SS Awakening: My Monster Merging System!

The transfer back had been smooth, but her body still felt heavy. Even after the healers in the shelter treated her wounds, exhaustion still clung to her bones as if it refused to leave.

The moment she stepped into the Association headquarters, several workers immediately stopped what they were doing.

Some of them had been carrying documents. Some were standing near the reception desk, talking in low voices. A few players who had come to submit reports also turned around when they saw her enter.

Helen Magnus.

That name alone was already enough to draw attention.

But more than that, everyone here knew who her father was.

The Association President.

One of the five strongest known human players.

Arthur Magnus.

Because of this, the moment Helen appeared with burned clothes, messy hair, and bandages wrapped around one arm, the atmosphere inside the building changed almost immediately.

"Miss Helen?"

One of the receptionists stood up quickly, her expression filled with concern.

Helen raised one hand slightly. "I am fine."

That was a lie. She was tired, her body still hurt, and her mind was even worse. But if she stopped and answered every concerned question, she would be stuck here until morning.

She walked past the reception area without slowing down.

The whispers started behind her almost instantly.

"She came back."

"I heard the blue realm turned gold."

"Is it true everyone survived?"

"They said a new player contributed to killing the boss."

"The summoner?"

"Zich Grave?"

Helen heard that name, and her steps slowed for half a second.

Even here, Zich’s name had already started spreading.

She did not know whether to feel amused, worried, or annoyed. That person probably returned home, took a bath, and started counting loot already while everyone else was still trying to understand what happened.

The thought made her lips twitch slightly.

’Very Zich.’

She took the elevator to the upper floor.

The higher she went, the quieter the building became. The noisy reception area disappeared below, replaced by calm corridors, polished floors, and guards standing straight near important offices.

The moment the guards saw her, their expressions changed.

"Miss Helen."

She nodded once and walked toward the largest office at the end of the hall.

Before she could knock, the door opened.

A tall man stood on the other side. He looked middle aged, but his face did not carry the weakness of age. His hair was dark with a few silver strands near the sides, and his eyes were calm in a way that made people lower their voices without knowing why.

He wore a simple dark coat over clean formal clothes.

There was no armor or weapon with him, yet the guards behind Helen immediately straightened even more.

This man was Arthur Magnus.

The President of the Human Player Association.

And one of the top five strongest humans alive.

For a moment, Helen looked at him and forgot what she wanted to say.

Arthur’s stern expression softened the moment he saw her condition.

"You made me worry again," he said quietly.

Helen’s serious face loosened a little.

"I came back, didn’t I?"

Arthur sighed and stepped aside to let her in. "That answer was more effective when you were twelve."

Helen entered the office. The room was large, but not overly decorated. A wide desk stood near the window, several bookshelves lined the walls, and a long table sat to one side for meetings. There were maps, reports, sealed documents, and relic cases neatly arranged across the room.

Arthur closed the door behind her.

The moment they were alone, the Association President disappeared, and only her father remained.

He walked up to her and gently placed one hand on her head.

Helen froze for a second.

Then her eyes lowered slightly.

"You are injured," he said.

"I was treated."

"That is not what I said."

Helen looked away. "It is not serious."

Arthur gave her a look that clearly said he did not believe her.

Helen finally sighed. "Mostly not serious."

"That is better."

He guided her toward the sofa and made her sit down. After that, he walked to a small cabinet and took out a recovery drink from a chilled container.

Helen took it from him without arguing.

The drink was bitter, but warmth spread through her body after she swallowed it. Her muscles relaxed slightly, and the remaining pain in her arm dulled.

Arthur sat across from her. For a few seconds, he did not ask anything. He only looked at her.

That made Helen feel more uncomfortable than any interrogation.

"What?" she asked.

"You look like you saw something that made you grow up a little."

Helen’s fingers tightened around the bottle.

The market square flashed in her mind again.

Zich standing alone.

Zich bleeding.

Zich refusing to drop the bag.

Zich cutting the chain before it reached her throat.

She lowered her eyes.

"It was a gold realm," she said.

Arthur’s gaze sharpened.

"I know."

"Then you know it was not normal."

"I know the entrance changed after you entered. I know Arnold stayed at the portal until it opened again." Arthur leaned forward slightly. "What I do not know is what happened inside."

Helen was quiet for a moment. Then she began speaking.

She told him about the realm changing to gold after entry. She told him about the ruined courtyard, the undead knights, the Knight Captain, and the strange Ashen Dragon banners.

She told him about the oath trial.

She did not go too deeply into Jayden’s humiliation, but she did not hide it either.

Arthur listened silently. When she reached the ruined city, his expression changed slightly.

"An underground city?"

Helen nodded. "A real one. Not a dungeon stage. There were roads, markets, shelters, stables... everything. It looked like people lived there once."

Arthur’s eyes turned thoughtful. "That’s because people once lived there."

"I know." Helen nodded.

She told him about the soul stones moving through the city, the fountain channels, the couriers, and the bone giant eating the stones.

When she mentioned the Devouring Bone Giant, Arthur’s hand paused slightly on his knee.

"Level?"

"Seventy."

The office became silent. Arthur did not react loudly, but the air inside the room changed. The gentle fatherly presence faded slightly, replaced by something much colder.

"A Level Seventy Boss inside a realm that opened in Layer One," he said slowly.

Helen nodded. "It almost killed us, and if it was not for..."

"Because of Zich Grave?"

Helen’s fingers stopped moving. For a second, she did not answer.

Arthur’s eyes softened again. "That name appeared in every report I received tonight."

Helen gave a small helpless smile. "That sounds like him."

Arthur watched her face carefully and then asked, "Tell me about Zich Grave. I want you to tell me everything you know about him."