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"Let's see the truth," Thystian murmured, his voice carrying a weight of authority that silenced the murmurs of the crowd.

The crystal began to hum softly, its light growing brighter as it scanned Vincent's energy. For a moment, nothing happened, and the crowd leaned forward, their anticipation reaching a fever pitch.

Then, the crystal emitted a soft, steady green light.

The crowd erupted into gasps and murmurs.

"Green! It's green! He's really Tier 2!"

Finn's face twisted in disbelief.

"No! That's impossible! He must have tampered with the crystal!"

Thystian's expression remained calm, but his eyes flickered with something akin to amusement.

"The Origin Scanning Crystal cannot be tampered with, young one. Its results are absolute."

Finn's fists clenched, his body trembling with a mix of anger and humiliation.

"This... this can't be!"

Vincent's voice cut through the noise, calm and unwavering. "Do you have anything more to say?"

Finn's face turned ashen, but with the entire crowd watching, he had no choice. Gritting his teeth, he dropped to his knees and kowtowed before Vincent, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. "I... apologize."

A heavy silence blanketed the area, the weight of the moment settling over them. Vincent had not only proven his innocence but had also humbled a veteran warrior before everyone.

Nato stepped forward, his voice breaking the stillness.

"It seems the matter is settled. Shroud has proven both his strength and integrity. Let us move forward with the tournament!"

The crowd roared once more, but this time, the name they chanted was filled with newfound respect.

"Shroud! Shroud! Shroud!"

Vincent stood tall, his expression calm as ever. He was already growing accustomed to how this world operated.

He knew he wasn't part of the norm.

Thus, he knew every action he took would be met with skepticism.

As he walked down from the stage, he noticed a set of footsteps following closely behind.

Choosing to ignore it, he was about to pick up Mochi when Thystian's voice called out to him.

"Hold on, young man."

Both Vincent and the plump rabbit turned to look at the Sanctuary Head in curiosity.

Raising an eyebrow, Vincent wondered what Thystian wanted from him.

Seeing Vincent remain silent, Thystian spoke again. "Have we met before?"

Vincent was momentarily stunned by the unexpected question, but he quickly regained his composure.

After pretending to consider it, he answered politely, "No, sir."

It was the truth. They had never met personally, though Vincent had seen him twice from a distance.

"Is that so?" Thystian responded, his tone laced with doubt. He murmured, "That's strange. I had the feeling we had already crossed paths before."

Vincent's expression beneath his mask remained unchanged as he replied smoothly, "There's no way I wouldn't remember someone like you if we had met before."

Thystian nodded. Given his influence, he was well-known across the Novice Continent.

Yet, for some reason, the young man before him felt oddly familiar.

Regardless, that wasn't his main concern.

Vincent was shrouded in mystery. Thystian had encountered only a handful of 'monsters' capable of defeating opponents a full realm stronger than themselves, but he had never heard of 'Shroud.' According to his extensive memory, no one wielded a fighting style like his.

Those monsters typically overwhelmed their foes with sheer might, but Vincent?

Vincent wasn't even trying.

It was clear he could have played with his opponents if he wanted to.

Thystian was convinced—the strength Vincent had displayed was not his full power.

No, he was certain.

Every one of Vincent's fights had ended with a single strike. No one had even forced him to use any of his skills.

Well, apart from the last battle, where Vincent had used an Astral Clone to fake out Finn and instantly end the fight. Other than that, he had defeated every opponent with a single punch.

Naturally, Thystian was both impressed and intrigued by him—no, by Shroud.

A mysterious warrior who possessed strength comparable to those monsters who had already ascended to the higher continents.

I must have him. If that wasn't possible... then befriending him would be the next best option. A monster with limitless potential is always worth having on my side, Thystian mused, studying Vincent with keen interest.

Vincent, in turn, sensed the strange gaze upon him.

Did he figure it out?

Even as the thought crossed his mind, he remained unfazed. He had done nothing wrong.

He simply disliked unnecessary attention. If not for the headaches that came with recognition—and the 'over-friendly young masters'—he wouldn't have bothered wearing a mask.

If he wanted fame, he could have taken it with ease.

But it was pointless to him.

"Anyhow, let me congratulate you on your victory."

Vincent inclined his head. "Thank you."

Thystian fell silent again, his gaze unreadable.

Feeling a tinge of awkwardness, Vincent finally asked, "Do you need anything else from me?"

Thystian simply flashed an enigmatic smile. "No, you're free to go."

Vincent gave a small nod and turned to leave. Just as he did, however, he heard Thystian's parting words.

"We will meet again soon..."

Frowning, Vincent turned back—only to find that Thystian had vanished without a trace.

Scanning the surroundings, he found no sign of the Sanctuary Head. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

He could only wonder what Thystian had meant.

By the time the sun had set, the Weekly Outer District Battle had officially concluded.

Nato's voice rang out across the battlefield. "Congratulations to all the winners who have secured a slot to enter the Lost Grove. And special thanks to everyone who participated in this week's battle! Alright, we'll meet again next week! As for the winners, be at the spawn field by 6 AM sharp tomorrow. If you're late, no one will wait for you!"

With that, Nato vanished from his position.

Vincent, too, wasted no time lingering.

With Mochi nestled comfortably on his shoulders, he turned and disappeared into the night.

Vincent didn't return to his territory but instead ventured outside the sanctuary, only to make his way back before midnight and rent a room at the Newcomer's Lounge Inn.

The Next Day

Vincent woke early, though he felt no need to partake in breakfast. Instead, he scooped up Mochi, who blinked sleepily before settling in his arms, and headed toward the designated meeting point.

The spawn field was still bustling with activity, just as it had been when he first arrived in the Origin World.

After scanning the area for a moment, he immediately spotted the other winners from yesterday. They stood beside a large pillar, their presences distinct.

Anur, a Crystallian young man with Peak Tier 1 strength, was among them. Besides Vincent, another Tier 2 participant had secured a victory—Bern, a male Drakorii with sharp rouge eyes.

The other two winners, however, were in a different league. Both were at the initial stage of Tier 3.

They were Thrygians.

Zarrok and Korvath—towering figures, each standing at an imposing seven feet tall.

They were the reason Vincent had stayed behind after the tournament concluded. He had been curious. Were they, too, from the Blackthorn Clan?

From the very first day, every Thrygian he encountered had been under Blackthorn's influence. He wondered if their race was so unified that they consolidated their power under a single clan.

At that moment, the four of them took notice of his presence.

Anur greeted him with a subtle nod.

Bern simply cast a sharp glance his way, assessing him for a brief second before dismissing him entirely.

Meanwhile, the two Thrygians—Zarrok and Korvath—openly scrutinized him. They made no attempt to hide their gazes as they raked over his figure from head to toe, as though investigating every inch of him.

Despite their blatant actions, Vincent remained unfazed. Instead, he returned their stare, mimicking their actions as he took his time to scan their appearances with his own eyes.

The two Thrygians frowned, evidently displeased with his audacity.

"Hah. A mere ant dares to look at me with such impudence?" Zarrok sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. The notion seemed absurd to him—laughable, even—that someone of Vincent's stature had the audacity to match their gaze without a hint of intimidation.

Beside him, Korvath's frown deepened, though he remained silent. He simply glared at Vincent, letting his oppressive aura do the talking.

Beneath his mask, Vincent smirked. "Heh, I let you take a good look at me, but when I do the same, you don't like it? I'm starting to think Thrygians have brains made of stone."

His words hit a nerve. Zarrok's expression twisted in irritation. "What did you just say?! Hah! Just because you earned a spot in the Lost Grove doesn't mean you have the same strength as us!"

Anur stood to the side, merely observing. As a mere Tier 1, it wasn't in his best interest to involve himself in this brewing confrontation.

Not far away, Bern cast a brief glance at Vincent and Zarrok. Whatever thoughts passed through his mind remained a mystery, but soon enough, he lost interest, turning away as though the matter was beneath him.