Soul system:Return Of The SSS-Ranked Troublemaker-Chapter 66: Game Of Fate (21) End.

A sudden, deafening silence swallowed the arena.

Not a whisper. Not a breath. Just stillness.

Then, like the cracking of ice under pressure, it shattered.

"Wh... what the actual... f–fuck..." a spectator finally managed, voice hoarse with disbelief.

The stunned murmurs quickly spread like wildfire. Rows of spectators leaned forward, eyes wide with a mix of awe and confusion. Had they really just witnessed that?

Even the host charismatic and composed just moments ago struggled to maintain his usual bravado.

"H-Haha... A-Amazing! Let’s give a big round of applause to our participants!" he stammered, forcing a smile while gripping the mic like it might anchor him back to reality.

A wave of applause followed hesitant at first, then stronger but the disbelief still lingered like static in the air. Every eye was drawn to him: the lone boy with a small frame and a calm expression, standing still among the gasping, sweat-drenched competitors.

He didn’t look tired.

He didn’t even look winded.

He just stood there, quiet his masked face unreadable like he didn’t even realize what he’d done.

The host shook off the tension with an exaggerated breath and raised a hand once more.

"Alright, folks! Our next event is about to begin: The Tied Rope Challenge!!"

The screens above the arena flickered to life, showing live footage of a rocky coastline and the glittering sea beyond.

"The rules are simple!" the announcer declared, voice booming. "Each contestant will have a rope tied around their waist. On the other end? A boulder twice their body weight!"

Gasps and excited murmurs rose from the crowd.

"And to spice things up," the host added with a grin, "the boulders are submerged at the bottom of the thirty-foot-deep sea!"

The audience erupted, some cheering, others gasping.

The host turned dramatically toward the stage and shouted, "And now, please welcome our featured mystic user Sayeon!"

A spotlight illuminated the boy, whose expression remained unreadable behind his sleek mask. He didn’t raise a hand or react to the thunderous applause he simply took a breath and stepped forward.

A flash of light.

In an instant, the contestants vanished from the platform teleported straight to the sea.

Underwater, everything was different. Heavier. Slower. The pressure of the ocean wrapped around them like a constricting serpent. Light danced faintly from above, casting shimmering halos through the deep.

Sayeon calmly exhaled through his nose. The surface shimmered far overhead, distorted through layers of depth. Bubbles escaped his mask as he moved without panic, without hesitation.

Meanwhile, the bodybuilders around him were already struggling.

"Holy shit... this boulder... weighs a ton!" one contestant panicked, legs kicking wildly as he tried to rise.

Another flailed as his rope jerked taut. "I can’t even swim up! The damn current’s dragging me down!"

"Why the hell is it this hard?! I can barely move! And these goddamn fish!"

The sea was alive with motion. Schools of curious fish darted past. Bright corals jutted from the seabed like underwater spears. The contestants scratched and bumped into them, their limbs sluggish in the dense resistance.

And yet, among the chaos, Sayeon moved like a shadow.

Graceful. Fluid. Silent.

He adjusted the rope at his waist with one hand and began swimming upward, as if the weight wasn’t even there.

From a distance, one of the contestants caught sight of him.

"H-How... is he moving like that...? It’s like the water doesn’t even affect him..."

The pressure grew. Muscles strained. Some competitors gasped in their masks, others clutched at their chests. Panic set in.

Then pop.

Two of the contestants shimmered and vanished, forcefully teleported out after losing consciousness. They reappeared on the shore, unmoving but breathing.

"Shit!" another growled, slipping as the rope dug into his waist. "The rope’s coming loose!"

But Sayeon had already passed them. Ascending slowly, steadily. His masked face reflected nothing but calm resolve.

Above the surface, the crowd watched the monitors, captivated. Cheers began to rise again slow at first, then louder. Not for the strongest. Not for the biggest.

But for the quietest one.

The boy with a boulder dragging behind him and nothing in his eyes but focus.

The surface broke with a splash as the boy emerged from the water, rope still tied to his waist, the boulder dragging behind him like a conquered beast.

The crowd roared.

Cheers erupted from the shoreline, echoing like a wave across the arena. Phones flashed. Voices screamed his name or tried to, not knowing it yet. All eyes were on the lone swimmer making his way back to land with effortless strokes, while behind him, the chaos still played out.

Further out in the sea, the other contestants struggled.

Some thrashed in place, barely managing to pull the heavy boulders behind them. Saltwater mixed with sweat and blood as the ropes carved angry red lines into their skin. The currents were strong, the rocks unrelenting. A few contestants were visibly on the verge of passing out, their limbs moving sluggishly, eyes wide with panic.

Still, the boy moved forward.

Unfazed.

Focused.

As he reached the shallows, the boulder thudded against the sand behind him. The announcer, practically breathless with excitement, raised his microphone high.

"EVERYONE, GIVE IT UP FOR OUR WINNER!!!"

Applause thundered across the venue.

But beneath the cheers, quiet murmurs stirred in the crowd.

"Winner...? But weren’t there supposed to be three more games...?"

"Yeah... but I mean... two people already passed out. And that kid he doesn’t even look tired..."

"I’d pass out too if I had to pull a boulder through thirty feet of ocean..."

Up on stage, the announcer waved the boy over. The young student walked across the sand with casual ease, water dripping from his hair, his uniform clinging to his frame.

"First of all, let’s give a round of applause to all the contestants including those who, uh... gave it their all and passed out!" the host said with a chuckle, drawing a mixture of sympathy and amusement from the crowd.

The boy stood beside him, quiet, still masked.

"And now, the moment everyone’s been waiting for..." the host grinned. "Tell us, champ what’s your name?"

Without a word, the boy reached up and tugged off his red mask.

The crowd gasped.

A strikingly handsome face was revealed sharp jawline, tousled White hair slicked back with water, and piercing gray eyes that shimmered under the sun like polished silver.

For a moment, the crowd was silent.

Then

"Oh my god..."

"Who is he...?"

"I was already wet, but now I’m soaked..."

"Gracias..."

He ran a hand through his wet hair, droplets scattering across the stage like diamonds. The cameras zoomed in. Whispers turned into squeals, especially from the young adults watching in the front rows.

He spoke, voice calm and smooth.

"Kenzie."

The host blinked, clearly caught off-guard by how composed the boy was. But he recovered quickly, pulling out a decorative envelope.

"Well then, Kenzie, congratulations! Enjoy your one million won prize!"

He handed over the prize.

Kenzie took it with a nod, holding it in one hand.

"...Thank you," he said, emotionless but polite.

The crowd erupted again this time, not just in awe, but in fascination.

Kenzie stepped back, water still dripping from his body, his mask now resting loosely in his hand.

Unshaken. Unbothered. Unforgettable.

As the days turned into weeks, and the month quietly passed, the students each walked their own path.

Some dedicated themselves fully to training refining techniques, correcting flaws, and sharpening instincts dulled by fear or hesitation. In secluded corners of the facility or deep in the forest, a few sat cross-legged in silent meditation, seeking inner clarity and discovering their truest selves.

Others took the chance to explore Jeju Island, wandering through the vibrant markets, sampling street food, and soaking in the rich tapestry of Korean culture. Some students formed bonds new friendships, rivalries, or something moreas they ventured into the island’s deeper mysteries.

There were parties too. Nights of laughter, lights, and loud music. They danced like tomorrow was uncertain because it was. For many, it was a way to hold on to their humanity amidst the madness. One last breath of freedom before the next trial began.

A few, however, chose responsibility. They found part-time jobs, helped the local communities, or assisted in small ways hoping, perhaps, to anchor themselves to morality. To remind others and themselves that they didn’t want to fall into the role of the villain when the challenges resumed.

Each decision, each day, shaped them. And they knew whether they trained in solitude or danced under the stars what came next would test everything they had become.

Zion pulled the curtains aside, bathing the room in golden morning light. As he pushed open the window, a gentle breeze swept in, brushing against his pale skin. He stretched with a low groan, his long white hair flowing freely behind him longer than it had been just weeks ago.

"Hm... maybe it’s time to test out these new techniques," he muttered, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Behind him, a presence stirred. Yin, Karina, Sera, K, and Edith stood silently, their eyes fixed on him. Calvin leaned against the wall, arms crossed, saying nothing.

"Hey, c’mon, Ken. Don’t be such an emo guy," K teased, stepping out of the shadows with that usual cocky grin.

Just then, the twin siblings, Nom and Mon, emerged from the darker part of the room, their movements in perfect sync. The air seemed to shift with their arrival quiet, sharp, expectant.

Zion didn’t turn. He just smiled wider.