Chapter 64

Chapter 64:The Chasm of Strength

Following Hugo's revelations, the group fell into a momentary silence as each of them processed the sheer weight of what they had just learned.

However, not everyone was fully focused on the lecture. Gil could feel Kuro and Orphée casting discreet glances at him—their thoughts indecipherable.

Concentrating on the sensation, he could only decode a strange mix of suspicion and wonder.

But what was it directed at?

He couldn't quite pinpoint it. He himself was still reeling from what he had just heard.

If what the Big Guy says is true... my abilities look suspiciously like they belong to—wait.

He opened his mouth to ask a question when—

*Grumble*

a loud, heavy rumble echoed beside him: Greg’s stomach was protesting fiercely.

The sound snapped Gil back to reality, reminding him that after everything they had been through today, none of them had eaten a single bite.

Standing up, he spoke aloud, keeping up their mundane cover: "I'll go grab something to eat."

Greg looked embarrassed, hurriedly offering, "No, let me get it."

Gil cut him off with a subtle wave of his hand physically, while projecting internally through the telepathic link: Stay put. I want to test the range of this mental network—let's see if physical distance affects our connection.

With that, Gil walked over toward the sack of provisions left in the middle of their hall, just as it had been the day before.

While retrieving the provisions, Gil took advantage of the brief walk to cast a subtle glance over the rest of the captives, assessing their current state.

He deliberately activated his vision—his Sight—trying to make the sensory transition a natural, seamless habit rather than a forced effort.

The picture before him was grim.

Setting aside Helena’s remaining group and the healer’s followers, the prisoners had essentially fractured into two distinct camps.

The first group radiated faint, pathetic wisps of emotion—a desperate form of self-deception. They clung to a fragile hope, telling themselves that if they just worked harder and performed better, they could make themselves useful, and thus less expendable to their captors. These made up a sizeable portion of the cell.

The rest, however, were drowning. They were smothered under heavy, gloomy black clouds of despair—far more intense and oppressive than the darkness that had hung over them while waiting to enter the arena for the initial test.

Unsurprisingly, the majority of these broken souls belonged to Helena’s faction. It was brutally obvious that the sudden disappearance of their de facto leader, along with the bright, cheerful presence of Arya, had struck them with a devastating, crippling blow.

They were broken, plain and simple—and Gil knew that nothing good ever came from a room full of desperate, hopeless people. But there was nothing he could do for them right now. It wasn't his job to pull the others out of their dark thoughts and deep despair; he already had more than enough on his own plate just keeping his own small squad alive.

Walking over to the provisions, Gil took his time, using the errand to test the boundaries of their network while keeping the conversation flowing.

So... it's just those three? Gil queried through the link, deliberately holding back his immediate personal concerns to test a broader point first. Are those the only Ways in existence, or are there others?

The giant paused before answering. In truth... there must be others.

What do you mean 'there must be'? Kuro cut in sharply, her mental tone laced with skepticism, clearly starting to doubt how reliable their self-appointed instructor actually was.

Hugo rushed to clarify before losing their trust. What I was taught is that those three—Corpus, Spiritus, and Anima—are the absolute foundations.

Every other path stems from them. They might look entirely different on the surface, but fundamentally, they are just specialized branches or subdivisions of those three pillars.

He paused to let them digest the concept before offering an example. Take the healer, for instance. He walks the Way of the Spirit, specifically branching into light-element energy manipulation, which he uses both to fight and to mend wounds. The Spirit path governs environmental energy in general, but how it manifests depends entirely on an individual's specific affinity.

Hugo then shifted his focus. Let’s take an even more concrete example. Gil?

Yeah, Gil replied mentally, grabbing a wrapped loaf of bread from the sack.

Hugo spoke carefully, treading lightly as if afraid of unleashing the dark fury brewing beneath the young man's calm exterior. The bastard who brought you here... the one who dragged you to the infirmary.

Gil froze mid-motion.

Hector.

For a terrifying second, the telepathic network was completely drowned in a wave of suffocating wrath, bitter resentment, and pure malice. Though Gil’s murderous intent wasn't aimed at his companions, every single one of them felt the crushing weight of his hatred for that man.

While Orphée, Hugo, and Kuro were caught off guard and temporarily frozen by the sudden wave of malice, Greg remained surprisingly unaffected. Raising his mental voice as loud as he could through their network, he reached out.

Gil !

The spectral chain linking Gil and Greg suddenly tightened, pulling firmly around their wrists.

The sharp physical tug snapped Gil out of his foul mood and instantly quelled the murderous intent directed at Hector. As the oppressive atmosphere dissipated, Orphée, Hugo, and Kuro let out a collective, cold breath.

They exchanged wide-eyed looks, casting newfound glances of quiet respect toward the unassuming Greg.

Gil said nothing aloud, but the mental bond between him and Greg hummed with an unspoken, silent acknowledgment.

Reaching the provisions, Gil gathered the group’s rations—adding a few extra portions—before turning back. Halfway across the hall, he re-established the telepathic link.

Right. Hugo... what were you about to say about Hector?

Exercising far more caution now to avoid triggering another outburst from Gil, Hugo chose his next words carefully.

That guy... Hector... he belongs to the Way of the Body, for instance. But he is far more advanced than anyone else I’ve seen—at least around here.

Gil’s jaw tightened at the realization that his target might be even harder to deal with than he had anticipated. Still, he had already suspected as much; he simply lacked a proper barometer to measure the gap. Now that he had an experienced source to ask, he wasn't going to hold back.

How strong is he, exactly? Gil asked, his tone deadly serious.

I'll lay it out plainly, Hugo transmitted, his mental voice heavy with absolute gravity. Even if you, me, and that light healer all jumped him together right now... he would slaughter the three of us in under a minute.

The crushing news hit Gil like a physical blow, causing him to freeze mid-step as the reality of their weakness washed over him. He had mentally prepared for a steep climb, but Hugo wasn't finished. What the giant added next made Gil’s eyes widen in sheer disbelief as a bead of cold sweat trickled down his temple.

Honestly? Even if you, me, and everyone trapped in this facility—including the higher-ups running this place—all ganged up against him at once... I still think he’d win.

Gil stood completely speechless, unable to find a single word in response.

After a while,« Tell me you're joking, » Gil projected, his thoughts heavy with disbelief.

Unfortunately, Hugo's solemn mental tone was all that answered him. « I wish I were. How can I put this? I've met plenty of practitioners who walk that path. But even among the strongest I've ever known, he's just... different. Is he the absolute strongest in the world? No. But there's something about him that makes every single cell in my body scream that fighting him would be the worst, and last, mistake I'd ever make. »

Gil stood rooted to the spot in complete shock.

After a long moment, he forced his legs to move, walking back toward the squad as if nothing had happened, asking no further questions on the matter.

Hugo tried to speak again, but he felt the connection suddenly snap shut—Gil had severed the mental link, cutting off all communication.

The rest of the group immediately registered the unnatural, abrupt silence. Exchanging uneasy glances, they waited in tense anticipation.

When Gil reached them, he quietly distributed the food and began eating his own portion in complete silence.

No one dared to push him. Greg respected his silence and even Kuro, who was practically burning with desire to learn more about the Way, refrained from pressing the issue.

After several long, agonizing minutes of eating in total silence, Gil lay down, turning his back to them.

For a while, Kuro stewed in her own deep frustration, assuming he wouldn't reopen the link for the rest of the night.

Then, without warning, the spectral connection hummed back to life.

« Aside from his sheer strength... what else were you going to say about Hector, Hugo? »