Time flew by, and the Stella Academy’s League of Spirits selection tournament finally began. Unlike conventional tournaments that focus on a single match at a time, the Stella selection tournament had multiple matches running simultaneously to save time.

Instead of a knockout format, a point-based system was in place. Teams with the highest points by the end of the tournament earned the right to advance to the national competition. However, only two or three teams per year could claim this honor, so competition was fierce.

With 32 participating teams, most of which had been trained systematically, each match promised to be an intense contest.

[Red Team Victory!]

“Damn it, losing to a bunch of rookies who’ve barely played Rios…”

“This doesn’t make any sense…”

Watching the defeated students trudge out of the arena with dejected expressions, Pulleim felt a slight pang of guilt. Her team was stacked with extraordinary talents, allowing them to easily crush most amateur trainee teams.

“Are you still messing around?”

“Oh. I told you, don’t destroy the opponent’s tower. I wanted to try something new.”

“Oh, come on. We don’t have time for that. We’re not experts, and we’re more of a beginner team than they are.”

Despite the playful exchange, Baek Yuseol was already tinkering with a new item combination, seemingly finding the entire process entertaining even in the midst of the tournament.

Pulleim realized she was grateful to see Baek Yuseol genuinely enjoying the game. For someone who always appeared detached from daily student life, seeing him engaged brought her a sense of peace.

“Phew, looks like I’ve got it,” Baek Yuseol announced after thoroughly examining his item setup for a while.

“What did you figure out?”

“Something usable for the next match. I had this in mind but stopped working on it when I left Rios.”

In the gaming world, there are two types of “masters”: the “theory experts” who analyze skills and items mathematically to find optimal results, and the “hands-on experts” who play endlessly to master the game through experience.

Sometimes, players combined both skills, but usually, theory experts provided the strategies, which hands-on experts then perfected. Unfortunately, “character Baek Yuseol” was an unstudied archetype, leaving Baek Yuseol himself to experiment with everything.

Luckily, remnants of his early Rios research gave him a foundation to cobble together a usable build.

Pulleim, unaware of this history, was stunned.

“You’ve already figured this out?”

Setting up an item build in under two weeks would seem impossible, especially since Baek Yuseol had initially been a novice in Rios.

“Yeah. It took some time, but it’ll be ready for the next match.”

For Baek Yuseol, this was no big deal, and he remained calm despite Pulleim’s astonishment.

[Match in Progress: Maorun White Team]

As he left the arena, Baek Yuseol noticed that the *Maorun White Team*—the one Reidin had mentioned—was currently playing a match.

“Hm, how should I get them through…?”

After a brief moment of thought, he came to a simple conclusion.

“Should I throw the match?”

It was hardly a sportsmanlike approach.

---

In the mountain ranges, high above the clouds, lay the city of the fairies—the Sky Blossom Sanctuary, nestled among the ancient World Tree, Cheonryeong Tree. The city’s roads and buildings formed from interwoven branches, making it a difficult place for wheeled vehicles like those used by dwarves.

Dwarves, whose cities sat on flatlands where wheels were indispensable, often complained when visiting the fairies’ aerial sanctuary.

“This place is inconvenient.”

*Duamri*, translator and diplomat for the dwarf king Geumgang Paljeong, was visibly displeased, grimacing at the absence of their prized invention: the airborne train.

Dwarves and elves had a history of strained relations, so it was rare for Duamri to come here. But this time, he had been ordered by his king, leaving him no choice.

“Ah, greetings!”

The elf king’s assistant, *Maidi*, timidly greeted Duamri. As the successor to the previous aide, Orenha, Maidi had quickly won over Hwaserin, the Elf King, yet her youth made her awkward when receiving guests.

“Tsk, clumsy.”

"Eek!"

Seeing Maidi’s reaction to his towering demeanor, Duamri shook his large head, unbothered by the glares from Maidi’s guards.

“Hey, hold your head up,” he urged.

“Yes, yes?”

*Thump!*

“Ah!”

“Straighten up! Hold your head high, look sharp! Show some spirit, young elf!”

He thumped Maidi’s back and shoulders until she stood straighter, prying her eyes wide open with his hands.

“Listen, an aide to the king needs at least this much vigor. Orenha, your predecessor, at least had that…”

“Please refrain from mentioning former Aide Orenha. He’s a convicted criminal.”

“I know. It infuriates me to no end that I actually got along with that scum.”

Duamri slouched back into his seat, tasting the tea in front of him before promptly spitting it out.

“Got any dark beer?”

“We don’t drink during meetings.”

“Not much fun, are you?”

“May I ask the purpose of your visit?”

“Ah, yes.”

At Duamri’s signal, a dwarf attendant approached, placing a black bag on the table. Unlocking it, the attendant turned the bag toward Maidi.

“Is this… mud?”

The bag was full of soil, but Maidi could feel a mana presence within it as if it were alive.

“Yes, mud. Specifically, from the *Twelve Moons*—the essence of *Dark Soilmancer Month*.”

The mention of the Twelve Moons widened Maidi’s eyes.

“Want a taste, kid?”

“Uh, no thanks.”

“Just kidding. Take this to your king immediately.”

“Is there a reason for this?”

“Yes. It seems *Dark Soilmancer Month* has recently awakened, furious. You’re aware, aren’t you, that the ‘Land of the Dead Giant’ is sealed by the Elf King and Dwarf King?”

“Of course… But for it to reawaken without weakening the seal…”

“A bad omen, indeed. It despises all living things.”

Dark Soilmancer Month was known for its extreme hatred of all life, rivaling the wrath of any god. In ancient times, countless cities and nations had been destroyed by its rage.

At that moment, the doors opened, and Hwaserin, the Elf King, entered. Maidi quickly rose and bowed, while Duamri reluctantly followed.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

The sudden appearance of Hwaserin left Duamri surprised; he hadn’t expected the Elf King to attend in person.

“I’ve heard much about you, Duamri.”

“It’s an honor.”

“The Dwarf King informed me you’d bring important news.”

“Yes, indeed.”

Sensing Duamri’s tension, Hwaserin dismissed the attendants, allowing him to speak freely.

“Do you recognize this mud?”

“Yes, it’s one of Dark Soilmancer Month’s emotional fragments.”

“Precisely. I must ask, Your Majesty… I’ve heard you recently encountered the ‘Unstoppable Iron Tyrant’ in battle. Did you notice anything unusual about him?”

Unusual, indeed.

“He has always been… peculiar.”

Specifically, his abilities were peculiar.

Protected by the earth itself, the Iron Tyrant was invulnerable to attacks and seemed intent on annihilating all living things in his vicinity.

“A man favored by the Twelve Moons…”

The thought lingered. Why would Dark Soilmancer Month, who despised all life, favor a dark mage?

As Duamri observed Hwaserin’s reaction, he lowered his voice.

“In truth, I didn’t come on behalf of my king just to ask questions. Rather, I came to…”

To warn, to advise.

Unable to find the right words, Duamri slowly constructed his sentence.

“I came to inform you of a potential threat, for your safety.”

“This means…”

“Dark Soilmancer Month’s anger stems from Iron Tyrant’s injury. He believes the cause is either Your Majesty or Councilman Ariumon… or…”

Duamri hesitated.

“…or he may come to despise a young man named Baek Yuseol, who dealt the final blow.”

At the mention of Baek Yuseol’s name, Hwaserin’s fingers trembled slightly as they touched her teacup.

Sensing her reaction, Duamri turned his gaze away, allowing her a moment to compose herself.

*Dark Soilmancer Month’s wrath…*

It was a situation she hadn’t considered. Iron Tyrant, who lived hidden across the world, had never been wounded, aside from encounters with the Dark Mage King. Thus, Dark Soilmancer Month’s anger had never been triggered.

“Your Majesty. Though my king searches for a way to calm Dark Soilmancer Month’s fury, our situation is dire.”

“I understand. Soon, we’ll…”

Noticing her attendants, Hwaserin fell silent.

“For now, summon Councilman Ariumon for further discussion,” she replied, dismissing Duamri, who bowed and left. Hwaserin clenched her lip, lost in thought.

*Dark Soilmancer Month’s wrath… and the Witch Queen.*

Recently, Hwaserin had heard reports that the Witch Queen had been moving and, disturbingly, that she seemed to be targeting Baek Yuseol.

*Why

 does trouble always seem to find him?*

As Hwaserin stared at her reflection in her teacup, her expression tense, Maidi approached cautiously.

“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”

“Oh, yes. I’m perfectly fine.”

She forced a smile, determined not to let her concerns show before her subjects.

“You didn’t hear any of this. I’ll handle it alone. Don’t mention it until our next meeting.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Soon, all would learn of Dark Soilmancer Month’s wrath, as the “Birthquake” in the Land of the Dead Giant would bring earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, unleashing untold disaster.

Hwaserin closed her eyes, silently hoping that the small, fragile Baek Yuseol would survive this storm.

*May the blessings of the World Tree be with him.*