Awakening of the Mind Sovereign
Chapter 56: The Sovereign’s Paradox - 5

Chapter 56: The Sovereign’s Paradox - 5

Echo’s eyes swept over the room, his gaze meeting each of the Judges one by one.

None of them could hold it for more than a second.

They were rulers.

They were the strongest.

But in this moment

They felt like prey.

And Echo?

He was the hunter.

The Crimson-Eyed Woman’s Reaction

Then

Laughter.

It was soft at first.

Then it grew.

All eyes turned toward the crimson-eyed woman.

Unlike the others, she wasn’t afraid.

She was smiling.

"Ah... I see now," she murmured, standing up from her seat.

Her fingers traced the air, sparks of power dancing at her fingertips.

"This isn’t normal power. This isn’t even evolution."

She licked her lips, excitement flashing in her gaze.

"This... is something entirely new."

She took a step forward.

"You, Echo... You fascinate me."

The other Judges flinched.

"Veyna, don’t—" the old man in golden robes started.

But she ignored him.

She took another step forward, her aura rising like a tidal wave.

Her power wasn’t just Celestial Energy.

It was ancient. Refined. Lethal.

"You killed six Celestial Masters without lifting a finger."

She smiled wider.

"But what happens when you face someone who won’t fall so easily?"

The air in the room grew heavy.

The walls of the Hall shook.

Echo didn’t respond.

He simply watched her.

And then

He took a single step forward.

The instant his foot touched the ground

The floor beneath him cracked.

No

It disintegrated.

A wave of pure force erupted from him, shattering the carefully inscribed runes on the floor.

The Hall of Judges a place that had stood for thousands of years

Trembled.

The old man in golden robes staggered back.

Gorath, the bald warrior, clenched his fists, sweat dripping down his face.

And Veyna?

She grinned.

"Oh... I really like you."

And then

She vanished.

BOOM!

She reappeared behind Echo, her palm already aimed for his skull.

But the moment her attack was about to land

Her eyes widened.

Because Echo...

Was gone.

Veyna’s instincts screamed, and she twisted her body

Just in time to see a shadow appear above her.

Echo was there.

No movement. No wasted energy.

He had simply appeared.

And his foot was coming down toward her.

She raised both arms

BOOM!

The impact sent a shockwave tearing through the Hall.

The walls cracked. The air distorted.

The force alone sent every other Judge stumbling backward.

But Veyna?

She held her ground.

Her feet dug into the floor.

She grinned, despite the blood trickling from her lip.

"Finally... someone interesting."

But then

Her grin faltered.

Because suddenly

Her vision blurred.

Her legs gave out.

She collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath.

What...?!

Her arms the same arms that had withstood gods were trembling.

No.

Not trembling.

Like they were about to break apart.

And standing before her

Was Echo

Unmoving.

Unbothered.

Unmatched.

The old man in golden robes spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Enough."

Veyna, still struggling to breathe, looked up at him in shock.

"But "

"I said enough."

For the first time, there was no authority in his voice.

There was fear.

He turned to Echo

"...You have proven your point."

A long silence followed.

Then

Echo tilted his head slightly.

"Have I?"

The old man clenched his fists.

"We... are not your enemies."

A desperate attempt.

But Echo already knew the truth.

These men, these Judges, these rulers of power

They didn’t want peace.

They wanted control.

And Eiko?

He wasn’t something they could control.

Echo looked around the room one last time.

At the shattered floor.

At the broken warriors.

At the terrified rulers.

And then, he spoke.

"You sent your strongest."

His voice was cold. Unfeeling.

"They fell."

He turned toward the exit.

"So if you send another... Just remember."

He glanced back.

"There won’t be anyone left to send after them."

And with that

He walked away.

Leaving behind only fear.

---

Echo walked through the grand halls of the Judges’ Palace, his footsteps echoing in the silence.

He had defeated their strongest.

He had shattered their illusions of control.

But he hadn’t come for power.

He hadn’t come for revenge.

He had come for one answer.

An answer that no one had ever found.

Echo had heard the stories countless times.

The legends spoke of five worlds of energy.

The First World: Mortal Power. Strength, speed, and endurance—the foundation of all warriors.

The Second World: Spiritual Awakening. The moment one connected to the flow of energy.

The Third World: Celestial Energy. The power to manipulate the forces of nature.

The Fourth World: Divine Ascension. The pinnacle of human strength—where only the greatest stood.

And then...

The Fifth World.

The ultimate realm.

The peak of existence.

But no one had ever reached it.

Not in the thousands of years of recorded history.

Not a single soul.

It was as if the path had been erased.

As if the truth had been buried.

A Question That Shook the World

E

Eiko walked through the grand halls of the Judges’ Palace, his footsteps echoing in the silence.

He had defeated their strongest.

He had shattered their illusions of control.

But he hadn’t come for power.

He hadn’t come for revenge.

He had come for one answer.

An answer that no one had ever found.

Echo had heard the stories countless times.

The legends spoke of five worlds of energy.

The First World: Mortal Power. Strength, speed, and endurance—the foundation of all warriors.

The Second World: Spiritual Awakening. The moment one connected to the flow of energy.

The Third World: Celestial Energy. The power to manipulate the forces of nature.

The Fourth World: Divine Ascension. The pinnacle of human strength—where only the greatest stood.

And then...

The Fifth World.

The ultimate realm.

The peak of existence.

But no one had ever reached it.

Not in the thousands of years of recorded history.

Not a single soul.

It was as if the path had been erased.

As if the truth had been buried.

stopped.

Before him stood the Grand Judge.

The old man in golden robes.

The ruler of rulers.

The last surviving voice of the ancient order.

And for the first time

The old man spoke without arrogance.

Without pride.

Without power.

"You shouldn’t be asking that question."

His voice was low.

But the weight of his words filled the room.

o stopped.

Before him stood the Grand Judge.

The old man in golden robes.

The ruler of rulers.

The last surviving voice of the ancient order.

And for the first time

The old man spoke without arrogance.

Without pride.

Without power.

"You shouldn’t be asking that question."

His voice was low.

But the weight of his words filled the room.