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CH 22

.....Before Third Selection....

What?!

Your breath caught in your throat.

He's joking.
He has to be joking.

A dry, humorless chuckle left your lips as you crossed your arms. "That's funny, Ego. Really. I didn't know you did comedy now."

But Ego didn't laugh.

Didn't smile.

Didn't even blink.

His gaze remained locked onto you, unrelenting.

Your smirk faltered.

"...You are joking, right?"

Nothing.

You exhaled sharply, shaking your head. "No. Absolutely not."

Ego arched a brow. "No?"

"That's right. No." Your voice was firm, unwavering. "I'm not stepping onto that field."

His lips curled into something unreadable-somewhere between amusement and cold calculation. "And why is that?"

You scoffed, crossing your arms. "I think it's pretty obvious."

A slow blink. A silent challenge.

You sighed, running a hand through your hair, trying to hold onto your patience. "Look, let's not pretend we don't both know the truth." Your golden eyes narrowed.

Anri inhaled sharply beside you.

Ego, on the other hand, looked... entertained.

You clenched your jaw. "You know I'm right. They're not ready for me."

You scoffed, running a hand through your hair. "You want the truth? Fine. If I step onto that field, I'll break them. Simple as that." Your golden eyes burned as you looked at him. "It's not my job to shatter their spirits."

Ego chuckled, dark and knowing. "And that is exactly why you are stepping onto that field."

Your stomach twisted.

His hands spread slightly, as if he were explaining something painfully obvious. "Your strength isn't meant to coddle them. It's meant to push them to the edge. To suffocate them with their own inferiority. To make them so desperate-so starving-that they have no choice but to evolve."

He leaned in slightly, his presence suffocating. "You think keeping your power locked away is protecting them?" A pause. A smirk. "No. It's shielding them."

Your fingers twitched.

Ego's voice turned razor-sharp, slicing straight into you. "They need to see you. To feel your weight pressing down on them. To understand, deep in their bones, just how insignificant they are compared to you."

His eyes gleamed, predatory. "You won't break them, Yoshiro. You'll ignite them. You will be the light in the abyss they're drowning in-so blinding, so untouchable, that they'll either spend the rest of their lives trying to reach you..."

His lips curled.

"Or tear you down just to prove they can."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Your heartbeat thundered against your ribs.

Your heartbeat thundered against your ribs.

Damn him.