24 A Genius. A Freak.

Holding hands, Su Min trodded out from sector A2's base with a girl. Her eyes were bleak, and so were his...

"T-the madman!"

It was unknown who started, but numerous gasps reverberated as Su Min smiled with a child soaked in blood. A faint whimper echoed behind Su Min as a fried man dragged himself across the floor; going towards the entrance with struggling eyes.

"He's the reason for this?!"

Everyone saw the dazzling light from before, and it was apparent that it was what caused Li Huang to become so ghastly.

"He's a C-cultivator?!"

Nobody could believe that this youth was a mortal, as who on earth could use a technique that sundered the darkness to shreds? Who could snap a reinforced door with but his hands? Who?

Su Min continued to walk as he passed by every single base which gazed at him with dread.

"If you want to, I can pick you up and show you something cool..?"

Su Min whispered at the listless girl who clung onto him, smiling. She paused with a sudden stop, making Su Min halt as well. Su Min didn't say anything as the girl's eyes became watery, and with a subtleness that would be hard to notice, she nodded.

"Haha, Alright!"

Su Min laughed with a hearty roar as he bent down and brought his arms under to girls legs; playfully grinning. It would be a strange sight for anyone who knew him, where they would hardly believe that such a detached youth could laugh.

*WOOSH*

A sudden force threw her in the air as the girl's eyes fluttered and her visions blurred. A blinding blue sky surrounded her as she saw a beautiful plain that stretched without end.

It made her eyes quiver and her heart tremble; She had never seen something so pretty...

She seemed to hover in the air for a split second as the whole world paused in her perception, where the chirps of the birds sung and the roaring winds wooshed past her face.

"H~eh!"

A cheery smile lit up on her face as she laughed high in the sky; giggling as a kid would.

*WooooOOOOSH*

The world started to blur again, yet before she even fell halfway down a blurred figure shot right past her; grabbing hold of her.

"Hahaha!"

Su Min laughed as he, too, started to fall to the ground with her. Adrenalin rushed into his system as the ground encompassed him without mercy. The girl flailed her arms as she also felt the intense wind race onto her, and with an innocent laugh, she screamed.

"aaaaAAHHHH!"

*RUMBLE*

Su Min's legs clenched with an inhuman intensity as he landed onto the ground, where his knees bent and bent; transforming the sudden force into nothing but a light thump.

The ground around him shook with a minute vibration as a tuft of dust spewed out; throwing itself outwards.

"You see, how wasn't that cool?"

Su Min's grinned with pride, flexing his abnormal calves on his legs. They seemed sharp to a strange degree... But also noble, noble to the world.

The girl giggled, where she ran up to him and hugged his intimidating figure. It was like a rabbit relaxing with a tiger, something you wouldn't expect.

Su Min smiled as he patted her head. His eyes momentarily looked into the sky, where a blazing intent shone; defying the world.

"Now, we need to get you washed."

The girl seemed to nod as she looked at him.

"Haha, you want me to pick you up?"

Nudging, Su Min picked up the girl and zoomed ahead with a speed that spewed a light wind; producing a trail of dust that scattered into the horizon.

...

...

"Quick, quick!"

A rushed voice rang out as two young looking people flew through the air with an immense speed. Sonic booms thundered through the air as two mountain peeks pierced into their view, where they breathed deep breaths and flew even faster.

A luscious paradise spread out without an end around them as ancient caves and spacious but modest wooden houses smoked in their chimneys. It was like a completely different world, where technology didn't even exist.

They wore white robes as they flew to the middle area of the left peek. An all-encompassing white palace struck the mountain as it issued a majesty similar to that of a legendary being.

"Elder Long, we hope that you can spare some time for us!"

They spoke with respect as their countenance changed to that of an honoured scholar. However, only a light breeze blew past them as no reply was heard.

The two frowned, where they spoke to each other in a strange communication that ignored physical travel.

"Has the elder already heard..? Or?"

"He can't have... That only means that something with great importance is going on. Otherwise, he would be here."

"But what could there be? The only thing that's happening right now is that stupid Mortal Tournament, but that shouldn't get his attention!"

"Well there's no point moaning here, so we might as well just hand it to the office..."

"Mhm."

...

...

"Why is there such a cute girl with you?!"

A glowing woman spoke with reverence as she looked at the girl that clung onto a fearsome leg. Su Min became blank as he looked at Yi Zan who was bleeding from her nose.

The girl's listless eyes shook as her eyes became watery, causing Su Min to frown.

"Do we have a bath?"

His voice was gloomy as he spoke, brooding with sadness. Yi Zan seemed to notice this, where she in turn saw the subtle flakes of dried blood on the girl. She also saw the abnormal deadness in the girl's eyes; as if she had been through a trauma beyond imagination.

"Ah..."

Her expression went pale as she gasped, but Su Min's expression became more unsightly as he gave her a look. She clenched her teeth and nodded, speaking.

"It's upstairs to the second right."

"Mhm."

Su Min nodded as he moved upstairs with the girl. It was unknown when, but the sword youth sitting down behind Yi Zan started sweating without stop. His gaze seemed to linger on Su Min's body, where he felt a faint aura shroud Su Min.

It was an aura paved in blood, and like a beast in slumber, will only awaken when needed. It was like an unsheathed sword; brewing with a danger that only those with acute senses could sense.

The sword youth shivered at the thought of when such an aura would show itself; drowning the world crimson.

"How did he get such a killing intent..."

...

...

*BOOOOOM* *CRACKLE*

The world screeched and rumbled with an intensity that seemed to make it collapse a little, and without delay, a vortex sprawled itself into space; hovering above the world.

It was pitch black. In fact, it was so black that describing its colour as black is an understatement. It carried a blackness that could darken the mind, darken the sky.

"Hahaha! What a fine lot we have here!"

An arrogant voice sundered the clouds and billowed on the earth as it ruptured itself into everyone's' ears without a care. Revealing themselves, three figures appeared in the sky with fluttering robes.

Their literal existence distorted the very essence of the world as three, incomprehensible aura enveloped the sky in white, red and blue.

Strange cracks appeared in the space as the untimely cries of space itself echoed. Everyone gulped, and carrying on, the red-robed man continued.

"For the tournament has ended!"