-You think you wont be able to stay in contact for a while?

He could hear the surprised voice of Team Leader Han over the phone.

Yes. Im thinking of focusing on personal training for a while.

-Hm Then the training period will be?

Team Leader Han slurred the end of his sentence with a perplexed voice. It seemed like he didnt expect Ohjin to become absent at this time.

Well, they probably have their hands full right now.

The whole world was placing its attention on Korea from the rumors that a North Stars apostle had appeared. Not just Korean guilds, but even major foreign guilds were placing their attention on Ohjins affiliate, the Association. It was reasonable for the Association to go into panic if Ohjin suddenly became absent in the middle of that situation.

Im currently thinking around three months.

-Three Months the timing is a bit unsettling. There are actually hundreds of requests to have a meeting with you already.

Ohjin already knew that everyone was anxious about creating a friendly relationship with a North Stars apostle by any means possible.

Thats the reason Im making my disappearance in the first place, after all.

Of course, he had no reason to avoid them if they all approached him out of pure goodwill.

However.

There was no way something along the lines of pure goodwill existed in this world. With it being a friendly relationship in name, it was obvious that they would rack their brains trying to find a method that took advantage of him.

I need a little more time.

He needed to at least raise his strength to the point where he would be able to defend against the forces that approached him with that in mind. The fact that he was growing at a speed incomparable to other Awakeners was true, but he was still nothing but a mere 3-Star Awakener.

Anyways, I plan on focusing on personal training for a while, so please decline all the meeting requests.

-Yes, I understand. Thinking about it once again, I also believe that it would be best for you to lay low, as you said.

Indeed, Its nice that the Team Leader and I get along.

Ah right. There is one more thing Id like to request.

I nearly forgot about this.

Could you send a message to the Starlight Lake guild for me?

-The Starlight Lake guild?

Yes. Tell them that I have been greatly offended by an Awakener named Choi Jongchul.

Ohjin had promised that he would overlook it if he listened to his request, but he didnt plan on overlooking it that easily.

-Could you tell me how you were offended in detail?

He provoked me by saying that I, a mere dog of the Association, had dared to act up against him, said Ohjin, leaving out what happened to Ha-eun.

-Did he say such things? Team Leader Han replied in a tone that expressed his displeasure.

There was no way he would be okay with someone throwing shade at the organization he was a part of, after all.

-Leave that matter to me. We just happened to receive a meeting request from the Starlight Lake guild as well; well be able to turn them down using this as an excuse.

Haha. Then Ill leave it to you.

His lips formed a smile on their own from Team Leader Hans confidence-filled voice.

-Oh, which place are you planning on training at?

Ah, that, Ohjin grinned.

He already had a place in mind for his enclosed training. The optimal location where he would be able to train in peace in the midst of all the attention.

It was the one and only

Sanctum.

-what?

The motherland of gods where hundreds of celestials resided.

That was the place he decided on for his enclosed training.

* * *

[So this is what you meant when you said you wanted to be together all the time.]

The three sanctuaries that were located at the very top of the sanctum.

He arrived at the massive sanctuary where only the celestials that carried the title North Star could reside. The Star of the Weaver Girls sanctuary that he hadnt seen in a while was as desolate as ever.

What did you think I meant? asked Ohjin in a playful manner.

[Hmpf! Be quiet!]

Puffing out steam from her nose, Vega quickly turned her head away with her arms crossed.

Haha. Sorry. I couldnt think of a place more perfect than this.

The time Vega could materialize on Earth was merely a couple hours; using that limited amount of time to learn the ways of handling the stigma of Lyra from Vega was not enough.

But its a different story inside the sanctum.

The Commandants restriction, which could be said to be the celestials shackles, was a lot weaker inside the sanctum.

It meant that it was more than possible for Vega to stay materialized for 24 hours a day.

[Will it be okay to leave Ha-eun alone?]

Its not like shes a kid.

It was time for Ha-eun to also focus on rehabilitation training for the time being, anyways.

Though she did seem to be in a very bad mood.

Ohjin recalled her violently distorted expression from when he said that he would be locked up inside the sanctum for three months.

Well, we wont be apart for the entire duration of the three months, anyways.

Just because it was the Star of the Weaver Girls sanctuary didnt mean that you had to possess the stigma of Lyra to enter; they could meet whenever they wanted.

[Fufu. Then it looks like well be able to stay together like this for a while.]

Vegas lips perked up in satisfaction.

Im looking forward to working with you, Goddess Vega.

[Fufu! Trust me!]

Vega puffed out her chest with her arms crossed.

Twirl

Vega spun around 360 like she was dancing.

Owooong!

Swaying through the rays of silver light, her body that was only 30cm started to become bigger inch by inch.

The original appearance of Vega that he hadnt seen in a long time was as breathtakingly beautiful as ever.

[Alright, which skill do you want me to teach you first?]

Vega approached him with sparkles in her eyes.

Ohjin slowly shook his head.

Teaching me with words has little-to-no meaning.

Before they came to the sanctum, he had been taught the skills of the stigma of Lyra a couple times on the house rooftop by Vega before.

I need to be able to understand her words in order to learn.

Ohjin wasnt sure if it was because Vega was unaccustomed to teaching with words or if her own understanding was lacking, but he simply couldnt comprehend what she was trying to express when listening to her explanations.

What the hell is manipulate mana like riding on the Milky Ways clouds supposed to mean?

He couldnt get the feel of how he was supposed to move his mana at all.

[Hm? Then how are you planning to learn skills?]

Vega. I want to spar with you directly.

Reminiscing about what he had experienced so far, he had always grown through real fights. It meant that, rather than complicated theory, he would have a higher possibility for growth by relying on his instinct that exerted itself in extreme conditions.

Although It wasnt a real fight but sparring, it would still be much more helpful than learning through explanations alone.

However

[That cannot be done.]

Vega shook her head with a firm expression.

Why? Is it because of the restrictions?

He had heard that the restriction doesnt completely disappear even inside the sanctum; it was just comparatively weaker.

[No. That is not the reason.]

Then?

Vega let out a short sigh and answered.

[You might die.]

* * *

* * *

Ah.

Certainly.

Thinking about the difference that existed between him and Vega, it would be no different from a human sparring an ant.

Even if you control your strength?

[It still cannot be doneno matter how carefully its controlled.]

It meant that the gap between them was that large.

Was I too arrogant?

It could have been that he was full of himself because he had grown at a speed incomparable to other Awakeners during the past few months. Now that he heard those words directly from her mouth, he felt ashamed that he dared to think about sparring a celestial.

It doesnt make any sense after all.

She was a transcendent that was different from humans by nature. Even worse, she was a North Stars celestial that was evaluated as being on a different league even amongst those transcendents.

Yeah, I was too full of myself.

He had briefly forgotten about it since he had been staying comfortable with Vega all this time.

His current self was nothing but an existence that could be easily crushed to death by a single one of her fingers.

Then I guess it cant be helped. Lets continue as usual.

It didnt seem like it would be all that efficient, but he didnt want to bite off more than he could chew and proceed to spar while ignoring Vegas warning.

[Hmm. Wait a moment.]

Vega was lost in thought with her arms crossed

Soon, Click!, she snapped her fingers.

[Even if it doesnt work for me, it could be possible with my Star Spirit.]

Star Spirit? Is it that thing called the celestials incarnation?

Celestials were fundamentally unable to interfere with matters on Earth due to the restrictions. Vega could still interfere to some degree, fitting that of her title, North Star, but other celestials couldnt even exit the sanctum.

What stemmed from that problem were Star Spirits.

It was a kind of summons that had part of a celestials soul infused within.

Of course, Star Spirits arent completely free from restrictions.

But compared to a celestial directly intervening on Earth, It was said to receive a much weaker restriction.

Anyways, Vegas Star Spirit huh I guess Ill need to put up an act again.

[Come.]

Vega slowly raised her hands up.

[Servant of the Star of the Weaver Girl, Riak.]

Owooong!

With rays of radiant silver light, a crack appeared in the void.

Step, step

What appeared from the crack was a wolf that possessed beautiful silver fur.

Have you called, Lady Vega?

With a fluent voice unthinkable of a wolf, Riak bowed his head.

Hmm?

Riaks eyes that were observing the surroundings headed in Ohjins direction.

Flinch

His silver fur stood on its edge.

A human? Why is a human in this place?

The wolfs gaze was filled with wariness.

Ohjin approached Riak and

Its been a while, Riak.

put on a friendly smile while shaking his hand.

Tilting his head, the silver wolf narrowed its eyes.

Bastard, who are you?

Haha! Its been a while since Ive heard you speak to me in that manner; it feels quite refreshing now.

?

Not able to understand the situation, the confused Riak turned his head in Vegas direction.

Vega gently smiled as she placed her hands on top of Ohjins shoulder.

[Do not be surprised, Riak.]

What?

[This child is a Regressor who went against time and returned from the future.]

T-The Heaven-defying Star!

Riaks mouth opened wide.

An existence like a myth, even amongst celestials that were transcendent beings.

The one and only hope that could change the destiny of a world that was destined to meet its end.

How is the Heaven-defying star I-In that case!

The appearance of the Heaven-defying star meant one thing

That the world of the future had already met its end once.

In other words

Eventually, just like Lady Vegas prophecy

the owner it revered had been devoured by the Black Heavens darkness.

Boom!

Riak stamped his feet in anger.

Although it was a future that hadnt arrived yet, the guilt from the fact that he couldnt protect his owner crashed in like a wave.

[Do not blame yourself, Riak.]

Vega gently stroked Riak with a caring touch.

[Isnt that why my child has come to this place, to prevent that future?]

Riak glared at Ohjin with its mouth closed shut.

His presence felt much too weak to be the Heaven-defying star.

Lady Vega, is that human truly the Heaven-defying star?

[Fufu. You will come to know as time passes.]

Vega crossed her arms with a confident expression.

Vega.

[Alright.]

Vega explained to Riak the reason why Ohjin had come to the sanctuary.

A spar? With him?

[That is correct.]

Grrrr.

Riak narrowed his eyes and observed Ohjin from head to toe.

He honestly couldnt believe it, but

If its Lady Vegas orders

Crunch!

As Riaks body started to enlarge, his appearance changed into a werewolf that reached a height of 2 meters.

Bzzzzzt!

Blue lightning sparked up across his silver fur.

Damn, what the hell?

Gulp

Ohjin swallowed out of nervousness while looking up at Riak.

A suffocating force flowed out of Riak, who had transformed into a werewolf. He honestly appeared stronger than Vega if you were to base it off force alone.

Though thats probably because Vega doesnt expose her true power.

Anyway

The fact that it was a strong being incomparable to his current self was the undeniable truth.

Then, lets start the spar.

Riak took his stance.

Ohjin nodded his head and raised his spear.

Honestly, winning will make no sense but

If it was holding on.

I can do

Baaang!!

!

Ohjin couldnt even see it with his naked eye.

He had raised his spear out of instinct.

Boom!!

Kugk!!

The spear grasped in his hand was violently flung away.

Blood flowed out as his palms were ripped.

Kugh!

He quickly lowered his stance to roll on the ground, but

Too slow.

Crack!

Riak kicked Ohjins stomach as if kicking a soccer bar.

Kughk! Kuk! Cough!

He fell down on the spot as strength left his legs.

Holy shit.

Three Seconds.

That was the time it took for Ohjins first spar with Riak to end.