"The development world was different, Elena. It's the same for all of us. We couldn't master our emotions without experiencing something painful. We had to be weak before we could be strong." Raiya spoke.

  "I have a little brother. He and I lived alone, and I worked hard for his life, but there was no cure in the world for his illness. That was when I awakened my powers and Michael found me. He took my brother to a hospital in the land of the Developers and helped him heal. I don't know, maybe he's fully recovered now and maybe he has the power of emotions too, but I won't be able to see him for a long time. It hurts my heart inside and makes me long for the old days, no matter how selfish it is. "

  "On his way to the Academy, John lost the childhood friends he had been with all his life. But because of that, he became the Ice King. "

  "Summer's family comes from the main line of hunters, but he sought and found a way against all odds. He escaped. He found his way to the Academy, and now he is our friend. That is how he found the light and became the Enlightened King. "

  Everyone's breathing became ragged for a moment as they talked about these two people. Even Raiya couldn't keep his voice from trembling for a moment as he spoke. It was not because of their present suffering. It was because of the pain to come. Everyone knew that but John.

  But Raiya continued. It would be inappropriate for him to stop here. John might become suspicious...

  "We have all suffered, Elena. Every single one of us here came from under a mountain, and that mountain was heavy. Countless people like us were crushed under it. We are the lucky ones. Because we are no longer under that mountain."

  After Raiya had said his last words, everyone was deep in thought again. Elena knew of her own suffering. Raiya knew. John knew. Kronos, Fury, Toma, Zack, Kai, Jack, every single developer. Hadn't each of them suffered deeply? Wasn't there a pain in each of their hearts that made them stronger? A joy, an excitement, an energy!

  "If you go under this mountain again..."

  "I will go under the mountain with you...."

  Kai's words drew attention once again. Everyone here knew the weight of this mountain. But why wasn't Kai afraid to go under the mountain again? No, he was not! He was afraid. Even if you looked at him for a moment, you could see his hands trembling. There was a moment in his eyes when he understood this feeling a little. He hadn't felt any real pain in the hospital. It was the death of his master, Randal, who left that mountain on him that made him cry like crazy. The master who hugged him before his eyes, who trained him, who taught him the meaning of a smile. How broken was Kai's heart when he died? Kai had gone under the Thunderbolt of Trouble just to save him, but what was the point? Randal had smiled in Kai's face one more time for Kai's life. Even now Kai had to stop himself from crying when he remembered his master.

  "Why do you want to go under the mountain again?"

  Zaheer was perhaps the one who had suffered the least in this area. He had not borne the weight of that mountain enough. The only thing that drove him in his life was failure. He became ambitious just to keep up with the others. He fought to do his best. But he didn't go under the mountain. He didn't know how heavy it was. How far could Zaheer go like that?

  Kai laughed softly at that moment. He turned his head and looked up at the sky, which made his body shiver. He was cold. He could have warmed himself with his flames. But he didn't. He loved this cold that penetrated his heart. It kept him awake at all times.

  "Under this mountain, seconds pass like years. The slightest pain turns into agony. Your heart is broken, but you have to keep going, you have to keep going to survive, but I don't know how far I can go..."

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  As Kai continued to speak, Emma squeezed his arm. When Kai turned his head to see what was happening, he saw Emma's reddened eyes. Emma wasn't looking at Kai. She was looking at the ground, but Kai could see what she was thinking.

  " Don't go... "

  That was what was in Emma's heart. Emma didn't want to lose him again. She couldn't wait that long.

  Kai didn't say anything, just pulled Emma into his arms and held her against his chest. They never knew what time would bring. Kai could die any moment. It could happen in real life or here. The Immortal Formation protected their lives, but the Immortal Sword Academy had returned. They would find out what was going on. The hunters could have come here at any time, but the other students who had died made it less likely. The returned students must have told their academy what had happened. That way, the Immortal Sword Academy would be destroyed.

  "When we return to the real world, we will be true geniuses, but we will also be targets. So be ready for danger at all times."

  Kai looked away and looked directly at Zaheer. Zaheer couldn't quite decipher the meaning in those eyes. Was it the look of someone who had gone under the mountain?

  " One day you will be a memory in everyone's eyes... .... "

  Kai's look made Zaheer's soul tremble. At that moment, Kai looked at him with a smile. This look was completely different. Zaheer couldn't remember anyone looking at him like that.

  "Do your best to be one of the good ones."

  ".... "

  Everything fell silent and no one said a word. Everyone kept to themselves and thought. Zaheer felt a great emptiness in his heart because of Kai's words. For the first time, Zaheer felt in his heart what someone who had gone under that mountain must have felt. In the silence, a young man came sleepily. It seemed very difficult for him to even open his eyes, apparently he had just woken up and received a report. He had probably come at this hour because it was an urgent report. But at the same time, it must not have been very important, otherwise this young man could not have been so reckless.

  "Sir, a cave has been found in the easternmost part of Sky Island. According to the information we have, this cave might have something to do with the Immortal Dragon. I brought it at this time in case it might be useful to Kai. You can leave at any time. I must sleep now. "

  Kai's generation was the youngest on Sky Island. No matter how much of a legend Kai was, no one held him in high esteem. Those like this sleepy child just called him Kai. Not that they had anything to do with Kai. They just didn't care enough to show him any respect.

  Since Kai knew that this had something to do with the Immortal Dragon, he had to go. But who should go with him?

  "I'll go with you."

  Kevin had wanted to go with Kai. He had been in the city for a while and was bored. So he wanted to go.

  "Count me in."

  Jack could already keep up with others by stealing their energy with his Misty Thief ability. His potential was not enough to compete with others. His mother hadn't become so powerful because of her potential. His mother just had potential. Perhaps if Maria had been in the First Sky War, the developers would have benefited greatly. Because there, Maria could have made a big breakthrough like Michael and reached the 6th level. She was the legendary Misty Thief!

  Emma was about to raise her hand to come, but Kai stopped her. In the past, Emma would have been annoyed by Kai's behavior and thought that he was bored with her, but there was no way she could think that now.

  "I have a bad feeling, Emma. Don't come."

  Kai said this only to protect Emma. Emma's development base was much lower than the others. She couldn't defend herself like Kevin and Jack. Kai didn't want to try so hard to protect her. Emma didn't have to come on this expedition.

  One more person could have come on this mission. At least one more person should have come.

  "I'm coming."

  This voice was Alvar with an unexpectedly serious expression.

  "The Eastern Dragon Academy will also be there for this cave. I really have to go!"

  Kai nodded, and the people who should go were chosen. But Kai still looked at Zaheer. Zaheer felt this look and got up and started walking towards his house.

  "Don't you want to come, Zaheer? "

  Zaheer shuddered at Kai's question. Zaheer hadn't been anywhere for a long time, and the reason he had stayed at the Academy for so long was because he wanted to go to the Purple Lightning, but Zaheer had reached the Purple Lightning. Now he had to go immediately.

  "Sorry, I'm getting sleepy... I have to go now."

  Zaheer started to walk away and Kai turned his head to the ground. He had nothing more to say to Zaheer. But he had a lot to say to himself. He didn't look at Zaheer. But he spoke for him.

  "You could have just said I'm running away..."