At the Ryunn Residence — MARU
Mary Ryunn sat quietly in the living room, her eyes red and cheeks still damp from hours of crying. The moment Rio entered, her silence shattered. She shot up, heart pounding, and rushed to embrace him.
He knelt, gently taking her hands, and began massaging her feet — a simple, human gesture to ease the weight she carried.
"Mom… I'm back," Rio whispered. "I'm sorry for making you worry."
She sniffled, her voice trembling with both relief and disbelief. "Where were you, Rio? What happened in these past few days?"
(What should I tell her? The truth… or a version that won't bring more chaos?)
[Dense Mysterious Voice]: "It'll kill your fortune and others' too. Be selectively honest."
(Alright… no questions. Stay careful.)
"I was headed to Earth," he said, keeping his tone steady. "But I crashed on Saturn. I'm fine. So is the Godwar suit. I thought Saturn's gravity might help push my training forward… and it actually worked."
He met her eyes, gentle but firm. "But Mom — please. Don't worry about me this much. It hurts more than anything."
Mary looked at him for a long, searching moment. Then she nodded, almost reluctantly. "Was it worth it, at least? Your father is… furious. And disappointed, Rio."
Before he could respond, SLIX — the semi-4D AI — chimed in, her voice soft like glistening crystals echoing in space:
[SLIX]: "Ma'am, dinner is ready. Please proceed to the table. Also, don't forget your medication after your meal."
(SLIX: A feminine, holographic AI with a semi-physical body. She can phase through matter and read medical vitals in real-time.)
"Yeah, Mom. SLIX is right," Rio said, helping her to her feet. "Let's eat. And take care of you."
---
At the Dining Table…
WHACK!
"You dumbass!" Theo Ryunn, Rio's older brother, smacked the back of his head. "How can someone be this stupid?! Crashing into Saturn?!"
"Mmph haum haum haum…" Erame Mozak said mid-mouthful, his cheeks stuffed like a squirrel. "You two always fight like preschoolers."
"The hell did you say?" Theo growled, flaring a faint wave of TIER-3 aura. "Chew before I ram that fork down your throat."
"ALL of you — shut up and eat silently!"
Lython Ryunn's voice thundered, slamming the chopsticks down. A strip of cabbage dangled comically off the end of his spoon, yet no one laughed.
The silence was instant.
His eyes locked on Rio. "As for you… you'll remain home for the time being."
Rio tensed. "...I see."
"You're not under punishment — just revoked access to the Candidate Program," Lython continued. "You won't be participating in the tournament. You went AWOL. You're strong, but you're not above the rules, son."
The table went quiet. And then—
"He will be in the tournament," Mary said calmly, interrupting for the first time.
Her voice cut through the air like a silk blade. The whole table froze again.
Rio blinked, stunned. Then slowly nodded, eyes glancing between his mother and father.
"...Yes, Mom."
---
Later… Walking Toward His Room
Step… step… step…
(She saved me again. Like always. But I can't tell anyone about my breakthrough to TIER-2 Phase-3... Not yet. That breakthrough — it's my Ace of Spades.)
[D.M. Voice]: "Good thought. Stay persistent. One month to go…"
(Who are you? At least give me a name. Or was that overwhelming power… yours?)
[D.M. Voice]: "Earn my name. That wasn't full power. Just a single thread — TIER-10. I'm going dormant now…"
(TIER-10... and that was only a string?)
Rio lay back on his bed, eyes wide, heart thumping. But exhaustion overcame thought.
He was asleep in seconds.
---
Meanwhile, Back at the Table…
Lython Ryunn remained seated, his eyes locked on the now-empty chair where Rio had been. His hands, usually steady, gripped the edge of the table.
"You shouldn't have coddled him," he said, quietly. "We don't live in a soft world, Mary. Those suit damages weren't from a crash. Something pierced it."
Mary didn't reply. She finished her soup and stood up, brushing her hand lightly across his shoulder — a silent message.
Then she walked away.
The sounds of silverware and clinking plates faded into nothingness as one by one, the Ryunn family returned to their rooms.
---
In His Room...
Rio slept deeply, unaware of how quickly the world around him was changing — and how soon it would demand everything from him again.
---
In Erame's Room…
Erame's thoughts:
'Rio… don't do anything reckless. You've got something special ahead of you. Don't waste it on pride… or on fear.'