The Boy Who Walks Beyond The End-Chapter 46: The Spirit System Awakens

The sun had just risen when Zen and Lyra made their way to the Nourishment Hall, their stomachs rumbling in hunger after the long night.

Inside the bustling hall, the aroma of roasted meat, freshly baked bread, and herbal broth filled the air. Zen and Lyra settled at their usual spot where Arisella soon joined them, radiant and elegant as ever. Their plates were quickly filled with a mix of roasted beast meat, spirit rice that shimmered faintly with mana, seasoned root vegetables, and a light mana-infused fruit tonic to refresh their senses.

As usual, whispers filled the hall. Envious glares and irritated murmurs surrounded Zen.

"He must've cheated. There's no way someone like him could win against Delan." "Did you see how calm he was? It's like he wasn't even trying." "Maybe he used some hidden artifact..."

Despite the noise, Zen ate in silence, his expression calm. Lyra sat beside him, clearly irritated by the gossip, while Arisella merely smiled faintly, twirling her fork with practiced grace.

Then, Delan stormed in.

His face was bruised and swollen, his expression filled with rage and humiliation. Silence fell for a moment as everyone turned to look.

Delan walked directly to Zen's table and slammed a pouch onto the table.

"Fifty gold dollars," he hissed through gritted teeth, fulfilling the duel contract.

Zen simply nodded, not even bothering to look up.

Delan turned and walked away with clenched fists and a red face, the room's tension thick.

Moments later, another figure approached — a tall boy with silver eyes and calm demeanor. It was Elvren Halcrest, the one who had warned Zen before the duel.

"I never expected you would win," Elvren said, scratching his head with a laugh. "I thought you'd lose, so I didn't even show up. When I heard you won, I was shocked. Kinda regret missing it now, haha. Anyway, congratulations. Once more, I'm Elvren Halcrest — from the Royal Class."

Zen smiled lightly, brushing his dark hair aside. "Thanks. Guess surprises are part of life."

Lyra chuckled, nudging Zen's arm. "More like miracles."

Arisella smiled faintly, sipping her drink. "Royal Class or not, I think you owe Zen a rematch in watching, Elvren."

Elvren laughed. "Fair enough. Next time, I'll watch in the front row."

—

Later that morning, in the classroom

Later, during class, Professor Aurellan Vane stood in front of the board but paused.

"Zen," he said, adjusting his spectacles. "I'm still shocked. You formed a mana core... in the middle of a duel. That's not something even most trained mages can do."

Gasps ran through the class. Zen simply nodded humbly.

"Let's begin," he finally said.

Classes resumed. Later in swordsmanship training, the instructors echoed the same surprise.

Zen attended his spirit class next, where they began learning about calling spirits using the natural flow of mana — how emotions and intent helped guide the spirit's manifestation.

Lunch – Nourishment Hall

The day passed quickly. For lunch, Zen again ate with Lyra and Arisella, but this time Elvren joined them. The four of them shared stories and light-hearted teasing as they sat in the sunlit garden, their laughter mingling with the sounds of the academy.

Evening – Training

Afterward, Zen trained swordsmanship alone for hours, his movements growing sharper, his aura more focused. He returned to his dorm, bathed, then sat in silence to practice mana control.

—

Night – The Secret Place

That night, under the silver light of the moons, Zen returned to his secret training place — Academy 's forest

Tonight, he went deeper.

Sitting cross-legged on the rocky ground, he focused. His mana flowed through him like a river, and for the first time, he tried to extend that flow... to the spiritual realm.

Dark mana emerged.

Black fog began to swirl around him. In his mindscape, he saw it again—that thick, endless fog.

He pushed deeper, threading his dark mana like a rope through the haze..

Then—

He slipped.

The mental connection snapped

Zen fell backward, losing control of his mana. His vision spun. When he opened his eyes, he was lying on the cold stone floor of an unfamiliar cave.

Zen's body hit solid ground with a painful grunt. He opened his eyes and gasped.

He had fallen into a cave. A deep, silent place beneath the academy.

The rocky walls pulsed with old energy. "I can't climb back up," Zen muttered, brushing dirt from his arms. "How... is this place under the academy?"

Farther down, he came upon an enormous ancient door, covered in faded glyphs and arcane carvings.

Zen tried to push. Pull. Channel mana.

Nothing.

Then the black fog surged in his palm.

It touched the door.

The glyphs glowed. And the door opened.

Zen stepped into a dusty chamber filled with old relics — broken weapons, torn scrolls, and decaying books. Another door stood at the far end.

He reached it. The black fog once again reacted, and it opened.

Inside: darkness.

Suddenly — a sensation. Like being attacked.

Zen turned, sword drawn — but nothing was there.

Then — red eyes. Glowing, demonic eyes staring from the shadows.

Zen leapt into battle, drawing his blade.

"Sword Slash!"

A wave of energy cleaved the shadows.

"Ice Bloom!"

Frost exploded outward, freezing the air.

Zen moved swiftly, using the terrain, spinning, dodging, slashing.

The red-eyed entities attacked from every side, but he fought with deadly focus, his blade dancing like silver lightning.

Then — they vanished.

No trace.

Zen, breathing hard, pushed forward.

He saw it.

A blue flame.

It flickered, suspended in the air like a soul.

As he approached, his black fog stirred.

It whispered.

He sat before it, closing his eyes. The flame burned in his mind, brighter and brighter.

Zen pushed deeper into his consciousness.

Through fog. Through darkness.

Deeper.

He sensed... something lost. A presence trying to escape the fog.

He guided it with his dark mana.

After half an hour, it responded — following the path.

And then — it emerged.

A small cube-shaped creature floated in front of him. shaped like a compact geometric form—neither quite a cube nor a box.

A triangular-eyed spirit with a mouth that flickered between annoyed, confused, and amazed.

[Detected... light. Tracing source... Successful extraction from mental fog.]

Zen blinked. "Who...?"

[You are the one who led me out. Confirm?]

"Yes," Zen said softly. "I guided you. The black fog lives in me."

[You... You're the one who trapped me inside that fog!]

Zen frowned. "I didn't trap anyone. I only discovered this fog days ago."

[...Truth confirmed. Your words align with stored fragment data.]

Zen sat cross-legged, puzzled. "Who are you?"

[I am a Spirit system. Simply... a system.]

"You don't have a name?" Zen asked.

[No name registered.]

"Weird spirit with no name."

[Incorrect. I am not a weird spirit.]

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

Zen smirked. "Then what are you? A floating cube that whines a lot?"

[Correction: I do not whine. I analyze.]

"Fine. Spirit. System. Floaty Box. Whatever. Do what you like. I've got to find a way back."

Zen stood and looked around.

[Analyzing surroundings... Unknown subterranean chamber. Mana resonance high. Ancient in origin.]

The cube floated near the blue flame.

[Warning. This flame... Detected: Ancient Fire — Grade: Lost Relic. Dormant. Purpose... Unknown.]

Just then — a presence of a person.

The air thickened.

Zen turned.

A unknown person appeared.

His aura was immense — suffocating.

With one glare, Zen's knees weakened.

"Who are you?" the voice boomed. It echoed through the chamber like thunder.

Zen could barely breathe. The pressure was overwhelming.

Then — the unknown person looked down and noticed Zen's academy uniform.

A hand was raised.

A spell formed.

"Sleep."

And darkness consumed Zen.

The system, still floating, looked on.

[Observation: Subject has been forcibly subdued. External entity is not registered within known data sets. Anomaly... High.]