

Jiyoung frowned and asked. "They said I was no match for him, how did you manage to escape?"

"A woman appeared and killed the man we were dealing with," Subin commented, his voice shaking. "She crushed him, actually. They couldn't do anything against her. She's on another level. I've never felt an aura like it... other than that time at the academy."

Jisuk and Wooin nodded, corroborating Subin's information.

"She saved Jiwoo from that man and seemed to be able to use space powers or something similar. She created a portal to appear," Wooin added.

"She could create portals?" asked Inhyuk, visibly upset.

"Yes," the three replied in unison.

"Could you describe that woman?" asked Jiyoung.

"Sure," Subin replied and continued. "She was a young woman wearing a black suit with a black tie and a white shirt. She had shoulder-length black hair or a little longer, and her eyes were blue."

Inhyuk frowned and thought to himself. 'Could it be Rebecca?'

Jiyoung looked at Inhyuk, and they both nodded.

'It must be her,' Inhyuk commented, and Jiyoung replied. "I agree."

Jisuk asked. "Who are they talking about?"

Inhyuk watches the three young men carefully, who look at him expectantly. A sigh escapes his lips before he begins to speak, his voice full of seriousness. "Rebecca Brown, she is an extraordinarily powerful awakened, capable of challenging the best in the World Rankings. Her last matchup earned her a victory against the 59th ranked. And..." she paused, staring at the three young men before continuing, "she is rumored to have a close and profound relationship with Ares Seo."

A murmur of astonishment spread among the young men as they heard about Rebecca's connection with Ares Seo. Inhyuk continued, aware of the interest his words had aroused.

"If she really was the one who saved Jiwoo, then Jiwoo is most likely right now together with Ares and Kayden...", Inhyuk mused, leaving a space for his words to sink in.

"If Jiwoo was okay, he would have called us right away, but he hasn't," Subin commented, keeping the concern in his voice.

"Yes," Jisuk confirmed, nodding his head, while Wooin nodded as well, silently.

Inhyuk sighed, letting out the tension built up in his shoulders, and spoke with a serious and somewhat resigned tone. "If Ares doesn't want us to find him or communicate with Jiwoo, it will be almost impossible to find him.... I'll tell you something..."

"Once upon a time, Ares found himself caught in an ambush carried out by numerous awakened ones of the World Ranking. The situation was critical and, to escape, he had to confront them, leaving them dead and others seriously wounded. Since then, no one managed to track Ares unless he allowed it. His ability to vanish without a trace made him an elusive and undetectable figure. Rumors even claimed that some of the most powerful awakened, those in the top 10 of the world rankings, had tried to find him, but all to no avail." Inhyuk shared this information solemnly.

"We shouldn't anticipate the worst for now, maybe Jiwoo hasn't awakened yet," Jiyoung expressed with a worried tone.

The three young men lapsed into thoughtful silence.

Inhyuk sighed amicably and added. "We'll see you again later, get well."

Jiyoung nodded and added. "At ease."

Inhyuk opened the door and made room for Jiyoung to walk out of the room, following closely behind him.

As they walked down the hospital corridor, Inhyuk expressed his concern. "President, what are we going to do? If it really is Rebecca, it will be very difficult to find her. With her space powers, she could be in any other country, and calculating her location is complicated."

Jiyoung nodded, confirming Inhyuk's words, and added with determination. "We must search for Jiwoo and be cautious."

Inhyuk nodded in agreement and asked with concern. "The awakened are in chaos, the battles that took place in different areas were terrifying. Many of them had never witnessed clashes on such a large scale."

Jiyoung sighed heavily and replied. "We couldn't do anything, we suffered a lot this time because of Supil Kang. Although this blow is somewhat smaller than the one we faced a few years ago, not all organizations have fully recovered, and another blow of this magnitude could be devastating."

Inhyuk nodded, adding. "It's true, many organizations, including us, have lost many members. Baekdu even lost its leader, Supil Kang. Baekdu has great prestige in this country, but with this event..."

Jiyoung interrupted, deciding to focus on the future. "Let's not think about that anymore, we should worry about what will come from outside."

....

[MIR]

In an elegant and spacious office, Han Seongik took a soft sip of tea, setting the cup down carefully on the flawless surface of the glass table. Settling gracefully into the plush leather seat, he crossed his legs gracefully, placing his right foot on top of his left. Her gaze was drawn to the figure of an older woman, whose long hair with one half black and the other half white and piercing white eyes that seemed to reveal the wisdom of years of experience.

"To what do I owe this great invitation to your organization, Hye-Yeong?" commented Han Seongik with a smile, trying to break the tension in the room.

Hye-Yeong looked at him seriously and replied firmly. "It's to talk about what happened. You saw the scale of those clashes yourself, and it's not something our awakened ones can do, let alone deal with."

Han Seongik sighed, understanding the gravity of the situation, and said. "Yes, you know what happened."

Hye-Yeong kept her gaze fixed on him, with a mixture of annoyance and concern. "I want to hear it from your words. Look at the big mess that formed because no one knew, and we only found out now."

"Don't make things harder for me," Han Seongik commented with some hesitation and then continued, "I have a blade at my throat and any move you misunderstand could cost me my life."

Hye-Yeong frowned, sensing the frustration and anger in Seongik's words, and said with an angry tone, "You have many organizations in this country that will help you. You have done a lot for this nation, but you cannot pretend to solve everything by yourself."

The irritation in Han Seongik increased, and he lost a little control of his emotions. "Do you want your organization to disappear? You saw those terrible powers in action yourself. Only two awakened ones from this country faced some of the enemies infiltrated here. Haven't you wondered who the other awakened ones are that took care of the others?"

The tension in the room became palpable, leaving an awkward silence in the air.

"Ares, Kayden and a woman I don't know where the fuck she came from took on Qin Shengwei, Qin Shuang and Teng Zexian. They beat them all, and as of this minute, all of them are dead," Han Seongik finished saying, visibly upset by the recent events.

Hye-Yeong kept silent, observing the agitation in Seongik, then said earnestly. "It's been many years since I've seen you like this, but it's better for all organizations to know what they are facing. We must work together to face this truth, though now it is no longer possible to hide it, and very soon everyone will know the truth."

Han Seongik sighed and regained his usual calm, commenting. "I don't get anything out of keeping things hidden anymore, but it's better for them to tell the world themselves about that boy and not me."

Han Seongik and Hye-Yeong continued to discuss everything that had happened the day before and the possible consequences that might arise in the future. The situation was delicate and full of uncertainty, during the conversation, Hye-Yeong convinced Han Seongik about the importance of being prepared and working together to face the challenges ahead.

....

[Illuminati Headquarters]

In a plush room, Jiwoo opened his eyes cautiously, scanning his surroundings with a mixture of confusion and awe. He noted with concern the absence of his friends and, with difficulty, rose to his feet. Limping slightly, he made his way to the window, where his eyes met a dazzling landscape. Through the glass, he beheld a magnificent place full of futuristic buildings, winding roads made of marble lined with lush vegetation and majestic trees.

At that moment, the door opened softly and Ares entered the room. "You woke up," he announced in a serene voice.

Jiwoo turned to the source of the voice and, recognizing his brother, a joyful smile lit up his face. "Brother," he exclaimed, feeling a warm relief to see him there.

In the middle of the impressive room, Jiwoo found himself struggling with confusion. "Where am I?" he asked.

Ares let out a heavy sigh and calmly explained, "You're at Illuminati headquarters..."

Surprise invaded Jiwoo's face. "This is the headquarters of the organization that you created?".

Nodding grimly, Ares confirmed, "Yes, it is. But you must rest now. Your wounds are quite complicated, your internal organs are badly damaged, and you have numerous cuts on your skin, even if you heal most of them, you should rest."

Cautiously, Jiwoo obeyed and lay down on the bed, but in the midst of the pain and confusion, a thought tormented him. "Where are my friends?" he asked in a worried voice.

Ares sketched a warm, reassuring smile. "They are safe. They're at Shinhwa Hospital..."

Jiwoo sighed in relief. "Phew... phew.... thank goodness. I was worried," he admitted truthfully, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders.

"You saw what happens when you're weak, or rather, when you're unclear about the dangers of this world. If it wasn't for Rebecca, you might have ended up just like your friends... dead," Ares pointed out frankly.

Jiwoo lowered his head, his eyes filled with tears, and he clenched his fist tightly as he looked down at the bedsheets. In a voice laden with sadness, he admitted, "Yes, I know.... I didn't think it would come to this point, the situation."

Ares sat on the bed, close to Jiwoo, showing a mixture of seriousness and understanding. "You have to learn from the events and become stronger. They won't have mercy because you are young or injured. On the contrary, they will attack you with greater intensity to make the most of your weakness."

Then Ares continued with determination. "We have many enemies in the world, and we always have each other's backs. My master did it for me, and now it's your turn to join us. We will protect you as you become strong and reach a level where the three of us can watch each other's backs."

Jiwoo lifted his head and met Ares' encouraging smile. With doubt in his voice, he asked. "Will I really be able to be that strong?".

"Of course," Ares affirmed with absolute confidence. "You are a disciple of Kayden Break and younger brother of the Emperor of Light."

Ares' words left Jiwoo in awe, feeling a mixture of pride and responsibility. Wiping away his tears, a shy smile formed on his face, and he asked curiously, "Where's Kayden?"

Ares sighed, but his smile remained. "He was busy watching something, I'll let him know you woke up, so he can come over."

....

[One day later]

[In China]

[Teng Family]

In a silent open field, bathed by lush vegetation and the melody of birds, a young, bald, tanned man meditates with his muscular body wrapped in a monk's robe. His eyes remain serenely closed, as if the world has no power over him.

A rather older monk with a pale face quickly ascends the stairs and kneels between two pillars in the center of the Buddhist temple.

He nervously observes the young man. "Successor monk, I have regrettable news," he says in a trembling voice.

The young man opens his eyes calmly and replies. "Calm down and tell me what has happened."

"The supreme monk has passed away," the old man announced.

The gentle Teng Xiao suddenly looks uneasy, stands up hurriedly and looks earnestly at the monk as he asks with nervousness in his voice. "Teng Zun, are you sure about this information?".

"Yes, your holiness Teng Xiao. And that's not all, Qin Sheng, Qin Shuang and Qin Long have also died," he stated with trepidation.

"How did all this happen?" asked Teng Xiao, upset.

"I'm not certain, but both the supreme monk and those three Qin family members went to Korea because they heard a rumor that Ares was there, anddd that Kayden was also accompanying him and that the latter had taken a new disciple," Teng Zun commented.

"Ares... Kayden... a new disciple," muttered Teng Xiao as he shifted restlessly, not knowing how to act.

"What should we do?" asked Teng Xiao anxiously.

"Teng Xiao, as the supreme monk, the decision rests with you," Teng Zun pointed out.

Teng Xiao was surprised and looked at Teng Zun. After a moment's thought, he replied. "Gather all the monks, we must hold a meeting and plan our next moves. We must also be cautious of the other families in China."

"I will do so, young supreme," said the old man, quickly withdrawing from the place.

Teng Xiao watched as Teng Zun walked away and remembered his master's words. "If anything happens to me, you must show your powers before everyone and assert yourself as the supreme monk. You are still young, and the old monks might try to take the title. You must suppress them all and raise the Teng family to a new level with your talent."

Looking up at the sky, Teng Xiao knelt down and declared confidently. "Don't worry, master. Your disciple will live up to your expectations." Then, he stood up with a serious and determined countenance, showing confidence and self-assurance.

....

[Qin Family]

In an office with large windows that allow natural light to filter in and provides a sense of elegance and nobility. In the center of the room is a large table, around which five people are seated.

Each of them represents the Qin family throughout the world.

[America's representative: Liang Qin]

[Representative of Europe: Jian Qin]

[Representative from Africa: Ling Qin]

[Australia representative: Yuyan Qin]

[Australia representative: Yuyan Qin]

[Second-in-command of the Qin family: Mei Qin]

Mei Qin, with her dark hair and some gray hair pulled back in a traditional bun, her notorious Asian features and wrinkles just like the others present in the room.

Solemnly, he clasps his hands together and addresses the group with determination. "We have suffered significant losses due to the actions of those three individuals."

The other four figures nod in recognition of the gravity of the situation.

"Now we must plan cautiously for what is to come, as we will not only face threats from China, but the whole world will try to take away our power," Mei added firmly.

Liang nods with a smile and adds. "The deaths of those three have worked in our favor, as we have avoided suffering considerable losses in carrying out our plan."

"Yes, we have secured power for ourselves without incurring the losses we initially estimated," Ling interjects with satisfaction.

"We should place the blame on Ares and Kayden, holding them responsible for everything, and eliminate all the followers of those three to consolidate our absolute control," Yuyan suggests.

Jian silently listens attentively without comment.

Mei takes the floor again after a moment of reflection: "However, before claiming victory, we must prepare ourselves to face the awakened ones who will come to attack us. Each of us will take responsibility for protecting his area."

The four figures nod in agreement and plunge into an intense discussion to plot their strategy.

....

[In another part of the world]

In the dark of night, three figures gather in a remote forest, away from the hustle and bustle of the world.

Emily, Jacob and Avery, with astonished and serious expressions.

Emily expresses her surprise by saying. "I never thought those five would be together."

Jacob nods and adds additional information, "It's true, Harold and Edward have always been known to hang out together. The same thing happened a while back with Ares and Rebecca, but then they walked alone. Kayden, on the other hand, has always been a loner, unless he's with his disciple.... And now he has another disciple?"

Emily questions. "Those five together, plus that mysterious woman, in such a rare event, will certainly shake the world? Why would they be together?"

It is then that Avery, with seriousness in his words, offers his explanation. "They formed an alliance."

Emily and Jacob watched Avery intently as the latter added with weighted solemnity, "Why else are we together?"

"Please don't talk nonsense, Kayden would never make an alliance," Emily stated firmly.

"Yeah, don't make stuff up," Jacob complemented briskly.

Avery, with a serious countenance, inquired, "So what do you guys think about Korea?"

Emily frowned before reflexively replying, "I was quite surprised to hear that. But is it possible that it's true? That a woman named Jiyoung Yoo has power comparable to a top 50 world ranking at such a young age is simply unbelievable. And that old man... didn't he retire because he was getting weaker?"

"It's amazing to have such power at such a young age, but let's remember that she didn't become Korea's No. 1 Awakened until less than 1 year ago. Although Korean Awakenings were thought to weaken over time, it seems that wasn't the case," Avery commented with a thoughtful look.

Jacob nodded with a smile and added, "She had to defeat all her opponents to proclaim herself the strongest, but that old man...". He paused briefly before continuing, "I'm sure he's hiding his true powers. Since his youth, there were always rumors that his strength far exceeded his position in the world rankings, and now it has finally been confirmed. Moreover, it was revealed that he is not weakening, but quite the opposite: he is getting stronger."

A serious silence fell over Emily and Avery, who took in Jacob's words carefully.

....

[Patrick Family]

Veramonte, sitting on a comfortable leather seat, listened attentively to the person in front of him.

"Sir, recently in Korea a conflict took place in which Ares and Kayden faced Qin Sheng and Qin Shuang, with Kayden and Ares emerging victorious," the man reported.

"I also learned that a young girl named Jiyoung Yoo defeated Jan Schäfer. According to my inquiries, her age should be the same as Mr. Jurion's, or from what can be inferred they should not differ much," he added.

Veramonte arched an eyebrow and asked, intrigued, "You defeated him?"

"Yes, sir, more like killed him," the man confirmed.

A smile broke out on Veramonte's face, and he commented, "Oh, a determined girl. You said she's about the same age as my grandson." He scratched his beard before continuing, "I'll have to pay her a visit to see if that rumor is true.... If it is, she would be an excellent candidate to marry my grandson."

"Sir," the man interrupted.

"Yes?" replied Veramonte.

"She has significant meetings in the next three weeks, her only time off is after these three weeks when she was going to accompany her grandson to challenge those in the top 100 of the world ranking," the man explained.

Veramonte frowned and reflected, "I will settle my business, and then I can visit her with my grandson."

....

On Tuesdays and Fridays I will upload episodes of Eleceed: The Law of the Strong

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