Chapter 527: Friends?

"So you’re saying this isn’t just about hiding how strong I am. It’s about hiding something the System itself has stamped on me." I asked quietly.

Dante nodded slowly. "Exactly. Your will, your presence, those you can learn to control. But your talent mark? That’s different. That’s like a signature burned into your existence. The only way to hide it is to understand how it works first."

I frowned, my eyes narrowing slightly. "But why would the System even allow something like this? I mean, if it wants to, it could hide the marking, couldn’t it?"

He exhaled through his nose, his face turning thoughtful. "It sure can," he said, his voice softer now. Then he went quiet, his eyes drifting as if he was looking back through memories only he could see.

I waited. Dante always spoke when he was ready. Finally, he did. "You see, we consider the System the ultimate ruler of our universe. The only reason we’ve been able to resist the Eternals’ invasion for so long is because of the System."

I nodded.

"It has helped the truly powerful time and again," he continued. "Out here, in this remote corner of the universe, we don’t feel its presence much. But in the Prime galaxy..." he shook his head, "the System is everywhere. It actively takes part in the conflict with the Eternals."

I tilted my head. "Actively takes part? What do you mean?"

"The System, as far as I’ve understood or as far as I’ve heard from those... let’s say strong enough to come in contact with it, is bound by rules. It follows those rules religiously. But to resist the invasion, it has, on many occasions, broken its own rules. And each time it did, it had to pay a price."

He leaned back slightly. "The general consensus is that the System can be trusted. In our greatest wars we’ve followed strategies laid out by it, we’ve relied on its recommendations. You could even say the reason so many races, despite being fierce competitors, still work together is because of the System."

Just as Dante finished speaking, a soft chime rang and a panel flickered open in front of me. A smiling emoji appeared:

[ :) ]

I blinked but kept my expression neutral.

’So you’re listening,’

I thought inwardly.

"Then why isn’t the System hiding this talent marking?" I asked aloud, my eyes narrowing at Dante.

He chuckled quietly and tilted his head. "Why should it?"

I frowned. "Because you’re the one telling me to hide it, aren’t you? So I’m assuming it should already be hidden."

Dante shook his head slowly, the faintest trace of a smile on his face.

"The reason it doesn’t hide it is simple, it wants people to know you’re special. That you have potential to be great. But people... people are selfish. Sometimes they’ll help someone with potential. Sometimes they’ll hunt them down. You can’t blame the System for that."

"Yeah, but now that it knows these people are being hunted down," I said, my voice sharpening, "why not just hide it anyway?"

He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "I’m not sure about that. Only the System can answer that question."

I stared at him, then glanced off into the empty space of the ship’s cabin.

’Yo, you’re listening, right?’

I asked inwardly.

Instantly, a small notification flickered open in front of my eyes, the words crisp and direct:

[ To hide the ’Talent Markings’ of someone will leave signs of my interference which can be tracked by Eternals. ]

The text hung there for a second, glowing faintly before fading away like mist.

I exhaled slowly.

’Tracked by Eternals, huh...’

I thought, a bitter taste settling in my mouth.

Dante raised an eyebrow, catching the subtle shift in my face.

"What happened?" he asked, his tone light but probing.

"Nothing," I muttered, glancing away. "Just thinking." I flexed my fingers against my knees, then looked back at him. "So... how do I hide it myself?"

He studied me for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright. It’s not easy, but possible. The mark isn’t physical, it’s a projection of your soul and the System’s recognition of you. What you need to do is layer your own will over it. Not to erase it, but to blur it from sight."

He stood up and motioned for me to do the same. The cabin’s faint blue light reflected off the ship’s walls, making the whole place feel like a silent void adrift in space.

"Close your eyes," he said. "And focus inward, not on your Essence or your aura. Focus deeper, on the point where your existence begins. You’ll feel something like a hum... a pulse that doesn’t belong to your body or mind."

I exhaled and did as he said.

Slowly, I sank my awareness inward, past the steady rhythm of my heart, past the flow of Essence, until I felt it, a faint thrum, cold yet alive, somewhere in the center of my being. It pulsed faintly, black and distinct.

"That’s it," Dante said softly. "That’s your mark. Now, don’t push against it. Wrap it. Think of your will as silk, fine and endless. Cover it until it disappears behind layers of yourself."

I visualized threads of light emerging from me, thin, violet, shifting gently like mist. They wrapped around that dark core, soft at first, then denser with each breath. The pulse dimmed, like a candle losing its flame.

When I opened my eyes again, Dante was watching me closely. He smiled faintly.

"Good. Now I can’t see it anymore. That means you’ve covered it well."

I blinked, surprised. "That’s it?"

He shook his head. "That’s just the first step. You’ll have to maintain it constantly. The moment your concentration slips, the mark will tear through your concealment again. You’ll need discipline to keep it hidden."

I nodded slowly, still a little confused at how simple the process had felt.

"You can be arrogant about it if you want," Dante said with a chuckle. "I’ve seen people spend months just trying to wrap their will around their mark. You did it in a minute. I’m not sure whether I should appreciate you... or fear you."

He turned away, his gaze drifting toward the star-flecked void outside the ship’s window. The faint glow of asteroids reflected off his face as we left the belt behind.

I stepped forward and stood beside him, my hands folding behind my back. Watching the endless stretch of darkness beyond the glass.

"I’m not sure what your secret is, Dante," I said finally. "But I won’t hide the fact that I’m so damn interested in knowing it. You know too much, too many things ordinary people don’t even dare to imagine. I’m sure you come from some serious background."

I turned my head slightly to glance at him. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, posture calm.

"So no need to fear me, old man," I added with a faint smile. "Just consider me as your friend."

For a moment he didn’t answer.