Leaving the [Au House], Sora and Hiyoko headed out of Istanbul. He called Kara from his system interface to ask for her location, but she didn’t answer. 'She’s probably iime Space]…' he thought.

  They tioward Ales, having pnned with Kara a few days earlier to meet at his parents' house at 8 a.m. Upon arriving and knog on the door, Sora couldn’t help but smile. No matter how intense his training had been, ing home had bee a cherished habit.

  After chatting with his parents for a while, he heard a knock at the door ao open it. Standing there was Kara.

  Though she looked much the same as she had a week ago, he immediately sensed a mosphere around her. Her kind smile had faded, repced by something different. Her eyes, which had once been warm and i, now held a tired, lonely look. Gng at the level indicator above her head, he was stuo see Level 122. 'What the hell? What did she do this week?' he thought.

  Notig his expression, Kara smiled. “For the first time, I think I’m strohan you. It was worth the time…” she said, activating the [Soul Link] that had disappeared when he left the [Time Space]. Instantly, Sora was struck with an overwhelming surge of Life Foring from Kara.

  Shocked, he blurted, “You… don’t tell me you spent the whole week in there?!”

  Kara’s emotions flickered across her face as she briefly expi was only around half that time. Sora quickly did the math: With the ime ratio of 2,000 to 1, a week outside is nearly 40 years in there… She’s been alone, with no oo talk to or see for almost 20 years?

  Words failed him as he took in her weary expression, on the verge of breaking down. Without hesitation, he pulled her into an embrace. “Don’t ever do something like that again… please.”

  Kara, uo hold back her tears any longer, returned his hug. She hadn’t seen him in almost 20 years and had missed him more than anyone else. After a moment, she gently pulled away and murmured, “Thank you.”

  Marie and Henri, who had followed Sora to the door, quietly slipped away when they saw him hugging Kara. Henri leaoward Marie with a grin. “I told you she’d be our future daughter-in-w. And look at him, bold as be! Guess he's taking after his old man, capturing the heart of the most beautiful girl in town.”

  Marie, who usually scolded him for his jokes, just smiled. “Kara is indeed beautiful and so kind. I don’t think Sora find ater to spend his life with.”

  With their enhanced senses, Sora and Kara caught every word. Embarrassed, Sora whispered, “Maybe we should e baother day…”

  Kara ughed softly, her expression slightly better, “We ’t leave now! I haven’t eveed your parents. Let’s at least have breakfast with them.”

  Relutly, Sora led her inside. After a pleasant breakfast together, Sora and Kara excused themselves to discuss their progress. They ehe [Time Space], where Sora was immediately struck by the ges.

  Two massive houses now stood in the middle of the realm, each with sprawling gardens teeming with life. The vibrant greenery, small creatures roaming freely, and the ndscape filled with mountains, a ke, trees, and even wild beasts between levels 50 and 100, left Sora in awe. What happened here? he wondered.

  Kara noticed his rea and smiled. She expined how, over the years inside, she had spent a signifit portion of her gold enhang the [Time Space].

  “But didn’t you say it costs millions just for a basic house and furniture? How did you afford all of this?” he asked.

  Kara expihat after he’d left, she trained for a while aually began hunting moo test her strength. Upon reag level 90, she unlocked a new effect of her [Time-Bending].

  [Skill Effect 3: From ihe [Time Space] or when using [Time-Bending], gain access to the outside world.]Sora raised an eyebrow. 'What exactly does that mean?'

  Kara eborated, “From ihe [Time Space], I i with the outside world in several ways. I absorb mana from there to sustaiime Space], repositioime Space], or even lure monsters by releasing a disguised life force as bait. From time to time I would go to London to sell my items, as the best hunting grounds I found were in the Great Britain region. I even became a VIP in an Au House! I'll tell them to make you a VIP if you want, it makes things easy”

  Seeing Sora take his [Auailbox] out, Kara was surprised, and smiled. Indeed, it seemed like he did not g behind in this aspect.

  Kara tinued describiraining. Reag level 100 had greatly enhanced her time perception and trol, allowio manipute her innate skill to a new level. She’d spent years itrag aing moo level up. The only limitation was the quantity of monsters, as she barely had enough to keep herself busy for a few minutes every few hours.

  "I should have e to visit you from time to time..." Sora, looking at her tired eyes, couldn't help but say.

  "You also had your own training, it is alright. I'm still alive and kig" Kara, smiling, responded.

  "ime you o train iime Space, I will train with you". Thinking of a solution, he suggested.

  "I'll be happy to. I even prepared a house for you, see ? Now it's your turn to tell me about your adventures. How did this week go?" Kara was happy about the care he showed her.

  Just like Kara, he expined his week of Prestige Grinding and paused to wonder how he could expin his new Innate Skill effects.

  He expihat after his Talent Level was limited after reag prestige 20, he farmed Soul Pearls because he beliieved such a resource would be useful iure. Indeed, when he reached level 90, he unlocked a Soul Fe that gave him the opportunity to use his Soul Pearls.

  "Do you have such a Soul on ? That sounds quite cool !" Kara asked.

  "Not yet, I'm thinking of reag level 100 before spending my [Soul Pearls], you never know. Do you want to get a few Soul Pearls and see what it do for you?" He then added "What about you ? You didn't tell me about your fourth Skill Effect. Is it good ?"

  "Regarding the Soul Pearls, I'll gdly try a few if you do not mind. However, I'd prefer if you reached level 100 first."

  Hesitating, Kara paused before showing him her skill panel.

  [Skill Effect 4: Gain the power to harvest time and access your Time Pace.]Sora’s mind raced. Time Pace? Soul Pace? Could she have had a simir experience? He wao know more, so he casually asked, “Time Pace? What’s that? I take a look?”

  Kara hesitated. “It’s just a small pce here iime Space], but I ’t really show it to you… ”

  He nodded in uanding, then added, “I have a [Soul Pace], but I ’t show it either…” He gave her a meaningful look, hoping she’d catch his hint.

  Kara’s eyes widened as she pieced it together. “You… you know?”

  He nodded, “I have a vague idea. If that’s the case, it’s likely other Innate Skill users above level 100 know part of this truth as well.”

  “Maybe… But I don’t know how many of us there are. Are there hundreds? Thousands? Millions ? I remember a report from the early days after the update, mentioning how the top pyer whered the update, Roméo, revealed he had an Innate Skill. Back then, it was why he was leagues ahead of everyone. But after that, news about Innate Skills became less and less on, fading as if it became taboo. So, when I reached level 50 and unlocked mine, I hid it too.”

  Sora houghtfully. “That could mean many Innate Skill users know the truth, but if there’s some restri on sharing suformation, it expins why we don’t hear anything. Then, the pyers I killed... they may still be alive, somewhere"

  Kara also had such a thought, "I have been w about that too, but it seems like we 't know for sure if we are in a-"

  Sora suddenly interrupted her "Maybe it would be better to ge topics before we say things we're not allowed to.”

  Kara nodded, realizing she almost blurted the truth.

  Impressed, Sora felt his petitive side rise. “How about a duel? It’s the best way to see each other’s progress.”

  Kara grinned. “You’re so happy to see me that you want to fight me already?” She noticed Hiyoko trembling behind Sora. “Why is Hiyoko hiding like that? Did I kill her parents without knowing?”

  Hiyoko, who had previously boasted about surpassing Kara, was now quaking in fear. Chirp chirp chirp chirp She thought to herself. Hmmm.. It meant 'Was she some sort of hiddey pretending to be weak before?'

  Sora, remembering her earlier arrogance, smirked. “Hiyoko wants to duel you, too. She’s so excited she’s trembling!”

  Kara ughed, standing up. “Alright, let’s fight then!”

  Hiyoko immediately bolted, trying to escape but finding that the [Time Space] was too small. Sora and Kara both ughed at her rea.

  Sora then stood, sending Kara a dueling request, eager to test his strength against hers, with no idea just how far she had truly e.

  mimou

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