Author's Note: Do Not Unlock Yet. Chapter Is Still Under Construction.

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The bright light of the victory screen faded from Aleman's vision, and the weight of the real world came rushing back. His body jerked slightly as the pod lid hissed open, releasing a wave of cool, filtered air. He blinked rapidly — the faint glow of the room lights replacing the flicker of virtual mana.

"Welcome back," came a soft, familiar voice.

Sophia was sitting on the couch, a tray of steaming dinner waiting on the low table. The aroma of grilled chicken, rice, and her special herb sauce filled the air. Her smile was small but warm, the kind of smile that could melt away an entire day of exhaustion.

August sat up, stretching his shoulders until the joints popped. "How long was I in?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Almost ten hours straight," she said. "You looked like you were having a war in there."

He chuckled lightly and walked over, running a hand through his tousled hair. "That's one way to put it. We won the tournament."

Her eyes lit up immediately. "Really? That's great!" She leaned forward, handing him a glass of water. "What did you get?"

"Bunch of stuff. Experience, spell upgrades… and something called the Fruit of Sin." He hesitated on the last part, watching her expression.

Sophia tilted her head. "Sounds ominous. What's it do?"

"No clue yet," August admitted. "We're supposed to decide tomorrow whether to sell it or let someone use it. But… it's supposedly a game-breaking item. Rumor says it can alter reality itself."

She laughed quietly, assuming he was joking. "You and your game-breaking loot."

He smiled back, but the weight behind his eyes didn't fade. He'd seen what "reality-altering" could mean when people from the game brought their powers into the real world. The lines between Enders Light and reality had blurred more times than he cared to admit.

For now, though, he pushed it aside.

---

They ate together in the living room, soft lights reflecting off the glass table. A muted documentary played on the TV — something about deep-sea creatures — but neither of them paid much attention to it.

Sophia noticed the distant look in his eyes and placed her chopsticks down. "You're thinking about something," she said quietly. "You've been quieter than usual since… that night."

August froze for half a second before masking it with a grin. "I'm just tired. The tournament drained me."

He wanted to tell her. About Derrick. About the Oni. About the operation on the island — the chaos, the blood, the disappearances. But the words never came. How could he tell her that people were getting kidnapped by entities that didn't belong in this world? That he'd fought creatures made of corrupted data and shadow in both realms?

No.

He couldn't do that to her.

She had already been through too much when he nearly didn't make it home last time.

So instead, he reached for her hand. "I'm fine. Really."

She squeezed his hand gently. "Just… don't carry everything alone, okay?"

He smiled faintly. "I'll try."

They talked about lighter things after that — her work, their plans for the weekend, how the neighbor's cat had somehow managed to break another flowerpot. Slowly, the tension eased, and for a moment, August allowed himself to enjoy normalcy. A world without shadows. A world where he was just August, not Aleman, Dual-Class Assassin-Mage, Shadowbreaker of Enders Light.

---

That night, he slept like stone.

---

The Morning After

The sun poured through the blinds in streaks of gold. August woke up early, dressed in casual clothes, and decided to pay Derrick a visit before heading to AM Coven.

The drive to Derrick's neighborhood was calm — streets lined with jacaranda trees, purple petals falling lazily in the morning wind. He stopped at a local café to grab some food for them both, remembering that Derrick's wife had always appreciated the cinnamon rolls there.

When he arrived, Derrick's house looked peaceful. The lawn was freshly cut, a stroller was parked near the porch, and the faint sound of a kettle whistling came from inside.

Derrick opened the door with a tired but genuine smile. His right arm was still bandaged, but he looked much better — color returning to his face.

"Boss," Derrick greeted, grinning as he opened the door wider. "You didn't have to come all the way."

"You're family," August replied simply, handing over the small paper bag. "Breakfast."

"God bless you. My wife's been craving these."

The two men sat at the kitchen table, sunlight spilling through the windows. Derrick's wife passed by briefly, offering a polite nod before retreating upstairs to tend to their newborn.

For a while, they just talked — mundane things. Football, neighborhood gossip, the café's new pricing. But eventually, the silence stretched, and Derrick's expression grew heavy.

"She doesn't want me going back," he said finally.

August didn't ask who. He knew.

"She's scared," Derrick continued. "After what happened on the island… she thinks AM Coven is cursed. That I'll be next if I stay involved."

August leaned back, eyes distant. "She's not wrong to be scared," he admitted. "We've made enemies — real ones. The Oni aren't done yet. They don't stop when they lose ground. They plan, they wait."

Derrick rubbed his temple. "Yeah. That's exactly what I told her. But I can't just sit at home while everyone else is fighting. You think I'm gonna hide while you're risking your life for all of us?"

August looked at him steadily. "Derrick, you've got a family now. Your life isn't just yours anymore."

"Then give me a way to protect it," Derrick said sharply.

August blinked. "What?"

"Teach me how to play Ascendant Realms," Derrick said firmly. "Train me like you did yourself. If I can awaken inside the game — get real abilities — then maybe I can defend myself and my family in the real world too."

August frowned. "It's not that simple, Derrick. What happens in Enders Light doesn't always transfer safely. I've seen what happens when people push their consciousness too deep into the neural sync. Some never come back right."

"You think I care?" Derrick said, his voice rising slightly. "I almost died, August. My wife was almost taken. If the Oni come again, we won't be lucky twice."