《Reborn as an Yandere : Yandere X Yandere》 Fable And Predictor If your best friend were holding a gun to your head, what would your final words be? This very scenario unfolded for a man known only by his alias, "Fable," on the night he became the world''s best hitman.@@novelbin@@ It was a bloody, rainy night. Not only did translucent raindrops fall from the clouds, but the ground was soaked with red liquid¡ªblood. The rain mingled with the blood, creating rivulets of crimson that washed over the scene of carnage. In the middle of an abandoned area, a ce often frequented by the most nefarious criminals, the silver light of the moon shone down on a man in his thirties. He knelt on the ground, surrounded by the corpses of the dozen men he had killed moments before. The blood of his victims was still fresh, and the relentless rain turned the ground into a gruesome sea of red. "Fable, today is the day you die!" A manly voice pierced the night, drawing the moonlight''s focus to another man of the same age. He wore a ck coat over a white shirt, his appearance immacte despite the chaos surrounding him. In his hand was a pistol, which he aimed directly at Fable''s forehead. Fable''s eyes, cold and calcting, looked up at the man before him. This man was not just any adversary; he was his best friend, now turned executioner. The betrayal hung heavy in the air, almost tangible in its intensity. The rain poured down relentlessly, soaking Fable''s hair and clothes, the droplets mingling with the blood that stained his skin. His breaths came slow and steady, a stark contrast to the fric energy of the battle that had just ended. Despite the imminent danger, he maintained an eerie calm. "Is this how it ends? Codename ''Predictor''... Fable and Predictor," Fable chuckled with a bittersweet nostalgia, the sound incongruous against the backdrop of the bloody, rain-soaked night. "We were the best duo from childhood until now¡ªthe dynamite duo. No one could decide which one of us was stronger." His voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried the weight of their shared history. His eyes, filled with a mixture of sorrow and defiance, bore into those of his former friend, searching for a glimmer of the bond they once shared. "After everything we''ve been through, this is how you choose to do it?" The man with the gun, his hand trembling slightly, tightened his grip. His face was a mask of conflicting emotions¡ªanger, sorrow, and regret warred for dominance in his expression. "You brought this on yourself, Fable. You left me no choice." "The code was broken the day you betrayed us all," the man snapped, his voice cracking with emotion. "You became a monster, Fable. Your strength now surpasses human limits. Even I can''t predict who would win if we fought." The rain intensified, the sound of raindrops hitting the ground mingling with the silence that followed. Fable closed his eyes for a moment, letting the rain wash over him, cleansing the blood and grime from his skin. When he opened them again, there was a steely resolve in his gaze. "Surpassing human limits? Haven''t you also surpassed human limits?" he said, his voice steady and unwavering. "If I''m a monster, then you are no different. The organization sent you to finish me and you followed their orders like a loyal dog. But after this, What will you do? They''ll hunt you down too." Predictor''s finger hovered over the trigger, his hand shaking. Doubt flickered in his eyes, but his resolve soon returned. "The organization''s orders are absolute. And what will I do after killing you? I''ll kill myself too. There''s no point in living without you, my rival." Fable''s gaze softened for a moment, a rare glimpse of vulnerability breaking through his hardened exterior. "Anyst words?" Predictor asked, his voice thick with emotion. Fable tilted his head, rolling his eyes upwards as if in deep contemtion. After a few seconds, a mischievous grin spread across his face. "Ummm..." he began, dragging out the suspense. Finally, with a voice that echoed in the silence, he said, "Thest person to die is gay!" Gay! Gay! Gay! Predictor''s eyes widened in shock, the absurdity of the statement piercing through the tension like a lightning bolt. For a moment, he stood there, utterly dumbfounded. The words of Fable rang in his ears, and he could feel his grip on the gun faltering. His mind raced. If he pulled the trigger, Fable would be the first to die, leaving Predictor as thest. But that doesn''t mean he is gay, it was just a normal joke or figure of speech. Yet, Predictor had aplex; he took Fable''s every word seriously, and Fable knew it. Predictor''s face contorted with a mix of confusion and frustration. "What the hell, Fable? You can''t be serious!" he muttered, his hand trembling more violently now. Fable''s grin only widened. "Oh, but I am! You wouldn''t want to be remembered as the guy who proved my point, would you?" Predictor''s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. He could almost hear the mockingughter of an imaginary audience. The weight of Fable''s ridiculous yet strangelypelling statement bore down on him. His resolve crumbled as the absurdity of the situation sank in. Finally, with a deep, exasperated sigh, Predictor lowered the gun. "Damn you, Fable," he muttered. " Predictor failed to kill Fable that day. Instead of ending Fable''s life, he found himself unable to pull the trigger, his resolve shattered by Fable''s unexpected and ridiculous final words. This moment marked the end of their legendary partnership. As Predictor hesitated, Fable saw his chance. With a swift, decisive movement, Fable disarmed Predictor and turned the tables. The gunshot that echoed through the night came not from Predictor''s hand but from Fable''s. Predictor fell, his body hitting the blood-soaked ground, a look of shock and betrayal in his eyes. The duo was no more. Predictor''s death left Fable without a rival, but it also propelled him to unparalleled heights. With his greatestpetition out of the picture, Fable swiftly rose to be the best hitman in the world. His name became synonymous with fear and respect in the underworld, his reputation unmatched. .... But after that incident, Fable quit being a hitman, hid his identity, and tried to leave his violent past behind. Without even realizing it, four years had passed. Now, at thirty-five, Fable had a new life and a new job. What kind of job? Let''s talk about thatter. For now, let''s take a peek into Fable''s current situation. In the middle of a bustling town, there was a big house. Despite it being well past midnight, the lights in the house were still on. Inside, a manughed heartily, his ck hair slightly disheveled and his average face lit up with amusement. Who else could it be but Fable, now 35 and enjoying his life after retirement from being a hitman. "Hahaha... How do you like this ending, you f*cking idiot heroine!" he shouted, hisughter echoing through the quiet house. Fable was engrossed in a game, a strange mix of otome and academy genres where the hero saves the world. "Ugh... this game is shit. The story is shit, and the main character is a goody-two-shoes. But the interesting part is that it has more than three hundred endings, with over a hundred bad ones," he thought, simultaneously badmouthing and admiring the game. His gazended on a cup of coffee beside him. It wasn''t some third-ss cheap coffee, but a high-priced luxury brew he had ordered from an upscale restaurant. He raised the cup, savoring the rich aroma, and then tentatively took a small sip. Immediately, he grimaced. "Ahh! So bitter! I got scammed," he shouted in irritation. But like it or not, he had to make his money worthwhile. Closing his nose, he gulped down the coffee in one breath. "The coffee is shit, just like this game," he muttered, taking out his frustration on the game again. "I have to hide my location all the time, so I had no choice but to download a game from a third-party application, and this was the only good one there, I even made my ount as a female,So no one could suspect me," he grumbled. "I don''t like the main character or the capture heroines, but I''m still ying this game all night, every day, because it has more than one hundred bad endings. I don''t know who thought of this, but I took it as a challenge toplete all the bad endings and make the heroines and hero suffer. Hahaha!" He was clearly addicted to this game, reying it again and again to discover new bad endings. This time, too, his shout of triumph echoed through the house as he achieved another bad ending. "Another one down!" Fable cheered, his grin wide and mischievous. "Take that, you goody-two-shoes hero! And you, dumb heroine, enjoy your miserable fate!" He cackled with glee, already nning his next strategy to find yet another bad ending. Just as he celebrated histest victory, a notification popped up on his screen. It was from the game. "A review? This shitty game wants a review?" heughed at the naivety of the request. His lips curled into an evil grin. "I''ll definitely give you a review!" he chuckled sinisterly and started typing. "Umm... one of the best shitty, dumbest, and worthless games I''ve ever seen. I canplete this game even with some random character, hehehe!" He sent the message with satisfaction and immediately got up. "Time for my job!" he said, turning towards the door. He walked out of his gaming room and headed to another room on the second floor. Reaching the door, he opened it with a bang. Inside the room was a woman tied down with ropes, her mouth covered with a cloth to muffle her screams. Seeing her, Fable''s lips curled into a sinister grin as he took out a knife from his pocket. "My new job, serial killer!" "Mmm!... mmmbb..." The woman trembled, trying her best to scream, but the cloth muffled her cries. As Fable approached, her fear grew more intense. She prepared herself for the worst, her eyes widening in astonishment when, instead of stabbing her, he began untying her ropes. He even removed the cloth covering her mouth. The woman was dumbfounded, unable toprehend what was happening. "Walk, run, scream all you want! If you manage to escape from this house, I''ll let you live," he said. He was ying a twisted game with her. If she escaped, she would live. If not, she would die. Of course, the whole house was filled with different traps designed to stop her. The woman''s eyes darted around, assessing her chances. Fable''s eyes gleamed with excitement, eager to see how the game would unfold. Without thinking, the woman got up and bolted towards the door, rushing down the stairs with all her might. Fable strolled outside to see how far she would go. Just as she reached the bottom of the stairs, her right leg got caught in an iron trap meant for deers. The trap mped down with brutal force, nearly tearing her leg apart. She screamed in agony. The unbearable pain brought her to her knees, but she knew she couldn''t stop. If she stopped, she would die. Even if she had to crawl, she still wanted to live. Determined, she reached for a nearby table to use as support. But as soon as she put her weight on the table, it triggered another trap. A heavy wooden block tied with a rope dropped from above, mming into her abdomen. She fell to the ground again, vomiting from the impact. "I- I can''t escape!" she realized, understanding that there were traps everywhere. "That''s it? You onlysted twenty seconds. That''s the slowest anyone''s survived in my house!" Fable mocked her as he descended the stairs, catching up to her. Seeing her grim reaper approaching, the woman immediately bowed down, crying out loud. "Sob... sob... I don''t want to die... I don''t want to die!" She cried with all her might, tears flowing down her face like a river. Fable chuckled, amused by her desperation. "I found out you were cheating on your husband with four other men. You were a bully in high school. There was even an incident where a studentmitted suicide because of you, among many other things," Fable said, his voice dripping with contempt. "How do you feel now that you''re the one being bullied, Ms. Cheating Woman?" He chuckled at his own joke. "I''m sorry... I want to live. I''ll never do anything like that again. I''ll even confess everything to my husband. Please let me live!" she sobbed, begging for her life. "Nah, it''s toote," he said coldly, twirling his knife like a pro. He ced his hand on the wall for support and was about to say something more, but his words were cut off abruptly. Blood started pouring from his neck. "What happened? Why do I feel so warm?" he thought, confused. As he had ced his hand on the wall, it triggered another trap¡ªa sharp rod shot out and pierced through his body. He hadn''t even had time to react. "I set this trap four years ago, and no one ever got caught in it. As the days passed, I even forgot it existed," he thought with regret, but it was toote. His body faltered, and he copsed to the ground. Blood poured from his wounds, which were too deep for anyone to save him now. His breath grew heavy, and it became difficult to keep his eyelids open. He watched as the woman got up and escaped from his house. Seeing her escape, a smile emerged on his lips as he whispered hisst words, "I guess someone was right. It''s really hard to defeat a cheating woman." With those final words, the greatest hitman in the world died. ------------------------------------------------------------- First of all, I''m not disrespecting any LGBTQ+munity, It was just the joke, a joke don''t take it seriously. And I''m sorry to disappoint you but The next chapter will be at least one or two weekster. But the good news is, I''ll upload 10 to 15 chapter at once, After that you can tell me that I should continue this series or not. Also if you have any questions just ask. Transmigrated In a luxurious room of an unknown mansion, a teenage girl with incredibly pale skin with jet ck hairy still. Her skin was so pale that one might easily mistake her for a vampire, though she was undoubtedly human. She wore an ancient frock outfit in a mix of ck and red. The dress, neither too shy nor too in, seemed to have been made just for her, enhancing her ethereal and fragile appearance. Anyone who saw her would feel an instinctive urge to protect her. Suddenly, her eyes flew open, and she began to dart her gaze around the room. Her eyes, dark red like the depths of an abyss, seemed to glow with an unnatural light. Her pupils, surrounded by multiple ring shapes, gave an eerie yet mesmerizing effect. "Am I in hell?" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with bewilderment. She sat up slowly, wincing as a sharp pain shot through her back. She ced a delicate hand on her lower back, trying to ease the difort. "This doesn''t look like hell," she muttered, scratching her head in confusion. Her eyes continued to scan the room, taking in her surroundings. The room was grand, almost like a suite in a five-star hotel. A long, ornate bed with luxurious linens was where she had been lying. Around her, there were numerous sculptures and paintings adorning the walls, each exuding an air of opulence. The room was filled with elegant furniture¡ªtables and chairs crafted with exquisite detail, and other items that spoke of royalty and wealth. "Why is smokeing out of my body?" she questioned herself again, a mix of bewilderment and fear etched across her delicate features. There was a faint, soft blue mist-like smoke seeping from her skin, swirlingzily in the dim light of the room. Her heart pounded in her chest, a drumbeat of confusion and anxiety. As her gazes were darting around her body, It directlynded on a pair of melons, Yes!, A pair of melons on her chest, Breast!, It wasn''t too big nor too small, Just the perfect size for an teenage girl of 17 year old. "Breast?, How many years has it been since Ist squeeze someone''s breast!" She recalled and without even realising that it was her own breast, She closed her eyes with a smile and started squeezing them. "Hmmm~, So soft," she eximed happily, but her eyebrows curled into unease for some reason, "Why does I feel like, Someone is squeezing my chest?" She questions but the next second her eyes fluttered opened and she realised what was going on. She nced down again, her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of her chest. "Is that my breast?" she yelled, her voice echoing through the silent room. Panic rose within her, her voice breaking the eerie calm. The door flew open, and a maid hurriedly entered, her face a mask of worry. "What happened¡ª?" the maid began, but her words faltered as her eyes fell upon the young girl before her. Shock painted her features, her eyes widening beyond belief. The clothes she held slipped from her grasp, forgotten. "Young mistress? You are awake?" she stammered, unable to tear her gaze from the faint blue smoke curling around the girl''s form. Her shock deepened as realization dawned. "Is that mana? Young mistress awakened?" she eximed, her voice a mix of awe and disbelief. Without pausing to check on the young girl''s well-being, she spun on her heel and dashed out of the room, her shouts echoing through the halls. "Everyone, hear! Young mistress woke up and she has even awakened!" The young girl sat in stunned silence, her mind a whirl of questions and emotions. The strange smoke continued to emanate from her, casting an ethereal glow around her. Fear and wonder battled within her, She could hear the distantmotion as the news spread through the household, the maid''s cries growing fainter as she ran to inform her parents. "Who was she? That''s not the main point. Why do I have breasts?" she questioned aloud, her voice tinged with disbelief and panic. Her trembling hand reached up to squeeze her skin, a sharp pain confirming this was no dream. The sting seemed sharper against her fragile, pale body, making her wince. Reality crashed down on her, but she clung to a sliver of doubt. Her hands continued to tremble as they ventured downward, seeking final confirmation. Her heart pounded, each beat echoing in her ears. "Yep! My little brother is gone!" she thought, her grim expression twisted into a half-hearted, irritated smile as she fought back a surge of anger. "But how? I was dead, wasn''t I? Did I get reincarnated as a girl?" The thoughts spun wildly in her mind. She pushed against the bed, her body unsteady as she slowly rose. Her legs wobbled, unfamiliar with the new center of gravity and the delicate bnce required in this different form. Before her stood arge mirror, its ornate golden border almost gaudy in the dim light. She moved toward it, each step a cautious, unfamiliar venture. As she stood before the mirror, her eyes met her reflection. The sight was shocking: long, jet-ck hair framed her face, and dark red eyes glowed with an almost eerie intensity. Multiple rings within her pupils gave her gaze an otherworldly look. Dark circles, not of ck but of a deep red, shadowed her eyes, adding a haunting quality to her appearance. "Why do I look like a max-level shut-in?What''s with this pale skin? Am I some kind of vampire or witch? Is this some kind of novel where the world''s greatest hitman gets reincarnated as a girl?" She mocked herself with a hollow chuckle, the sound dying quickly in the silence.@@novelbin@@ She ced her hand on her breasts, lifting them slightly. "At least my breasts are not that big, just average for a teenage girl. Every anime has teenage girls with insanely huge breasts. How the hell does someone grow breasts that big while being a virgin? Makes no sense, right?" sheined, a mixture of frustration and bewilderment coloring her tone. The room was silent, save for her soft breathing and the asional rustle of fabric as she shifted. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions¡ªfear, confusion, anger, and a strange, simmering curiosity. She felt detached from this body, yet undeniably tethered to it. The pain, the sensations, the vividness of her reflection¡ªall too real to ignore. She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. The reality of her situation was sinking in. She had been reincarnated, and not just as anyone, but as a girl with an eerie appearance and an unknown past. "Esdeath, Esdeath¡­ my daughter!" a voice rang out loudly from outside the room, growing closer with each passing second. Hearing this, she immediately jumped back onto the bed and sat down just as before, her heart racing. The door burst open, revealing a middle-aged man with crimson hair and brown eyes, his average face lined with concern. Beside him was a woman with the same crimson hair and brown eyes, her features delicate and slightly beautiful. Behind them, the maid who had first seen her awake lingered, her face a mask of worry. As the man entered the room, he rushed to her side and enveloped her in a gentle hug. "Esdeath, my precious daughter. Who told you to drink poison so lethal that even our healer couldn''t fully heal you?" he asked, his voice thick with concern and relief. "Poison? Esdeath? Is my name Esdeath? And wait a minute, they both have crimson hair and brown eyes. So why do I have ck hair and red eyes? Don''t tell me my new mother cheated on my father?" she questioned herself, her mind a whirlwind of confusion. Too many questions, not enough answers. "Okay then, it''s time for acting!" She braced herself, adopting a dazed expression and rubbing her forehead. "Father! My memories are kind of blurry. Can you tell me what happened?" she asked, her voice feigning confusion. The man''s face twisted with worry. "Did you lose your memory? We are in Swann, our homnd in the Anastasia Kingdom. I am your father, Nyx Crimson, and this is your mother, Charlotte Crimson!" he said, looking directly into her eyes with deep concern. She forced a chuckle, trying to appear nonchnt. "Hahaha¡­ of course, I remember that. I was talking about why I was asleep!" she lied, her expression betraying no hint of her inner turmoil. Nyx sighed, his expression softening as he began to exin. "We had no money, and you are already seventeen. We had no choice but to arrange your marriage with the neighboringnd''s ruler, Sacturium, that fat pig bastard. But you didn''t want to marry him and drank poison." His voice cracked as he sobbed, hugging her again with a mix of relief and sorrow. "But thankfully, a maid saw you drinking the poison. Before the situation got worse, a healer arrived. The poison was so lethal that he said you could wake in hours, years, or even die in your sleep. But who would have thought you would wake up in just two hours? Don''t worry. Now that you have awakened, we can easily cancel that idiotic arranged marriage. It would have been a problem if word got out that a baron''s daughter drank poison, but it''s only been four hours since everything happened. That''s why no news has spread. It''s truly a miracle, a miracle!" She nodded, her mind racing to process everything. The relief in Nyx''s voice was palpable, and Charlotte''s eyes glistened with unshed tears. The maid stood by, wringing her hands, her face a portrait of anxiety. Esdeath¡ªor rather, the fable inhabiting Esdeath''s body¡ªfelt a pang of guilt. These people seemed genuinely concerned for her, and she was an impostor in their midst. But there was no turning back now. She had to y her part and figure out this new world she had been thrust into. "Thank you, Father," she said softly, hugging him back. "I''ll do my best to adjust and make you proud." "Hehehe... How was my acting? I could even make a career in acting!" sheughed inwardly. "But how the hell did I get stuck in this shut-in NEET''s body? People might think I''m a ghost if they saw me at night!" The thought amused her briefly, but her amusement was short-lived. Suddenly, a realization struck her like a bolt of lightning, shaking her to her core. "Hang on a second... Swann? Anastasia Kingdom? Why does this sound so familiar?" She furrowed her brows in puzzlement, a sinking feeling growing in the pit of her stomach. She already had a nagging suspicion about where she was, but she didn''t want to believe it. "Umm... Father, is this year AD 576?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. Nyx looked at her with a hint of confusion and nodded. "Yeah, what about it?" he said casually. Her eerie red eyes widened, and her heart pounded violently in her chest. The realization hit her like a sledgehammer: "F*ck, I knew it. I got transmigrated into the game I was ying!" Dream After getting a clear look at the status window, Esdeath decided it was time to work on improving herself. Determined, she left the pce and headed to the garden, deciding to start with fiveps around it as her initial goal. However, after just twops, she was utterly exhausted. "Huff... Huff..." She panted heavily, inhaling air deeply. "This girl has no stamina, And running in this girly clothe is way too hard but I can''t give up yet!" she muttered, bracing herself as shey down to attempt some push-ups. "One... two... three..." On her third push-up, her arms started trembling, and she barely managed to push herself up. Just as shepleted her third push-up, the same maid who had first seen her awake happened to be passing by. The maid''s face turned to one of concern as she rushed toward Esdeath. "Young mistress... young mistress, what are you doing?" she asked, her voice full of worry. "I''m doing some workouts!" Esdeath replied with a bright smile, giving the maid a thumbs up. The smile stunned the maid. She stood speechless for a second before finally responding, "You can smile?" she asked in puzzlement. "Wait a minute... Was this girl never one to smile? What kind of personality did the original owner have?" Esdeath wondered, realizing she had no idea about the previous Esdeath''s demeanor. The maid quickly gathered her thoughts and got to the point. "Why are you working out? Master and mistress never let you do any workouts, in case it might hurt you," she said. "So, this girl''s parents are the overprotective type who don''t want their child to face any difficulties," Esdeath thought, beginning to understand the dynamics of her new life. Esdeath felt a mix of frustration and sympathy for her new body''s previous owner. "This girl was so sheltered, no wonder she had no stamina," she thought. But instead of feeling defeated, Esdeath felt a surge of determination. "I need to break free from these limitations." Her body was weak, her muscles ached, and her breath came in ragged gasps, but her spirit remained unbroken. She smiled reassuringly at the maid. "Don''t worry, I won''t hurt myself. I just want to get stronger." The maid looked unconvinced but nodded slowly. "If you say so, young mistress. Just be careful." Esdeath gave a small nod, appreciating the concern but knowing she had to push through. She couldn''t afford to be weak in this world. "Alright, back to work," she told herself, steeling her resolve. After slowly working out for a few hours, the sun had set, and it was already evening. Esdeath strolled around the pce, memorizing every room. She even visited the library and took a look at the kingdom''s history, which reinforced her realization that she was indeed in the game world she had once yed. She asked some maids about her personality and how others treated her, but all she received were effusive praises. There was no doubt in her mind that they were lying. The day flew by, and soon it was time for dinner with her family. Having memorized theyout of the pce, she quickly made her way to the dining room. She entered and saw arge dining tableden with many dishes and fruits. There were only three chairs around the table: one for her father, one for her mother, and one for herself. As soon as Esdeath entered the room, her mother rose from her seat, turned toward her, and hugged her tightly, nting a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I''m so d nothing happened to you!" she said, her voice a mix of happiness and concern. Esdeath stiffened slightly in her mother''s embrace. "Ugh... They are so overprotective. Why are they giving me so much love anyway?" she thought, unable to shake the feeling of being smothered. She walked over to the remaining chair and sat down, her eyes scanning the array of dishes before her. "Give me meat, and those vegetables too, and that fruit as well!" she said, pointing at nearly every dish on the table. She was exhausted from her workout and experiencing an intense hunger, her appetite surging. She felt like she could eat everything in sight. Everyone in the room looked at her in shock. Her father, eyes wide with bewilderment, spoke up, "You''re eating vegetables and fruits? Is this because you''re Awakened?" Esdeath blinked, caught off guard by his question. "Awakened? No, I''m just hungry from working out," she replied, reaching for a piece of meat and a serving of vegetables. The taste was more satisfying than she expected, and she realized how much her body craved the nutrients. Her mother watched her with a mix of surprise and concern. "You''ve never shown interest in eating so much before, especially not vegetables and fruits. Are you feeling alright?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry. Esdeath looked at her mother and saw the genuine concern in her eyes. She sighed internally, feeling a mixture of frustration and warmth. "I''m fine, really. I just had a long day and I''m starving," she exined, giving a reassuring smile. As she ate, Esdeath couldn''t help but think about the original owner of her body. "Fufufu..What an idiot parents, Their daughter is being possessed by some random man and they have no clue." Sheughed in her heart. "This girl must have been so pampered and sheltered. No wonder her parents are so overprotective," she mused, trying to piece together the life she had inherited. Her father, still looking puzzled, finally nodded. "Well, if it''s because you''re hungry, eat as much as you need. But remember to take care of yourself," he said, his voice firm yet caring. Esdeath nodded, feeling a strange mix of independence and gratitude. "I will, Father," she replied, focusing on her meal. The food fueled her resolve. "About your marriage, I cancelled it," he said with a mischievous grin. "That bastard was making a fuss, but I cancelled it anyway. Hahaha..." He chuckled at his own joke and continued, "I also enrolled you in the Awakened''s Academy. Every student has to take an entrance exam to get ranked in the academy. But since we''re alreadyte, I used my power as a noble to get you in. Your ranking will be low, though. I''m sorry about that," he added with a hint of regret. "No worries!" Esdeath replied cheerfully, shocking everyone with her nonchnt attitude. "You sure are in a good mood today. By the way, the academy starts the day after tomorrow," he said casually. This time, it was Esdeath''s turn to be surprised. Her eerie red eyes widened in realization. "The day after tomorrow? That means today is the day Lortell Mariette will attack," she thought, her mind racing with frustration. "I''m done!" she eximed, quickly getting up. She had already eaten enough. She rushed towards her room, her thoughts a whirlwind of anxiety and determination. Once inside, she began pacing back and forth, wracking her brain for a solution. "What should I do? What should I do?" she muttered to herself. "I''m sure of it. Today is the day she attacks. That means she''ll strike at night, right?" She tried to think through every possibility. As she paced, her eyelids grew heavy. She had worked tirelessly and eaten as much as she could, and now her body demanded rest. She yawned loudly, feeling the weight of exhaustion. "Let''s forget it. If there''s chaos, I''ll wake up anyway and escape alone. For now, let''s sleep," she told herself. She jumped onto her bed, and the moment her pale, snow-fairy-like skin touched the mattress, she fell into a deep sleep. In her sleep, her baster skin contrasted sharply with the dark red, bruised circles beneath her eyes, making her appear as a fragile snow fairy or a haunting specter. As she drifted off, her mind slipped into a vivid dream¡ªa dream that did not belong to her but to the original owner of her body. In the dream, a young girl of six or seven with flowing ck hair and striking dark red eyes, marked by multiple ring patterns, cowered on her knees. It was Esdeath. She clutched her head with small, trembling hands, as if shielding herself from an unseen threat. Her breaths came in shallow, ragged gasps, a mix of fear and resignation etched on her face. Voices of other children pierced the air, harsh and mocking. "You can''t y with us! Get the hell out of here, witch!" a boy yelled, hurling stones at her. Each rock that struck her caused a wince of pain and humiliation, but she remained silent, enduring their cruelty. The boy was not alone; a group of children stood behind him, their faces twisted with scorn. "Yeah! Those ominous eyes and that ck hair! My mama said to stay away from you as much as possible. Get the hell out of here, witch!" a girl shouted, flinging dirt at Esdeath. The gritty particles stung her eyes, forcing them shut as tears began to mix with the grime on her cheeks. Another child joined in, his voice filled with derision. "Yeah, there won''t be any prince to save you! No one''s gonna marry someone like you!" His words cut deeper than any stone or dirt, lodging themselves in her heart. Esdeath''s small frame shook with silent sobs. She hugged herself tighter, seekingfort in the only way she knew how. Her body felt cold and frail, the dirt and tears mixing on her cheeks. Just when the pain seemed unbearable, fate intervened¡ªnot in the form of a prince, but a princess. Whosshh..... Out of nowhere, a swift kick sent one of the rock-throwing boys sprawling. The other children froze, their eyes wide with shock, and slowly turned to see who had dared to intervene. Esdeath, too, opened her eyes slowly, squinting through her tears to see her savior. Standing before her was a girl, perhaps a year or two older, with pale silver-white skin and hair that gleamed with hints of light grey. Her skin was as pale as Esdeath''s, almost ethereal, like a vampire''s. She exuded an air of beauty and charm, though in the dream, her face was obscured by sunlight, casting her features in a radiant, blinding glow.@@novelbin@@ "*##"@#?" One of the children called her name, but in the haze of her dream, Esdeath couldn''t hear it clearly. "Get the hell out of here!" the silver-haired girlmanded, her voiceced with authority and anger. The children flinched, their faces paling as they realized she was someone of high status. Not a single one dared to speak or meet her gaze. Muttering in irritation, they dispersed, leaving Esdeath alone with her unexpected rescuer. The girl stepped forward, her movements graceful and deliberate, and extended a hand towards Esdeath. Esdeath''s eyes widened in astonishment as she looked up at her savior. Hesitantly, she reached out and grasped the offered hand, feeling its warmth and strength. As she stood, the pent-up emotions overwhelmed her, and she began to cry, tears flowing from her delicate eyes and dripping onto her soft cheeks. "Y-you," she began, her voice ragged and broken from crying, "You look like me too. Why doesn''t anyone say anything to you? I want to y too!" Her voice wavered, her neck growing heavy with the weight of her sorrow. The silver-haired girl said nothing at first. She took a step forward and enveloped Esdeath in a tight,forting hug. "Don''t worry," she whispered softly, her voice like a soothing balm. "When you grow up and marry a handsome prince, everyone will respect you." Esdeath, her head resting on the girl''s shoulder, lifted her gaze with an effort. Her eyes, shimmering like stars through her tears, met the girl''s eyes. "But just as they said, no one will marry me. I''ll be alone forever!" she sobbed, her small body trembling with despair. The silver-haired girl hugged her tighter, her embrace firm and reassuring. "Who said you''ll be alone? You have me, right?" she murmured, her voice filled with gentle assurance. "Really?" Esdeath asked, a glimmer of hope lighting up her tear-streaked face. "Then will you marry me when we grow up? I''ll be your bride!" she dered with a mix of innocence and determination. A charming smile spread across the older girl''s face as sheughed softly. "Hahaha... Okay then. You''ll be my bride, and when we grow up, I''ll marry you!" "Promise?" Esdeath questioned, her voice small and hopeful, her tear-streaked face reflecting a glimmer of hope. "Pinky promise!" the silver-haired girl replied, her tone warm and reassuring. She linked her pinky finger with Esdeath''s, sealing their solemn vow. For a brief moment, the world seemed brighter, filled with the promise of friendship and protection. But then, the girl''s charming smile twisted into an eerie grin. She leaned closer to Esdeath, her breath warm against Esdeath''s ear. The older girl''s grin widened unnaturally, and her eyes gleamed with a strange intensity. "Now that you''re my bride," she whispered, her voice low and possessive, "don''t you dare look for someone else. You don''t have to work out, do chores, or anything like that." Her tone, though soft, carried a chilling edge that made Esdeath''s heart race with unease. "But always remember," she continued, her grip tightening slightly on Esdeath''s hand, "you belong to me. You are mine and mine alone." Unhealthy Obsession Lortell''s presence was intoxicating, her aura maic. Esdeath struggled to maintain herposure, trying to suppress the unfamiliar feelings surging through her. She knew she needed to act normal, to hide this sudden vulnerability. But it was proving to be incredibly difficult with Lortell standing so close, her scent, her voice, and her very presence overwhelming Esdeath''s senses. "No, no... I can''t fall for her, I can''t fall for her," Esdeath thought, giving herself a mental shake. She felt a surge of determination, but there was a deeper reason she didn''t want to get involved with Lortell. "I don''t know why I have ck hair and red eyes, but I clearly know why Lortell Mariette has red eyes and pale white skin like a vampire," she thought. "It''s because she doesn''t just look like a vampire; she is a vampire. And not just any vampire, but one from the progenitor vampire bloodline, the strongest vampire bloodline," she thought, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. In this world, there are things called "factors." When a human awakens, these factors can at any time turn an average awakened human into a vampire or werewolf. Usually, when a vampire awakens, they go berserk, killing everyone in sight, and often end up being killed by human armies. Very few can remain calm, and even those who do are often mentally unstable. Lortell Mariette, however, was different. She had awakened at the age of six¡ªan age when most children hadn''t even begun to think about such things. Typically, an average person awakens at fourteen, but Lortell was no average person. She was a prodigy. Esdeath, on the other hand, had awakened at seventeen, exining why she was so weakpared to others. But that was a problem for another time. When Lortell turned seven, she awakened again, this time as a vampire. Not just any vampire, but a progenitor vampire, and she remained calm. So calm that, aside from her parents, no one else knew she was a vampire. Her parents believed she had avoided the typical drawbacks of bing a vampire, but only Lortell knew how mentally unstable her personality was. Esdeath''s mind raced as she processed this information. She had to keep her distance. Getting involved with someone like Lortell could only spell trouble. "The main weakness of being a vampire is, they can''t kill themselves even if they want to," she reminded herself. "That''s why in the game, with always a grim and sad expression, she was just waiting for someone who could kill her." "Esdeath?... Esdeath?" Voices called her out of her daydream. She snapped back to reality, her tongue slipping. "Y-yeah, I''ll start by kissing!" she blurted out, unaware of her surroundings. "What?" us yelled in puzzlement. Realization bore down upon her as she smacked her forehead. "Oh no, I mean, yeah, we were just going to y!" She was flustered, words tumbling out without coherence. "Esdeath," Lortell''s voice cut through her thoughts, drawing her back to the present moment. "Are you alright?" Esdeath nodded, swallowing hard to push down the lump in her throat. "Yes, Lady Mariette. I''m fine," she managed to say, her voice only slightly wavering.@@novelbin@@ "Lady? Last time I told you to call me Lortell," Lortell said, closing the gap between them a little. Both Esdeath''s and Lortell''s red eyes locked onto each other. Esdeath couldn''t help but mutter something in her mind. "Eyes... eyes meet-meet, my future dar-k~" she started humming in her thoughts. While she stood still, Lortell closed the remaining gap and ced her hand on Esdeath''s head, patting her gently. "I heard your arranged marriage broke up. I''m so d; I was against it too," she said with a charming smile. The sensation of being petted by Lortell overwhelmed Esdeath. "Ahh~, Lady Mariette is d,dy Mariette is d, I''m so happy. She is patting my head like a pet. I want to be her pet. No, I am her pet. Keep patting me like that forever," she thought, Her red eyes glowing even more, Her ring shaoes seem like it was moving at rapid speed, slipping into a state of unhealthy obsession. "Woof... woof!" she eximed, shocking everyone around her. "Woof? Are you sure you''re alright? Your whole face is red," us said, her anger momentarily forgotten, reced by confusion and shock. Realization hit Esdeath, and she smacked her head again. "I-I''m sorry, my head went nk for a second. I think I should go and get some rest," she said, trying to maintain a semnce of dignity. "What''s happening? Something isn''t right. My head is going nk, and everything down there is slippery, like some liquid is leaking from my private part!" she thought, panicking internally. Lortell''s eyes softened with concern. "Esdeath, if you''re not feeling well, you should take care of yourself. Don''t push too hard. I can''t take the risk of anything happening to you." Esdeath nodded, grateful for the excuse to escape. "Thank you. I shall be off then," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. As she turned to leave, her mind continued to spiral. "Why am I reacting like this? This isn''t normal. I need to figure out what''s going on with me," she thought, her heart racing and her body trembling with a mix of fear and desire. As she slowly walked back to her pce, us forced a smile and turned toward Lortell. "Lady Ma¡ª" Before she could say anything, Lortell Mariette turned on her heel and left without a word, not even a goodbye. It was as if us didn''t exist, a clear humiliation. No one would dare to behave like that¡ªexcept the Archduke''s daughter, Lortell Mariette. us couldn''t help but grit her teeth in anger. "Why does she always look after that good-for-nothing Esdeath?" she thought, consumed by envy. Back in the pce, Esdeath finally arrived at her room. As soon as she entered, she hurriedly closed the door, exhaling deeply in relief. She slid down to the floor, her back against the door. "Huff... finally, I escaped. I thought I was about to go insane," she muttered to herself, relief washing over her. She lifted her hand and slid her fingers inside her frock, checking something. When she pulled them out, they were covered in a thick, transparent liquid. "Damn, excitement between male and female is way different. I should take a bath and wash myself," she thought, getting up. Esdeath moved toward her shower room, which was inside her bedroom. It only took a few steps to reach the door. Again, as she ced her hand on the handle, she felt her heart racing. This time, she didn''t back down. Determined to find out what was inside, she opened the door with a dash. As she entered the shower room, her eyes widened in disbelief. The entire room was covered with paintings of Lortell Mariette, in different clothes and settings. Her birthday dates were written everywhere, along with detailed measurements of her body. It was a scene both horrifying and unbelievable. Anyone else would have been shocked by the sight¡ªit was clearly madness, an unhealthy obsession. Esdeath fell to her knees, her palms pressing against her cheeks, her eyes wide with realization. "I knew it, this girl is a f*cking yandere!" Her mind reeled as she took in the details. Each painting captured Lortell in an intimate, almost worshipful way, showcasing her beauty from every angle. The dates and measurements were meticulously recorded, as if someone had painstakingly documented every aspect of her life. It was beyond infatuation; it was a deranged devotion. Esdeath''s breathing grew rapid, her body trembling. "This is insane... How could anyone go to such lengths?" she thought, horror mixing with a strange, unsettling fascination. She felt her heart pounding in her chest, the lines between fear and desire blurring in her mind. The realization that this obsession was rooted in the previous Esdeath''s emotions shook her to the core. "I inherited more than just her memories... I inherited her madness," she thought, a cold shiver running down her spine. "Pffftt... Hehehe... Hahaha.... I don''t even know why I amughing, hahaha..." Herughter echoed hollowly in the room, a manic edge creeping into her voice. The clear memories of her past lives swirled in her mind, blending fable''s serene determination with Esdeath''s brutal passions. The sh of identities threatened to tear her apart. She clutched her head, trying to steady herself as the world seemed to spin. But with sudden determination, she stopped herself fromughing. "F*ck this, I don''t care if I''m a yandere, tsundere, or kundere. My main priority is being alive!" she thought fiercely. The deration felt like a lifeline, anchoring her amidst the chaos of her fractured psyche. "I would like to be a vampire too. That couple easily made me strong, but for activating the factors, the person has to be strong, and there''s no doubt I''m a weakling. So no matter how I look, I''m not a vampire and never going to be one unless some other vampire turns me into one," she reasoned, her thoughts gradually clearing as she got up. "Okay then, time to take a shower," she muttered, bracing herself. As she entered the room, her gaze lingered on Lortell''s painting. Every time she saw it, a burst of inexplicable excitement surged within her. She quickly closed her eyes, taking only a small peek outside. She walked towards the wall mirror and started undressing herself. "Hmph... I''m not an average teenage kid who''ll blush at seeing a girl''s body naked," she snorted to herself as she slipped off her frock, remaining in only her bra and panties. Despite her words, she couldn''t resist the urge to look. As she opened her eyes to take a peek at her new body''s reflection, her eyes fluttered open in shock. Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart pounded in her chest. Her wide eyes stared back at her from the mirror, a mixture of astonishment and disbelief written across her face. Her entire body was a canvas of torment, etched with dark, indelible ink and some of them were made with sharp objects likely to be a Knife. Words and symbols marred her skin, with Lortell Mariette''s name dominating the scrawl, as though she were an object of worship. The letters started around bottom of her neck, dipped across her chest, and trailed down to her left abdomen, creating a grotesque testament to her devotion. But it didn''t end there. Her whole back was andscape of agony, riddled with bruises and cuts, each one a silent scream of pain and obsession. The marks were a testament to a twisted love, a cruel self-sacrifice. She looked down at her body, her eyes catching the chilling inscription just below her navel: "For Lortell only?" The arrow mark with it, seemed to mock her, a reminder that she had branded herself as Lortell Mariette''s possession. Panic surged through her. "Oh, shit," she muttered, her voice trembling. "No wonder she always wore frocks in every family photo, hiding the truth beneathyers of fabric. But what now? At the academy, I''ll have to bathe with others. I''ll be exposed." Yandere X Yandere Meanwhile, in the Swann territory, within a modestmoner''s area, a mother busily tended to her chores. The sounds of sweeping and the clinking of dishes filled the small house until they were interrupted by a young voice. "Mom... Mom, I''m going for a walk. I''ll be back before night," called out her ten-year-old son from the doorway. The mother turned, her face a mix of concern and annoyance. "Okay, but remember, don''t climb the cliff of that mountain like you always do. How many times have I told you it''s dangerous?" she warned, her voice stern. The boy grinned, a mischievous twinkle in his eye as he lied, "Okay, I won''t." With that, he turned and started towards the mountain. "Hehehe... Why shouldn''t I go there? Standing up there gives the best view of the surrounding area. Besides, no one has ever fallen from there, and I''m not a child anymore," he thought defiantly. Reaching the cliff, he paused, taking in the breathtaking view. The vast expanse before him was both awe-inspiring and thrilling. "What a great feeling," he thought, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and a sense of freedom. But the serenity of the moment was abruptly shattered. Push. "Huh?" he gasped as he was suddenly shoved from behind. Tumbling through the air, he twisted to see who had pushed him. His eyes widened in terror as he recognized Esdeath¡ªher pale skin, dark red eyes, and jet-ck hair were unmistakable. She was smiling, her lips curling into a cruel grin as she opened her mouth. "You should have listened to your mother, kid," she said with a chilling chuckle. The boy''s scream was cut short as he plummeted to the ground. His body hit the rocky surface with a sickening thud, bones shattering on impact. Blood pooled beneath him, a stark contrast to the serene beauty of the cliff''s edge. He died instantly, his young life extinguished without mercy. Esdeath watched the scene unfold below her, her expression one of perverse satisfaction. "Huff... It''s been two days since I killed anyone. My whole body was itching. Now I feel good," she sighed in relief. With a final breath of contentment, she turned away from the cliff and began walking back towards her pce, her mood lifted by the dark deed she had justmitted. With that, Esdeath returned to her pce, the sky already darkening into night. She entered the grand dining room, where avish meal awaited her. She ate quickly and silently, her mind preupied with thoughts of theing days. Once finished, she made her way to her bedroom, longing for the sce of sleep. "Finally, this day ends. Tomorrow, I depart for the academy. So much work!" she murmured to herself as she leapt into her bed. Her body, weary from the day''s exertions, sank into the mattress, and within seconds, she fell into a deep slumber. The moonlight poured through the window, casting a silvery glow on her face. The night was tranquil, the pce wrapped in a hushed stillness. But as the clock struck midnight, Esdeath''s finely honed senses tingled. Her eyes fluttered open, and she quickly sat up, her instincts screaming a warning. "Someone''sing!" she thought, her eyes darting around the room. She didn''t need any special abilities to detect a presence; a lifetime of danger had sharpened her senses to a razor''s edge. But then, a wave of overwhelming drowsiness washed over her. Despite being someone who could stay awake for a week if she chose, she found herself struggling to maintain consciousness. "I''m feeling so sleepy... my head is going nk," she mumbled. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier until she could no longer fight it. She copsed back onto her bed, sumbing to sleep. As she drifted off, the sound of footsteps echoed through the silent room, growing louder with each passing second. A figure emerged from the gallery, moving with an eerie grace. It was a girl with silver hair, dark red eyes, and pale white skin¡ªLortell Mariette, the arch-duke''s daughter and a vampire. A wide grin spread across her face as she gazed at Esdeath''s sleeping form. "Is that tattoos?, It is giving her even more enchanted body, " She thought lustfully. Her vampire fangs gleamed in the moonlight as she leaned in closer, her breath cold against Esdeath''s neck. With a predatory hunger, Lortell''s mouth opened wide, and she bit into Esdeath''s neck, sinking her fangs deep into her flesh. As she drank, the sensation was both painful and strangely euphoric, a mix of sharp agony and a dark, twisted pleasure. Esdeath''s body tensed, then rxed as Lortell fed, the vampire''s lips stained crimson with her blood. Lortell savored the moment, feeling Esdeath''s senses flowing into her. The act was intimate, almost sensual, as if the vampire was drawing not just blood but something deeper from her victim,She was having extreme pleasure. As Lortell drank, she could feel Esdeath''s strength, her resilience, and the fierce spirit that defined her. The sensation was intoxicating, sending waves of ecstasy through her body. Her face flushed, and a feverish heat spread through her, exciting her entire being. It was as if Esdeath''s very essence was infusing her with a heady, powerful energy. When Lortell finally pulled away, she licked her lips, savoring thest drops of Esdeath''s blood in a lustrous manner. She watched as Esdeathy motionless, her chest rising and falling in a deep, unnatural sleep. The vampire''s grin widened, a glint of satisfaction and possessive delight in her eyes. "Ahh~, as always, your blood tastes the best," she purred, her voice dripping with lust and obsession. "Do you know why I came here?" she asked, though she knew Esdeath could not reply in her slumber. Her face turned serious, and her red eyes glowed with a dark, red aura. "I came this time to punish you!" she dered, her hand reaching for Esdeath''s neck. "You were going to marry that bastard," she hissed, her voice slicing through the silence of the room like a de. "How dare you forget about our promise? I told you, you don''t have to do anything¡ªjust stay by my side. I''ll do everything for you, to the point where you don''t even have to breathe. You are mine. Mine... mine... mine... mine..." Her voice grew more unhinged with each repetition, the room''s atmosphere growing colder and more oppressive. Lortell lifted Esdeath''s head by gripping her neck, her touch both gentle and threatening. "But I said, don''t you dare even look at someone else!" "But...but...but...", she bit her lips, "How dare you even think of marrying someone else, huh?" she shouted, the force of her rage making the entire room tremble. Under normal circumstances, everyone in the pce would have woken up, but Lortell had already cast a spell, putting everyone in a deep sleep. Suddenly, her expression shifted, a twisted, pleasurable smile spreading across her face. "But don''t worry, this time I''ll forgive you. Since you canceled the marriage, I originally came here to kidnap you and lock you in my room, so we could never be apart. But now, it''s unnecessary!" Her voice softened, taking on a sickly sweet tone as she caressed Esdeath''s cheek. "You see, my darling, you belong to me and no one else. I''ll make sure you understand that, even if it means I have to break you and remake you as my perfect doll." But then, her expression shifted from a smile to one of concern and worry. "What? Do you think I''m angry at you?" she whispered to the sleeping Esdeath. Hugging Esdeath''s head with her hands, she began scratching her hair violently. "No... No. How could I ever be angry at my beloved? This is a misunderstanding... a misunderstanding I have to solve. I have to solve this," she muttered to herself, her voice trembling with desperation. She lifted Esdeath''s head again and leaned in close, pressing her lips to Esdeath''s in a rough, passionate kiss. Her tongue forced its way into Esdeath''s mouth, colliding and rubbing against Esdeath''s tongue. Their breaths mingled, saliva mixing as Lortell sealed Esdeath''s lips with her own. The kiss was intense, a wild blend of possession and longing, as if Lortell was trying to consume Esdeath entirely. The kiss seemed never-ending, filled with a fervent desperation that bordered on madness. Finally, Lortell withdrew her tongue from Esdeath''s mouth, but not before licking her own lips with satisfaction. She ran her fingers over her lips, savoring the lingering taste. "How was that? I know you liked it," she purred. "I would love to make you a vampire too, but how could I do it without your permission? I''ll wait until we be one." Her voice was a twisted mixture of love and obsession as she gentlyid Esdeath''s head back onto the pillow. She brushed a stray lock of hair from Esdeath''s face, her fingers lingering on the soft skin. "I was going to leave, but now because of that kiss, my body is heating up," she whispered in Esdeath''s ear, her breath hot and tantalizing. Lortell lifted one of Esdeath''s hands, intertwining their fingers gently at first. Then, she spread her legs slightly, causing her mini skirt to widen. With a sudden, forceful movement, she guided Esdeath''s fingers between her legs, pushing them inside her. As soon as Esdeath''s fingers touched her most sensitive spot, Lortell moaned loudly, a shuddering gasp escaping her lips. "Mhmnn~ Ahh~, masturbating with my darling''s fingers is the best," she panted, her soft moans escting into rough, fervent cries of pleasure. "Ahhh~ yes, that''s the spot, just there," she yelled in ecstasy, driving Esdeath''s fingers deeper, rubbing them right and left as she neared her climax. Her movements were frenzied, her body arching with each thrust of Esdeath''s fingers. "Nmmhh~, I''ming, Ahh... I''ming," she cried out, her body tightening, muscles clenching as waves of pleasure coursed through her. Her skin glistened with sweat, and her breath came in hot, ragged bursts. Finally, with a primal scream, she reached her climax. The bed and Esdeath''s entire hand were drenched in a dense, hot, transparent liquid. Lortell gave a gentle kiss on Esdeath''s forehead, her lips lingering for a moment. "I''m really sorry, but tomorrow morning, my team and I have to go on a monster extermination mission. It will take at least three months. But don''t worry, I''ll try my best toe back as soon as possible. I''ll also quit the academy and not enroll in the third year. And then... Hahaha, it will be our marriage, the start of our happy family," she whispered, her voice filled with both longing and determination. Everyone knew that Esdeath''s marriage had been canceled, but the news hadn''t spread that she was also awakened. Lortell was making ns to quit the academy to spend more time with Esdeath, her obsession and love driving her decisions. Lortell slowly sat up, her legs trembling from the intensity of her orgasm. Her eyes were wide, mouth agape with pure lust, saliva dripping as she longed for more. But it was alreadyte, and she knew she had to leave. Tomorrow, she had to depart early, and there was no time to waste. With a final, lingering nce at Esdeath, she whispered, "Until next time, my love." Then, she jumped out of the gallery and disappeared into the night, returning to her pce, her mind filled with thoughts of their next encounter. This was the truth of Lortell Mariette. Just like Esdeath, she too was a yandere. Originally, in the game, when Esdeath''s marriage was settled, esdeath had taken poison in despair. Nyx Crimson, unable to afford a high-rank healer, hired a low-rank one who couldn''t fully heal Esdeath. The healer had said she could wake up anytime or never. In the game, Esdeath had died within a few hours, leaving everyone in sorrow. But when the news of Esdeath''s death reached Lortell Mariette, she flew into a rage. Unable to contain herself, she went insane. Without anyone''s permission, she took her soldiers and ughtered everyone in Swann. She also med Sancturiam, believing that if Sancturiam had never existed, her marriage would never have been arranged there. With this twisted psychology, she killed everyone in both Swann and Sancturiam in one night. But what was the point of it all? Esdeath was dead, the person who meant everything to her, the meaning of her life, was gone. Lortell wanted to die. She took poison, shed her head with a sword, and tortured herself every day. But the main weakness of being a vampire was that she couldn''t kill herself. Suicide was impossible, and no one was strong enough to kill her. That''s why she startedmitting every evil deed in the empire, hoping to turn the entire empire against her. Finally, she was killed by the main character, finding peace atst. But that was the game''s story. This time, because of fable''s soul entering her body, Esdeath woke up, alive and well. That was why Lortell never attacked Swann in the first ce, confusing Esdeath as to why she hadn''t been attacked, even though she had done nothing at all.@@novelbin@@ How could she have known that the only thing she had to do was stay alive? That she had already done. ----------------------------------------------------------- So now''s the time I should ask this question...should I continue this series? If yes, I''ll have to do alot of works, and I''m not even a slightest bit annoyed by that. Well many suggested me some yandere animes and i watched Engage kiss and Happy sugar life but still I think they aren''t crazy enough, kind of like tamed yandere. I kinda wanted someone more crazy women like in the manga, "Do you think you could run after reincarnating, Nii-san? ". I''m going to watch future diary then, if you have watched some crazy yandere anime and manga then tell me. First Appearance In this world, countless academies train the awakened, and the Anastasia kingdom boasts numerous branches. Among them, Esdeath was headed to the most prestigious one, the main branch of the Awakened Academy, the same institution attended by the game''s main character. The academy was strategically situated at the kingdom''s edge, adjacent to a vast forest teeming with monsters and demons. This proximity served a dual purpose: it provided students with abundant opportunities for practicalbat training and missions, and it also allowed them to respond swiftly to the frequent monster waves that emerged from the forest, thereby protecting nearby viges and reducing casualties among ordinary people. The journey took two days, and finally, Esdeath and us arrived at the Hero Academy. Its towering spires, adorned with intricate carvings, greeted them. The academy''s architecture was a majestic blend of Gothic and whimsical elements, creating a harmonious dance with the enchanted forest surrounding it. Massive oak doors swung open to reveal vast halls, arenas for duels, practice fights, and training. Sunlight streamed through stained ss windows, casting colorful patterns across marble floors polished to a mirror-like sheen. The beauty and grandeur of the ce were awe-inspiring, making Esdeath momentarily forget her irritation with the skirt she wore. Second-year students were already bustling about, training, studying, and chatting, giving the ce a vibrant, high school atmosphere. Their faces reflected a mix of determination, camaraderie, and youthful energy. Very few third-year students were visible; they were mostly out on monster extermination missions, applying the skills they had honed over their years at the academy. The academy grounds buzzed with excitement as numerous first-year students arrived, each one brimming with smiles and determination. They were like newborns, eager to explore a new world. Esdeath couldn''t help but smirk at the sight. "Just look at their faces," she muttered to herself. "I bet every single one of them is gonna piss their pants when they encounter real monsters!" Her thoughts turned darker as she recalled the harsh realities of being an awakened. Many of these students probably fantasized about single-handedly defeating dozens of monsters and bing heroes. They would soon learn that the reality was much grimmer. Only C-rank or higher adventurers could hope to defeat dozens or hundreds of monsters alone. For beginners, it was quite the opposite. Dozens of awakened students would unite to barely defeat a single D-rank monster. B-rank monsters were an entirely different nightmare. Scores of awakened would die fighting them, and their horrifying appearances were enough to make most humans wet their pants on sight. Pushing these thoughts aside, Esdeath watched as us emerged from the carriage. Without a nce at Esdeath, us marched directly into the academy, heading towards the grounds where the first-year students were gathering. Esdeath followed suit, remembering the academy''syout perfectly from the game. Few weeks before the admission,An written exam already happens that determined their initial ss rankings¡ªA, B, or C. Lower-ranked students could, of course, work hard and improve their ranks, but the initial cement was crucial, Since it give the advantages. She moved with purpose towards a wall where arge poster listed all the ranks. Thanks to her thorough knowledge of the academy''s map, she had no trouble finding it. The poster was prominently disyed, surrounded by nervous and excited first-years. Esdeath scanned it quickly, her eyes sharp and calcting. The atmosphere around Esdeath crackled with a mixture of fear, excitement, and anticipation. Some students whispered among themselves, trying to gauge theirpetition, while others stood alone, lost in their thoughts. But something eye-catching caught her attention. In front of the poster stood a teenage boy surrounded by a few friends. He had golden hair, transparent light green eyes, white skin, and a sharp jawline, giving him a slightly handsome look. His facial features, however, were contorted in anger. "What the hell... Ethan Rothyer? Are you telling me amoner is gonna join ss A?" he yelled, his voice filled with fury as he punched the wall, causing it to crack. "Yeah, you''re right, boss. How could a filthymoner dare to enter ss A, the ss that usually only high-ss nobles like you or other nobility can enter?" one of his friends echoed. As Esdeath observed the blond boy, she immediately recognized who he was. "Corin Reynold, the duke''s only son and the arrogant one," she muttered under her breath with a grin. "Ethan, the MC, is a regressor, so of course, he''s gonna top the exams. And so, Ethan also had No. 1 marks in the written exam, and ording to the rules, he''s gonna be ced in ss A. But Corin didn''t like it. He always hates Ethan and tries to humiliate or defeat him, but every time he does, he ends up being the one who gets defeated," Esdeath thought, calcting everything. "And because of this, his anger increases and increases to the point it consumes his brain andter on he bes the first arc boss of the game!" she thought, piecing the events together. A wide, menacing grin spread across her face as she saw Corin''s anger. "Yes! That''s it, be more angry, so you can be the First Act boss!" she thought to herself in a chilling voice. But then she shook her head, reminding herself, "I guess there''s time for this to happen. The academy just started. First, there will be the semi-First Act, and then the main First Act will start," she thought, putting aside any thoughts of interacting with Corin for now.@@novelbin@@ "Let''s go. I''ll talk to the teachers. I will never allow amoner to be in ss A," Corin said with anger, and his friends nodded in agreement, heading toward a different area. Esdeath approached the poster and scanned for her rank. "ss B - Rank 39? Not bad... Not bad..." she muttered, feeling a mix of satisfaction. ... Meanwhile, a teenage boy with dark blue hair and piercing blue eyes, his extremely handsome face drawing attention wherever he went, walked through the academy grounds. He wore a shirt with a coat over it, along with a tie and pants, following the strict academy dress code. This was Ethan Rothyer, the undisputed main character of the game, Free Life Fantasy. Beside him was a girl with brown hair and light brown eyes, her smooth white skin glowing in the sunlight. She had an enchanting body and a seductive appearance, catching the eye of many. She was Violet Vondarion, a baroness and Ethan''s childhood friend. In his previous life, it was because of Violet that Ethan could enter the academy and afford the fees. Tragically, she had died, and he couldn''t do anything to save her. But now, in this life, he had trained hard since childhood and vowed to protect her at any cost. A smile appeared on Violet''s face as she spoke, "See, here''s the ranking poster! Let''s check our rankings!" She grabbed Ethan''s hand, pulling him eagerly toward the poster. Upon reaching the poster, Violet scanned it quickly and found her results. "Wow, I got rank 4 in the whole academy! I''m going to be in ss A! Yay!" she eximed with enthusiasm. "But where''s yours?" she asked, looking down the list but not finding his name. Suddenly, her eyesnded on the top of the chart. "Ethan Rothyer? Number 1 ranking?" Her eyes widened, and she gasped in shock. A big, charming smile appeared on her face, and she jumped on Ethan, hugging him tightly. "Wow, you''re first! You really are a genius!" she eximed, her body pressing fully against his. Ethan felt Violet''s soft round breats against his, and the sensation made him blush with embarrassment. "She''s so careless," he thought as his face turned red, but deep down, he was happy and proud of his achievement and the joy it brought to Violet. Ethan wore a cheerful expression on his face, but internally, he was gued with confusion. "Lortell Mariette... In my previous life, that girl destroyed both the Swann and Sancturiam territories. But it''s been days, and I haven''t heard a word about any of it. Why? Is this some kind of butterfly effect? Did my regression cause some events to change?" he pondered, a deep frown forming on his forehead as worry and puzzlement gnawed at him. He shook his head, trying to push away the uneasy thoughts. "No, it''s actually a good thing," he reassured himself, feeling a momentary wave of relief. But just as quickly as it came, his relief vanished. His eyes widened as he noticed a girl standing a few meters away, staring directly at him without a hint of shame, as if she wanted him to see her. The girl had long, jet-ck hair and dark red eyes that seemed to glow, with multiple rings in her pupils, reminiscent of Makima''s eyes from Chainsaw Man. Her skin was extremely pale, almost ghostly, and her delicate, fragile-looking body gave her a vampiric appearance. Dark circles around her eyes contrasted starkly with her fair skin, adding to her ethereal yet menacing aura, as if she were enveloped in a shroud of darkness, Who else if not esdeath crimson. Seeing her, Ethan''s confusion deepened. "ck hair? Red eyes? I''ve never seen anyone like her in my past life," he thought, his mind racing. He felt an overwhelming mix of fear and curiosity, as if the ground beneath him had shifted. Calling Great Dragon Queen A Lolicon Her voice, now far more chilling and frightening than Kaelith''s, cut through the air like a knife. It was as if a ghost had spoken. "Don''t Fuck with me, you lizard bitch!" Kaelith''s smirk faltered for a brief second, her confidence shaken by the sudden and unexpected transformation in Esdeath. The deathly aura surrounding Esdeath seemed to pulse with pure rage, making the air around them feel heavy and oppressive. It was pure killing intent. But how could Kaelith be scared by something like this? She was astonished for a second, but the next moment she regained her demeanor and her anger surged. Her eyes widened with fury, her lips curling into an ugly snarl as she raised her hand. "You bitch! I''ll kill you!" she screamed, her voice filled with venom. She was about to strike, a blow that seemed poised to behead Esdeath. But even Esdeath knew that Kaelith, or anyone else, couldn''t kill in the academy. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for at least a few broken bones. The healers would fix her anyway. But before Kaelith could hit, a miracle happened. A miracle in the form of an announcement. "All first-year students, gather at the academy hall! I repeat, all first-year students, gather at the academy hall, at once." The voice was that of an older, muscr person, deep and filled with authority. Hearing this, Kaelith stopped and bit her lip, frustration evident on her face. "Tch... This time, I''ll let you go, but I won''t forget how you humiliated me. I can''t kill you now because of academy rules, but sooner orter, I''ll be the one to end you!" She snorted and threatened Esdeath as she stormed away. Esdeath opened her eyes, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away. She sighed in relief,"I think I should control myself a little." She thought in frustrating,If something like that happens again, It will cause much more damage to her. She felt a mix of relief and boredom as she thought, "Academy rules, huh?.. Now that I think about it, my best ally in this world is ''rules.'' As long as someone is bound by rules, they can''t kill me. Whether it''s Kaelith or anyone else,An if I met someone stronger than me and also doesn''t care about breaking rules, Then I''m done for!" She smirked and started walking towards the halls. But what about Esdeath? Is she going to follow the rules and regtions of the world too? Of course, the answer is an obvious no. She has no intention of following the rules. But why? Even our main character Ethan follows the rules. The main reason is "freedom." Rules and regtions bind you, preventing you from doing what you truly want. They seize your utmost freedom. This applies to rtionships and trust as well. People will use your trust as a friend to make you do things, or they''ll leverage your family or girlfriend against you. And where''s the fun in that? "If the heart wills, give your life If the heart wills, take a life That is the power of the almighty." This was Esdeath''s slogan in her previous life. Although she didn''t follow the first line, she really liked the second line: "If the heart wills, take a life." To be an almighty, you don''t need to be the strongest person alive. The real almighty is the one who has rules and regtions at his feet. Esdeath believed that true power came from freedom, from being unbound by any rules. The idea of being controlled by regtions was suffocating to her. She wanted to live her life on her terms, without anyone dictating her actions. This philosophy was what made her dangerous and unpredictable. .... Within few minutes every gathered in vast hall, Although esdeath already knew what is going to happen but she still chose to go. There were hundreds of student,Most of them weremoners, Thus in front raw only noble standed at front that''s why esdeath also got first ce in her raw. There were big stairs that leads to upper floor and from there above, Few third year student and one middle- aged male teacher with dark skin, Muscr body and beard stood with them with his fierce appearance. Although he was a rank C teacher, everyone''s attention was on Esdeath. All the students were giving her weird looks and whispering among themselves. "Damn... Look at that ck hair. Are witches allowed in the academy?" one of the girls whispered to her friends. "I know, right? Apparently, they say she is a human, but who knows? What if she bes a monster at night? I''m already scared," another girl added. "Her eyes are so eerie too. I''m going to have nightmares tonight!" someone else whispered. Many simrments floated around the room, loud enough for Esdeath to hear, but she didn''t care. The most irritating thing she faced was Kaelith''s stare. Kaelith had been ring angrily at her from the moment she saw Esdeath in the hall, like she was going to devour her at any moment. "Cough... Cough... I''m Caelum Nyvaris, an experienced teacher and a ss C awakened. First of all, I''m really sorry about this. Due to frequent monster waves, all of the Rank B and Rank A teachers and the principal are busy. But don''t worry, Vice Principal Lilith Maranthia will be here in a few minutes to wee all of you," he said, pausing for a second before continuing, "So further exnations will be given by the Vice Student Council Chairwoman, third-year student, Liora Lysandria." He pointed towards the middle girl standing between two other third-year students. Lysandria stepped forward and slowly started to speak. Her voice was low, but everyone could hear her clearly since she was using some wind magic. "Ahem... Ahem... As you already know, I''m Liora Lysandria," she said and paused for a second. Her face showed that she was very nervous, like it was her first time giving a speech. "Actually, giving speeches to first-year students is not my usual job, hahaha..." she confessed, trying to ease the tension. "It was supposed to be our sure hit queen Lortell Mariette, the greatest prodigy, who is the second ''S'' rank in the academy rivaling the principal, and also the only one in the world who became an ''S'' Rank awakened despite still being a student." She started listing Lortell''s achievements one after another, and with so many aplishments, how could anyone not praise her? Hearing all of this, Esdeath couldn''t help but think, "''Sure hit queen.'' This title was given to her because she never missed a single attack. The only thing you can do is block or run. It was not some special skill given by a constetion or anything like that. The reason was because she is a ''boss character,'' and being the mid-boss, this was the fighting style given to her to make her very difficult to beat." "Ahem..." Lysandria coughed and finally got to the point. "So, first of all, now all of you are awakened individuals, and for now, you all are Rank E awakened. The ranks will be divided into E, then D, then C, B, A, and finally, there are very, very rare individuals who showcase their strength and wisdom and be an ''S'' Rank. They are so rare that, even in the whole kingdom, there are only two ''S'' Ranks. They have enough power to go against an entire kingdom alone!" Her words were both chilling and motivating to the students, inspiring them to aim for the ''S'' rank. "I hope that in the future, I will see ''S'' ranks from among you." Her words were bothforting and igniting a fire in everyone. "I''m not done yet. All of you are ced into ss A, B, and C, but that doesn''t mean you''ll always be there. What I''m trying to say is that in our academy, we don''t discriminate betweenmoners, nobles, or royals. There is going to be so muchpetition that if you work hard, you can enter ss A." She said. As Esdeath heard this, she could barely hold back herugh. "''They don''t discriminate?'' That''s the biggest lie I''ve ever heard," she thought. Everyone knew it was just talk, but no one actually followed it. The academy wasn''t entirely at fault;moners were afraid to tell the teachers because they worried about their families. And discrimination still happened. As Esdeath was lost in her thoughts, the Rank C teacher Caelum suddenly spoke up. "Finally, the moment you''ve all been waiting for! The Vice Principal Lilith Maranthia has arrived!" He announced, turning back to face the entrance. From the shadows, a figure emerged. As soon as the students saw her, their faces twisted in confusion. Rumors had painted a picture of Lilith Maranthia as an imposing figure¡ªover six feet tall, muscr, wielding a long sword, and possessing a fierce, spirited face. But the reality was shockingly different. What stood before them was a small girl, no older than twelve or thirteen, with silver hair and dragon-shaped silver pupils. In her hand was a lollipop that she was casually licking. "A kid?" one of the students eximed in puzzlement. He had no idea what he had just triggered. With her sharp senses, Lilith heard his remark. Her expression turned grim and angry, and suddenly, an immense and ominous pressure descended upon the students. "Cough... What is happening? I can''t breathe!" another student yelled. Almost all the students fell to their knees. The weaker ones even copsedpletely, unable to bear the weight of the pressure. However, a few students remained standing, Esdeath among them. "If anyone dares call me a kid again, even in their minds, there will be no second chance!" Lilith dered with a cold, heartless voice that sent chills down everyone''s spine. But as she said this, her eyes were fixed on the students who were still standing. Bing angry over being called a kid was just an excuse. She hadn''t released her full aura, only a fraction of her killing intent to test the students'' spirits and willpower. "Killing isn''t about physical strength or mana," she thought. "Ites directly from your spirit, your will. It doesn''t matter how strong you are physically. If youck guts and a strong spirit, what''s the use? By doing this, I can identify those with high spirits." The teachers and third-year students knew this, which is why they remained silent. Her gaze swept over the crowd,nding first on Ethan. His face was fierce, his chest broad, standing like an unbreakable pir of resolve. "Hmm... blue hair, deep ocean-like eyes, and a handsome face. Ethan Rothyer. I heard he''s amoner, but he''s attending ss A. No doubt he''s worthy of it," she thought, moving her gaze to the next group of students.@@novelbin@@ There were three or four others still standing. "Violet Vondarian, a baron; Corin Reynold, the duke''s son; us ndestine,Sylvania, Amion..." she noted. These students were still standing, although their legs and bodies were shaking. "Not bad... not bad," she mused, continuing her evaluation. [Note :- i didn''t give everyone''s name, Who were still standing, Since I have to introduce themter, What''s the point of introducing all of them in a single chapter right? ] She didn''t bother to look at her own daughter, Kaelith. It was obvious Kaelith would be standing without any difficulties. Anyone would know that this minor disy wouldn''t faze her. Finally, Lilith''s eyesnded on a girl with ck hair and red eyes. She stood there without a hint of fear. Unlike the others who showed determination or fierce motivation, her expression was one of sheer boredom, as if this whole situation was a waste of her time. Who else if not Esdeath? Lilith''s expression perplexed. "Esdeath Crimson. So this is the girl Lortell always talks about? Her mana is very low but she has great spirit and willpower. Is it because she''s Lortell''s woman?" Lilith pondered, her eyes drifting to Esdeath''s long, jet-ck hair. "ck hair, huh? It reminds me of that day when we fought against the Demon King," she sighed, a wave of nostalgia washing over her. At that moment, Esdeath raised her head and locked eyes with Lilith. Both of them stared at each other, an unspoken tension crackling in the air. "Saying they shouldn''t call you a kid when you look like one, licking a lollipop. What do you expect? Freaking lolicon!" Esdeath thought, a smirk forming in her mind as shebeled Lilith a lolicon. Suddenly, Lilith''s eyes widened, her face turned grim, and her lips twisted in anger. Out of nowhere, a voice rang inside Esdeath''s head. [Did you just call me a lolicon?] Essence Of Immortality Long ago, before humans and barbarians roamed the earth, before apes evolved into men and chimpanzees became wild beasts, there was the Age of Dinosaurs. Back then, the world had no concept of magic. It was a time when only the strongest survived, and every day was a struggle for life. The world was untamed and wild, with massive creatures roaming thend. There was no sign of the incredible powers that would one day shape the world. But one fateful day, everything changed. Out of nowhere, the world''s energy began to surge. It was as if the very essence of the had awakened. Golden rays of light started to emerge from every corner of the World, gathering at a single point. This light was so bright and powerful that even the tallest mountains seemed insignificant next to it. The energy swirled together like a massive tornado, glowing brighter and brighter. It was a sight to behold, a force of nature unlike anything that had ever existed. The light grew more intense, and the energy began to condense, pulling itself inward with unimaginable force. For years, this continued until, finally, the light vanished. What remained was something extraordinary¡ªan object, or perhaps a metal, that defied description. It had no clear shape, yet it was solid and powerful, glowing with an otherworldly light. This was the first Essence Stone, known as the "Essence of Immortality." It was said that whoever possessed this stone would be a true god, with powers beyond imagination, Bing the perfect being. But there was a problem. The world could not tolerate something so absolute. This Essence Stone was too powerful, too perfect. It began to vibrate, the energy within it growing unstable. The light intensified until it was blinding, and then, with a deafening roar, the stone exploded. The explosion was catastrophic. The st covered the entire in dense clouds, and the shockwave was so powerful that almost every living creature weighing more than thirty kilos died instantly. It was a time of unimaginable tragedy, with over 80% of the world''s life wiped out in an instant. Entire species were erased from existence, and the world was thrown into chaos. Yet, life is resilient. It clung to existence through one disaster after another, refusing to vanishpletely. Slowly, the earth began to heal. The forests regrew, the rivers flowed once more, and life returned. But the world was different now. The dinosaurs and other gigantic creatures were gone, extinct from the explosion''s devastation. In their ce, new species emerged¡ªmonkeys, apes, and chimpanzees among them.@@novelbin@@ But that wasn''t all. The energy from the explosion had seeped into the world, altering the very fabric of life. Some creatures were gically transformed by nature itself, bing "Awakened." These beings were stronger and had strange new abilities. They didn''t understand it yet, but they had the power to wield magic, to bend the world to their will. Thousands of years passed. The apes evolved into humans, and chimpanzees became barbarians. Eagles transformed into mighty phoenixes and griffins, while the remnants of flying dinosaurs evolved into the fearsome dragon species. Even among humans, some were altered, bing elves, beastmen, dwarves, and other fantastical races. And so, the world as we know it was born, shaped by the incredible events of that distant past, where a single Essence Stone set the course of history. The world had changed forever, and the echoes of that explosion still lingered, influencing the fate of every living creature. But wait a minute... Are you wondering about the Essence Stone of Immortality? Well, after that massive explosion, the stone shattered into countless pieces and was absorbed by the world itself. Its power didn''t disappear; instead, it spread across the earth, creating many different types of essence stones. These stones can appear in any shape, at any time, and in any ce. Essence stones are mysterious objects. They can be found in monsters, demons, deep underground, in dense forests, or hidden within ancient treasures and relics. Sometimes, an essence stone might even be a part of you¡ªyour soul or your body could be the key. The stonese in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and their powers vary greatly. For example, the "Essence of Feathered Wings" can give you beautiful, feathered wings that allow you to soar through the sky, no matter what species you are. On the other hand, the "Essence of Featherless Wings" might not grant you the ability to fly, but it could let you float and reduce the impact of falling. These are just a few examples¡ªthere are essence stones that can increase your strength, boost your stamina, speed, allow you to breathe fire, or even make your skin as hard as steel. However, finding an essence stone isn''t easy.They''re incredibly rare and have no specific location. You might defeat a powerful monster and find nothing, or you could be lucky and stumble upon one buried in the earth. The stones are graded from Rank E to Rank A, with higher-ranked stones offering more potent abilities. But here''s the catch: ordinary people can''t use essence stones. Why? Because you need to be an awakened person to harness their power. To use an essence stone, you must pour your mana into it, refining the stone until your body can absorb its abilities. This process is far from simple. You need strong willpower and endurance to seed. If you pour too much mana into the stone, it will break, causing serious damage to your soul. On the other hand, if you pour too little mana and think you can continueter, the stone will start absorbing your mana into thin air, forcing you to start over. Fortunately, you can take short breaks if needed, but it''s still a delicate process. There are some essence stones that don''t require refining, but these are even rarer and harder to find. This is where your ESR talentes in. The Essence Stone Refinement (ESR) test measures two key factors: your maximum mana output and your recovery rate. While you might think you can just pour out all your mana in a fight, it''s not that simple. Your body needs a certain amount of mana to stay alive, so we''ll check how much mana you can release in one go. The second factor is your recovery rate¡ªhow quickly your body can replenish its mana after using it. Lilith exined the criteria for the ESR talent ranks clearly. "Those who achieve 20 to 40% in both output and recovery rate will have their ESR Talent ranked as Grade D. A range of 40 to 60% will earn you a Grade C, 60 to 75% will ce you in Grade B, and those who reach between 75 and 95% will be ranked as Grade A. And remember, anyone who receives a Grade A talent will be immediately promoted to ss A." She paused and scanned the room. "Any questions?" she asked, her tone sharp and authoritative. But the room was silent. It wasn''t that the students were uninterested; they were simply overwhelmed. The information she shared was so intense and new, it felt like they had just stepped into apletely different world. Their faces were a mix of awe and contemtion, clearly indicating that any questions they had were already answered by her thorough exnation. As the initial shock wore off, the room gradually filled with murmurs and whispers. "Wow... I hope I can be a Grade A talent," one student muttered, his voice tinged with hope. Another student, hands sped together, whispered a fervent prayer, "Please, Goddess Seraphine, let me be a Grade A talent... please, please..." It was clear that almost everyone shared this dream of achieving the highest rank. Lilith, observing their reactions, finally allowed herself a deep breath and sighed. She then pped her hands,manding their attention once more. "With that, today''s session will end. There will be no lectures for the rest of the day. I know many of you are exhausted after your long journey. The test will be tomorrow, so use this time to rest and prepare." She continued, "ss C students, you will be staying outside of the academy, in the academy''s hotel area. You can rent a room there for the night. ss B students, please gather at the academy grounds. In a few minutes, a teacher will inform you of your dorm room assignments. Each dorm room will house two students. And as for ss A students, your private rooms have already been prepared. You can head there directly and settle infortably." Her instructions were clear, leaving no room for further discussion. With a final nod, she turned and vanished, as if fading into thin air. The students collectively sighed, feeling a wave of relief wash over them after the long and overwhelming day. One by one, they began to leave the academy hall, their minds still buzzing with the possibilities that tomorrow''s test could bring. As Esdeath made her way out, she couldn''t help but think to herself, "She didn''t tell the whole story... only half of it, but I guess that''s fine." Age Of Chaos Someone was having a dream, A Dream Of Battlefield. The battlefield was a scene of utter horror¡ªa blood-soaked wastnd where countless corpses of soldiersy scattered. The ground was littered with bodies, some beaten to death, others stabbed, and a few horrifically half-eaten by unknown forces. The once-greennd was now a deep crimson, the soil soaked through with the blood of the fallen. Among the few knights still standing, there was a man in his forties. He had blue hair that was matted with dirt and sweat, and his deep, soft blue eyes¡ªonce warm like aforting oven¡ªwere now filled with fear and despair. A slightly unkempt beard framed his handsome face, but his expression was one ofplete shock and disbelief. He stood frozen, gripping his broadsword with trembling hands. His mouth hung open in a silent scream, unable to process the carnage around him. Slowly, he turned his head, his eyesnding on the lifeless bodies of hisrades. Blood poured from their wounds, their eyes wide open in death, and their faces twisted in agony. One of them was a young girl, her body half-devoured by something monstrous. It was a sight that would haunt him forever. Tears welled up in his eyes, spilling down his cheeks as he whispered their names, "Cassandra... Michael... Sachet... all of you..." His voice broke with each name, sobs shaking his body. The grip on his broadsword weakened, and the heavy de leaned against the blood-soaked ground. In that moment, it was clear¡ªhe had given up. His will was shattered, his spirit crushed. He was ready to fall to his knees, to surrender to the overwhelming despair that consumed him. But before he could copse, a voice cut through the silence. "Captain! You can''t give up yet! Not after ourpanions gave their lives. We''re not just fighting for a kingdom anymore¡ªwe''re fighting for humanity! We have to win, for all of humanity!" The voice belonged to a young soldier, his words filled with determination and hope. The captain blinked, recognizing the voice. Something in him stirred, a flicker of the man he used to be. He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to take a deep breath. "Yes..." he whispered, his voice growing stronger. He lifted his sword once more, gripping it tightly. "I can''t lose... not after all of this..." He turned, his eyes narrowing as they focused on the figure responsible for this nightmare. His heart hammered in his chest, but it wasn''t from fear¡ªit was a surge of renewed determination. "I won''t let their sacrifices be in vain. For them¡­ for humanity¡­ I will fight," he vowed, his voice strong and unwavering. Before him stretched an army of nightmares, a horde of monsters and demons unlike anything from the stories of old. These weren''t the typical creatures of fantasy¡ªthey were living horrors, each one a twisted abomination. Their faces and bodies were grotesque, their forms so hideous that they seemed to have crawled out from the deepest pits of a nightmare. One of the creatures had the body of a giraffe, but its head was a grotesque parody of a human face, with six eyes andrge, sharp fangs. The head was twisted upside down, adding to the monstrosity''s terrifying appearance. Another demon had a bloated, green body, withrge, putrid bubbles oozing from its flesh. The stench of rotting flesh clung to it, turning the air sour. It was a sight so repulsive that it was hard to believe it was real. But this was no dream. These were "Anomaly ss Monsters," special-ss demons born from the worst nightmares. At the forefront of this unholy army floated their leader¡ªa demon lord like no other. He had the face of an octopus, with slimy, jelly-like flesh that seemed to shimmer with a sickening sheen. From his mouth, countlessrvae wriggled out, falling to the ground in a disturbing, endless stream. He was a creature straight out of a Lovecraftian Cthulhu novel, a vision so horrific it felt like reality itself was bending around him.@@novelbin@@ The middle-aged man saw all of this and felt a deep revulsion, but he was not afraid. He raised his sword, pointing it directly at the demon lord. "Demon Lord of Anomaly! I will end you no matter what, and I will put an end to this ''Age of Chaos''!" he shouted, his voice ringing out across the battlefield. The demon lord responded with a chillingugh, a sound that rumbled deep and unnatural, as if it came from the bowels of some dark abyss. "Hehehe... Just try, human. You''ll end just like everyone else!" The demon''s voice was low and guttural, something no human throat could ever produce. With those words, the battle began. The waves of monstrous creatures surged forward, shing with the remaining human forces. The middle-aged man charged forward, meeting the demon lord head-on. The force of their collision sent shockwaves through the air, as sword met monstrous flesh in a deadly dance. The fight raged on, fierce and unrelenting. Morning turned into night, and night into morning again. For three days and three nights, the battle continued without rest. The man''s body ached, his muscles screamed with exhaustion, but his resolve never wavered. He pushed on, driven by the memory of his fallenrades and the fate of humanity hanging in the bnce. Finally, on the fourth day, the impossible happened. With one final, desperate strike, the middle-aged man drove his sword through the demon lord''s grotesque body. A scream of rage and agony tore through the battlefield as the demon lord fell, his monstrous form dissolving into nothingness. The battlefield fell silent, the only sound remaining was the fading echo of the demon lord''s death cry. The man stood there, drenched in blood and sweat, his chest heaving with ragged breaths. He had done it¡ªhe had in the demon lord. Humanity had won. "Captain, Captain, we won¡ª" came the familiar voice of the young soldier, filled with joy and relief. But before he could finish, something terrible happened. His words were cut short in a way that sent a chill down the captain''s spine. The middle-aged man, still catching his breath, turned to see what had interrupted the young soldier. His eyes widened in horror at the sight that greeted him. A monstrous bird-like creature had swooped down, tearing the young soldier''s head clean off his shoulders. Blood sprayed in the air as the creature flew off, the soldier''s lifeless body crumpling to the ground. "W-what just happened?" the man stammered, his voice shaky with disbelief. He had defeated the demon lord, wiped out the monsters¡ªhow could there still be one left? Where did ite from? Before he could process what had just urred, the world around him seemed to blur. Bright lights began shing before his eyes, forcing him to squeeze them shut. When he opened them again, he was met with a sight that made his blood run cold. In front of him floated several other figures. Their forms were indistinct, as if shrouded in shadow. He couldn''t make out their shapes clearly¡ªneither their faces nor their genders could be discerned. They hovered in the air, just like the demon lord had, with the sun shining behind them, casting long, eerie shadows that made them seem almost divine, yet terrifying. One of them spoke, its voice cold and mechanical, like the lifeless tone of a robot. "The Age of Chaos has ended, Ethan Rothyer. Humanity has lost. With this, the constetion has fallen too. Hahaha..." The man¡ªEthan¡ªfelt the ground give way beneath him as he dropped to his knees. His sword slipped from his grasp, ttering uselessly to the ground. "No¡­ this can''t be," he whispered, his voice trembling with despair. "There are others like him¡­ even stronger than him. Humanity can''t lose¡­" But the truth weighed down on him like a crushing force. The demon lord was only the beginning. If there were others¡ªthese beings who seemed even more powerful¡ªwhat hope did humanity have left? The victory he had fought so hard for now felt like a cruel joke, a fleeting moment of triumph before the true horror began. Just as he was about to sink into despair, the nightmare abruptly ended. In arge, luxurious room, adorned with shimmering gems and beautiful paintings. The room was part of avish suite meant for ss A students,plete with a shower room, dining hall, bedroom, study room, and more. It was a space designed for the elite. In that room, a boy with blue hair had been asleep in a chair only moments before. Suddenly, his eyes flew open in a panic. "Humanity can''t lose!" he shouted as he leaped from the chair, his heart racing. But then, he realized where he was. It had all been a dream¡ªa haunting memory from his past, before his regression. "Huff... Huff... It was just a dream," he breathed out, trying to calm himself, sweat trickling down the side of his forehead. He stood still for a moment, letting the reality of the present sink in. Slowly, he regained hisposure, his breathing steadied, and his clenched fists rxed. "In my previous life, by this time I was just a ss C student¡­ a loser," he reflected. "But in this life, because I''ve worked hard since childhood, I''m already in ss A!" He couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride, mixed with a deep resolve. He took a moment to look around the room, taking in the luxurious surroundings that were now his. Then, with renewed determination, he stepped out of his room and into the gallery. From there, he could see the surrounding area, a vast and beautiful view that stretched out before him. His face hardened with resolve, and his ocean-like eyes glowed with a fierce determination. "This time, I won''t let the Age of Chaose. This time, I''ll win. I''ll protect all of humanity!" he vowed, his voice steady and strong. It was a promise to himself and to the world¡ªthis time, he would not fail. Bath As esdeath went inside the hot spring room, Before her , a tableau unfolded, a mosaic of femininity and grace as the other bathers lounged in the warm waters, theirughter and conversation filling the air with a soothing melody. The bathhouse itself was a marvel of architecture but not too luxury, Just fine type. Adorned with intricate carvings and embellishments that spoke of a rich cultural heritage. A vast chamber filled with steaming hot spring water. The air was thick with the scent of fragrant herbs and flowers, adding to the ambiance of rxation. The water itself was crystal clear, reflecting the soft glow ofnterns suspended from the ceiling. Around the edges of the bath, stone benches and intricately carved pirs provided ces for the bathers to sit and rx. Luxurious towels and robes were neatly folded nearby, inviting the guests to pamper themselves after their soak. As for the bathers themselves, the scene was a vibrant tapestry of diversity. There were Nobles andmoners alike mingled freely, Manymoners were delighted to have ess to such arge and beautiful hot spring, their faces glowing with happiness. On the other side, some nobles were clearly upset at having to share the space withmoners, their displeasure evident in their stiff postures and tight-lipped expressions. Yet, even among the nobles, there were a few who seemed to be getting along just fine with themoners, their conversations light and easy. But as soon as Esdeath entered, the entire room fell silent. Theughter and chatter came to an abrupt halt, and all eyes turned to her. For a moment, it was as if time had stopped The reason for the sudden silence wasn''t just Esdeath''s presence¡ªit was her appearance. She had stormed into the bath without a towel or robe,Completely naked. Like she owned the ce, her confidence making it seem as though she''d forgotten the concept of modesty altogether. The roomful of women couldn''t help but stare, their eyes wide as they took in the sight before them. Esdeath''s ck hair already made her stand out, giving her a slightly ominous aura, but it was the tattoos that really caught everyone''s attention. Her entire back was covered with an intricate design of twin dragons, their heads resting near her neck and their tails curling around to her sides and down to her belly. The tattoos gave her an undeniably badass look, a statement of strength and defiance that seemed to scream, Don''t mess with me. But there was something else that made the girl''s jaws drop even further. Just below her abdomen, right above that intimate area, was another tattoo. Originally, Esdeath had the words "For Lortell only" inked there,plete with an arrow pointing suggestively downward. To cover it up, her maid Mary had crafted a heart-shaped tattoo over it. But this was no ordinary heart¡ªoh no, it was the kind of heart tattoo you''d see on a subus. Fantasy hearts like this were infamous, often associated with the runes that subi used to enhance pleasure, for themselves and their partners. Now, Esdeath''s tattoo wasn''t magical, but it sure looked like it. In this world, humans who sported such tattoos were usually making a bold statement about their, shall we say, sexually ctive lifestyles, cough..cough... So, naturally, the girls couldn''t help but fixate on it, their minds running wild with all sorts of assumptions.@@novelbin@@ The thought racing through everyone''s mind was: How on earth did a teenage girl end up with such an erotic, shameless tattoo? And yet, there Esdeath stood, as casual as if she''d just walked into a garden,pletely unfazed by the scandalized and shocked looks she was getting. A few of the nobles tried to hide their smirks, struggling not to burst intoughter, while others just blushed furiously, turning their heads away in embarrassment. Themoners, on the other hand, were a mix of confusion and awe, wondering if this girl was a warrior, a delinquent, or just incredibly bold¡ªor maybe all three. Esdeath,pletely unfazed by the stares and whispers, made her way toward the water, her tattooed skin gleaming under the softntern light. However, as she tried to find a spot to rx, she quickly encountered a new problem¡ªno one wanted her near them. Every time she approached a group, she was met with the same reaction. "Don''te near me! Go somewhere else! Who would take responsibility if something happens to me?" one girl snapped, even going so far as to ssh water at her. Esdeath felt her annoyance rising, her eyes narrowing at the thought of pping each of them across the face. "Ughh... I want to p every single one of them,"she fumed internally, "but I''m not in the mood for it right now."She scanned the room, looking for a peaceful spot where she could finally rx. The bathhouse wasrge, so surely there was a ce where she could soak in peace. It didn''t take long for her to find it¡ªa quiet corner where only one girl was bathing. The girl was clearly a loner, sitting by herself, away from the chattering groups. Esdeath smirked as she took in the girl''s appearance. She was tall but had short, Wavy Vermillion hair, browny skin coloured eyes, tanned skin, and a busty chest, but she was also chubby or more like very fat with a heavier build that wasn''t considered conventionally attractive. but she also has red markings around her eyes, and like Leopold, she has one sharp, pronounced canine tooth, No doubt An Barbarian-Known for dumbheaded species.It was obvious why no one wanted to be near her. "An extra character " Esdeath thought with satisfaction. "Just like me. That''s the perfect spot!". Without hesitation, she walked over to the girl''s area, a mischievous grin on her face. "Hello, piggy!" she called out before jumping into the steamy water, causing a small ssh. As she settled into the water, her body submerged up to just above her breasts, Esdeath let out a deep sigh of relief, closing her eyes. "Huff... These balloons on my chest... The hot water''s making it feel like something''s tickling my breasts. How do you all deal with this?" sheined, half-yful, half-irritated. The girl, who had been minding her own business, looked at Esdeath in bewilderment. Unlike the others, she wasn''t bothered by Esdeath''s ck hair or tattoos. What really confused her was the fact that Esdeath was actually talking to her. "Are you talking to me?" the girl asked, her voice filled with surprise, like she couldn''t believe someone was addressing her directly. Esdeath opened one eye and nced at the girl, noticing the shock and uncertainty in her expression. "Is there anyone else here?" she replied with a touch of amusement, her voice smooth but with an edge that made it clear she wasn''t one for small talk. The girl, still taken aback by the sudden interaction, blinked rapidly, her mind racing to catch up. "Oh, no... umm... okay, I guess..." she stammered, mentally kicking herself for the awkward response. It wasn''t that she couldn''t speak clearly; she was just thrown off by how fast everything was happening. She quickly tried to regain herposure, a nervous energy bubbling up as she added, "Umm... my name is Maruti. What''s yours?" Her voice was a mix of hope and timidity, as if she was both eager and afraid to hear the answer. Esdeath stared at her for a moment, her cold blooded red eyes piercing through the warm steam of the bath. After what felt like an eternity to Maruti, Esdeath finally spoke. "Esdeath... Esdeath Crimson," she said, her tone t and uninterested, before closing her eyes again, signaling the end of the conversation. A heavy silence hung between them, the only sound being the gentle ripple of water. Maruti fidgeted, unsure of what to do next. Just as she was about to try speaking again, Esdeath suddenly stood up, water cascading off her smooth, pale skin. Her long hair clung to her body, framing her face as a few strands fell in front of her eyes. A single droplet of water lingered on her full lips, giving her an almost intimate, erotic aura. "I''m done," Esdeath dered, her voice cutting through the air as she turned to leave, her movements fluid and graceful. Seeing her about to go, Maruti panicked. "Wait a minute... does that mean we''re friends?" she blurted out, her words rushing out in a desperate attempt to hold onto this fleeting connection. Esdeath paused, her back still turned, then slowly turned her head to look at Maruti. Her gaze was cold, analyzing the girl before her. For a few seconds, she didn''t say anything, just stared, making Maruti feel smaller and more exposed with each passing moment. Finally, Esdeath spoke, her voice sharp and cutting. "No confidence, no willpower, no attitude... toozy to do anything, and many other things," she listed, each word like a dagger, pointing out every w she saw in Maruti. "Don''t even think of bing my friend," she finished, her tone final and dismissive. Without another word, Esdeath turned and walked away, leaving Maruti alone in the bath, staring after her, feeling a mix of shame, disappointment, and a strange, lingering hope that maybe, just maybe, things could be different someday. Esdeath dried off with a towel, feeling the warmth of the bath linger on her skin as she slipped back into her clothes. The sun had begun its descent, casting the world in a golden glow. She made her way back to the dorm room, the fading light of the evening following her. When she arrived, the room was quiet and empty. Luna Cassia, her roommate, still hadn''t returned. Esdeath nced around, the silence almost echoing. She could sense the lingering tension, knowing Luna was still too afraid toe back and face her. As the evening turned into night, Esdeath noticed how quickly time had passed. The room was now bathed in the soft light of the moon, yet Luna''s side of the room remained untouched, the bed still neatly made. Without waiting any longer, Esdeath threw herself onto her bed, her mind briefly wandering to the uing test. "Tomorrow''s the test," she murmured to herself, closing her eyes. "I don''t have much hope, but let''s see what happens." Affinity Test (1) Even with Calista''s striking appearance, there was another girl in the crowd who drew even more attention¡ªRavenna Thorne. Her long pink hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of rose petals, shimmering with each step. Her pink eyes, with that unique "plus" shape in the pupils, seemed to draw everyone in, as if she could see right through their souls. Ravenna''s smooth skin glowed with a radiance that made her look almost otherworldly, like a goddess who had descended from the heavens. Despite wearing the same uniform as everyone else, on her, it looked like a garment fit for royalty. The fabric clung perfectly to her figure, highlighting every curve with an effortless grace that made her seem divine. She didn''t just look like a princess¡ªshe was one, the princess of Anastasia Kingdom, Ravenna Thorne. Her presencemanded attention without even trying, and those around her seemed to orbit her like moths to a me. She hadn''t attended the entrance ceremony, and why would she? No one would dare make a princess stand through something so trivial. Now that she was here, it was as if the entire room had shifted to focus solely on her. Boys and girls alike flocked around her, hoping to catch even a sliver of her attention. The crowd around her grew thicker, creating a kind of traffic jam in the hall as everyone tried to get closer. (Let''s be real here, Harem without any princess, pointless right?) Before the situation could spiral out of control, Lilith stepped in. Clearing her throat loudly, she called out, "Ahem¡­ Ahem... So, has everyone gathered? Let''s proceed with your test then!" Her voice cut through the noise, instantly silencing the room. The crowd dispersed, and Ravenna, too, turned her attention to the front. With a swift motion, Lilith summoned arge sphere that appeared out of thin air, hovering above the ground. Pointing at it, she continued, "You all need to ce your hands on the sphere, one by one. It will draw in your mana and reveal your affinity and ESR talent." Her tone was all business, but there was an underlying excitement in the room as the students lined up, eager to see what the test would reveal. "So, the first person is, of course, Princess Ravenna Thorne!" Lilith announced, her tone tinged with respect. Ravenna stepped forward without hesitation, her presencemanding the attention of everyone in the room. She ced her hand on the sphere, and it began to glow with an intense light. The students watched with bated breath as the light faded, revealing the results inside the crystal sphere. Within the sphere, two balls of light appeared¡ªa green one and a brown one, resembling the elements of nature and wood. "Princess Ravenna, your affinity is with the Nature and Wood elements¡ªa truly mesmerizingbination!" Lilith dered. The room buzzed with excitement. The Nature element wasplex and rare, not often seen among the students. While Wood was well-known, Nature magic was far more intricate. It wasn''t used for healing as Light magic was, but it could grow trees in seconds, negate all kinds of poisons, and even grant stamina boosts. The students were in awe of such a powerfulbination. "As for your ESR talent, it''s 80%¡ªan A Grade talent!" Lilith added, causing an uproar among the students. Gasps and whispers filled the hall, everyone stunned by the revtion. An A Grade talent was extremely rare, something very few people possessed. But while the others marveled, Esdeath remained unfazed. She let out a small sigh of disappointment and thought, "She might have an affinity for Nature and Wood, but her real ESR talent is only C Grade. They''re faking it to protect the kingdom''s reputation. Too bad for her, but because of this, the princess is already in the palm of my hand." A sly smile tugged at the corners of Esdeath''s lips as she observed the scene. The students pped, some admiring Ravenna as she gracefully made her way back to her ce. The admiration in the room was almost palpable. "Next is Sylvania Nyxaria," Lilith announced. Sylvania stepped forward, her heart pounding but her face determined. She ced her hand on the sphere, and again, the light began to swirl and shift before settling into three distinct colors¡ªblue, white, and grey. "Your affinities are Wind, Water, and Earth," Lilith said, her voice holding a hint of surprise. "Such a versatilebination!" The students murmured in amazement. Three elements were rare enough, but Sylvania had managed to possess three with such natural ease. It was an impressive feat. "Your ESR talent is 70%¡ªa B Grade talent!" Lilith added. The students pped, though the excitement was slightly less than before, still high for such a strong talent. Sylvania smiled, feeling a mix of pride and relief. As she stepped back, she couldn''t help but nce at Ethan, who gave her an encouraging nod. "And now, Corin Reynold," Lilith called out. Corin walked up, his face still twisted with anger from the earlier confrontation with Ethan. He shot a re at Ethan before cing his hand on the sphere. The sphere glowed, revealing a bright red light. "Your affinity is Fire," Lilith said with a knowing nod. "A strong and aggressive element." Corin''s lips curled into a smirk, but it quickly faded as Lilith continued. "Your ESR talent is 68%¡ªalso a B Grade talent," she announced. The students pped, though there was a noticeableck of enthusiasm. Corin''s earlier behavior had soured their opinion of him. Corin clenched his fists, his pride wounded, but he kept his head high as he returned to his ce, still seething with anger. One by one, other students followed, each cing their hands on the sphere and revealing their affinities and talents. Some had single elements, others two, and a few rare cases had three like Sylvania. The hall was filled with a mix of awe, jealousy, and admiration as each result was revealed. "And the next person is Callista Seraphine," Lilith announced, her voice steady as she called the name. Callista stepped forward with her usual grace, but unlike before, the room was noticeably quieter. There was no buzz of excitement; everyone already assumed what would happen. She ced her delicate hand on the sphere, and as expected, a golden light immediately appeared, signaling her affinity with Light magic. But then, something else began to form inside the sphere, another element that was starting to reveal itself. Before anyone could figure out what the second element was, Lilith quickly moved in front of the sphere, blocking the view and covering half of it. Her movements were swift, almost frantic, as if she couldn''t allow the other element to be seen. "Callista''s element is Light, and her ESR talent is 72%¡ªa B Grade!" Lilith announced in a rushed tone. Without missing a beat, she turned towards Callista and whispered in her ear, "Meet me after ss." Callista nodded calmly, not showing any reaction to the odd exchange, and turned to walk back to her ce. "Next is Violet Vondarion," Lilith called out. Violet stepped forward, her eyes locked on Ethan with a determined gaze. She clenched her fists tightly as she approached the sphere, her heart pounding with anticipation. She ced her hand on the sphere, and it began to glow with an intense light. When the glow finally settled, the sphere showed a vibrant purple light. "Your element is Gravity," Lilith announced, her voice filled with admiration. "It will be a powerfulbination with a heavy sword. As for your ESR talent, it''s 85%¡ªan A Grade!" The room erupted in gasps and whispers once again. Two A Grades in one year¡ªit was unheard of, truly a miracle. Violet couldn''t help but look at Ethan, her eyes sparkling with pride. She gave a little jump of excitement, feeling a sense of superiority over Sylvania. Ethan smiled back at her, already knowing this was going to happen, but still feeling proud. "And now, Maruti¡­ Ummm, no surname? Whatever, whoever is named Maruti,e forward," Lilith called out, sounding slightly unsure. A girl with tanned skin, vermilion hair, and a fat body slowly stepped forward. As she walked, the room''s atmosphere shifted. Disappointment was evident on the faces of the students; some even turned their gazes away, clearly uninterested. Maruti''s shoulders slumped, feeling the weight of their judgment as she approached the sphere. She ced her hand on the sphere, her heart heavy with anxiety. The sphere glowed once more, revealing her affinities. "Your affinities are Fire and Light, and your ESR talent is 65%¡ªa B Grade," Lilith announced. But instead of apuse or excitement, the room was filled with mockingughter. "Pfff¡­ that fat girl thinks she''s going to be a saintess?" one student sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. Another student whispered loudly to his friend, "Can you imagine her trying to cast Light magic? What a joke!" A group of girls giggled cruelly, "She''d better stick to cooking if she wants to be useful." The insults came one after another, each one cutting deeper into Maruti. She knew she wasn''t what they expected, but the harsh words still stung. As she made her way back, Lilith''s voice rang out again, calling the next name. "Luna Cassia, Earth affinity with a 58% refinement rate, a C grade talent," Lilith announced without much enthusiasm. Luna had stayed up all night at her friend''s dorm, and the fatigue showed in her eyes. She knew a C grade wasn''t impressive, but she still forced a smile, trying to maintain some semnce of optimism as she returned to her ce. Lilith then shifted her tone slightly, calling out the next name with a hint of personal connection. "Kaelith Maranthia." The room went silent as Kaelith, Lilith''s own daughter, approached the sphere. Her steps were deliberate and heavy, creating an atmosphere of palpable tension. It was as if everyone already knew something extraordinary was about to happen. Kaelith ced her hand on the sphere, and in an instant, it burst into a blinding light, transforming the crystal into a pure white gem. "Kaelith Maranthia," Lilith dered, her voice void of surprise, "affinity with all elements and a 95% refinement rate, an A grade."@@novelbin@@ Gasps filled the hall as students stared in disbelief. Fear and a sense of inferiority rippled through the crowd. "A... A monster," one student whispered, unable toprehend the magnitude of Kaelith''s abilities. "This must be some sort of cheating! How could anyone surpass her? How us she even a student?" another added, his voice tinged with desperation. But Kaelith''s expression remained mixed of annoyed,irritated, bored and disdain. She scoffed at the spectacle she had just caused. "Just some bullshits," she muttered under her breath. Without waiting for further instructions, she turned on her heel and marched out of the academy hall, leaving behind a stunned silence. "I don''t need any weapons to fight,I''m leaving," she dered arrogantly, as she, leaves academy halls. Affinity Test (2) As the students watched in weary silence, Lilith announced the next name, "Valeria Olyndra." A high elf stepped forward, her long neon green hair flowing gracefully down her back, her pointy ears unmistakable. Valeria''s enchanting, slim figure drew the eyes of many, though the ss was already overwhelmed by the sheer number of powerful talents revealed today. She moved with an ethereal grace as she ced her hand on the crystal sphere. The sphere glowed softly, revealing two colors intertwined within it¡ªa gentle green and a vibrant yellow. "Your affinity is Wind and Nature," Lilith dered. "And your ESR talent is 85%, an A Grade!" A heavy silence fell over the ss. Four A-grade talents in one year? It felt like life itself was mocking the other students, driving home their own shorings. It was a humiliation that weighed heavily on everyone, making them feel small and insignificant. But deep down, most knew that elves were different. Elves, being closely connected to nature, had a natural advantage when it came to magical refinement. A-grade talents weremon among their kind, though their poption was scarce. Lilith quickly moved on. "Next is Eldon Karthanis," she called. A boy with fiery red hair and golden eyes stepped forward. A noticeable scar ran across his neck, adding to his striking appearance. Despite his strong features, there was something haunting about him. Esdeath''s eyes followed him closely, a sly smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Eldon Karthanis," she mused to herself. "The most hated character in Free Life Fantasy. Not because he was evil or viinous¡ªno, he actually ends up joining Ethan''s party. But the developers gave him a sci-fi twist, making him the team''s sharpshooter. Rifles, snipers, guns... it should have been cool, but instead, he was like Sakura from Naruto¡ªa trash character. He always missed his shots at the worst times, causing endless trouble for everyone else." Her eyes narrowed, her thoughts darkening. "And the most important thing is, this is the person I''ll have to kill first." Eldon stepped up to the sphere and ced his hand on it. The sphere responded with a dull glow, revealing his results. "Your affinity is Wind magic," Lilith announced. "And your ESR talent is 50%, a C grade." The light faded, and with it, Eldon''s hope seemed to dim as well. He looked down, visibly saddened by the result. A C grade was nothingpared to the talents that had been revealed before him. The disappointment was written all over his face. Esdeath observed him with a smirk. "So even in this world, you''re still a disappointment," she thought. Eldon nced around, his golden eyes meeting Esdeath''s for a brief moment. He quickly looked away, clearly ufortable under her gaze. He stepped back, trying to blend into the crowd. When Lilith called out, "Next is us ndestine," a hush fell over the room. A girl with golden hair that shimmered like the sun and piercing green eyes stepped forward confidently. She was the future viiness in the game, the one who wouldter make Violet''s life difficult. us approached the sphere with an air of superiority, her gaze unwavering as she ced her hand on the crystal surface. The sphere began to glow with an intense light that flickered like a storm. Lilith watched the sphere carefully before announcing, "Your affinity is lightning, and your ESR talent is 70%, a B-grade talent." A round of apuse echoed through the hall as many students pped, admiring her result. us allowed a small, satisfied smile to curve her lips, her confidence bolstered by the recognition. As she made her way back, her eyes held a glimmer of pride. "Next is Ethan Rothyer," Lilith announced, and immediately, every gaze turned to Ethan. The tension in the room grew palpable. He was the one who had topped the academy''s written exam¡ªwhat kind of results would he produce now? Ethan walked towards the sphere slowly, his mind racing with thoughts. "Affinity, ESR talent... In my previous life, I thought these two things determined how far a person could go," he mused, a shadow of sadness crossing his features. "Butter, I realized how naive I was. Affinity is nothing but a crutch, something that helps in the beginning. In the end, what really matters is your determination and the bonds you forge with the elements and the elemental spirits. If you work hard enough, You can be saint or a mage or specialize in any element, As for ESR talent, You can raise it by using rare essence stone who are capable of increasing ESR talent. "@@novelbin@@ With renewed resolve, Ethan reached the sphere and ced his hand on it. The sphere remained dim for a moment, then flickered weakly. Lilith''s eyes widened slightly in surprise before sheposed herself. "No talent for any element and an ESR talent of 65%, a B-grade," she announced. The hall was silent for a moment before Corin''s mockingughter cut through the air. "Pfttt... Haha... All bark and no bite!" he sneered, unable to contain his glee at Ethan''s mediocre result. But Ethan just smiled, unfazed. He had already expected this oue and knew that it did not define his future. He walked back to his ce calmly, without any hint of disappointment. As Lilith called out, "Next is Esdeath Crimson," the room grew quiet, and all eyes turned toward her. The tension was palpable as everyone wondered what her affinity would be. If it were dark, many feared it might connect her to the demon king. However, some, like Lilith, Ethan, and a few other teachers, knew better. They understood that having a dark element didn''t necessarily link someone to the demon king, but it could still indicate something sinister. Ethan''s thoughts echoed this, as he watched her closely. "I know dark element doesn''t automatically mean she''s evil, but if she is¡­ I''ll have to deal with her." Esdeath, unfazed by the stares, stepped forward. "Affinity? ESR talent? What does it matter when you have a system," she thought with a smirk. She didn''t care what the results would be. For her, true power wasn''t in the element itself but in how it was wielded. "Element..You don''t have to use them like tools or make friends with them, Creating an grea bond," she mused, a sinister smile ying on her lips. "You''ll have tomand them, like you''re their superior, bending them to your will whenever and wherever you want." As she approached the sphere, she couldn''t help but think about the assumptions others were making. "Do they really think I''ll get the dark element just because I have ck hair? Fools, Do they even know what element demon king had?....ck hair doesn''t mean dark element. Besides, I already know who has the dark element¡­ Too bad. If I had gotten it, I would''ve been an overpowered character" She thought of advantages of dark element while cing her hand on the sphere, her expression unreadable. The sphere glowed brightly, causing gasps around the room, but the results shocked everyone. "Your affinity is Wind and Fire element, and your ESR talent is 55%, a C grade," Lilith announced., "Hmmm.. Not bad, She is an average, despite awakening at seventeen, Although I don''t know what Lortell''s reaction will be? " She thought with a small smile. The room erupted into whispers andughter. "What the heck? I thought she''d get the dark element or something¡­ What a letdown!" someone muttered. Others joined in, mocking her results. "Damn, I was scared of nothing,She is a human after all" a girl whispered in embarrassment. Luna, too, felt a flush of embarrassment creep over her. "Shit, now I look like a fool, running away from our room thinking she''s a monster¡­ What face do I show now?" she thought, biting her lip. After Esdeath, the rest of the students lined up to ce their hands on the sphere. One by one, they stepped forward. Some students managed to get C grade talents, while manymoners ended up with D grades, which drew some disappointed looks and murmurs among the crowd. Valeria Olyndra, who had earlier been revealed as an A grade talent, was promptly promoted from ss B to ss A. This stirred a mix of envy and admiration among the other students. As the minutes ticked by, student after student went through the affinity test. The once eager crowd now felt the weight of the long session. The excitement that had filled the room earlier had faded into quiet exhaustion. Lilith, who had been overseeing the entire process, showed clear signs of weariness. She let out a sigh and finally addressed the students, "Now, finally, it''s time for weapon selection!" --------------------------------------------------------------------- Tell me how many of you thought, Ethan or Esdeath will get A grade talent or special element? Weapon Selection Lilith, who had been overseeing the entire process, showed clear signs of weariness. She let out a sigh and finally addressed the students, "Now, finally, it''s time for weapon selection!" Her voice carried a hint of relief as she descended the stairs, her steps slow but purposeful. The other teachers quickly fell in line behind her, and the students, curious and eager, followed closely. Within a minute, they arrived at the academy garden. But unlike earlier in the day, the garden was now filled with an array of weapons, each gleaming under the sunlight. Scythes, broadswords, daggers, various types of wands, pistols, bows, gauntlets, and morey before them, like an arsenal prepared for a great battle. The students'' eyes lit up at the sight. It was as if the sheer number of weapons had ignited something within them¡ªa sense of excitement and anticipation. Lilith turned to face the students, her expression serious. "Now, all of you, go and choose your weapons. But I''m warning you, think carefully before making your choice,You can''t change it for next six months." Without hesitation, the students began to move. Without a doubt Ethan walked towards a long sword, his hand closing around its hilt with a determined grip. Corin, noticing Ethan''s choice, followed suit and picked up a broadsword, hispetitive spirit clearly driving his decision. Violet, with her usualposed demeanor, selected a heavy sword, feeling the weight of it in her hands. Sylvania, on the other hand, opted for a wand, its intricate design catching her eye as she imagined the spells it could cast. Calista Seraphine, with her healing nature, naturally gravitated towards a wand designed specifically for priests. The soft glow emanating from it resonated with her, promising to amplify her abilities. The princess with pink hair, exuding elegance, chose a whip, its slender length a reflection of her poised yet dangerous nature. Valeria Olyndra, the elfen girl with her affinity for wind magic, picked up a bow. The sleek design of the weapon,bined with her natural talent, made it the perfect choice for her. Lilith observed the students as they made their choices, her eyes sharp despite her weariness. Each selection told her something about the student¡ªwho they were, what they aspired to be, and how they viewed the challenges ahead. She nodded slightly, acknowledging the significance of this moment, knowing that these choices could shape their futures in the academy. But Lilith''s face turned uneasy as she saw Esdeath walking straight toward the pistols and picking one up. Her usually calm demeanor shifted into concern, and she wasn''t the only one who felt it. "Wait a minute, are you sure you want to take that?" Caelum Nyvaris, a C-rank teacher with a worried expression, spoke up. His voice was filled with genuine concern as he approached Esdeath. "I know pistols have fast attacks," he continued, "but you shouldn''t choose it. It only gives you an advantage in the beginning. As students learn more and be stronger, pistols will be useless. There''s a limit to how much power you can pack into a bullet." Caelum wasn¡¯t wrong. At first, pistols seemed like a good choice¡ªquick, easy to use, and effective against weaker opponents. But as students grew stronger and more skilled, the drawbacks of a pistol would start to show. Unlike other weapons, where the power increased with the wielder''s mana and spellcasting ability, guns had a hard cap. Mana bullets could only hold so much power, and no matter how much your mana increased, the gun wouldn''t enhance your range, power, or pration. If you tried to force more power into it, the gun would simply explode, injuring the user instead of the enemy. But there was another reason why pistols were looked down upon. That is called "Society". Do you ever hear of a fantasy hero who used a gun as their main weapon? Of course not. No one ever imagined a hero wielding a gun in a world of magic and swords. Guns were originally created for non-awakened people, those who couldn''t use magic, so they could defend themselves by using normal bullets instead of mana bullets. It was a tool for those without other options, not for someone with the potential to wield more powerful weapons. The other students watched this interaction closely, some whispering among themselves. They understood the reasoning behind Caelum''s words, and some even nodded in agreement. Choosing a pistol felt like settling for less, like throwing away the potential for true power. "Here, I can even give you a demo!" Caelum Nyvaris dered confidently, grabbing a gun and pointing it directly at his own forehead. "Bang!" He pulled the trigger. The sound of the gunshot echoed through the air, and many students gasped in shock, their hearts pounding in their chests. But what happened next left everyone speechless. The bullet, despite being fired at such close range, couldn¡¯t prate Caelum¡¯s forehead. It didn¡¯t even leave a scratch. "See?" Caelum said, lowering the gun. "Even with wind magic, you can only increase your bullet''s range by 10%, and with fire magic, you might boost the power by 15%. But beyond that, there''s no real growth. No matter what you do, you won¡¯t get stronger with this weapon. I highly advise you to choose a bow, like student Valeria Olyndra," he added, pointing towards the elven girl who had just selected her weapon. But Esdeath''s response was far from grateful. "Thanks, but did I ever tell you to give me this one hell of an exnation?" she replied, her voice sharp and full of attitude. There was no sign of gratitude, only fierce defiance.@@novelbin@@ Lilith, observing the exchange, sighed deeply. "She''s as arrogant and stubborn as Lortell," she thought to herself as she turned and left the academy hall without another word. It was clear to her that Esdeath wasn¡¯t going to listen to reason. The other students and teachers couldn¡¯t help but sigh as well. To them, Esdeath seemed like aplete fool, someone who was throwing away her future by making such a reckless decision. But just as the tension began to settle, another voice rang out. "I''m taking a gun too!" It was Eldon Karthanis, one of the most disliked characters in Free Life Fantasy, known for his poor decisions. He wouldter join Ethan¡¯s party, also wielding a gun. This time, no one even bothered to exin anything to him. The teachers and students knew it was pointless. With that, after about half an hour, all of the students finally selected their weapons. As they made their choices, the teachers watched closely, already beginning to predict the paths these young talents might take. Ethan, with his confident grip on a long sword, seemed destined for the Sword Saint path. Violet, who had chosen a heavy sword, might walk the path of a Berserker, her strength and determination guiding her. Calista Seraphine, with her gentle demeanor and healing wand, would likely follow the path of a Healer. Sylvain, clutching a wand meant for powerful magic, seemed on track to be an Arch-mage. The teachers could almost see the future unfolding before their eyes, each student''s journey starting to take shape. As the selection came to an end, many students began to make their way back to their sses. It was only the first day, so there had only been one lecture. The rest of the time had been taken up by the affinity test and weapon selection. Calista Seraphine, a standout among her peers, was also heading back to ss A. As the only one not wearing the school uniform, she was impossible to miss. A bright smile lit up her face as she walked, her footsteps light and full of purpose. But suddenly, she felt the weight of someone¡¯s head resting on her shoulder. Startled, she turned to see a girl with jet-ck hair and deep, blood-red eyes¡ªEsdeath Crimson. The chill in Esdeath''s voice was unmistakable as she whispered, "I know everything that¡¯s going on in your Church Kingdom." The words hit Calista like a bolt of lightning. Her eyes widened in shock, fear, and frustration. It was as if the ground beneath her had shifted, leaving her unsteady and vulnerable. How could Esdeath know? The fear of her secrets being exposed caught herpletely off guard, and she struggled to maintain herposure. As Esdeath watched Calista¡¯s reaction, a series of notifications appeared in her mind, each one fueling her dark satisfaction. <1000 SP rewarded> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hmm.... Can anyone tell me, Why every author gives their discord link? what exactly happens there? well whatever, I can finally start the back story of lortell. Does That Mean We Are Friends? "Hahaha... It''s our greatest honor to serve Lady Mariette!" A man with crimson hair and gray eyes spoke, his voice filled with nervousughter. It was none other than Esdeath''s father, Baron Nyx Crimson, the ruler of Swann. He stood outside arge countryside house, nothing like the grand mansion it would one day be. Back then, it was just a sizable but simple home¡ªmodest in luxury, yet far better and bigger than the other vigers'' houses nearby. Despite its size, it was still a humble abodepared to the grandeur Lortell Mariette was ustomed to. Esdeath''s father continued rubbing his hands together, a wide grin stered on his face, unable to contain his excitement and anxiety. In front of him stood the head maid Lorraine, and beside her, Lortell Mariette herself. Lorraine had brought Lortell directly to Baron Nyx Crimson''s home. Lortell, as usual, wore her expressionless face as she took a clear nce at the house in front of her. "It''s nowhere near as big as my pce," she thought, her eyes briefly scanning the building before turning to the lush greenery surrounding thend. "But I suppose it''s not actually a bad ce. I can live here for at least a week." The countryside''s quiet charm and natural beauty softened her usual indifference, if only slightly. Behind them wererge boxes filled with clothes and other essentials, showing that they were prepared to stay at Esdeath''s house for some time. "I''m going for a walk," Lortell dered, her voice leaving no room for discussion. It wasn''t a question or a request; it was an order. She had only just arrived, but she didn''t bother to even step inside the house. Not that anyone would dare to scold or oppose her decision. She turned on her heel, ready to head out for a walk, but as she took her first step, Nyx Crimson''s voice hesitantly called out. "Umm... If you don''t mind, could I say something?" His voice was filled with concern and nervousness. "Actually, I have a daughter. She doesn''t get along well with others. She might be somewhere nearby, and if you meet her... could you y with her?" He forced augh, scratching the back of his head. "She has red eyes, just like you. I think you both might get along well." Nyx intentionally left out the detail about his daughter''s ck hair, worrying it might leave a bad impression on Lortell. Lortell paused, turning her cold gaze toward Nyx, her thoughts simmering. "y? What am I, a newborn child? And with his daughter? Do they think I''m some sort of babysitter?" She stared at him in silence for a few seconds, her expression unreadable. Without a word, she turned back around and continued walking, her steps as deliberate as ever. She didn''t feel the need to respond to such a suggestion, nor did she care to entertain the idea. As she walked away, the air around her seemed to chill, leaving Nyx standing there, unsure whether to be relieved or worried. ..... In a quiet corner of the garden, a little girl, no older than six or seven, knelt on the ground. Her flowing ck hair framed a face marked by striking dark red eyes, each eye patterned with multiple rings, adding an eerie depth to her gaze. This was Esdeath. Her small hands, trembling with fear, clutched a book much toorge for her tiny frame. She held it tightly against her chest as if it were a shield against the world. Her breaths were shallow, almost gasping, a mix of fear and hopelessness etched across her delicate features. "I said give me that cursed book!" a boy''s angry shout broke through the air as he lunged toward her, trying to snatch the book away. Other children, both boys and girls, crowded around Esdeath, their faces twisted in cruel determination. They all reached out, eager to take the book from her, but Esdeath held on with all her might, refusing to let it go. Summoning all the courage she had left, Esdeath took a deep breath and cried out, "If you be my friend, then I''ll give you this book!" For a moment, silence fell over the group. The children exchanged nces, and then, as if on cue, they burst intoughter. "Hahahahaha..." Their cruelughter echoed through the garden, taunting her. "Who would even want to be your friend?" sneered one of the boys. "You don''t have the strength or stamina to y any games, and you''re not smart enough either. Just because you can read and write doesn''t make you better than us!" As the boy continued to mock her, a voice suddenly cut through his insults, calm yetmanding. "Umm... excuse me, your voice is irritating. Do you mind going home?" The boy stopped mid-sentence and turned around, only to be met by the sight of a girl with pale, almost vampire-like skin, silver hair, and eyes as red as blood. It was Lortell. "Now who are you? The witch''s big sister?" he sneered, trying to sound tough. Without a word, Lortell''s hand moved swiftly, and the sound of a sharp p echoed through the garden. The boy didn''t even have time to react before he crumpled to the ground, unconscious from the force of her blow. Lortell remained expressionless, her face a mask of cold indifference. The other children gasped in shock, their eyes widening as they stared at Lortell. Fear gripped them as they realized who stood before them. "Lortell... My name is Lortell Mariette," she said calmly, her voice chillingly devoid of emotion. The mere mention of her name sent waves of terror through the group. One of the kids gasped, "Arch-duke''s daughter Lortell?" The recognition struck them like a bolt of lightning. Without another word, they turned and fled, racing away as fast as their legs could carry them, leaving the boy unconscious on the ground. Esdeath, still clutching her book tightly, looked up at Lortell with wide, astonished eyes. The fear that had gripped her moments ago began to melt away, reced by a mixture of awe and a small flicker of hope. "Ummm... Thank you so much for saving me!" she said, her voice soft and innocent, filled with gratitude. As the words left Esdeath''s mouth, Lortell finally noticed the little girl before her. She hadn''t even realized she had saved someone from those bullies. But now, as she looked down at Esdeath, something strange struck her. The girl''s dark red eyes and pale skin sparked a thought in Lortell''s mind: "A vampire?"@@novelbin@@ To rify her suspicion, Lortell stepped closer and ced her hand on Esdeath''s head. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, sensing for any signs of power. But there was nothing¡ªno trace of an awakened person, no hint of anything extraordinary. Lortell realized that she had been mistaken. "Nope, not even an awakened person. I guess that''s what they mean by not judging people by their appearance. Even I was fooled by her features," Lortell thought to herself, her hand still resting on Esdeath''s head. To Esdeath, however, it felt like Lortell was gently patting her head. A bright smile spread across her face, and her cheeks turned a rosy shade of red. It was a simple gesture, but it meant the world to her. As Lortell''s thoughts shifted, she remembered what Nyx had said earlier: "Red eyes... Oh, so she''s his daughter. And if I''m not wrong, this ck hair must be the reason everyone avoids her. Hmph, what idiots, as expected of humans¡ªthey only believe what they see!" Disdain filled her mind as she thought about how shallow people could be. With these thoughts, she withdrew her hand from Esdeath''s head, turned around, and began walking away. But before Lortell could take more than a few steps, a small voice called out from behind her, "Does that mean we''re friends?" Lortell stopped and turned her head slightly, taking a clear look at Esdeath, who was staring at her with hopeful eyes. After a brief pause, Lortell spoke, her voice cold and indifferent, "Don''t get full of yourself. I only scared them away because their voices were irritating." With that, Lortell turned back around and continued walking away, leaving Esdeath standing there, still holding her book. Esdeath watched her go, her heart sinking a little. Yet, the faint warmth of Lortell''s touch lingered on her head, and though Lortell''s words were harsh, Esdeath couldn''t help but feel that something had changed. For the first time in a long while, she didn''t feelpletely alone. Pain As the afternoon slowly turned into evening, Lortell found herself inside Nyx''s home. A room had been prepared for her, filled with her clothes and other belongings. She stood by the window, staring out at the lush greenery and natural beauty with her usual expressionless face. From the outside, it might have looked like she was enjoying a moment of peace, but that tranquility was soon interrupted. The door creaked open, and Esdeath entered the room. Bncing arge book on her head with her small hands, she also carried a bowl perched on top of it. Her face was lit up with a wide smile, her dark red eyes sparkling with excitement. "Lady Mariette, Lady Mariette! Are you really the Arch-Duke''s daughter? My father told me just now! I made this soup especially for you, to say thank you!" Esdeath''s cheerful voice filled the room, high-pitched and childish, a clear sign of her youth. Lortell turned her head slightly, her gazending on Esdeath. For a moment, she couldn''t decide whether she was annoyed by the interruption or simply indifferent. She looked at Esdeath''s eager face, her bright smile, and those eerie yet hopeful eyes. Finally, Lortell sighed inwardly, realizing she couldn''t refuse the girl''s innocent gesture. "Just give it to me and leave," Lortell said, her voice cold as usual, extending her hand while turning her gaze away. Esdeath, eager to please, quickly stepped forward to hand over the bowl. But in her rush, she lost her bnce. The book and bowl both slipped from her hands, and she tumbled forward. It all seemed to happen in slow motion¡ªEsdeath falling, the bowl of soup tipping over, ready to crash to the ground. But just as everything was about to hit the floor, a sudden wave of magic filled the room. Lortell, without even turning her head, had cast a spell. The magic caught Esdeath, the book, and the bowl, suspending them all in mid-air. Slowly, Lortell lowered Esdeath gently to the ground, ced the book back on her head, and took the bowl of soup into her own hand. Esdeath, wide-eyed and amazed, looked up at Lortell with admiration. "Wow! You''re so cool!" she eximed, her voice full of genuine awe. Lortell nced down at the girl, her face still expressionless as she took a slow sip of the soup. The warmth of the broth spread through her, and she silently acknowledged the effort Esdeath had put into making it. The taste was surprisingly good, which caused Lortell to reflect, *"Do countryside girls really start cooking at the age of seven?"* As she continued sipping, her gaze shifted to therge book Esdeath was still holding. With her usual indifferent tone, Lortell asked, "What kind of book is that? A cookbook?" Esdeath''s eyes lit up with excitement as she replied, "This? It''s written by Jeanne D''Arc, the Combat Witch!" Lortell raised an eyebrow, a faint trace of interest in her otherwise cold demeanor. "That''s a rare book you have. Give it to me; I''ll return it tomorrow," she said, extending her hand, expectingpliance. But instead of eagerly handing it over, Esdeath hugged the book tightly to her chest and took a step back, her small face determined. "Nope! Say that you''re my friend, and I''ll give it to you!" she dered with a mix of defiance and yfulness. Lortell blinked, slightly taken aback. This was the first time someone had refused her. "It''s an order," she said, her voice a bit louder and firmer than before, a hint of her authority slipping through. But Esdeath stood her ground, her lips pouting slightly as she crossed her arms, "No means no!" she replied, her toneced with cute stubbornness. Lortell stared at her for a moment, clearly puzzled by the girl''s resistance. With a sigh of dismissal, she turned back to the window, her attention once again focused on the outside world. "Then I don''t need it. Leave," she said, her voice cold and indifferent as she took another sip of the soup. Esdeath sighed in disappointment, her small shoulders drooping. She turned to leave, her footsteps slow and heavy with a sense of defeat. But just as she reached the door, Lortell''s voice stopped her. "This soup¡­ Did you make it?" Lortell asked, her tone softer this time, though still void of much emotion. Esdeath, now a bit frustrated and annoyed, nodded curtly in response, not even turning around. Lortell studied her for a second, trying to gauge whether the girl was telling the truth. After a moment, she nodded slightly to herself. "Hmm¡­ It''s good. I guess you have a talent for cooking. You''ll make a fine wife someday," she added, her tone emotionless, almost as if she was mocking the young girl. However, Lortell''s attempt at humor or mockery wentpletely unnoticed by Esdeath. Instead, she took it as a sincerepliment. A proud smile spread across her face, her earlier frustration forgotten. With a renewed sense of pride, she walked out of the room, her head held high, feeling triumphant that the Arch-Duke''s daughter had praised her cooking. ... Night hade and gone, and as the morning passed into afternoon, Lortell decided to take a walk in the nearby garden. The sun hungzily in the sky, casting a warm glow over the lush greenery around her. As she stepped into the garden, a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over her, and she couldn''t help but be surprised by the familiar scene unfolding before her eyes. There, sitting on the ground, was Esdeath, surrounded by the same group of kids who were bullying her once again. Lortell paused, her expression calm yet puzzled. "Why does she keep going back to them?" Lortell wondered. It was clear that this wasn''t the first time¡ªEsdeath seemed to do this almost every day. With a resigned sigh, Lortell turned her gaze towards Esdeath. The other kids, noticing her presence, instantly froze in fear, their tauntingughter dying in their throats. But Lortell didn''t spare them even a nce. Her focus remained solely on Esdeath. Without a word, Lortell walked over, grabbing the back of Esdeath''s cor and effortlessly lifting her off the ground. Although there wasn''t much difference in their height and weight, Esdeath felt as light as a feather to Lortell. The other kids watched in silent awe and fear as Lortell carried Esdeath away, leaving them behind. After about ten minutes of walking, Lortell brought Esdeath to the edge of a small mountain cliff. She gently ced her down on the ground, letting her take in the breathtaking view. Thendscape stretched out before them, a sea of rolling hills and vibrant greenery. The beauty of thend below was enchanting, and as the sun began to lower in the sky, the scene seemed almost magical. Esdeath''s eyes widened in awe as she gazed out at the view, her earlier distress forgotten. But Lortell, standing beside her, had other things on her mind. "Are you an idiot?" she asked, her voice cold and emotionless, as always. Esdeath turned her head, puzzled by the question. "Why?" she asked, genuinely confused. Lortell''s gaze remained fixed on the horizon as she spoke. "Why? You keep going back to those kids, trying to be friends with them, even though you know they bully you. And it looks like you do this every day. Only an idiot would do that," she said, her tone harsh, but her voice devoid of any real anger or affection. Esdeath''s expression grew serious as she shook her head. "No! You''re wrong!" she replied, her voice firm with conviction. Lortell raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.@@novelbin@@ "They''re just frightened because of my ck hair," Esdeath exined, her voice softening. "But when they realize that I''m just a normal human, they''ll all be my friends!" She finished with a determined smile, her eyes sparkling with hope. Lortell, however, didn''t seem impressed. In fact, her expression darkened slightly at Esdeath''s words. "Hmph¡­ Me? Wrong? Nonsense. You think you know everything?" she scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. "They enjoy bullying you, and it won''t stop¡ªeven if you didn''t have ck hair," she added, her voice as cold as ever. With that, Lortell sat down beside Esdeath on the stone ledge of the cliff. The two girls sat there in silence, the wind gently rustling their hair as they stared out at the mesmerizing view below. Despite Lortell''s harsh words, there was a strange sense of calm between them, as if the beauty of the scene had momentarily eased the tension in the air. Esdeath tilted her head, her curiosity getting the better of her. "How about I ask you a question? Why don''t you ever smile?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine wonder. Lortell paused, the question catching her off guard. After a moment of silence, she decided to answer. "Because I can''t feel happiness. Not just that, but I don''t feel any emotions or affection at all," she replied, her voice heavy and serious, a rare hint of something deeper in her tone. But instead of looking sad or concerned, Esdeath smirked. "Like I said, you''re wrong again. It''s not that you can''t feel emotions¡ªyou just subconsciously choose not to feel them!" she said confidently, as if she knew something Lortell didn''t. Lortell turned her face toward Esdeath, her expression cold. "And like I said earlier, this is just more of your nonsense," she replied, thinking to herself, *What am I even doing here, talking to a kid?* She couldn''t help but feel that Esdeath was wasting her precious time. Esdeath, however, wasn''t deterred. "Nope! I read a book¡ªJeanne D''Arc said that every living being has emotions. Sometimes even puppets can grow emotions in them. The only thing you can do is open a pathway for those emotions to flow out!" Esdeath exined, her voice full of determination. Lortell raised an eyebrow, not fully convinced but intrigued enough to listen. Esdeath then pointed down the mountain. "Let''s see¡­ How about I start with them? Can you see those werewolves?" she asked, pointing to a small group of werewolves below. There were three of them¡ªtwo females and one male. The male werewolf was tall, muscr, and quite handsome. One of the females had an injured leg, making it difficult for her to walk, while the other female was in her prime, her fur shiny and captivating. The injured female was the male''s bride, but the younger female was trying to seduce him with all her might. Lortell narrowed her eyes, trying to see what Esdeath was pointing at. "You can see over such a great distance?" she asked, somewhat impressed. "But what about it?" she added, still skeptical. Esdeath smiled, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "What do you think? Who will he choose¡ªthe injured one or the young werewolf?" she asked. Lortell scoffed, her expression turning dismissive. "Hmph¡­ Is that even a question? Just like how humans marry multiple wives for pleasure and strong offspring, animals wouldn''t hesitate to abandon their injured partner and choose someone else. That female is injured and likely infected, probably going to die within a year. She won''t be able to birth strong children either. It''s just a matter of time before he abandons her," she answered with confidence, as if there was no other possible oue. Esdeath didn''t say anything in response. She simply watched the werewolves below, her eyes fixed on the scene. Lortell, curious despite herself, continued to observe as well. What happened next surprised Lortell more than she expected. Her eyes widened slightly as she saw the male werewolf chase away the younger female, growling at her until she left. Then, he slowly walked over to the injured werewolf and gently nudged her, helping her move forward. "How¡­?" The word escaped Lortell''s lips before she could stop herself. Esdeath turned to her, a gentle smile lighting up her face. "You know what that is? That''s called love," she said softly, as if exining something as simple as the sky being blue. Lortell felt a strange sensation in her chest, a tightness she couldn''t quite name. She knew, deep down, that for the first time in her life, she might actually be wrong. But admitting it? That was something her pride wouldn''t allow. "Okay," Lortell began, trying to keep her voice steady. "So you see love in them, huh? What about me? What kind of emotion do you see in me?" she asked, hoping that Esdeath would drop the subject and move on. But to her surprise, Esdeath didn''t hesitate. She stood up, her small figure seeming stronger than it had before, and gently ced her soft, small palm on Lortell''s forehead. The touch was warm, almostforting, but the words that followed sent a chill down Lortell''s spine. "The only thing I see in you is pain," Esdeath said quietly, her eyes full of sincerity. "So much pain." ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Readers:- Can you write a romance between two females? author:- If it''s a romance between two yanderes, Then it might cause me a little trouble. Readers:- But would You Loose? Author:- Nah... I would write... Is This…. Fear? the morning that hade and gone, and as night fell, Lortell found herself wandering the halls on her way back to her room. There was a strange lightness in her chest, a subtle happiness she couldn''t quite ce or even fully acknowledge. It was as if something within her was quietly rejoicing, though she hadn''t realized it yet. As she moved through the dimly lit corridors, every maid she passed seemed to freeze in ce, their eyes widening in shock and disbelief. Lortell noticed the stares, each one filled with a mixture of surprise and confusion. The intensity of their reactions made her feel uneasy, a knot of difort beginning to form in her stomach. "Why are they all looking at me like that?" she wondered, her pace quickening. Finally, just as she was about to reach her room, she nearly collided with her head maid, Lorraine. Lorraine''s eyes went wide with surprise, and she stared at Lortell as if she''d just seen a ghost. "Lady Mariette, did something happen?" Lorraine asked, her voice filled with concern. Lortell felt a wave of unease wash over her, the knot in her stomach tightening. "Why?" she murmured, her voice so soft that only Lorraine could hear. Lorraine hesitated, scratching her head awkwardly before speaking. "Umm... It''s probably nothing. I guess it''s just my imagination. It''s just... I didn''t know you could smile, Lady Mariette," she said with a nervousugh. Lortell''s heart skipped a beat. "Smiling?"The word echoed in her mind as she quickly turned and hurried into her room, closing the door behind her. She moved straight to therge mirror that dominated one wall, the dim light of the night casting eerie shadows across her face. There, staring back at her in the mirror, was her own reflection¡ªher pale, almost ethereal vampire-like skin glowing softly, her red pupils shining like rubies in the dark. But what caught her attention most was the subtle curve of her lips, a small smirk that danced at the edges of her mouth, as if she were holding onto a secret joke. Lortell blinked in surprise, her breath catching in her throat. For a moment, she was shocked, her mind racing to understand what she was seeing. But then, as the realization settled in, the anxiety that had gripped her began to ease. She reached out, her fingers gently touching the cool surface of the mirror where her reflection smiled back at her. Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, that smirk widened, stretching into a full smile. And then, without warning, a soft chuckle escaped her lips. "Pfft..." The sound startled her, but it only made the smile grow wider, her eyes sparkling with an unfamiliar warmth. She couldn''t help it. The chuckle turned into augh¡ªa small, hesitantugh at first, but soon it grew louder, filling the room with a sound that was both innocent and eerie, like the firstughter of someone who had never known what it felt like to be truly happy. "Hahaha... Bwahahaha!" Lortellughed, her voice carrying a strange mix of joy and something darker, almost unsettling. Sheughed so hard that she fell onto her bed, her body shaking with each breath as she tried to catch her breath. Theughter slowly faded, her giggles turning into soft, contented sighs. Shey there, staring up at the ceiling, her chest rising and falling as she whispered to herself, "I must be going insane... hahaha..." But even as she said it, a lingering smile remained on her lips, a smile that spoke of something deeper, something awakening inside her for the very first time. Lortelly in bed, trying to findfort as sleep eluded her. She shifted from one side to the other, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t drift off. With a heavy sigh, she muttered to herself, "Ugh... I can''t fall asleep again." But this time, she thought she knew why. The name that echoed in her mind was Esdeath. Esdeath always seemed to know so much, always had answers for everything. So why not this? Maybe Esdeath could exin why she couldn''t sleep. With a sudden burst of determination, Lortell tossed the covers aside and quietly slipped out of her room. Esdeath''s room was only a few doors down, to the left. The hallway was silent, and the night wrapped the house in a thick nket of stillness. No one noticed as Lortell crept through the shadows and reached Esdeath''s door. Without hesitation, she slipped inside. There, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight streaming through the window, Esdeath slept peacefully on her bed. She looked almost otherworldly, like a snow fairy resting in a winter wondend. Yet, despite the serene expression on her face, the faint red circles around her eyes betrayed the exhaustion that clung to her even in sleep. Lortell moved closer, her initial n to wake Esdeath fading as she took in the sight before her. Something about Esdeath''s contented face sent a strange thrill through Lortell''s body. She paused, sitting on the edge of the bed, her gaze locked onto Esdeath as if she were trying to solve some deep mystery hidden within her. For a few moments, Lortell simply watched, mesmerized. Her hand moved almost on its own, gently brushing against Esdeath''s cheek. The touch was light, hesitant, yet it stirred something deep within her. Without thinking, her fingers trailed to Esdeath''s lips, parting them slightly, revealing the glint of her teeth. Lortell''s heart quickened as she leaned closer, her face mere inches from Esdeath''s. It was as if an invisible force was pulling her closer, urging her to close the gap. Her lips hovered near Esdeath''s, the warmth of her breath mingling with the cool air of the room. For a split second, Lortell imagined what it would be like to kiss her, the thought both thrilling and terrifying.@@novelbin@@ But just as her fangs began to sharpen with a burning need, she caught herself. The urge to bite, to sink her teeth into Esdeath''s soft flesh, red up like a spark, but she shook her head, forcing the thought away. No... this wasn''t right. Lortell drew back, her breathing in soft, shallow puffs. Instead of acting on her impulses, she quietlyy down beside Esdeath, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and curiosity. As she settled in, the warmth of Esdeath''s presence next to her began to soothe her restless thoughts. Before she knew it, her mind drifted into a peaceful void, her worries fading away. The next thing Lortell knew, it was already morning. A gentle ray of golden sunlight streamed through the window, warming her face. The soft light coaxed her awake, and she blinked a few times, adjusting to the brightness. With a satisfied yawn, she quickly sat up, feeling unusually well-rested. As she looked around, it took her a moment to realize where she was. Esdeath''s room. She had fallen asleep in Esdeath''s room. The memory of the night before came rushing back, and her cheeks flushed slightly. Her gaze shifted to the small table beside the bed, where a steaming cup of tea was waiting. There was no doubt that Esdeath had already woken up and made it for her. Lortell reached for the cup but paused as she caught the nket that had slipped off her shoulders. The scent of Esdeath lingered in the fabric, still fresh andforting. Lortell couldn''t resist; she brought the nket closer to her face and took a deep breath, her heart skipping a beat as the familiar smell filled her senses. Her cheeks flushed deeper, and she quickly ced the nket back, almost embarrassed by her own actions. Grabbing the cup of tea, she drank it all in one sip, the warmth spreading through her body. A small smile of satisfaction appeared on her lips as she settled back on the bed, waiting for Esdeath toe in and greet her with some teasing remark or yful banter. But minutes passed, and Esdeath still hadn''t shown up. Lortell''s smile faded into a frown as she nced at the clock. "Why is shete again? Is this a new prank likest time?" she muttered, getting up from the bed. The idea that Esdeath might be hiding behind the door crossed her mind, and she quickly went to check. She opened the door, expecting to catch Esdeath in the act, but there was no one there. The hallway was empty. A sense of unease began to creep in. Lortell hurried out of the room and gged down one of the maids. "Where''s Esdeath?" she asked, her voice tinged with impatience. The maid gave a polite bow and replied, "Miss Esdeath is with her friends in the garden." "Friends?" Lortell echoed, a sinking feeling in her chest. The only ''friends'' Esdeath had were the kids who constantly bullied her. Worry gripped Lortell, and without even changing out of her nightclothes, she rushed toward the garden. As she neared the garden, she could already see a group of children gathered there, but one person was noticeably absent¡ªEsdeath. Panic welled up inside her. She pushed through the group and grabbed one of the kids by the arm, her grip firm. "Where''s Esdeath?" she demanded, her eyes shing with urgency. The boy she had caught looked terrified. His face paled as if he might faint at any moment. "T-t-that idiot Morgan," the boy stammered, pointing to a grey-haired boy standing at the edge of the group. "He hid her book inside the jungle, and Esdeath went to retrieve it. But we... we heard cries of a werewolf from there!" Lortell gasped, her blood running cold. "What?!" she gasped, her eyes widening in shock. Her mind raced, thoughts swirling in a chaotic storm. Esdeath was in danger, and it was all because of that foolish boy, Morgan. For a brief moment, all she wanted was to tear into him, to make him pay for putting Esdeath at risk. But now wasn''t the time for revenge. There were more important things at stake. Ignoring the fearful nces of the children around her, Lortell turned and dashed toward the forest. She barely noticed the others watching her, their eyes filled with worry and fear. All that mattered was getting to Esdeath. As she entered the dense woods, Lortell withdrew her mana, letting it spread out like an invisible, searching, feeling. Her senses sharpened, and soon, she could detect the presence of two figures deep within the forest¡ªone human girl and one female werewolf, facing off against each other. There was no doubt in her mind¡ªthe girl was Esdeath. Lortell''s breath caught in her throat as panic began to set in. Her breaths grew heavy, her chest tightening with each inhale. Sweat beaded on her forehead, trickling down in thin streams as her entire body became drenched in cold perspiration. She was panting now, her initial burst of speed slowing to a crawl. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat feeling heavier and morebored than thest. "Huff... Huff... I''m faster than this. So why... why can''t I move?" she thought frantically, her hand clutching at her chest as if trying to calm the wild rhythm of her heart. And then, suddenly, it hit her. The realization was like a bolt of lightning. Her eyes widened in shock as the truth dawned on her. "Is this... fear?" Lortell, who had always been so strong, so confident, felt the icy grip of fear wrap around her for the very first time. At just ten years old, a girl who was already on par with B-ranked awakened, Lortell had never known what it was to be truly afraid. But now, standing alone in the foreboding forest, she felt it deep in her bones¡ªthe fear of losing someone precious to her. Wanna Do It? Lortell was afraid for the first time in her life, but she couldn''t let fear stop her. Not now, not ever. With fierce determination, she clenched her fists and whispered, "Warrior Guts Essence." Instantly, the power of the C-rank essence stone she carried red to life, flooding her mind with strength. The stone''s energy amplified her mental fortitude a hundredfold, sharpening her focus and pushing the fear to the back of her mind. She took a deep breath, her resolve solidifying as she forced her trembling legs to move. "Lightning Charge Essence," shemanded, and immediately, her feet began to glow with crackling red lightning. *Woshh...* In a sh, she dashed forward at a speed so fast that normal eyes couldn''t even track her movements. Within seconds, she had reached the ce where Esdeath was. There she saw Esdeath, clutching a book tightly in both hands¡ªa precious book written by Jeanne d''Arc. But standing before her was a young female werewolf, in her prime, muscles tensed and eyes filled with fury. It was the same werewolf that had been rejected by a male, and now she was ready to unleash her rage on Esdeath. But Lortell was toote. The werewolf let out a vicious roar, her jaws opening wide as she lunged at Esdeath, aiming to bite her head off. Esdeath, in a desperate attempt to protect herself, stumbled backward. Her foot caught on a stone, throwing her off bnce. Lortell''s heart skipped a beat as she watched in horror. But then, something unexpected happened¡ªEsdeath''s unsteady movement caused her to fall backward just in time, dodging the fatal bite. Instead, the werewolf''s powerful jaws mped down on Esdeath''s hand, tearing through her four fingers and shredding the book she was holding. Blood sprayed from Esdeath''s palm as she cried out in agony, her voice echoing through the forest. "You bitch!" Lortell''s voice was filled with fury, her face contorted in rage. She had never felt such anger before¡ªnot like this. It wasn''t just anger; it was an overwhelming, all-consuming wrath that burned hotter than anything she''d ever experienced. Without hesitation, before the werewolf could strike again, Lortell appeared right in front of her, her movements faster than a blink. BAMM!.... Lortell''s fist connected with the werewolf''s face in a powerful punch, the impact so forceful that it caused half of the werewolf''s body to explode on the spot. The shockwave from the blow was so immense that it sent trees crashing down and boulders flying, carving out a new pathway in the forest. "So, is this anger?" Lortell stood there, panting heavily, her hand still trembling from the force of her punch. Her heart pounded in her chest, a wild mix of fear and the intense rage that had driven her to strike so violently. The werewolf was defeated, but the sight of Esdeath''s bloodied hand wouldn''t leave her mind. It gnawed at her, filling her with an overwhelming sense of dread and guilt. Without a second thought, she rushed over to Esdeath''s side. "Heal, heal, heal... heal... heal!" Lortell chanted the healing spell over and over, her voice frantic as she poured all her mana into mending Esdeath''s wounded hand. The magic flowed endlessly, her desperation evident in each word. Esdeath''s hand had already healed, the skin smooth and unmarked, but Lortell couldn''t stop. Her healing was an overkill, a frenzied way of showing how much she cared. "Stop... stop... it''s already healed," Esdeath''s soft, cute voice finally reached Lortell''s ears, pulling her out of her panic. The words made Lortell freeze, her hands hovering above Esdeath''s now-perfect hand. But instead of rxing, Lortell suddenly grabbed Esdeath and hugged her tightly, as if she were afraid to let go. "W-w-why? Why, why, why, why... why... why do you always get into trouble?" Lortell''s voice was trembling, filled with a menacing tone that bordered on obsession. She pulled back just enough to take Esdeath''s face in her hands, forcing her to look directly into her eyes. "Should I cut off your legs so you can stay in front of me?" Lortell''s voice dropped to a chilling whisper, her red eyes glowing with an intense, almost terrifying light. For a moment, she looked like a yandere, her love twisted into something dark and dangerous. But just as quickly as the thought came, Lortell snapped back to herself. "Wait... what am I saying? I can''t hurt you, can I? Haha... how foolish of me," she muttered, her voice shaky as she tried tough it off, like she was talking to herself. It was clear to anyone watching that something was wrong¡ªLortell''s mind was not stable, her emotions swinging wildly from one extreme to the other. But instead of being scared, a charming smile appeared on Esdeath''s face. She gently wrapped her arms around Lortell, pulling her into aforting embrace. "Calm down... calm down... I''m not going anywhere again, I promise," Esdeath whispered soothingly, her voice steady and warm. She held Lortell close, hoping to ease the storm raging inside her. Lortell''s face flushed a deep red as she looked at Esdeath''s face and body again. Her cheeks burned, and a wave of intense heat washed over her, spreading through her entire body as if she were on fire. It wasn''t just warmth¡ªit was an overwhelming sensation that made her heart race and her thoughts blur. "Were you always this seductive?",As Lortell''s gaze lingered on Esdeath''s youthful and enchanting form, she felt a hunger stirring inside her, something raw and uncontroble. Her mouth began to water, and she couldn''t stop the saliva that dripped from her lips. Every inch of Esdeath''s body seemed to call to her, igniting a deep obsession that drove Lortell to the edge. With her eyes filled with lust and greed, Lortell leaned in closer, her mouth opening as she gave in to the overwhelming urge. She sank her teeth into Esdeath''s neck, biting down with a mix of desire and need. "Tch..." Esdeath gasped softly, feeling the sharp sting, but she quickly rxed, realizing that Lortell was a vampire. She didn''t cry out, instead letting Lortell drink her blood without resistance. Lortell''srge fangs sank deeper, and she drank eagerly, each drop of Esdeath''s blood bringing her an almost unbearable satisfaction. But it wasn''t just satisfaction¡ªthere was something else, a rush of arousal that swept through her like a tidal wave. The taste of Esdeath''s blood was so intoxicating that it made Lortell''s body react in ways she couldn''t control. A thick, warm liquid started to flow from Lortell''s private parts, an undeniable sign of how deeply she was affected. She wasn''t like a normal human, and the amount of liquid was overwhelming, a physical manifestation of her intense emotions. Finally, Lortell pulled her fangs out of Esdeath''s neck and clung to her, her legs trembling so much that she could barely stand. She held onto Esdeath for support, breathing heavily as she whispered, "I... I came so hard." A wave of intense pleasure had washed over her, bringing her to orgasm just from the act of drinking Esdeath''s blood. A satisfied smile spread across her face, her eyes half-lidded as she basked in the afterglow. Lortell stared at Esdeath, who stood there,pletely unfazed by the fact that Lortell was a vampire. Esdeath''s calm demeanor made Lortell''s hunger for her even more intense, her desire not fading in the slightest. "Don''t worry, I''m not gonna tell anyone. Rest assured!" Esdeath said with her usual gentle smile, as if nothing had happened. But Lortell wasn''t focused on her words. Her gaze lingered on Esdeath, and she couldn''t shake the deep craving that gnawed at her insides. She licked her lips slowly, a lustful gleam in her eyes. "Say, Esdeath, wanna do it?" she asked, her voice low and filled with unspoken desire. Esdeath blinked, puzzled. "Do what?" Lortell was about to exin, her lips parting to give the answer, but before she could finish, a voice interrupted her. "Esdeath... Esdeath, my daughter!" came the frantic cries of a man and a woman. "Lady Mariette, are you here?" called out the head maid, Lorraine. "Tch, ruined my mood!" Lortell sneered, irritation shing in her eyes.@@novelbin@@ "There they are! I saw them!" Lorraine shouted, rushing forward. Esdeath''s parents, Nyx and her mother, spotted Esdeath and hurried to her, their faces filled with concern. As they reached her, they pulled her into a tight embrace, tears welling up in their eyes. Lorraine, too, approached Lortell to check on her, but her attention was suddenly drawn to arge puddle of thick, transparent liquid on the ground. "What''s this? What happened here?" Lorraine asked, puzzled, as she reached out to touch the liquid. Before she could, Lortell quickly intervened. "That''s just the werewolf''s saliva. It attacked Esdeath, and I killed it. Nothing else happened!" Lortell''s voice was calm, without a hint of deception. "Really? This smell is kind of familiar, but if you say so... It''s not hard to believe you could defeat a mere werewolf," Lorraine replied, still slightly confused. Her gaze shifted to the half-corpse of the werewolf nearby, confirming Lortell''s story in her mind. Esdeath''s parents turned to Lortell, their expressions full of gratitude. "Thank you for saving our daughter," they said, their voices thick with emotion. Lortell simply nodded, but her mind was elsewhere. The encounter had left her unsatisfied, her desires unfulfilled. She watched as Esdeath''s parents fussed over her, feeling a strange mix of emotions¡ªrelief that Esdeath was safe, but also frustration that their moment had been interrupted. Lorraine walked calmly toward Lortell, her expressionposed as she came to stand beside her. Though her eyes seemed focused elsewhere, she leaned in close and whispered, her voice low and careful, "Mydy, I''ve been noticing your behavior for quite a while now. I think you owe me an exnation for what''s going on between you two... and especially about that ''saliva,''" she said, her tone hinting at suspicion, all while maintaining a warm smile directed at Esdeath''s parents to keep them from realizing that something might be wrong. Lortell remained still, her face unreadable as she listened. But inside, her mind raced. She knew Lorraine was perceptive¡ªshe always had been. Lortell could feel the pressure of Lorraine''s silent demand for the truth, but now was not the time to reveal everything. She needed to act carefully. Without turning to face Lorraine, Lortell replied quietly, her voice steady and authoritative, "Lorraine, I know you have to report everything to Father, but before you do, I have an order for you..." Lorraine''s breath caught slightly, sensing the seriousness in Lortell''s words. "Kill every werewolf in this area," -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think I''m definitely going hell after writing this novel. Hmmm.. did I did the right thing by writing backstory first? or I should have wrote it after fifty or sixty chapterster? well whatever, anyone who''s wondering there''s still two or three chapter of back story still remains, And then we move on to present. What do you think, Which version is more urate of kid esdeath?, well I does have more versions btw... Desire (18+) Lortell sat alone in her dimly lit room, her fingers delicately holding three clear, round stones and two small, square, grey stones that resembled little cement blocks. The weight of her thoughts seemed to match the stones in her hands as she studied them closely, her brow furrowed in deep contemtion. "I have two ''Week Eraser Essence Stones'' and three ''Liar Essence Stones,''" she murmured, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction. "But this isn''t enough." She sighed heavily, the sound filled with frustration. The Week Eraser Essence Stone was a rank D stone, appearing as a crystal-clear orb that could erase the memory of someone for the past seven days. The Liar Essence Stone, a rank C stone, was small and grey, resembling a tiny brick of cement, capable of making someone believe any lie told to them. Both were expendable essence stones, meant to be used once before vanishing into nothingness. The advantage was that they required no refining; a simple infusion of mana would activate them. "If I merge two Week Eraser Essence Stone with one Liar Essence Stone, I''ll get a Rank C Brainwash Essence Stone," Lortell calcted, her eyes narrowing with a mix of ambition and unease. "With that, I could brainwash Esdeath''s parents, make them forget they ever had a daughter, or even convince them to send her to my pce... Yes, that should do it." But doubt flickered in her mind, casting a shadow over her determined thoughts. "But what about Esdeath?" she whispered, her heart suddenly heavy. "I haven''t even told her that I love her. Does she love me too, or is she just being nice? She''s barely eight years old¡­" Her mind raced with conflicting emotions. She could feel the obsessive pull tightening around her heart. "I''ll have to make two Brainwash Essence Stones," she decided, her tone resolute. "One for her parents, and one for Esdeath herself. That way, she''ll belong to me and only me." A satisfied smile curled her lips as she envisioned the future she desired.@@novelbin@@ But the smile faded quickly as another problem presented itself. "I''ll need another Week Eraser Essence Stone for that... Where do I get it?" She frowned, realizing the limitations of her resources. Being the daughter of an arch-duke had its perks; she had ess to these rare mind-manipting essence stones that most politicians used to control and deceive others. But finding another stone would be difficult, especially one that could protect against simr maniptions. But that wasn''t the main point, Main point is she isn''t at pce anymore, if she wants another essence stone then she''ll have to get by herself, Of course she can''t tell anyone about this either. Her thoughts darkened as the most challenging question arose. "Lorraine..." Lortell whispered the name with a mix of dread and irritation. "What about her? She''s a B-rank Awakened. This Rank C Brainwash Stone or the Rank D Week Eraser won''t work on her. And if I try to kill her, I might cause a ruckus... I can''t afford that." The room seemed to close in around her as Lortell considered her options. Her mind was a storm of fear, obsession, and ruthless calction. Every n had its risks, and every risk brought her closer to danger. But the thought of losing Esdeath, of not making her entirely hers, was unbearable. Lortell exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of her thoughts fade away as she stretched her arms above her head. "Let''s forget it for now," she murmured to herself, letting the tension in her muscles release. "I''ll think about it tomorrow." At that moment, the door creaked open, and Esdeath stepped inside, carrying a tray of food. Lortell hadn''t bothered to go for breakfast, lunch, or dinner today, so it had be routine for Esdeath to deliver her meals directly to her room. Esdeath''s gaze was fixed on the ground, her steps hesitant and nervous. She had recently discovered that Lortell was a vampire, a revtion that would terrify even the bravest warrior. But while Esdeath hadn''t screamed or run away, the fear still lingered in her heart. Esdeath stood there, unsure of how to start. The silence between them was thick with unspoken words, her mind racing to find the right thing to say. But before she could gather her thoughts, Lortell made the first move. Lortell got out of bed, her movements graceful and deliberate. She walked over to Esdeath, took the te from her hands, and set it down on the nearby table without a word. Then, without warning, she wrapped her arms around Esdeath from behind, pulling her close. Lortell leaned in, her breath warm against Esdeath''s ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "I don''t need to eat that," Lortell whispered, her voice dripping with desire. "Today, my meal is you." Lortell''s lips brushed against Esdeath''s ear, her voice low and sultry. "Say, Esdeath, wanna do it?" she asked, the words heavy with implication. Esdeath''s breath hitched as she felt Lortell''s warmth pressing against her. "Do... do what?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, her nerves tingling. Lortell''s eyes darkened with an intense lust as she leaned in closer, her voice a hushed whisper, "Fuck." She chuckled softly, her breath warm against Esdeath''s skin. "Hehehe... Don''t tell me you don''t know what I''m talking about. Don''t worry, I''ll make you understand," she teased, her hands slipping beneath Esdeath''s skirt with a slow, deliberate touch. "I... I love you," Lortell dered, her voice filled with a mix of hunger and desperation. "I want you, and only you. So, you''ll have to love me too. Be mine," she whispered as her fingers gently found their way to Esdeath''s most intimate spot. As Lortell''s finger slid inside her, Esdeath gasped, her body trembling at the unfamiliar sensation. A soft moan escaped her lips, her eyes wide with surprise and confusion. "What''s this? I feel... strange," she murmured, her voice shaky as she experienced something entirely new and overwhelming. Esdeath''s innocent eyes sparkled like those of a lost puppy, seekingfort and understanding in Lortell''s gaze. Seeing that look of vulnerability, Lortell couldn''t hold back any longer. She captured Esdeath''s lips in a deep, passionate kiss, her tongue sliding into Esdeath''s mouth, exploring and tasting her. Their mouths moved together, tongues dancing, and their breaths mingled as the kiss grew more intense. The heat between them was undeniable, and even their saliva mixed as their desire for each other became overwhelming. Esdeath''s heart raced as she surrendered to the moment, her body responding to every touch and kiss. The emotions swirling within her were confusing and new, but Lortell''s touch made everything feel right, even if it was overwhelming. In that heated embrace, the space between them vanished as Lortell''s fingers delicately slid under Esdeath''s T-shirt. The fabric lifted slowly, revealing Esdeath''s smooth, t chest. Lortell''s fingers traced over her skin, sending shivers down Esdeath''s spine. When Lortell pressed her fingertips against Esdeath''s sensitive nipples, a sharp breath escaped Esdeath''s lips. "NMHH~..." Esdeath''s moan echoed through the room, growing louder with each yful touch Lortell made. The sensation was overwhelming, and Esdeath''s body responded eagerly to every caress. With a graceful motion, Lortell lifted Esdeath into her arms, cradling her like a precious treasure. She carried Esdeath to the bed with ease, her gaze filled with a mix of affection and desire. Gently, she began to undress Esdeath, starting with the T-shirt, then slowly peeling off the skirt, and finally removing the delicate fabric of her panties. Each piece of clothing fell to the floor, leaving Esdeath exposed to Lortell''s hungry gaze. Lortell''s smile was filled with lust as she slowly undressed herself, piece by piece. Her eyes never left Esdeath''s trembling form. Once she was free of her clothes, she wasted no time and leaped onto the bed, her body pressing eagerly against Esdeath''s. Her mouth found Esdeath''s nipples, and without hesitation, she bit down gently, causing Esdeath to gasp. "Ahh... Mhhnn.~" Esdeath''s moans grew louder, her voice thick with pleasure as Lortell''s tongue teased her relentlessly. The warmth of Lortell''s breath against her skin sent waves of sensation through her body, making it hard to think of anything else. "Say my name!" Lortellmanded, her voice husky as she licked Esdeath''s flushed cheeks, her breath hot against Esdeath''s ear. "Lady Mariette... Ummhh~" Esdeath moaned, her voice trembling as she called out Lortell''s name, her tone filled with need. "Louder... Louder!" Lortell demanded, the sound of Esdeath''s voice only heightening her pleasure. Every moan, every breathless cry from Esdeath, fed Lortell''s desire, pushing her to im Esdeath''s body even more fiercely. Lortell''s eyes gleamed with a mix of mischief and desire as she lowered herself towards Esdeath''s p*ssy, her breath warm against Esdeath''s trembling skin. With a teasing smile, Lortell began to explore, her tongue tracing delicate patterns that sent waves of pleasure coursing through Esdeath''s body. Esdeath gasped, her breath hitching as her muscles tightened, the overwhelming sensations making her grip Lortell''s head more firmly. Every touch, every movement sent Esdeath spiraling deeper into a sea of ecstasy. Her moans grew louder, each one escaping her lips with increasing urgency. "I¡­ I can''t hold it¡­ something''sing¡­ I feel like I''m going to burst!" Esdeath''s voice was a breathy whisper, filled with a mix of embarrassment and undeniable pleasure. Ssh... Ssh.. Ssh... And then, with a final, shuddering gasp, Esdeath felt herself release, a wave of intense pleasure washing over her. Lortell''s eyes sparkled with satisfaction as she felt the warm liquid on her skin. She smiled up at Esdeath, her lips brushing against Esdeath''s thigh as she whispered, "There it is¡­" Lortell''s tongue flicked out to taste the sweetness of Esdeath''s release, savoring the moment with a sense of fulfillment. Her own body thrummed with the shared intensity of the experience, and the room seemed to hum with the lingering electricity of their connection. Lortell didn''t stop there. She made Esdeathe again and again, pushing her to the brink of losing consciousness. Esdeath''s pupils were dull, barely focusing, as if she could faint at any moment, but her moans only grew louder, echoing through the room and beyond. "No more... Please, no more... AH... ahhh..." Esdeath begged, her voice shaky and desperate. "Then say it," Lortellmanded, her voice firm and unyielding. "Say, ''I love you.''" Esdeath,pletely broken by the overwhelming pleasure, obeyed like a loyal dog. "I love you... Ahh... I love Lady Mariette so much... hahah," sheughed breathlessly, her mind lost in the waves of ecstasy that consumed her. Lortell had lost track of how long she''d been ravaging Esdeath, but finally, she stopped. They both copsed onto the bed, their bodies exhausted. Lortelly back, her breathing steady as she looked at Esdeath, who curled up beside her like a helpless child. Esdeath''s eyes fluttered shut, her face peaceful, as she nestled close to Lortell''s chest, the two of them wrapped together in the same milky white sheets, almost like a husband and wife. "I should make this day memorable," Lortell thought, a wicked smile ying on her lips. She raised one hand, murmuring, "Photo-Audio Magic." "Chtick..." A small sound echoed in the room as a magical photo was taken, capturing the intimate moment. Lortell made a yful pose, sticking out her tongue and licking Esdeath''s cheek, a silent deration that Esdeath''s body now belonged to her,pletely and utterly. Just as Lortell thought everything was going perfectly, her luck suddenly ran out. The door swung open with a loud crash, and there, standing in the doorway, were Esdeath''s mother and father, with Lorraine, the head maid, beside them. They had followed the sounds of moaning, curious and concerned, only to find their daughter lying in bed, ravaged by none other than Lortell, the Archduke''s daughter. For a moment, the room was filled with a heavy, suffocating silence. The shock on Esdeath''s parents'' faces quickly twisted into something far darker. Rage. Pure, unfiltered rage. Esdeath''s mother''s eyes burned with fury, her hands trembling as she took in the sight before her. She had always imagined her daughter growing up, finding love in a way that was proper and dignified. Lortell was the Archduke''s daughter, someone powerful and respected. If she had only waited until Esdeath was older, perhaps then they could have epted her proposal. They might have even celebrated their love, telling the world that their daughter and Lortell had found happiness together, despite being two women. But now? This reckless act had shattered any hope of that. Esdeath''s father clenched his fists, his knuckles white as he struggled to contain the anger boiling inside him. His daughter, his precious little girl, had been defiled in a way that no parent could forgive easily. The trust they had in Lortell, in the Archduke''s family, was now broken. How could she do something so reckless, so selfish? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yeah, I''m pretty bad at writing smut and used some illogical things but better ignore it. I''m still novice in writing Second Place? "Third andst thing," Sylvia announced, her voice cutting through the chatter, "is the Essence Stone Refinement Test." The room went silent, and students gasped in surprise. A test on the first day? No one had expected that. Sylvia opened a drawer in her desk and pulled out a small, star-shaped crystal about the size of a finger. "This is a rank E Essence Stone, called Moonde," she exined, holding the shimmering crystal up for everyone to see. "It gives you the ability to draw out a sharp crystal de from your hand, like a knife. Each of you will take one of these stones and try to refine it." She paused, letting the information sink in. Some students looked nervous, while others seemed eager for the challenge. "There''s no punishment if you can''t refine it," Sylvia added, trying to ease the tension. "But... the first person to sessfully refine the stone will earn twenty silver coins." That announcement sent a ripple of excitement through the room. For themoners, twenty silver coins were a small fortune. Their eyes lit up with anticipation, their excitement reaching a fever pitch. Even the wealthier students couldn''t help but be interested. Everyone loves a chance to prove themselves, and the idea of showing they were better than the others made theirpetitive spirits re up. Sylvia knew this well. The teachers wanted to see who had the most talent, who would stand out in this diverse group of students. The room buzzed with energy, the students all mentally preparing themselves for the challenge ahead. Ethan couldn''t help but nce at the star-shaped stone, already strategizing how he would approach the test. .... Ethan sat cross-legged on his bed in his private room, staring intently at the star-shaped Moonde crystal in his hand. He gripped it tightly, feeling the weight of the challenge ahead. "On the surface, it looks like those with high ESR talent have the advantage," he thought, analyzing the situation. "But in reality, they''re taking the biggest risk. This is just a rank E stone, not one that needs a massive amount of mana. High aptitude students might push too hard and end up causing their stones to explode, losing their chance entirely. On the other hand, students with lower ESR talent might take longer, but they have a better shot at seeding... that is, if this is their first time." He considered the different levels of talent. "For normal students, it might take at least two weeks to refine this stone. B-grade students, if they do everything perfectly, could manage it in six or seven days. And the A-grade talents? They could finish in just two or three days. I remember the princess was the first to refine hers, doing it by the next evening. With her natural talent and high ESR, she won thepetition," he thought, feeling a mix of admiration and curiosity. Although even ethan didn''t know that the princess is only a C-grade talent. The teachers helped her win to build her reputation. Ethan nced out the window, noticing that night had already fallen. The rain poured down steadily, each drop creating a soothing rhythm that washed over the scene outside. The peaceful atmosphere seemed to rx everything around it, even sparking a hint of romantic feelings in the air. Ethan couldn''t help but smile, findingfort in the serene moment. But his thoughts soon shifted back to more serious matters. "Status," he muttered, and instantly, a holographic screen appeared in front of him, disying information. --- Name: Ethan Rothyer Title: Regressor Attributes: - Strength 6 - Stamina: 7.2 - Speed: 6.5 - Magic Power: 80 Current Skills in Possession: - Genius Hour (B) Upgradable: When activated, Strength increases by 20%, Stamina by 25%, and Speed by 30% for one hour. Cooldown: 24 hours. - Righteous (B) Upgradable: The body slowly heals over time while fighting for a righteous cause. If near defeat, Stamina snd fatigue resets once, and pain is numbed for an hour. - Bleeding (C): Wounds inflicted by you continue to bleed until fully healed with magic. Ethan stared at the floating screen before him, a mix of curiosity and frustration in his eyes. "This thing... I''ve been able to see it ever since I regressed," he thought, trying to make sense of the mysterious system that had be a part of his life. "Who gave it to me? Why do I have it?" These questions had gued him since the moment it first appeared, but no answers hade. He knew one thing for certain: the system had its benefits. "It gives me skills, sometimes even rewards, when I defeat monsters," he mused, recalling the times it had proven useful. But there was still so much uncertainty. "What will it give me if I manage to defeat a demon?" The thought lingered in his mind, sparking a flicker of both excitement and apprehension. Ethan sighed deeply, pushing aside the questions that had no immediate answers. With a thought, he dismissed the status screen, watching as it faded from view. "For now, I have to focus on what''s ahead," he reminded himself, knowing that dwelling on the unknown wouldn''t get him any closer to his goals. Ethan''s status screen was noticeably different from Esdeath''s. She had SP (Self-worth Points) and a "job" section, things that Ethan''s statuscked. But how could he know? As far as he was concerned, he was the only one with this mysterious system. He returned to his bed, sitting cross-legged with the star-shaped Moonde essence stone in hand. "If I start refining now, With my previous life''s experience, even as a B-rank student, it''ll still take me two or three days, just like the A-grade students," he sighed, feeling a bit disappointed. "But that won''t be enough to win thepetition." However, he reminded himself that he didn''t actually need to win. "When I topped the exam, I was rewarded with twenty silver coins. I don''t need toe out on top¡ªI just need to prove my worth as a ss A student," he thought, feeling more satisfied with his n. Determined, he decided to spend the entire night refining the essence stone. Just as he was about to begin, something unexpected happened. A notification shed before him. "Ding!" Ethan''s eyes widened in surprise. "What? How?" he gasped. "Ding!" Ethan breathed out loudly, astonished. This was the first time he''d seen something that could refine an essence stone instantly. "Yes!" he shouted, hardly able to believe his luck. The essence stone flew out of his hand and was absorbed into the status hologram. For a moment, panic gripped him¡ªwhat if something went wrong? But just as quickly, another notification appeared. As the message popped up, a shuriken-shaped tattoo appeared on Ethan''s right hand, marking the sessful refinement of the essence stone. Ethan couldn''t contain his excitement. A wide smile spread across his face as he thought, "Does this mean I''m the first?" As the thought struck him, Ethan couldn''t stay still any longer. He jumped out of bed, not even bothering to grab an umbre, and sprinted out of his room, heading straight for the academy. Reputation was everything, especially for someone like Ethan who had big ns for the future. He knew that if he could build a solid reputation and rack up some achievements, it might even lead to a promotion to nobility¡ªa crucial step in forming a strong team to face the cmities he knew wereing.@@novelbin@@ The rain poured down heavily, soaking his clothes within moments, but Ethan didn''t care. Ordinary rain wouldn''t make him sick, and his determination was stronger than the difort. It was around 9 PM, and he was sure that Sylvia and other teachers who lived on campus would still be around, likely in their offices. With his intimate knowledge of the academy''syout, it didn''t take long for him to reach Sylvia''s office. He knocked on the door, his heart pounding with anticipation. Knock... Knock... Knock... The door swung open, revealing Sylvia, her free-flowing hair framing her surprised face. Her yellow eyes widened as she took in Ethan''s drenched appearance. "What are you doing here? Your clothes are soaking wet!" Ethan, too excited to care about his soaked clothes, thrust his right palm forward. "Forget about that! Look at this!" Sylvia''s eyes shifted to his hand, and her shock deepened. "You... you refined the Moonde Essence Stone?" A proud smile spread across Ethan''s face as he scratched the back of his head, ready to bask in her praise. "Does that mean I''m the firs¡ª" But before he could finish, Sylvia interrupted him, pping her hands in excitement. "I can''t believe it! You refined it so early despite being a B grade! Just what is happening today? First her, and now you... Anyway, congrattions on getting second ce!" Her words hit Ethan like a bucket of cold water. His smile froze, and his eyes widened in disbelief. "Second ce? Second ce?" he repeated, the shock clear in his voice. How could he not be the first? ------------------------------------------------------- Sooooo...... How many of you want predictor back? and if yes then, As a girl or boy? I actually nned to kill him forever but let''s see... Class B Rank 6 Esdeath stretched out her arms, feeling the newfound strength pulsing through her body. "Hmm... I guess this should be enough for now. I''ll leave the remaining SP forter," she mused, a satisfied smile curling on her lips. Today had been productive. The thought of how much stronger she had be filled her with a sense of excitement. She couldn''t wait to see how much more she could push herself, but for now, it was time to rx and let everything settle. However, before Esdeath could even lie down, the door to the dorm swung open with a soft creak. Her moment of peace was interrupted as Luna, her roommate, finally entered the room. Luna hadn''t shown up the night before, too terrified after their first encounter with Esdeath. But now that Luna realized Esdeath was just a human like herself, the embarrassment of her overreaction weighed heavily on her. Luna slipped inside, her gaze glued to the floor, clearly trying to avoid eye contact. Her steps were hesitant, almost as if she was walking on eggshells. As she approached her bed, the room filled with an awkward silence. Esdeath raised an eyebrow, watching Luna''s shy behavior. Luna stopped for a moment, then, forcing a smile onto her face, she awkwardly broke the silence. "Are you having a good day?" Luna asked, pretending like the fear from the previous night had never existed. "Just y it cool, Luna¡­ y it cool..." she mentally scolded herself, trying to act casual. Instead of being irritated by the interruption or Luna''s attempt to act normal, Esdeath returned the smile, calm and collected. "Of course," she replied, her voice soft but steady. Luna gave a nervous nod, letting out a forced chuckle. "Haha..." The air between them grew thick with awkwardness, and neither knew what to say next. Luna fidgeted with her fingers, her eyes wandering the room until theynded on a stack of books beside Esdeath. Curious, Luna''s eyes lingered on the titles. Luna grabbed all of the magic books from Esdeath''s desk and started reading the titles aloud, her brow furrowing with confusion. "Strength Boost Magic? Photo-Audio Magic? Change Hair Color? And... Silence Magic?" She blinked, clearly puzzled by the strange mix of spells. "Are you... preparing for the uingpetition or something?" Luna asked, trying to keep a straight face. "But other than Strength Boost Magic, none of these are going to help you, right? I mean, what are you gonna do? Silence your enemies or... change their hair color?" She couldn''t help it. The thought of someone winning a fight by magically giving their opponent a new hairstyle made her burst intoughter. "Pfft... Seriously? Change their hair color?" Luna''s mind wandered, her imagination running wild. "Maybe she''s nning to change her own hair color with magic. Poor thing. If I had ck hair like her, I might have done the same. But what is she nning to do to her enemies? Give them a makeover? Talk about useless magic!" She stifled another giggle,pletely missing the growing tension in the room. When Luna finally nced at Esdeath, she noticed the serious expression on her roommate''s face. Esdeath''s eyes were narrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line. Clearly, Luna''s teasing hadn''t been well-received. Luna''s heart skipped a beat, realizing she might have overstepped. Without another word, she quickly shuffled toward her bed, pulling the nket over herself as fast as possible. "Goodnight!" she blurted out, pretending to sleep, hoping Esdeath wouldn''t hold a grudge. It was a scene straight out of aedy sketch, and if someone had been watching, they''d probably burst outughing at how awkward it was. Esdeath, however, didn''t say a word. She just stared at Luna, shook her head slightly, and climbed into her own bed. "Childish," she muttered under her breath. Soon enough, she drifted off to sleep, and before she knew it, morning had already arrived. Esdeath''s usual routine kicked in. She woke up at 5:30 sharp, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and put on her sports bra and thigh-high leggings for her morning run around the academy grounds. But today was different¡ªshe pushed herself harder,pleting a solid 15ps. After her run, she headed straight to the academy''s training room. Instead of her usual workout routine, Esdeath grabbed a gun for training. This wasn''t your typical gun with bullets, though. Here, you had to pour your mana into the gun, solidifying it into bullets before shooting. No magic circles, no incantations, noplicated forms¡ªjust pure mana. At first, it was a little tricky. Aiming wasn''t easy, and the gun felt awkward in her hands. But Esdeath wasn''t one to give up easily. After a few tries, she adjusted to the weight, and soon, her shots were hitting the targets with perfect uracy. By the end of her session, she had the best aim of anyone in the academy. Feeling aplished, she treated herself to a hot bath before slipping into her academy uniform. ..... Unlike yesterday, ss A, B, and C were now separated, each group heading to their own ssrooms. Esdeath, part of ss B, walked calmly through the hall, her mind focused, but as soon as she entered her ss, she could feel the tension in the air. Whispers filled every corner of the room, boys and girls alike murmuring the same thing¡ªEsdeath. It was clear that the news had spread fast. She hadn''t even sat down before she could already hear their gossip.@@novelbin@@ "Seriously? There''s no way I''m gonna believe that!" one girl said in disbelief, shaking her head. "Yeah, out of all people, *she* was the first toplete the refinement?" another chimed in, her voice dripping with doubt. "It''s impossible with a C-grade aptitude. She must have cheated!" a third girl added, crossing her arms as if the very thought of Esdeath''s sess was offensive. "Definitely cheated!" the whispers grew louder, spreading like wildfire through the ssroom. The word "cheated" hung in the air like a dark cloud, clinging to every conversation. But when it came to how she could have cheated, no one seemed to have an answer. Esdeath was just a baron¡ªshe didn''t have powerful connections or any teachers who would help her. So how could she have possibly pulled it off? By the time Esdeath finally stepped into the ssroom, the whispers abruptly died down. The room fell into an ufortable hush, and everyone pretended to focus on anything but her. No one dared use her out loud, and yet no one congratted her either. The tension was thick, like an invisible wall separating her from the rest of the ss. Esdeath noticed the sudden silence but didn''t care. She kept her usual calm expression, as though their opinions didn''t bother her at all. She could feel their eyes on her, burning with curiosity, doubt, and even jealousy, but she didn''t acknowledge them. As she moved to her seat, her system buzzed, sending her a few notifications. But she ignored them for now, sliding into the second-tost bench in the middle row. She leaned back, her eyes scanning the room briefly before closing for a moment of peace. It didn''t take long before the ssroom door creaked open, and in walked the teacher. To everyone''s surprise, it was Sylvia, one of the more respected instructors. As soon as she entered, the students rose from their seats to greet her in unison. "Good morning, Miss Sylvia!" They quickly sat back down after she waved them off. "Ahem... ahem..." Sylvia cleared her throat as she stood at the front, her eyes sweeping over the ss. "Today''s topic will be about Aura and Stealth." She paused, ncing around the room, and then her eyesnded squarely on Esdeath. "But before we get into that, I have something important to announce." Esdeath''s heart skipped a beat, already knowing what wasing. The teacher''s gaze made it clear. Sylvia turned to the rest of the ss, her voice loud and firm. "I''d like to congratte Esdeath Crimson. She is the first student to refine the Moonde Essence Stone! Let''s give her a round of apuse." For a moment, the room was frozen, and then the slow sound of reluctant pping began to fill the ssroom. The apuse was forced, barely sincere. No one truly wanted to celebrate Esdeath''s sess, but with Sylvia standing right there, they had no choice. The students nced at each other, silently fuming, but their hands continued to p. The sound echoed awkwardly, a mix of frustration and jealousy hidden behind every p. Esdeath, however, remained calm, showing no reaction. She kept her face neutral, only nodding slightly to acknowledge the forced praise. She knew they didn''t mean it, but that didn''t matter to her. Finally, Sylvia raised her hand, signaling for the pping to stop. "Alright, alright, that''s enough," she said with a small smile. "I''ve already rewarded Esdeath with 20 silver coins for her achievement." A wave of jealousy rippled through the room as Sylvia continued, "And one more thing¡ªher rank has gone up. Esdeath Crimson is now ranked ss B, Rank 6." The announcement stirred another round of bitterness from the students, but none of them dared to say anything out loud. Their silent jealousy filled the air like an invisible storm cloud. Esdeath could feel their eyes on her, burning with resentment, but she didn''t let it show. Instead, she nodded calmly, as if none of this mattered to her. Sylvia nced at Esdeath onest time before clearing her throat again. "Okay, okay, now that''s settled. Let''s begin the lecture for today." Side Quest Sylvia stood at the front of the ss, her gaze serious as she began the lesson. "Today, we''ll be talking about something crucial: Aura and Stealth. These two are closely rted, and understanding them could be the difference between life and death on the battlefield." "When a person first awakens their powers," Sylvia started, "a strange thing happens. A blue, fog-like aura surrounds them for about fifteen minutes. During that time, anyone, even normal people, can see this aura without any trouble. It''s as if the air around them is alive. But after that... things change. After those fifteen minutes, that same aura bes invisible to regr people. Only those who have awakened¡ªpeople with magic or special abilities¡ªcan see it after that." She took a step forward, gesturing with her hands as she exined further. "When you start using your mana and mix it with your killing intent, it creates a visible effect. A smoke-like aura forms around your body, visible only to other awakened individuals. This is what we call your true aura. And let me tell you, each aura is unique. Some people will have an aura that looks righteous, glowing with pure colors like golden, Yellow, blue, green, or pink. Others might have a more sinister aura, like ck or blood-red. That''s what we call a death aura." The students leaned in, intrigued. Esdeath, sitting quietly near the back, was already started falling asleep. Sylvia continued, her voice taking on a more intense tone. "To use aura, you first need killing intent. Now, don''t misunderstand me. Killing intent doesn''t mean you need to be a murderer. It''s more about your spirit, your will to fight. And it''s not just the strong who have it¡ªsometimes weaker people can have a stronger killing intent than someone who''s physically stronger. It''s all about your heart and mind." A few students nced at each other, clearly wondering how strong their own killing intent was. Esdeath, however, already fallen asleep without anyone noticing. "When youbine your killing intent with your mana, you can give it form, making it appear as a thick, smoky aura that wraps around your body. This aura can create immense pressure on your opponent. A weak person''s aura might only affect a small space, but as you get stronger, so does your aura''s range and impact." Sylvia''s expression grew more serious as she exined the power differences. "For example, a D-ranked awakened individual''s aura might cover something as small as a garden, while a C-ranked person can affect an entire district. B-ranked individuals can release an aura so powerful that normal people might faint or even die just from being near it. Their aura can spread across a whole city!" "Now, let me tell you about the higher ranks. A-ranked individuals have a terrifying aura. Their aura can crush mountains and affectrge cities, creating a pressure so strong it can bring entire buildings down. But," she paused, her voice dropping, "the gap between A-rank and S-rank is even greater. An S-rank''s aura can affect an entire region. And their aura is so overwhelming that normal people would be turned into nothing more than... meat paste. They wouldn''t even know what hit them. Even C-rank awakened individuals can die if they''re caught in the aura of someone at S-rank." Sylvia stood at the front of the ss, her expression calm but serious. "If any of you are thinking that aura is something you can control to just appear or disappear when you want it to, you''re wrong." "This is where *stealth*es into y," she exined, pacing slowly. "Every awakened individual has a thin or sometimesrgeyer of aura surrounding their body *at all times*. It doesn''t just vanish when you''re not using it¡ªit''s always there, like a protective barrier. Some people who are skilled at detecting aura flow can sense anyone around them without even needing to see them. But, there are times when they can''t. That''s when stealth bes important." Sylvia paused to make sure everyone was following. "A smallyer of aura surrounds you constantly, whether you''re aware of it or not. The only exception to this is when you''re asleep." One of the students raised a hand. "Why when we''re asleep?" Sylvia smiled slightly. "Good question. When you fall asleep, the mana in your body stops flowing around and starts gathering in your heart. That''s why, when you''re asleep, you automatically go into what we call *stealth mode*. Your aura is hidden, and no one can detect you unless they have touch sleeping person''s body and try to detect mana inside that person''s heart.@@novelbin@@ "But," Sylvia continued, "you can''t just go around falling asleep whenever you need to hide, can you? That''s why *stealth magic* was invented. By mastering stealth, you can gather all your mana into your heart while awake, just like when you''re asleep, and hide your aura. This makes it difficult¡ªthough not impossible¡ªfor other awakened individuals to sense you." She raised a finger to emphasize her next point. "However, the effectiveness of your stealth depends on how good you are at it. If your opponent is more skilled at detecting aura, they may still find you, even if you''re trying to hide. But falling asleep is the best, automatic stealth mode¡ª"Even other awakened individuals can''t always tell if the person sleeping in front of them is awakened or not. Unless they pour their own mana into your body to check whether or not you have mana gathered in your heart, you could pass as an ordinary person." Also this was the reason when lortell that night came to esdeath''s room but couldn''t able to find out that esdeath is an awakend person, Esdeath by falling asleep, Was already in automatic stealth mode. Lortell had assumed Esdeath wasn''t awakened because she never bothered to check by pouring mana into her. Esdeath''s stealth had worked perfectly, hiding her true nature from even someone like Lortell, who was usually sharp and hard to deceive. "Ahem¡­ Ahem¡­ But there are species like dragons. They have dragon eyes that can tell if a person is awakened or not with just a nce, whether they''re asleep or awake," Sylvia had exined during the lesson. A few students groaned in frustration. "Damn... Dragons sure are formidable!" one of them eximed. "Yeah, I wish I was a dragon!" another student added, their voice filled with envy. After teaching about how to use stealth and aura, the lesson had flown by, and before anyone realized it, the ss was over. Three more teachers came and went, and by the time the lectures ended, it was already afternoon. Esdeath walked down the academy halls, her mind drifting. "If I''m right," she thought, "the semi-first act should happen in an hour or two." She was ready to head back to her dorm room to prepare, but before she could take another step, a group of boys surrounded her. The boys had smug, arrogant looks on their faces, their eyes filled with lust and mischief. Their cocky, spoiled attitudes made it clear they were trouble. They formed a tight circle around Esdeath, blocking her path. Esdeath''s eyes narrowed slightly as she observed them. "Now, what kind of side quest is this?" she thought, unimpressed by their presence. Despite being tall herself, the boys were still taller, looming over her with dirty grins. One of the boys, with a sneer on his face, stepped forward. "Hehehe... nice hips, long legs, and pretty face," he said arrogantly, his voice dripping with lust. "Now that I''m looking closely, you''re not bad at all." The other boys snickered, feeding off his words. "But let''s get to the point," the boy continued, puffing his chest out as if he had something important to say. "We''re second years. Of course, we have to wee some chosen first years, and guess what? You should feel honored. You''re one of them! Hahaha..." This Girl Is Just Too Shameless Mirael squinted, his curiosity piqued. His gaze flicked down to the namete hanging around her neck, and he read it aloud, with a touch of disbelief. "ss B, Rank 6... Esdeath Crimson?" Before he could dwell on it, one of the delinquent girls snickered, crossing her arms as her gaze swept over Esdeath. "Oh, please. You think you''re something special?" She eyed Esdeath''s tattoos and unconventional outfit, a smirk tugging at her lips. "And those tattoos? Trying to be like us? Pathetic." Her tone dripped with mockery. Mirael stepped forward, closing the distance between him and Esdeath, his gaze boldly sweeping over her. "Seems like someone needs to be taught what happens when they don''t follow orders." His eyes lingered on her chest, tracing the lines of her form with a sinister glint in his eye. Esdeath stood tall, her expression calm, despite the tension building in the air. "Take off your shirt," Mirael ordered with a twisted grin, his voiceced with arrogance. "Let everyone see what''s underneath." A shocked gasp rippled through the crowd, first-year girls covering their mouths in disbelief, while even the boys shifted uneasily. The tension was thick, everyone expecting Esdeath to back down. "Okay," Esdeath said simply, her voice smooth, not a hint of hesitation. "What?" Mirael blinked, clearly not expecting suchpliance. Before anyone could react, Esdeath swiftly raised her hands and ripped open her shirt, sending the buttons flying in all directions. Her bra, toned stomach, and the intricate tattoos snaking across her neck and midriff were now exposed, shocking the crowd with both their boldness and beauty. "She really did it... does she not know fear?" a first-year girl whispered in awe, her eyes wide as she stared at Esdeath. For a brief moment, Mirael''s smug expression faltered, his eyes widening in surprise. But just as quickly, an evil smirk crept back onto his face. "Well, well... I didn''t expect this," he said, his voice low and taunting. "Maybe you''re a masochist. Do you like being humiliated like this?" He chuckled darkly. "I bet you''d enjoy being ravaged in front of everyone." He stepped closer, his hand reaching out toward Esdeath''s chest, his intentions clear. The air was thick with tension, but no one dared to move or speak. Just as his hand was about to make contact, Esdeath''s arm shot up, her fingers wrapping around his wrist with a firm grip, stopping him cold. Mirael froze. A small smile yed on Esdeath''s lips as she held his gaze, her voice soft but full of conviction. "Now, that''s enough. You''ve made my job easier." Her grip tightened ever so slightly. The room fell eerily silent, the tension so thick it was suffocating. Then, a loud, piercing scream shattered the stillness. "Ahhhhhhhh¡­ Help me! Someone, please!" Esdeath''s voice rang out, filled with sheer panic. Her expression transformed in an instant¡ªgone was the calm, confident girl from moments before. Now, she looked terrified, like a helpless woman being chased by her worst nightmare. Without a second thought, she let go of Mirael''s hand and bolted toward the door, her feet pounding against the ground. Her face was twisted in fear, her eyes wide with panic as she frantically nced around. "They''re trying to rape me! Help me, please!" Her cries echoed off the walls, each one more desperate than thest, as if she genuinely believed her life was in danger. The sudden shift in Esdeath''s demeanor had everyone stunned, their eyes following her as she made a dash for the exit. Her posture, her voice¡ªeverything about her screamed vulnerability. But Mirael wasn''t fooled. Realization dawned on him as he cursed under his breath. "Don''t just stand there! Stop her!" he barked at hisckeys while breaking into a run himself. He knew what she was trying to do. Esdeath was already nearing the door, her hand outstretched toward the exit, freedom just a few steps away. But then Mirael''s voice boomed, "Vertical Charge Essence!" Golden light red from his feet, and in an instant, he closed the gap between them as if he had teleported. Before Esdeath could react, he grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking her backward with brutal force. She stumbled, her escape halted in an instant. "You shameless little bitch," Mirael growled, his voice low and dangerous as he pulled her closer. His grip on her hair tightened. "Do you even know what you were trying to pull?" He hissed, anger shing in his eyes. Mirael''s bluff seemed to deepen as he spoke, his voice dripping with false confidence. "You think you''re the first to challenge us? We''ve crushed others before, sent their families into poverty. Yours will be next. You''ll all be humiliated. No one will ever want to help you again." He sneered, clearly enjoying the moment, believing that Esdeath would crumble under his threat. But what he didn''t anticipate was the way Esdeath''s eyes subtly flickered, already calcting how to respond. She had dealt with worse threats before. Suddenly, Mirael''s grin faltered when he noticed tears welling up in Esdeath''s eyes. Real, glistening tears streamed down her cheeks as she let out soft sobs, her shoulders trembling. "Sob... sob... My family..." Her voice wavered, sounding fragile, vulnerable, but also oddly rehearsed. "My father... he bought a mansion with everything we had... now we''re drowning in debt. Even if you don''t do anything... we''re going to lose it all soon. We''ll end up living in the slums anyway." Her voice cracked, filled with despair, and her sobs grew louder. Tears dripped down her face, painting a heartbreaking picture of hopelessness. For a moment, everyone stood still, unsure of how to react to the sudden emotional outburst. The first-year students watching started to shift ufortably, exchanging nces as Esdeath''s words struck a chord. Even Mirael''s confidence wavered for a brief second, stunned by the sudden flood of emotion. He blinked, unsure if this was genuine or some sort of trick. Esdeath''s lips twisted into a smirk as she wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks, her eyes hardening with sudden resolve. "Yes, that''s it," she dered, her voice louder now, carrying a weight of finality. "It would be better if I just go and tell everyone that you tried to ravage me!" Her tone was sharp, almost mocking, as if daring Mirael to challenge her. Mirael''s confident grin faltered. A bead of sweat appeared on his forehead, trickling down as reality set in. His mind raced. "One can''t ckmail someone who has nothing to lose,"he thought, his panic rising. Esdeath, with her defeated act earlier, seemed to be a person who had already lost everything. And here, in the academy, where secrets rarely stayed hidden, killing someone without consequences was impossible. There were always eyes watching. Realizing he had no easy way out, Mirael''s lips twitched into a nervous chuckle. He released Esdeath''s hair and stepped back, trying to regain some semnce of control. "Fine," he sneered, masking his fear with false bravado. "Go ahead, tell everyone. But how exactly are you going to prove we tried to hurt you?" He thought he had won, but he couldn''t have been more wrong. Esdeath''s eyes gleamed with something darker, more sinister, as she reached into the waistband of her skirt. Slowly, she pulled out a small photo, holding it between her fingers like a weapon. "Of course I have proof," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. Mirael''s eyes widened in shock. His gaze locked onto the photo in her hand, and the color drained from his face. It was a photo-audio magic, the kind of magical photo that could never be edited or altered, capturing real events as they happened. No lies. No tricks. Inside the photo was a perfectly timed snapshot of the earlier moment¡ªhis hand, just inches away from Esdeath''s chest. The angle was damning, making it appear as though he was moments away from actually touching her chest. Esdeath''s voice broke through his horrified daze, her expression shifting from feigned helplessness to a grin filled with menace. "I wonder what will happen if I show them this?" Her words were slow, deliberate, as she waved the incriminating photo in front of him. Mirael''s thoughts spiraled into panic. "This bitch¡­ she was ying with us from the start¡­"He cursed inwardly, realizing far toote that Esdeath had controlled the situation all along. She wasn''t the victim here¡ªhe was. And now, she held all the power. But still mirael wasn''t someone to back down, Now only thing remained¨CNegotiation. Mirael took a deep breath, regaining hisposure as he looked at Esdeath. "Fine,"he sighed, trying to sound reasonable. "What do you want? You want to be free? You''re free to go, none of us will bother you again."His voice carried a hint of defeat as he gave up on trying to control the situation. But Esdeath only chuckled, her eyes narrowing with a mocking gleam. "Like hell that would be enough!" she spat, her tone dripping with amusement. Mirael rubbed his forehead, feeling frustration mounting. "Do you want to be a hero by saving them? Fine! We''ll let all of the first years go. Just hand over that photo."He gestured impatiently, hoping to settle this quickly. The delinquent girl standing beside Mirael was caught off guard, her mouth hanging open as she tried to speak, but no words came out. Meanwhile, the first-year students exchanged relieved smiles, thinking they might finally escape this nightmare. But just as hope flickered in their hearts, Esdeath shattered it with her next words. "Let them go? Why?"she asked coldly, her expression as indifferent as ever. "What I really want is you to bully them." Mirael blinked in confusion. "What?" He couldn''t quite process what she was saying. Esdeath leaned in slightly, her smirk widening. "You heard me. I know you all take money from these first years so they won''t get bullied, right? I want 50% of that ie." "50%?" Mirael''s mind raced, disbelief and anger shing across his face. "This girl is getting out of control." Before he could react, the delinquent girl, seething with rage, charged forward. "Let me handle her," the delinquent girl muttered, her anger boiling over. She thought she could easily handle Esdeath, but as she raised her hand to p her, Esdeath moved faster. With lightning speed, she pulled out a gun and shoved it into the delinquent girl''s mouth, forcing her jaw open wide. Esdeath''s voice was icy, her gaze chilling as she pushed the gun further into the girl''s mouth. "I bet you have a defensive essence stone outside your body," she said, her voice calm and deadly. "But what happens if I shoot you from the inside?"She pushed the gun upward, the barrel pressing against the girl''s mouth. "Do you want a bullet in your brain?" Then, she lowered the gun slightly. "Or would you prefer it to exit through your ass?"Esdeath''s eyes glowed menacingly, rings shapes swirling in her irises, giving her a terrifying creepy stare. The girl, however, chuckled through her fear. "Ha... we''re in the academy. I bet you won''t do it!" she said, trying to sound brave. But Esdeath''s confidence didn''t waver. "And I bet I will,"she whispered, her voice low and dangerous. "Move even a little, and I''ll shoot." The confidence in her voice made even the delinquent girl doubt herself, her bravado faltering. Mirael''s heart raced. "If what she''s saying is true, she might actually shoot," he thought, panic creeping in. "She''s got nothing to lose, she''s backed into a corner. But me? If this gets out, and aint is registered, all my past wrongdoings wille to light. I''m screwed!" Before the situation could escte any further, Mirael grabbed the delinquent girl''s arm and yanked her back. SLAP!..... The sound echoed in the room as he pped her hard across the face, the force of it leaving a red mark on her cheek. "You idiot!" Mirael growled, his anger boiling over. "When two people are negotiating, the third one should stay out of it!" He red at her, all the frustration he had bottled up now directed at the girl. Mirael clenched his fists, trying to maintain hisposure. "Fine. I ept your proposal,** but this matter better not leave this court." He turned towards Esdeath, hoping to get this over with. Esdeath''s expressionpletely changed. The helpless look she had earlier was now gone, reced with a sly smile. "You can count on me." "... " "....!!!! " An awkward silence fell between them, the tension growing as they stared at each other for a few seconds. Finally, Mirael broke the stillness. "Why are you still here?" he asked, his frustration evident. Esdeath raised an eyebrow, her confidence growing. "Oh, I''m not done yet." She pointed to her exposed chest, where her shirt had been torn. "You made me ripped my clothes, remember? So, who''s going topensate me for that?" Mirael groaned, rubbing his temples in annoyance. "Alright, alright... how much do you want? Two bronze coins?" He shrugged, clearly trying to dismiss it as unimportant. Esdeath''s smile widened. "Ten silver coins." "Ten silver?!" Mirael''s eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Now you''re pushing it, Esdeath!" His irritation was building. Esdeath didn''t back down, her tone turning sharp. "Oh? So, you''d rather I walk outside naked then? No need for a photo at that point; the whole academy will know what you did!" She crossed her arms, daring him to argue. Mirael''s thoughts raced, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. "She''s not even afraid of going outside naked... this girl is just too shameless." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch. With a heavy sigh, he counted out ten silver coins and handed them to her. Esdeath beamed as she pocketed the money. "Pleasure doing business with you. See you around!" She turned and strolled out of the basketball court, as if nothing had happened. As she walked away, she nced at the coins in her hand, smirking to herself. "I was surprised when I first saw them. These idiots were supposed to show up during us ndestine''s viiness arc, but hey, I''m notining. Extra cash is always wee!" She chuckled at the thought, shaking her head."And those first years? Please. Why should I save them? I''m not some hero. When the viiness arc kicks off, Ethan will swoop in, beat these guys up, and save the day. Why should I bother?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- I had very important question, Is this story is going slow? like it''s been about 40 chapter but out mc hasn''t fought with anyone and I made lortell go on a mission.....@@novelbin@@ well I had to do that, Or else if lortell was here at start the story would have stuck at one ce. but if you want I can fast the story a little by cutting off few scenes and making lortelle back 15 days early?..... Easy Win For Both As Esdeath made her money from bullies, the second-year students, something significant was brewing elsewhere in the academy. She already knew about it but arrivedte because of her little "business deal" with Mirael. The "Semi-First Act" had already started¡ªan event where Corin, the duke''s son, would challenge Ethan Rothyer to a duel. Esdeath sighed, knowing the oue. She had seen this all before. The arena was packed with excited first-year students, their eyes wide with anticipation. The air buzzed with energy as everyone waited for the fight to begin. But this duel wasn''t just any fight. For Corin, this was his chance to impress someone special. His gaze flicked over to "Emma", his girlfriend and long-time crush. She stood in the middle of the audience, impossible to miss. Emma had a striking presence. With her strawberry blonde hair cascading down her shoulders and a busty figure, she easily drew attention. Her body was as refined as that of Violet or Sylvania, but her style screamed **gyaru**, standing out even more among the students. Her seductive, charming aura made her the center of attention, and Corin''s eyes were locked on her, determined to win and prove his superiority in front of everyone. Meanwhile, Violet and Sylvania were also in the crowd, quietly cheering for Ethan, though their faces were tense with concern. They both knew Corin had something to prove today, and that made the fight more unpredictable. In the center of the arena, Ethan and Corin stood face to face, ring at each other. The tension between them was thick enough to cut with a sword. Corin sneered, making the first move. "Ethan," he spat, "I purposely chose only a swordsmanship duel¡ªno magic or essence stones. That way, after I beat you, you can''t cry and say it was because of my background or resources." His words were dripping with arrogance, the confidence in his voice making the crowd murmur. Ethan, however, just sighed, seemingly unfazed by Corin''s taunts. .... The excitement in the arena was reaching its peak as the students ced their bets on the uing duel between Corin and Ethan. "I bet two bronze coins, Corin will win this!" shouted one of the students confidently, his voice carrying across the buzzing crowd. The boy collecting the money smirked as he gathered the coins. "Anyone else? Who wants to ce a bet? Corin or Ethan?" he called out, but most students were betting only on Corin. They all knew that Corin had been trained since childhood, unlike Ethan, who was just amoner. Before long, a decent sum of 10 silver coins and 16 bronze coins had been collected, all in favor of Corin. It seemed like everyone was certain of the oue. But then, suddenly, a voice rang out from the side. "I''ll bet five silver coins on Ethan Rothyer." The voice was female, calm yet chilling. Heads turned toward the speaker, and the students blinked in surprise. There she was¡ªEsdeath. Her ck hair hung loosely over her shoulders, and her piercing red eyes sent a shiver down the spines of those around her. She hadn''t even changed her clothes after her earlier encounter. Esdeath was still holding both sides of her torn shirt to cover her chest, but even so, it was obvious that the fabric had been ripped in her recent scuffle. The boys looked at her, exchanging nces. "Weird," they muttered in unison. But Esdeath didn''t seem to care. She confidently handed over five silver coins, her lips curling into a small smirk as she sat beside the others, enjoying herself as if she had already won. The boldness in her expression was undeniable, as if she could already see Ethan triumphing over Corin. Esdeath simply shrugged. "In this world, you can''t win money by lottery or gambling. The oue always changes, so there''s no point in relying on luck. You have to *know* when to bet." The battle between Ethan and Corin had already begun, and despite the rules prohibiting magic or essence stones, the tension was real, as were the swords in their hands. Corin let out a loud battle cry as he charged toward Ethan, his sword raised high for a powerful, straight sh. Yet, Ethan''s calm expression didn''t change, as if Corin''s reckless aggression meant nothing to him. With a subtle shift in his stance, Ethan barely exerted pressure on his feet, stepping aside just before Corin''s de could strike. *Swish¡­* The sword shed downward, hitting the ground with a thud as Ethan dodged with such ease that it almost seemed like the sword itself had avoided him. "OMG! He dodged it!" a student eximed, his voice bursting with excitement from the crowd. Corin, now frustrated, gritted his teeth. "What the hell? Was that¡­ footwork?" His thoughts raced, trying toprehend how amoner like Ethan could disy such mastery. "No way, it must''ve been luck," he reassured himself as he gripped his sword even tighter, charging once again. *ng! Cling!* Their swords shed repeatedly, the sounds of metal ringing out as sparks flew. Each of Ethan''s strikes was precise, efficient, as if he was ying with his opponent. The crowd noticed a strange difference ¡ª while Corin gripped his sword with both hands, sweat already beading on his forehead, Ethan was calmly holding his sword with only one hand, showing no signs of struggle. "Why¡­ why can''t I see any openings?" Corin''s thoughts spiraled in confusion. His strikes were growing wilder, more desperate, as he threw more force into every swing, but nothing worked. No matter how hard he pushed, Ethan met each attack effortlessly. Corin didn''t know the truth¡ªEthan wasn''t somemoner with no experience. In a previous life, Ethan had fought in countless battles. To him, Corin was still a child, fighting clumsily with no understanding of realbat. Meanwhile, Ethan remained cool andposed, barely breaking a sweat, his eyes focused as he watched Corin unravel before him. Corin, determined not to lose, tried a few more moves, but Ethan blocked every one with ease. Ethan didn''t just rely on his sword either. He threw in a few well-ced kicks and punches, which caused Corin to bleed from the nose and lips. Soon, Corin found himself on his knees, panting heavily,pletely worn out. Ethan was about to im victory, certain Corin had lost. But Corin wasn''t done yet. He decided to cheat, wth a burst of energy, he activated magic in his feet, increasing his speed drastically. In ast-ditch effort, Corin charged straight at Ethan, shing his sword with everything he had. But what Corin didn''t know was that Ethan had incredibly fast reflexes. In a split second, Ethan sidestepped the attack, barely dodging the fatal strike. However, the tip of Corin''s sword managed to cut through Ethan''s shirt. The entire crowd gasped as Ethan''s shirt tore, revealing his finely chiseled muscles underneath. His body wasn''t overlyrge, but it was perfectly toned from years of hard work and training, with abs that seemed sculpted by a master. The sight of his muscles left the students wide-eyed in shock. "Wow, look at those muscles!" one of the students eximed. Even Sylvania and Violet, who had known Ethan for years, couldn''t help but blush at the sight. Around the arena, several other students turned red with embarrassment and awe. One of them was Emma, Corin''s girlfriend. Her eyes widened as she stared at Ethan, her face turning a deep shade of red. "Wow¡­ such refined muscles¡­ and that handsome face¡­" she murmured to herself, realizing with a jolt that she was developing a crush on him. But not everyone was impressed. Esdeath, sitting casually on the sidelines, crossed her arms and snorted. "Hmph, I''ve got better muscles," she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes at the attention Ethan was getting. Back in the arena, Ethan, still focused on the battle and unaware of the crowd''s reaction, took his chance. As soon as he dodged Corin''s strike, he kicked him square in the face. Corin staggered, falling to the ground, and before he could get back up, Ethan pointed his sword directly at him, signaling the end of the fight. The referee quickly stepped forward and raised his hand. "The winner is Ethan Rothyer!"@@novelbin@@ The arena exploded with cheers, but Coriny there, defeated and humiliated, while Ethan stood tall, calm as ever,pletely unaware of the stir he had just caused, His reputation reaching heaven. Without saying a word, Ethan left the arena, his expression calm andposed, as though the fight hadn''t even fazed him. Behind him, Corin remained on the ground, his face twisted in rage. He clenched his fists, cursing inwardly, "Just you wait, Ethan. I''ll kill you for humiliating me like this!" Every word dripped with anger and bitterness, his eyes burning with hatred as he red at Ethan''s retreating figure. But Corin wasn''t the only one furious. The students who had bet their money on him were equally upset, groaning in frustration. They had expected an easy win from the duke''s son, and now their coins were slipping away. Esdeath, on the other hand, smiled triumphantly. Standing up slowly, she extended her hand toward the students who were sulking nearby. "My money," she said, her tone light butmanding. With reluctant sighs, the students handed her back the five silver coins she had bet, along with the extra winnings¡ªan additional ten silver and sixteen bronze coins. The weight of the coins jingled in her palm, and a satisfied grin stretched across her face. "Hehehe..."Esdeath chuckled softly, clearly pleased with her victory. Without saying anything more, she turned and left the arena, her footsteps light and confident. Her destination was clear in her mind¡ªher dorm room, where she nned to change her torn clothes. Her indifferent expression gave nothing away, but inside, her thoughts had already moved on to her next task. "It''s time to kill Eldon Karthanis." BANG! In *Free Life Fantasy* (FLF), Ethan wasn''t the only one who managed to obtain a special inheritance at the beginning of the game. There was another character who did¡ªEldon Karthanis. Eldon was unique because he chose to wield guns as his main weapon. Now, in this world, guns were often considered a weak choice. Unlike swords, magic, or other weapons, guns didn''t seem to grow in power as the user became stronger. But for Eldon, that wasn''t a problem. Why? Because of the **inheritance** he found. This inheritance held something rare¡ªan object that allowed guns to be stronger as the user grew in power, just like other weapons in the world. This made him special, and it also made this inheritance incredibly valuable. For Esdeath, who also wanted to use a gun as her primary weapon, obtaining this inheritance was essential. Without it, her choice of weapon would be weak inparison. But how would she get it? In *Free Life Fantasy*, the game didn''t provide much detail about where Eldon found the inheritance. All that was mentioned was a vague backstory. Eldon, known for his bad luck, wandered near a gambling den on the second day at the academy. He had a weakness for gambling, and even though he usually lost, his addiction kept him trying. During one of his gambling sprees, he stumbled upon a map, leading him to the inheritance. That''s how the game presented it¡ªjust a short backstory, without exining where exactly the gambling den or the map could be found. For Esdeath, there was only one solution left: kill Eldon Karthanis. She knew he would find the map and reach the inheritance first if she didn''t act quickly. The moment he obtained the map, he would be powerful and too troublesome to defeat. Her only chance was to stop him before he reached that point, And just as he obtain that map, Kill him. If she failed, there would be no point in sticking with guns, and she''d have to change her weapon entirely. ... Esdeath decided to head out, so she changed into her casual clothes. Despite the rxed, modern look, she still carried her usual confidence. First, she put on a "beanie", a simple knitted hat that gave her a cool,id-back vibe. She threw on an "oversized jacket"¡ªor maybe it was more like an oversized shirt. It was loose, hangingfortably over her frame, making her look effortlessly stylish, like she wasn''t even trying. The street-style outfit didn''t feel too feminine, which she liked. Esdeath wasn''t one for dresses or skirts. Underneath, she wore a "graphic t-shirt", with a bold design printed on the front. The shirt was slightly cropped, showing a little bit of her toned midriff. Toplete the look, she slipped into "high-waisted jeans" that fit her perfectly, bncing the crop top and making the outfite together. Overall, she looked kind of "boyish", but it suited her perfectly. She wasn''t the type to care about dressing up in fancy or girly clothes. And even though she had a modern look, no one on the streets seemed to care much. Why? Well, despite being a medieval era, there were many modern things in this world, thanks to the "Dwarf Kingdom". That kingdom was far ahead in technology, making things like modern fashion and gadgets pretty normal here. With her outfit ready, Esdeath wandered out of the academy and into the bustling marketce. She had only one goal in mind¡ªto find Eldon. ... As Esdeath wandered through the streets, she eventually came across a gambling den. It wasn''t too big, but it had a strange charm, with rocks stacked around the entrance. The sign hanging over it read **"Mud-Stone Gambling."** Inside, people were gathered around, talking excitedly. The game here was simple: you picked a **mud-stone**, and if luck was on your side, you''d find an **essence stone** inside, something valuable and magical. But if your luck was bad, all you''d be left with was a pile of worthless dirt, and your money would be gone. There were different types of mud-stones to choose from: green, red, purple, ck, and the rarest of them all, "golden". The "green stones" were the cheapest, while the "golden ones" were the most expensive. The higher the price, the better chance you had of finding an essence stone. Just as she was scanning the ce, Esdeath''s eyesnded on someone familiar¡ª"Eldon". "There he is," she whispered to herself, quickly hiding behind a nearby shop. She didn''t want him to see her just yet. For now, all she needed to do was observe him quietly. Eldon stood at the counter, his face twisted with frustration. "I want that "red one", here''s one silver coin," he said sharply, tossing the coin at the shop owner. The shopkeeper, an older man with a mischievous glint in his eyes, rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Hehehe¡­ dear customer, you''ve beening here for a week now, always buying the mid-rank mud-stones," he said, his voice smooth and persuasive. "Why not try the "golden one"? It has a much higher chance of sess!" Eldon snorted, clearly irritated. He had already wasted so much money on this stupid game, but his pride wouldn''t let him quit now. He wasn''t going to leave until he finally won something. "Just do what I told you!" he snapped, his patience wearing thin. The shop owner didn''t argue further. With a knowing smile, he handed the "red mud-stone" to Eldon. Without wasting time, Eldon took the stone and began washing off the dirt with his bare hands. His heart sank with every bit of mud he wiped away, convinced he had thrown away his money once again. His thoughts spiraled, "Great, another waste of a silver coin..." But then, something unexpected happened. His fingers hit something hard within the stone. His heart skipped a beat as he rubbed the mud away faster, and soon enough, a faint, "glowing light"began to shine from within. The shopkeeper''s eyes widened. "Woah¡­ it''s a Pink Lotus Essence Stone! A storage type! If you sell it in the market, you could not only cover your losses but make a decent profit," he said, sounding impressed. However, Eldon wasn''t listening. His thoughts were racing. The stone in his hand was half the size of his palm, shaped like a delicate lotus with a soft pink glow. It wasn''t just any essence stone. This one was already "refined", and that meant only one thing¡ªthere was "something inside it". His eyes flickered toward the shopkeeper, suspicious. "If I sell it or not, that''s none of your business!" he snapped, clutching the stone tightly as he quickly left the shop. Eldon walked about a hundred steps away, his mind spinning. His heart pounded with excitement and uncertainty. "Should I open it now? Or wait until I''m back at the academy?"" he wondered, his thoughts jumping back and forth. But the more he tried to push the idea aside, the more his "eagerness" got the best of him. He couldn''t wait any longer. His curiosity burned too strongly. "I have to see what''s inside!" he decided, stopping in his tracks, ready to uncover the mystery thaty within the essence stone. He pour some man inside that essence stone and the closed lotus begun to glow further and it''s petals begun to opens and magically a golden paper came out. Eldon put back the essence stone in his pocket And took that paper in his hand and opened it, His eyes shunked in a little confusion, "A map? " .... A little distance away from Eldon, Esdeath was silently observing him, her sharp gaze tracking his every move. Suddenly, she felt a light tug on her oversized jacket. Startled, she turned around to see who it was. To her surprise, standing behind her was a small child, no more than seven or eight years old. The boy had a round, innocent face, with a pair of wide eyes staring up at her. His clothes were simple and worn, clearly marking him as amoner, yet his cute expression softened her cold exterior for a moment. Esdeath looked at him with a hint of confusion, unsure of what he wanted. Breaking the silence, the boy blushed, his cheeks turning as red as a ripe apple. "Are you a noble?" he asked in a small voice, avoiding eye contact out of embarrassment. "You''re so pretty! This is for you!" With shaking hands, he extended a single flower toward her, too nervous to meet her gaze. His innocence and the shy smile tugging at his lips made it obvious¡ªthe boy had a crush on Esdeath at first sight. For a brief moment, Esdeath didn''t know what to say or how to react. Should sheugh? Should she walk away? But just then, an idea struck her, and she smiled. A n. Her mind began calcting. "Eldon is a student at the academy. If I just kill him outright, they''ll likely trace it back to me. I need something more subtle. Even if they suspect me, they won''t have proof." The gears in her mind turned quickly, and her eyes twinkled with mischief. Esdeath leaned down to the boy''s level, her smile turning gentle. "O..., thank you so much!" she said, epting the flower with a sweet tone. The boy beamed with joy, his entire face lighting up. "Wanna y a game with me?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. The boy''s eyes widened with excitement, "Yes!" he nodded eagerly, unable to hide his enthusiasm. Esdeath reached into her pocket and pulled out her gun. The boy''s face immediately paled, and he took a step back, frightened. Esdeath quicklyughed and waved a hand to calm him down. "Don''t worry! It''s just a toy!" she said with a yful wink. "See?" She pointed the gun at the boy''s forehead, still smiling. The boy hesitated, closing his eyes in fear. He wanted to run away, but something about Esdeath made him want to believe her, even if part of him was scared. With a quick motion, Esdeath pulled the trigger. **Click.** Nothing happened. Just a small sound echoed from the gun, but no bullet. The boy opened his eyes in surprise, staring at her in disbelief. Esdeath burst outughing, her voice full of amusement. "See? It''s just a toy! You got scared for nothing!" she teased, chuckling. The boy''s fear melted away, and soon he wasughing too, realizing how foolish he''d been. Hisughter was innocent and pure, and even Esdeath couldn''t help but join in. "Now it''s your turn," she said, handing him the gun. "Shoot me!" The boy''s eyes sparkled with excitement. "Okay!" he said, holding the gun with both hands. Esdeath crouched down, leaning her forehead closer to him. "Go on, shoot me right here," she said with a grin, pointing to her own forehead. **Click.** Again, nothing happened, but this time Esdeath exaggerated her reaction. She spun around dramatically, clutching her chest. "Oh no! I''ve been shot!" she cried out, pretending to fall in slow motion. The boy couldn''t stopughing, his small body shaking with joy. Esdeath finally stopped spinning and wiped the fake tears from the corner of her eyes, herughter mixing with his. She smiled warmly at him, leaning down once more. "Did you have fun?" she asked. The boy nodded, still giggling. "Yes!" Esdeath''s eyes gleamed with mischief as she bent down to the little boy and pointed towards Eldon, who was standing in the distance, still focused on his map. She leaned in close to the boy and whispered, "Do you see that guy over there? Go y with him too. If you do that, I''ll give you a bronze coin... and a kiss on the cheek!" She winked, her smile widening. The boy''s eyes sparkled, not because of the coin, but at the mention of the kiss. Though he was amoner, he wasn''t too interested in the coin, but the idea of getting a kiss from such a beautifuldy made his heart race. He blushed again and quickly nodded, eager to impress her. Esdeath smirked, pleased with his reaction. She gently took the toy gun back from the boy''s hand and poured her mana into it, forming a small glowing "Mana Bullet" within the chamber. To the boy, it still looked like a harmless toy, but Esdeath knew better. Afterwards, she ced her hand on his head, as if to pat him affectionately, but secretly whispered a spell. "Strength boost magic," she murmured under her breath, sending a wave of invisible energy into the boy''s body. His small frame trembled slightly, but he didn''t notice anything unusual. Without wasting any more time, the boy grinned and dashed off towards Eldon, holding the gun behind his back. Esdeath, still smiling, took a few steps back, creating more distance between them. She folded her arms and stood quietly, watching the scene unfold from afar. Eldon, meanwhile, was scratching his head as he studied the map in his hands. His brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to figure out where the map led and what location it pointed to. His focus was entirely on the parchment, oblivious to what was happening around him. Suddenly, a small voice interrupted him. "Hands up, mister!" the boy eximed, standing just a few steps away, his voice filled with childlike enthusiasm. Eldon nced down and blinked in surprise at the boy. For a moment, he was puzzled, but then he noticed the toy gun in the boy''s hands. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he realized what was happening. "Toys these days... they look too real!" Eldon thought to himself, letting out a soft sigh. Though he was a noble, he wasn''t like the arrogant ones who treatedmoners like dirt. Eldon had always been more down-to-earth, even a bit shy, but kind-hearted in his own way. The idea of ying along with the boy seemed harmless. "Well then, I guess I should y along," he muttered to himself, raising both his hands in mock surrender. "Oh no! I''m so scared!" he said with a grin, trying to act frightened. But his acting wasn''t very convincing, and he quickly burst intoughter, feeling silly for pretending. "Hahaha¡­ Alright, go ahead, shoot me!" he chuckled, leaning closer to the boy and pointing to his own forehead. The boy, still grinning ear to ear, raised the gun with both hands, just as he had done with Esdeath earlier. "Here I go!" he shouted, thinking this was just another harmless game. He fully believed the gun was a toy, just like before. He pulled the trigger. **BANG!** The deafening sound of the gunshot echoed through the air, much louder than the boy or Eldon had expected. Time seemed to freeze for a moment. Eldon''s eyes widened in shock as a sharp pain tore through his forehead. The Mana Bullet had pierced him cleanly. His breath hitched, and he stumbled backward, clutching his forehead. For a brief second, Eldon tried to understand what had just happened. His mind was spinning, unable to process the reality of the situation. His hands, once raised in yful surrender, now trembled as they pressed against the wound, trying to stop the blood that was already staining his shirt. Without even a chance to cry out or speak, his body copsed to the ground. The world around him blurred, and within moments, he was gone. From her vantage point, Esdeath watched the scene with a satisfied smirk, her eyes cold and calcting. The boy, however, stood frozen in ce, his face drained of all color. His small, trembling hands could no longer hold the gun as it slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground with a soft thud. His wide eyes stared at Eldon''s motionless body, trying to make sense of the impossible. "What just happened?" his mind screamed, but the shock was too much. He couldn''t think, couldn''t move, couldn''t even cry out. It was as if his whole world had shattered in an instant. He had never imagined¡ªnever even dreamed¡ªthat a simple game could end like this. Esdeath, watching from a distance, saw the gun fall. With a swift movement, she raised her hand and whispered a spell under her breath. A sudden gust of wind appeared, swirling through the street like a silent thief. It carried both the gun and the map into the air with ease, guiding them directly into Esdeath''s waiting hands.@@novelbin@@ "Perfect," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible as she inspected the items with a satisfied gleam in her eyes. Not even sparing the boy a second nce, she turned on her heel and melted into the shadows, disappearing from the scene without a trace. To her, the job was done, and there was no need to linger. But the peace was short-lived. The loud bang of the gunshot had echoed through the streets, drawing the attention of nearby townspeople. One by one, they rushed toward the scene, their eyes wide with fear and confusion. "Oh my goodness!" a woman shrieked as she ran closer, her hands covering her mouth in horror. "That boy! I saw it! That boy shot him!" she screamed, pointing a trembling finger at the stunned child. People began to murmur, their voices growing louder with panic. "Is he... is he a noble?" a man called out, pushing through the growing crowd. "Someone, check! Hurry!" he urged, his face pale with shock as more and more people gathered around the fallen Eldon and the frightened child. It wasn''t long before the street guards arrived, their faces grim and determined. The moment theyid eyes on the scene, they moved quickly, pushing aside the onlookers and seizing the boy by his arms. "Take him in for questioning," one of the guards ordered, his voice stern and unwavering. The boy, still too shocked to speak, didn''t resist as they dragged him away, his small feet stumbling over the cobblestone. His wide, tear-filled eyes looked back at the crowd, but no one came to his defense. No one seemed to care that he was just a child "Take him in for questioning," one of the guards ordered, his voice stern and unwavering. The boy, still too shocked to speak, didn''t resist as they dragged him away, his small feet stumbling over the cobblestone. His wide, tear-filled eyes looked back at the crowd, but no one came to his defense. No one seemed to care that he was just a child. The crowd parted as the guards led the boy away, their whispers filling the air. Some felt pity for him, others judged him harshly, but none of them knew the truth. None of them knew the real mastermind behind the tragedy had already vanished, leaving behind only chaos and confusion. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hmmmm.... Who''s this character?, I don''t know, I found it on the inte, She was wearing the same outfit that I describe in the chapter so I uploaded it as example. And well I have good news.... My stitches and bandages were removed and I can finally freely use my hand This is what wound is right now... Almost healed. ZK-20 Esdeath stood atop the "Quing Chin Mountain", surveying the path ahead with a satisfied smirk. "Hmm... the inheritance isn''t far from here,"she muttered, her sharp eyes focused on a cave nestled within the rockyndscape. The air was still, and there was an eerie calm around the entrance, but Esdeath wasn''t the type to be intimidated. After wandering for what seemed like hours, though it had only been around thirty minutes, she had finally found the location the "Map" had guided her to. Her footsteps crunched over the dry ground, and she stopped just before the dark cave entrance. The cave was unlike anything she''d seen before¡ªan imprable ckness, as if it were an endless void. The pitch-ck interior seemed to swallow all light, giving it a particrly **frightening aura**. Esdeath, however, wasn''t deterred. "It doesn''t look like any monsters or beasts are around... maybe this inheritance was left by someone who didn''t feel the need to trap it. Safe area means no surprises." Confident in her assessment, she took a step into the cave, her boots clicking against the stone floor, her breath steady. Inside, it was pure darkness. "After killing Eldon I''m getting notifications from system but I can''t waste time checking the system notifications right now. The faster I get this inheritance, the sooner I can get back to the academy." Esdeath pressed on, feeling her way deeper into the cave. From the outside, the cave hadn''t looked thisrge But now it seemed endless. Time dragged as she wandered forward, the unsettling silence amplifying her worry. Even with her sharp senses, the ckness was so consuming that she could hardly see her own hands. "It''s already been fifteen minutes! Where does this even lead?!" Esdeath''s confidence faltered slightly as she walked further, the anxiety of a possible trap creeping into her mind. If something were to spring up now, she''d have no way of avoiding it. But turning back wasn''t an option. She hade too far. And then¡ªfinally¡ªa faint light flickered in the distance. Her heart skipped a beat, a mixture of "relief" and "anticipation" flooding her. The moment she saw that light, her instincts kicked in. She bolted forward, her body moving swiftly toward the exit, eager to leave the suffocating darkness behind. The inheritance was near. As Esdeath continued running toward the light, it grew brighter andrger, guiding her forward until she finally emerged into a room. The cave opened up into a square chamber, bathed in soft white light that reflected off smooth, "glowing stones" lining the walls. The entire space screamed of an oldboratory¡ªone that had once been bustling with activity but nowy abandoned and decayed. Esdeath scanned the room. "Wow... an oldb?" she muttered to herself, a bit amazed by what she saw. Iron tables were scattered around, most of them either rusted or broken down from age. Some of the tools and materials were so old, they''d long since fallen into disrepair. Whatever experiments had been done here were left behind in ruins. As she walked deeper into theb, her eyesnded on a single "unbroken table" at the center. On it, there was a letter¡ªold, but still intact. Esdeath''s fingers trembled slightly as she reached for it. ""What could this be?""she thought, intrigued. As she began to read, her eyes narrowed. The "inheritance" she had been searching for was created by a "dwarf" named "Zephyrus Kalyndar". Of course, only the dwarves had the expertise to craft something this advanced. It was all making sense now. The letter described how Zephyrus had spent his life working on an invention¡ªa "liquid alloy" known as "ZK-20"". This wasn''t just any metal¡ªit was a revolutionary creation. The alloy had "mana-circting properties", meaning that the more "mana" and "offensive essence stones" merged into it, the stronger it would be. But that wasn''t the most shocking part. The liquid could "change shape". "Guns, rifles... anything you can imagine," the letter exined, as long as the user had enough mana to control it. Esdeath''s heart raced as she realized the implications. This dwarf had designed the liquid specifically for "gun users", knowing that while legendary weapons existed for swords, axes, and other traditional weapons, guns had been left behind. "With this liquid, even a gun can be a force to be reckoned with," she thought, her mind reeling at the possibilities. But there was more. Zephyrus had spent his entire life perfecting the alloy. The name "ZK-20" came from his initials and the fact that it took him "20 attempts" to get it right. This invention had consumed him, taking nearly all his time and energy. However, when he tried to introduce his creation to the world, it wasn''t received well. The letter exined how "powerful businessmen", especially those invested in the trade of other weapons, saw the alloy as a threat. After all, guns had never been seen as worthy weapons for heroes or legends. If guns became powerful through Zephyrus''s invention, the entire weapons industry would be turned upside down. In their "fear" and "greed", they plotted to kill him. Fearing for his life and the future of his invention, Zephyrus had hidden the alloy here, in this cave, hoping that someone worthy would find it. Esdeath lowered the letter, her mind racing. ""So, that''s why he created this inheritance... to protect his legacy."" She couldn''t help but feel a sense of "respect" for Zephyrus, a man who had been "hunted" for trying to change the world. Now, the power of the "ZK-20" was hers. As Esdeath finished reading the letter, a sudden crack echoed through the room. The roof above her had broken slightly, and with a loud thud, a metal box fell right in front of her. Dust flew into the air as the boxnded heavily. Esdeath quickly knelt down, her curiosity piqued, as the box slowly creaked open on its own. Inside, she found three items. The first was twenty silver coins, their dull sheen hinting at their age. Her eyes then settled on a bronze-colored, coin-shaped ruby. But as she looked closer, she realized it wasn''t just a gem¡ªit was an essence stone. "Bronze Muscle Essence Stone,"she thought, recognizing it from her studies. This particr stone could boost a person''s strength by **15 points** ording to the system''s stats, but there was a catch. Esdeath held it in her hand, the coldness of the stone sinking into her skin. But despite its value, she didn''t feel any excitement. "This stone is useless unless you have the "Bronze Skin Essence stone first," she murmured. "And even if I find that... I''m not going to use it." A thoughtful look crossed her face as she considered why. "Bronze Skin Essence gives you tanned skin," she mused. "But I prefer the way I look now¡ªfragile, delicate. Everyone underestimates me because of it, and that''s a huge advantage in battle." She smirked at the thought of people underestimating her, only to face her true strength when it was toote. Still, it was free, and Esdeath wasn''t one to waste valuable resources. "I can always sell it for a good price," she thought with a mischievous grin, pocketing the stone without hesitation. Finally, her attention turned to thest item in the box¡ªan "orange liquid" sealed in a **stic wrapper**. The liquid shimmered faintly, and as Esdeath ced her hand on it and poured a small amount of her mana into the wrapper, the liquid began to glow. The stic floated into the air, responding perfectly to her mana, moving right and left at her will. Esdeath''s eyes widened slightly¡ªthis was no ordinary creation. "This dwarf really was a genius," she thought, impressed by the ease of control. She focused and willed the liquid to form a pistol, and as if by magic, the liquid obeyed, It tored through stic and transforming into the shape of a small handgun in her palm. The sensation was surreal¡ªit was light, warm, and almost alive. But something felt off. The pistol was much smaller than she had expected. It was only half the size of a normal pistol. An uneasy smile crept onto Esdeath''s face as she realized the problem. "I guess that''s what happens when you don''t have enough mana," she muttered to herself. "For now, this pistol is even weaker than a normal one. Looks like I''ll need to work on boosting my mana before this bes truly useful." .... Esdeathy back on her bed, letting out a soft sigh as the dim golden light of the evening filtered through the dorm room window. She had returned from the oldboratory after searching it for hours, hoping to find more treasures, but left empty-handed. Now, shey on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, the weight of the day''s events pressing down on her. She slowly raised her hand in front of her, inspecting it as it trembled slightly, a familiar, almost "itching" sensation crawling under her skin. "It would''ve been so much more satisfying if I had killed him with my own hands," she thought, her voiceced with disappointment. Esdeath''s eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a smirk. "That feeling when someone is at your feet, begging for mercy, and you snuff out their life anyway... that is so satisfying," she whispered to herself, her grin growing wider. "There''s hardly anything thatpares." She exhaled deeply, closing her eyes, and let the day''s exhaustion pull her toward sleep. But just as she started to drift off, a thought crossed her mind. "I wish Lady Mariette was here!" Her eyes flew open. "Wait... what?! Why the hell am I thinking about her?" Esdeath bolted upright, her heart racing as confusion filled her. "Lady Mariette? She''s just a mid-boss... MID-BOSS!" she practically yelled, her voice echoing in the quiet room. "I don''t miss mid-bosses! What''s wrong with me?" She tried to shake the thought off, closing her eyes again, but the name kept echoing in her mind like a bad song stuck on repeat. "Lady Mariette, Lady Mariette," the name whispered inside her head like an annoying little bug she couldn''t swat away. Frustrated, Esdeath tossed and turned on the bed, her hands gripping the sheets as she tried to force herself to sleep. But no matter how hard she tried, the image of Lady Mariette wouldn''t leave her mind. "Shut up! Shut up!" she growled, sitting up in a fit of anger. "I swear, yandere-chan, this is your fault! You''re ruining everything!" She waved her hand in the air as if addressing some invisible force. "I said I''d handle things when that mid-bosses back, but noooo, you had to go and make me think about her NOW! That''s why I can''t stand yanderes¡ªthey ruin everything with their impatience!" Esdeath muttered, ring at the empty space as though someone was standing there. But just as she was about tounch into another rant, her eyes drifted to the door¡ªand there, standing frozen in the doorway, was Luna. Her eyes were wide, her mouth slightly open in shock. Luna''s face paled as she processed what she had just seen. "She... she''s lost it!" Luna eximed, backing away slowly before mming the door shut with a loud BAM! She bolted down the hallway, leaving Esdeath staring after her. Esdeath blinked, then sighed, falling back onto her bed with a defeated groan. "And there goes my reputation..." she muttered to herself, rubbing her temples in frustration. Knock! Knock! Knock! The sound echoed through the quiet room, breaking the silence. Esdeath, lyingzily on her bed, raised an eyebrow at the sudden disturbance. "Now what?" she muttered to herself, already feeling the annoyance rise in her chest. Pushing herself up, she made her way toward the door, her steps slow and deliberate. Whoever it was, they had better have a good reason for interrupting her. Without a second thought, she swung the door open in one swift motion, her expression ready to match her irritation. But the sight that greeted her made her eyes narrow in surprise. Standing in front of her were several guards, their armor gleaming under the hallway lights. At the front of the group stood a man d in full armor, a sword hanging at his waist. His posture was rigid, exuding authority, and it was clear he was the leader. Before Esdeath could say a word, the leader''s voice boomed with a stern,manding tone. "Miss Esdeath Crimson, you are under arrest on suspicion of killing your ssmate, Eldon Karthanis." -------------------------------------------------------- hold on a minute, I have a very important things to say..... you might know that this is my second NovelBin ans first one is, "That time i got turned into a dragonoid", Actually because of taking two weeks of breaks my views from that books has literally fell by 158%. that''s why I want you to give it a try to that novel. as being my first book, I gave my 200% of potential in writing that. the mc is not actually a Overpowered but you might mistake it for overpowered. since it''s not weak to strong mc but strong to stronger mc, So yeah in the current timeline you can think of mc as overpowered character. So please give it shot!@@novelbin@@ Predictor?…. Fable? In a voice too low for anyone to understand, Maruti muttered under her breath, "???? ??? ???? ??..." (Fuck everything.) The bully, confused by Maruti''s quiet words, took a step closer. "What did ya say¡ª" Before she could finish her sentence, Maruti grabbed the steel te in front of her with a lightning-quick movement. BANG! Without hesitation, Maruti mmed the te directly into the girl''s face. The impact was so powerful that the girl''s body flipped backward, her legs flying up as she crashed onto the floor with a thud. Her eyes were wide, blinking in shock, not even understanding what had just happened. The cafeteria wentpletely silent. Maruti stood tall, her once emotionless face now lit up with a fierce determination. The rest of the bully''s group stared at her in disbelief, frozen for a moment. But Maruti wasn''t done. She calmly cracked her knuckles, her gaze cold and unbothered. One of the other girls stepped forward, trying to act tough. "You think you can¡ª" Before she could finish, Maruti moved with blinding speed, despite her size. She delivered a swift roundhouse kick to the girl''s stomach, sending her flying into the nearby wall. The force was so strong that a small crack appeared in the wall where she hit. The girl slumped to the ground, groaning in pain. Another girl from the group lunged at Maruti, but Maruti blocked her punch with ease. She grabbed the girl''s arm and twisted it, flipping her onto the ground with one smooth motion. The girl screamed in pain as Maruti''s supernatural strength pinned her down with ease. "How... how is she this strong?!" one of the bullies gasped, backing away in fear. Maruti''s eyes were sharp and focused now, her movements quick and efficient. She wasn''t just strong¡ªshe had trainedbat skills. With each motion, she was showing off her martial arts ability, a mix of brutal strength and precise technique. Another girl, desperate to fight back, grabbed a chair and swung it at Maruti. But Maruti ducked effortlessly, dodging the attack. In one fluid motion, she threw an elbow strike into the girl''s chest, knocking the wind out of her and sending her crashing to the floor. Thest two girls of the group tried to run, realizing they had no chance against her. But Maruti wasn''t going to let them escape that easily. She grabbed one by the cor and tossed her aside like she weighed nothing, her body mming into a table. The other girl made a desperate dash for the door, but Maruti, with her towering height and long legs, reached her in seconds. She grabbed the back of the girl''s shirt and lifted her off the ground effortlessly. With a simple flick of her wrist, she tossed the girl against the wall, leaving a noticeable dent in the ster. The entire cafeteria watched in stunned silence as Maruti stood victorious. The group of bullies was scattered on the floor, moaning in pain, bruised and defeated. Maruti stood there, panting heavily. Although she had taken down those bullies with such speed and power despite herrger frame, the toll it took on her body was starting to show. Her breaths were ragged, her chest heaving as she wiped the sweat from her brow. Instead of feeling victorious, though, a deep wave of disappointment washed over her. She nced at the fallen girls, the mess she had caused, and shook her head, her face contorting with frustration. "Shit... I ruined everything," she muttered under her breath, rubbing her forehead as if trying to ease the headache forming there. Her stomach twisted with regret. Without another word, Maruti picked up her things and hurried out of the cafeteria, her sad expression drawing confused looks from the other students who had watched the whole scene unfold. --- Later, on the academy rooftop, a ce where one could see the entire campus and the surrounding area, Maruti stood alone. But instead of admiring the view, she had something far darker on her mind. She stood right at the edge, inches away from the fall, staring nkly at the horizon. The cool breeze whipped through her short vermilion hair, but it did nothing to calm her. Her eyes were tired, her heart heavy. She clenched her hands into fists, feeling the roughness of the rooftop beneath her feet. Maruti closed her eyes tightly, trying to block out everything, the pain, the shame, the overwhelming emptiness that had been gnawing at her for so long. "Time to end this fucking life!" she yelled, her voice raw, filled with a mixture of anger and despair. Her foot hovered over the edge, ready to step forward and fall. But before she could, a voice from behind startled her. "It''s already the third time you''re yelling this. When are you actually going to do it?" the voice said, calm but with an undertone of boredom, as if the speaker had heard this all before. Maruti''s eyes shot open, her heart skipping a beat. She quickly turned around to see a girl leaning casually against the rooftop railing, arms crossed over her chest. Her long ck hair moved gently with the wind, and her sharp red eyes fixed on Maruti with an unimpressed gaze. It was Esdeath Crimson. Esdeath didn''t look concerned, scared, or even curious. In fact, she looked like she had grown tired of this scene, as if Maruti''s cry for help was nothing more than a routine she''d witnessed before. Maruti blinked in surprise, her mind racing. "Esdeath..." she whispered, her voice shaky. Esdeath sighed and pushed herself off the railing, walking slowly toward Maruti with an expression that could only be described as exasperated. "If you''re going to jump, just do it already," she said tly, her voice cutting through the silence. "You know what?, I bet you can''t do it!" She challenged. Maruti''s mouth went dry, her heart pounding in her chest as she clenched her teeth in frustration. She shot a re at Esdeath, who stood there unfazed, her red eyes gleaming with a mixture of boredom and challenge. Maruti had nned on jumping just moments ago, but something about Esdeath''s presence and her dismissive tone made her hesitate. Instead of leaping forward, she took a step back, her fists trembling. "You know what?" Maruti said, her voice strained with annoyance. "Why should I follow your orders? I''m not jumping!" Esdeath let out an exaggerated sigh, crossing her arms as if the whole situation was a waste of time. "I told ya''," she said with a mocking smile. "You don''t have the guts to jump." Maruti''s face twisted with anger, her pride wounded. "Fuck!" she cursed, her voice cracking with frustration. "You think I can''t do it? I was going to jump after you left! I''m tired of this life anyway!" In a burst of prideful defiance, Maruti spun back toward the edge of the rooftop, once again standing mere inches away from falling. The cold breeze sent a chill down her spine, but her mind was too clouded with anger to feel it. Her body was shaking, not from fear, but from the overwhelming desire to prove Esdeath wrong. "It''s not like it''s my first time dying," Maruti muttered under her breath, her voice lowering as she stared at the ground far below. Then, almost as if talking to herself, she continued, "But you know what? You remind me of my friend. He was always irritated for no reason and hated romance stories..." Maruti didn''t look at her, but she let out a bitterugh. "That''s why I''m giving you a tip," she said, her tone suddenly shifting, a strange calmness settling in her voice. She turned her head slightly, just enough for Esdeath to hear her next words clearly. "You might not believe me, but I was a man once, The greatest hitman in the world but... I died and got reincarnated into this fucking female body." she said bitterly. "I''m stuck in this body, in this stupid world. And just like me, you shouldn''t bother trying to do anything important. This whole world... it''s just a game. A game where you''re just a side character¡ªor maybe even just an extra." Marutiughed again, though there was no humor in it. "All of you exist just to be bystanders in the story of the main character, Ethan rothyer. You want my advice? Just cling to him, and maybe you''ll survive. That''s all this world is about. Nothing you do matters unless you''re part of his story." Her voice trailed off, and she took a deep breath, a strange sense of finality in her tone. "I hope this information finds you well," Maruti said, her voice growing quieter. "Goodbye." Just as Maruti was about to jump, her body leaning forward over the edge, Esdeath''s next words stopped her in her tracks. "Predictor?" Esdeath called out, her voice sharp and cutting through the air like a de. Maruti''s heart skipped a beat. Her eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat as the word registered in her mind. Without thinking, she whipped her head around to face Esdeath, disbelief written all over her face. "Fable?" she gasped, her voice trembling with a mixture of recognition and confusion. But in that split second, her body lost its bnce. The abrupt stop in her jump,bined with the sudden movement, caused her foot to slip. Her eyes widened in panic as the ground below seemed to tilt. Her stomach dropped as she felt herself falling backward, the solid roof beneath her feet disappearing. Time seemed to slow down as her body tilted toward the open air, her arms iling for something¡ªanything¡ªto grab onto.@@novelbin@@ "No¡ª!" she gasped, the fear hitting her all at once. Her heart pounded in her chest, the sensation of weightlessness overtaking her as her foot slippedpletely off the edge. Bronze Muscle Essence Stone For a second, Maruti stared at Esdeath''s outstretched hand, and then a wide, equally wicked grin broke across her face. "Hell yeah!" Esdeath chuckled, but before she could pull away, Maruti raised an eyebrow. "But... do you have any ns?" Esdeath paused, scratching the back of her head awkwardly. "Umm... no," she admitted with a sheepish smile. "But we''ll figure something out soon, don''t worry!" "Alright, but first, answer my question: Are you the incarnation of some kind of constetion?"esdeath questioned. The moment the question left Esdeath''s lips, Maruti''s face twisted in confusion. "A constetion? What''s that supposed to be?" she asked, her tone genuinely puzzled. Esdeath facepalmed, groaning in frustration. "You seriously don''t know what a constetion is? Have you barely yed this game? Like, only a few minutes?!" Her voice dripped with disappointment, as if she couldn''t believe what she was hearing. Maruti crossed her arms defensively. "Hey! I''ve been busy, okay?" Esdeath sighed, her frustration softening as she realized Maruti wasn''t joking. "Alright, alright, I don''t have the time to give you a whole history lesson, so I''ll make it simple," she said, pausing to collect her thoughts. "Constetions are like minor gods. Super powerful, but not immortal. And even though they''re gods, they have this rule not to meddle with mortals. But some constetions chooses peoples to be their incarnations, giving them extra powers and something called a ''system'', In return when incarnation gets famous and because of being incarnation of that constetion, The constetion will also be more strong and popr ." Maruti''s expression didn''t change much, but there was a spark of curiosity in her eyes now. "So, these constetions hand out powers just to get more famous? Are they like... idols or something?" she teased with a smirk, clearly finding the idea amusing. Esdeathughed, though there was a glint of amusement in her own eyes. "Honestly, yeah, kinda like that. I''d exin more if we weren''t short on time. By the way,I''m also an incarnation of a constetion. If I say ''status,'' my status window pops up. Of course, you won''t be able to see mine, but try saying it yourself¡ªsee if something happens." "Status!" Maruti shouted, her voice filled with both curiosity and excitement. To her surprise, a holographic window appeared right before her eyes, glowing softly in the air. But as she stared at it, confusion settled in. "Uh... Esdeath, something''s wrong with my system," she said, frowning. "It''s not showing any of my stats. All it says is ''Imperfect Incarnation.''" Esdeath''s eyes widened in sudden realization, her breath catching for a moment. "I see¡­," she murmured to herself. Noticing Esdeath''s reaction, Maruti raised an eyebrow. "What? What does that mean?" "There are two types of incarnations," Esdeath began, her tone shifting to something more serious. "First, there''s the Perfect Incarnation. That''s when a constetion fully chooses someone as their incarnation, no doubts, no hesitation. They''repletely epted by the constetion. But then, there''s the Imperfect Incarnation. That''s what you are right now." Maruti tilted her head, still not fully understanding. "Imperfect? Why?" Esdeath nodded, taking a deep breath before exining further. "It happens when a constetion hasn''t fully decided whether to make someone their incarnation. They''re unsure about you, or... there might be other candidates they''re considering. Basically, they''re watching you, but haven''t made up their mind yet." "Oh, I see¡­" Maruti said, her brows furrowing. "So I still have a chance to be someone''s incarnation? But how do I do that?" Esdeath''s expression softened as she continued. "There''s a way. Sometimes, constetions leave behind inheritances, kind of like trials or challenges. If you find one of these ces and prove yourself worthy bypleting their challenges, then you can be their Perfect Incarnation." Maruti''s puzzlement deepened. "But how do I even know who my constetion is?" Esdeath shrugged lightly. "Sometimes they''ll introduce themselves to you, or they''ll contact you through your status window when the time''s right. But for you, you are a special case¡­ well, you''re a barbarian, right? There''s a good chance your constetion is *him*." Maruti''s eyes narrowed in confusion. "Him? Who''s *him*?" Esdeath just smirked and instead of answering, yfully pped Maruti''s back. "I''ll tell you moreter," she teased. "Meet me at the basketball court tonight. We''ll talk then." With that, she pulled a small stone out of her pocket and tossed it to Maruti. Maruti caught it on instinct, looking down at the object in her hand. It glowed with a faint, bronze hue. "What''s this?" she asked, inspecting it closely. "That''s a Bronze Muscle Essence Stone," Esdeath said casually, walking ahead. "I don''t really have much use for it, so you take it. You''ve already used the Bronze Skin Essence Stone, so this one should work perfectly with your body." Just as Esdeath was about to leave, Maruti''s voice called out, stopping her in her tracks. "Hey, I answered all of your questions. How about answering one of mine?" Maruti''s tone was casual, but her eyes gleamed with curiosity. Esdeath paused and turned back, raising an eyebrow. "Alright, shoot." Maruti grinned mischievously. "Since you''re an incarnation¡­ who''s your constetion ?" Esdeath''s expression flickered for a moment, her usual confidence reced by something more guarded. She hesitated but quickly masked it with a sly smile. "Mine? Oh, it''s a very high-ranking one." Her words came out quickly, almost too quickly, as she turned on her heel and left before Maruti could ask anything else. She hadn''t answered the question fully. But the truth was... even Esdeath didn''t know who her constetion was. As Esdeath disappeared from view, Maruti''s grin widened, her eyes narrowing with amusement. "Hmmm¡­ she didn''t answer my question. That means she doesn''t even know who her constetion is!" she thought, her mind working swiftly to put the pieces together. Maruti folded her arms, deep in thought. "She also didn''t tell me how she died, which makes me think she probably died in a really dumb way. If she''s avoiding the topic, there''s no doubt about it." Her grin turned wicked as she continued her mental calctions. "And I''m sure she started ying this game after I died... meaning she lived for quite a while longer than I did. A year? Ten years maybe?" She tilted her head, her thoughts racing as she pieced together more clues. "Esdeath said she had no n, but I''ve seen her sneaking into the library, picking out books on silent magic and hair color changing spells, "She''s definitely plotting to kill someone. Now the real question is¡­ who''s her target?" ------------ Esdeath sat cross-legged on her bed and quietly willed the "status" window to appear. Instantly, a holographic screen floated in the air before her, glowing faintly as several notifications began popping up, one after the other. <300 SP received.> Esdeath''s brows furrowed slightly. "Only 300 SP?" she muttered. It felt like a small reward for such an aplishment. She knew many doubted her, thinking she cheated rather than acknowledging her true effort. Still, the fact she received any points at all was a sign that, even in their skepticism, they had no choice but to recognize her existence. Another notification appeared, this one making her eyes narrow. @@novelbin@@ Esdeath stared at the window with irritation, ring at it as if it had stolen something from her. "Figured as much," she thought bitterly. But before she could dwell on it, a new message shed. <1000 SP received.> "Pfft even system knows that eldon was a trash character!" She chuckles but her eyes widened in surprise. "A thousand SP?!" she gasped, her heart racing with excitement. This was far more than she expected, and it felt like a victory after the disappointment of the earlier notification. She paused, weighing her options. "I should invest these in skills," she thought, her mind already working out how best to improve her abilities. Without hesitation, she decided her first upgrade would be her "Keen Eyes" skill. Without hesitation, Esdeath decided her first upgrade would be for her "Keen Eyes" skill. <400 SP deducted> Eagle Eyes (E): Can see over great distances with precision + Can see the flow of mana. A satisfied smile spread across Esdeath''s face as she looked at her new skill. Her vision shifted almost instantly, and she nced to the right and left. At first nce, everything seemed normal, but soon she noticed something new¡ªrays of light floating through the air in all directions. "Is that¡­ mana?" Esdeath realized, her smile widening. "I actually gained mana sense without needing to learn it." The rush of excitement built in her chest. Mana sense was a powerful ability, especially in battles against awakened individuals. Being able to see the flow of mana would not only help her block iing attacks but also allow her to counterattack with perfect timing. "This is a must-have for any serious swordsman," she thought with satisfaction, already envisioning how useful this would be. Though she hadn''t nned on gaining this skill, it was a fantastic bonus. After smirking for a few moments, Esdeath decided it was time to upgrade another skill. <1,000 SP deducted> Sharpshooter (E): When used, time will slow down for five seconds. Can only be used once every 50 minutes. Esdeath''s eyes widened in disbelief as she saw the deduction. "....!!" She was momentarily stunned, then her jaw dropped. Rage welled up inside her, and she couldn''t contain herself any longer. "Are you serious?! 1,000 SP for this?!" she screamed, showing the status window her middle finger in frustration. "Give me my points back! All you gave me was two extra seconds and reduced cooldown by ten minutes?! That''s robbery!" Ultra Instinct As the afternoon faded into night, the basketball court seemed to take on a quieter, more intense atmosphere. Just as Esdeath had predicted, Maruti arrived at the court first, sitting casually on the ground. Not long after, Esdeath appeared, standing tall in contrast to Maruti''s rxed posture. Their eyes met, the silence hanging in the air between them before Esdeath finally broke it. "So, I called you here to share some important information. But first¡ªwhat happened of that fight? Did you face any punishment?" Esdeath asked, her tone curious yet direct. Maruti grinned and waved her hand dismissively. "Nah, nothing too serious. Just a two-week suspension. No big deal." Esdeath sighed, shaking her head lightly. "Of course, typical you." After a moment, she got back to the real reason they were there. "Well, forget about that for now. Use the suspension to refine the bronze muscle essence stone on your own." Without waiting for a reply, Esdeath shifted into a more serious tone. "Listen up, Predictor. What we need to focus on isn''t magic, but essence stones. There are many ancient inheritances tied to these stones¡ªones I know about and can guide you through," she exined, her voice taking on the tone of a mentor. Maruti, with her usual carefree attitude, protested, "Why not magic? I wanna learn magic and look cool!" Esdeath''s lips twitched in irritation as she turned her back to Maruti. In front of her was arge board, hidden beneath a red cloth. She yanked the cloth off, revealing an intricate magic circle drawn on the board. It was big, detailed, and overwhelming. "Do you have any idea whose magic circle this is? Or what level it belongs to?" Esdeath asked, staring at the board. Maruti squinted at it, thenughed. "Looks like some kind of ant hill or something!" Esdeath mmed her fist against the board, frustration clear in her movements. "That''s the point! I don''t know either! It took me half an hour just to copy it from a book, and the book said it''s only an intermediate-level spell. Not even close to being a high-level one!" Maruti''s yful expression faded, reced by one of realization. "Okay¡­ now I get your point," she admitted, her voice quieter as the gravity of Esdeath''s words sank in. Esdeath finished her exnation with a firm voice, "That''s why, unless it''s absolutely necessary, we won''t waste time learning high-ranking spells. We''re just starting out, so it''s not too difficult yet." She paused briefly, signaling that her little speech hade to an end. "Alright, that''s it for now. I''m heading to sleep. Let''s meet again in two weeks. I''ll be focusing on my own tasks, and you can refine that essence stone," she said as she turned to leave, clearly ready to wrap up the conversation. "Wait, wait, wait... what about telling me who my constetion is?" Maruti quickly called out, halting Esdeath in her tracks. Esdeath chuckled awkwardly, rubbing her forehead with a slight smile, "Oh yeah, I totally forgot." Her grin turned a bit mischievous as she spun back around to face Maruti. "Okay, listen. We''re going to try a little experiment," Esdeath began, her eyes sparkling with a mix of amusement and seriousness. "I''ll hit you with this board¡ªdon''t worry¡ªand knock you out. if this works then I''ll find out who your constetion is... Trust me, And I''ll tell you who it is after two weeks, once we''re back in ss." Esdeath''s face remainedpletely sincere, though the n sounded a bit ridiculous. Maruti stared at her, torn between disbelief and curiosity. Should she trust Esdeath''s bizarre n? After a moment of hesitation, she let out a long sigh. "Fine... just do it," she muttered, resigning herself to the weird experiment. Esdeath grinned, grabbing a nearby board with a mischievous gleam in her eye. Without further warning, she swung the board straight at Maruti''s face. **CRACK!** The board shattered into pieces on impact, the sound echoing in the empty court. Maruti''s eyes widened for a second before everything went blurry. She could feel herself slipping away into darkness, sinking deeper and deeper into an unconscious void. Esdeath stood still, her gaze fixed on Maruti''s limp body sprawled on the ground. A silence hung in the air, the stillness of the basketball court broken only by the faint rustling of the wind. She let out a long, exasperated sigh. "Hmph¡­ nothing happened," she muttered to herself, disappointment creeping into her voice. "Guess I was wrong after all." Shaking her head, Esdeath turned on her heel, ready to leave. But just as she took a step, something strange caught her attention. The air around her felt different¡ªheavy, charged with a presence she hadn''t noticed before. A low, eerie sound began to echo in the silent court, like a distant chant. Esdeath paused mid-step, her instincts sharp. She nced over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing. Maruti, who had been lying still just moments ago, was slowly rising from the ground. Her movements were unnatural, like a puppet being pulled up by invisible strings. Maruti''s body stood upright. Her eyes snapped open, revealing her sclera turned pitch ck, glowing with an otherworldly intensity. The stare she gave was cold, devoid of humanity, yet it radiated an ancient power. The weight of her presence pressed down on the surroundings, thick and almost suffocating. Even without looking, Esdeath could feel the shift, the sudden surge of something far greater than just Maruti. But instead of being startled, her smirk widened into a wicked grin. "Well, well," Esdeath murmured, her voice low and dripping with amusement. "You told me your name was Maruti, but you never mentioned it was "Maruti Vanara", did you?" Her words hung in the air, sending a chilling thrill through the court as she slowly turned to face the possessed girl. Maruti stood motionless, her eerie ck sclera locked onto Esdeath. The chilling sight sent a shiver down Esdeath''s spine, but her mind raced. "Ultra Instinct," she thought, her eyes narrowing as she analyzed the situation. "I never imagined I''de across someone else with it¡­" Her pulse quickened. The power radiating from Maruti was overwhelming, and Esdeath knew exactly what it meant. "Ultra Instinct... only granted to those who are incarnations of the Primal Constetion¡ªLord Hanuman." The realization struck her with exhration. "One of the strongest constetions, said to be closest to achieving immortality."@@novelbin@@ For a moment, Esdeath stood frozen, her mind weighing the situation. "If she attacks now, with the power I have, I don''t stand a chance," she admitted to herself. Her heartbeat drummed louder in her chest as the pressure of the situation sank in. But Esdeath wasn''t one to stick around when the odds were against her. She stretched her arms, trying to keep calm, but her nerves tingled with urgency. "Now''s the only thing I can do is..." she muttered under her breath. Without warning, she spun on her heel, yelling, "Run!" Her feet moved before her mind could catch up, and she sprinted off the basketball court, her heart pounding in her ears. Behind her, Maruti stood like a looming shadow, but Esdeath didn''t dare look back. As she raced through the darkness, she recalled what she knew about *Ultra Instinct*. "When it activates, the person only attacks those within their immediate range," she reminded herself, her breath ragged from running. "I just need to get far enough away before it triggers." The night air was cool against her skin as she dashed toward the dorms, her legs burning from the effort. "Since it''s nighttime, no one should be around," she thought, hoping Maruti wouldn''t encounter anyone else. "After wondering few hours, she''ll return to normal... hopefully." Finally reaching the safety of her dorm room, Esdeath copsed onto her bed, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. A smile tugged at her lips, a mixture of exhaustion and triumph. "I''ve stumbled upon something priceless..." she whispered to herself, staring up at the ceiling. The discovery of Maruti''s connection to Lord Hanuman was more than she could have hoped for. With that thought, she let herself drift off to sleep, satisfied with the treasure she had found, but fully aware of the danger that still lingered. ---------- As the night faded, the soft golden light of dawn crept into the world, casting long shadows over the quiet basketball court. Outside, near the court, was arge dustbin area¡ªnormally filled with trash and debris. But today, something unusualy hidden inside one of the bins. Amidst the garbage, a figure began to stir. A heavyset girl, her clothes wrinkled and slightly stained, was sprawled inside the dustbin. The morning light streamed through the cracks, and slowly, her eyes fluttered open. At first, her mind was groggy, still heavy with sleep, but as she blinked away the haze, her surroundings started toe into focus. A sudden wave of fury surged through her, and she clenched her fists. "What the fuck did you do, Fable?" Killing Two Birds With One Stone As the teacher''s voice droned on, the ss sat in quiet anticipation. Finally, he wrapped up, "So, the lecture ends here for today, but before you leave, I have an important announcement. In two weeks, the selection program for the uingpetition will begin." His voice became more serious, and everyone in ss B perked up. "First, there will be solo participants, followed by team matches. Those who collect enough points will qualify for thepetition and face one-on-one duels," the teacher exined. His eyes scanned the ss, gauging their reactions. "You all have two weeks to prepare. Don''t just focus on lectures¡ªpractice hard and be ready." "Yes, sir!" The ss shouted in unison, their voices echoing in the room. Excitement buzzed in the air, but Esdeath remained silent, lost in her own thoughts as she stared into the distance. "Two weeks, huh?" she muttered to herself, her mind swirling with thoughts of both thepetition and her own personal ns. "The time for my little mission ising up soon too¡­ but now that I have Predictor with me, I''m running short on money again," she thought, her lips curling into a frustrated frown. Her gaze shifted out of the window, her mind wandering to something¡ªor rather, someone else. "By now, Ethan''s probably getting ready for his own inheritance. I''d love to snatch that from him, but... that treasure is only meant for the pure-hearted. Of course, I don''t stand a chance at being that," she sighed deeply, her fingers drumming against the wooden desk in boredom. Knowing the location of a priceless treasure, but being unable to im it, gnawed at her. The frustration bubbled up inside her. "Knowing exactly where it is but not being able to take it... this is so annoying!" she groaned quietly, leaning her head onto her desk, feeling the weight of disappointment pressing down. Her eyeszily scanned the room as she fought the dull ache of boredom. That''s when theynded on a group of girls nearby, giggling and chatting among themselves. They were the same group that had bullied Maruti but ended up getting beaten by her. Esdeath''s sharp gaze lingered on the group of girls across the room. As she stared at them, her eyes locked onto one of the girls. The girl quickly noticed and scowled in response, recognizing Esdeath''s intense gaze. Despite having been beaten by Maruti the previous day, their arrogance hadn''t faded. "Hey! That cheating witch is staring at us ," one of the girls hissed to her friends, flipping her hair dismissively. "Looks like we''re short on some losers to mess with. Let''s give her a little lesson," she added, smirking. With a sneer, they all turned and began walking toward Esdeath, their intention clear. Esdeath raised an eyebrow in confusion at first, wondering why they were approaching her so boldly. She hadn''t done anything to them¡ªyet. As they got closer, it dawned on Esdeath what they were nning. Before they could make their move, she suddenly stood up, catching them off guard. Without any warning, she swung her hand forward, aiming directly at one of the girls. In her hand was a pen. Its sharp tip stopped just inches from the girl''s eye. The girl froze, her breath caught in her throat as the sharp pen hovered dangerously close. Her face turned pale as she gasped, stumbling back in fear. "Shit! I thought I was dead for sure. This crazy bitch!" she muttered in shock, her voice trembling. The rest of the group red at Esdeath, anger shing in their eyes. They hade expecting to bully her, but now it seemed like they were the ones at a disadvantage. Esdeath, however, wasn''t finished. A n appeared on her mind at lighting speed and Her expression shifted, instead ofshing out further, a sly smile spread across her face. She tilted her head slightly, eyes gleaming with an idea. "Oh, did I make you angry? Do you really want to beat me up?" she asked with a yful, taunting tone. The girls looked confused, not sure what she was getting at. Esdeath chuckled, her voice low and mocking. "How about I''ll let you hit me as much as you want¡­ but it''ll cost you. How about one silver coins for each punch?" She smiled wider, clearly enjoying the tension in the air. The group of girls paused, not because they were scared, but because they simply didn''t have enough money for Esdeath''s bold offer. The silence stretched awkwardly until it was broken by a voice cutting through the tension. "I''ll pay." It was a boy''s voice, confident andmanding. They all turned to see Corin Reynold, a tall boy with striking blonde hair and an air of authority. Esdeath''s eyes narrowed as she recognized him. She briefly wondered why Corin, a high-ranked student from ss A, was here in ss B, her gaze quickly moved to the girl standing beside him¡ªEmma, his girlfriend. Emma was also part of ss B, No double he came to ss B to took her. Although Emma had a crush on ethan at first sight but for now, she was still loyal to Corin. Esdeath understood Corin''s game almost immediately. He wasn''t just here to humiliate her. No, he wanted to show off in front of Emma and indirectly vent his anger toward Ethan, who Corin hated so much. Esdeath could see it in the way his arm boldly rested around Emma''s shoulders, his possessiveness clear. "Alright then," Corin smirked, tossing a bag of coins toward the group of girls. "I''ll pay for the punches." ----------- They led Esdeath and Corin up to the academy rooftop, a ce notorious for settling grudges and challenges out of sight. Corin stood at the edge of the rooftop, leaning casually against the railing with Emma by his side. His arm was draped around her, a smug grin on his face. BAM! The first girl With a swift punch, shended a blow to Esdeath''s abdomen, causing her to double over in pain, knees hitting the cold ground. The force of the punch made her gasp for air, but she didn''t cry out. Instead, she gritted her teeth and looked up at them, a flicker of amusement in her eyes. Before Esdeath could fully recover, another girl took the opportunity to strike. With a powerful kick. Swishh..... she mmed her foot into Esdeath''s face, sending her sprawling to the ground. The impact was hard enough that Esdeath''s cheek stung with a burning sensation. But rather than wince or whimper, Esdeath simply chuckled, her breath raspy as she coughed. Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth, but she wiped it away with the back of her hand. "Cough¡­ cough¡­ Not bad¡­ not bad at all," she muttered, her voice low but filled with a twisted kind of praise. Her lips curled into a grin, despite the pain. "You!" the girl growled, her teeth clenched in frustration. She was seething with anger, her hands shaking as she prepared tond another kick on Esdeath. But what she didn''t know was that Esdeath was purposely provoking them, baiting them into attacking her for the money. Before the girl could strike, a sharp voice rang out. "Stop!" Emma yelled, stepping forward. Her face was filled with irritation as she red at Corin. "I don''t like these kinds of games!" she snapped, grabbing Corin''s hand off her shoulder and turning away, her movements full of disgust. Corin froze for a moment, his smug confidence crumbling. Instead of looking cool, he realized he had made himself look like a viin. Panic shed across his face as he called after Emma, "Wait a minute!" His voice trembled with desperation as he hurried to follow her. Watching Corin leave, Esdeath smirked to herself. She wasn''t about to let him off that easily. "Hey! I took twelve blows. You owe me twelve silver coins!" she called out, her voice steady, demanding. Corin stopped in his tracks, clearly irritated, but there was no escaping it now. Begrudgingly, he pulled out a pouch of silver coins and tossed it toward Esdeath. Without breaking a sweat, she caught it mid-air, her reflexes sharp. A sly smile spread across her face as she felt the weight of the coins. The group of girls who had been part of the beating nced at each other. There was a mix of disappointment and satisfaction on their faces¡ªdisappointment that they couldn''t hit her more, but satisfied that they had bruised her enough. They walked away in silence, their steps heavy with frustration. As Esdeath watched them leave, her body was aching, her face bruised from the hits. Yet, she didn''t flinch or show any sign of pain. Instead, her smile widened, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "I''ll definitely pay them back for beating me," she murmured under her breath. "But for now, money is what matters." ------ In the academy hall, Ethan walked alongside Violet and Sylvania, a smile tugging at his lips. The chatter around them was light, but Sylvania, with her usual confident charm, couldn''t resist teasing him. "I will definitely win thispetition! Just don''t get in my way, Ethan!" she said, her voice full of yful determination. Her cute tone didn''t hide the seriousness in her words. Ethan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "We''ll see about that. If you want, I can train both of you personally. But don''t expect me to go easy on you in thepetition," he warned, his eyes shing with friendly challenge. As he spoke, thoughts swirled in his mind. "I need strong, determinedpanions for future events. Thispetition isn''t just for fun. It''s for their growth too, even if they are my friends," he calcted, his gaze sharpening. Just as Ethan was deep in thought, something caught his attention. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a girl struggling to walk, her body covered in bruises. His heart skipped a beat as he realized who it was. "Esdeath Crimson?" Ethan gasped softly, recognizing her instantly. His smile faded, reced by concern as he watched her barely managing to stay on her feet. Sylvania and Violet''s eyes widened as they noticed Esdeath, struggling to stay on her feet. Without hesitation, the three rushed toward her, catching her just before she could copse to the ground.@@novelbin@@ "What happened? Who did this to you?" Ethan asked, his voice filled with concern and anger as he gently held her up. Esdeath looked up slowly, her tear-filled eyes sparkling like someone desperately seekingfort. Before anyone could react, she threw her arms around Ethan, hugging him tightly. Her body trembled as sobs escaped her lips. "Sob¡­ sob¡­ It was Corin¡­ and his friends¡­ sob¡­ They beat me up and took my twenty silver coins that I won in thepetition!" Esdeath cried harder, pressing herself even closer to Ethan, her tears soaking his shirt. "We need to go to the teachers and report them right away!" Violet said urgently, her voice trembling with worry as she nced at Sylvania, who nodded in agreement. But Esdeath quickly shook her head, panic flickering across her face. "N-no! Please, we can''t! I¡­ I cheated in thepetition. I used an Instant Sess Essence Stone to refine the Moonde Essence Stone, and they know it. If I tell the teachers, they''ll expose my cheating too! My family¡­ they''re in debt, and I need money, even if it''s just a little. But now¡­ now I don''t even have a single coin left¡­ Sob¡­ sob¡­" Esdeath cried harder, her body shaking uncontrobly, her tears flowing endlessly. Ethan''s expression hardened, his fists clenching in anger. "Corin¡­ you''ve crossed the line this time¡­" he muttered through gritted teeth, rage burning in his eyes. "Tell me where they are," he demanded, his tone cold and serious. "No! If you go, they''ll tell the teachers everything. We can''t do anything!" Esdeath gasped, fear shing in her eyes as she grabbed his arm in desperation. "Tch¡­" Sylvania bit her lip in frustration, her fists trembling at her sides. "Fine, then we''ll get your revenge in thepetition! I swear, I''ll show them no mercy," she vowed, her voice sharp and determined. Ethan took a deep breath, calming his anger as he searched through his pocket. After a moment, he pulled out a small leather pouch filled with silver coins and held it out to Esdeath. "Here, take this. It''s twenty silver coins. I hope it helps," he said softly, handing it to her. Esdeath slowly let go of Ethan, taking the pouch with trembling hands. Her tear-filled eyes sparkled with gratitude. "Thank you¡­ thank you so much¡­" Tears of joy streamed down her cheeks as she held the coins tightly. "Now,e on. We''ll help you get to your dorm," Violet said gently, taking one of Esdeath''s arms and cing it over her shoulder. Sylvania stepped in on the other side, supporting Esdeath as they began to walk. Together, they bnced her carefully, their faces filled with concern for their friend. But as they started walking, Esdeath''s tearful expression twisted into a sly grin, hidden from the others. "Sometimes I even forget I''m acting," she thought to herself, amused. "Well, with this, my money problem is solved, and I''ve made sure Ethan sees Corin as his enemy now. Hehe¡­" Her heart raced with satisfaction as she nced at the unsuspecting trio supporting her. "Talk about killing two birds with one stone." -------------------------------------------------------- Damn.... If lortell found out about this, These guys''s three generation will fucked up. well, you might already guessed, It''s time for two weeks time skip and finally only few chapters left till lortelles back, So that i can finally call this novel a yandere novel. Seductivness Of An Mature Woman Esdeath had spent the past two weeks deeply focused on improving her fighting skills. Each day, she pushed herself harder, growing morefortable with her new female body. Every move felt smoother now, each punch and kick more precise than before. Meanwhile, Maruti, her friend, was locked in her own world, working on refining a "bronze muscle essence stone". Since Maruti had been suspended for two weeks, she used this time wisely, dedicating herself to her task without distractions. The days passed in a steady routine. Esdeath would wake up, work out intensely, attend ss, and then return to her dorm to rest and start again the next day. This pattern repeated itself like clockwork, until finally, the two weeks of Maruti''s suspension came to an end. It was now the morning before the bigpetition, and everyone in the ssroom was on edge, feeling the excitement and tension building. Esdeath sat at her usual desk, quiet andposed as always, though her red eyes asionally flickered toward the ssroom door. She was waiting for someone¡ªMaruti. Today marked the end of Maruti''s punishment, and Esdeath knew she would return today. Other students were busy chatting or preparing for the teachers to arrive, but Esdeath''s attention remained elsewhere. Her thoughts swirled, wondering how Maruti had been during her suspension, whether she had seeded in refining the stone. As the minutes passed, the atmosphere in the ssroom settled into its usual buzz. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and instead of a teacher walking in, a figure stepped into the room. She had an eye-catching appearance. Her fiery red hair was short and messy, with a few wild strands sticking out, giving her a rebellious yet fierce vibe. Her sharp, brownish-yellow eyes gleamed with confidence, almost as if they could pierce right through anyone. A lollipop hungzily from her mouth, adding a yful touch to her otherwise bold and intense look. Her school uniform hugged her figure snugly, especially around her chest, giving her a seductive and daring appearance. The white button-up shirt looked crisp and clean, but she had casually rolled up her sleeves, making her seem moreid-back andfortable in her own skin. Over the shirt, she wore a tan sweater vest that fit perfectly against her body, and her ck pleated skirt ended just above her knees, adding to her rxed, yet stylish, look. Despite the simplicity of her outfit, there was no denying the confident and fearless aura she gave off. As she entered the ssroom, the effect was immediate. Every boy''s eyes widened in surprise. "Whoa, who''s this beauty, A transfer student?" one of them whispered. "Man, look at her chest... so big!" another added, unable to stop staring. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn''t look away. Even some of the girls were caught off guard by her striking appearance. A few nced at her with envy, while others couldn''t help but feel a bit jealous. Esdeath, sitting quietly in her seat, smirked as soon as she saw the girl. She recognized her instantly. "Pftt... Predictor," she chuckled to herself, her eyes glinting with amusement. "To think you''ve changed this much." Esdeath''s sharp eyes took in every detail. "Her muscles have toned up, losing all that fat. And it looks like using those two bronze essence stones has even darkened her hair into this reddish-brown shade," she observed, calcting her friend''s transformation with a smirk of satisfaction. Maruti walked in confidently, ignoring the whispers around her. She didn''t bother paying any attention to the curious gazes or hushed voices that followed her as she made her way to her usual seat. As soon as she sat down, one by one, the students around her finally began to realize who she was. "Wait¡­ Maruti? Is that really you?" one of the girls gasped, her jaw dropping in disbelief. "Oh my gosh! It''s really you! How did you change so much in just two weeks?" the same girl eximed, her mouth still wide open in shock. Within moments, the whole ss had gathered around Maruti, boys and girls alike. Unlike before when they teased her for her appearance, now, they couldn''t stop staring, amazed by how different she looked. Esdeath, on the other hand, remained in her seat, watching silently from a distance. Maruti could feel the pressure of everyone''s eyes on her. It was almost overwhelming. "This is so frustrating¡­" she thought, forcing a small, uneasy smile to hide her difort. Before she could lose her patience, the teacher walked into the room, immediately making everyone rush back to their seats. Even the teacher seemed caught off guard by Maruti''s transformation. She stared at her for a few moments, puzzled. "Do we have a new student in ss today?" the teacher asked, still staring at Maruti with curiosity. One of the boys quickly stood up, eager to impress. "No, ma''am! She''s my friend, Maruti!" he dered, emphasizing the word ''friend'' to make himself look good. Maruti sighed inwardly, feeling annoyed by his bold im. "Friend? Tch¡­ pathetic," she thought to herself. The teacher''s eyes widened in surprise. "Maruti? Really? You lookpletely different!" she said, her voice filled with astonishment before starting the lesson.@@novelbin@@ Even though the ss had begun, many of the students couldn''t help but steal nces at Maruti. It was almost impossible not to. While the princess ravenna with her pink hair may have dazzled everyone with her delicate cuteness, Maruti now exuded the beauty of a mature woman, with an undeniable air of seductiveness. A few times, Maruti noticed their eyes meeting hers. Instead of looking away, the boys seemed even more thrilled. They whispered to each other, trying to read into every little thing. "Did you see that? She looked at me! I think she''s telling me to meet her after ss!" one of the boys whispered excitedly. The chatter continued quietly, but the attention on Maruti never faded until, finally, the lessons ended for the day. As soon as ss ended, Maruti already knew what wasing. She could almost feel the stares burning into her back, and she had no interest in facing the crowd again. Without wasting a moment, she quickly stood up and hurried out of the ssroom before anyone could corner her. Esdeath, still sitting at her desk, smirked, amused by the whole situation. Watching Maruti flee from her admirers felt like some sort ofedy drama, but Esdeath felt no need to chase after her. With her head restingzily on the desk, Esdeath let out a small sigh. There wasn''t much to do right now, except wait for tomorrow''s qualification round for the uingpetition. That was all that mattered¡ªbeing selected. She would do whatever it took to make sure she stood out and advanced. Boredom started creeping in as she leaned down, still resting her head on the desk. Even though she felt restless, she didn''t want to move. Silence filled the ssroom, and Esdeath allowed herself to enjoy the quiet¡ªuntil voices from outside interrupted her peace. "What? You want to be like Lortell Mariette? Why her, out of all people?" A boy''s sharp voice cut through the air, his tone filled with arrogance. "Why not? She''s the youngest person to be an S-Rank and the Third Division Commander! Who wouldn''t want to be like her?" a girl argued back, her voice heated. "Huh, so what?" The boy''s tone turned bolder. "I''ll surpass her, no problem. And you know what? Other than her, there''s only one other woman in her whole division. The rest are top-level criminals¡ªmen who don''t listen to anyone except her." The boy scoffed loudly, and his voice took on a nastier edge. "Who knows what kind of dirty things she''s been doing to make those criminals follow her orders? That slut¡­" Esdeath''s entire body tensed as thest word reached her ears. Something inside her snapped. Her eyes shot open, glowing with a fierce red light, the rings in her irises spinning rapidly. Her lips twisted into a bitter, disgusted expression, as though she had just tasted something vile. "Who said that?" she muttered, her voice dripping with fury. "Who dares to talk about my Lortell like that?" Her anger surged, and without realizing it, her sharp nails dug into the desk, tearing into the wood. She stood up abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor as she stormed out of the ssroom to find the source of those filthy words. Luckily, she didn''t have to look far. There, in the hallway, were Corin and Emma, walking away as if nothing had happened. Esdeath''s eyes narrowed, but instead of calming down, her rage twisted into something darker. A wide grin spread across her face as her yandere nature took over. She didn''t sigh or rx like a normal person would. No, instead, she let out a low chuckle, which soon turned into uncontrobleughter echoing through the academy halls. "Hehehe¡­ Hahahaha¡­" The students passing by couldn''t help but feel uneasy as they nced at her, wondering what had made herugh so maniacally. "Corin¡­" Esdeath whispered to herself, her voiceced with venom. "I''ll make you eat those words." ------------------------------------------------------- This is picture of predictor btw..... What do you think? Easy Battle "I don''t want to die! I don''t want to die!" Luna''s voice echoed through the silent forest, her cries filled with desperation as her body trembled uncontrobly. Fear wrapped around her heart like icy chains, suffocating her. She struggled against the ropes binding her to the tree, but it was no use. Her strength was failing, and no one was there to save her. Her pleas for help dissolved into the night, unheard by anyone. Esdeath, perched in a nearby tree, watched the scene unfold with cold, emotionless eyes. The darkness of the night only made the red glow of her eyes more menacing. There wasn''t even a flicker of pity on her face as she observed Luna''s futile struggle. She was waiting ¡ª waiting for what was inevitable. The boar closed the distance quickly, its massive form looming closer and closer until it was right in front of Luna. In one swift motion, it thrust its sharp tusks into her chest. Luna let out a bloodcurdling scream as the searing pain exploded through her body. Blood poured from the wound, staining the forest floor, and her vision started to blur. But the creature didn''t stop there. It began tearing into her flesh, first ripping at her neck, then moving to her chest. Luna''s breath came in shallow gasps as her strength faded away. She felt her consciousness slipping as the monster feasted on her body, tearing into her with savage hunger. The pain became too much to bear, and her mind went numb as it devoured her heart and lungs. Minutes passed, and the Boar King continued its gruesome feast. Slowly, methodically, it consumed half of her body, even reaching her brain. But after a while, the beast slowed, its hunger sated. Luna''s mutted body was barely recognizable now, and yet, even with only half of her left, the creature felt full. It didn''t bother finishing the meal, for it had already devoured the parts it needed ¡ª the heart and brain, where mana flowed most strongly. Suddenly, a dark light enveloped the boar''s massive form. It roared, a deep, earth-shaking sound that echoed through the forest. Its tusks grew longer and sharper, and its body swelled with newfound power. The beast, nowrger and stronger, reared up on its hind legs, standing on two feet like a terrifying, mutated monster. Its transformation wasplete, and its strength had multiplied, making it a fearsome predator of the night. From her perch in the tree, Esdeath''s lips curled into a cold smile. Her n had worked perfectly. BANG! The sharp crack of a gunshot pierced the night, shattering the eerie silence. A bullet mmed into the Boar King''s eye, shattering it instantly. Blood sprayed as the beast let out a monstrous roar of pain, shaking the very air around them. "Grrroooaaarrr!".... The beast, now blinded in one eye, reared up on its two hind legs, its massive form trembling with fury. With a furious snarl, it charged toward the tree where Esdeath had been moments before, the ground trembling beneath its powerful hooves. BAM! The Boar King''s head collided with the tree, causing it to snap and fall, but Esdeath was already ahead of the game. She hadnded smoothly on the ground, her movements swift and calcted. "I fired a paralysis bullet," she muttered under her breath, ncing at the beast. "Even though it''s a D-rank monster, Right now it won''t be paralyzed. But it''s slowed down significantly." Esdeath''s mind was sharp, always thinking two steps ahead. Instead of facing the Boar King head-on, she turned on her heel and sprinted into the darkness. The Boar King, enraged and single-minded, roared and charged after her, not thinking about anything but crushing its prey. Esdeath zigzagged through the trees, her feet barely making a sound as she dodged between the trunks. She knew running in a straight line would only get her caught, but with the beast''s massive body, its clumsy attempts to follow her quick, erratic path were hindered. The beast snarled and crashed into trees, but Esdeath remained just out of its reach. After running for a hundred meters, her eyes locked onto something ahead. "There it is..." she breathed, a smirk forming on her lips. A rope was tied down tightly between two nearby trees, part of the trap she had set. Without wasting a second, Esdeath activated her Moonde. The sleek weapon hummed in her hand as she sprinted toward the rope. At thest moment, she dropped low, drifting across the ground, and sliced the rope with a single, clean stroke. A moment of stillness passed. SHWOOOOSH! Suddenly, a barrage of needles shot out from the trees, hurtling at the Boar King. The beast barely had time to react before the trap triggered, and sharp, gleaming needles embedded themselves into its flesh, tearing through its thick hide. Esdeath stood up, her cold gaze fixed on the wounded Boar King. The needles had pierced its flesh, yet it still stood, refusing to fall. She knew this wasn''t over yet. @@novelbin@@ In that instant, everything seemed to move in slow motion. Esdeath''s hand moved swiftly as she drew her gun, her mind and body in perfect synchronization. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! In just five seconds, she fired twenty bullets, each one finding its mark on the Boar King''s massive body. Blood poured out from countless wounds, painting the ground beneath it. Despite the onught, the Boar King didn''t copse. Its legs shook violently, its body wavering, but it refused to give in. Its once mighty form was now struggling, barely able to stand on all fours as it dragged itself toward Esdeath, like a beast using thest of its strength to defy death. Every step was slow, heavy, and painful¡ªone step¡­ two steps¡­ three steps¡ªuntil it was only a breath away from her. Esdeath stood firm, her cold eyes meeting the beast''s one remaining eye. The Boar King red back, a mixture of rage and helplessness in its gaze. But Esdeath didn''t flinch. "Your time''s up," she whispered with a smirk. Without hesitation, she drove her fist into the beast''sst eye. The Boar King howled in agony as she grasped the eye and ripped it from its skull. It let out one final, pained roar before its body copsed, limp and lifeless. The night was dark, and Esdeath felt no time to waste after her battle. She knew that the blood and noise might soon attract more dangerous monsters, so she quickly drew out her moonde. With practiced efficiency, she started cutting through the Boar King''s massive body, its flesh heavy under her de. She pierced its head first, but nothing. Esdeath grimaced, then opened the beast''s enormous belly. The gaping wound wasrge enough for her entire body to fit inside. Without hesitation, she climbed into the warm cavity, ignoring the grotesque feel of blood and organs sticking to her skin. Inside, she dug through the Boar King''s insides, tossing aside chunks of flesh and slippery organs. Her hands were slick with blood, and her body was now drenched in it, but she didn''t stop. Finally, after what felt like minutes of searching, her fingers brushed against something solid. "Got it." She pulled it out¡ªa pitch-ck stone, shaped like a boar''s head with two long tusks. The ck Boar Strength Essence Stone. Esdeath climbed out of the body, breathing heavily, and stared at the stone, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. She essed her system to refine it immediately. A satisfied smile curled her lips as she checked her stats. "At least her death wasn''t in vain," she muttered, briefly thinking about Luna, whose sacrifice had enabled her to gain this new strength. Wasting no time, Esdeath pulled out a pink lotus-shaped essence stone, the storage item she had acquired from Eldon after killing him. She channeled a bit of mana into it, raising the pink stone above her head. Swrrr¡­ A rush of water poured out, washing away the blood that had soaked her from head to toe. The coolness of the water brought a sense of relief. After cleaning herself, she took out a fresh set of clothes from the pink lotus essence stone and swiftly dressed. The bloodstained clothes were tossed into a small fire she conjured, watching them burn to ashes. "Phew, now everything''s finished. I can head back." Esdeath exhaled, satisfied that the night''s work was finallyplete. Esdeath Crimson! Princess Ravenna walked with confidence as she reflected on her n. "We hid our team''s crystal, There wasn''t any rule that you can''t hide your crystal, Also I hired a few students to protect my team''s crystal while we go fight others," she thought, feeling a surge of pride. "That gives us a huge advantage. While other teams will be forced to divide their focus between defending and attacking, we''re free to attack with all four members." She smiled to herself, realizing how much of an upper hand this gave her. "Most teams would need to keep two people on defense and only send two to attack, but we can all focus on winning." However, her face shifted into a more serious expression, her heart weighed down by a hint of guilt. "I know it''s cheating... but as the future queen of this kingdom, I have to be strong. I need to be able to protect my people. I was just lucky to be born into the royal family, with all the resources and opportunities." She sighed quietly, her steps slowing. "I just have to wait until Father finds an Essence Stone to boost my ESR talent." As she and her team approached the cave, a voice suddenly broke the silence, startling them. "Alright, fes, you can stop right there!" came a tough voice, full of confidence. Ravenna''s team turned to see a girl stepping out from behind the trees. It was Maruti from ss B. The boy with the scar snorted in disbelief, his voice dripping with arrogance. "A ss B student? Alone? She dares to stop us?" But while her teammates scoffed, Ravenna''s mind worked quickly, calcting the situation. "She''s alone? That means she knows where the orange crystal is, but she''s nning to wait and collect it at thest minute. The crystal must be close by. But what if she has a trick up her sleeve? What if she''s got backup, hiding in the shadows?" Ravenna''s eyes narrowed in suspicion as she stood her ground, ready for whatever Maruti had nned.@@novelbin@@ Maruti stood with a bright smile, the bec-de-corbin resting confidently on her shoulders, This was the weapon that sh chose in weapon selection. The weapon was a fearsome polearm, its long wooden pole contrasting with the menacing sharp hook at the front, resembling a bird''s beak, ready to pierce through armor. On the back was a t hammerhead, perfect for smashing through defenses. It was an elegant yet brutal weapon, and the sight of it made Ravenna feel a twinge of unease. With a dramatic ir, Maruti adjusted her sses and said, "You know what? Now that I''m looking closely, you''re very cute! Lemme have a taste!" Her tone was yful, but there was an undercurrent of mischief in her eyes. "Taste?" Ravenna thought, puzzled, her mind racing to understand the bizarrement. Before she could process what was happening, Maruti swiftly closed the distance between them. In one bold move, she kissed Ravenna, her tongue slipping inside. The shock of the kiss left Ravenna frozen in ce, her eyes wide as she registered the unexpected intimacy. Even the others nearby were taken aback, their expressions a mix of disbelief and outrage. As Maruti pulled back, licking her lips with a satisfied grin, she eximed, "Yummy! Eight out of ten!" Her cheerful tone contrasted sharply with the heated res of Ravenna and herpanions. Maruti stepped back, suddenly aware of the anger swirling around her. Ravenna''s face burned red¡ªnot only from embarrassment but also from the sheer audacity of having her first kiss stolen by someone she considered a nobody, even if that someone was a girl. "Hahaha... You all look very angry! I guess I''ll pass," Maruti joked, turning to leave. But then, with a yful glint in her eyes, she spun around again. "Kidding!" she shouted, raising her bec-de-corbin as if it were an extension of her whims and attacked on ravenna. But before the weapon could make contact, Ravenna nonchntly raised her right hand and caught it mid-air, not even bothering to look. She tilted her head upward, her eyes shing dangerously as she red fiercely at Maruti. "You''ll pay for this!" she growled. BAM! With one swift punch, Ravenna''s fist collided with Maruti''s abdomen, the sheer force causing Maruti''s body to lift off the ground ever so slightly, suspended in the air for a moment. Ravenna''s lips curled into a smile as she proudly dered, "I have the Crocodile Strength Essence Stone. It gives me the strength of a crocodile. Since it''s a permanent effect and consumes no mana, it''s not cheating. It''s part of my body now." She turned to the others, her eyes sharp as she signaled them to join in the attack. "Now!" Without a second thought, the girl with azure hair¡ªSoniaunched herself at Maruti, knees bent as she smashed her knee into Maruti''s head, the impact brutal enough to send Maruti flying backward. Maruti''s voice cut through the air, still yful despite the punishment she was taking. "Hey! Hey! Time out! Time out! That''s cheating!" sheughed, but the others weren''t holding back. Kicks and punches rained down on her from all sides. "I said I was just kidding! How about we grab some coffee instead?" Maruti offered cheekily, only to be met with another fierce punch from Ravenna. "I don''t need it!" Ravenna snarled, delivering a solid punch aimed directly at Maruti''s face. Maruti managed to swiftly take off her sses just before the blow couldnd. "Okay, okay! How about a date then?" Maruti teased again, her voice strained as Ravenna''s punch mmed into her abdomen, this time causing blood to spurt from Maruti''s mouth. The teasing had officially worn thin. Maruti staggered to her knees, but the group showed no mercy. Ravenna''s eyes shed once more as she shouted, "Sonia, finish her!" At themand, Sonia leaped into the air, her fists merging together as she prepared tond the final, crushing blow. Her figure cast a shadow over the trembling Maruti, and for a split second, the world seemed to hold its breath. **BOOM!** The impact echoed like a small explosion, shaking the surrounding area as leaves were sted from the nearby trees, fluttering to the ground. The handsome boy with sses smirked triumphantly, adjusting his frames. "This is what happens when you mess with ss A," he scoffed, pride dripping from his voice. But as the dust settled, Sonia''s face told a different story. Her once confident expression had melted into one of sheer terror. She stood shakily, her face pale, and suddenly began to scream in agony. "My hand¡­ my hand!" she wailed. Blood poured from her palms, dripping onto the ground, as everyone''s eyes widened in horror. Both of her handspletely severed at the wrists¡ªwere gone. Meanwhile, Marutiy t on the ground, staring up at the sky with a face full of utter boredom. Her earlier yful energy seemedpletely drained. She sighed dramatically, turning her head slightly. "You know what? I just realized something... you''re not cute at all," ------- As they wandered through the dense forest, Violet couldn''t help but chatter excitedly, her eyes sparkling as she praised Ethan non-stop. "Wow, you were so cool back there! You moved swishhh.....and then whooshhh....! It was amazing!" Ethan chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just did what I could, really," he said, trying to downy her enthusiasm. Their team was made up entirely of girls¡ªViolet, Sylvania, and Emma, who was Corin''s girlfriend from ss B. Right now, Sylvania was stationed back at the camp, keeping a close eye on their crystal. If anything happened, Sylvania was strong enough to hold off enemies long enough for the others to return. The strategy had already worked once, and Ethan''s team had sessfully broken another team''s crystal earlier. As they pushed forward, Emma, who had been walking a little too close to Ethan, sidled even closer. Her eyes sparkled with admiration, and she leaned in until her chest was practically pressing against Ethan''s side. "Seriously, where did you learn to fight like that?" Emma asked, her voice dripping with interest. Then, in a more seductive tone, she added, "I wonder if you''re that good in bed too?" Ethan''s face immediately flushed, and heughed nervously, scratching his head. "Haha... I just practiced every day, that''s all!" he stammered, trying to y it off, though his embarrassment was obvious. Before Emma could push any further, Violet stepped in, frowning in annoyance as she tugged Emma away from Ethan. "Hey, give him some space, alright?" she said, her voiceced with jealousy. Emma had developed a crush on Ethan after witnessing his duel skills that day, even though she was still Corin''s girlfriend. Now, it was bing increasingly clear that Emma was trying to get closer to Ethan, flirting in a way that even Violet couldn''t ignore. But while the others chatted and walked, Ethan''s mind was somewhere else, calcting every move with a specific n in mind. His expression remained calm, but underneath it, he was focused on a different goal entirely. "Even though we''ve already qualified for the second round, there''s something more I want. That orange crystal," he thought to himself, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I avoided going there at the start because that''s where everyone would be fighting. The best strategy is to wait until they''ve all tired themselves out, and when they''re too exhausted to defend it, we''ll swoop in and take it easily." He smirked at his own cleverness. "ording to my memories from my previous life, there are two paths that lead to the orange crystal," he thought. The memory of Corin''s arrogant face popped into his mind, making him clench his fists. "The first path goes straight through Corin''s team. As much as I want to punish him for what he did to Esdeath... I''m still not sure if Esdeath is on the right side. I can''t act rashly, not yet." Ethan let out a small sigh, shaking his head slightly. "There''s another reason to avoid that path," he added in his thoughts. "Kaelith. She''ll likely be heading that way soon too, and with my current strength, there''s no way I could defeat her." The thought of facing Kaelith''s overwhelming power made him shudder for a second. "This path," he thought, ncing at the trail ahead of them, "is much safer. Once we arrive, we can hide in the bushes, wait until the moment is right, and strike." A small, satisfied smile yed on his lips as he mentally ran through his n again. But before he could dwell on it much longer, Emma, who was a few steps ahead, suddenly called out. "Hey, look! There''s a team up ahead!" she yelled, pointing forward. "A team?" Ethan''s eyes widened in surprise. "But ording to my memories, there shouldn''t be any teams here!" Confused, he quickly picked up his pace, moving forward to see just who this unexpected team was. As they arrived at the scene, a horrifying sight awaited them. In front of themy a pile of students, all unconscious and beaten so badly they could barely move. Every single one of them was covered in bruises and cuts, groaning softly from their injuries. Most were from ss C, but a few were from ss B as well. It looked like they had been caught in an intense fight, and they clearly hadn''te out on top. But what really caught everyone''s attention wasn''t the beaten students¡ªit was the girl sitting on top of them, almost as if they were nothing more than a throne for her. She had long, jet-ck hair cascading down her back, and she wasn''t wearing much, just a tight sports bra and thigh-high leggings that showed off her well-toned body. Her skin was covered in intricate tattoos that seemed to tell a story of danger. In one hand, she held a cigarette, and in the other, a matchbox. With a practiced, almost careless motion, she took out a match, struck it against the box, and lit the cigarette. She ced it between her lips and took a drag, her posture screaming confidence and defiance. Then, she slowly opened her eyes¡ªbright red and menacing, glowing with a creepy intensity that sent chills down Ethan''s spine. Those eyes didn''t just look at them; they seemed to pierce through their very souls. It was like she was silently daring them to step forward, to challenge her. Ethan clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as a wave of realization hit him. He knew exactly who she was. "Esdeath Crimson!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Should I take a break and then upload few chapters at once till where lortelles back? Or just one chapter regrly like always? That Was So Cringe! Predictor and Fable might friends, but their personalities couldn''t be more different. Fable always thinks ahead, carefully nning for the future before taking action. Predictor, on the other hand, is impulsive¡ªshe acts first, then thinks about the consequences afterward. And today, at the academy, Predictor¡ªMaruti¡ªproved just how unpredictable she was by kissing Ravenna, the princess of the Anastasia Kingdom, without even pausing to think. It was bold and reckless, something Fable would never dare to do. Fable would''ve considered the risks, knowing that a public scandal involving the princess could seriously harm Ravenna''s reputation. Even though it was just a kiss between two girls, it could still stir gossip and damage Ravenna''s image. But the real danger wasn''t just the potential damage to Ravenna''s reputation¡ªit was what this reckless act could mean for Maruti. To insult the princess in her own kingdom was asking for trouble, and that kind of trouble could be fatal. Yet, somehow, Maruti''s wild luck held out. Outside of the forest, a giant magic screen was broadcasting different parts of the forest to the second-year students and teachers, who were watching thepetition closely. If that kiss had been shown on the screen, there would''ve been chaos. But by sheer fortune, the screen hadn''t captured that moment. It was as if fate had given Maruti a free pass¡ªat least for now. However, her luck didn''tst long. The screen did show something else¡ªsomething far worse. The moment when Sonia''s hands were brutally cut off by Maruti''s attack. Sonia''s screams filled the air, and the sight of her bleeding hands was too much to ignore. The teachers watching in the academy turned pale. One of them, a stern-looking man, shot up from his chair, his face tight with panic. "Quick! Teleport that girl here immediately!" he shouted, his voice filled with urgency. The moment was tense as one of the female teachers hurriedly used teleportation magic. In the forest, Sonia''s body glowed faintly, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished. When she reappeared outside the forest, a Rank B healer rushed to her side, immediately attending to her injuries. The healer''s hands glowed softly as he focused on healing her severed hand, sweat forming on his brow from the effort. "Phew... That was a close call," a professor seated next to Lilith remarked with a sigh of relief. His voice shook slightly, as though the unexpected turn of events had rattled him. "It was a smart decision to bring a Rank B healer along with us. Who would''ve thought a simplepetition would take such a dangerous turn?" His surprise was evident, and a few other teachers nodded in agreement, their faces pale. But Lilith wasn''t concerned about Sonia or the chaos the battle had caused. Her silver eyes narrowed as she gazed at the glowing screens disying different parts of the forest. Her focus was on Maruti. "What interests me more," Lilith said with a hint of curiosity, "is that girl, Maruti. What''s her background?" Her tone carried a mix of intrigue and mild admiration. She continued to watch, her sharp eyes assessing every movement on the screen. --- Back in the forest, Maruti stood up calmly. She dusted off her clothes as if nothing had happened, while the others, still reeling from Sonia''s sudden disappearance, exchanged uneasy nces. They all knew it was the teacher who had saved Sonia, but that also meant she could no longer return to the fight. She was as good as disqualified. But no one''s attention stayed on that for long. The real threat stood before them¡ªMaruti, her smile still bright, as if she carried no guilt or remorse for what she had done. Her actions were cold, calcted, and it sent chills down their spines. All three of her opponents were furious. But despite their anger, they were frozen in ce, wary of making any reckless moves. They had seen what Maruti was capable of and knew better than to act impulsively. With a yful, yet dangerous smile, Maruti broke the silence. "Since you aren''ting to me, I''ll do the honors." Her voice was soft, but it carried an unsettling confidence. In one smooth motion, she twirled her bec-de-corbin like a spinning top, the weapon whirling in her hand with ease. She didn''t need magic to move it, nor did she seem strained. It spun like it was an extension of her, effortlessly gliding between her hands, sometimes swirling around her body like a deadly dance. One of the boys, the one with a scar across his cheek, clenched his teeth in frustration. "Tch... Stop showing off!" he growled. With a roar, he charged at her, fists clenched and his gauntlet ready for battle. But then... Swish... Sap... Sur... In three swift moves, it was over. Three strikesnded on him¡ªone on his neck, another across his belly, and thest on his thigh. Blood oozed from his wounds like a river, but his mind couldn''t process what had just happened. His face twisted in confusion, eyes wide. "H-How...? When...?" His thoughts were a blur. He hadn''t even seen her move. Before he knew it, his knees buckled, and he copsed to the ground, defeated. But Maruti wasn''t done. Her smile had morphed into something more twisted, more sinister. "You haven''t epted your defeat yet, have you?" she asked, her voiceced with mockery. Without waiting for an answer, she turned her weapon around, striking him with the wooden side of her bec-de-corbin again and again. Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. Strike after strike, her weaponnded with brutal force, turning his body into a bloodied mess. Yet, she didn''t stop. She smiled, almost gleefully, as if she found pleasure in each hit. The boy''s groans turned into whimpers, and soon, the fight left himpletely. His broken bodyy crumpled on the forest floor like a discarded doll. Maruti''s smile lingered¡ªit was the smile of someone who thrived on chaos, someone who found joy in others'' suffering. It was a smile of a demon. Watching the scene unfold, the boy with sses turned pale as fear wed its way into his heart. His legs trembled, and without thinking twice, he turned and ran. His heart pounded in his chest, racing with the desperation to escape. He didn''t care anymore. Leaving the princess behind, he bolted, disappearing into the forest, the echoes of his fleeing footsteps mixing with the rustling leaves. Maruti was using a martial art called "Smbam." It wasn''t somethingmon in this world; it came from a much older ce¡ªEarth, specifically from the Tamil Nadu region of India around 1000 BC. Smbam was one of the oldest martial arts in human history, with its name having two significant meanings. The word "Smbam" meant either Mountain or Merely to Sound. The reason behind this was simple but terrifying. Each strike felt like a mountain crashing down on you, the impact so strong that the pain would be unbearable. On the other hand, "Merely to Sound" came from the fact that the weapon would move so fast, whistling through the air, that only the sound of the weapon''s movement could help someone dodge it. Normal eyes couldn''t follow the speed¡ªit was simply too fast, too precise. Only true experts could see and avoid the strikes. Typically, Smbam was practiced with a simple wooden stick, a way to prevent fatal injuries. But right now, Maruti wasn''t holding a mere stick. She wielded a bec-de-corbin, a weapon much more deadly than a wooden staff. Her strikes weren''t meant to wound or injure lightly¡ªthey could be fatal. If she wanted, Maruti could have killed each one of her opponents with a single blow. In the world of Free Life Fantasy, this kind of martial art was almost unknown. Even Lilith herself, the master of many forms ofbat, had no clue about the origin of this deadly technique. In this world, such arts were regarded as "Ancient Fighting Styles", lost knowledge from a time long forgotten. Very few people in this world knew about them, and many of these arts had already vanished from existence, extinct like a legend. Yet, here was Maruti, performing this ancient art with ease, as if it was second nature to her. Seeing the boy with sses run away like a coward, Ravenna couldn''t help but feel disappointed. She clicked her tongue in frustration. "Tch... If only he had stayed, we actually had a chance of beating her if we''d worked together."@@novelbin@@ Her thoughts raced as she stood her ground, staring daggers at Maruti. "I have the White Jade Skin Essence Stone on me. My body''s not that easy to pierce through." She reassured herself, her hand instinctively gripping her weapon tightly. "And I''ve got a pretty dangerous weapon too." With a bitter smile, she pulled out her whip. The leather gleamed in the sunlight, looking as sharp and deadly as she felt. "If this is a contest of speed," she thought with pride, "my whip isn''t slow either. The tip breaks the sound barrier. In the final seconds, it''ll move faster than sound itself!" She braced herself, putting all her strength into the attack as sheshed the whip towards Maruti. The whip *snapped* through the air with a loud crack, heading straight for its target. The real trick, though, was to change the direction just before it hit. That''s where the real magic happened. As expected, Maruti moved slightly to avoid the strike. But Ravenna''s eyes gleamed with triumph. "Gotcha!" she thought, grinning as she changed the whip''s direction at thest moment. The tip shot towards Maruti, ready to hit. But... she couldn''t have been more wrong. With a bored expression on her face, Maruti simply raised her bec-de-corbin as if it was nothing. The whip wrapped around it like a snake coiling around a branch. Maruti looked at Ravenna with sheer disinterest. "What''s with thatme attack? Even a kid back in my area could block that." She snorted and bent down, adjusting her stance. Ravenna felt her stomach drop. "Is she underestimating me? No matter, my skin''s protected by the White Jade Skin Essence Stone. She can''t get through that!" she thought with fierce determination, ready to take the hit. Maruti shifted her grip on the bec-de-corbin, holding it like a sword. There was something final, something... almost graceful in her next move. "Abhimanyu sword style," Maruti whispered under her breath, and in the blink of an eye, she was right in front of Ravenna. Ravenna''s brain couldn''t process it. "Huh?" Her eyes went wide. She hadn''t even seen the attack. The next thing she knew, blood began dripping from her body, and a sharp pain spread across her chest. A huge horizontal sh had torn through her, even piercing her White Jade Skin Essence Stone and clothes. Her knees buckled, and she copsed to the ground. "It hurts... it... hurts... it hurts so much," she whimpered as tears rolled down her face. The pain was unbearable, and for the first time, she felt truly powerless. But meanwhile, Maruti stood up, her expression... annoyed? She clenched her fist and yelled out to no one in particr, "That was so cringe!" One, Two, Three, Four! "Absurd! This student must be punished immediately. Attacking Princess Ravenna in such a way... this is a direct insult to the kingdom!" A teacher rose to his feet, his face flushed with anger, as he pointed toward therge hologram screen floating in the air. The screen disyed the fight in the forest, with Princess Ravenna kneeling in defeat, bloodied and humiliated. Gasps of surprise and murmurs of concern spread through the teachers'' gathering, but one person remainedpletely unmoved¡ªLilith. "There''s nothing wrong here," Lilith''s chilling voice cut through the rising tension like a de. Her words silenced the angry teacher at once. "In thispetition, no one is a princess, and no one is amoner. Everyone is just a student. No special treatment." Her silver eyes gleamed with an eerie calm as she continued, "In fact, this is a good lesson. The taste of defeat is something everyone must experience at least once in their lives. If not, they''ll never truly mature. The reason Princess Ravenna and her team lost so quickly is because they''ve never been exposed to real pain. They''ve lived their lives infort, barely even scratching the surface of hardship. This wound was too much for them to handle." Lilith''s words were harsh, but they were the truth, spoken without a hint of sympathy. The angry teacher clenched his fists, still not willing to give in. "Hmph... if it had been a contest of mana, our princess would have definitely won!" Lilith''s lips twitched, a shadow of amusement flickering across her face. "Who knows?" she said, her voice soft but dangerous. At that moment, **Sylvia**, the ss teacher of ss B, decided to add her own perspective. "There was an incident not too long ago. The princess of Leviath Kingdom... she went on a hunting expedition with her party. They had mana, powerful essence stones, and incredible battle skills at their disposal, and yet..." Sylvia paused for effect, her expression somber. "Even with all that, they were overwhelmed by monsters and demons, Most members died and every female members including princess herself got raped for three days and three nights and then finally an army of soldiers came and rescued her. In the end, the princess couldn''t bear the humiliation and defeat. She took her own life." The room fell silent. No one had the courage to speak after that. Sylvia shook her head slowly, her gaze faraway as if recalling the tragedy. "It''s because she never had realbat experience. She had only ever fought in controlled duels at her academy. Real battles are different. Fighting demons is nothing like fighting humans. The difference is like night and day." The weight of her words settled over the room. Everyone knew she was right. The truth was bitter but undeniable. There was a world of difference between sparring in the safety of an academy and facing the horrors of real battle. -------- Meanwhile, on the second path leading to the orange crystal, Corin Reynold and three of his ssmates from ss B stood their ground. Their strategy was simple but effective¡ªdefend first, wear down the attackers, then strike back with all their might. All four of them were prepared, their eyes sharp, weapons ready to face any threat. But what they hadn''t anticipated was that the personing toward them wasn''t just any ordinary opponent. No, the figure that approached was Kaelith Maranthia. Alone. Corin''s heart skipped a beat when he recognized her. Kaelith was a dragon¡ªa being of raw power and grace. However, she approached them barehanded, without a weapon. She hadn''t even bothered to pick one from the academy. Was she underestimating them? Corin sneered and stepped forward, determination written on his face. "I''ll handle her!" hemanded, motioning for his teammates to back off. He was confident. Even though Kaelith was a dragon. The battle began with lightning-fast moves, Corin lunging forward with brutal strikes. Kaelith, despite her draconic heritage, struggled to keep up with his relentless assault. Every time she tried to counter, Corin deflected her attacks effortlessly, his strength overwhelming her. She gritted her teeth, trying to match his pace, but it was clear that Corin was dominating the fight. His fists connected with her again and again, each blow heavier than thest. A sharp jab to her stomach caused Kaelith to stumble back, blood sttering from her mouth. Her body was battered, bruises and wounds covering her once pristine skin. Corin didn''t stop. He pressed on, determined to make her submit. Finally, Kaelith''s legs gave out, and she copsed to her knees in front of him. The sight was humiliating for a dragon to be brought down like this, but she had no strength left to fight back. Corin smirked, towering over her, savoring the victory. "Bow down," he said coldly. His voice wasced with contempt. He wanted to humiliate her further, make her remember this moment of defeat. Kaelith''s silver eyes zed with anger, but she had no choice. Her body trembled as she lowered her head, forced to bow before him. And then, to make things worse, Corin raised his foot and ced it on her face, pressing down with a cruel smirk. "Not so tough now, are you?" he taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. Corin rubbed his foot on Kaelith''s face, expecting to feel an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. Yet, all he felt was¡­ bitterness. His chest tightened with a strange difort. "Why¡­ why isn''t this as satisfying as I thought it would be?" The thought nagged at him, twisting in his mind. As his foot pressed harder against her, the triumph he craved never came. It felt hollow. Suddenly, a realization hit him like a cold gust of wind, freezing him in ce. His eyes widened in shock as the truth dawned on him. "Oh¡­ I know what''s happening¡­ It''s all just a dream!" The words echoed in his mind. And just like that, the dream shattered. Reality rushed back, and Corin found himself lying on the cold ground, the taste of defeat fresh in his mouth. Pain coursed through his body as he blinked, dazed and disoriented. His half-conscious eyes managed to look up¡ªonly to see Kaelith''s feet walking away from him. He had lost.@@novelbin@@ Kaelith, unbothered and unscathed, strode confidently toward the crystal his team had been defending. With a swift and effortless motion, she destroyed it, sending shards scattering across the battlefield. Corin could do nothing but watch, his body heavy and unresponsive. His teammates were already beaten, lying around him, utterly defeated. There was no glory, no victory for him today. Only the bitter taste of humiliation. ------------ Maruti was in her own world, singing loudly as she half-danced down the cave towards the orange crystal. "One, two, three, four~ Get on the dance floor~ Booty shake, booty shake... Do the Dappangathu Hardcore!" She wiggled her hips, shaking her shoulders with a yful grin. It was impossible to tell she had juste from a bloody fight. Her upbeat, carefree attitude was a stark contrast to the chaos she had left behind. "Sho¨Cul¨Cder...Hitchick michik, Body... Hitchick michik....Gemme, Gemme, Gemme, Gemme, Gemme... some more!" she sang, still moving to the rhythm only she could hear, as she reached out and grabbed the glowing orange crystal without missing a beat. The moment she took it, a blinding orange light filled the cave, shooting up like a beacon into the sky, practically screaming her location to the world. But Maruti didn''t care. Sheughed and twirled, "Leave your worries aside ande here~ Shake your waist on the beat~" She shook her waist dramatically as if performing her own personal dance number,pletely unbothered by the exposure. As she started to leave the cave, humming the next lyric, her voice caught in her throat, and she froze. Her eyes narrowed as she stopped mid-step. Standing in front of her, with silver hair and icy silver eyes fixed on her, was none other than Kaelith Maranthia. Kaelith''s gaze was cold and unwavering, cutting through the air like a sharp de. "Where''s Esdeath Crimson?" she asked, her voice low and serious. Maruti blinked, still holding the crystal, her carefree dance mood crashing to a halt. For a split second, she considered responding with another silly dance move, but something told her Kaelith wasn''t in the mood for jokes. But who cares? Maruti Doesn''t Give a Shit. Without a second thought, she resumed her wild dance, humming louder than before. She twirled on her toes, the crystal held up high as if it was part of her routine. Her carefree attitude radiated, as if Kaelith wasn''t standing there at all. "There''s a wall behind me, and a valley in front of me~ Now you tell me, where should I go?~ Is it a blessing or a curse, that Inded here?~" Just leave your worries aside ande here~ One¨Ctwo¨Cthree¨CFour, Get on the dance floor~ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Does anyone know more tforms where I can publish this story? I already published it on wattpad, Scribble hub, NovelBin and Royal road, So other than that..... Ethannn…. You Are Dead! Maruti''s hips swayed in rhythm as she danced carelessly through the clearing, humming her ridiculous tune. Kaelith, standing nearby, crossed her arms and sighed deeply, her silver eyes narrowing. "What is she even doing? Has she finally lost her mind?" Thoughts like these buzzed through Kaelith''s head as she watched Maruti''s carefree performance. But then, in a sudden twist, Maruti froze mid-dance, her eyes widening in shock. "Esdeath? Why are you here?!" she gasped, eyes darting behind Kaelith with exaggerated rm. Kaelith''s brow furrowed in confusion. "Esdeath?" she muttered, spinning around to check behind her. But there was no one. No Esdeath, no surprise arrival. It was all a trick. When Kaelith turned back, realization dawned just in time to see Maruti bolt into the dense forest, her feet kicking up dirt as she sprinted away,ughing. Kaelith''s jaw clenched, her face flushing with anger. "Oh, you''ve got to be kidding me," she growled, her patience snapping. "You''re not getting away with this!" Without another second of hesitation, sheunched herself forward, chasing after Maruti with renewed determination. --------- "Esdeath Crimson!" Ethan eximed as he looked at Esdeath, clenching his fists in frustration. "So, all this time, you were just pretending to be helpless?" His thoughts raced with anger and confusion. He couldn''t believe that the girl who had once seemed so vulnerable was now overpowering everyone without a hint of mercy. The shock was even more evident on Emma and Violet''s faces. This was the same girl they had seen crying just days ago. For Violet, the memory of Esdeath, broken and teary, was fresh. For Emma, it was even more baffling¡ªthis was the same girl who had been beaten down without resistance. And now, seeing the pile of beaten students scattered around her, both of them froze in ce, unable to move. They were just normal girls, and witnessing this level of brutality made their stomachs churn. Outside the forest, a magic hologram projected the scene for others to see. Gasps filled the air as the crowd watched, jaws dropping in astonishment. "Is that really a ss B student?" someone murmured, disbelief in their voice. "No doubt she was the first to refine the Moonde Essence Stone," a second-year student whispered in awe. Among those watching was Lilith, her eyes narrowing with interest as she observed Esdeath''s disy of power. She watched silently, her expression unreadable, but there was no denying the intrigue in her gaze. Back at the scene, Ethan''s team wasn''t the only one shocked by Esdeath''s actions. Valen, the quiet nerd from ss A, stood off to the side, his clothes still pristine, untouched by the chaos around him. His finger adjusted his sses dramatically, sunlight gleaming off the lenses and hiding his eyes behind the re. "Hmph¡­ just more victims," he muttered, looking at Ethan and the others with cold detachment. "I was so worried about qualifying for thepetition," he thought, eyes flicking over to Esdeath, "but now my worries are gone." His mind buzzed with admiration for her skill. "Who *is* she? She took down everyone without even using her hands. Just her legs! Such precision, such power¡­ such mastery." Valen couldn''t contain his excitement any longer. His eyes gleamed as if he''d found his new hero. "Yes! From this point on, she''s mydy boss!" His heart raced, his face flushing as he looked at Esdeath with admiration bordering on worship. "I''ll be in your care, Lady Boss!" Ethan''s voice rang out, "Take your formation as we discussed!" Violet and Emma immediately took their stances, ready for battle. Ethan, opting for caution, wielded a simple wooden stick in ce of his usual sword, knowing a real de could cause fatal harm. They surrounded Esdeath, forming a tight circle, the tension building as each prepared for the attack. Meanwhile, Esdeath jumped gracefully from the pile of beaten students, her calm yet intense gaze never leaving the trio. With a quick nce, she assessed their strategy. Ethan, Violet, and Emma all jumped towards her legs simultaneously, hoping to trap her in ce, making her vulnerable to their strikes. But for Esdeath, this was a trivial challenge¡ªan opportunity to show her superiority. Before they could even close in, Esdeath''s body seemed to blur. Her legs moved with the grace and speed of a whirlwind, and suddenly, their formation began to unravel. Esdeath, a master of Capoeira, danced effortlessly between their strikes, her movements fluid, unpredictable, and lethal. Her kicks snapped through the air, invisible to the untrained eye, and before anyone realized, her legs connected with devastating force. Violet was the first to feel it¡ªa powerful strike to her midsection. She gasped, the air knocked out of her lungs as she crumpled to the ground, blood dripping from her mouth. She could barely register what had happened before Emma suffered a simr fate. Esdeath''s foot swung in a wide arc,nding a clean hit on Emma''s side. The impact sent her tumbling backward, her body hitting the ground with a sickening thud, blood spilling from her lips. In mere seconds, Violet and Emma were incapacitated, beaten down with such ease that it looked almost like a dance. Ethan, wide-eyed and heart racing, barely had time to react before Esdeath''s foot was aimed at him. But this time, he managed to block it with his stick, though the force still pushed him back. His arms trembled from the impact, but unlike the others, he remained standing. Outside the forest, the magic hologram showed the entire scene, leaving the crowd of onlookers in stunned silence. Teachers and students alike couldn''t believe what they were witnessing. "That''s¡­ impossible," one of the senior students muttered, eyes wide in disbelief. "How can a ss B student be this powerful?" "Her mana is low but because use of mana is prohibited in this round and She is having the greatest benefit from this" a second-year student remarked, realising why she was winning. Even the teachers were at a loss for words. Lilith, who had been watching intently, narrowed her eyes. "Interesting¡­ her technique isn''t just brute strength. It''s like she''s mastered an art of movement I''ve never seen before." Back at the scene, Valen adjusted his sses dramatically, his awe for Esdeath only growing. "She didn''t even need her hands to destroy them¡­ " Ethan''s voice echoed in the air. "Don''t give up! Strike again!" Even though Emma and Violet had suffered brutal blows, they stood tall once more. Pain etched across Emma''s face, but a bitter smile crept on her lips as she and Violet charged toward Esdeath with renewed determination. Their goal remained unchanged: to catch her legs. The onlookers, including the students watching through the magical hologram, couldn''t help but shake their heads. "Are they seriously trying the same thing again?" someone muttered, knowing it would likely end in another disaster. Esdeath sighed. "Same move? Really?" Her expression showed both boredom and a hint of disappointment as she readied herself to end this quickly. But just as she moved to strike, something unexpected happened. *Woosh!* Esdeath aimed a punch directly at Ethan''s face, the force of her fist slicing through the air. But at thest possible moment, Ethan dodged! He stepped backward, his feet shifting with precision, causing Esdeath''s eyes to widen. *What''s this?!* Her mind raced as she realized toote that it was a trap. In an instant, Emma grabbed Esdeath''s left arm and abdomen, locking her in ce. Violet was already on the move, jamming Esdeath''s right arm and neck with a swift maneuver. Their legs worked in unison, blocking Esdeath''s powerful kicks. Esdeath struggled, but for the first time, she was unable to move. "Damn it!" she muttered under her breath. Ethan, seeing his teammates sessfully immobilize Esdeath, grinned. He raised his wooden stick high, eximing, "Jigen-ry¨±!" His stance shifted into the iconic Dragonfly Stance, the wooden stick poised for a single, powerful strike. This wasn''t just any move¡ªit was one of the academy''s most famous techniques. Outside the forest, spectators gasped. "That''s Jigen-ry¨±! The first-strike technique!" "Can he actually pull it off?" another student wondered, watching the tension rise as Ethan prepared for the final blow. Jigen-ry¨± is known for its emphasis on the first strike: Jigen-ry¨± teachings state that a second strike is not even to be considered. The basic technique is to hold the sword in a high version of hasso-no-kamae called tonbo-no-kamae (òßòȘ‹ Dragonfly Stance), with the sword held vertically above the right shoulder. The attack is then done by running forward at your opponent and then cutting diagonally down on their neck. But there was a problem. Violet''s hand was still wrapped around Esdeath''s neck, blocking Ethan''s target. "I can''t hit her neck like this¡­",he thought quickly. He made a split-second decision and jumped into the air. Esdeath''s gaze snapped upwards. Time seemed to slow as Ethan soared above her, his stick raised high in preparation for the strike. Before she could react, Ethan came crashing down, aiming directly for her face. BAM! The impact was so powerful that a shockwave rippled through the air. The loud crack of wood splitting echoed across the battlefield as Ethan''s stick shattered into pieces, sted apart from the sheer force of the blow. Dust and debris kicked up around them, and for a moment, the forest fell silent. Everyone watching was in shock. Even the teachers couldn''t hide their surprise.@@novelbin@@ "Finally someone worthy of being Inss A, It feels like we have another genius",somone eximed. Their attitude changed not even thinking that, Ethan was amoner. "Unbelievable, Just what is happening today? Everything is unexpected¡­" one of them whispered. "He actuallynded a hit on her." The students outside watching the hologram were speechless. "No way... did Ethan actually win?" As the dust settled, a tense silence took over the battlefield. All eyes were fixed on Esdeath. Emma and Violet cautiously let go of her, expecting her to fall, but instead of copsing, Esdeath remained standing. The seconds ticked by, and a chilling realization crept into the minds of everyone watching. Blood dripped from her nose, a cut etched across her face from Ethan''s strike¡ªbut she hadn''t gone down. A sinister chuckle escaped Esdeath''s lips, low at first but quickly growing into a manicugh. "Hehehe... Hahahaha!" Her face twisted into a disturbing smile, her eyes gleaming with a wicked light. "Do you really think I''d go down like this?" she snarled, her voice dripping with malice. Her gaze was no longer that of a mere student; it was something far more terrifying, almost demonic, sending chills down the spines of those watching. She cracked her knuckles, stretching her arms as if ready to unleash her full fury. "I''ll show you what real techniques look like," she threatened, her entire body radiating an eerie, dangerous energy. But suddenly, her expression shifted. Her eyes widened, pupils swirling in tight, ring-like patterns as she touched the blood dripping from her face. "My face¡­," she whispered in disbelief. Her breath quickened as panic set in. "My face got damaged!" The realization sent her spiraling into a frenzy, her obsession taking control. Esdeath''s thoughts tumbled out in a frantic stream, her fingers twitching as she brought her hand to her mouth. "What will Lortell think of me now? Oh no..no..no..no¡­ What if she doesn''t find me beautiful anymore? What if she¡­ rejects me?" Her voice trembled, the very idea tearing her apart. She began chewing her nails aggressively, drawing blood as her mind descended deeper into her obsession with Lortell. "No, no, no... this can''t be happening!" she muttered, her eyes wide with madness. Even though she knew that healers could easily fix the damage, her love-fueled paranoia drowned out any sense of reason. In her mind, the smallest w was enough to ruin everything with Lortell. Violet and Emma, watching her from a distance, were equally confused. "What... is she doing?" Violet whispered, unsure whether to strike or wait. But Emma wasn''t about to waste this opportunity. "Now''s our chance!" she yelled, charging forward with Violet right behind her. "Pay attention, Esdeath!" Emma shouted, raising her fist for a powerful punch. But in the blink of an eye, their world flipped upside down. They barely had time to register what happened before their legs were in the air, their heads plunging toward the ground. *It was Aikido.* Before they even hit the ground, Esdeath unleashed a series of brutal strikes. Bam! Bam! Bam!. . . .Without even looking, she punched both of them so hard it was as if an invisible force hadunched them across the battlefield. Emma and Violet crashed into the ground with bone-crushing force, unable to move from the sheer pain. Esdeath didn''t even spare them a second nce. Her glowing eyes, filled with rage and unhinged devotion, locked onto Ethan. Her voice, dripping with fury and twisted love, rang out. "Ethannn.... You are dead! " Poor Esdeath! In the bustling marketce, a shopkeeper stood outside his small stall, his voice ringing out through the air. "Breaking news... Breaking news... The Dwarf Kingdom has just released something new on the market!" His tone was loud and enticing, designed to grab the attention of passersby. The man, a newspaper vendor, knew he had to make the news sound exciting to draw customers in. "They''ve created a carriage with four wheels that can move without horses or an earth wyvern pulling it! They''re calling it a ''car!'' Is the Dwarf Kingdom really a hundred years ahead of us? Want to know more? Buy thetest newspaper!" Curiosity sparked in the crowd. People had never heard of anything like a ''car'' before. The concept of a vehicle that moved without animals seemed impossible, almost like magic. "Give me one!" Ady from the crowd eagerly stepped forward, holding out her hand. "I''ll take one too!" another person quickly followed. Soon, more people were moring for the newspapers, forming a small crowd around the vendor. A middle-aged man flipped through the paper, his eyes widening in surprise. "New guns that can shoot long distances? Rifles and snipers, they''re calling them?" He looked closer at the pictures showing the sleek weapons and the strange four-wheeled carriage. The illustration of the car showed a vintage model, nothing fancy like the luxurious carriages nobles were used to, but it was revolutionary. The newspaper estimated its price to be around fifty thousand gold¡ªa sum far beyond the reach ofmon folk. It was clear that this innovation was meant for the wealthiest, the nobles, and the royals. Owning one would be a status symbol, akin to having a modern Rolls-Royce in the real world. "Did you hear?" Another man in the crowd read aloud, his voice tinged with excitement. "Archduke''s daughter, Lortell Mariette, is already nning to open apany for manufacturing these cars and new guns! Thepany will be called *Esdeath Industrial Limited*!" The murmurs of excitement quickly turned to confusion. "Esdeath? Where did that namee from?" one person wondered aloud, puzzled by the sudden mention of the unfamiliar name. The crowd buzzed with spection, eager to learn more. ------------ At the academy, the atmosphere was filled with excitement. All eyes in the hall were locked on one person¡ªLortell Mariette. She walked gracefully, her luxurious red dress trailing behind her as it brushed the floor, radiating an aura of power and elegance. Beside her stood the dark nun, Meldia, but today, Meldia looked different. Instead of her usual nun''s attire, she wore a sleek ck dress with a matching blindfold, holding a ck umbre above Lortell''s head as if shielding her from the world. "Is that Lortell Mariette?" one girl whispered in awe, her voice trembling. "She looks so elegant... It makes me feel like I should worship her." Many other students, boys and girls alike, stood frozen, unable to take their eyes off her. Despite the attention, Lortell''s expression remained nk, cold. She didn''t acknowledge them, not even a nce as she continued walking, focused on her destination¡ªthe office of Vice Principal Lilith. --- Inside the office, Lilith sat at her desk, her youthful appearance always catching people off guard. With the look of a 13-year-old child, it seemed like a kid had identally taken the seat of authority. However, her expression was far from childish¡ªit was serious andposed. Lilith''s secretary, standing by the door, spoke softly, "Vice Principal, Lady Mariette has returned from the monster subjugation mission. She requests to see you." Lilith nodded without hesitation. "Bring her in," she ordered firmly, maintaining her professional air. The secretary left and, momentster, Lortell entered the room, still exuding the same unshakable presence. Meldia, however, waited just outside, not stepping into the room, her blindfolded eyes still covered as she stood like a shadow at the door. As soon as Lortell entered the room, Lilith''s mind was flooded with a relentless wave of thoughts. A single word echoed over and over in her head: "Esdeath, Esdeath,Esdeath,Esdeath,EsdeathEsdeath,Esdeath,Esdeath,Esdeath,Esdeath,Esdeath,Esdeath,Esdeath,Esdeath, Esdeath, Esdeath, Esdeath, Esdeath, Esdeath, Esdeath, Esdeath, Esdeath, Esdeath, Esdeath, " The name repeated like a chant, filling her thoughts with intensity. It wasing from Lortell, who despite the storm in her mind, kept her face emotionless and indifferent. Lilith winced, pressing her palm against her forehead. "Tch... I forgot to turn off my thought-hearing ability," she muttered under her breath. With a subtle mental adjustment, she shut off the unwanted flood of thoughts.@@novelbin@@ Lortell approached Lilith with calm but deliberate steps. Her voice was sharp, cutting through the silence, "Where''s Esdeath?" Lilith raised an eyebrow, curious but cautious. She had questions herself but knew it wasn''t the time to ask. "Okay," she simply agreed, focusing on the task. Using her telekinesis, she sent a mental message to Sylvia, a teacher from ss B. "Sylvia, bring Esdeath Crimson to my office immediately." The two women stood in silence for a few moments, exchanging nothing but tense stares. But soon, Sylvia reached out to Lilith telepathically, delivering unexpected news. Lilith''s eyes widened in shock. Her hand pped the desk as she realized the gravity of the situation. For the first time in a long while, she felt uneasy about what she had to say. Lortell, noticing the shift in Lilith''s expression, narrowed her eyes. "What happened?" she demanded, her voice cold but pressing. Lilith rubbed her forehead, chuckling bitterly. "Well... actually, Esdeath... has run away from the academy. She left with someone named Maruti." Lortell''s crimson eyes red with anger. Her normally perfect, serene face twisted in fury, her lips curling as if she had just swallowed something revolting. "The fuck did you just say?" Her words dripped with venom, her rage palpable, and the air in the room suddenly felt heavy. "She left a letter," Lilith began cautiously, watching Lortell''s reaction closely, "saying that her best friend, Luna Cassia, has gone missing. She ims the academy hasn''t been able to locate her, so Esdeath and Maruti decided to find her on their own. They promised to return before the one-on-one duelpetition, whether they seed or not." But Lortell wasn''t having any of it. Her eyes burned with obsession, cutting through Lilith''s words as if they were nothing more than excuses. "Don''t give me that crap!" she snapped, her gaze locked on Lilith, piercing and unyielding. "I know what your academy has done to her. Everyone has a problem with her, for no reason. No one wants her to be near me! Your teachers must''ve pushed her too hard, punished her, trained her like a beast until she couldn''t take it anymore. That''s why she ran!" Lortell''s voice rose in intensity, her feelings pouring out without restraint. Her obsession with Esdeath was clear in her every word and movement. She hugged herself, her voice softening into something twisted and delusional. "Yes, yes¡­ that must be it. My poor Esdeath, She is delicate as a flower, and you brutes tried to break her." Her eyes fluttered closed as she turned slightly, as though retreating into her own world. Her breath came faster, more shallow, and her words became an intimate murmur. "Poor esdeath?, Which world you are living in? ", Lilith chuckled bitterly but lortell didn''t even bothered hear her voice, She was still in her own world. "Oh, my Esdeath¡­ her soft hands, her perfect curves, her body that melts at the slightest touch," Lortell''s voice turned sultry, her obsession now fully consuming her. "That pillow-like ass, That sinks as soon as you grab them¡­ those inverted nipples that bloom under my touch, the way they feel when I bite down on them¡ª" She started recalling the memories of ten years ago, The night she spend with Esdeath. Her fingers traced along her body as if lost in her fantasy, her lips parting as she gasped with pleasure. "Mnhhh~ Esdeath," she moaned, her mind wholly absorbed by thoughts of the girl she adored. Her other hand began to move lower, edging toward the most intimate parts of herself as she reveled in her vivid daydream, unbothered by Lilith''s presence, "Ahh~, I wanna fuck you in academy uniform",. Lilith''s patience snapped. Her expression darkened, frustration and disgust mixing on her young face. Red marks appeared on her forehead as she grabbed a ruby stone from the table and hurled it at Lortell. "Stop masturbating in front of me!" Star Constellations Red marks appeared on Lilith''s forehead as her irritation boiled over. Without thinking, she grabbed the nearest object, a ruby stone, and hurled it at Lortell with all her strength. "Stop masturbating in front of me!" she shouted, her voice high-pitched with frustration. Lortell blinked and slowly turned around, her expression grim. "I was your personal teacher! For heaven''s sake, show me some respect!" Lilith yelled, her tiny body trembling with rage. Lortell''s expression darkened. "So what? You didn''t do me any great charity by that," she snapped. "My father gave you a ton of resources in return. Don''t act like I owe you anything," she added with a dismissive snort, her voice dripping with contempt as she strode toward Lilith. Lortell loomed over Lilith, her tall figure casting a shadow over the small girl. Lilith looked up, her frustration momentarily reced by a tiny flicker of apprehension. Lortell leaned in closer, bending down slightly so their faces were only inches apart. Lortell''s piercing red eyes locked onto Lilith''s silver ones, the tension thick between them. "Ten days," Lortell whispered, her voice low and menacing. "I''m giving you ten fucking days to find her, or on the eleventh day, I''ll kill you¡­ and burn this entire academy to the ground." Without waiting for a reply, Lortell straightened up and stormed out of the room, her footsteps echoing ominously as she disappeared from sight. Lilith stood there in stunned silence, watching Lortell''s retreating figure. The room felt heavy with the weight of her threat. The moment the door mmed shut, Lilith''s anger red up again. She kicked the table with all her might, yelling into the empty room, "Ten days, or I''ll kill you! h h h!" Lilith shouted, her little legs kicking the table again for good measure. -------- "Phew, so where are we going again?" Maruti asked, squinting up at the sun as it zed overhead. The two girls were walking through the outskirts of the bustling city, heading into nowhere. Esdeath was dressed casually, a hoodie covering most of her face, and she wore a pair of vercity shorts that barely reached halfway down her thighs. The shorts were so short that the thin straps of the thong she was wearing, bought during her shopping trip with Luna, peeked out from the sides, leaving little to the imagination. Maruti, on the other hand, was in a loose white T-shirt, clearly still in her night clothes. The top of her bra was visible beneath the shirt, and it was obvious that herrge breasts strained against the fabric, as if they might tear through at any moment. Esdeath nced around at the busy marketce before turning to Maruti. "What are you going to do with that information?" she asked, her voice calm and slightly teasing. Maruti groaned, rolling her eyes in frustration. "Ugh! Come on, don''t be like that! We ran from the academy early in the morning, and you won''t even tell me why? I mean, look at me! I''m still in my night clothes!" She gestured down at her outfit dramatically. Unable to bear Maruti''s constant whining, Esdeath sighed and finally answered, "We''re going to Seven King''s Mountain." At the mention of Seven King''s Mountain, Maruti''s eyes widened in shock. "Seven King''s Mountain?" she eximed, recognizing the name. Even though she hadn''t yed *Free Life Fantasy* for long, she knew enough to understand the danger. The Seven King''s Mountain was infamous, situated just before the entrance to the demon realm. The mountains formed a half-circle, each peak linked to the next, creating a formidable natural barrier. For most people, the Seven King''s Mountain was just as dangerous as the demon realm itself. The area was ruled by seven powerful demons, with the strongest, a female demon, controlling the others. Setting foot there was practically a death sentence. "Why would you want to go there? Are you trying to sneak into the demon realm illegally?" Maruti asked, her voice filled with concern. The only legal way into the demon realm was through the heavily guarded borders, where adventurers and travelers needed special permission to pass. Using Seven King''s Mountain as a shortcut was a dangerous and illegal alternative. But Esdeath''s next words only deepened Maruti''s confusion. "No," Esdeath said, shaking her head as they continued to walk. "I said we''re going to the Seven King''s Mountain." Maruti hurried ahead, blocking Esdeath''s path. "But it''ll take about three months to get there by foot Or carriage! You left a letter saying we''d be back before thepetition. How is that even possible?" Esdeath smirked, a confident glint in her eyes. "Oh, I know that. We''re using portal crystals. They''re expensive, but I have enough money saved up." Her tone grew more serious as she continued. "And just because we left a letter doesn''t mean the academy won''t send people to find us. They''ll think we''ve been kidnapped or something. There are a lot of possibilities, which is why we need to move fast." Esdeath''s eyes narrowed as sheid out her n, her mind racing with calctions. The path to Seven King''s Mountain was straightforward but long. Esdeath and Maruti were currently in the farthest corner of Anastasia Kingdom, a remote area that housed the Awakened Academy''s main branch. Usually, the primary academies were built in the heart of kingdoms, near the capital. However, the Anastasia Kingdom''s academy was unique, located near the edge of the kingdom for one important reason: the Great Forest. The Great Forest, which bordered the academy, also led to the demon realm. It was invaluable for practical training, where students could test their skills in a real-world environment, and many ventured there to discover hidden demon inheritances. However, since Esdeath and Maruti were only first-year students, they hadn''t yet been given the opportunity to enter the forest. Now, back to their current mission. Seven King''s Mountain was located in the exact opposite corner of the kingdom, miles away from the academy. Their first step was to reach the capital of Anastasia Kingdom. Once there, they could use a teleportation portal to instantly travel to the Seven King''s Mountain, saving them months of travel time. Esdeath had other ns for the capital too. Knowing that the marketce in the capital was filled with rare essence stones, she was already thinking of which ones to buy, hoping to stock up on valuable materials for their journey. But first, they needed to get to the capital, which meant taking a train. In this world, trains existed but were reserved for long-distance travel. These trains resembled the old-world steam engines but ran on mana stones instead of coal. Powerful and fast, they would be Esdeath and Maruti''s best bet to reach the capital. As Esdeath and Maruti continued their walk, they soon passed by arge church. The building itself was grand, with tall spires and beautifully crafted stonework. Outside, there was a peaceful garden, and standing at the heart of it was a magnificent statue of Goddess Seraphine. Though carved from stone, the statue captured the ethereal beauty of the goddess, with flowing robes and delicate features that seemed almost alive. Even Esdeath, with her usual calm demeanor, couldn''t help but appreciate the craftsmanship. But Maruti, ever yful, couldn''t resist making a cheekyment.@@novelbin@@ "Is that Goddess Seraphine''s statue? Look at her, she''s got huge melons!" she snickered. Esdeath shot her a sharp look, clearly irritated. "Aren''t yours bigger too?" she snapped, her voiceced with sarcasm. Maruti either didn''t hear or simply chose to ignore the retort. She skipped ahead before falling back in step with Esdeath. Her curiosity soon shifted to another topic. "You still haven''t told me how the star constetions were born! We have plenty of time now, so how about telling me?" Her wide, puppy-like eyes made it impossible to say no. Esdeath sighed heavily, giving Maruti a sideways nce, but eventually relented. "It''s simple, really," she said, her lips curling into an almost mischievous smile. "The birth of constetions is like the beauty of nature, woven with magic." Maruti raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued and eager for more. Esdeath continued, her tone growing more serious. "All creatures need someone to follow. No one can survive without putting their trust in another. We all need someone stronger, someone we see as more worthy than ourselves, to rely on." "And when those worthy individuals shoulder too many responsibilities, They seek someone even more superior beings and those superior do the same, looking for even stronger individuals,They can belive in. And that is how all kings are created and it is also how gods are born.. " "Through the desire to find something greater. It''s a never-ending search for power and protection,In other words, "Worshiping", When everyone starts thinking that person as God, A dayes when, That person leaves his mortal body and bes a star constetion" Maruti blinked, processing Esdeath''s exnation with a thoughtful frown, but then her eyes lit up with a yful idea. "So, that means Goddess Seraphine was like an idol? Like Michael Jackson or BTS or ckpink or..or..Critiano ronaldo with a massive fan following?" she asked, her voiceced with curiosity and amusement. Esdeath immediately pped her forehead, clearly exasperated by theparison. "No! Ugh.... I guess I''ll have to tell you the legend of Goddess of humanity ", Exams…. I''m sorry guys a problem and sworn enemy of every students has appeared. Yeah¨CExams.... My exam has started and i need to focus on study a little because this morning i didn''t even know how many subject are gonna appear in exam or even name of every subjects. Yeah, I''mpletely doomed ?, I''m just trying my best to pass. And the end date is 11 oct....so wish me luck guys...and i hope you understand about my situation and don''t abandon this book forte updates. And yeah hears good news, After the exams there''s will be holiday for about a week, So yeah very frequent updates and i might rse two chapters at once. And Yo!, again bad news because from November, My main exams, In short semester exams will start, So I''m cooked ?. Let''s pray that I wille back alive.@@novelbin@@ Legend Of Goddess Of Humanity–(Long Chapter) Hundreds of thousands of years ago, before kingdoms or the reign of demons, the world was divided into tribes rather than nations. In this ancient time, humanity faced threats from powerful beasts and restless spirits rather than the demons that would one day emerge. The social structure was simple¡ªsmall, mid-scale,rge, and above all, the super-tribes, which wielded the greatest influence. Among the most revered and powerful, one of these tribes was the Seraphine tribe, ruled by a beautiful woman named Savitri Seraphine. She was the epitome of grace, her golden hair and golden eyes shining like a goddess, her beauty renowned across the world. She was said to be the most beautiful woman of her era, her elegance and charm so captivating that every man desired her hand in marriage. Some believed she could have easily created a reverse harem if she wished, as her beauty held sway over hearts across every tribe. Despite the legions of powerful suitors, to everyone''s shock, Savitri fell in love with someone unexpected¡ªa simple servant named Satyavan. He had no noble title, no extraordinary abilities, not even a family name, but he had a pure heart and a gentle, honest nature that deeply touched her. Satyavan was an ordinary man, a lowly servant with no magical awakening or special powers, but Savitri saw in him what no one else did. When the time came for Savitri to ascend to the throne of the Seraphine tribe, she did something that no one could have anticipated. She proposed to Satyavan, asking him to be her husband. The world was stunned by the news. How could the heir of the mighty Seraphine tribe¡ªa woman desired by so many¡ªchoose a mere servant as her partner? But for Savitri, it wasn''t about status or power. Satyavan''s kindness, sincerity, and the way he cherished her as a person, not just for her looks, was what won her heart. Their marriage became a sensation. Word of the union spread quickly, despite the limitedmunication methods of the time, igniting envy and outrage across the world. The men who once dreamed of marrying Savitri now burned with jealousy. Satyavan became the sworn enemy of every man who had ever hoped to win her favor. He was hated not for who he was, but for what he represented¡ªthe unattainable dream of being with Savitri. As days turned into months, Satyavan and Savitri faced more challenges than they had ever imagined. Despite their love, the world was not kind to them. The envy of those who couldn''t bear to see a servant as the queen''s husband turned into cruel schemes. Assassination attempts became so frequent that it almost became routine. People close to Savitri, even her own trusted servants, began betraying her, trying to harm Satyavan in secret. Although many loyal to the queen stood by their side, protecting him, there was only so much Savitri could do. Satyavan was not an awakened individual, and hisck of powers made him an easy target. After five long years of constant threats, the inevitable finally happened. One fateful day, one of the enemies seeded in their n. Satyavan was killed. The moment Savitri saw his lifeless body, her world shattered. It was like a bolt of lightning had struck her, leaving her breathless and in disbelief. How could she go on without him? Her heart ached with unbearable grief, and for a fleeting moment, she thought of joining him in death, burning the world along with her. But her will, as strong as iron, refused to bend. Tears poured from her eyes as she knelt beside his still body, touching his face gently, the warmth of his life fading. She sobbed uncontrobly, her body trembling with the weight of her pain. But deep inside, something stirred, a fire of defiance that would not be extinguished. "I won''t let them win. I won''t let this be our ending," she whispered through her sobs, wiping her tears with one determined swipe. Her eyes red with resolve, her face hardening with a new purpose. "No! I will not ept this. I''ll bring my husband back to life, no matter what it takes!" she shouted, her voice full of anger and desperation. Her words echoed through the hall, and everyone around her¡ªmaids, guards, and council members¡ªgasped in shock. It was an impossible deration. If Satyavan had been an awakened person, there might have been a way to resurrect him. But reviving a normal man who had already passed? It was madness. Whispers filled the air. Had their beloved queen lost her mind in her grief? Had Satyavan''s death driven her to foolishness? Savitri, despite the murmurs and doubts of those around her, didn''t waver. In her heart, she already knew the answer to her grief¡ªshe would seek out the wisdom of Lord Parshuram. Lord Parshuram was no ordinary sage. Though he lived as a saint, he was always seen with his axe, Parshu, held firmly in his right hand. The two had a history, one that stretched back to Savitri''s childhood. She had once wandered off into the forest, lost and afraid. It was Parshuram who had found her, protected her, and guided her back. Even after returning to her tribe, Savitri sought him out regrly. Under his tutge, she learned not onlybat skills and martial arts but also the wisdom of battle tactics¡ªknowledge that shaped her into the warrior queen she would be. Now, in her time of despair, she was certain that Parshuram would hold the answers she sought. ----- "Lord Parshuram, please enlighten this disciple of yours onto the right path," Savitri pleaded, bowing low, her forehead touching the ground. Despite being a queen, her reverence for the sage was clear, addressing him as "Lord" and humbling herself before him. They stood in the heart of the forest, the quiet air around them thick with unspoken grief. Parshuram, an elderly man with a long, flowing beard, sat before her, dressed in a simple monk''s robe. His aura, however, was anything but simple. "Do not bow your head," Parshuram''s voice was firm yet warm, "You are like a daughter to me. There is no need to hesitate when asking something of your father. Please, do not disrespect me by lowering yourself so." Savitri slowly lifted her head, tears still streaming down her face, unable to contain the overwhelming emotions surging within her. Parshuram, already aware of her heartache and loss, spoke gently, his voiceyered with both wisdom and warning. "I can help you, but what I will tell you goes against the veryws of nature. Once I reveal this knowledge, you will never be able to see me again. Do you ept this?" he asked, his gaze deep and unwavering. For a brief moment, Savitri paused, the weight of his words heavy on her shoulders. But then, with renewed determination, she bowed her head again. "I know I cannot apologize enough for this. I know the value of having you in my life is priceless. One of your greatest teachings was to never be too greedy, but... my heart and soul already belong to someone else. I have be too greedy, and I have failed your expectations." Parshuram listened, his expression softening rather than showing any sign of anger or disappointment. A small, understanding smile crept across his face. "There are times when greed can be a powerful force for good," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "Now that you have chosen your path, don''t allow that greed to falter. Walk this road with conviction. I will tell you the way to bring your husband back to life." Parshuram''s voice was calm and steady as he said, "Grant Wish Essence Stone." Savitri''s eyes widened with confusion, her heart pounding as she raised her head and sat back, trying to understand. "Grant Wish Essence Stone?" she echoed, the words foreign and puzzling. "Yes," Parshuram replied, his tone still indifferent. "Once you refine it and use it, you''ll be able to summon a being capable of granting any wish. But remember, even that being cannot go against thews of nature. It won''t give you things like true immortality or bring a normal person back to life," he exined. Savitri''s brow furrowed. "Then how can I bring my husband back to life?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration.@@novelbin@@ Parshuram''s lips curled into a small smile. "That''s for you to figure out. You can''t make your wish directly. You''ll have to approach it in an indirect way, and only you can think of that path," he said. Savitri remained silent, absorbing his words. She knew better than to press further. Parshuram then began to reveal the recipe for the Grant Wish Essence Stone. The list of ingredients and steps seemed endless. Parshuram spoke for half an hour straight, detailing everyponent. And as he exined, he made it clear¡ªhe would only say this once, and then he would disappear forever. Savitri had to remember everything after hearing it just one time. When the final word of the recipe was spoken, there was a soft "swosh," and Parshuram vanished before her eyes. The forest was quiet again, leaving Savitri alone with her thoughts and the enormous task ahead of her. Her heart raced, not with fear, but with determination. Savitri wasted no time once she returned to her tribe, her heart burning with determination. She gathered her people and urgentlymanded them to search for the elusive Longevity Essence Stones. These stones, rare and incredibly valuable, were ranked from D to A, each rank increasing in power. Rank D stones could extend life by ten years, Rank C up to a hundred years, and Rank B stones by five hundred years. But the most powerful of them all¡ªRank A stones¡ªcould stretch a lifespan by a full thousand years. Savitri needed nothing less than the highest rank if she was to aplish her goal. For twenty long years, her tribe scoured thend, searching tirelessly for Longevity Essence Stones. The journey was grueling, but Savitri''s will never wavered. One by one, they found stones of lower ranks, but she was not satisfied. She needed the Rank A stone, and atst, after two decades, she finally managed to refine one. With the stone in hand, Savitri extended her life by a thousand years, her spirit strengthened and her resolve unshaken. But the battle was far from over. With her newfound time, she set her sights on her ultimate goal¡ªrefining the Grant Wish Essence Stone. Her quest was long and brutal. She fought in countless battles, annihting tribes and forging a path through the world. Her reputation as a warrior queen spread far and wide. Many sought her hand in marriage, but she refused them all, her heart still tied to the love she had lost. Nothing could distract her from her mission. After one hundred and fifty years of searching, fighting, and gathering the necessary ingredients, at the age of 195, she finally had everything she needed. Without hesitation, she left her tribe and traveled to the towering Himya Mountains, where she would refine the Grant Wish Essence Stone. At the very peak of the Himya Mountains, Savitri sat cross-legged, surrounded by storage essence stones filled with rare essence stones and countless other ingredients. Her task was clear¡ªrefine the Grant Wish Essence Stone, no matter the cost. As soon as she began, the skies responded. Dark clouds gathered, lightning cracked through them, and the ground beneath her trembled as if struck by waves of countless earthquakes. It felt as if heaven and earth were in turmoil, breaking apart under the sheer power of the refining process. Yet, Savitri remained unmoved, her mind focused and her body steady. Seasons came and went, testing her resolve. Torrential rain soaked her from head to toe, but she didn''t flinch. A scorching summer followed, with sweltering heat that could break the strongest of wills. But still, she did not move. And as time passed, cold, unforgiving snow covered the mountain, piling upon her, yet Savitri refused to be distracted. Slowly, the river of time flowed onward. Five hundred years passed, unnoticed by anyone in the world below. The kingdom she left behind assumed she was dead, as she had vanished without a trace. Only her legendary battles remained in the hearts of those who remembered her. On the mountain, Savitri''s body had been buried beneathyers of dirt and mud. Her form, once radiant, had be part of the cliff itself, her face hidden under the earth. Then, finally, after centuries of unwavering focus, a mystical light appeared. The clouds above shifted into a rainbow of colors, and the air itself seemed to shimmer with anticipation. The moment had arrived¡ªSavitri had sessfully refined the Grant Wish Essence Stone. The stone took the form of a white buffalo''s head, with two simple horns. However, what made it truly extraordinary was the glowing halo that floated above it, marking it as a divine creation. The stone, roughly the size of a basketball, pulsed with a power beyond imagination. As the dirt and mud cracked away from her body, Savitri stood tall, her muscles stiff from centuries of stillness. A smile of triumph spread across her face¡ªshe had done it. Without wasting a single moment, she reached for the essence stone, ready to use it. Savitri gathered all her mana and activated the Grant Wish Essence Stone, her hands trembling as she channeled everyst bit of her energy into it. Instantly, the very fabric of reality seemed to crack open. The air in front of her rippled, and suddenly a jagged tear appeared in space and time. Her breath caught as she watched, eyes wide in disbelief, as a hand emerged from the rift, followed by the figure of a towering being. This being, made entirely of cosmic energy, radiated an otherworldly blue light. His form was that of a muscr middle-aged man, yet his presence was far beyond anything she had ever felt. His aura was so powerful, so overwhelming, that it was as if the entire world bent around him. Savitri could only stare, her heart racing. He looked down at her for a moment, his gaze piercing but calm, and then spoke with a voice that was both gentle andmanding. "Speak, child. What is your desire? But remember, I cannot grant you something like true immortality," he said, his words filled with the weight of universalw. Without hesitation, Savitri''s eyes lit up with determination. "I don''t seek immortality," she replied firmly. "I just want my husband back!" Her voice wavered, but the fire in her heart did not. The cosmic being paused, falling into deep thought. He scratched his head thoughtfully before responding, "I am truly sorry, but that is also against thew of nature. Your husband was a mortal. If he had been an awakened being, I could have done something, for they go to the Gate of Judgment, Heaven, or Hell. But your husband, as a normal man, has gone to the Hollow Land, where there is no return. In time, he will be part of the essence that replenishes heaven and earth. This is nature''sw, and it cannot be broken." Savitri''s heart shattered. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she copsed to the ground in despair. "No!" she cried out, her voice breaking. "I want my husband back! Bring him back!" Her pleas echoed across the mountain, but the being remained firm. "I cannot," he said softly, his tone filled with regret. "Please, wish for something else." But Savitri wasn''t ready to give up. Parshuram''s words echoed in her mind¡ª"Only you can find the way." She paced back and forth in desperation, trying to think of a solution. Time passed, and without her realizing it, a whole month had gone by with the cosmic being silently watching over her. Suddenly, an idea struck her. Her eyes lit up with renewed hope as she turned to the being. "Yes! I don''t have to wish directly for him to return¡­ I have one wish!" she dered, her voice filled with confidence, as a spark of possibility glimmered in her mind. Savitri turned to the cosmic being, her heart racing with excitement. "O Great Deity, grant me this wish..." She paused, taking a deep breath as the idea solidified in her mind. "I wish to bear three children by my husband," she dered with determination. The cosmic being scoffed, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Wish of having kids? Hmph...Such a simple wish? Granted!" he said dismissively. His body began to fade into thin air, as thews of nature required that he disappear once the wish was fulfilled. But as he started to vanish, his eyes widened with sudden realization. He had been tricked. Savitri''s wish to bear her husband''s children required her husband to be alive. Without him, how could she conceive? Her wish, though indirect, demanded that he be brought back to life. "Tricks... such cowardly tricks!" he shouted in rage, his once calm cosmic-blue eyes turning a furious red. As his form began to fully dissolve, his voice rang out onest time, filled with spite. "I curse you! Your children will only bring disaster to this world!" Despite his angry words, Savitri paid no attention. She brushed off the curse as if it had no meaning, her focus entirely on the moment she had long waited for. Then, in a sh of light, the space before her twisted and shimmered. The form of her husband, Satyavan, slowly appeared, his body whole and alive once again. After over six hundred years, they were reunited. Savitri couldn''t contain her joy. She ran to him, embracing him tightly, tears of happiness streaming down her face. Satyavan smiled warmly, returning her embrace with love and affection. Together, they returned to her tribe, and the world trembled with the news of their reunion. It was as if a divine miracle had urred, and soon word spread across thends. People hailed her as a goddess, the one who had defied death and brought her husband back to life. Her fame soared beyond imagination, and she became the most revered figure of her time. Upon reiming her throne, she expanded her territory across the known world, bing a ruler without equal¡ªa woman who had conquered everything. This time, no one dared harm her beloved Satyavan. She was worshiped as an angel, a fallen divine being, and countless people prayed in her name. Years passed, and eventually, Savitri became pregnant. When the time came, not with twins, but with triplets, her joy knew no bounds. However, when the maids held her newborns in their hands, their eyes widened in shock. When Savitriid eyes on her newborns, she was filled with awe and confusion. All three of her sons had different appearances, but two features stood out as eerily simr. First, they were all boys. Second, their eyes glowed a vivid red¡ªeach with its own unsettling intensity. Aside from this, they couldn''t have looked more different from one another. The first child had dark blue hair, contrasting sharply with his piercing red eyes. His pupils were unlike any human''s¡ªthey were slit like a snake''s, or perhaps even like a dragon''s. He also hadrge, sharp fangs peeking out from his mouth, giving him an animalistic appearance. He was the first of his kind, a being who wouldter be known as the first wolf-man, **Lycaon**. The second child lookedpletely different. His hair was silver-white, shimmering like moonlight, and his skin was pale, almost ghostly. His red eyes were more normal than his brother''s, but his beauty was striking. Even as a baby, it was clear that he would grow into a breathtakingly handsome man. This child would be known as the first vampire, **Cain**. The third and final child had the most chilling presence of all. His hair was as ck as night, and his red eyes were far darker than those of his brothers. His aura was filled with an overwhelming sense of gloom, as if he carried a shadow with him wherever he went. His sclera¡ªthe whites of his eyes¡ªwere pitch ck, and beneath his crimson gaze, his pupils bore strange, multiple ring-like shapes that seemed to spin in a hypnotic, eerie manner. This child was unlike anything the world had ever seen; he was the first true demon, destined to be the **Demon King, Aurora**. Kidnapped As Esdeath sat in her seat, she waited patiently for the train to start moving. Eventually, the train''s wheels began to turn slowly, the rumble of the engine filling the air. Esdeath let out a sigh of disappointment. "I guess I''ll have to go out and p her for making the tripte," she muttered to herself, already nning to jump off the train before it gained too much speed. She stood up and walked toward the train''s door, ready to leap out. But just as she reached the door, her eyes caught sight of Maruti, running frantically toward the train, herrge breasts bouncing as she sprinted. Esdeath finally felt a bit of relief. "Phew, you''re finally here. Take my hand!" she called out, extending her arm toward Maruti. Maruti picked up speed, running as fast as she could to catch up with the moving train. She reached out, grabbing Esdeath''s hand just in time. With a firm pull, Esdeath hoisted Maruti onto the train. As soon as she was safely aboard, Maruti doubled over, gasping for air. She had been running for a while to make it to the station on time. "Cough... cough..." Maruti sputtered, still catching her breath. She hurried to the opposite door to spit, clearly exhausted. Esdeath said nothing, though she was about to scold her for beingte. But before she could turn around, her eyes caught sight of something else¡ªthree more people were desperately running toward the train, trying to make it before it left the station. "Oh, I guess today is my day for doing good deeds!" Esdeath smirked, extending her hand toward the approaching figures. "Take my hand! I''ll pull you up!" she shouted. The three runners, grateful for her help, smiled with relief. One by one, they grabbed Esdeath''s hand, and with her strength, she pulled them onto the train with ease. All three of the men Esdeath had helped onto the train were tall, middle-aged, and dressed in casual clothes. Despite their size¡ªeach of them standing at least six feet five inches tall¡ªthey seemed surprisingly light when Esdeath pulled them up. Even though she was tall herself, Esdeath barely reached their shoulders. Oddly, unlike Maruti, the men didn''t even seem winded. It was as if they hadn''t used up any stamina at all. "Dhanyavaad (Thank you)," one of the men said, cing hisrge hand on Esdeath''s shoulder. Esdeath frowned, confused. "What did you just say?" she asked, not understanding a word of it. "Whatever, we''re done here," she muttered, brushing it off as she turned back toward Maruti. Maruti had finally stopped coughing and turned to face them. But as soon as her eyesnded on the three men inside the train, her expression changed drastically. Her eyes widened in shock, and her mouth hung open slightly. Without saying a word, Maruti quickly sat down in her window seat, her eyes glued to the outside as if trying to avoid the situation. Esdeath was confused by Maruti''s reaction. She sat down in front of her, also on the window side, and nced back at the men. To her annoyance, the three men casually took seats as well¡ªtwo sitting beside Maruti and the other beside Esdeath. Esdeath''s temper red. She shot up from her seat, ring at the men. "Yo! Misters, just because I helped you get on the train doesn''t mean you can take our seats! Get up!" she shouted. But the men didn''t respond. They sat there as if they hadn''t heard her. Esdeath turned to Maruti, still confused. "Hey, they''re not listening. You deal with that one, and I''ll beat up this one!" she said with a smirk, ready to fight. But Maruti''s expression was dull,cking any of her usual energy. "I think you should let them sit," she replied quietly, avoiding eye contact. "What?" Esdeath blinked,pletely puzzled. Then, one of the men stood up. He ced his hand on Esdeath''s shoulder, and in a calm voice said, "Bahot bolti hai tu (You talk too much)," pressing down on her shoulder with surprising force. In an instant, Esdeath found herself mmed back into her seat. "Such strength," she gasped in shock. She hadn''t expected that level of power from a simple touch. Swiftly, she slid sideways in her seat, turning to Maruti with an uneasy smile. "Do you know who these guys are?" she asked, her confidence shaken for the first time. Maruti gave an uneasy smile, like she was trying to hide her mistake. "They were sent by my father. I didn''t realize that the girl whose body I''m possessing had run away from her marriage and came here to the academy to hide. Since their power can''t reach into the academy, they''ve been waiting for me to step outside. I barely escaped them, but thanks to your ''heroic deed,'' now we''re kidnapped," she said with a hint of annoyance. Esdeath blinked, realizing she had extended her hand and helped them onto the train without knowing who they really were. "Why don''t we just fight them? What if we have a chance to win?" Esdeath asked, still thinking of a way out. Maruti sighed. "They''re concealing their aura, but all three of them are Rank C Awakened." "Oh... crap," Esdeath muttered under her breath. A single Rank C Awakened was nearly impossible to beat, let alone three of them. The chances of winning were basically zero. "We can talk to each other freely though," Maruti said, "they don''t understand ournguage." Esdeath was still puzzled, but she couldn''t ept defeat that easily. She quickly got up, determined to try something else. In the middle of the moving train, she went to find help.@@novelbin@@ A few momentster, Esdeath returned with a man in tow. "Sir, these two guys don''t have tickets and they''re threatening us!" she said sweetly, putting on her best innocent act. The man she brought was the ticket checker. Wanting to look impressive in front of Esdeath, he immediately got fired up. Marching toward the three men, he grabbed the cor of one of them. "Hey! Threatening innocent girls? You better get off at the next station, or else!" he shouted, his voice full of anger. Esdeath watched the scene unfold with a sly smirk. "Hehe... Ticket checkers are legal enforcers. Attacking him will be considered a huge crime. There''s no way they''d risk breaking the kingdom''s rules!" she thought, confident in her n. But to her shock, the next moment, a loud **BAM** echoed through the train. Esdeath''s eyes widened in horror as she saw the man whose cor the ticket checker had grabbed swing his fist. His punchnded squarely on the ticket checker''s face, and with one brutal strike, the man''s face exploded like a balloon, blood spraying everywhere¡ªeven sttering across Esdeath''s face. "Ahhh! He killed him!" passengers screamed in fear, and chaos erupted as people began running toward different sections of the train. Esdeath stood frozen for a second, her mind racing as the situation spiraled out of control. Daughter Of Patriarch "I''ve been trying to contact you for days," the man whispered, his voice calm yet firm. "And finally, I''ve got my chance." "What do you mean by that?" Corin asked right away. He wasn''t relieved at all by the presence of this mysterious figure. In fact, he wanted to leave as soon as possible. Sensing Corin''s unease, the man raised a hand to reassure him. "Like I said, I''m not your enemy. I''m an ally. I know how angry and frustrated you''ve been these past few weeks after losing three times in a row," he said, clearly referring to Corin''s defeats¡ªhis two fights with Ethan and his loss in the recentpetition. "Your reputation is in ruins because of those losses, but don''t worry. I''ve got something that will change everything for you, something that can bring back your glory," the man''s voice was deep and full of promise, igniting a flicker of hope in Corin''s eyes. The man then pulled out a small cylindrical box, about 15 cm in length, along with two tiny, spiral-shaped essence stones. Before Corin could ask what they were, the man quickly exined. "Tomorrow, all the participants who lost will get a second chance to fight. There''s still time for you to make aeback. With this," the man held up the box, "you can dominate thepetition and win every single match." Corin frowned. "What is this?" he asked, suspicion clouding his voice. "In this box," the man replied, "is a special powder drug I''ve personally developed. It enhances both your magic and physical abilities. Not only that, but it also sharpens your instincts and reaction time. The more you take, the stronger the effects will be. But, I must warn you¡ªtake it in small doses." He then pointed to the two essence stones. "These are space-path essence stones. The first one is called ''Input,'' and the second is ''Output.'' Here''s how it works: You put the input essence stone into the box, and the output essence stone anywhere on your body." Corin listened intently as the man continued. "Whenever you want to use the drug, you''ll activate the output essence stone by channeling your mana. This will connect the two stones, and the drug will be sent directly into your bloodstream. Since you''re using essence stones, it won''t be considered cheating¡ªit''s perfectly fair." Corin stared at the box and the essence stones, feeling conflicted. The promise of strength and a chance to regain his reputation tugged at him, but deep down, he knew there could be consequences. Corin hesitated for a moment before voicing his concern. "What if there are side effects?" he asked, his brow furrowed with worry. The man shook his head quickly, almost too quickly. "No... no, nothing like that," he replied, waving his hand dismissively. "I''ve tested this on several humans already. As long as you take it in moderation, everything will be fine!" His voice was confident, almost reassuring, as if he had all the answers Corin needed. But Corin''s mind wasn''t at ease. Memories flooded back, sharp and painful. He remembered losing to Ethan¡ªhow humiliating it had been, how the crowd had looked down on him. Then there was the betrayal, his girlfriend choosing someone else. And Kaelith... that moment still haunted him, how she had defeated him effortlessly, like he wasn''t even worth her time. His heart burned. It wasn''t just anger or frustration anymore¡ªit was a deep, consuming need for revenge. He couldn''t stop the fire inside him from growing, and he knew that without something drastic, nothing would change. He''d stay at the bottom, always the one who lost, always the one people pitied. At this point, there was no reason to refuse the man''s offer. He wanted power, and here it was, right in front of him. All he had to do was take it. "I ept," ----------- At the bustling station in the capital of Anastasia Kingdom, a sense of tension filled the air. Several high-ranking knights and guards stood in ce, their eyes locked on the tracks, waiting. They were all focused on the arrival of train number 1089, a sleek blue lotive. In their hands, they clutched investigative essence stones, tools designed to detect any form of illusion or delusion. This time, they were prepared¡ªthere would be no escape for those onboard. One of the guards, looking slightly puzzled, nced at his subordinate. "I don''t get it. Why are those killers so focused on hijacking a train? I mean, they never asked for money or treasure to release it. What''s the point?" The subordinate smirked confidently. "If they''re taking this much risk, something valuable must be on that train. We''ve blocked every possible exit. They''re trapped now, no way out," he chuckled, feeling certain of their n. --- Inside the train, Esdeath sat by the window, her cold gaze fixed on the passing scenery. The train was snaking along the side of a mountain, not at its peak but nestled midway down. Below stretched an endless forest, vast and untamed, home to various beastmen and barbarian tribes, including the infamous Vanara tribe. Her expression darkened, a grim look of disappointment crossing her face as she watched the mountain slip by. "They''ve figured out that these guys are using illusions," she thought, ncing at the three men sitting near her. "But it''s toote now," she mused bitterly. "If they had realized it just one station earlier, maybe we could have made an escape. But now¡­"@@novelbin@@ Just as the thought passed through her mind, the train screeched violently, a loud crashing sound echoing through the carriage as the wheels ground to a halt. After a few moments of jarring stillness, the train came to aplete stop¡ªright in the middle of the mountain pass. Even at this point, Esdeath and Maruti were desperately trying to think of a way to escape. But before they could evene up with a n, two of the three men acted quickly. One of them grabbed Maruti, and the other caught Esdeath by the back of her hoodie, lifting her into the air like a bag or a helpless kitten. Their bodies hung in the air in aical, awkward way. Esdeath''s eyes narrowed in an annoyed, cat-like expression, her irritation clear. Escape wasn''t an option now. They were stuck, and the men carried them out of the train with ease. As they stepped off the train, three more figures emerged¡ªone from the driver''spartment and two from different carriages. These were the masterminds behind the illusion and the continuous train ride. They all exchanged nces, and without a word, started descending the mountain path, still carrying Esdeath and Maruti. Esdeath, dangling from the man''s grip, couldn''t resist making a sarcasticment. "Predictor, since your dad went to all this trouble to capture you, he must be pretty important in his tribe. We could use this chance to grab some resources. What do you think?" she asked with a smirk. Maruti, however, was still feeling down. "Bruh¡­ that''s a good idea and all, but my main problem is the marriage! Even at that time, I chose to die than being called gay!, That''s why I''d rather die than marry a guy. No way in hell am I gonna go through with that!" she snorted angrily. Esdeath, knowing that her teasing had once led to Maruti''s previous death, looked away awkwardly. "I was just joking back then. Who told you to take it so seriously?" she mumbled, feeling guilty. Despite their bickering, the men kept walking, carrying Esdeath and Maruti as if they weighed nothing. The train was left behind, with no concern about what would happen to it. Their focus was now on the vast forest they were walking through. The forest was dense, filled with the sounds of rustling leaves and the asional growl of wild animals. As they continued through the woods, several groups of wolves and other beasts attacked, but these men were no ordinary travelers. They were barbarians, strong and fierce, and many of them were awakened warriors. Every attack from the beasts was swiftly dealt with, the men cutting down the creatures with ease, barely slowing their pace. By the time they finally reached their destination, it was early morning. The golden rays of the sun gently bathed thendscape, and the peaceful chirping of birds could be heard in the distance. In front of them was arge tribe vige, sprawling with life. There were many houses, some even built high up in the trees, giving the vige an unusual but impressive appearance. Fields of crops and resources were scattered around, along with various tools and equipment used by the tribespeople. But what caught Esdeath''s attention the most was the crowd waiting at the vige''s outskirts. Almost a thousand people had gathered, their eyes fixed on the neers. It was clear they had received word that Maruti was returning. Most of them appeared to be soldiers, armed with various weapons, standing ready. Esdeath''s eyes widened as her gaze fell on one figure standing at the front of the group. The man was massive, towering over everyone else. His muscr body seemed to radiate power, and he was more than seven feet tall. His skin was covered in intricate tattoos that gave him a fierce, menacing aura. His face was rugged but handsome, with a sharp jawline and an air of authority. His hair was brown, and though he appeared middle-aged, there was no mistaking his strength and presence. Esdeath gasped, her heart skipping a beat. "I thought your father must be some high-ranking guy... but I never imagined you were the daughter of the *Patriarch* of the Vanara tribe!" she whispered in shock. Lovers? In the long history of *Free Life Fantasy (FLF)*, there were only two star constetions known to grant the legendary power of "Ultra Instinct" to their incarnations. These constetions not only gave this ability to their chosen ones but also possessed it themselves. The two beings tied to this incredible power were the Fallen Star Constetion, **Demon King Aurora**, and **Lord Hanuman**. Since Aurora was a viin in the game, only Hanuman was known to grant this rare and extraordinary power to his incarnation. Ultra Instinct was so rare that, aside from Lord Hanuman and Aurora, only one other character was known to have it. This person was **Sasha**, a fierce barbarian woman from the Vanara Tribe, and the one and only incarnation of Lord Hanuman. Sasha was a remarkable warrior, and it made sense that she came from the Vanara Tribe, as they had worshipped Lord Hanuman since the ancient times, when barbarians were still closely linked to their chimpanzee ancestors. Sasha was also the first daughter of the Vanara Tribe''s patriarch, and by the second year at the academy, she would enroll in the Awakened Academy, eventually bing a key member of Ethan''s party. When Esdeath first discovered that **Maruti**, her best friend, also possessed Ultra Instinct and was an incarnation of Lord Hanuman, she waspletely stunned. She had never imagined that there could be another character with such a rare power. To find out that it was her own best friend left her utterly surprised. As she pieced together the clues, Esdeath quickly realized that Maruti had connections to the Vanara Tribe. At first, she thought Maruti might be a member of the tribe or perhaps the daughter of a high-ranking official. But the truth was far more shocking¡ªMaruti was actually the younger sister of Sasha, the tribe''s first daughter and the incarnation of Lord Hanuman. "Mourya!" Esdeath muttered Maruti''s father''s name under her breath. He was an A-rank awakened, a powerful figure rarely seen in the game. "Howe Sasha never mentioned her sister in the game?" she thought, frowning. "Tch... That''s exactly what you''d expect from a trash game¡ªno minor details!" she snorted, annoyed at the game''sck of depth. **BAM!** The man holding Esdeath abruptly let go, causing her to tumble straight to the ground. "Mother f*cker!" she cursed as she slowly pushed herself up, dusting off her clothes. She red at the man but he was already walking away, unfazed. Meanwhile, the other man who was holding Maruti gently carried her over to her father, Mourya, and set her down like she was made of porcin. Silence fell over the forest. Despite the number of people around, not a single person uttered a word. They all took a few steps back and stood still, waiting as if something monumental was about to happen. Esdeath, standing awkwardly about twenty steps away, scanned the scene. "Great. No way to escape now," she thought, ncing at Maruti and her imposing father. They were deep in the middle of the forest, miles away from any civilization. She knew an escape route, but she couldn''t just leave Maruti behind. **p!** Mourya pped Maruti across the face, the sound echoing through the air like a crack of thunder. Maruti instinctively touched her cheek, her eyes wide with shock. But it wasn''t really Maruti¡ªinside her body was the Predictor, and the Predictor wasn''t about to take this lying down. "You!" Maruti gritted her teeth in fury. **p!** Another p followed, this time on the other cheek. Mourya''s hand was so massive it nearly covered her entire face. The two "weak" ps left Maruti''s cheeks puffed up like a squirrel storing nuts for winter. Tears welled up in her eyes, making her look surprisingly cute, given the situation. "You''re not getting away with this!" Maruti shouted. In a fit of rage, sheunched herself at her father, punching and kicking him wildly. The surrounding men gasped, shocked that she would dare attack Mourya, but her punches had as much effect on him as a flynding on a boulder. He didn''t even flinch. After a few seconds of her iling, Maruti stopped, breathing heavily. "So, am I gonna die for attacking this giant gori?" she muttered under her breath, calling her own father a gori because of his huge, muscr build. She half-expected him to retaliate with something far worse than a p. For a moment, the forest held its breath. Mourya stood there, his expression grim, staring down at Maruti. The tension was unbearable. It looked like he might actually kill her on the spot. But then¡ª Hahahahaha! Mourya suddenly burst intoughter, the deep sound rumbling through the trees like an earthquake. He grabbed Maruti by the arms and effortlessly lifted her into the air, swinging her around like she was a little kid. "Hamesha ki tarah ghamndi ",(You''re as arrogant as always!) " he said between chuckles, his voice filled with nostalgia. At this moment, all of the silence faded away and chatter filled in air.@@novelbin@@ Everyone finally rxing after the intense moment. Mourya, still holding Maruti, looked down at her with a stern expression. "Tumhe pata hai, Mai kitna pareshaan Tha? (Do you know how worried I was?)" he said, pulling her into a tight hug before turning his gaze to Esdeath. His eyes narrowed. "Who is she?" Maruti, still rubbing her sore cheeks and a bit shaken, quickly replied, "(Meri Dost Hai) She''s a friend!" The moment the words left her mouth, Mourya''s face changed. He crossed his arms, his expression hardening. "Hmph¡­ No need to be friends with the kingdom''s people," he said coldly. "Everyone knows the Vanara Tribe exists, but does anyone know where it is? Barely. We''ve hidden our vige behind powerful illusions, keeping it safe from monsters and enemies alike. If she stays here, the kingdom''s people wille for her. Or worse, we''ll be forced to hand her over." His voice grew colder, sending a chill down everyone''s spine. "And after what we did to get you back, I doubt they''ll let us off easily." Then, without warning, Mourya''s voice dropped to a dangerous tone. "Kill her." Esdeath''s stomach dropped, but before anyone could move, Maruti jumped in front of her father, iling her arms in a panic. "Ruko...ruko..ruko.."(Stop! Stop! Stop!)" she shouted, practically hopping in ce. "Who said she''s staying here?" Maruti added hurriedly. "Now that you''ve seen I''m fine, we''re going back to the academy. And I swear we won''t tell anyone a thing!" But Mourya shook his head. "No," he said firmly. "In our tribe, only the elder daughter and son have the right to education, to learn about the outside world. But you¡ªyou whined and begged to go to the Awakened Academy. Your elder sister even agreed to a one-on-one match with you, and you lost! As per our rules, you should have been married off by now, but instead, you ran away and snuck into the academy." His tone was harsh, his gaze piercing as he looked directly into her eyes. "I''m forgiving you for your past mistakes. So, get back here and marry your betrothed!" Maruti''s face turned pale. She already knew what wasing next, and as Mourya''s attention shifted back to Esdeath, her heart raced. "Wait, wait, wait!" she shouted, throwing herself between him and Esdeath again. "She''s not just my friend. She''s my best friend! My *besttttttt* friend!" Mourya didn''t even blink. "Farak Nahi Padta "(Doesn''t matter). Esdeath stood about twenty to thirty steps away, utterly clueless. She couldn''t hear everything clearly, and even if she could, she didn''t understand the Vanaranguage. But as Mourya took a step toward her, she felt a deep sense of dread, her instincts screaming that something bad was about to happen. Without thinking, she took a step back. Mourya raised his hand, clearly preparing to do something dangerous, but before he could make a move, Maruti blurted out, "We''re not just friends¡ªwe''re lovers!" Mourya was taken aback, his hand pausing mid-air as he slowly turned to look at his daughter, eyebrows raised. "Premi ?(Lovers?)" 5000 SP Esdeath and Maruti sat quietly in their dimly lit room, nerves on edge. They had been thinking of different ways to escape, but every n seemed too risky. The Vanara tribe was deep within a vast forest, teeming with dangerous monsters and wild beasts. One wrong move and they could easily be caught or worse. The only glimmer of hope was the capital of Anastasia Kingdom, just beyond the forest. If they could somehow make it through, they would be safe. But for now, all they could do was wait. Meanwhile, in another part of the vige, Maruti''s father, Mourya, was holding an important meeting. The tribe''s elders, advisers, and key figures were gathered to discuss a serious matter¡ªMaruti''s marriage. Although everyone else mistook Esdeath for a vampire, Mourya had seen through the natural illusion. With his sharp intuition, he knew Esdeath was just a human, despite her strange appearance. Though the meeting was tense, the solution was surprisingly simple. One elder, his long beard brushing against his chest, spoke up with authority, "I think we should follow the tribe''s rules." The tribe had long-standing traditions, especially concerning marriage. In Vanara culture, women were often undervalued. They had limited ess to education, were married off at a young age, and even child marriages were not umon. But Mourya was different. Using his influence, he had fought against child marriages and pushed for more progressive reforms, From no education to education to the eldest child, Even though it was not much but still far better than before. Over time, many of the tribes came together to establish new rules. One of those rules was particrly important here: if a girl''s marriage was already promised to someone but wished to marry another, her lover had to step forward and challenge her arranged husband. A duel would take ce, and only if the lover won in front of everyone would the arranged marriage be canceled. The tribe would respect the oue, and no one could object. A young man with a strong build and broad chest suddenly spoke up, his tone filled with frustration. "This isn''t fair! Maruti''s future husband is Ujjain, the youngest son of the Lothal tribe. He''s a rank D awakened, and there''s no way that clumsy girl can beat him. It''spletely unfair!" His voice was firm, clearly believing that the challenge would be impossible. Another man, sitting nearby, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, a rank D awakened is equal to several top-tier rank E awakeneds. I even sensed that girl''s mana¡ªshe''s nowhere near the level of an average awakened. She''ll die from the first hit!" Despite their objections, not everyone agreed. A soft but confident voice cut through the room, surprising everyone. "How about we let both Maruti and her fight him together? If they still lose, then she''ll have to marry him. This way, Maruti can''t say it''s unfair, right?" All eyes turned to the speaker. It was none other than Maruti''s older sister, Sasha. Her blue eyes gleamed faintly in the dim room, adding weight to her suggestion. "Hmph, your idea is interesting," Mourya responded, standing up slowly. "But the tribe''s rules don''t say anything about that. If she''s not strong enough, that''s her problem, not his. However, it will be up to Ujjain whether he epts the challenge or not." Mourya took a moment to consider, then continued, "I''ll go speak to the Lothal tribe and see what they say. Either way, she''ll have to fight. Go and tell her to be ready. Also, give her permission to enter the low-level treasure room. That way, she can''t say we didn''t support her." He spoke with authority, making it clear that this decision was final. The elders and advisers nodded in agreement as Mourya and a few others prepared to head to the Lothal tribe to discuss the matter further. At Mourya''s house, Esdeath was being treated like royalty. Women of all ages, from older to middle-aged, kepting in waves, patting her head gently and showering her with blessings, even though she had no idea why. Each one presented her with extravagant jewelry and beautiful clothes. Esdeath couldn''t even keep track of who these women were¡ªprobably some kind of distant rtives of Maruti, but she had no clue. The only thing that caught her interest was the stunning antique jewelry, which she quickly stashed away in her pink lotus essence stone. Meanwhile, Mourya''s six wives were in full force, preparing an enormous feast just for Esdeath. The table was piled with 56 different dishes¡ªmore than she could ever hope to finish. Despite the overwhelming hospitality, Esdeath felt uneasy. As she dug into thevish spread, she turned to Maruti, who was already seated beside her, eyeing the food hungrily, even though it clearly wasn''t meant for her. "Why are they giving me such royal treatment?" Esdeath asked with a raised brow, a little suspicious. Maruti shrugged, but then, out of curiosity, asked her mother. When the answer came back, Maruti couldn''t help but burst intoughter. "Pfttt¡­" Esdeath narrowed her eyes, now more curious than ever. "What did your mother say?"@@novelbin@@ "She said, ''The sacrificial goat has to be fed well before it''s ughtered.''" Esdeath''s face went nk, her expression frozen mid-bite. She red at both Maruti and her mother, clearly not amused by the remark. But after a moment of processing, she gave a resigned sigh and took another big bite of the delicious food. "Whatever... I might as well enjoy the free stuff while itsts," she muttered, continuing to eat with a slightly annoyed but determined look, as if savoring every bite out of sheer spite. After finishing her meal, Maruti decided to stretch her legs and take a stroll around the vige. She had always been curious by nature, with a habit of exploring new ces whenever she could. The vige had no restrictions on her movements, so she was free to wander wherever her feet took her. As she left the house, Esdeath quietly headed back to her room, her mind racing with thoughts. Sitting on the edge of her bed, Esdeath let out a sigh. "What now?" she muttered, feeling the weight of boredom creeping in. She wasn''t the type to waste time, especially not in an unfamiliar ce like this. "I have a feeling that whatever lie the so-called ''predictors'' are telling will eventually lead to a fight," she mused to herself, the corners of her lips curling into a sly smile. She crossed her arms and leaned back, already nning her next move. "But of course, I have my trump card," she thought with confidence, a glint of determination in her eyes. With a single thought, she willed her status window to appear before her, its glowing disy reflecting off her face as she gazed at it with satisfaction. : 19.8 : 5.6 : 4 : 18 Current skills in possession - Sharpshooter (E): When used, time will slow down for five seconds. Can only be used once every 50 minutes. - Eagle Eyes (E): Can see over great distances with precision + Can see the flow of mana. - - Yes, something was different about her status. It was her **SP points**. After winning thepetition, people started talking about her, and her reputation surged as more acknowledged her abilities. The best part was, despite her victory, she hadn''t disrupted the main storyline. In the original story, it was **Kaelith** who won thepetition, with **Ethan** losing and using that defeat to motivate his hard work. Esdeath''s win didn''t interfere, as the plot wasn''t bound by who exactly won, just that Ethan wouldn''t. That kept the flow of the narrative intact. Because of her rising fame and the way she handled things, Esdeath was rewarded with **5,000 SP points**. But as she thought it over, her excitement dimmed slightly. "Even though my strength has increased," Esdeath mused, "I''m still nowhere near Kaelith''s level." She knew her **strength stat** was at 19.8, and increasing it beyond 20 would be risky. To safely raise her strength further, she would need essence stones like the Iron Muscles Essence Stone, Bronze Strength Stone, or higher-quality stones such as the White Jade or Green Jade Skin Essence Stones. Without these enhancements, pushing her body too far could be dangerous. "But that''s not my biggest issue," she frowned, feeling a hint of worry. The system gave her a powerful advantage by letting her refine essence stones, even up to rank B, instantly. She could refine as many as she wanted, but the real problem was using them. Essence stones that boosted the body, like muscle or skin stones, were straightforward. However, many other useful stones, especially those affecting magic or other abilities, required **mana** to activate. And herey Esdeath''s major problem ¡ª her body had only a fraction of the mana an average person possessed. "I should focus on increasing my mana," she thought, biting her lip. "But how? There''s a limit to how much I can raise my stats with the system." With that realization, Esdeath decided to prioritize her mana for now, pushing it to its maximum potential. Esdeath decided to use her **SP points** to increase her **mana stats**. She thought it through carefully. "An average person has around 60 mana points, so I should aim for that," she reasoned. Confident, she spent her SP points to make the increase. Suddenly, she heard a familiar **ding** from the system: **<500 SP points reduced>** **** **** Seeing the boost brought a brief smile to her face, but that joy was short-lived. Without warning, a sharp surge of pain shot through her body like a bolt of lightning. It felt as if her heart had stopped, and a wave of nausea overcame her. Esdeath copsed to her knees, her entire body trembling. Blood spewed from her mouth, her coughing violent and uncontroble. "Cough... Cough... How could I forget?" she thought, her mind clouded with pain. "This body... it''s even weaker than the average awakened one. Of course, it can''t handle average level of mana!" Her vision blurred as she struggled to stay conscious. Her legs shook uncontrobly, and darkness crept into the edges of her sight. Please Kill Him "What kind of problem?" Esdeath asked immediately, her curiosity piqued. Maruti didn''t answer right away. Instead, she stepped into the room, closed the door behind her, and began to exin. She recounted her walk around the vige, where she had bumped into her elder sister, Sasha. Sasha had given her the news of an uing battle with Ujjain, Maruti''s future husband, who was set to challenge them. Maruti went over the rules of their tribe, though Esdeath already had some idea of the challenges they might face. "So¡­ we only have tonight to prepare for tomorrow''s battle," Maruti said with a sigh, her frustration clear. "And my so-called elder sister is waiting outside, ready to take us to a low-tier treasure room. We can use any essence stone we find and refine it ourselves, as much as we''re able. But that''s the issue¡­ there''s no telling if we''ll be able to do it in time or not." Esdeath''s eyes lit up with a different reaction. "We can take as much as we want?" she mused, thinking of the possibilities. "That might actually be helpful. But going up against a D-rank while we''re both just E-rank¡­ even together, our chances are maybe fifty-fifty." A seasoned D-rank could handle multiple E-ranks with ease. Forget about Ujjain, Who is a mid-upper tiersomee "Do you have any essence stones you''ve already refined?" Esdeath asked, her gaze sharp as she looked at Maruti. Every advantage counted, and she knew they''d need it. "Well¡­ at first, I didn''t realize it," Maruti admitted, scratching her head. "But then I found a diary left by this girl, and it turns out she had refined a few essence stones. I guess I got lucky, but do you think you can actually refine one in such a short time?" she asked with genuine concern. Refining essence stones wasn''t simple; it required intense focus, not only to activate the stone''s power but also to link it to one''s mind. Some stones, like the "Boar Strength" essence stone, offered permanent boosts. But for stones that needed mana activation, just knowing you possessed them was critical. Maruti had lucked out by finding a note detailing which stones were refined by the previous owner of her body. Through practice, she managed to ess some of their powers. However, without if a person has lost his melodies and didn''t left any notes or diary, Then He would need aplete "Appraisal" from an expert to identify their refined stones. But that carried risks¡ªrare stones,Specially Rank A, can intimate their greed and they end up killing him and take those essence stone for themselves. Esdeath''s eyes gleamed as she took all this in, a smirk crossing her face. "Guess it''s time I show you why I''m the world''s greatest hitman and why you''re just a rival. Now, where''s your so-called sister?" "Oh, getting bold now, huh?" Maruti grinned, standing up from the bed. "She''s right outside, waiting for us." They stepped out to find Sasha waiting impatiently. Sasha was waiting outside, When she saw esdeath, She didn''t say anything but her face was saying that she didn''t like esdeath much, She just turned back and started walking while Esdeath and Maruti followed her from behind. As they began walking, it seemed like they''d reach the destination in just a few minutes. However, more than ten minutes had passed, and Sasha showed no signs of stopping. They walked through winding paths, passing by small houses, while vigers greeted Sasha and Maruti with warmth and respect. Maruti was already losing patience. "Ugh! Isn''t this supposed to be a small vige? Why''s it taking forever?" she muttered in an exhausted tone. It wasn''t the walking that wore her out; it was the boredom. Esdeath smirked, ncing at her. "Did you think the vige is just an illusion from the outside? This ce is muchrger than it looks. If you''re not a native, you''d get lost easily¡ªand escaping is nearly impossible. The vige''s boundaries have illusions that loop back to the starting point." "Seriously? I never thought barbarians could be this clever!" Maruti sighed, momentarily forgetting she was one herself. Bored, Maruti decided to dig deeper. "How about you finish that story you were telling? So, was she the first of the Star Constetions? Are they all human, or could some be other mortal species, like barbarians, elves, or dwarves?" Maruti''s constant questions started to wear on Esdeath''s nerves. "No! Not all mortals be Star Constetions. Some are born as constetions!" she replied, irritated. Maruti blinked. "Born as one?" "Yeah. There are two types," Esdeath exined. "First, there are those born by nature''s will, like the goddesses of water, Ganga and Narmada, or Agni, the god of fire. They exist to preserve life. Second, there are those created by the faith and desperation of mortals." She paused, ncing at Maruti''s curious expression. "In ancient times, people were desperate for survival. When it rained endlessly, destroying their crops, they''d beg the sun to return. Or when there was drought, they''d offer prayers and sacrifices for rain, hoping some unseen god would hear them." "And¡­?" Maruti urged her to continue. "Eventually, these wishes gave birth to beings like Surya, the Sun God. Andter, other gods of rain, like Indra and Zeus, were born from simr beliefs. Some gods became powerful, like Indra and Zeus, while others, like Freyr and Alyta, remained lesser deities of rain." Esdeath''s voice grew serious as she finished, "It''s not just nature that shapes this world. People''s beliefs, their hopes and fears¡ªthey make things real, even gods. Like Yama, the god of death, born from humanity''s understanding of mortality."@@novelbin@@ Maruti fell silent, absorbing the weight of Esdeath''s words as they continued to follow Sasha''s silent figure through the maze-like vige. But not just after after few more seconds, As they passed by another house, Maruti''s face grew puzzled. She slowed down, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the walls of the nearby home. It was like something was clicking together in her mind, but she couldn''t quite figure it out. She finally turned to Esdeath. "Fable, I''ve been noticing this for a while now. Almost every house in this vige has these¡­ paintings? Or designs, maybe?" She pointed toward the front wall of the house they''d just passed. On the wall, there was a rough, almost childlike painting of a monkey-like figure with a long tail. The figure looked young, maybe around three or four years old. What caught Maruti''s attention was that the monkey child was drawn as if floating, with one hand reaching up toward an orange, glowing ball hovering above him. Esdeath followed Maruti''s gaze and let out a deep sigh, her own impatience with the endless walk making her shoulders droop. She was just as tired of the slow pace, and this little discovery offered the perfect excuse to break up the monotony. With another sigh, she shrugged and nced at Maruti with a smirk. "Alright," she said, her voice a touch dramatic. "Looks like it''s time for the next part of the story." ------------- Seraphine gave birth to three male childs. The third and final child had the most chilling presence of all. His hair was as ck as night, and his red eyes were far darker than those of his brothers. His aura was filled with an overwhelming sense of gloom, as if he carried a shadow with him wherever he went. His sclera¡ªthe whites of his eyes¡ªwere pitch ck, and beneath his crimson gaze, his pupils bore strange, multiple ring-like shapes that seemed to spin in a hypnotic, eerie manner. This child was unlike anything the world had ever seen; he was the first true demon, destined to be the **Demon King, Aurora**. The three children of Savitri Seraphine were being held by three maids, each carefully cradling a child. Aurora, the third child, was in the arms of an elderly maid whose eyes widened in horror as she looked down at him. Something in his appearance stirred fear deep within her, making her whole body tremble. Her face went pale, and panic overtook her as she shouted desperately, her voice filled with terror, "T-this¡­ this child must not live. He has to die, he must die!" Her hand rose, trembling but determined, as if she was about to hurl Aurora to the ground, intending to end his life right then and there. Gasps filled the room as the other maids froze in shock, horror stered across their faces. "Someone stop her!" one maid shouted, her voice strained with urgency. But before the old maid could follow through, a nearby soldier, noticing themotion, reacted quickly. He threw his sword, and with deadly uracy, it pierced through the old maid''s belly. Blood sttered as she staggered, her face twisted in pain. She crumpled to her knees, her grip on Aurora loosening. A maid rushed over to pull the baby safely from her trembling hands. The old maid''s body slumped to the ground, her life slipping away. Even with herst, fading breaths, she clung to her fear, whispering weakly, "Kill him¡­ please, someone¡­ kill that child¡­" Even Gods Can Make Mistakes In a distant corner of the universey an endless expanse of pitch-ck emptiness. Darkness stretched far and wide, an all-consuming void so deep it seemed to swallow any hint of light¡ªexcept for one radiant sight in the distance. Glowing softly, almost like a shimmering river, a stream of light flowed, twisting and winding with a surreal grace. This was the legendary "Cosmic River," an unending flow of celestial energy that seemed to have neither beginning nor end, a mystery of the universe itself. Yet, in the midst of this Cosmic River was an even greater enigma. There, floating peacefully, was a man, seemingly asleep. He rested atop a massive, seven-headed serpent, each head still and silent, yet unmistakably alive. The serpent''s vast body coiled below him, its thick tail providing the man with a secure ce to rest as though he were a child held gently in its grasp. The serpent didn''t stir, its loyalty clear; it protected the man, its master, in this strange realm. The man''s face was calm, his eyes closed in a serene slumber. His skin was dark, a deep ebony shade that contrasted against the glow of the Cosmic River, giving him an otherworldly beauty. His features were handsome, his presence radiating both grace and strength. Adorned with elegant jewelry and a robe of luxurious fabric, he appeared as a figure of ancient royalty, lost in dreams amidst the eternal river of stars. Suddenly, the calm of the vast, dark space was broken. A disturbance rippled through the air, and in front of the sleeping figure, space itself began to crack, like ss shattering under unseen force. From this fractured space, a figure stepped forward¡ªa man formed entirely of shimmering blue cosmic energy. Power radiated from him, almost tangible, filling the quiet with a sense of awe. This new figure, unlike the sleeping man, was dressed simply in rough animal skins, enough only to cover himself modestly. He stepped forward silently, casting a nce at the man whoy asleep, but he didn''t disturb him. Instead, he lowered himself into a seated position, hovering mid-air, a calm silence settling around him. Slowly, the cosmic energy surrounding his body faded, revealing a handsome man with deep blue skin, his face now clear and defined. A look of concern flickered in his dark eyes, as though he held something important he wished to share but hesitated, not wanting to disrupt the other''s peaceful sleep. As he pondered silently, another crack split the air, and from it emerged another being. This one was an elderly man, his face lined with age and wisdom, draped in a pure white monk''s robe. Although he looked nearly human with normal skin, he was far from ordinary¡ªfor he possessed three heads, each lined with deep wrinkles and expressions of timeless knowledge. The blue-skinned man nced up, about to speak, but the three-headed elder chuckled, his voice echoing with mirth, "Hahaha¡­ Shiva, I already know why you''re here! Regretting that rash action born out of anger, are you? Feeling guilty now, I see!" Hisughter was a gentle mockery,ced with familiarity. The cosmic man, Shiva¡ªthe Destroyer¡ªclicked his tongue in irritation, his gaze sharp as he replied, "Tch¡­ Brahma, God of Wisdom and Creation, but not an ounce of manners. If you''re just here to mock me, then go back." Shiva''s expression was a mixture of annoyance and self-restraint, showing both his temper and the depth of his regret. Brahma''s mocking grin softened, watching his old friend''s struggle with a touch of understanding.@@novelbin@@ Brahma took a deep breath, looking toward the sleeping figure in front of them. "Alright... alright... Let''s wake Vishnu. He might have an answer for the consequences of your actions," Brahma said, turning his focus to the resting man beside them. The man''s name was Vishnu, also known as the Preserver. Together, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva¡ªsometimes called Mahesh¡ªformed an eternal trio, though they were beyond what mortals might call gods or constetions. To call them mere gods would fall short of the truth. They weren''t born of human worship nor created to govern life. Instead, they *were* the universe, embodying its core nature and purpose. Brahma, the one who creates; Vishnu, the one who preserves; and Mahesh/Shiva, the one who brings all things to an end. As Brahma moved closer, intending to awaken Vishnu, the sleeping figure''s eyes opened calmly, surprising the others. Vishnu sat up with a serene smile. "I''ve been awake. I was simply waiting for you both to gather," he said in a voice so gentle and mesmerizing that it could captivate anyone who heard it. Shiva''s frustration red slightly as he looked to Vishnu, his eyes troubled. "If you already know so much, then answer me. I know I could stop all of this by ending her children, but how? If I take action against a mere mortal woman, I would be bound by karma. The world would see it as a petty grudge against one who is only mortal." His words hung heavy with his inner turmoil. Vishnu nodded, considering Shiva''s dilemma with a thoughtful expression. "Mahesh," he began, his voice gentle yet firm, "that woman indeed went against nature''s rules, but isn''t that the nature of mortals themselves? They''re cunning, unpredictable, driven by emotions." Vishnu paused, allowing his words to settle. "Remember, you were the one who created the Grant Wish Essence Stone, a way for mortals to aim higher, to reach beyond their limitations. It was your way of rewarding those who strive relentlessly. She endured her hardships and found her way to that reward. Can we really me her for trying to change her fate?" Vishnu''s tone softened, but then he continued with a grave note, "However," he said, voice growing firm, "by cursing her out of anger, you too have crossed a line, breaking the bnce you vowed to uphold." Shiva''s shoulders slumped as he lowered his gaze. "I know¡­ but once an arrow is shot or a word is spoken, it can''t be taken back," he admitted, a trace of remorse in his voice. Vishnu''s expression softened, his hand reaching out in aforting gesture. "Don''t worry, Shiva. epting your mistake is the first step. Instead of dwelling in guilt, make amends. If you created this imbnce, then it''s also within your power to restore it." Vishnu''s wisdom brought a calm over Shiva, easing the weight of his guilt. Vishnu, who had been giving his advice with a confident smirk, crossed his arms, leaned back slightly, and shut his eyes with an air of pride. "But don''t worry," he said, rubbing his nose as though to emphasize his self-assuredness. "You have me, the Protector. I''ll be the one to handle your¡ª" Before he could finish, he felt a sudden surge, an overwhelming wave of energy. His eyes snapped open, and he turned, stunned, to find Shiva glowing with an intense cosmic blue light. Vishnu''s mouth fell open as he saw a shimmering piece of Shiva''s essence¡ªalmost liquid in appearance¡ªseparate itself from his form and drift downward, vanishing into the endless space below. "Shiva! What did you do?" Vishnu gasped, still absorbing what he''d just seen. Shiva shrugged, calm as ever. "What? You told me to fix the mess I made," he replied. "So I did. I just split a part of my essence and will to create an incarnation. It''ll be born into that woman''s world and set things right." Vishnu and Brahma stared at him, speechless. Then, as if by instinct, they both pped their foreheads in sync, a look of exasperation on their faces. "Really, Shiva? Did you even think this through?" Vishnu groaned. "You''re the Destroyer; creating and guiding incarnations is my job! I should have been the one to take on mortal form and fix this." Brahma chimed in, his brows furrowed with concern. "Not only that¡ªyou just gave up a significant part of your will and cosmic energy! Do you have any idea how powerful your incarnation will be now?" Birth In the Seraphine Kingdom, a ce that had evolved over the centuries from a super tribe into a thriving kingdom, the ancient tree houses had been reced with grand pces fit for royalty. Among them was the pce of Savitri Seraphine, who, though weary from giving birth to triplets, had been stirred by themotion around her and had managed to sit up despite her exhaustion. The guards, sensing her distress, swiftly removed the body of the old maid, carrying it out to keep the room calm. Watching the scene, a chill ran through Savitri as she recalled Shiva''s dark prophecy that her children would bring ruin to the world. But she quickly dismissed his words, casting aside any trace of doubt. "Bring my children to me!" shemanded. Her voice held strength, and the three maids hurried forward, gently cing each child in her arms. Savitri looked down at each of her newborns with a soft, unwavering gaze. As she touched each of their tiny foreheads, her thoughts turned to her mentor. "I am Parshuram''s disciple," she murmured to herself, recalling his teachings. "He always taught me that with proper guidance and education, even the greatest evils can be saints." Determination filled her heart as she resolved to prove Shiva''s prophecy wrong. A small, yet defiant smile spread across her face. "I won''t let you be monsters," she whispered to her children, her voice full of hope and resolve. "I''ll show that deity that his words may yet be proven wrong." With a deep breath, she looked at her children with a newfound resolve. "Now," she said softly, "it''s time to give you each a name." She turned to her first child, noticing his unusual blue hair and striking red, snake-like eyes. "Your look reminds me of the wolfman stories from my childhood," she murmured thoughtfully. "Your name will be Lycaon." Her voice carried a hint of nostalgia as she made her choice. Then, her gaze softened as she looked at her second child¡ªthe most charming of the three, with snowy white hair and a serene face. "And you," she chuckled, "you''ll be a real heartbreaker someday. I''ll name you Cain, a name as handsome as you are!"@@novelbin@@ Finally, she turned to her youngest, her expression shifting as she took in his son''s unique appearance: ck hair, red pupils with intricate rings, and an ominous aura that seemed to pulse around her. "You''re different¡­ so unique," she mused softly. "I''ll name you Aurora." Having named her children, Savitri felt a swell of pride. She turned to the maids with newfound energy. "Go and prepare a festival. This is a blessed day! Distribute food to the poor, lower the taxes by ten percent, and start building churches across the kingdom!" The head maid hesitated, then asked, "Churches, mydy? But in whose name?" Savitri''s eyes sparkled with resolve as she rose from the bed. "In my name," she dered firmly. "From now on, I will be this kingdom''s goddess. I''ll ensure my people prosper and live happily¡ªit is my duty." With a steady, fiery gaze, she spoke with conviction, "From this day forward, I vow, as long as I am alive, no one will suffer. I''ll be the goddess of humanity ." ---------------- In a remote area within Seraphine''s kingdom, therey a vast forest. Since this was the beginning of the early kingdom era, much of thend was still wild and untouched, with many regions left undeveloped and covered in thick forests. Deep within one of these forests lived several tribes, groups that did not consider themselves part of Seraphine''s kingdom, instead living freely and independently. Among these, the most powerful tribe was the Vanara Tribe. In this age, the ancestors of barbarians, the Vanara people, were part-human and part-monkey in appearance. They had faces resembling monkeys, long tails, and sparse hair covering their bodies. Although they walked on two legs like humans, their appearance was undeniably primal. At the head of the Vanara Tribe was a strong, wise monkey-man named Kesari, and his wife, Anjani, who was now carrying their first child, although only in the early stages of pregnancy. That night, Anjani rested peacefully in their simple treehouse, lying on a bed woven from grass and wood. In her deep sleep, she was unaware of the cosmic forces about to change her life. Suddenly, a powerful surge of cosmic energy descended from above and struck her directly, focusing its immense power on her belly, where it was absorbed almost instantly. The sudden energy shocked her awake. Anjani''s eyes flew open as intense pain flooded her body. She screamed as waves of agony wracked her frame, her hands gripping her bed tightly. In moments, her belly began to swell, growing so rapidly it was as though months of pregnancy passed in just seconds. In the blink of an eye, she appeared as if she were already nine months pregnant, the cosmic energy taking root within her in an instant. Hearing Anjani''s screams, many tribe members hurried toward her room, including Kesari, who had been in a meeting. The sight that met their eyes left everyone shocked. Anjani''s rapid, unnatural pregnancy had transformed her appearance in a matter of moments. "Someone call the governess!" Kesari shouted in their native tongue, anguage unique to the tribe. To any outsider, his words would have been iprehensible, but to his people, they understood perfectly. At hismand, several maids rushed to fetch the governess, who soon arrived with a few other female attendants. She entered Anjani''s room, while the others were asked to wait outside. Everyone waited anxiously, hearing the fading sounds of Anjani''s screams. The uncertainty gripped their hearts, leaving each moment feeling stretched and intense. Eventually, the screams ceased altogether. Just as they began to worry, the governess stepped outside, a broad smile on her face. "Congrattions, Patriarch," she announced, "your wife has given birth to a son!" Her joyful expression was infectious, and a wave of happiness rippled through the gathered crowd, lifting the tension. Kesari''s eyes sparkled as he hurried inside, eager to see his wife and newborn. Inside, he found Anjani lying in bed, exhausted but unharmed. She was breathing heavily, recovering from the ordeal, but relief washed over her face as she gazed lovingly at her child. Next to hery their son, a small bundle with a monkey-like face, a tail, and argely human body. His ck hair and golden-brown eyes gleamed with a serene, almost divine aura. However, the sight of his son''s ck hair puzzled Kesari, as it was the first time he''d seen this trait in a child from their tribe. Turning to the guards, he ordered with curiosity, "Bring the old sage here!" Kesari was referring to his trusted adviser, an elderly sage known for walking on both wisdom and time path. This adviser, a man nearing ny, had spent years honing his skills with essence stones, Although he didn''t get much rare ones but he refines some essence stones by himself to make deductions about someone, While these predictions often turned out to be true, he always spoke in cryptic, poetguage, leaving it to others to interpret his words correctly. Soon, the adviser entered the room, his frail body moving with a slow but steady purpose. His face was lined with deep wrinkles, evidence of his long life, and his expression was one of quiet focus. Without a word, he approached Kesari''s newborn son, knelt down, and gently ced his hand on the child''s forehead. He then activated five essence stone in his body at once. As the adviser activated the stones, his eyes suddenly opened wide, glowing with a mysterious white light. A soft hum filled the room, and then, as if guided by the power of the stones, he began to speak in a low, resonant voice. "UGRAMA, ASAMA SHOURYA BHAAVA" (He Is Strong, Without An Equal In The Ability To Fight) "RUDRAMA, NAVA BHEETHIRMA" (His Anger Will Cause New Fears In His Foes) "DHIVARA, PRASARA SHOURYA BHAARA" (The Brave And Preserving One, Your Braving Taking You Forward In Life) "UTHSARA, STHIRA GAMBHEERA" (Leaping Higher You Are Firm, Stable And Seriously Determined) The One Who Swallowed The Sun Surya''sughter echoed powerfully through his pce, filling the vast hall with an intimidating presence. Suddenly, a sh of blinding light split the room, and a divine gate opened, pouring radiant light that overpowered even the sun god''s fiery surroundings. Momentster, six figures stepped through the gate. Leading them was a striking, muscr man with a sharp jawline and hair as white as clouds, crackling with white lightning. His mere presence exuded authority and power¡ªhe was none other than Indra, the God of Thunder and Rain. Beside Indra stood a dignified elderly man, tall and imposing, with yellow lightning sparking from his eyes and coursing over his white hair and sturdy frame. Dressed in flowing white robes, his age only added to his formidable aura. This was Zeus, his presence as intense as a gathering storm. Following them were four women of enchanting beauty, unlike anything mortal eyes could behold. The first two wore matching armor with graceful pink skirts, exuding elegance and charm. The one with flowing green hair was Freyr, and herpanion with azure hair was Alyta¡ªboth lesser goddesses of rain, their delicate yet strong appearance mirroring theirmand over gentle showers and life-giving waters. Behind Freyr and Alyta walked two identical women with flowing, intricate dresses adorned in golden jewelry. These twin goddesses, Ganga and Narmada, ruled over the rivers. But unlike their usual graceful forms, they were breathing heavily, their bodies covered in bruises, and a frailty shadowed their faces. Surya''s relentless heat had drained their rivers to dryness, leaving them weakened and on the edge of copse. Each of them gazed at Surya with somber expressions, the weight of the world''s suffering evident in their eyes. The Lavaman lowered his head seeing them. Indra''s voice boomed through the hall, filled with anger and authority. "Surya, what in the heavens do you think you''re doing? Have you lost your mind? If you keep this up, life on Earth will end!" The force of his voice created ripples of shockwaves around him, but Surya remained unfazed. With a dismissive scoff, he replied, "Indra, you don''t get to tell me what to do. Go back and enjoy yourself with your nymphs!" Zeus stepped forward, his gaze piercing, "Enough of this nonsense! Look at those goddesses," he said, gesturing toward Ganga and Narmada. "Do you see the suffering they''re enduring? This is your doing, Surya! It is the natural order to respect mortal lives. Whether they thrive or perish, our duty is to maintain bnce, not disrupt it." His voice was tinged with restrained fury, adding weight to his words. Surya''s eyes shed with irritation. "Rules, rules, rules... why should I be bound by them? Mortals are mere insects, and I have no need to cater to their weakness. They are beneath me." His voice dripped with arrogance, dismissing his fellow gods as he leaned back on his throne. Freyr and Alyta looked away, disappointment etched on their faces. Indra took a slow, deep breath,posing himself before speaking again. "So this is your answer? It seems you''ve truly lost your way." His tone turned cold. "We will give you one day, Surya, out of respect for our past bonds. But make no mistake: if you continue, there will be war." With a final re, Indra turned and opened the divine gate, signaling to the others. Each god cast Surya onest look of disapproval before they vanished through the gate, leaving the sun god alone in his throne room, with hisva man. ------------ A vast crowd had gathered outside the royal pce in the Seraphine Kingdom, their faces etched with despair as they looked up toward the balcony. There, Lady Savitri stood, her gaze steady as she took in the sea ofmoners below. A man in the crowd, eyes sunken from dehydration, raised his voice, "Water¡­ mydy, I haven''t had a drop in three days!" Near him, a woman clutched a small child to her chest, her voice trembling with grief. "My children¡­ they died from hunger. I only have this one left, and even I haven''t eaten in days. Please, save us, mydy!" The crowd erupted in cries of agony, each person''s sufferingyering over the next, creating a wave of desperation. Hearing this, Savitri''s heart burned with anger. Her hand clenched so tightly against the balcony railing that it cracked under her grip. "These gods think they can y with human lives as they please?" she muttered, her beautiful face contorted in fury. Without a second thought, she leapt down from the balcony,nding gracefully amidst the people. Gasps of hope and awe spread through the crowd as they recognized her. "She''s here! Lady Seraphine hase to save us!" they cheered, their weary faces lighting up with newfound hope. Savitri''s voice rang out with strength andmand, "From this moment on, no one shall worship the Sun God or beg for his mercy! Destroy every sculpture of him!" Her eyes burned with determination as she addressed the royal guards stationed nearby. Her authority was absolute; they bowed and moved swiftly to carry out her orders. Determined to help her people herself, Savitri knelt, pressing her hand to the parched earth. She closed her eyes, summoning every bit of mana within her body. As her powers activated, the ground beneath her began to pulse with life. Savitri''s unique affinity with Nature, Light, Earth, and Water was further enhanced by the power of two rare essence stones: the Rank A "Landscape As Before" and "River As Before." These stones allowed her to return anynd or water source to its former, thriving state. She poured her energy into the ground, her body glowing faintly as she concentrated, the drynd around her beginning to change. Cracks in the soil softened, and a subtle green hue started to spread. Savitri''s hands trembled as she realized the scale of the task ahead. Even with her powerful essence stones, she had to use hundreds more supporting essence stones. The demand on her energy was intense, and the advanced nature magic she wove to form a protective barrier around the kingdom drained her to the core. The crowd gasped, their eyes widening in shock. To the people watching, it felt like witnessing a god''s power in action, reviving life from barrennd with a mere touch. Their reverence for Seraphine deepened, their faith in her transforming into an almost worshipful awe. Slowly, a nearly invisible shield took shape above the kingdom, shimmering with a faint, protective glow. Beneath it, rivers flowed again, and the once-drynds flourished with greenery. But even this incredible feat had limits¡ªSavitri could only restore about two-thirds of the kingdom. Completing the entire region was beyond even her capabilities, But still it was an great feat even that even Lortell Mariette can''t beat. Though human, Savitri held a strength that could rival the gods, one capable of turning the tide for an entire kingdom. "Cough¡­ cough¡­" Blood trickled from her mouth, the price of her extensive mana use. A grim expression shadowed her face. *The barrier will only hold for a few days,* she thought, aware that the sun''s scorching power would inevitably return to threaten her people once more. *"I have to find a way to stop this for good,"* she resolved, her body lifting off the ground as she flew back to her pce, determination zing in her eyes. Behind her, the people''s voices rang out in admiration and hope. "Glory to our goddess Seraphine!" they cried. "She is our true goddess!" Others cheered as they rushed to the newly revived rivers, drinking the water they had so long been deprived of, their faith in her stronger than ever. ----------@@novelbin@@ The night came and passed, and by the very early morning, the sun began to rise, casting its warm colors over the vanara tribe. Sadly, their tribe was still caught in the heatwave, theirnd untouched by Seraphine''s powers. The forests were dry, and the air carried a heavy, cracked silence. Inside his small, dim room, a four-year-old boy named Marutiy on his bed, staring outside the window. He felt a craving gnawing at him. "I want to eat mangoes," he murmured, feeling his annoyance grow. "Mango... Mango¡­" He was young and innocent, and the only thing on his mind was his favorite treat. He pouted, waiting as if mangoes might just fall from the sky. When nothing happened, his eyes turned to the rising sun¡ªa brilliant, orange-yellow sphere glowing against the horizon. Maruti''s eyes lit up with a sh of realization. "Orange¡­ Yellow¡­ It must be a mango!" "Mango!" he shouted, imagining it in all its juicy glory. Without a second thought, he jumped up with such energy that he cracked the walls of his room. With astonishing speed, heunched himself toward the sky, driven by his sheer desire. "Mango, I''ming!" Maruti''s speed was extraordinary; he flew faster and faster, his small body zipping upward like a streak of light. In less than two minutes, he shot past the clouds and burst through the atmosphere, ignoring theck of air and the intense heat around him. His innocent mind was too focused to feel fear or pain¡ªonly the thought of that "big mango" in the sky filled him as he chanted in his mind, "Mango... Mango... Mango!" Meanwhile, in Surya''s fiery pce on the sun, hisva servants hurried in, their molten forms crackling with urgency. "My Liege," one of them stammered, "something very strange is happening! Someone ising this way!" Surya, puzzled and annoyed, narrowed his eyes. "Who?" The servant hesitated, clearly ufortable. "Um¡­ it appears to be a monkey boy¡­" Surya''s eyes red with anger. "What? A mere monkey boy? In space?" His voice thundered, filling the chamber. The pressure in the room became suffocating, forcing his servants to kneel. "Forgive me, my liege, but it''s true. See for yourself!" Surya closed his eyes and extended his consciousness outward. To his disbelief, he saw a small monkey child hurtling toward him through the emptiness of space. "How can this be? How is he surviving out here, unaffected by my heat?" "Prepare for battle! Kill that brat before he darese any closer!" Suryamanded, his voice a fiery roar. Gripping his sword forged from searingva and scorching mes, he readied himself to face this impossible threat. All around him, his loyalva warriors brandished their zing spears, forming a line of defense, waiting anxiously for the boy to draw near. Time passed as Maruti sped closer to the sun, his small form hurtling through the darkness of space. Surya, however, could not shake the suspicion that this was some scheme by the gods, with Indra''s name flickering bitterly in his mind. He seethed, vowing to make whoever was behind this pay. After more than half an hour, the long-anticipated moment arrived. The fiery army stood tense, their spears raised, eyes fixed on Maruti as he neared. But then, somethingpletely unexpected happened. "Mahim¨¡!" Maruti eximed, his innocent voice carrying a strange power. Instantly, his body began to grow,rger andrger, beyond all natural limits. Everyva warrior froze, jaws dropping as they stared in shock. They couldn''t believe what they were seeing¡ªthe small boy expanding like a god, his form growing greater than any giant, beyond any mountain. In mere moments, Maruti''s body had swelled to the size of the sun itself, his form casting an enormous shadow over Surya''s pce. Even Surya, the mighty Sun God, felt a jolt of fear pierce his heart. "Just¡­ what is this child?" he whispered, his grip tightening on his sword. And still, Maruti''s body grew, stretching untils themselves seemed like marbles beside him. The sun was now nothing more than a round mango in front of him¡ªa mango he had craved all along. Without hesitation, Maruti opened his mouth wide, and in one swift gulp, he swallowed the sun whole. Darkness swept through the space as he devoured it, not even leaving a burp in its ce. Damn System (2) "What the... He actually swallowed the whole sun? How is that even possible?" Maruti eximed, eyes wide and her voice full of shock. She looked to Esdeath, who was walking beside her, seeking an answer. Esdeath nced at her with a knowing smile. "And why does he have the same name as me?" Maruti asked, still puzzled. Esdeath chuckled softly. "He doesn''t have the same name as you. You share the same name as him. Lord Hanuman is actually a nickname, you know? He''s the reason the name Maruti became so famous. People admired him so much that they named their children after him." Maruti''s eyes widened as realization dawned on her. "Oh¡­ That makes sense! But wait, we see the sun every morning, right? So¡­ where did this sune from? And what happened after he swallowed it?" Her curiosity was overflowing, and her voice was filled with excitement as she looked up at Esdeath, hoping for answers. But Esdeath stayed quiet, her gaze focused ahead. After a few steps, Esdeath suddenly stopped and looked forward, a small smile tugging at her lips. "We''re here," she said simply. In front of them stood a small, weathered house, built entirely of wood. The ce looked humble¡ªalmost too humble¡ªand it was barely big enough for one person to live infortably. The wood creaked slightly in the breeze, and there was an air of solitude surrounding the ce. Just then, Sasha turned around and tossed a key toward Esdeath, who caught them with ease. Without a word, Sasha turned and walked away, disappearing down the path they''de from. Both Esdeath and Maruti understood what they needed to do. Together, they stepped up to the door and tried the handle. To their surprise, the door swung open easily, without even a lock holding it shut. They exchanged a quick nce, curiosity mirrored in each other''s eyes, and stepped inside. The interior was in, almost sparse. It was just a single, square room, with rough wooden walls and a faint smell of old timber. The only thing that stood out was a small, square trapdoor set into the floor. The metal ring on it looked well-worn, as if many hands had lifted it over the years. But unlike the front door, this one had a thick lock securing it tightly. Esdeath nced down at the key Sasha had given her. She knew exactly what needed to be done. Taking a breath, she slid the key into the lock and turned it. With a satisfying click, the lock released. Maruti''s heart pounded with excitement. Together, they lifted the trapdoor, revealing a dark stairway leading down into the first basement level. The air was cool and damp, carrying the faint scent of earth and stone. As theynded, the sight that greeted Esdeath and Maruti made them pause in awe. The first basement room was huge¡ªat least three timesrger than the small wooden shack above. It felt like they had stepped into a hidden treasure vault. Tables and shelves lined the walls, each one stacked with glittering gold coins, piles of clothes, and an assortment of essence stones scattered across the surfaces. The essence stones weren''t of the highest quality, but to Esdeath and Maruti, it felt like discovering a treasure trove. Esdeath''s lips stretched into a wide, wicked grin as she took in the scene. "Hehehe¡­ In the third arc, Sylvania got here first and explored all the basement levels. We only have ess to the first level, but this is still a pretty big deal," she said, practically rubbing her hands together in excitement. Maruti looked at her and made a face. "Ugh, stop smiling like that! You look creepy," she said, half-joking, half-serious. Esdeath only chuckled in response, her eyes gleaming as she scanned the room. There were so many different types of essence stones scattered around¡ªsome big, some small, some with vivid colors, and otherspletely colorless. But there was one problem. Most of them were practically useless. Out of all these stones, Esdeath figured only four or five would be of any real help to her. Maruti sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I mean, seriously, how many essence stones could we even refine in one night? I already have a few with me, so I don''t even need to refine any more. Let''s just grab a weapon and wait for tomorrow. If we both fight together, we''ll definitely win." She pointed to a pile of weapons stacked in the corner, her tone casual, almost bored. Esdeath shook her head and gave Maruti a look. "Do you really think winning will solve everything?" she asked, her voice calm but serious. She turned back to the stones, searching for the ones she needed. "Even if we win, do you have any idea what they''ll do next?" Maruti blinked, clearly clueless. "Nope, not a clue," she replied with a shrug. Esdeath leaned in, her voice lowering as if sharing a secret. "They''ll make us marry each other. They''ll set up a whole wedding, make us exchange vows, and then celebrate like it''s the best thing ever. All ording to tradition." Maruti burst outughing, clutching her sides. "Pfft¡­ Yeah, right! There''s no way I''m marrying you!" sheughed, her voice echoing around the room. "I guess we really have to do something, Do you have any ns? ", Esdeath smirked, her gaze turning sharp. "Of course I have a n. But for now, focus on finding the useful essence stones," she said with an evil glint in her eye. With determination, the two of them split up and began searching through the room, examining each stone. After some time searching, Maruti''s eyes lit up as she spotted a unique essence stone, about the size of her palm. It had an unusual shape¡ªalmost like a small bone, but made of a dark, iron-like material. It felt different from the other stones, almost alive with energy. Curious, she turned to Esdeath, holding it up. "What kind of essence stone is this?" she asked, eyes wide with wonder. Esdeath''s gazended on the stone, and a big, joyous smile appeared on her face. "It''s an iron bone essence stone!" Without hesitation, she took it from Maruti''s hand, her excitement clear. Maruti tilted her head, intrigued. "It looks useful. Let''s refine it! I think there are three of them here," she suggested, gesturing to the nearby stones. But Esdeath shook her head, her expression turning serious. "Yes, it''s useful, but no way. Do you remember what happenedst time when you used the bronze muscle essence stone?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Maruti frowned, recalling the experience. "Um¡­ yeah. It was weird! My whole body felt all tingly, and I was sweating like crazy. Plus, my skin ached for two days straight!" she said, grimacing at the memory. Esdeath nodded, her tone patient. "Exactly. If you use this iron bone essence stone, it''ll make your bones as hard as iron. But the process will be painful, much worse than before. You won''t even be able to move for two or three days!" "Oh¡­ I see¡­" Maruti replied, a bit taken aback. "Yeah," Esdeath said, giving her a reassuring smile. "Let''s just take all three of them with us and save them for another time." With that, she took out her pink lotus essence stone, which could hold other stones inside it, and carefully ced the three iron bone stones inside. Maruti gave her a puzzled look. "Why take all three? There are only two of us, right?" she asked, scratching her head in confusion. An evil smirk yed on Esdeath''s lips as she replied, "Simple. We can sell one and make some good money off it, don''t you think?" Maruti scoffed, folding her arms with a yful pout. "Hmph, gold digger!" she muttered in mock annoyance, rolling her eyes. ------------- After over half an hour of searching, Esdeath and Maruti finally settled down in a quiet corner, surrounded by a pile of essence stones they had gathered. These were the stones they''d chosen to refine, and each one held a unique power they hoped to harness. Maruti nced at therge collection and sighed. "This many? Refining all of these will take at least a month!" she eximed, looking a bit overwhelmed. Esdeath shook her head, a small smile on her lips. "We don''t have to refine all of them. Some are already partially refined, so we just need to merge them and create a new essence stone," she exined calmly. As she spoke, Esdeath picked up a small, green stone shaped like a fingernail. The color reminded her of another stone she knew well¡ªthe moonde essence stone. But this one was different. "This is a moonnail essence stone," she murmured, turning it over in her hand. "It''s a support type. It only works if you already have a moonde essence stone." With a confident smile, Esdeath said, "As for refining, leave that to me!" She focused, willing her system to start the refinement process. The notification from her system rang in her mind, and in an instant, the moonnail essence stone dissolved, its power absorbed directly into her body. Maruti''s eyes went wide with shock. "Damn¡­ How did you do that?" she gasped, barely able to believe what she''d seen. Esdeath grinned, unable to hide her pride. "Hehehe¡­ I''m a pro, after all!" she replied, smirking as she enjoyed Maruti''s amazement. Next, Esdeath took hold of a lightning charge essence stone. It was a D-rank stone that could boost her speed for just three breaths of time. She absorbed it smoothly, and then picked up a lightning smash essence stone. This one was also a support type, made to work with the lightning charge. Together, they created a powerfulbo effect. In lightning smash, running at high speed would store energy in her legs. When she released it all in one kick, it could cause serious damage¡ªa perfect critical hit. Esdeath could feel the power of her newbo attack building up inside her. Maruti just stared, her mouth slightly open in awe. "I know that ethan can do something like this because of his system but fable can also do this?, Her constetion also gives this kind of power, I thought it was only for main character!" she thought, still stunned. Then another question hit her. "Wait, isn''t your affinity with wind and fire? So why are you using lightning essence stones?" she asked, confused. Esdeath sighed, a bit tired but still patient. "Huff¡­ There''s nothing here that''s useful for wind, and it''s not like you can only use essence stones that match your affinity. The effects are a bit weaker, sure, but they don''t disappearpletely!" she exined. Having an affinity was definitely helpful, especially when it came to bonding with spirits. If Esdeath had lightning affinity, her speed boost would havested for nine breaths instead of just three, and she could charge even more power in her legs. But she knew she had to make do with what she had. Next, she picked up two light path essence stones. These were D-rank, offering a small boost to her overall strength. She handed one to Maruti, who looked at it curiously. "This will give you a 5x boost for five minutes since you have a light element affinity," Esdeath exined. "For me, without the affinity, I''ll only get about a 2x boost." Maruti nodded, not saying a word but clearly understanding. "And now, it''s time for merging!" Esdeath announced with a confident grin, picking up thest four essence stones. She could feel the energy pulsing through them, ready to bebined. But as soon as she began, she realized it was harder than she thought. Merging four essence stones was supposed to be simpler than refining one essence stone, but there was a big problem¡ªEsdeath had no experience in merging at all. In the game, merging and refining essence stones was easy; all a yer had to do was watch an ad to boost the chances of sess and remaining thing the character can do by himself. But this wasn''t a game¡ªit was real life. Sweat started to bead on her forehead as she focused, trying to keep the energy steady. She could feel it slipping out of control, her heart pounding harder with each second. Then¡ªBOOM! A small explosion burst out from the stones, sending up a puff of ck smoke. Esdeath coughed as the smoke cleared, her face now covered with a thickyer of ck dust. She stood there,pletely speechless, her eyes wide with surprise and embarrassment. Maruti took one look at Esdeath''s soot-covered face and burst outughing, unable to hold it in. She banged her fist on the floor, rolling around as sheughed harder and harder. "Hahaha¡­ What were you saying? I''m pro...Hahaha!" Esdeath red at Maruti, her frustration growing. The failure actually made sense¡ªher system allowed her to refine essence stones, but not to merge them. In the game, Ethan had years of experience with merging, and he rarely ever failed. She, on the other hand, was starting from scratch. Luckily, it had only been a low-level merge attempt. If it had been a higher-level merge, involving her body or soul, the explosion could have seriously hurt her already weak body and fragile soul. "Motherf¡ª!" Esdeath cursed under her breath, then turned to Maruti, narrowing her eyes. "How did you refine your bronze muscle essence stone the first time you tried, anyway?" she demanded, still wiping the ck dust from her face. Maruti smirked, clearly enjoying the moment. "Maybe because I''m actually a natural at this, This girl''s body actually have talent for refining," she teased, shing a mischievous grin. Esdeath rolled her eyes, trying to hide her frustration, but a small smile crept onto her lips. "Fine, then. If you''re so confident, go ahead and refine these for me!" she said, gesturing toward the essence stones she''d tried to merge. They had be practically useless after her failed attempt, but luckily, they were still part of a set and could be salvaged. Maruti finally managed to stopughing, wiping away her imaginary tears. With a sigh and a little smile, she nodded. "Alright, alright, no more teasing. I''ll handle it." She settled herself down, sitting cross-legged and fully focused, ready to merge the stones, though she knew it would take her most of the night. As Maruti began her work, Esdeath decided to make the best of her time as well. She willed her system to open, ready to dive into her own tasks. : 19.8 : 5.6 : 4 : 68 Current skills in possession@@novelbin@@ - Sharpshooter (E): When used, time will slow down for five seconds. Can only be used once every 50 minutes. - Eagle Eyes (E): Can see over great distances with precision + Can see the flow of mana. - Esdeath nced at her status screen and muttered to herself, "Hmm... Other than this Eagle Eyes skill, everything else I have is linked to time." A realization struck her as she stared at her skills. "Could my star constetion be on the Time Path?" she wondered. It was a strong possibility. She thought of Seraphine, another star constetion with ties to time, but quickly dismissed it. "No, it can''t be Seraphine. That bitch is already dead," she scoffed, shaking off the thought. Instead, she decided it was better to focus on what she had now than waste time overthinking. Esdeath went to her SP (Skill Points) and decided to increase her stamina and speed. She allocated her points without hesitation. <1000 SP Points deducted> <1000 SP Points deducted> As the changes kicked in, a wave of energy rushed through her. She felt lighter, as if all the tiredness in her body had vanished. Her limbs felt ready to go, like she could sprint miles in seconds without even breaking a sweat. Encouraged, Esdeath thought of upgrading one of her time-rted healing skills next. But as expected, a notification shed on her screen: "Motherf¡ª" Esdeath Rivenhart As the afternoon sun reached its peak, Rowan and his son Ujjain arrived at the Vanara tribe. But they didn''te alone¡ªover two hundred tribe members and guards traveled with them. Even though Rowan counted Mourya as a friend, he knew that in the world of tribes, friendship was fragile, and trust was scarce. Here, deep in the Vanara territory, he could never fully rx. Upon their arrival, they received a warm wee from Mourya''s family. Mourya''s three sons, his daughter Sasha, and other tribe members were all present, greeting Rowan and Ujjain with respectful nods and smiles. Only Maruti was noticeably absent. Rowan and Ujjain, as father and son, bore a striking resemnce. Both had fiery red hair, broad muscr frames, and powerful chests¡ªssic marks of the tribe''s strength and stature. Towering over most, their tall, sturdy forms embodied the warrior spirit, though among the other tall tribesmen, they didn''t stand out as much. Ujjain, with his youthful face and intense gaze, looked like a younger mirror of his father. Rowan''s eyes wandered to the grand structure that Mourya called home. It wasn''t a typical pce, but a vast, unique building with multiple connected houses, forming a massive half-circle around a beautiful garden. The ce radiated power and status. "Hmm¡­ Soon, all of this will be mine," Rowan thought with a smirk as he stepped through the entry gate, feeling the weight of his ambition settle over him. After the initial greetings and formalities, Rowan and Ujjain were shown to their rooms, each spacious and weing. Ujjain was encouraged to rest, and while Rowan was offered the same, he decided he''d rather explore this vast home. As he strolled through the open corridors, he took in every detail¡ªthe solid stone and wooden walls, intricate carvings, and open spaces where flowers bloomed and birds chirped. Rowan could almost feel the pulse of the tribe within these walls, a mix of strength, history, and pride. The garden scenery stretched wide around the circrplex, and Rowan''s mind wandered, envisioning it all as his own one day. Rowan walked slowly, his steps quiet as he explored Mourya''s home. The halls were calm, filled with the soft sounds of the tribe going about their day. But then, he stopped abruptly. At a turn in the corridor, he caught the sound of voices drifting around the corner. Curiosity sparked, and he moved forward carefully, peeking around the edge to see who was talking. What he saw surprised him¡ªthere stood Maruti, talking closely with Esdeath. Rowan recognized Maruti right away, and Mourya''s words shed in his mind as he looked at the other girl. "Ah, so that''s Esdeath Crimson," he thought, studying her. He stayed hidden, listening as Esdeathughed, her voice carrying a mocking tone. "Hahaha¡­ I know! It''s hrious that he still hasn''t noticed what an idiot he is," Esdeath chuckled, herughter echoing through the hallway. Rowan''s eyes narrowed as he listened. Then, Maruti sighed dramatically, crossing her arms. "But what bad luck¡­ We made a deal with your family and almost wiped out Rowan''s entire family, but unfortunately, he and his youngest son managed to survive. And now that fool wants to marry me!" Hearing this, Rowan felt a chill creep over him, but he kept his expression calm. He strained to hear every word. Esdeath ced a reassuring hand on Maruti''s shoulder, her eyes gleaming with pride. "Don''t worry, my love. My family and the Vanara tribe''s warriors are ready. Today, we''ll kill Ujjain, and your father will finish off Rowan. Once we do, we''ll seize the Lothal tribe. With the second-strongest tribe under our control, we''ll have enough power to rival the entire kingdom." The word "seize" rang in Rowan''s ears like a thunderp, and his eyes widened in shock. "Seize the tribe¡­?" The betrayal was almost too much to process. "Let''s go!" Esdeath said, giving Maruti a quick nod. They turned to leave, their confidence clear in their stride. But then, Rowan stepped forward, his voice cold andmanding. "Stop, daughter-inw!" The sudden sound of his voice made both girls freeze. Maruti spun around, her face instantly draining of color. Panic flickered in her eyes. "Did he hear us?" she whispered frantically, her mind racing. Esdeath, however, smirked, unfazed. "Of course not. He can''t understand the kingdom''snguage. Even if we talk right in front of him, this fool wouldn''t understand a word," she sneered, her tone dripping with arrogance. Rowan scratched his head, feigning confusion, and spoke in the Vanara tribe''snguage. "Did you just say something, little girl?" His voice wasced with puzzlement, but his sharp gaze never left Esdeath. Although esdeath didn''t understand what he said but his gesture was clearly saying what he was saying. Esdeath''s smirk widened, confidence gleaming in her eyes. "See? He doesn''t understand a thing!" she scoffed, barely holding back augh. Relief washed over Maruti''s face. She let out a shaky sigh and quickly forced a respectful smile, nodding politely. "No, nothing, Elder Rowan. We were just chatting," she said in the Vanaranguage, trying to keep her voice steady. She bowed low, paying her respects, while Esdeath''s expression remained defiant. "We''re in a hurry to prepare for the battle," Maruti said quickly, grabbing Esdeath''s hand to pull her away. Her heart pounded as she tried to guide Esdeath out of Rowan''s sight, eager to escape before anything more could go wrong. But Esdeath stopped, pulling her hand free. "Wait a moment," she said with a sly smile, turning back to Rowan. "I didn''t introduce myself, did I?" With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she walked toward Rowan, extending her hand confidently. "Hello, Mister. My name is Esdeath," she said, her tone smooth and lighthearted, but she spoke in her ownnguage, knowing Rowan wouldn''t understand. Maruti sighed, a hint of frustration in her expression as she tranted, "She said her name is Esdeath Crimson." Rowan raised an eyebrow, not looking surprised. "Oh¡­ I already know. Your father told me about her¡ªEsdeath Crimson," he replied, his voice calm but with a hint of caution. Maruti rolled her eyes slightly, feeling like she was merely a trantor at this point. She ryed Rowan''s words to Esdeath with a bored tone, "He says he already knows. Your name is Esdeath Crimson." Esdeath''s eyes sparkled with a bit of defiance. "What? Crimson is just a nickname my mother gave me because of my crimson eyes. Tell him my real name is Esdeath Rivenhart¡ª" Before Esdeath could finish, Maruti''s eyes widened, and she quickly mped her hand over Esdeath''s mouth, stopping her words. "Don''t say your family name so freely!" she hissed under her breath, shooting her a sharp look. Her hand gripped Esdeath''s arm tightly, and she forced a smile as she turned back to Rowan. "We really should be going!" Maruti blurted out,ughing nervously. Without waiting for Rowan''s reply, she tugged Esdeath away with urgency, practically dragging her down the corridor as she gave Rowan onest awkward wave. The corridor fell silent as their footsteps faded away, leaving Rowan alone. His mind spun with the strange encounter, and his expression darkened, tension evident in his stance. A storm of emotions twisted inside him¡ªsuspicion, anger, and an unsettling feeling . "Rivenhart¡­ Esdeath Rivenhart!" he murmured to himself, clenching his fists as he processed what he''d just learned. The name stirred up bitter feelings, and his eyes burned with anger. The name "Rivenhart" always brought a dark shadow over Rowan''s heart, filling him with anger and bitterness. Years ago, in their relentless quest for power and territory, the Rivenhart family had invaded thends of his tribe, the Lothal, pushing them deep into the dense forests to fend for themselves. The invasion was ruthless, leaving scars on Rowan''s soul that would never heal. In that brutal sh, he lost nearly everything. Many of his fellow tribesmen fell to the Rivenharts'' soldiers, their lives taken in an instant. Worse, many of those who survived the attack were taken as prisoners and turned into ves, forced to toil day and night under the Rivenhart''s cruel rule. Rowan''s family was nearly wiped out, leaving him with few loved ones and even fewer allies. The memories haunted him, each one stinging like a fresh wound. That day, standing among the ruins and bodies, Rowan swore revenge on the Rivenhart family and anyone who dared to ally with them. His anger burned so deeply that he even decided to learn thenguage of the kingdom¡ªanguage few in his tribe bothered with. "If I can''t understand the words of my enemy, how will I ever defeat them?" he''d told himself. And so, he learned, silently preparing for the day he''d face the Rivenharts again. But Rowan was no fool. He knew his own forces could never match the size and strength of the Rivenhart army. So, he came up with a n. If he could ally himself with the Vanara tribe, they might stand a chance against the Rivenharts. The Vanara leader, Mourya, was a friend, but Mourya''s soncked his father''s wisdom and strength, making the tribe vulnerable in the future. Rowan saw his opportunity. Marrying his son, Ujjain, into Mourya''s family would strengthen the bond between the tribes, and one day, Rowan hoped to gain influence over the Vanaras through this connection. Sasha, Mourya''s eldest daughter, was not an option for marriage¡ª Being The Eldest daughter she had ambitions to study at the academy and explore her own path. That left Maruti, who, although not beautiful by traditional standards, had the family name and position Rowan needed. Ujjain, loyal as always, epted the marriage without a word ofint, following his father''s wishespletely.@@novelbin@@ Now, as Rowan hid in the shadows, listening to Maruti and Esdeath''s conversation, he understood every word they spoke. They thought he was clueless, but in truth, their words were crystal clear to him. Despite his anger, he kept his face nk, pretending not to understand. He was in enemy territory, and any reckless move could cost him and his men dearly. "All my ns to gain the Vanara tribe''s support and then stab on their back¡­ wasted." Gritting his teeth, he fought to keep his expression neutral. "Every Rivenhart deserves to die," he swore quietly to himself, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. "And everyone tied to the Rivenharts will pay too. I will have my revenge¡­ no matter the cost." Turning away from the scene, he began walking back down the corridor, anger zing in his eyes. But his mind remained sharp and calcting. "Good thing I learned the kingdom''snguage," he thought, almost mocking their assumption of his ignorance. "They think I''m a fool, but I''ll y this game carefully. I only have my son, Ujjain, and 200 of my warriors here. The rest of my people need to know what''s happening. We''ll need every bit of strength we can muster." Rowan strode through the dimly lit corridor, his mind churning with ns, when he suddenly bumped into his son, Ujjain. Standing before him with his usual calm expression, Ujjain''s sharp green eyes narrowed slightly as he stopped and bowed his head in respect. "Father, it''s almost evening," Ujjain began, his tone steady but with a hint of reluctance. "ording to our n, I''ll spare that girl. Killing a weak, lonely girl with no backup might hurt our reputation with other tribes." Rowan''s gaze hardened, his face a mask of cold, calcting indifference. "Kill both of them," he ordered, his voice utterly devoid of emotion. "W-what?" Ujjain blinked, genuinely taken aback by his father''s words. Rowan''s eyes darkened, and his tone grew sharper. "I said kill both of them. No matter what." Swallowing his surprise, Ujjain bowed his head again. "As you wish, Father," he replied, his voice steady but his expression troubled as he turned and left. --- As the sun dipped lower, casting a warm orange glow across thend, evening finally arrived. It was a moment everyone in the Vanara tribe had eagerly awaited. In the heart of the tribe''s vige stood a grand battle arena¡ªmassive and ancient, a structure that seemed like it belonged in a myth. The arena, made entirely of sturdy stone, was circr, with seating rising around it in tiers to amodate hundreds of spectators. Unlike the arenas in the academy, however, this one had no protective barriers. Any mistake could put the crowd in danger, but the thrill of risk only added to the excitement. The arena was buzzing with anticipation. People filled the seats, whispers and murmurs spreading like wildfire as they waited for the battle between Ujjain and the unlikely duo of Maruti and Esdeath. Rowan sat beside Mourya, the chief of the Vanara tribe, in the special seats reserved at the top center of the arena, giving them the perfect view. Beside Rowany arge briefcase, one that had not gone unnoticed by Mourya. "What''s with therge briefcase?" Mourya asked, his tone curious but guarded. Rowan smiled, giving a small nod. "This? It''s a gift for you," he answered smoothly, "but I''ll give it to youter." Mourya chuckled politely, though his mind raced with questions. He didn''t want to appear suspicious in front of Rowan¡ªany misstep could offend him and tarnish the tribe''s reputation. "If I ask about "that" Directly, he''ll think I don''t trust him. I can''t risk that," he thought, masking his concerns with a practiced smile. Suddenly, the chatter in the arena quieted, and all eyes turned toward the center. Ujjain, a towering figure at 6 feet 7 inches, strode into the ring, his powerful build casting an imposing shadow. Despite his size, he was dwarfed by Mourya, who stood over seven feet tall,Practically no on was as tall as him, Not even Rowan. Still, Ujjain''s presence was enough to make the crowd murmur with excitement. Across the arena, Maruti and Esdeath entered together. Maruti, wearing a tracksuit with a broken zipper, looked determined but a bit flustered, her expression a mix of nervousness and resolve. Next to her, Esdeath walked with a calm confidence, her gaze steady and focused on Ujjain. As they reached the center of the ring, Esdeath shrugged off her hoodie, revealing a simple sports bra beneath. The intense heat of the sun had already started to make her sweat, and she decided it was better to stay cool. Esdeath''s mind raced as she recalled the history between the tribes. "In original story line, Rowan''s n had actually worked." she thought with a sly smile. "He managed to join forces with the Vanara tribe to attack the Rivenhart family. But that was one and half yearter, things can change." The Rivenhart family now had powerful offspring, Sylvania Rivenhart, a student at the academy and Ethan''s friend. And At that time, Ethan''s group(Harem) even included Princess Ravenna, which meant the entire kingdom was backing them, including the story''s main hero. With support like that, how could the Rivenhart family ever lose? "But none of that really matters to me," Esdeath mused, her smile widening. "If these two tribes go to war, it''ll just give me the perfect chance to slip away from here." Exam again… Bad news guys... My semester exam is going to start from 12th well, I''m the type of person who studies one day before exam but let''s just take a look at my time table...@@novelbin@@ Now if you by chance read the (my course), T. T. You can see 11 subjects and with no fucking time gap, Means you''ll have to give one exam and next day is another one and look at the time 8AM? Who the hell gives that time? , I''ll have to wake up at 5 AM to arrive at college at 8, this is the distance between my home and college. And if I have to do revision before exam, Means wake up at 4AM ?, Only two time I have given one day break but guess what, Next day is two exams at once ?, They just want me to fail... Well it''s not like I''m afraid of failing jn exams but they charged money to retake the exam, if you fail in one subject, You''ll have to give around 7-8 dor and this cycle repeats if you fail again.. Well moral of the story, College is hell and I''ll have to take a break again ?, Damn my viewssss... They already fell fromst break and now this time I''m finished. So I''ll be back from 22, Hope see you all again.. And yeah I might publish chapters of my first novel, Since it feels like I''m discriminating with my that novel, Publishing one chapter a week... Goodbye!, it feels like I''m gonna be part of Russian sleep experiment, #no sleep or more like not enough sleep F*cked Up! "ns have changed¡­ I need to think of a way to escape now!" Esdeath''s thoughts raced as she struggled to stand. The battle arena was in chaos, the air thick with dust and the lingering shockwaves of Ujjain''s attacks. Esdeath knew her situation was dire. The only person who could endure Ujjain''s devastating punch was Maruti, but she was already lying unconscious on the ground. Her hands trembled a little as she wiped away blood that wasn''t even visible to her anymore. Both of her eyes were gone, leaving herpletely blind. The darkness was suffocating, and her senses were only just enough to vaguelyprehend where she stood. Her breaths came in short, sharp bursts, and her body ached with every movement. At this point, there was no more room for bravery or strategies. Survival was the only thing that mattered now. "I have to get out of here¡­ somehow." The thought repeated like a desperate mantra in her mind. --- High above the arena, sitting on a throne-like chair carved from stone, Mourya observed everything. His usual calm andposed demeanor was nowhere to be seen. Instead, his face was twisted into aplicated mix of emotions¡ªstunned disbelief, confusion, and even a hint of sadness. His gaze wasn''t focused on the battle itself, nor on Ujjain, who was dominating the arena. Instead, his eyes were locked on Maruti. Maruti, his younger daughter. She had always been prideful,zy, selfish, and demanding. Traits that, strangely enough, Mourya had found endearing. He had always enjoyed the fiery temper she carried, even if it often led to arguments. But now¡­ the sight before him was one he couldn''t have imagined in his wildest dreams. When Ujjain unleashed his ultimate move, one that guaranteed Esdeath''s death, Mourya had thought it was the end for her. But then, in an act so selfless it bordered on madness, Maruti had thrown herself into the path of the attack. She had taken the blow head-on, shielding Esdeath from certain death. It was a miracle that Maruti was even alive. Mourya''s heart tightened at the thought. If it hadn''t been for the essence stones enhancing her body, and the strength she inherited from him through his genes, she would undoubtedly be dead. Even now, shey unconscious, her body bruised and battered from the sheer force of the attack. Mourya leaned forward, his fists clenched as his thoughts swirled. "Did you really do this because of love?" he murmured, his voice low and full of disbelief. His piercing eyes stayed on Maruti''s still form. "Do you really love her so much that you''ve changed this much?" Mourya''s mind reyed the scene over and over. The daughter he knew¡ªso selfish and demanding¡ªhad made the ultimate sacrifice. Was this love truly powerful enough to transform her sopletely? For the first time in years, Mourya found himself unable to understand his daughter. Mourya let out a long, weary sigh, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on his chest. After much thought, he had finally made up his mind. He was going to cancel this battle. Even though he had promised his daughter''s hand in marriage and breaking that promise would tarnish his reputation built over years of unyielding honor, Mourya was willing to endure that shame. After all, what was reputationpared to his daughter''s desperation? Truthfully, he had never cared much for what others thought of him. With slow and deliberate movements, Mourya rose from his stone throne. His imposing figure, though worn by years, still radiated authority. He prepared to call Rowan and put an end to this madness. But just as he opened his mouth to speak, his sharp eyes caught something unusual. Blood. A dark red liquid was seeping from the corner of therge briefcase Rowan had been holding tightly. Mourya frowned, his sharp gaze narrowing as unease crept into his heart. Rowan had previously mentioned that the briefcase contained a gift for Mourya, but now Mourya''s instincts screamed that something was wrong. "Why is there blood dripping from your briefcase?" Mourya''s voice was deep and steady, yet it carried a razor-sharp edge that demanded an answer. Rowan, who had been watching the battle in the arena with an eerily calm expression, flinched slightly at Mourya''s words. His focus broke, and his eyes darted to the briefcase in his hand. For a brief moment, he seemed surprised, but then he pped his forehead with a small chuckle. "Oh¡­ I was nning to show this to you at the end," Rowan said with a sly grin, his voice unnervingly casual. "But I guess now is as good a time as any. Everything is about to end, after all!" He stood up slowly, his movements deliberate, as if savoring the moment. His eyes locked with Mourya''s, and there was a spark of malice in them that sent a chill through the air. "Behold, my precious gift!" Rowan dered, his voice dripping with mockery. He bent down and lowered the briefcase to the ground. Mourya''s heart clenched as Rowan utched it and opened the lid with deliberate slowness. One by one, with small thuds, severed heads rolled out of the briefcase onto the cold stone floor. The arena fell silent as if the world itself was holding its breath, All of the attention went from esdeath to mourya and Rowan. There were three heads in total. Mourya''s chest tightened as he stared at them. These weren''t just any heads¡ªthey belonged to his sons. His own flesh and blood. For a moment, Mourya''s expression faltered, his usually calm and controlled face showing a flicker of shock. But it was brief, almost imperceptible. He forced himself to remain stoic, his jaw tightening as he lowered his gaze to the ground. Rowan''sughter broke the silence, sharp and cruel. "Hehehe¡­ They didn''t even put up a fight," Rowan sneered, his tone oozing with sadistic glee. "They barely screamed when I killed them. Forget about struggling¡ªthey were nothing more than ants under my feet! That''s the difference between an awakened being like me and mere mortals like them."@@novelbin@@ Rowan''s eyes gleamed with twisted pride as he looked at Mourya, waiting to see the cracks in the unshakable man. Mourya had three sons and two daughters. Despite hisrge family, none of his sons had awakened, a critical requirement to lead the tribe. ording to the tribe''s ancient rules, only a son could inherit the position of the tribe''s head. Daughters, no matter how capable, were excluded from such a role. This tradition had long been a source of unease among the people. Whispers of doubt about the tribe''s future had spread like wildfire. How could they secure their survival if the next generation of leaderscked the strength and power required to protect them? But Mourya knew one thing for certain¡ªhis sons, no matter their shorings, were his blood. To have them killed without his knowledge meant one undeniable truth: there were traitors within the tribe. The realization hit Mourya hard, like a crushing weight on his shoulders. This wasn''t just an act of betrayal. This was the beginning of a power struggle, a fight for control of the tribe. He knew, deep down, that Rowan''s influence had spread like a silent poison. If he was right, more than half of the tribe''s soldiers had already aligned themselves with Rowan. They likely believed that with Ujjain''s talent¡ªRowan''s son¡ªthe future of the tribe would be secure under his rule. Despite knowing the extent of the treachery surrounding him, Mourya remained calm. His expression was unreadable, his eyes sharp and calcting as he sat there, bloodied heads of his sons still on the ground before him. Rowan''s brow furrowed as he watched Mourya''s stoic demeanor. The calmness was unnerving. "Huh? You''re not angry?" Rowan asked, his voiceced with disbelief. Mourya looked at him, his gaze steady but devoid of any emotion. "Why should I be angry at you?" His voice was low and expressionless, yet it carried a strange weight. "It''s my fault," Mourya continued with a soft sigh. "I failed to act when I should have. I let this happen because I was blind to the signs. This is the price of my negligence." Rowan tilted his head, confusion flickering across his face. He had expected rage, defiance, perhaps even despair. But this¡­ this was not what he had prepared for. Suddenly, the air was split by the sharp sound of a sword slicing through it. Before Mourya could react, a long de pierced through his chest, the steel gleaming under the dim light. Blood surged from the wound, staining his robes a dark crimson. Mourya''s body stiffened as his hands instinctively went to the sword''s hilt. Pain radiated through him, but his mind raced faster than the agony. Slowly, he turned his head to see the one who had attacked him. Standing behind him was an elderly man, his face lined with deep wrinkles, his hunched form d in a white robe. Mourya''s eyes widened slightly in recognition. "The old adviser¡­?" Mourya''s voice was barely above a whisper, his strength rapidly fading. The man, once respected for his wisdom and guidance, now stood as a symbol of betrayal. His grip on the sword was steady, but his face was marked by sorrow. "Forgive me, my liege," the adviser said, his voice heavy with regret. "But this is the only way. After your death, there will be no one left to lead the tribe. Without a leader, our people will descend into chaos. They will fight amongst themselves until there is nothing left. The history of the Vanara tribe will be erased, swallowed by time and bloodshed. I cannot allow that to happen." He paused, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It is better¡­ better to have an outsider like Rowan take over than to let everything we''ve built crumble to dust." Mourya coughed, blood spilling from his mouth as he looked at the man who had once been his trusted adviser. His voice, though weak, carried the weight of his disappointment. "I''m disappointed in you, old adviser," Mourya said, his gaze unwavering despite the pain that wracked his body. The adviser closed his eyes briefly, as if trying to block out the words. "I''m disappointed in myself too, my liege," he replied with a heavy sigh. "But look at yourself¡ªyou''ve grown old. So old that you didn''t even notice my presence. I didn''t even try to hide it, yet you couldn''t dodge my de." Mourya''s hand reached for the hilt of the sword lodged deep in his chest. His movements were unhurried, almost casual, as though the de piercing his body was no more than a minor inconvenience. Slowly, he turned his gaze toward the old adviser, his sharp eyes gleaming under the dim light. There was no rage in his expression, no sorrow or pain. What radiated from Mourya was something far more unsettling¡ªpity. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he spoke, his voice low and deliberate, cutting through the tense silence like a de. "I''m disappointed in you, old man. Not because you betrayed me. No, that''s expected from pests like you and Rowan." He paused, his tone turning sharper, colder. "I''m disappointed because you thought *this*¡ª" he gestured toward the sword protruding from his chest, "¡ªcould stop me." His smirk deepened, a chilling edge creeping into his words. "Did you really believe I needed to dodge something so¡­ insignificant? You couldn''t even bring something more powerful, Are you fucking kidding me?.....You underestimated me. All of you have. And for that, I pity you." The weight of his voice made the old adviser''s hands tremble against the hilt of the sword, his face pale with fear. Rowan, standing nearby, felt his throat tighten, his confidence crumbling under Mourya''s unflinching gaze. It was at this moment, Old adviser knew he fucked up. Finally Escaped The Beheaded Men were a anomaly-ss of monsters, categorized by their ranks. At the bottom were the ordinary Beheaded Men, still dangerous but manageable for skilled adventurers. Above them stood the Beheaded Kings, far more powerful and relentless. But at the very top of the hierarchy were the Beheaded Emperors. Esdeath had calcted that the likelihood of encountering a Beheaded King or Emperor was close to zero. She had considered it a risk, but not an immediate threat. However, fate seemed to have other ns. The figure standing before them was no ordinary Beheaded Man, nor a King. It was an Emperor¡ªa high-level anomaly-ss monster. Despite his fearsome rank, the Beheaded Emperor didn''t immediately charge at them. He stood eerily still, his body a grotesque testament to centuries of experience. His head, clutched tightly in his right hand, bore open, lifeless eyes that still seemed to perceive everything around him. But something about him was different. His body was riddled with deep scars, the flesh cracked and torn as if he had barely survived countless battles. His tattered and decayed garments told a story of a long life spent on the battlefield. Despite his rank, he didn''t exude the overwhelming presence expected of a Beheaded Emperor. He was worn, his aura faint and unsteady. Age and time had taken their toll on him, a reminder that no creature¡ªno matter how powerful¡ªwas truly immortal. This Beheaded Emperor was in the final stages of his existence, his strength diminished to a fraction of what it once was. His injuries told another story¡ªa recent one. Deep gashes and burns marred his body, signs of a violent encounter with a foe strong enough to force even an Emperor into retreat. It was clear he had barely escaped, retreating to this cave to recover and hide. Even with his diminished state, his presence was unsettling. The low intelligence typical of anomaly-ss creatures was still present, but there was a glimmer of understanding in his empty gaze. He didn''t attack, not because of hesitation or fear, but because hecked the capability. He was aware of his weakness, of the futility of engaging in a battle he was certain to lose. "Umm... Fable?" Maruti called out, squinting at the figure before her. "I see a zombie-like man holding his head like he''s about to lick his own stomach. What kind of monster is this?" she asked, her tone half-confused and half-amused. She waited for a response. None came. "Fable?" she tried again, her voice louder this time as she turned to look over her shoulder. But her heart nearly jumped out of her chest when she saw Esdeath slumped unconscious on her back. "Wha¡ª?! Are you kidding me right now?!" Maruti blurted out, panic shing across her face. Esdeath had already been pale from blood loss, her breathing shallow. She must have been holding on with sheer willpower. Even unconscious, her grip on Maruti was surprisingly strong, as if her body refused to let go, even in this state. Her gaze snapped back to the monster ahead of them¡ªthe Beheaded Emperor. It stood motionless, still clutching its severed head. Its glowing eyes stared unblinkingly at her, which only made the situation weirder. "Why isn''t he attacking?" Maruti''s mind raced. She remembered Esdeath''s earlier words about anomaly monsters and how unpredictable they could be. "Could it be... he doesn''t want to fight?" She took a slow, cautious step forward, her heart pounding. The Beheaded Emperor didn''t move. She took another step, half-expecting him to lunge at her. Instead, he took a step back. Then another. Finally, he shifted to the side, almost like he was... making way for her? For a moment, she just stared at him, unsure if she shouldugh or cry. "I thought you were some big scary viin," she muttered under her breath. "Turns out, you''re just a misunderstood softie, huh?" Her voice softened, her earlier panic now giving way to something that felt almost... respectful? Maruti walked closer, her steps hesitant but steady. The Beheaded Emperor stayed still, his imposing figure no longer feeling as threatening as it did a moment ago. When she was just a few feet away, Maruti stopped. She straightened her back and gave the monster a clumsy but heartfelt salute. "Such a noble guy, even with no head. Truly, you''re a gentleman among monsters." Then, with a wave of her hand and a bittersweet smile, Maruti added, "You''re a real example of how not everyone is bad. But too bad, this is goodbye." Just as she turned to leave, a hollow, ghost-like voice echoed through the air. "Not... beheaded guy... Prator... Prator¡­" Maruti froze mid-step, her eyes widening in shock. Slowly, she turned back to face the Beheaded Emperor. His severed head, still held firmly in his decayed hand, was staring at her with dull but conscious eyes. "You can speak?" she blurted out, blinking rapidly. "Wait... is your name Prator?" The head''s jaw moved stiffly as it rasped again, "Prator..." Maruti stood there in silence for a second, processing the absurdity of the situation. Then, as the realization hit her, a wide grin spread across her face. With a yful thumbs up, she replied, "Nice to meet you, Prator! I''m predictor, but you can call me Maruti, and this here is Esdeath!" She gestured toward the unconscious girl on her back with a little shrug. For a fleeting moment, She just unexpectedly made a friend but she couldn''t stop here now. As she turned and continued forward, carrying Esdeath on her back, she couldn''t help but nce over her shoulder onest time. The Beheaded Emperor remained where he stood, watching them disappear into the dim light of the cave, his severed head tilted slightly¡ªas if to say farewell. Maruti shook her head in disbelief. "What the heck just happened? First, Fable passes out, and now the big bad monster just lets me walk past? This is definitely going in the ''weirdest days of my life'' list." After Maruti and Esdeath left the cave, the Beheaded Emperor watched their silhouettes disappear into the darkness before turning around and heading deeper into the right side of the cavern. It turned out, He actually digged a big hole in the cave and made a small hideout for living. Nestled against the stone walls, he had carved out a surprisingly well-organized living area. There was a crude but sturdy wooden table with matching chairs, along with makeshift shelves holding piles of weathered books and wooden armor pieces. The faint smell of damp wood and dust hung in the air. For an anomaly-ss monster, known for theirck of intelligence, this setup was unexpectedly impressive. It hinted at a mind that had ovee its limits¡ªa genius, perhaps, among his kind. The Beheaded Emperor trudged to his table, the sound of his uneven, shuffling steps echoing softly. He carefully ced his head on the table''s surface, angling it to face forward, while his body sat down heavily in the chair. The movements were slow and deliberate, as though even this routine took great effort. Once seated, his head began to mutter softly. "Mar... u... ti... Es-death... Maruti... Esdeath..." His voice was low and raspy, almost like the faint rustling of dry leaves. Over and over, he repeated their names, his lifeless eyes staring nkly at the wooden grains of the table. For creatures like him, remembering something as specific as a name required immense effort. His fractured mind worked tirelessly to imprint these two names into his memory. --------------- It was close to 3 a.m.,The capital city of the Anastasia Kingdom, Celsius, stood surrounded by its mighty walls, their imposing height a testament to the kingdom''s strength. At the main gate, two guards satzily slouched in their chairs, snoring softly. Dreams of peaceful days and warm meals danced in their heads, but the tranquility shattered as a piercing scream cut through the stillness.@@novelbin@@ "Emergency! Emergency! We''re in danger!" a frantic, yet elegant voice cried out, jolting the guards awake. Their eyes fluttered open, panic gripping them as they jumped to their feet. "Wha¡ªWho''s there?" one guard stammered, his heart racing. Blinking through his daze, he saw a young teenage girl sprinting toward them. Her short hair was messy, her muscr build suggesting a life of physical hardship. On her back, she carried another girl, limp and unconscious. "Stop right there!" the second guard shouted, stepping forward to block her path. "You''re not allowed to enter without an identification card!" The running girl, none other than Maruti, came to an abrupt halt, panting heavily. Sweat dripped from her forehead as she struggled to catch her breath. "We... we were attacked by arge group of beasts!" she gasped, forcing the words out. "Our party... we didn''t stand a chance... Everyone else was killed. We barely escaped with our lives!" Her voice trembled, and made up a fake story, though her story was entirely fabricated, the raw exhaustion on her face made it believable. Maruti wasn''t a natural liar like esdeath but she still had acting skills. One of the guards stepped closer, his sharp eyes scanning both girls. Maruti''s injuries were evident¡ªscratches, bruises, and torn clothing¡ªbut it was the unconscious girl on her back who caught his attention. The guard''s breath hitched at the sight of Esdeath. Her pale skin was sickly, her body covered in blood and dirt. The sheer amount of injuries made his stomach churn. "Holy hell!" he muttered, his face paling. "Her condition is awful!" He turned away for a moment, fighting the urge to throw up. "Damn it," the other guard muttered, shaking his head. "This is why we need stricter rules for adventurers. Sixteen may be the age of adulthood, but they''re still kids! They shouldn''t be facing those kinds of monsters!" The first guard sighed deeply, his gaze softening as he looked at the battered girls. "Poor things. They must''ve just turned adults recently. Go ahead¡ªyou''re free to enter. But hurry. Find a healer. There''s a skilled one named Scarce in the market district, though her services cost money. If you''re broke, take her to the government healing facility." He stepped aside, gesturing toward the open gate. "Be quick. Every second counts for her." -------------- Scarce was a Rank C healer, a decent position in the healingmunity. Healers were always in high demand, which often made them wealthy. Scarce was no exception. She owned a small shop where she sold healing potions and provided treatment. The shop wasn''t anything extravagant¡ªjust a modest wooden house tucked away in a quiet corner of Celsius. It was small, but it served her needs. Customers rarely arrived in droves, but when they dide, they often paid well, which kept her pockets full and her lifefortable. At the moment, Scarce, a woman in her mid-twenties, was sound asleep. Her soft snores filled the room as shey bundled under a nket, enjoying the peaceful silence of the early hours. Then came the knocking. **Knock¡­ knock¡­ knock¡­** The sound startled her awake. She groaned, rubbing her eyes as she sat up in bed. Her eyebrows furrowed in annoyance, and she let out a long yawn. "Who in the world is knocking at this hour?" she grumbled, her voice groggy. Dragging herself out of bed, she shuffled toward the door, her steps slow and heavy. When she opened it, her tired eyes were met with the sight of a disheveled teenage girl standing outside. It was Maruti, her short hair matted with dirt, her clothes torn and stained with mud. On her back was an unconscious Esdeath, pale and battered, her injuries looking worse in the dim glow of the night. "It''s urgent! We need healing!" Maruti shouted, her voice loud and desperate. Scarce frowned, her irritation ring. Her gaze swept over Maruti''s ragged appearance, and with her years of experience, she immediately pegged her as a barbarian. Healers like Scarce were known for their pride, and she was no exception. Her skills were in high demand, and she wasn''t one to waste her time on anyone who couldn''t pay. "Do you have any idea what time it is?" she snapped, her tone dripping with disdain. "The shop is closed. Come back tomorrow with money. I don''t do charity, and I certainly don''t do credit. If you''re broke, head to the government healing facility!" Scarce''s voice was sharp and arrogant, and she reached for the door, ready to m it shut. But before she could, Maruti raised her hand and stopped the door in its tracks. In her hand was a small pouch, the faint clinking of coins echoing in the quiet night. When she opened it slightly, the soft glow of silver coins spilled out, gleaming under the moonlight. Scarce''s sharp eyes caught the shine, and her demeanor changed instantly. Her mouth curved into a wide, eager smile as she rubbed her palms together. "Hehehe¡­ well, although the shop is technically closed, I can make an exception for kind customers like you!" Micheal Winters "What the hell happened here? This ce is in even bigger chaos than the Vanara Tribe¡­" Maruti gasped, her wide eyes scanning the wreckage around them. Crumbled stone walls, scorched ground, and broken weapons littered the area. The silence was deafening, with only the faint rustling of the wind breaking through the eerie stillness. Behind her, Esdeath let out a low, amused chuckle. "Hehehe¡­" Maruti nced at her, puzzled. Esdeath didn''t seem surprised by the destruction. In fact, there was an unsettling confidence in her stride as she moved forward without hesitation. Unable to suppress her curiosity, Maruti hurried to catch up, her boots crunching against the debris. "Do you know what''s going on here?" she asked. Esdeath tilted her head slightly but didn''t stop walking. Her voice was calm, almost casual. "You know, even if we keep growing stronger, there will always be moments when death is just one misstep away. The challenges ahead won''t care how powerful we''ve be. This is no longer a game, Maruti. Anything can happen now." Maruti furrowed her brows, feeling uneasy at the ominous tone in Esdeath''s voice. "What''s your point?" "We need insurance," Esdeath said, her pace quickening. "Insurance? What kind of insurance?" Maruti pressed, trying to keep up. Esdeath finally turned her head slightly, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "An insurance¡­ in the form of a subordinate." Maruti blinked. "A subordinate? So that''s why we''re here?" "Exactly," Esdeath confirmed with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But that''s not all. Look around. There''s no one here¡ªno demons, no monsters, no living beings besides us. Everything you see belongs to us now. The resources, the treasures¡ªit''s all ours. We''ve got two full days before thepetition starts, and we can use this time however we like." Maruti''s gaze swept over the destendscape again. The silence was unnerving. She felt a chill run down her spine. "But isn''t this ce supposed to be crawling with deadly creatures? This is Trynne Transylvania''snd¡ªhome to demons and monsters. Where the hell did they all go?" Esdeath didn''t reply. Her steps remained steady, her focus locked on the massive castle in the distance. Its tall spires reached into the darkened sky, surrounded by an oppressive air of foreboding. The two walked for what felt like an eternity, with Maruti''s unease growing with every step. Finally, after ten long minutes of silence, she couldn''t take it anymore. She grabbed Esdeath by the shoulder, forcing her to stop. "C''mon, just tell me already! What happened here?" Maruti demanded, her voice filled with both frustration and desperation. Esdeath turned her head slightly, a chuckle escaping her lips. Her expression was calm but carried a hint of mischief. "The answe is right in front of you." she said, gesturing ahead with her hand, " Maruti followed Esdeath''s gaze, her eyes narrowing in curiosity. Just twenty meters ahead, a man knelt on the ground in silver-white armor. His entire body was encased in the armor except for his head, which was exposed. The helmety discarded beside him. Maruti raised an eyebrow in surprise. Despite being clearly dead, his presence was overwhelming. His face was gaunt and decayed, with hollow cheeks and patches of rotting flesh. It was obvious he had been dead for months, yet an incredible aura of mana surrounded him. The sheer amount of mana was staggering¡ªhundreds of times more than what both Esdeath and Maruti could musterbined. Maruti''s breath hitched. How strong must he have been when he was alive? But it wasn''t just the mana that caught her attention. In one of his armored arms, the man cradled a newborn child. The other arm gripped a sword that was partially buried in the ground. Maruti''s stomach tightened as she realized something was wrong. The newborn wasn''t alive. Its tiny body was golden, shimmering like a statue crafted from solid gold. It looked delicate yet unnatural, as though it had been frozen in time. "Is he the reason behind all this mess?" Maruti asked, her voice trembling slightly. Esdeath nodded, a sly smile forming on her lips. "I''d say so. But since your tiny brain probably can''t keep up, let me spell it out for you from the beginning." Maruti scowled but kept her eyes fixed on the eerie sight in front of her, waiting for the story Esdeath was about to share. ----------------- If one day, you were to die because someone took your life, many would gather at your funeral. They would surround your lifeless body, tears streaming down their faces. But... were those tears truly for you? The harsh truth is, no. Your friends would cry, but their sorrow stems from losing the joy andughter you brought into their lives. It''s not about you; it''s about the emptiness they now feel. Your brother might shed tears, but beneath those tears, a twisted thought may linger¡ªrelief or greed. After all, your share of the property or inheritance now belongs to him. If you were married, your wife would cry too, her wails filling the room. Yet, part of her anguish mighte from fear¡ªfear of how she''ll manage without you, how she''ll provide for herself without begging for help. Others might weep for debts you haven''t paid or for promises you left unfulfilled. People cry, yes. But their tears have reasons tied to their own losses, their own pain. "Everyone is crying over you, but no one is crying for you." No one... except one person. Your mother. She is the only one whose tears flow from the purest grief, without selfishness, without ulterior motives. Her heart breaks not for what she''s lost but for the loss of *you*. Her child. Her son. For her, no other reason is needed.@@novelbin@@ But... there''s one more. In a quiet corner, a figure sits still, not shedding a single tear. His hands are clenched into fists, his jaw tight with suppressed fury. His eyes, dry of tears, burn with a deep, searing bloodlust. This man doesn''t mourn the way others do. His sorrow transforms into something sharper, something darker¡ªanger, hatred, and an insatiable hunger for vengeance. He doesn''t cry because he doesn''t have time to. He is consumed by a singr purpose. To avenge you. To bring justice to your soul. To ensure the one who took your life pays for their crime. This man is different. While the others cry and move on, he won''t rest. He won''t stop. Not until he avenges you and everything your family has lost. His silence speaks louder than any tear.¨CYes this man is none other than¨CFather. Something simr had happened to the kneeling dead man before Esdeath and Maruti. He wasn''t just a warrior or some nameless figure; he was a true man¡ªa father. His name was Michael Winters, a man whose life had once been simple yet filled with happiness. He lived quietly with his parents, his loving wife, and their precious daughter, only two months old. None of them were Awakened; they didn''t have powers or great wealth, but they didn''t need those things. They had each other, and that was enough. But fate was cruel. One dark, unforgiving night, their peace was shattered. A group of demons invaded their home, their monstrous presence tearing through the walls like paper. The sound of destruction was deafening, and their arrival was swift. Michael''s parents were the first to fall, their screams cut short by ws and fangs. His wife tried to shield their infant daughter, her cries for mercy echoing in the chaos, but the demons showed nopassion. She, too, was in before his eyes. Michael was powerless to stop it. He had no abilities, no weapons, no way to fight back. As the house copsed around him, a heavy piece of the wall struck his head, sending him spiraling into unconsciousness. But before he cked out, he saw her¡ªthe mastermind behind it all. A woman stepped forward, her long brown hair wild like tangled roots, her sharp nose and elongated face resembling that of a grotesque horse. Her presence was suffocating, her cold gaze filled with malice. She bent down, scooping up his crying daughter in her arms. Before Michael could even reach out or scream, the ground erupted in a swirling cloud of ck bats. The woman disappeared into the darkness, taking his daughter with her. Why? Why would she take his child? Michael''s family had no wealth, no magic, no precious resources. They were ordinary people, simple and content. What could she possibly want from him or his family? He had no answers¡ªonly pain. When he woke up, the demons were gone, having left him alive by mistake. They hadn''t bothered to check; after all, what threat could a powerless, broken human pose to them? But Michael was alive, and his survival felt like a curse. His home was in ruins. His family was gone. Days passed as he sat in the rubble of what was once his life, his mind consumed by grief. He had no reason to go on. Should he end his life? Or try to move on, pretending that any of this could be forgotten? No. He couldn''t move on. He couldn''t forget. The image of that horse-faced woman haunted him. The sound of his wife''s screams echoed in his ears. The thought of his daughter in the hands of monsters burned like fire in his chest. Grief turned to rage. Anguish became a thirst for revenge. He wasn''t Awakened. He didn''t have the power to challenge demons. But none of that mattered anymore. Michael made his choice. He chose chaos. Michael grabbed a shovel, the only thing he could find, and stormed out of his broken home. His vision was blurred with rage and grief, his heart pounding like a war drum. He didn''t know where he was going, but he didn''t care. His legs carried him toward the forest, driven by nothing but the need to act, to do something¡ªanything. The trees loomed ahead, their shadows stretching out like ws, but Michael pressed on. He knew the forest was dangerous, filled with beasts and creatures he couldn''t hope to fight, but fear had no ce in his heart anymore. He was ready to face whatever waited for him, even if it meant his death. But just as he was about to step into the dense forest, a voice echoed in his mind, stopping him in his tracks. "You''ll die if you go there." Michael froze, gripping the shovel tightly. His head whipped around, but there was no one there. His breath came in ragged gasps as he shouted, "Who''s there? Who''s speaking to me?" "I am Indra, the God of Rain and Thunder," the voice boomed, calm yetmanding. Michael blinked, his anger momentarily reced by confusion. "Indra?" he muttered, his voice trembling. He looked around again, his eyes scanning the trees and the sky, but he saw nothing. "There''s no need to look for me," the voice continued, gentle yet firm. "I am with you, Michael Winters. I''ve seen your pain. I know your loss. A poor soul like you, lost and directionless, deserves guidance. Allow me to help you." Michael''s heart raced. "Help me?" he asked, his voice hoarse with desperation. "Yes," Indra said. "I will give you the power you need. I will grant you the knowledge to find your daughter and the strength to exact vengeance on those who destroyed your family." For a moment, hope flickered in Michael''s chest, but it was quickly doused by suspicion. He narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on the shovel. "And what do you want in return?" Indra''s reply was swift. "Nothing." Michael''s jaw clenched, his teeth grinding together. He stomped his foot on the ground, the sound echoing in the stillness around him. "Don''t lie to me!" he shouted, his voice breaking. "Nothing is free in this world. Even I know that much!" Indra''s voice remained calm, almost soothing. "I want nothing for myself, Michael. All I ask is that if you seed¡ªif you save your daughter and avenge your family¡ªyou let the world know who helped you. Tell them about me. Spread my name. Let people remember Indra, the God of Rain and Thunder." Michael''s breath hitched. He stared at the ground, his mind racing. It wasn''t a bad deal¡ªnot at all. He had nothing left to lose, and if spreading Indra''s name could bring him the power he needed, then so be it. He tightened his grip on the shovel, his resolve hardening. "Fine," he said, his voice steady now. "If you help me save my daughter and destroy those demons, I''ll do as you ask. I''ll tell the world about you." The air around him seemed to hum with energy, and Indra''s voice echoed in his mind once more. "Good. Then I choose you as my incarnation! " As Michael stood there, still gripping the shovel and trying to process Indra''s words, a sudden crack echoed through the air. The sound wasn''t natural¡ªit was as if the very fabric of reality was tearing apart. He spun around, eyes wide, as a jagged fissure appeared in the space before him, glowing with a pulsating crimson light. From the crack, something emerged¡ªa red lotus, radiant and mesmerizing. It floated gracefully, norger than the size of a hand, but its presence was overwhelming. The petals glowed a vivid red, each one etched with intricate, otherworldly patterns that shimmered like liquid fire. The sight of it stole Michael''s breath, its beauty both terrifying and captivating. But this was no ordinary flower. That was a Rank A essence stone, "Forceful awakening". The lotus began to unfurl, its petals peeling back slowly to reveal a glowing orb of golden-yellow light at its core. The light pulsed like a heartbeat, growing brighter with every moment, until it suddenly shot forward at blinding speed, mming into Michael''s chest. Michael staggered back, his breath hitching as the searing light surged through him. He dropped the shovel, his hands wing at the ground as his body convulsed. The energy raced through every inch of him, igniting a fiery pain that felt like his very blood was being rewritten. "Endure it!" Indra''s voice urged, firm andmanding. Michael''s vision blurred as the raw energy coursed through him, forcing his dormant potential to awaken. His veins glowed faintly, like rivers of molten gold beneath his skin, as the mana circuits carved themselves into existence. He screamed, the sound torn from the depths of his soul, but he refused to give in. Moments that felt like an eternity passed before the pain began to subside. Michael copsed to his knees, gasping for air, his body trembling but alive. He looked at his hands¡ªthey glowed faintly with an aura of newfound power. He was no longer just a broken man. He was awakened. Can’t Defeat A Overpowerrd Character? Just Make Another One! "In *Free Life Fantasy* (FLF), Ethanes to this ce during his second semester," Esdeath began, her voice calm but filled with intrigue. "From the second semester onward, students are given tasks toplete as part of their training. Ethan''s task was to check the situation inside the Seven Kings'' Mountain. For months, there had been no activity from Trynne, so he was sent to investigate. When he arrived, he found this exact scene and uncovered what had happened here." Maruti tilted her head, her eyes narrowing in thought. "So, you''re saying this girl originally belonged to Ethan? Are we about to snatch her from him before he even gets the chance?" Esdeath shook her head, her gaze shifting to Michael''s lifeless body, still kneeling on the ground as if protecting his daughter. "Of course not. Look at her condition." She pointed to the golden statue-like child in Michael''s arms. "Because of Trynne''s experiments, this girl is neither fully alive nor truly dead. Right now, she''s in a limbo state, but as time passes¡ªone or two months at most¡ªshe willpletely die." Maruti frowned, her expression conflicted. "What happens then?" "In FLF, by the time Ethan arrives, this child is already gone. The divine-grade essence stones embedded in her vanish when she dies. However, because of their overwhelming power, her very body transforms into something incredible¡ªa Rank A essence stone called the "Echo Ability Essence Stone". It''s an expenditure-type stone, meaning it can only be used once before disappearing forever." Maruti''s eyes widened. "So Ethan uses this stone in the game?" "Yes," Esdeath replied, nodding. "In the game, Ethan finds the stone and uses it to copy one of the best abilities avable at that moment. What ability he copies depends on the yer''s choice. But now, in the real world¡­If Ethan were to obtain it, the ability he copies will depend entirely on him". Esdeath''s lips curled into a mischievous smile as she nced at the golden statue-like child. "But now that we''re here, this girl belongs to us. We''re saving a child¡ªwhat could be more noble than that? It''s a good deed, right?" Her tone dripped with mockery, making her intentions painfully obvious. "Liar!" Maruti huffed, crossing her arms. But as she mulled over Esdeath''s words, another thought popped into her head. "Wait a second. I get it¡ªby the time we gather the Demon King''s essence, she''ll already be dead. But wouldn''t that be aplete waste of her potential? Are you nning to make her a human with your blood? Or a barbarian with mine? What''s the point of that? What would we even gain?" Esdeath smirked and slowly walked forward, her boots crunching softly on the debrisden ground. She stopped in front of Michael''s lifeless, kneeling body. Without hesitation, she reached down and grabbed the newborn child from his cold arms. "Both wrong," she said with a yful lilt in her voice. "The right answer is¡­ a dragon. And everyone knows the power thates with being a dragon." "A¡­ dragon?" Maruti''s jaw dropped in shock. Her mind raced, piecing together the puzzle. "Wait. When did you even get dragon blood?" But as she stared at Esdeath''s sly expression, the answer clicked in her mind. "¡­Kaelith." Esdeath chuckled softly. "Exactly. When we fought Kaelith, I used my *Pink Lotus Essence Stone to store some of her blood. It was risky, of course. If anyone had noticed, I would''ve been in serious trouble. But Pink Lotus is such a low-rank stone¡ªneither defensive nor offensive¡ªand it barely uses any mana. No one paid attention to it." Her voice turned cold as she yanked the child free from Michael''s stiff arms. The moment the child was separated, Michael''s body, which had been kneeling in silent protection for months, fell to the ground with a dull thud. Esdeath didn''t even nce at him. She held the child tightly, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Kaelith is a overpowered character, you know. Even when we fought her, she was still strong, despite her seals. She wasn''t at full power, sure, but she could''ve crushed us with little effort. Did you notice how she fainted during the fight? Doesn''t it seem strange?" Maruti frowned, her expression turning serious. "Yeah, I noticed. Although she was injured but She could''ve kept fighting, but she copsed on purpose. She let us win. But why? Isn''t she supposed to be arrogant and full of pride? Why would she do that?" Esdeath didn''t respond right away, but in truth she don''t know either. The truth was unsettling. When Esdeath, Maruti, and Ethan had fought Kaelith, it was clear she wasn''t at her full strength. The first reason? Lilith. Kaelith''s mother, a Rank A powerhouse, had sealed a significant portion of Kaelith''s top tier Rank C level powers. The second reason? The Dragon Heart. A dragon''s heart stores massive amounts of mana. It''s a core of their power. Normally, their mana circuits¡ªformed through their veins¡ªdetermine their ESR talent. Kaelith''s heart is what fuels her regeneration, allowing her body to heal rapidly without the need for external magic. But becausepetition forbade the use of her mana, Kaelith''s regeneration slowed to a crawl. Even then, she had enough strength to wipe the floor including all three of them. But she chose not to. Esdeath shrugged casually, but for a moment, a flicker of unease crossed her eyes. "Only Kaelith knows why she let herself lose. But does it really matter? She''s an overpowered character we can''t defeat easily. So, we''ll do the next best thing¡ªwe''ll create another overpowered character to fight for us!" Her voice was full of confidence, but there was a chilling undertone to her words. With that, Esdeath pulled out her *Pink Lotus Essence Stone* and poured the stolen blood of Kaelith onto the newborn child. At once, the golden body of the child began to glow brightly, like a miniature sun radiating warmth and power. The brilliance was almost blinding, making Maruti shield her eyes for a moment. "Predictor, give me the essence stone I told you to refine!" Esdeath ordered sharply. Without hesitation, Maruti reached into her bag and pulled out a unique-looking essence stone. It was mesmerizing¡ªlike a tiny, dark blue sr system captured within a crystal. At its center was a glowing sphere representing the sun, and tinys orbited it in intricate, fluid motion, resembling an atom''s structure. The stone was small, norger than a fingertip, but its beauty held a certain power. "Here," Maruti said, handing it to Esdeath, her fingers trembling slightly. Esdeath snatched it with practiced ease, her eyes narrowing in focus as she poured her mana into the stone. It shimmered to life, thes spinning faster as she activated it. "This is a Break¨CConnection Essence Stone," she exined, her voice steady but full of intent. "It''s only Rank D, but it''s incredibly useful." Maruti tilted her head, curious. "What does it do?" "It severs the blood connection between two rted individuals," Esdeath began, her tone calm but tinged with excitement. "And then it rebuilds a new blood connection with someone else. For humans, it''s almost useless. But for other species, like beasts or dragons, it''s incredibly powerful." Maruti''s eyes widened as realization dawned. "You mean¡­" Esdeath nodded, a sly grin spreading across her face. "That''s right. This child is about to be a dragon thanks to Kaelith''s blood. If we don''t use this essence stone, she''ll be blood-rted to Kaelith. And you know what that means¡ªKaelith will sense her as kin, even from a distance. That would be a disaster." Maruti frowned, thinking deeply. "But will the essence stone really work? She''s about to transform into a dragon¡ªwon''t that make her too strong for a Rank D stone?" "Normally, yes," Esdeath admitted, her voice cool and calcting. "But she''s still in her weakest state, caught mid-transformation. This is the perfect moment to use it. And once I sever her connection to Kaelith. " Well...this was the technique, ve traders use this stone on newborn beasts to cut them off from their real parents and bond them to their masters. Even after the beasts grow up, they still see that person as their parent. But don''t misunderstand¡ªit doesn''t make them obedient. That part depends on how well you train them. Still¡­ wouldn''t it be easier to use a Rank A very essence stone to control herpletely? Of course it would be easier, but do Those essence stones are way out of their league for now. Esdeath red at Maruti, frustration etched across her face. She had no time to argue, but the situation was slipping through her fingers. " Predictor, give me your blood! I''ll connect you to her. You''ll take care of her until she grows up," Esdeath demanded, urgency clear in her voice. Maruti''s eyes widened in shock. She immediately stepped back, holding her hands up as if to ward off the suggestion. "Me? Hell nah!, Do you want to kill her? I don''t have any parenting skills, and I definitely don''t want to take care of a kid!" she protested vehemently. Esdeath''s anger red. "You think I have parenting experience? Do I look like someone who enjoys ying nanny?" she snapped, her voice rising in frustration. "No means no," Maruti insisted, shaking her head stubbornly. She crossed her arms, standing her ground.@@novelbin@@ A bead of sweat rolled down Esdeath''s temple. She gritted her teeth, her heart pounding as she nced at the child. Time was slipping away like sand through her fingers. The newborn''s transformation was nearing itspletion, and once it was over, her power will start to rise. She had no choice. She ced the newborn carefully on the ground, her gaze hardening. Without hesitation, she raised her right hand and willed, "Moonde!" shemanded. A sharp, crystal-like de emerged from her palm, shimmering faintly under the dim light. Esdeath grimaced but didn''t hesitate. *Tsk...* She shed her own hand, creating a deep cut. Blood flowed freely, dripping onto the child''s body in steady rivulets. The crimson liquid spread across the glowing form, and with it, the connection was sealed. The moment her blood made contact, a faint hum of energy filled the air, signaling thepletion of the bond. Breathing heavily, Esdeath clenched her wounded hand, her expression unreadable as she watched the child''s transformation continue. Finally Obtained! As the brilliant light finally faded, the transformation wasplete. The childy there, no longer glowing but now looking like a normal newborn. Her hair was striking¡ªhalf of it a deep ck, reminiscent of Esdeath, while the other half gleamed with a radiant silver- reminiscent of kaelith. Though the child had ck hair, there wasn''t a single trace of humanity in her being. She was a pure dragon through and through¡ªa silver dragon at that. The ck hair was merely a symbolic mark of her bond with Esdeath. Slowly, the baby opened her eyes, revealing deep, glowing silver irises that seemed to shimmer like starlight. Unlike Esdeath''s eerie crimson gaze, the child''s eyes held an otherworldly beauty, innocent yet powerful, a mesmerizing contrast to her smooth, pale white skin that radiated both cuteness and a divine elegance. Hidden within the soft tufts of her hair were tiny dragon horns, barely noticeable and small enough to blend with her locks. Despite her draconic nature, the child looked peaceful, fragile even, as if the world itself would need to tread carefully around her. Esdeath knelt down and carefully scooped the child into her arms. The moment their skin touched, the baby instinctively recognized her as her mother. A soft, contented sigh escaped her tiny lips, and she snuggled closer into Esdeath''s chest, her eyelids fluttering shut. The child drifted into a serene sleep, as if she knew she was finally safe in Esdeath''s embrace. "Let''s go. Most of the resources here are already destroyed. We''ll take everything that''s left," Esdeath ordered, her voice steady as she turned toward the ruined castle. The structure ahead loomed in the distance, a haunting reminder of the battle that had unfolded. The upper section of the castle waspletely destroyed, leaving jagged edges and crumbling walls, while the middle and lower portions still stood, albeit damaged. The entire structure appeared as though a colossal de had sliced through it horizontally, leaving a clean yet devastating cut. And, in truth, that was precisely what had happened. It had been Michael''s killer move, who had cleaved the castle in two with his sword, a single swing cutting through stone as effortlessly as slicing through butter. His power as an awakened was undeniable, a testament to his raw talent and potential.@@novelbin@@ Though he had awakened only a few months ago, Michael''s strength had already beenparable to Ethan''s in his previous life. He was a prodigy, someone destined to ascend to greatness. If fate had been kinder, Michael could have risen to be the third S-rank awakened of Anastasia Kingdom. Upon entering the castle, Esdeath and Maruti found that the interior was surprisingly well-preserved. Unlike the crumbled exterior, the rooms and hallways inside remained intact, their sturdy walls showcasing intricate carvings and regal designs. The upper levels'' damage allowed daylight to spill through, casting natural patterns of light and shadow across the stone floors, adding an odd serenity to the ruined fortress. Esdeath headed upstairs without hesitation, carrying the sleeping child securely in her arms. Maruti followed quietly, her footsteps echoing behind Esdeath''s purposeful strides. They stopped at a nearby bedroom on the second floor. The room was modestpared to the grandeur of the rest of the castle, with a simple canopy bed that looked untouched by the chaos outside. Esdeath gentlyid the newborn on the bed, smoothing the sheets over her tiny body. The child stirred slightly, but as soon as Esdeath''s hand brushed against her soft cheek, she settled back into a peaceful slumber. The two continued to the third floor. The copsed roof above left the halls open to the sky, and with it came a quiet brightness that lit the way ahead. Instead of stars twinkling in the night, the vast expanse of blue spread overhead, the gentle daylight contrasting with the cold and somber air inside the castle. Esdeath''s strides quickened as they neared their destination, the treasure room. Finally, they stood before the room''s entrance, marked by a massive, partially broken metal gate. The gate wasn''t an ordinary door but a Rank B essence stone known as "Determined Metal Door", its enchantments once making it nearly impossible to breach without Trynne''s direct permission or advanced space-path techniques. Now, with Trynne dead, the traps and spells woven into the door had faded, leaving it vulnerable. The thick gate was warped and bent, its imposing structure reduced to nothing more than an obstacle to step around. Esdeath and Maruti slipped through the wide gap with ease. The moment they stepped inside, their surroundings shifted from somber ruin to dazzling splendor. The treasure room was massive, with the daylight streaming in and illuminating the treasures within. Essence stones, ranging from Rank E to Rank B, were scattered across the room in countless numbers. Their ethereal glows painted the walls with soft hues of blue, green, and red, their sheer quantity staggering. In one corner, crates and barrels brimmed with refining materials like Lightning Jaguar Flesh, Etheral Fox, Emerald teeth shark etc. Weapons of every kind adorned racks along the walls¡ªdes, spears, axes, and bows¡ªall radiating an aura oftent power. Intricately crafted armor sets stood like sentinels, their polished surfaces gleaming in the open space. And then there was the wealth: mountains of gold and silver coins stacked carelessly across the room, their radiant luster almost blinding. Bars of precious metals and gemstones were piled high, a fortune beyondprehension. Maruti blinked, momentarily stunned by the sight. "Did we just unlock a cheat code?" she muttered, her voice a mix of disbelief and excitement. Esdeath, standing in the midst of the treasure, couldn''t help but let a small smile curl at her lips. "Nice... Very nice," she said, her voice calm yet chillingly resolute. "We need resources to grow stronger and protect ourselves. If we don''t, the higher-ups or our enemies will rob us blind. What we don''t need, we can sell at a high price and buy more essence stones." She was absolutely right. If kingdom found out about this treasure, it wouldn''t end well. Of course, they''d take everything and hand Esdeath a measly 5 to 10 percent as a so-called reward. That might work for someone like Ethan, but Esdeath? She wasn''t someone to ept scraps from the table. But keeping this hoard came with a cost. If they started using "Rank B essence stones", they would attract attention¡ªdangerous attention. The academy would notice, the kingdom might catch wind of it, and assassins coulde crawling out of the shadows. Rank B essence stones were in such high demand that even a few appearing on the market would sell in seconds. To unt such power openly was to paint a massive target on their backs. Either hand over to kingdom or be assassinated. "Even though we have Rank B essence stones here, we can''t use them recklessly," Esdeath warned, her crimson eyes narrowing as she calcted their next moves. "They should be our trump cards, hidden until the right moment." Maruti wandered further into the room, her eyes scanning the glowing essence stones scattered everywhere. "Isn''t thatmon sense? Of course, I know that," she replied with a hint of sarcasm. She paused, her hand resting on her hip as her sharp gaze darted around the room. "From the sheer aura they''re giving off, I can already tell¡ªthere are several Rank B stones, dozens of Rank C, and the rest are Rank D and E." Esdeath nodded, her expression calm but thoughtful. "Hmm¡­ It''s better to check what kind of essence stones suit us the most. We''ll decide ordingly," she said casually, her tone betraying the weight of the decision they had to make. Maruti nodded back in agreement. There was no point in denying the logic. "It''s a shame that this is only the second treasure room, made partially by Trynne," Esdeath muttered, "The first one, the main treasure room on the top floor, waspletely destroyed¡­ along with all its essence stones. If it had survived, we might''ve had a chance to get a Rank A essence stone." She let out a sigh, but she had no regret. The first treasure room had been meticulously designed to preserve Trynne''s personal collection¡ªessence stones tied exclusively to her blood path abilities. They would''ve been useless to Esdeath anyway. This second room, however, held a much darker story. It was a chaotic assortment of spoils, collected from humans, demons, and beasts that Trynne had killed for sport. Some were even tributes taken from lesser kings under her rule. Essence stones, despite their immense power, were fragile by nature. A simple hammer could shatter them, let alone the catastrophic battle that had unfolded here. Thousands of stones had likely been reduced to dust during Michael''s devastating assault. Esdeath and Maruti got to work,bing through the room and assessing their options. The treasure room''s roof had been blown away, allowing natural light to pour in, illuminating the glittering hoard of resources. The sheer quantity was staggering, yet not all of it was worth keeping. After about two hours of careful sorting, they focused on quality over quantity. In the end, they had gathered eight Rank B essence stones, a dozen Rank C stones, and a sizeable number of Rank D stones. Rank E stones were pushed aside into the far corner; they were practically useless to anyone aiming to grow stronger. Esdeath picked up a bundle of refining materials, inspecting them with a critical eye. They were decent¡ªabout Rank C in quality¡ªbut still disappointing. These materials could help refine lower-grade stones, but they weren''t nning on crafting new essence stones anytime soon. Right now, their priority was immediate growth. They wouldn''t even sleep tonight if it meant absorbing as many stones as they could. But one decision loomedrger than the rest. The essence stones wouldn''t be split into two shares but three. No doubt the third will belong to the newpanion. They were no longer a duo but a trio, and this new addition would need her share of resources to grow strong enough to protect herself and more importantly protect them. Among the treasures, two essence stones caught Esdeath''s eye immediately. They gleamed with a strange aura, standing out from the rest like jewels among pebbles. The first was the "Soulpiercer Essence Stone". It''s shape was, jet-ck surface heart as though alive with its own rhythm. The second was the "Forcebreaker Essence Stone", a translucent shard with stormy patterns swirling inside, glowing faintly with an almost predatory energy. Esdeath''s crimson eyes fixated on them with unshakable resolve. These weren''t just stones; they were keys to something far greater. These two stones were crucial for a rare S-rank killer move, strong enough to heavily damage Rank S Awakened or even demon lords. For Esdeath, they were non-negotiable. Esdeath would take them whether Maruti agreed with it or not. Strengthening Themselves Esdeath wasted no time and immediately grabbed the Soulpiercer Essence Stone and the Forcebreaker Essence Stone. "First, these two are mine!" Esdeath dered with a confident smile, holding the stones tightly in her hands. Maruti nced at her for a moment, her face calm and indifferent. She didn''t argue since these two essence stones had nothing to do with her preferences or abilities. Instead, her attention turned to the remaining six rank B essence stones scattered before them. Among them, one immediately caught her eye. It was a round crystal, glowing in a bright orange hue, with faint smoke curling off its surface as though it were alive. Intrigued, Maruti picked it up. The moment it touched her hand, she felt a strange, slippery sensation, as if it were made of molten liquid. Then came the heat¡ªintense and scorching. Her skin began to burn, small blisters forming on her fingers. Yet instead of crying out in pain, Maruti''s lips curved into a wide, excited grin. "I''ll take this one first!" she said firmly, her voice filled with determination.@@novelbin@@ Maruti knew exactly what she had chosen. It was the Fire Body Qi Essence Stone, a powerful Rank B offensive stone. Its abilities were remarkable¡ªit could amplify any fire-type attack by more than threefold, turning ordinary mes into devastating infernos. Though it offered only average defense, its offensive power was unmatched, making it the perfect choice for someone like Maruti, whose fiery nature thrived on overwhelming strength. Without hesitation, she set the stone aside and turned her attention to the next. Among the remaining options, her eyes fell on a stunning yellow crystal that seemed to glow like sunlight. Its shape was unique¡ªa cross-like structure with intricate patterns carved into its surface, making it stand out even more. She carefully picked it up, feeling a warm, soothing energy flow through her body. Unlike the searing heat of the first stone, this one felt divine, almost like a gentle blessing from the heavens. "This one is mine too," Maruti said with a smile, holding it close. This was the "Self-Healing Essence Stone", a rare Rank B light-path stone. Its ability was nothing short of miraculous¡ªit could regenerate lost limbs, repair internal injuries, and even restore mana as long as the user had some left to fuel it. For Maruti, who already had a strong affinity with light, this stone''s effects would be amplified even further, making it an invaluable asset. At this moment, four essence stones remained. They both agreed that two of the stones should go to the newborn dragon to aid her future growth, leaving just two for themselves. As they looked at the remaining stones, their gazesnded on the same one at the exact same moment. The essence stone was unlike any other. It was shaped like four stars joined together to form a circle, with each star glowing in a different color¡ªblue, white, gray, and a deep earthy brown. Its unique and captivating design made it stand out, but its true valuey in its ability. "This is the Five Element King Essence Stone," Esdeath said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. This was no ordinary stone. It had the power to grant its user affinity with five elements: water, fire, earth, wind, and wood¡ªthe basic building blocks of magic. For someone like Esdeath, who already had an affinity with two elements, this essence stone would allow her tomand all five. However, it had a limitation¡ªit couldn''t grant affinity with rare or special elements like light, dark, or nature. Those required specific stones, like the One with Nature Essence Stone, which granted nature affinity, or the Grant Enlightenment Essence Stone, which granted light affinity. Such stones were far rarer than the Five Element King and only bestowed one affinity each. Even so, the Five Element King Essence Stone was an incredible find. After all, who wouldn''t want the ability to control five different elements? Both Esdeath and Maruti reached for the stone at the same time, but Esdeath was quicker. She snatched it first, her hand closing tightly around it. Without wasting a moment, she activated her system and refined the stone, iming it for herself. Maruti crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes but saying nothing. It was clear that she wasn''t happy about losing such a treasure, but she knew she had no right toin. However, Esdeath''s excitement faded quickly as reality set in. She nced at the stone and sighed. "I can''t even use it yet," she muttered. The reason was simple¡ªmana cost. Rank B essence stones were like trump cards, incredibly powerful but just as costly to use. Activating the Five Element King Essence Stone would require a minimum of one thousand mana points, a number far beyond what Esdeath or Maruti currently possessed. Even if theybined their mana, it still wouldn''t be enough to activate even a single Rank B essence stone. They both have a long way to go. Esdeath sighed, "What a pity. Even with eight Rank B stones and dozens of Rank C, we can''t use a single one. The only ones we can use are Rank D. We need to increase our mana," she remarked before getting back to work. Maruti scanned the room, her gaze locking onto a fiery orange stone. It radiated intense heat, and thin trails of smoke curled from its surface. She recognized it instantly as the Fiery Whirlwind Essence Stone, a Rank B treasure and part of a powerful series. The set began with the Rank E Fiery Thrust, advancing through Rank D Fiery phantom form and Rank C Fiery Storm and Rank B Fiery Whirlwind. The highest tier, the Fire Deity Essence Stone, was missing from the collection, but Maruti wasn''t deterred. Although if it was before she wouldn''t have recognized any of them but after meeting esdeath/fable, She started learning about essence stones as well as their types. She carefully collected the entire series, Since Esdeath took Five element King, She without a doubt took Rank B feiry Whirlwind too but She decided to focus on the Rank E and D stones for now. The higher-ranked ones would remain out of her reach until she could umte enough mana to activate them. Meanwhile, Esdeath''s eyes glinted as she imed her prize¡ªa series of Forcebreaker Essence Stones from Rank E to Rank B. She knew their potential and wasn''t about to let them go. Just like maruti, Rank A Forcebreaker was missing. For the next two hours, the two meticulously sorted and negotiated over the Rank C stones. Esdeath secured theplete Forcebreaker set while Maruti finalized her im on the Fiery stones. They worked efficiently, dividing the abundant Rank D and E stones without much discussion. These were plentiful, and they even set aside duplicates to sellter. By the time their selections wereplete, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a soft glow through the treasure room. Despite the exhaustion creeping in, both of them looked satisfied with their choices. Esdeath nced at her refined selection. Though her ambition urged her to test the Rank B stones immediately, she knew the limitations of her current mana. They would have to wait, serving as a reminder of the long path ahead. It was finally time for refinement. The Rank C and B essence stones were few but powerful. Esdeath refined them with her system, letting her weapon, ZK-20, absorb the energy instead of her body. The weapon glowed faintly as it absorbed the refined power. Meanwhile, Maruti directly absorbed the stones into her body, focusing on the flow of energy. When it came to Rank D and E stones, they pushed aside the Rank E ones. They were useless now. The Rank D stones, especially those for physical strength, were their priority. They started with the Steel Tendons essence stone, designed to make tendons as strong as steel. Pain spread through their bodies as the stones worked. Esdeath gritted her teeth, sweat running down her face, while Maruti let out a small gasp, her fists tightening. It was painful, but nothingpared to the Iron Bone essence stone, which turned bones into ck iron. Simultaneously they used Third Clock essence stone, it was a expenditure type time path essence stone. It sped up the body''s growth threefold but shortened lifespan by the same rate. For example, The third Clock will work for one who else days but esdeath and maruti''s lifelspan will be reduce by three days. She felt her body heat up as the energy surged through her. What would have taken an hour now took only twenty minutes, but it cost them three days of life. Maruti absorbed hers silently, her expression calm but her eyes determined. Unlike Ethan, who could use five or six stones at once with ease, Esdeath and Maruti could barely handle two or three. Still, they continued. Esdeath moved on to the Silver Jade Skin and Silver Jade Muscle essence stones. The skin stone made her sweat heavily, with small drops of blood mixed in. Her body felt like it was on fire, and her breathing grewbored. The muscle stone pushed her further, strengthening her body but leaving her muscles sore and trembling. The stones had a drawback¡ªthey turned the skin pale¡ªbut Esdeath''s skin was already ghostly white, so it made no difference. Maruti didn''t need the same refinement. She had already used Bronze Skin and Bronze Muscle essence stones, so she focused on consuming strength-type stones refined by Esdeath. Her body absorbed them efficiently, showing no signs of struggle. After strengthening her body, Esdeath used strength, stamina, and speed-enhancing essence stones. The effects were immediate, her body feeling tougher and more responsive with every refinement. By the time they were done, it was already midnight. Without the Third Clock essence stones, it would have taken much longer. The time eleration saved them hours, but both Esdeath and Maruti had reached their limit. No matter how effective the stones were, there were rules they couldn''t ignore. Absorbing the same essence stone repeatedly didn''t increase their strength, and their bodies could only handle so much before reaching a breaking point. When Maruti suggested using the Iron Bone essence stone, Esdeath immediately refused. "Absolutely not," she said, shaking her head. "The pain is unbearable, and it''ll leave us numb for two or three days. We don''t have any more Third Clock essence stones to speed up the recovery." Maruti shrugged but said nothing, though it was clear she could handle more than Esdeath. Being a barbarian and the daughter of the legendary Mourya, Maruti''s body was naturally built for extreme endurance. Esdeath snorted, annoyed but unwilling to argue. Because of high endurance, Maruti absorbed more essence stones than her, but Esdeath''s pride wouldn''t let her admit feeling outdone. By now, their exhaustion was overwhelming. Their entire bodies trembled, muscles aching from overuse. They could barely stay on their feet. Even their minds felt drained, as if pushed to the edge. Maruti groaned, flopping down onto a chair. "I just want to sleep. Let me sleep!" she whined, rubbing her eyes like a tired child. Esdeath leaned heavily against the wall, catching her breath. "Let''s go to the room where Michael''s child is sleeping," she said after a moment. "There''s no one around now, but this isn''t a game. Anything could happen. We should stick together." Maruti nodded reluctantly. Step by step, they stumbled their way to the room. Each movement felt like a challenge, their bodies screaming for rest. When they entered, Maruti froze, her eyebrows raising as she looked at the dragon child. "Wait a minute¡­" she muttered, pointing at the baby. "Didn''t she look like a newborn before? Why does she look like she''s eight or ten months old now?" Esdeath sighed, leaning against the doorframe. "Of course. It''s the power of two divine-rank essence stones. They don''t just help her adapt to her new body; they also elerate her growth and intelligence. She''s growing fast now, but it''ll slow down soon. By tomorrow, she''ll look like a five- or six-year-old. Reaching sixteen will take a year or two. After that, her growth will return to normal." Maruti yawned loudly, waving off Esdeath''s exnation. "Whatever, whatever. I just want to sleep." Without another word, Maruti copsed onto the bed. Esdeath followed, sliding under the covers. The dragon child, nestled between them, was already asleep. But even as they closed their eyes, both women felt uneasy. A strange tension lingered in the air, as if something was about to happen. Their worst fear came true. "Oahhh¡­ Eargghh¡­!" The child suddenly began crying. Her voice wasn''t just loud¡ªit was powerful. Shockwaves rippled through the room, shaking the walls. The noise was deafening, like a thunderp echoing endlessly. Esdeath and Maruti both fell from the bed, clutching their ears. "Holy shit!" Maruti screamed, her voice filled with desperation. "Someone shut this kid up! I just want to sleep, damn it!" I Want A Friend! The night slipped away, and the golden light of morning bathed the academy in its warmth. It was 7:00 AM, the usual time when the gym buzzed with activity. For most students, this was a sacred hour dedicated to building their physical strength, a crucial part of being an awakened individual. Even the girls, who were just as strong and determined as the boys, never skipped this routine. But today was different. The gym was unusually quiet, or rather, a specific area of it was. Crowds of students moved cautiously around the room, making sure to avoid one particr corner. Why? Because in that corner, Kaelith¡ªthe daughter of Lilith and the infamous Silver Dragon¡ªwas working out. Kaelith was not someone who typically worked out. In fact, she had never needed to. Her dragon blood gifted her a physique far superior to everyone else''s. Her body was built for power, speed, and resilience, and she had always relied on her natural abilities. Yet, for the past few days, she had been a regr at the gym, shocking everyone whoid eyes on her. "Do you know why she''s beening here every morning?" whispered one girl to her friend, her voice low with curiosity. The other girl stole a quick nce at Kaelith, careful not to make it obvious. "How should I know? Maybe it''s because she lost thepetition recently? But whatever the reason, we''d better not get too close. Nobody wants to identally get on her bad side." Kaelith, who was doing push-ups with massive weight tes stacked on her back, heard every word. Her dragon senses were sharp, far beyond human levels. She could hear them clearly. Her face remained nk, her breathing steady, even though the tes on her back weighed hundreds of tons. To her, it felt no different than lifting paper. But her calm exterior was a mask. Inside her mind, a single question echoed over and over. "Why?" Kaelith couldn''t stop thinking about it. The question circled in her mind like an unrelenting storm. For days now, the thought had consumed her, taking over every waking moment. She remembered the fight vividly. It wasn''t just any ordinary battle¡ªit was the one where she faced Esdeath, Maruti, and Ethan. For the first time in her life, she fought people who challenged her. It wasn''t easy. The three of them were skilled, clever, and determined. But it wasn''t enough to defeat her. Kaelith knew she could''ve taken them all on her own if she wanted. Her power, her heritage as the daughter of Lilith, ensured that much. Yet something about that battle lingered in her mind. "Why were they so desperate? Why were they fighting like their very lives depended on it? What is there to gain from a simplepetition?" These type of thought came to her mind at that time. She closed her eyes, reying the moment when their gazes burned with unshakable resolve. "Are they in the same situation as me?" Her thoughts turned inward. Kaelith was Lilith''s daughter¡ªthe daughter of the great dragon queen. From the moment she was born, her path had beenid out for her. People didn''t see her as Kaelith; they saw her as Lilith''s daughter. No matter what she aplished, the reaction was always the same: "As expected of Lilith''s daughter!" No matter what she wanted to do for herself, the response was predictable: "This doesn''t suit you. You''re Lilith''s daughter. You''ll surpass your mother one day. You should follow the path she walked." Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith,Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith, Lilith. It was suffocating. Her mother''s name echoed endlessly in her mind, as if it were a curse. She was always in Lilith''s shadow, no matter how brightly she tried to shine on her own. Kaelith gritted her teeth, her chest tightening. Every time she wanted to follow her own desires, someone interfered. Every time she seeded, her achievements were credited to her mother''s legacy. And every time she failed, it was as if the world reminded her of how she was falling short of that impossible standard. She hated it. It was strikingly simr to Lortell Mariette''s. Lortell, the daughter of the Archduke, had endured the same expectations. Every step she took, every word she said, was scrutinized. As a child, Lortell had no choice but to create a barrier around her heart. She became emotionless, detached¡ªa perfect doll with no feelings, no desires, no weaknesses. But then Lortell met Esdeath, and everything changed. Her carefully constructed walls crumbled, and emotions she had buried for years surged forward. She fallen in love with esdeath but in the blink of an eye Love turned into obsession, and the once-detached Lortell became fiercely possessive of Esdeath. Kaelith wasn''t so different. To protect herself from the weight of expectations, she had built her own shield¡ªan arrogant, domineering attitude. She acted tough, spoke with the confidence of a tyrant queen, and pushed people away with her sharp tongue and prideful demeanor. But it was all a mask. A fragile shield hiding a vulnerable heart that desperately wanted to be free. What hurt Kaelith the most was knowing that no one truly understood her. Even in Free Life Fantasy, Kaelith''s character was left as little more than an arrogant side character. There was no backstory, no depth, no exnation for her behavior. Even esdeath didn''t know about this side of kaelith. "No!" Kaelith shook her head as the thought troubled her. "Ethan is just amoner, and Esdeath is only a baroness. They don''t have the kind of family pressure I have to win. As for that girl, Maruti¡­ she''s probably just some nobody with no background." But as Maruti''s name crossed her mind, Kaelith couldn''t help but recall that moment. The truth was, Kaelith hadn''t been fully defeated in that fight. She had chosen to lose. And the reason? Maruti. From the very beginning, Maruti had been the one taking the brunt of Kaelith''s attacks. She was like a shield for her team, absorbing hit after hit to protect Ethan and Esdeath. Out of every eight punches Kaelith threw, seven of themnded on Maruti. Her face was swollen, her body battered, and bruises covered her from head to toe. But despite all of that, she stood firm, refusing to back down. She was the perfect tank, holding her ground for her teammates, especially Esdeath. Kaelith had noticed it. "Why are you blocking my punches? My strikes can shatter your jaw. If your injuries be severe, the academy will charge you for healing, and there''s no way someone like you can afford it. They''ll do the bare minimum, and your face will be permanently disfigured. Do you even realize what you''re risking? A girl''s face is everything!" These thoughts flooded Kaelith''s mind as she swung another punch toward Maruti. But just before it connected, something stopped her. Kaelith hesitated. Her grudge wasn''t with Maruti; it was with Esdeath. She wasn''t a heartless monster, and the idea of permanently harming someone who wasn''t her true target felt¡­ wrong. So, she pulled back slightly, reducing the power in her punch. Even then, when the blownded, it was still strong enough to make Maruti stagger. She saw Maruti''s body sway, her legs faltering, but the girl didn''t fall. Maruti stood there, blood dripping from her lip, and looked at Kaelith with unyielding determination. Kaelith stepped back, retreating for a moment, and her gaze shifted to Esdeath. "Are you doing this for her? But why? What''s in it for you to be so desperate? Did she save your life or something? From what I know, you two only met here in the academy. How could your bond be so deep already?" Her anger grew. No matter how hard Kaelith tried tond a finishing blow on Esdeath, Maruti was always there. She intervened every single time, even at the very end. Kaelith remembered it clearly. She had aimed a decisive punch at Esdeath, but Maruti had thrown herself between them, taking the full force of the blow yet again. Even as Kaelith''s fist mmed into Maruti''s face, the girl retaliated with a punch of her own, striking Kaelith across the cheek. The crowd watched as Kaelith copsed to the ground, seemingly unconscious. But the truth was far from that. She wasn''t unconscious. Lying there on the ground, Kaelith stared up at the sky, her thoughts swirling in confusion. She didn''t feel defeated, but she felt¡­ hollow. "Why? Why does Esdeath have someone like her? Why does she have someone willing to stand by her side, no matter the cost?" Kaelith''s chest tightened, and her fists clenched.@@novelbin@@ "I want that too," she thought, her heart aching. "I want someone who will stay by my side no matter what. I want¡­ a friend." Closing her eyes, she pretended to faint. The crowd cheered for Esdeath''s victory, but Kaelith didn''t care. Winning no longer mattered to her. "Let them win," she told herself. "I can win the next rounds if I feel like it. This fight doesn''t matter anymore." -------------- "Ll... Ll..." Lortell hummed softly as she strolled through the academy''s bustling hallways, her steps light and carefree. Her voice carried a melodious tune that caught the attention of nearby students, but she paid them no mind. Let them whisper, let them stare¡ªit didn''t matter. Today was a good day. She was in an unusually great mood because of the news brought to her by her trusted head maid, Lorraine. Lortell smirked as she thought about the rare essence stone Lorraine had mentioned. "Blood Connection." A C-rank blood-path investigation stone. Its ability was simple yet powerful: if someone had ever consumed another person''s blood, the essence stone could track the location of that person, provided they weren''t using strong concealment techniques. And Lortell? She had drunk Esdeath''s blood plenty of times. "Esdeath is just an E-rank anyway," Lortell mused, her crimson eyes gleaming with excitement. "She wouldn''t have any advanced methods to hide herself. She''s probably just wandering around looking for luna. There''s no way she could block the stone''s effect." Her smile widened as she hugged herself, practically vibrating with excitement. The thought of reuniting with Esdeath filled her with a strange, obsessive joy. "The person who owns the essence stone is in the Awakened Kingdom. Lorraine has already gone to make contact. And Lorraine never fails me. Once she gets the stone, it''s only a matter of time before Esdeath and I are together again." She twirled in the hallway, her skirt swishing dramatically, oblivious to the students who paused to gawk at her entric behavior. But her daydreams were interrupted when a young maid rushed toward her. The maid bowed deeply, her voice trembling slightly. "Mydy, Vice Principal Lilith has summoned you to her office." Lortell''s hum ceased. Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly as her thoughts shifted. "Lilith? What does that hag want now?" She had a pretty good idea why. The academy was buzzing with rumors about five girls she had been tormenting. One of those girls had mysteriously died, and suspicion had naturally fallen on her. Her lips curled into a sneer, and she snorted disdainfully. "Hmph! That old hag is calling for me over this nonsense? Didn''t I already tell her I didn''t kill that girl?" Despite her irritation, Lortell knew she couldn''t ignore the summons. Refusing a direct order from Vice Principal Lilith wasn''t an option. She adjusted her posture, flicked her long hair over her shoulder, and began walking in the direction of the Vice Principal''s office. ----------- Lortell reached the Vice Principal''s office and, without hesitation, pushed open the door. She didn''t bother knocking¡ªwhy would she? She had never felt the need to respect anyone''s authority. But as the door swung open, her sharp eyes caught sight of something unexpected. Her brows furrowed slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. Lilith wasn''t alone. Seated across from Lilith was someone unexpected¡ªa student, not a professor or member of the academy staff. It was Princess Ravenna. Lortell''s mind raced as she assessed the situation. "So that''s her n," Lortell thought, her lips curving into a bitter smirk. Lilith and Lortell were equals in authority, bound by academy rules. Despite Lilith''s warnings andints about Lortell''s actions, she couldn''t take direct action against her. But Ravenna was different. Who held the highest status in the academy? Not Lortell. Not Lilith. Not even the Principal. It was the Princess of the Kingdom¡ªRavenna Thorne. Although Ravenna was a first-year and far weaker than Lortell in terms of raw power, her royal status gave her authority that even Lortell couldn''t ignore. Lortell clicked her tongue in irritation. She had been cornered. She turned sharply on her heel, intending to leave without a word. But just as she reached for the door¡ª "Stop. Do not leave," Ravenna''s firm voice rang out. Lortell froze, her body tense. She gritted her teeth in frustration but turned back reluctantly. With an exaggerated sigh, she strode over to the chair opposite Lilith and Ravenna and sat down. Even seated, Lortell''s towering height was intimidating. She met Ravenna''s gaze with an air of defiance, her head held high. Ravenna, though tall for a girl, couldn''t match Lortell''s presence. Still, the Princess didn''t falter. "I''ve heard you''ve been bullying some students," Ravenna began, her voice calm but with a sharp edge. Lortell rolled her eyes. "Bullying? That''s a bit much. I was just having some fun with the freshmen. If they''re too sensitive, that''s not my problem." Her tone was dismissive, her words dripping with arrogance. Ravenna''s expression didn''t change. She pulled out a folded paper from herp and began reading. "You refused to let a girl use the washroom, forcing her to humiliate herself by wetting her clothes. You put a dog cor on another girl, made her crawl on all fours, and paraded her naked through the halls. And there''s more." Ravenna''s voice was steady, but her eyes were filled with disappointment. Lortell''s smirk faded slightly as Ravenna continued. "It''s fortunate the second incident happened at night when most of the academy was asleep. But the few who witnessed it were appalled. Your actions aren''t just cruel¡ªthey''re damaging the academy''s reputation." Ravenna''s tone hardened with anger as she finished speaking. Lortell shrugged, leaning backzily in her chair. "It was just a little hazing. They''re overreacting." Lilith''s lips pressed into a thin line, but she remained silent, letting Ravenna handle the situation. Ravenna sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Let''s set the past aside for now. I''llpensate the victims'' families and ensure no rumors spread beyond these walls. But from this moment on, you are to stay away from the remaining four girls. You can''t just go around doing whatever you please, Lortell." Her voice carried authority, but Lortell wasn''t impressed. Leaning forward, Lortell''s crimson eyes locked onto Ravenna''s. Her voice was low and dangerous. "Is that a request?" Ravenna didn''t flinch. She met Lortell''s gaze head-on, her own pink eyes burning with determination. "No," she said, her voice steady and firm. "It''s a royal order." The room fell silent. Lortell''s jaw tightened as she sat back in her chair, her expression unreadable. But deep down, she knew she had been forced into a corner. For now, she had no choice but toply. Lortell gritted her teeth as she stood up, her eyes zing with fury. "Kids these days think they can bark orders at me!" she spat, her voice dripping with disdain. With a swift kick, she sent the chair flying across the room. BAM! The chair mmed into the wall, shattering into pieces. "My whole damn mood is ruined!" she hissed, turning sharply on her heel and storming out of the office. As much as she hated it, she had no choice but to follow Ravenna''s order. She couldn''t bully those girls anymore, no matter how much she wanted to. The thought of pping Ravenna across the face crossed her mind, but she knew better. She clenched her fists tightly, her frustration burning like fire as she walked away. Back in the office, Lilith let out a small sigh of relief. The situation had finally been resolved, and she could feel the tension leaving her body. But Ravenna was a different story. As soon as Lortell was out of sight, Ravenna''s confident facade crumbled. Sweat poured down her face, and her breathing became ragged. "Pant¡­ pant¡­ That was so scary!" she thought, clutching her chest to steady herself. Her legs felt weak, and she barely managed to stay standing. "I thought I might faint at any moment!" She had been putting on a brave act, but inside, she was just a nervous girl facing someone far more powerful. Lortell''s overwhelming presence had been suffocating, and Ravenna couldn''t shake the fear that had gripped her throughout the conversation. --- Meanwhile, Lortell''s face was still twisted with anger as she stomped through the hallway. Her thoughts were consumed by frustration until she spotted her head maid, Lorraine, waiting for her. Lorraine quickly bowed her head upon seeing her mistress. "Mydy," Lorraine began, her tone calm but serious, "I''ve contacted the owner of the Blood Connection essence stone through telepathy. He''s a blood mage, without a doubt a criminal who''s taken many lives. However, he''s agreed to give us the essence stone. But there''s a catch¡ªhe''s too afraid toe here. We''ll need to go to him and retrieve it ourselves." Lortell''s fiery anger began to cool as she listened. Her scowl softened into a smirk. "That''s good news," she said, her voice regaining its usualposed tone. She took a deep breath, pushing aside her earlier rage. "I can''t wait any longer. I''ll go with you personally," she dered, her crimson eyes gleaming with determination. Character Introduction (1) Okay... So first I wanted to ask something. I have finally decided to open an ount to interact with readers, I don''t this will go well but just wanted to try out. But I''m confused for in which teform, Instagram or discord. I never downloaded both of the application in my life but I already know what Instagram is while have no idea how to use discord... So what should I choose! Which one is better,If discord is better than I just learn how to use it from YouTube . Well this Chapter only contains arts of some characters that I found and old arts that I once used as my book cover and then reced it.... So firstly our main FLF Mc... Ethan Rothyer... Now both of her girlfriend.... First Violet... I actually have three arts choose whichever you like.. Now now Sylvania Princess Ravenna... Kaelith Maranthia...... And one more art of kaelith Now guess who''s this? Nothing But our father-inw Mr. mariette. And now Selene Crimson/mariette ??this also looks quit cool. Now maruti... ummm... My instinct kinda kicked in with this third one.. I know, There''s still many characters Remaining and I haven''t given given arts of esdeath and Lortell yet..@@novelbin@@ I''m going to publish another chapter that will contains many old arts of esdeath and Lortell that I used on my book before.... And in future when I get other Characters''s arts I''ll publish them as well.. Iron Gaze Despite the Bookwarm''s peculiar appearance¡ªa caterpir-shaped stone with a tiny, book-like structure attached to its back¡ªEsdeath knew it held immense value. For someone like her, whocked the foundational experience in refining and merging essence stones, it was a priceless find. "Knowledge is power," she murmured to herself, holding the stone delicately as if it were the most precious treasure. Without hesitation, she activated it. The moment she did, an overwhelming surge of memories flowed into her mind. These weren''t her own but belonged to someone else The memories belonged to a man named Arith Apro, a seasoned expert in essence stone refinement and merging. He was around sixty years old and had devoted most of his life to the art of essence stone maniption. Esdeath''s brows furrowed as fragments of his life began to take root in her mind. It was as if she could see glimpses of his work, his thoughts, and his struggles. This was the unique ability of the Bookwarm essence stone. It wasn''t just a memory archive; it was a vessel capable of transferring knowledge directly into the user''s mind. The memories weren''tplete. She only gained snippets: his name, his chosen paths of sound and soul, and the tragic fate he met. Arith Apro had once been the owner of two powerful essence stones¡ª"Soulpiercer" and "Forcebreaker"¡ªbefore his life was cut short by none other than Trynne Transylvania. The Bookwarm essence stone likely contained only a fraction of Arith''s lifelong knowledge, but even that was valuable. Esdeath now understood the basics of refining and merging essence stones. This wasn''t just written or verbal knowledge; it was as though the techniques had been etched directly into her brain. The sensation was indescribable¡ªa sudden rity, like pieces of a puzzle falling into ce. Of course, the Bookwarm was only a Rank E essence stone. Its capacity was limited, and it couldn''t hold the full depth of Arith''s expertise. But basics were the foundation of mastery. Even the most advanced techniques started with simple principles. It wasn''t hard to imagine Trynne refining hundreds of Bookwarms like this, spreading knowledge among her fellow vampires whocked experience. It was an efficient and clever technique, one that had now worked to Esdeath''s advantage. With all her work in the treasure room finallyplete, Esdeath sighed in relief. But now came the exciting part¡ªusing her SP points. She closed her eyes and willed her system to open. A sudden chime echoed in her mind, followed by a notification that appeared in front of her. Esdeath''s eyes widened slightly, her lips curling into a small, surprised smile. "Fifteen thousand? That''s... unexpected," she murmured. But deep down, she already knew the reason behind this surge. All the chaos esdeath caused in the Vanara tribe... it actually paid off. After winning thepetition, her reputation had soared. She''d earned a solid 5,000 SP just for that victory, raising her total to 5,030 SP at the time. She had used 500 SP to boost her strength, which left her with 4,530 SP. But now, thanks to the scandal she stirred in the Vanara tribe, she was reaping the rewards. The tribe was abuzz with her name. Hundreds of people had witnessed her battle against Ujjain, and word had spread like wildfire. Rowan now saw her as a serious threat, a true enemy to watch out for. Meanwhile, Mourya¡ªwell, Mourya''s perspective wasplicated. Part of him seemed to view her as daughter-inw. *Whatever the case, they all know who esdeath is...Recognition equaled power, and in her system''s terms, that power tranted into SP points. The best part? None of this disrupted the main storyline. Esdeath had been careful. In the original timeline, Ethan Rothyer never even visited the Vanara tribe. And while she had taken a few essence stones from Mourya''s treasure room, It was only Level One treasure room, rest of them were untouched, keeping things mostly as they were supposed to be. The only real deviation was the brewing tension between Rowan and Mourya. Their eventual battle might y out differently, but since her system awarded her SP points, it was clear the main story hadn''t been significantly altered. With so many SP points at her disposal, Esdeath''s mind raced with possibilities. The first thought that came to her was clear¡ªhealing. In her battle with Ujjain, she had realized just how much shecked in this area. Relying on healers wasn''t always practical, especially in critical moments where every second counted. It wasn''t just her; every awakened warrior dreamed of having their own healing abilities, something they could rely on without depending on healers. Her gaze turned thoughtful as she considered her options. "If I''m right about my star constetion, it''s aligned with the time path. ." But there was a problem. Esdeath only knew about high-level time path healing techniques. They were immensely powerful, capable of reversing even fatal injuries, but they were expensive and required massive SP points she didn''t have. Worse, low-level time path healing techniques were practically useless, offering minimal benefits for significant effort. Esdeath frowned. Back when she yed as Ethan Rothyer, she hadn''t explored the time path much. Ethan wasn''t someone who used it, so she didn''t have a wealth of options to draw from. "I''ll leave it to the system,"she decided with a sigh. "Find a random time-path healing skill," she willed. After a moment, a notification appeared. "" "" <10,000 SP deducted> Esdeath stared at the notification, her eyes twitching slightly. "Ten thousand SP¡­ just like that?" she muttered. Annoyance flickered across her face for a moment. She had worked so hard to umte those points, and now half of them were gone in an instant. But as she reread the description of the skill, her irritation faded. Echo of Restoration wasn''t just a healing skill¡ªit was a lifesaver. The ability to gradually restore her body to a previous uninjured state was exactly what she needed. A small smile tugged at her lips. For once, she didn''t yell at her constetion. "Not bad...not bad," she admitted quietly. With 9,530 SP remaining, Esdeath quickly turned her attention to her other skills. She decided to upgrade her "Sharpshooter" skill, thinking it would be a good investment. But as soon as she made the selection, another notification popped up. Arge red cross appeared in front of her, mocking her attempt. Esdeath''s forehead twitched in frustration. "Nine thousand SP isn''t enough? Seriously?" She groaned, crossing her arms. Fine, then. I''ll work on something else. Her gazended on Eagle Eyes (E), a skill that had served her well in the past. "Let''s see if I can improve you," she said, activating the system once more. This time, the notification was much more satisfying. Esdeath''s eyes lit up as she read the description. Human eyes can see at thirty to sixty frame rate per second but here, this skill can help her seeing in 250 FPS? It was simply incredible. Multiple times more than normal humans, It was really a good deal, while how much points got deducted? <2500 SP deducted> It was a kind ofrge but esdeath didn''t mind it. But she still had remaining SP that she decided to not use all of it and just used a part of it on her Strength, Speed and stamina ordingly. Esdeath had strengthened endurance of her body, So she could use more SP to increase her stats. "Let''s keep them for now! ", She thought. For now her stats looked like this. : 146 : 122 : 116 : 717 Current skills in possession - Sharpshooter (E)Upgradable: When used, time will slow down for five seconds. Can only be used once every 50 minutes. - Iron Gaze (D) Upgradable: Can see over great distances with precision + Can see the flow of mana + Can see at 250 FPS rate.> - Skill: Paralyze Bullet (E) Upgradable ¨CAfter using this skill, the first bullet fired by you will have a paralyzing effect that can immobilize both monsters and awakened individuals up to D-rank for around 10 minutes.@@novelbin@@ -Skill (C) Upgradable: Echo of Restoration : Heals injuries gradually by "echoing" moments in time when the user was uninjured, slowly mending wounds to mirror their former state. (Reminder : I have changed the Sword mode to Scythe mode, Although I told about it in past but just in case if someone forgot) Esdeath let out a sigh of relief. Everything she had worked for so far was finally paying off. All the battles, the risks, and the chaos¡ªit felt worth it in this moment. But her moment of peace didn''tst long. "Fable, do you know any essence stone that can turn me back into a man?" Maruti''s voice cut through the silence, her tone filled with curiosity. Esdeath blinked and shook her head. "How would I know?" she replied inly. Maruti snorted, crossing her arms with an annoyed look. "Hmph. You said you''ve yed this game, and now you''re saying you don''t know this? What''s the point of your so-called knowledge then?" Esdeath shook her head again, this time with a hint of exasperation. "I know about temporary ones, like the Yin-Yang Rotation Essence Stone. It can turn you into a man for about six months, but that''s about it. I didn''t y this game to mess with gender mechanics. I yed it to fight. Combat is what I focused on!" She wasn''t lying; she genuinely had no idea about permanent solutions. "Six months, huh?" Maruti''s eyes lit up with excitement. "Well, that''s good enough for me! Just tell me all the detailster, and I''ll refine a hundred of them. Problem solved¡ªeasy peasy!" Esdeath stared nkly at her, her face unreadable. Her mind wasn''t on Maruti''s excitement anymore. Instead, she was focused on something else¡ªsomething strange. When she narrowed her eyes slightly to focus, her instincts sharpened, and suddenly, everything around her seemed to slow down. It was surreal. Esdeath realized she was seeing the world in extreme detail, almost frame by frame. Her Iron Gaze skill had activated without her realizing it. At 250 FPS, she could see every flicker of Maruti''s expression, the subtle movement of her lips, and even the smallest twitch of her fingers. Esdeath blinked several times, and the effect faded, returning her vision to normal. She sighed inwardly. "It''s like switching between two different lenses. This could be incredibly useful." "Hello? Did you fall asleep with your eyes open or something?" Maruti waved a hand in front of Esdeath''s face, snapping her out of her thoughts. Esdeath''s expression turned serious as she remembered something important. She straightened up, her tone firm. "Predictor, I need you to take things seriously from now on." Maruti blinked in confusion. "Huh? What''s with the sudden mood change?" Esdeath shook her head, her face solemn. "I''ve been meaning to talk to you about this for a while now, but we kept getting caught up in the mess, Like with the Vanara tribe." She paused for a moment before continuing. "You''ve been treating everything like a joke, like it''s all fun and games. But this isn''t our world anymore. We almost died back there" Her voice was calm but carried a weight that couldn''t be ignored. Maruti''s yful expression faltered slightly. "I mean¡­ I know that, but¡ª" Esdeath cut her off. "No buts. You need to switch into your serious personality, just like you used to back in our world when things got tough. I''m not gonna save you, if you fall in danger. " For a moment, there was silence. Maruti''s usual cheerful and carefree expression vanished, reced by a nk stare. For the first time, her face turnedpletely serious. Her gaze carried an intense pressure, like a towering monolith that could crush anyone beneath it. Her eyes appeared hollow, devoid of light, and her expression was filled with an infinite pride that seemed to look down on all living things. Her tone was ice-cold when she spoke. "Let me ask you something. Are you serious?" Esdeath blinked, confused by the sudden shift in mood. "What do you mean by that? I''m always serious¡ª" But before she could finish, Maruti interrupted sharply, her words cutting through like a de. "Of course you''re not. Not anymore. You used to be so much more serious back then. You never trusted anyone, not even in me. You lived to kill. That''s why the hitman life suited you so well." Maruti''s voice grew heavier, filled with unshakable certainty as she continued. "I was with you for decades, remember? Killing for money, torture, scandals, scams, massacres¡ªwemitted countless crimes together. Even high table was wary of us. Only until you fought with "him" And the very next day, You said you want retirement. She took a step closer to Esdeath, her voice lowering but gaining even more weight. "If I were to sum it up in one sentence, you were the biggest shameless bitch before. But now¡­" She paused, cing her hand lightly over Esdeath''s chest, her gaze unyielding. "It feels like your heart has started beating again. Do you think I wouldn''t notice?" Esdeath remained silent, her expression unreadable. "You''ve gotten a little soft," Maruti continued, her tone sharp. "Now, you fight to survive and defeat, not to kill, It feels like you are now afraid of dying. And if you''re not fighting to kill, then why should I? " The heavy words hung in the air, but they didn''t faze Esdeath. Her face stayed calm,pletely emotionless, as she replied with a quiet but firm voice. "Are you disappointed?" Maruti blinked, then let out a small, amused chuckle. Slowly, her lips curled into a smile. "Disappointed? No. I''m actually d." Her tone softened, and for a moment, the tension in the room eased. "It''s kind of nice seeing you like this for a change." But before Esdeath could react, Maruti''s expression shifted again. Her smile turned wicked, her eyes gleaming with mischief. She leaned in close, her lips almost brushing against Esdeath''s ear as she whispered, "But I do have one question." Esdeath stayed still, her face like a nk canvas. "The change," Maruti murmured, her voice dripping with curiosity. "Is it because of a girl?" No reaction. Esdeath didn''t even blink. "Or¡­ a boy?" Maruti added, her voice teasing and soft. Still, Esdeath''s expression didn''t waver. She gave absolutely nothing away. Maruti smirked and stepped back, her yful demeanor returning as quickly as it had left. "Ah, I see. You''re not going to admit it, huh? Let me predict¡ªit''s a girl, right? Never thought someone who hated romance would fall in love." Sheughed lightly as she turned away, her usual carefree grin stered back on her face. Esdeath finally let out a small snort, folding her arms. "Think whatever you want, " "Think whatever you want," Both said in unison. "I knew you were going to say that! ",Maruti waved her hand dismissively as she moved toward the pile of armors and resources in the room. "Whatever, whatever. Anyway, I''m going to store all Armours, Spears, Sword and other resources in my storage essence stone." She threw a quick nce over her shoulder. "Thepetition starts tomorrow, and we''ve got to get moving. Let''s go." CQC Selene''s wide eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked around the arena. Her tiny hands gripped Maruti''s head as she sat on her shoulders, marveling at the sea of colors in the crowd. "Woah¡­ so many people with different hair colors!" she eximed, her voice filled with childlike wonder. Maruti sighed, ncing up at the little girl perched on her shoulders. "Why are you so surprised? Didn''t you see plenty of people when we were on our way here?" she replied, her tone slightly exasperated. The arena was bustling with energy, divided neatly into three distinct sections. The center section was the most prestigious, reserved for high-status individuals. At the very top, special luxury seats gleamed, reserved for Lilith and other royals. The air around them felt distant and unreachable, a clear distinction between them and the rest of the audience. The second section catered to the academy''s students and the wealthy. Rows offortable seats lined this area, upied by neatly dressed nobles and merchants who had paid a hefty fee to witness the battles. For them, this was a thrilling form of entertainment, and their contributions helped fund the academy. Thest section, at the bottom, was vastly different. It was a crowded standing area filled withmoners and non-awakened individuals. The fee to enter was low, allowing ordinary people a glimpse of the extraordinary world of battles. Yet, they had no seats to rest on and stood shoulder to shoulder, craning their necks to see the action. For many, this was a rare opportunity to witness power they could only dream of. Among the sea ofmoners stood Maruti, towering over everyone else in her section. Her tall frame made her stand out, but she didn''t seem to care. Sitting on her shoulders, Selene gleefully scanned the arena, her small hand steadying herself on Maruti''s head. "Aunt, which one of them is my daddy?" Selene suddenly asked, her voice curious and filled with innocence. Maruti rolled her eyes and sighed deeply. Her pupils darted upward to nce at the child. "I already told you, none of them is your daddy. Why do you ask so many questions?" she muttered. Selene puffed her cheeks slightly, undeterred. "Hmm¡­ figured. I have ck and white hair, and Mother has ck hair. So, my daddy must have white hair!" she dered confidently, nodding to herself as if she had solved a grand mystery. Maruti froze for a moment, the words sinking in. Her mind wandered to Kaelith, whose silver-white hair matched Selene''s description perfectly. "Now that I think about it¡­ Kaelith does have white hair¡­" she thought, her lips twitching slightly at the realization. Her gaze softened as she looked at Selene. "This kid is smarter than she looks," Maruti mused, feeling a mix of admiration and exasperation. ------------------ "Why the rush?" Esdeath asked, a yful smile curling on her lips. Yet her eyes remained cold and unfeeling, sending chills down anyone who dared to meet her gaze. "I''m going to win anyway." Her voice was casual, almost bored, as if this match wasn''t worth her time. She was wearing her usual academy uniform, though, true to her personality, she had styled it in her own daring way¡ªcarefree and almost provocative. The outfit clung to her figure in ways that made heads turn, but Esdeath didn''t care about the attention. From the royal seating above, Lilith let out a long sigh of relief as she watched Esdeath enter the arena. "Hah... thank the gods. My problem is finally over," she muttered to herself, slumping slightly in her chair. Esdeath had been missing for the past week, and her absence had caused chaos in the academy. Lortell, ever the unpredictable force, had threatened Lilith herself. She had made it very clear that if the academy didn''t find Esdeath within ten days, she would personally turn the campus into a bloodbath. And knowing Lortell''s reputation, Lilith had no doubt she would follow through with the threat. But now, seeing Esdeath safe, sound, and radiating power, Lilith felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders. For now, at least, peace was restored. The referee''s voice echoed across the arena. "Take your positions! Start when I say start!" All eyes were on Esdeath and her opponent, Gilbert. The crowd was buzzing with anticipation, their curiosity piqued. Was Esdeath all talk and no substance? Was her reputation as a top-tierbatant well-earned, or was it just because of her physical prowess in non-magic scenarios? The referee raised her hand high into the air. "Start!" she shouted, and the match officially began. Gilbert wasted no time. The moment the signal was given, he began chanting spells at lightning speed. "Physical Strength Boost! Greater Physical Strength Boost! Magic Boost! Magic Boost!" As he chanted, a faint glow surrounded him, signaling the effects of his buffs. Boosting magic didn''t take as long to cast as elemental spells, but it came with its own challenges¡ªit drained a lot of mana. However, Gilbert had prepared in advance. He had consumed several mana-enhancing potions before the match, temporarily expanding his mana pool. He looked confident, assured that his preparation would lead him to victory. Meanwhile, Esdeath didn''t move. She didn''t chant or raise her hands. She simply stood there, her cold gaze fixed on Gilbert. Her red eyes burned with an intensity that made even the bravest onlookers shudder. For some reason, just looking at Gilbert filled her with irritation¡ªno, anger. She couldn''t quite ce why at first, but then it hit her. Gilbert''s tall, bulky frame reminded her of someone she hated¡ªUjjain. The memories came flooding back. Ujjain, the man who had nearly killed both her and Maruti. His towering figure and arrogant demeanor. She had defeated him in the end, but the victory hadn''t been enough to satisfy her. His death had been too quick, too merciful. Now, seeing Gilbert, something inside Esdeath snapped. He wasn''t Ujjain, but the resemnce was close enough to ignite a storm of fury within her. After all the boosts, Gilbert roared as he charged at Esdeath. "Purgatory Dash!" he bellowed. At once, two magic circles appeared beneath his feet, glowing brightly. His body shot forward like a bullet, dashing through the air and closing the distance toward Esdeath at a frightening speed. But then¡ª As if time itself had slowed down¡­ And then¡ª Esdeath slowly shifted her posture, her movements sharp and deliberate as she took a stance that looked deceptively simple but exuded overwhelming intent. It was "Close Quarters Combat"¡ªCQC¡ªa stance refined for direct, brutal efficiency. Her body crouched slightly, knees bent for bnce, with one hand positioned close to her face while the other hovered in front, prepared to strike or defend. Her stance was reminiscent of a predator moments before it lunged for the kill, muscles tensed and ready. The world around her started to fade into darkness, as though the arena itself was being swallowed whole. The ground beneath her feet turned pitch ck, rippling like a river of endless void. Perfect white circles, sharp and glowing, appeared at measured distances on the ground, radiating outward like ripples in still water. The circles pulsed faintly, creating a stark contrast against the inky ckness. The noise of the crowd¡ªthe cheering, the gasping, the murmuring¡ªfaded into nothingness. Silence fell over her ears, leaving her with only the steady rhythm of her own breathing. In this silent void, Esdeath''s mind sharpened to an edge. The circles beneath her became her battlefield¡ªimaginary yet absolute. They represented control, precision, and her dominance over the space. Her crimson eyes flickered, glowing faintly in the darkened illusion she created. There was no hesitation, no wasted energy. Only the calm, focused silence of a storm about to unleash itself. From above, to those watching, Esdeath looked like she had melded with something unworldly. Lilith, sitting at the topmost luxury seats, gasped sharply. "That stance¡­ CQC?" Her voice carried just enough to startle the nearby professors. One by one, their gazes locked on Esdeath, and recognition dawned. "CQC?!" murmured several teachers in shock, their eyes widening. The crowd, though unaware of the full significance, could sense something ominous. All eyes turned to Gilbert, who was still in midair, charging straight toward Esdeath. But his expression had changed. The confident smirk he wore moments ago had vanished. His eyes were wide, pupils trembling, as a sickening dread crawled up his spine. *"Why? Why do I feel so scared? I''m fine¡­ I''mpletely fine¡­ But why?"* Gilbert''s thoughts raced, his breathing quickening. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, trickling down his face. *"Am I going to die? This is a match, right? Someone¡­ Save me¡­ Please¡­"* Then¡ª Swish.... BAM!.. Srrrk¡­ A series of sharp sounds exploded across the arena, so fast they merged into one blinding moment. Shockwaves rippled outward, strong enough to make some spectators shut their eyes and clutch their ears. When they opened their eyes again¡ª A thud. Gilbert was on the ground, copsed in a heap. His entire body was drenched in sweat, his limbs trembling violently. But more importantly, he was alive. Not a single scratch marred his body. The arena fell into stunned silence. Confusion flickered across the faces of the crowd as their eyes darted toward Esdeath. And there she stoodpletely still¡ªbut surrounded. Lilith''s hand was mped around Esdeath''s neck, her face pale and strained. Two professors nked her sides, blocking her arms from moving, while three female teachers hovered around her with grim expressions, ready to intervene again if needed. It was clear to everyone who could process the moment: They had stopped Esdeath just in time. Had they been a secondte¡­ Gilbert would have been dead. Lilith exhaled shakily, though she tried to maintain herposure. She gave Esdeath a forced smile, but her voice betrayed her unease. "Too bad, but killing isn''t allowed," she said bitterly, as if trying to make light of the situation. She released her grip and stepped back. "You''ve been given a warning, Esdeath Crimson. If you try something like this again, you''ll be disqualified. Oh, and¡­ meet me in my officeter." Before anyone could blink, Lilith was already gone, returning to her seat with a flicker of movement, as though she had teleported. The other professors and teachers withdrew as well, leaving Esdeath standing alone once more. The referee finally raised her hand, clearing her throat with a shaky voice. "Esdeath Crimson from ss B wins!" she announced, though her voice carried a hint of disbelief. Gilbert, still trembling, didn''t argue. He stood up as quickly as his shaking legs would allow, nodded weakly, and left the arena without a single word. The crowd watched him go in stunned silence. Then, as though someone had flipped a switch, the arena erupted into cheers. The audience roared with excitement, their voices echoing throughout the massive space. None of them understood exactly what had happened, but they could sense it had been extraordinary. From the side, Ethan''s expression darkened. Unlike the others, he wasn''t cheering. Instead, his sharp eyes were locked on Esdeath, his brows furrowed in thought. "How does she know so many ancient martial arts? Who even teaches CQC anymore? Something''s not right about her¡­ There''s something fishy going on." Meanwhile, Esdeath stood in the center of the arena,pletely unbothered by the chaos she had caused. "Tch¡­ fucking lolicon," she muttered under her breath as she leaves. -------------- After the previous duel, the atmosphere in the arena slowly settled back to normal. The referee stepped forward, raising her voice to announce the next match. "Next match, Maruti from ss B versus Mariah Adler from ss B!" Cheers and murmurs rippled through the crowd, but Esdeath didn''t stay to watch. She quietly pulled Selene with her, disappearing from the arena. Her movements were deliberate, avoiding unnecessary attention. Esdeath wasn''t about to take the risk of someone spotting her with Selene. Meanwhile, Maruti entered the arena with a carefree attitude, cracking her knuckles as she prepared for the fight. However, the crowd''s focus wasn''t entirely on her¡ªthey were distracted by whispers and subtle nces toward her opponent''s absence.@@novelbin@@ Maruti frowned as the seconds ticked by, ncing toward the other side of the arena where her opponent was supposed to appear. But no one came. The referee waited a few moments, her voice echoing as she called out again, "Mariah Adler, if you do note, Maruti will be dered the winner by default!" The arena fell into a tense silence, eyes darting to the entrance. But still, there was no sign of Mariah Adler. --- Away from the arena, a teacher approached Lilith, her face pale and grim. She leaned close to the vice principal, her voice a low, urgent whisper. "Vice Principal, a serious problem has urred. We found three more bodies of academy students¡­ two boys and one girl." Lilith''s sharp eyes turned to her in shock. "Three more?" The teacher hesitated, as if reluctant to continue. "I''m afraid¡­ the girl is Mariah Adler." Lilith froze, her body rigid as the weight of the words hit her. First Be, and now this. Four students¡ªdead. "Who¡­?" Lilith''s mind raced with thoughts. "Who would dare kill academy students one after another?" A mix of fury and dread simmered in her chest. Her expression remainedposed, but inside, the anger was boiling. Taking a long breath to steady herself, she rose from her seat, her calm voice barely masking her frustration. "Okay, I''ming." The teacher nodded, leading Lilith out of the arena. --- Back in the arena, the referee''s voice rang out, snapping the crowd''s attention back to the match. "Maruti from ss B wins by default!" Maruti blinked in surprise, scratching the back of her head. "Well¡­ that was unexpected," she muttered under her breath before shrugging and leaving the arena. --- The day continued as more matches unfolded, the energy in the arena rising and falling like waves. Princess Ravenna''s match was one of the highlights, and, as expected, the elegant and powerful princess imed an effortless victory. As the matches wrapped up and the sun began to dip toward the horizon, the crowd grew restless, worn from the excitement of the day. The sky turned orange, signaling the arrival of evening. The referee stepped forward onest time, raising her hands to quiet the crowd. "That''s it for today! All winners will proceed to tomorrow''s matches. With that, today''s event officiallyes to an end. Thank you, and have a good evening!" A mix of cheers and tired sighs echoed across the arena as students and spectators began to file out. Mental Trauma Ancient Arts¡ªwhat are they, really? If exined simply, they are the same as the martial arts from the modern world¡ªstyles like kung fu, boxing, karate, jeet kune do, aikido, and others. The only difference between them and what exists now is time. In the world of Free Life Fantasy (FLF), martial arts were once widespread, something nearly every fighter knew to some degree. But this raises an important question: Why would anyone need martial arts when they have mana, essence stones, and powerful magic? The answer lies in the ancient times. First of all, during those times, magic wasn''t something people could easily perform. While a few exceptional individuals, like the legendary Savitri Seraphine, could wield magic, they were extremely rare. Themon people relied heavily on essence stones. The second reason was the rarity of awakened individuals. In the present day, about two out of ten people bes an awakened¡ªblessed with natural talents to use mana and abilities. But back in the ancient era, things were drastically different. The ratio wasn''t two in ten; it was closer to four or five out of a thousand. Awakened individuals were so rare that they were often misunderstood. In some regions, they were feared, treated as curses or as the puppets of some evil god. Healers, for example¡ªwho are highly respected and essential in the present day¡ªwere often shunned back then. Instead of being praised, they were seen as strange and dangerous. Many were mistreated or cast out of theirmunities. Because of these circumstances, martial arts flourished. People didn''t have mana to rely on, and awakening was rare. So, they developed their bodies, their skills, and their techniques to survive and fight. Masters of martial arts were seen as legends, their skills passed down through generations. But over time, as the number of awakened individuals increased and magic became moremon, the need for martial arts faded. Mana and magic were easier to use and far more destructive. Why spend years training your body when magic could destroy mountains in seconds? By the present day, those skilled martial arts became almost extinct. Very few people even knew of their existence, let alone practiced them. Someone like Lilith, for example, barely knows two or three martial arts styles¡ªnot that she ever needs them. With her overwhelming strength and magic, martial arts seem outdated and unnecessary. This is why, when people saw Esdeath and Maruti using ancient martial arts, they werepletely shocked. How could two teenage girls¡ªwho should have been born in an age dominated by magic¡ªknow these ancient, forgotten techniques? But was this enough reason for everyone to be wary of Esdeath and Maruti? "So what if they know some ancient martial arts? Who cares?" That''s what most people thought. Martial arts, after all, couldn''t possiblypare to the power of magic¡ªright? Wrong!@@novelbin@@ Everyone held that belief until one man changed it all: Xing Liang, the legendary beastman known as the "Martial God" or "The One Who Walked the Path of Taoism." Xing Liang was born during the same era as the hero who went to fight the demon king. But what made him truly unique was how he revolutionizedbat. He didn''t just rely on martial arts¡ªhe merged them with essence stones and magic, creating deadly killer moves and powerfulbos. His name became legendary, and his feats shook the world. One of the most famous achievements in history was Xing Liang defeating a Rank S awakened when he himself was only Rank A. To put this in perspective: the gap between Rank A and Rank S was enormous. A Rank A was like a small hill, while a Rank S was like a towering mountain. A Rank A could bepared to a river, but a Rank S was like the ocean. It was said to be impossible to cross that gap. But Xing Liang did it. His martial techniques were deadly, precise, and unmatched. Among all of them, the one that struck fear into the hearts of anyone who witnessed it was "CQC"¡ªabat technique that allowed him to overwhelm even the most powerful opponents at close range. And there was one person alive who witnessed this firsthand: Lilith. It had been two hundred years since then, but the memory of Xing Liang and his "CQC" was still fresh in Lilith''s mind. Back then, she had been part of the hero''s party alongside Xing Liang. They had traveled together, fought alongside each other, and witnessed each other''s growth. Everyone else from that time had long passed away, but Lilith remained¡ªforever carrying the weight of that memory. So, when Lilith saw Esdeath''s stance¡ªwhen she recognized the unmistakable technique of CQC¡ªShe panicked. Of course, Esdeath''s version of CQC was countless times weaker than Xing Liang''s. But even so, it was still dangerous. It was sharp, precise, and lethal. If Lilith hadn''t intervened, Gilbert would have died on the spot. With no other choice, Lilith stepped in to stop Esdeath''s attack. ------------------ When Maruti went for her match, Esdeath didn''t stand around to watch. Without wasting a moment, she grabbed Selene and left the arena. There were two reasons for this. First, Esdeath didn''t want anyone to see her with Selene. If anyone found out, it could cause unnecessary trouble. Second, most of the academy was empty during thepetition, making it the perfect chance to take Selene to her room unnoticed. Her old roommate, Luna, was long gone¡ªkilled by Esdeath''s hands. With no one around to witness her actions, it was easier to hide Selene. In fact, this was one of the reasons Esdeath wanted to win the first round of thepetition and get into **ss A**. The reward for ss A students was a **personal room**, and Esdeath needed it. A private room meant safety¡ªshe could hide Selene there without anyone knowing. For now, Esdeath left Selene in the room. "Stay here quietly and don''t make any noise," she ordered. To keep Selene upied, she handed her a book. "Read this. I''ll be back soon." Selene nodded, her innocent eyes looking up at Esdeath, trusting herpletely. --- Both Esdeath and Maruti were now walking through the academy halls. Their destination was Vice Principal Lilith''s office. "We''re going to demand our personal rooms now that we''re in ss A," Esdeath said firmly. "And before anyone sees Selene, we''ll take her to the new room." Maruti, however, had other things on her mind. "But won''t Lilith ask a bunch of annoying questions? Like where we disappeared to during the matches, why we''re using ancient martial arts, and all that crap? Ugh, it''s gonna be such a pain!" Maruti sighed heavily, clearly not thrilled about the idea. Esdeath, as usual, didn''t seem to care. She shrugged. "It''s nothing. We''ll deal with it when it happens." Maruti rolled her eyes, mumbling something under her breath, but kept walking beside Esdeath. They were moving quickly, determined to get to their destination¡ª Until a familiar voice echoed through the empty halls. "Esdeathhh¡­" The sound of her name froze Esdeath in her tracks. Her footsteps stopped immediately. Her heart skipped a beat. That voice¡ª It was familiar. Very familiar. Esdeath''s eyes widened as she turned her head sharply to look behind her. "Mid-boss?" It was none other than Lortell Mariette. Lortell had returned from her journey earlier than expected. Behind her walked her head maid, slowly and silently, her gaze fixed on the floor. Lortell didn''t say a word. Instead, she ran toward Esdeath without hesitation. Before Esdeath could react, Lortell''s arms wrapped around her tightly, pulling her into a hug. Lortell was so tall that she had to bend down slightly, hugging Esdeath around her chest. Esdeath''s entire body stiffened. "...¡­" Her mind wentpletely nk. She had been preparing herself for this moment, telling herself she''d act calm andposed when she saw Lortell again. But reality hit her much harder than she expected. The overwhelming flood of emotions¡ªthe secret love she held for Lortell¡ªwas unbearable. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest as if it would burst. Instinctively, her arms moved on their own. She hugged Lortell back, holding her just as tightly. Time seemed to freeze around them. Esdeath closed her eyes for a brief moment, trying to hold back the emotions threatening to spill over. "Lortell¡­" She didn''t say more. She couldn''t. Lortell''s warmth, her presence, the way she clung to Esdeath¡ªit was too much. "What the fuck is happening?" Maruti muttered under her breath,pletely puzzled. She knew who Lortell Mariette was. Everyone did. But this was her first time seeing the legendary arch-duke''s daughter in person. Lortell''s elegance, her overwhelming presence¡ªit was like standing in front of royalty. But that wasn''t even the strangest part. What truly baffled Maruti was Esdeath''s reaction. Esdeath, the girl who treated everything and everyone like a joke, was standing there frozen like a child caught doing something wrong. Not once had Esdeath even mentioned that she and Lortell knew each other. The situation was beyond awkward. Maruti nced between them, her mind racing. "Is this real? Did I miss something huge?!" --- Lortell finally pulled back a little, just enough to look Esdeath directly in the eyes. Her face held a slightly annoyed expression, but there was also a faint trace of concern. "Why did you go out of the academy like that?" Lortell scolded gently, though her tone was firm. "Do you know how worried I was? What if something happened to you?" Esdeath panicked. Her heart started beating faster as she scrambled toe up with an excuse¡ªanything to get her out of trouble. "I¡ªI was just¡ª" But Lortell didn''t give her a chance to finish. "And," Lortell continued, her gaze narrowing, "I heard you started smoking?" Esdeath froze. Her eyes widened in shock, and she immediately started waving her hands in denial. "W-What? No! Absolutely not! I don''t smoke! Who even told you that?!" she stammered, her voice rising in panic. She looked away, unable to hold Lortell''s piercing gaze. It was so obvious she was lying that even Maruti facepalmed from the side. But instead of pressing further, Lortell simply smiled softly. "It''s okay. I believe in you," she said, her voice gentle. Esdeath blinked in surprise. That smile¡ªLortell''s calm, forgiving smile¡ªmade her chest tighten. --- Lortell''s gaze shifted downward, and her expression quickly turned into one of disapproval. She clicked her tongue softly. "Tch, tch¡­ What have you made yourself into?" Esdeath flinched slightly, unsure of what Lortell meant until¡ª Without waiting for permission, Lortell reached forward and started fixing Esdeath''s messy uniform. Her shirt''s top button was undone, offering an obvious glimpse of her cleavage. Her tie hung loosely, and her skirt barely covered half her thighs, looking unkempt and improper. Lortell sighed as she began closing the buttons of Esdeath''s shirt, her movements both careful and precise. "Don''t show your skin so much," Lortell said, her voice soft but serious. "I can''t bear to see someoneying their dirty gazes on you." She adjusted Esdeath''s tie, smoothing it out until it was perfectly straight. Finally, she tugged at Esdeath''s skirt, pulling it down to make her look like a neat and proper student. Esdeath stood therepletely still, her face bright red and her heart pounding so loudly it felt like it would burst. --- Maruti, standing off to the side, watched the whole thing with her jaw hanging open. "Is this really happening?" she thought, stunned. From what she knew, there were two basic rules when dealing with Esdeath, also known as "Fable." 1. Never tell Fable what to do. 2. Always remember the first rule. Maruti had been fully prepared to see Lortell get roasted for daring to scold and fix Esdeath''s clothes. After all, Esdeath didn''t take orders from anyone¡ªlet alone let someone boss her around like this. But the reality? Theplete opposite happened. Maruti couldn''t believe her eyes. Esdeath, the ruthless and fearless Esdeath, had her hands pressed against her cheeks. Her entire face was bright red, almost glowing. Her sparkling eyes looked like fireflies in the night, filled with a mix of embarrassment and wonder. It was like she was trying to hide her face, as though Lortell''s words and actions had struck her too deeply. Then, in a small, barely audible voice, Esdeath spoke. "...The thing you said earlier¡­Were you really¡­ worried about me?"she whispered, her voice trembling Her tone was soft, almost fragile¡ªso unlike her usual self. Maruti''s mouth fell open even further, her eyes practically bulging out of her skull. "Eh?... EHHHHHHHHHHHH?!" The sound echoed through the hallway like a broken trumpet. Her brain short-circuited. For a moment, she just stood there frozen¡ªeyes wide, jaw ck, as if it were about to hit the floor. There was no doubt about it. She had just taken mental trauma. Separated Again "Ahem¡­ Ahem¡­ My Lady," Lorraine''s voice suddenly broke the silence, snapping them both back to reality. "I think¡­ she can eat by herself now," the head maid said firmly, her expression somewhere between concern and exasperation. Lortell blinked, clearly displeased by the interruption, but before she could respond¡ª Swish¡­ A soft hum filled the air as a glowing magic circle appeared beneath Lorraine''s feet, teleporting her away in an instant. "Let''s continue!" Lortell said cheerfully, smiling as if nothing had happened. And so, the two of them resumed their strange yet oddly intimate meal. They fed each other like it was the most natural thing in the world. But it wasn''t the food they cared about¡ªoh no. Their eyes were locked, lost in a silent conversation only they could hear. The world around them faded, leaving just the two of them in a bubble of unspoken feelings. It was so obvious, even to the casual observer. This wasn''t just some friendly moment. This was love¡ªpure, raw, undeniable. But then, another magic circle appeared, glowing softly as it pulsed with energy. Swish¡­ Lorraine reappeared, stepping out of the teleportation spell as if she had never left. Esdeath blinked in surprise. Lortell, on the other hand, scowled. Didn''t lortell just sent her away? Of course, Lorraine wasn''t Maruti. She was Rank B¡ªa skilled individual in her own right. Teleporting herself back wasn''t a challenge, but defying Lortell''s orders was another matter entirely. Lorraine wouldn''t daree back unless it was urgent. "My Lady," Lorraine began, her tone calm yet firm. "Your father has summoned you to the mansion." Lortell froze for a second, her irritation bubbling to the surface. She gritted her teeth, her frustration evident in every tense muscle in her body. "Why the fu¡ª" she started, anger ring in her eyes. But then she stopped. Her gaze shifted to Esdeath, who was watching her with wide eyes. Lortell''s expression immediately softened, and an awkward smile stretched across her face. "Haha¡­ I wasn''t angry!" she lied, waving her hand dismissively. "It''s nothing. Just some¡­ family matters." Lorraine, unfazed by the performance, interrupted again, her voice sharper this time. "My Lady, this isn''t something you can ignore," Lorraine said as she held out a letter sealed with the family crest. The sight of the seal was enough to wipe the fake smile off Lortell''s face. She grabbed the letter, her eyes scanning the contents quickly. Her hands trembled slightly as she read. "Why at a time like this?" Lortell muttered under her breath, frustration thick in her voice. It was clear she didn''t want to leave¡ªnot now, not when she was finally spending time with Esdeath. For the first time in ages, Lortell looked genuinely conflicted, caught between her duty as the archduke''s daughter and her personal desires. Lortell stood up, She couldn''t refuse it after all. Her expression softened as she reached out and gently took Esdeath''s hand, her touch warm and reassuring. Esdeath''s heart skipped a beat. The feeling of Lortell''s steady yet tender grip sent waves of emotions crashing through her. It was as if Lortell''s hand was made to guide her, to protect her. Lortell didn''t say a word, but Esdeath understood everything. The silent exchange between them spoke volumes. As they left the cafeteria together, leaving the baffled onlookers behind, they walked through the academy halls side by side. Esdeath''s earlier embarrassment began to fade, reced by a quiet warmth that fluttered in her chest. Every few steps, she couldn''t resist sneaking nces at Lortell''sposed face. The calm yet determined aura around her made Esdeath feel safe in ways she couldn''t describe. Lorraine trailed behind them silently, observing the two with a mix of curiosity and concern. After walking for some time, Lortell finally stopped. She turned toward Esdeath, her tall figure bending slightly to match Esdeath''s height. Her warm eyes locked onto Esdeath''s as she reached out, cing both hands gently on her cheeks. "Esdeath," Lortell began, her voice soft but filled with an unusual seriousness. "Listen to me. I''ll be back tomorrow when thepetition starts. But¡­ I need to ask you something." Esdeath blinked, puzzled by Lortell''s sudden shift in tone. "What is it?" she asked. Lortell took a deep breath, her thumbs lightly brushing Esdeath''s cheeks. "Can you¡­ not participate in thepetition?" she asked, her tone almost pleading. Esdeath''s confusion deepened. "But why?" Lortell hesitated, her hands still cradling Esdeath''s face. Finally, she spoke, her words like a heartfelt confession. "You know how much I care about you, don''t you?" Lortell said, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "I can''t bear the thought of something happening to you. Why not just stay with me? You don''t need to do anything¡ªjust live by my side. I''ll take care of everything. We''ll be happy together¡­ forever." The sincerity in Lortell''s voice made Esdeath''s breath hitch. It wasn''t just a favor¡ªit felt like a proposal. Esdeath''s heart began to race, and her yandere instincts kicked in. The unique ring-like patterns in her eyes spun wildly, reflecting her chaotic emotions. "Lortell is asking me for a favor¡­ for the first time! I have to say yes. Lortell''s words are absolute. I''ll do anything for her!" Esdeath''s mind went into overdrive, her thoughts spinning out of control. She wanted to scream "yes," to throw her arms around Lortell, to confess her undying love right then and there. But¡­ something stopped her. Fable. Fable knew, Even though Lortell was an S-rank, the pinnacle of the academy''s ranking system, she was still just a mid-boss in the game. Esdeath/Fable knew that even if she agreed, they wouldn''t live happily ever after. Sooner orter, the battles woulde, And they both die. Inside her, the sh between her yandere side and Fable was intense, a storm of emotions and logic battling for control. Finally, Esdeath took a deep, shaky breath and made her choice. "N-No, I can''t," she said, her voice trembling as she forced the words out. Her heart felt like it was breaking, but she continued, her determination shining through. "I''m awakened now. I want to get stronger. I want to be strong enough to protect you, mydy!" For a moment, an awkward silence hung in the air between them, heavy and palpable. Esdeath shifted her gaze to the floor, her hands clenched tightly. Her thoughts churned, "Being protected by Lortell feels like an insult to me. If anything, I should be the one protecting her. That''s how it should be!" But then¡ª "Hahahaha!" Lortell''s suddenughter broke the stillness like a sharp de slicing through tension. Esdeath looked up, startled, as Lortell chuckled, a soft glimmer in her eyes. "You''re just like when we were little," Lortell said, brushing away invisible tears from herughter. "Always so determined to do things your way." Esdeath blinked, caught off guard by the warmth in Lortell''s voice. Before she could respond, Lortell reached into her pocket and pulled something out with a flourish. "Tadaa! A gift for you!" Lortell said with a proud grin, holding out a shimmering golden essence stone. Esdeath hesitated, then carefully took it from her hands. It was shaped like a turtle shell, with a beautiful flower design carved onto its surface. She recognized it immediately¡ªit was a Rank B storage essence stone. Her fingers tightened around it as she realized something more: the stone had already been refined. Lortell''s mana was embedded in it, meaning Esdeath could use it without needing to activate it herself. "This¡­ this is too much," Esdeath murmured, her voice barely audible. "Nonsense," Lortell said, waving her hand dismissively. "It''s yours. Use it wisely, and don''t lose it." Before Esdeath could protest further, Lortell straightened up and began to walk away. Her long strides carried her down the corridor, but after a few steps, she nced over her shoulder and waved. "Don''t disappear on me again, got it?" Lortell called out with a teasing smile. Esdeath watched her go, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I won''t," she whispered, though her voice didn''t carry.@@novelbin@@ Lortell''s figure receded into the distance, Lorraine trailing silently behind her. But as they turned a corner, Lortell''s yful expression shifted into something more calcting. "Well," Lortell thought to herself, "even if she tries to escape again, it won''t matter. I''ve already nted over three hundred essence stones on her and throughout the academy. I won''t make the same mistake of underestimating her again." Her lips curled into a mischievous smile as she disappeared from view. ----------------- Esdeath slid into her dorm room on her knees, her arms raised in triumph. "Yyyyyesssss! I knew it! I knew she likes me!" she shouted with uncontainable enthusiasm, her voice echoing off the walls. Her excitement made her heart race as she twirled in ce, her cheeks flushed with a mix of joy and embarrassment. She let herself fall back onto the floor, staring at the ceiling with a goofy grin. "There''s definitely some romantic connection between us. I mean, it''s so obvious!" she thought, her face heating up further. But as quickly as the excitement bubbled up, a serious expression took over her features. "But if I confess now¡­ I''m not a hundred percent sure she''d say yes. Women''s minds are so unpredictable! Even if she did agree, it''d mess up all my ns. I can''t have distractions like that." She sat up, tapping her finger against her lips, deep in thought. "No¡­ it would be much better if she confessed to me first! That way, everything would fall into ce." A sly smile spread across her face at the thought, but it faded just as fast. She let out a long, exaggerated sigh, flopping back onto the floor dramatically. "But how do I stop acting like a blushing fool around her? I could barely form a sentence today! It''s not my fault! My heart beats so fast when I''m near her that I can''t even think properly." Esdeath ced her hand over her chest, feeling the rapid thudding of her heart. She sighed again, this time even harder, trying to calm herself down. As she stared at the ceiling, her eyes wandered down to her legs. That''s when she noticed it¡ªa thick wetness dripping onto her thighs and even pooling on the floor. "Shit!" she cursed under her breath, her face instantly turning red again. "I''mpletely soaked! No wonder I could barely stand earlier. I need to hurry and change!" She was about to move when¡ª "What do you mean by that, Mother? Who likes you?" A small voice broke through her thoughts, followed by Selene dashing into the room. The little girl jumped straight into Esdeath''s arms, grinning mischievously. "Ah! Selene!" Esdeath instinctively caught her, her arms wrapping around the energetic child. She tried topose herself, clearing her throat. "Ahem¡­ ahem¡­ it''s nothing! Don''t ask silly questions!" Selene tilted her head, her grin growing wider as she observed Esdeath''s flushed face. "Hehehe¡­ You''re blushing, though! Your whole face is red! Did you secretly meet Daddy again? How much longer are you gonna hide Daddy from me?" Esdeath''s heart skipped a beat. She was not entirely wrong. "Hmph!" Esdeath puffed out her chest, trying to regain herposure. "Naughty girl! Mind your own business and don''t interfere with adult matters!" she said with a proud smile. Selene''s eyes sparkled with curiosity. "What''s an adult? Is it something we can eat?" Esdeath let out a long groan, cing a hand on her forehead. "You really ask too many questions for someone so small. Did you already finish thatst book I gave you?" ------------------ Somewhere in the sprawling academy garden, a tall girl with flowing silver hair and piercing silver eyes stood perfectly still. Her serious expression made her seem untouchable, almost like a statue carved from pure moonlight. She was none other than Kaelith Maranthia, the feared "Tyranny of the Academy." But in her arms¡ªheld bridal-style, no less¡ªwas someone who shattered the gravity of the momentpletely. A girl with sun-kissed, tanned skin and messy, vermilion-brown hair blinked up at her captor, looking like the picture of a mischievous tomboy. Her busty figure and carefree grin were at odds with her current predicament, which would have left most trembling in fear. This was Maruti¡ªcaught in Kaelith''s arms like a stray cat that didn''t know how it got there. Maruti gave a sheepish grin, scratching the back of her head awkwardly as she realized just how bizarre the situation looked. "Uh¡­ yo! I think we know each other!" she said, her tone casual, as if she wasn''t being cradled by one of the most intimidating figures in the academy. Kaelith''s silver eyes narrowed as a flicker of annoyance crossed her face. She didn''t release Maruti, but the corner of her mouth tugged up into a half-smile¡ªthough it was the kind of smile that made people gulp nervously. "Oh, of course I know who you are," Kaelith said, her voice low and calm, but her words carried the weight of a storm brewing. "What I don''t know is why in the hell you just fell out of nowhere into my arms? Spitting Bullshit Everywhere Kaelith''s voice was like a calm breeze carrying the promise of a thunderstorm. "Oh, of course, I know who you are," she said, her golden eyes narrowing with annoyance. "What I don''t know is why in the hell you just fell out of nowhere into my arms." Maruti felt a chill run down her spine at Kaelith''s sharp tone. That annoyed smile on Kaelith''s face was a clear warning: she was in deep trouble. Her mind spun desperately, searching for an escape n. Then, a ridiculous thought popped into her head. "What was that in the survival guide? If a wild animal pursues you¡­ y dead!" "Yeah, y dead!" she decided, determined to go through with her harebrained idea. Maruti let her eyes roll dramatically, her tongue lolling out of her mouth as she slumped in Kaelith''s arms like a rag doll. "Oh no¡­ I''m dead!" she croaked out in an exaggerated,ical tone. Kaelith didn''t seem remotely amused. Her eyebrow twitched as she raised a single finger and flicked it against Maruti''s forehead with enough force to make her wince. "Stop ying around," Kaelith said coldly. "You still haven''t given me an answer." She remained perfectly poised, still holding Maruti like some kind of unruly princess. Maruti opened one eye, her dramatic act abandoned in favor of a sheepish grin. "Umm¡­ well, it''s a crazy story, really! I don''t have a clue myself!" she said shamelessly, shrugging as though her exnation made perfect sense. Kaelith''s annoyed smile didn''t waver. Without a word, she released Maruti, letting her fall unceremoniously to the ground with a loud *thud*. "Ouch! Holy cow¡­ my back!" Maruti yelped, clutching at her spine. She groaned theatrically, but Kaelith didn''t spare her so much as a nce. Instead, Kaelith stepped forward, her boots clicking against the ground, and then¡ªwithout warning¡ªsat down squarely on Maruti''s stomach. "Ugh!" Maruti''s breath hitched as the full weight of Kaelith pressed down on her. She wheezed, her hands iling helplessly. "H-Hey! Shameless woman, get off! You''re way too heavy for this!" Maruti''s face flushed crimson as the crowd around them watched, some with wide eyes and open mouths. It was clear everyone was asking the same question: "What the hell is going on?" Maruti''s grin turned into a nervous, bitter smile. "W-Wait! Why here, in front of everyone? Let''s go somewhere quiet, okay? And¡­ and if you really have to do this, Bareback would be much nic¡ª"@@novelbin@@ SMACK! Kaelith''s handnded firmly on Maruti''s forehead again, making a sharp sound that echoed in the garden. "Stop thinking unnecessary things and just answer my question," Kaelith said with a sigh, her silver eyes narrowing. "Then be on your way." Maruti winced, rubbing her forehead. "Okay, okay! I''ll answer. Just get off my stomach first!" --- The two of them sat cross-legged in the middle of the academy garden. The surrounding trees swayed gently in the wind, but the air between them was heavy with awkward tension. Both girls had serious expressions, like they were about to discuss the fate of the world. Maruti tilted her head slightly, raising an eyebrow. "Alright, so¡­ what''s your question?" Kaelith hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line as her gaze flickered between Maruti and the grass beneath them. For someone so confident, she suddenly looked uncertain, like she wasn''t sure how to put her thoughts into words. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she asked softly, "Um¡­ what is a friend?" Maruti froze. Her jaw dropped slightly, and the silence between them stretched on. Kaelith''s question hung in the air like a puzzle no one wanted to solve. Then, out of nowhere, Maruti burst outughing. "Bwahahaha! Hahaha!" she howled, clutching her stomach as she doubled over. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes as she rolled on the ground. "This¡­ this silver lizard¡­ she''s gone insane! Hahaha! Oh, my sides hurt!" Kaelith''s expression darkened, her cheeks flushing faintly as her patience evaporated. BAM! BOOM! SLAM! Maruti was left sprawled on the ground, her face red and swollen from Kaelith''s "lessons." She groaned, clutching her cheeks. "I-I was just joking! Why are you so serious about it?!" Kaelith crossed her arms and stared down at her. "So? Feel like answering now?" Maruti let out a long, dramatic sigh, her earlier smugness fading as she sat up straight. "Fine, fine. I''ll answer," she muttered. Her swollen face made her words slightly garbled, but Kaelith didn''t seem to care. Clearing her throat, Maruti''s expression turned thoughtful. "Okay, so¡­ there are three types of friends. Best friend, good friend, and just¡­ friend." Kaelith blinked, tilting her head in curiosity. "Three types? Really?" "Yup!" Maruti nodded confidently, puffing out her chest like she was about to deliver a lecture. "Let me start with the top level. If you have someone who, just by seeing their face, makes you want to p them right then and there¡­ someone you''re absolutely sure is the reason for all your life''s problems¡ªlike not being able to get a girlfriend, failing your tests, or even stubbing your toe in the morning¡ª" Maruti paused, panting slightly from saying everything in one breath. She grinned mischievously and gave Kaelith a thumbs-up. "That person is your best friend!" Kaelith stared at her, her expression frozen in a mix of disbelief and faint amusement. Kaelith was about to ask another question, but Maruti held up her hand to stop her mid-sentence. "Wait, wait, I''m not done yet!" Maruti said, her tone confident and yful. "Now, let''s talk about good friends. Just the term ''good'' itself says a lot. A good friend is someone who''s your age, encourages you, helps you with a bunch of stuff, and always stays positive. They make you feel good, even when things seem rough. That''s a good friend," she exined, nodding to herself as if she were a wise sage. Kaelith blinked, her curiosity now piqued. She opened her mouth to speak, but Maruti''s grin widened. "And as for the third type¡­" she paused dramatically, her smile never wavering. "I''ll give you a live example!" Kaelith tilted her head, confused. "A live example?" Maruti suddenly extended her hand toward Kaelith. "Alright, extend your hand for a handshake and introduce yourself!" she said confidently, her tone leaving no room for argument. Kaelith hesitated, clearly puzzled. She looked at Maruti, then at her extended hand. "Why do I need to¡ª?" "No questions! Just do it!" Maruti interrupted, her voice filled with enthusiasm. Kaelith sighed, still not understanding what Maruti was up to. But something about Maruti''s unwavering grin made her feel like she should go along with it. Awkwardly, she extended her hand and sped Maruti''s. "Uh¡­ I''m Kaelith Maranthia?" she said, her voice uncertain, as though she was questioning her own name. Maruti shook her hand firmly and beamed. "Nice to meet you, Kaelith Maranthia! I''m Maruti Vanara!" she said brightly as she let go of Kaelith''s hand. Kaelith stared at her, bewildered. She nced around the garden, as if expecting some kind of magical event to happen. But all she saw was Maruti sitting there, grinning like a mischievous child who had just pulled off a great prank. Maruti pped her hands together. "Tadaa! We''re friends now!" Kaelith froze, her mind struggling to process Maruti''s deration. "Huh?" she stammered, But Maruti didn''t wait for her reaction. She dusted off her clothes, stood up, and waved a hand dismissively. "Alright, now that we''re done, I''ve got some other urgent things to do!" she called over her shoulder as she began jogging away. After running at full speed, Maruti finally slowed down, panting slightly. "Friend? Is that even something you can exin in words?" she muttered to herself. A smirk yed on her lips as she shrugged. "I just spat out the most random nonsense I could think of. Whatever, who cares?" With that, she picked up her pace and ran off again, disappearing into the distance. Back in the garden, Kaelith remained seated, her gaze fixed on the spot where Maruti had vanished. The silence around her was almost deafening as the realization slowly dawned on her. "Did¡­ I just make a friend?" Pre-Planned Thoughts Esdeath and Maruti stepped out of the dorm room, leaving Selene behind to stay in the room. The academy corridors were quiet, with only the faint sound of footsteps echoing around them. As they walked, a figure appeared ahead of them, approaching with calm, steady steps. Maruti immediately recognized him, her eyes widening in shock. "It''s¡­ Corin," she whispered, her voice filled with surprise. "The duke''s son. Why is he here? Corin stopped right in front of them, his face emotionless. He wasn''t here by ident; it was clear he hade to meet them on purpose. Without a word, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a small pouch, and handed it directly to Esdeath. "Your advice was very helpful to me," Corin said in a t, casual tone. "This is your reward. If you have any more suggestions in the future, don''t hesitate to share them." Maruti blinked, "Advice? What advice?" she asked, looking at Esdeath with a mix of confusion and shock. Corin didn''t stay to exin. He turned around and walked away without another word, leaving Esdeath and Maruti standing there in silence. Esdeath watched him go, a mischievous smile slowly spreading across her face. She then opened the pouch he had handed her and peeked inside. Her eyes lit up as she saw the glittering contents¡ªgold coins. A dozen of them. Esdeath snorted and held the pouch up. "Hmph! If this were before, it might''ve been a great help," she said, tossing the pouch lightly in her hand. "But now? We don''tck money in any way!" Maruti raised an eyebrow. "Then why not just throw it away?" Esdeath smirked but didn''t toss it. Instead, she tightened her grip on the pouch and slipped it into her pocket. "Future''s unpredictable," she said, grinning. "You never know when a single coin might save you." Maruti crossed her arms, giving Esdeath a sly look. "So¡­ what are you nning now?" Esdeath didn''t answer. She just chuckled softly, her eyes gleaming with amusement, and began walking forward again. ---------- Esdeath mmed her hand on the wooden table with a loud thud, her face twisted with frustration. Her sharp voice echoed in the room as she shouted, "What do you mean, you can''t give us private rooms?" Lilith, seatedfortably in her chair behind the table, didn''t even flinch. She leaned back casually, her legs crossed, twirling a lollipop in her mouth as if she had all the time in the world. Her sliver eyes glinted as she replied in a calm but firm tone, "Like I said earlier, it''s not possible. Four students have already been killed, and the beast tide ising. Things are getting dangerous." Esdeath''s eyes widened slightly at the mention of deaths, but her anger didn''t fade. Lilith sighed, leaning forward as she ced her elbows on the desk, her fingers interlocked. "Our forces are currently busy fighting off massive waves of beasts and monsters. The students are unsafe, and we still don''t know who''s behind the murders. Because of this, the academy has decided that all students must stay inside the academy grounds. No exceptions." Esdeath clenched her fists, her teeth grinding together as she listened. Lilith continued, her tone still calm but with a hint of seriousness. "Even the ss A rank students will start living in the dorms. Second-year and third-year students have been assigned to protect the first-years since they''re the easiest targets." Lilith gave Esdeath a small shrug, pulling the lollipop from her mouth and tapping it against her teeth lightly. "So for now, no private rooms outside the academy. However, A-ss students will each have a room to themselves, unlike B or C sses, where two or three students have to share. So, technically, it''s private enough, don''t you think?" Esdeath''s frustration boiled over, and she gritted her teeth harder. Her mind raced as she thought about what Lilith had said. Killing? Beast tide? Why is this happening so soon? And about no private rooms, It never happened in the first ce.." she wondered, her brows furrowing deeply. This didn''t align with the timeline of the game she remembered. The beast tide wasn''t supposed to happen until a weekter, certainly not while the first arc was still ongoing. Her chest tightened with unease as a chilling thought crossed her mind. "Is this happening because of me?" Her system only rewarded her with SP points when she increased her self-worth without disrupting the storyline. But Esdeath had bent¡ªno, broken¡ªthat rule multiple times since arriving here. The possibility that her actions had caused this early chaos gnawed at her. Esdeath took a long, deep breath, exhaled slowly, and forced herself to calm down. "Okay then, we''re done here!" she said firmly, trying to keep herposure. Her tone was sharp, but she was already turning to leave. Maruti, who had been standing silently by her side, took the cue and started stepping back to follow Esdeath out of the room. But then¡ª "Not so fast, kids," Lilith''s chilling voice stopped them in their tracks. Esdeath and Maruti froze, slowly turning back toward Lilith, who was now leaning forward slightly in her chair. Her silver eyes glimmered with an unsettling intensity. "It''s your turn now," Lilith said, her voice calm butced with an edge of authority. "Tell me where you''ve been. Did you really leave to search for Luna? We sent officials after you, and they couldn''t find you anywhere. How can that be?" She paused, her gaze narrowing dangerously. "You''re definitely hiding something. Don''t even think about lying to me." Her tone was enough to send a shiver down anyone''s spine. Esdeath and Maruti exchanged a brief, panicked nce. Lying wasn''t an option. They both knew that. Why? Because Lilith could read thoughts. It didn''t matter how convincing their words were¡ªif their minds told a different story, Lilith would know. And she wouldn''t hesitate to expose them. Esdeath swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She clenched her fists, trying toe up with something, anything, that wouldn''t get them into deeper trouble. "Luna¡­" Esdeath muttered softly, her voice trembling. She lowered her gaze, letting her expression shift into one of grief. Her cheeks flushed red, and without warning, tears began streaming down her face like a broken dam. She wiped at her tears, but they only kepting. Her voice cracked as she started to speak. "S-sob¡­ Luna was such a kind girl. We heard she had a boyfriend in the Quin Ming Mountain slum area. She used to talk about how he''d be more aggressivetely. They had a fight recently, so¡­ so we went there to meet him. We thought maybe we could help her, but¡­" Esdeath''s voice brokepletely, and more tears ran down her cheeks. "But we didn''t find anyone. Sob¡­ sob¡­" Her crying was heartbreakingly genuine. Every time she wiped one tear away, two more rolled down her face, as if her sorrow were an endless river. Lilith watched her with a cold, unreadable expression. If Esdeath''s tears moved her at all, she didn''t show it. "Is that so?" Lilith said tly, leaning back in her chair as she began to probe Esdeath''s thoughts. Inside Esdeath''s mind, Lilith heard, "Luna¡­ I''m sorry I couldn''t save you. You were one of my best friends¡­ sob¡­ sob¡­ I''ll never forget you. Please forgive me!" Lilith''s eyes widened slightly in shock. Wait¡­ wait¡­ wait¡­ What? Am I hearing this right? she thought,pletely caught off guard by the raw emotion in Esdeath''s thoughts. She quickly turned her attention to Maruti, wanting to see if her thoughts aligned with Esdeath''s. But the moment she entered Maruti''s mind, she was met with chaos. "A2+2AB+B2¡­ The square root of 144¡­ If X=5, then what is Y? No, wait, solve for Z instead¡­ Okay, focus, quadratic equations next. Oh! How do I simplify this fraction? 5/7 + 3/4¡­ hmm, okay¡­" Lilith blinked in confusion as the endless stream of mathematical forms and calctions continued. Maruti''s mind was a whirlwind ofplex problems, ranging from algebra to geometry to trigonometry. There were easily more than twenty equations swirling around in her head at once. "What the hell is this?" Lilith thought, utterly baffled. Meanwhile, Maruti stood there with a calm expression,pletely oblivious to the confusion she was causing. Lilith sighed heavily, rubbing her temples as she pulled herself out of their thoughts. Esdeath''s voice trembled as she continued, her sclera reddened from crying. "But as we were returning¡­ we actually found something¡ªa fortunate encounter. It was an inheritance¡­ from someone called Xing Liang," she said, her tone stillced with grief but now carrying a hint of awe. At once, Lilith stood up from her chair, her eyes wide with shock. "Xing Liang?" she repeated, her voice sharp and filled with disbelief. "Yes!" Esdeath nodded quickly, wiping at her still-wet cheeks. "Because of this, we were able to learn so manybat techniques in such a short amount of time!" Lilith''s gaze darkened, her sharp mind instantly analyzing the situation. "Is that so? Then you must already know the rules. Any inheritance found must be shared with the academy so others can benefit from it as well," she said firmly, her piercing gaze locked on Esdeath and Maruti. Esdeath hesitated, her face contorting as if she was in a difficult position. "I¡­ I want to, but I can''t," she said finally, her voice breaking slightly. "It was an information-path inheritance. The knowledge was directly engraved into our minds. Other than that, we gained nothing." Lilith froze, her sharp gaze narrowing as she probed their thoughts. "Everything she''s saying matches her thoughts¡­ Could this be true?" Lilith wondered. Esdeath''s acting was wless. Every word, every tear, every detail seemed genuine, leaving Lilith in a tough spot. If the inheritance truly engraved knowledge directly into their minds, there was nothing tangible to share with the academy. Lilith frowned, her mind racing. "Should I demand they teach these techniques to other students? No, that would take years of practice to master and adapt to essence stones and magic. But¡­ what should I do?" For a moment, Lilith was silent, lost in thought. Finally, she sighed and waved her hand dismissively. "Fine. You''re free to go for now. I''ll discuss this matter with other higher-upster," she said, her tone heavy with frustration. Esdeath and Maruti didn''t waste a moment. They quickly bowed and left without another word. As soon as they stepped out of Lilith''s office and into the corridor, Esdeath''s grief-stricken, tearful expression disappeared like smoke in the wind. Her face shifted into a sly, wicked grin, her red eyes gleaming with pride. Maruti looked at her, startled. "You were crying buckets a second ago, and now you look like a viin who just stole a treasure!" she whispered. Esdeath chuckled softly, a satisfied look on her face. "That''s because I am a viin who just got away with it," she said, holding her chin high. From her pocket, Esdeath pulled out a small essence stone. It was a dull brown color and shaped like a human ear, with a drop of blooding out of it. The essence stone in Esdeath''s hand was no ordinary find. It was a "Pre-nned Thoughts Essence Stone," something the world had never heard of before. Why was it unknown? Because it wasn''t supposed to exist yet. This type of essence stone was meant to be refined by someone else in the future. Even though it was ssified as D-rank, its potential was said to rival C-rank essence stones due to its unique ability and versatility. Esdeath''s mind wandered back to earlier that day, when she first learned Lilith wanted to meet her. The thought alone had troubled her deeply. How could she get past Lilith, someone who could read minds and unravel lies effortlessly? At first, Esdeath considered making endless excuses to avoid the meeting entirely. "I could say I''m too busy, or that I don''t want to talk about it or just refuse to say anything regardless of what conclusion she goes to," she had thought. After all, what could Lilith do? Suspend her for a week? Punish her? None of that mattered, as long as Lilith didn''t have the authority to kill her. But then fate intervened in the form of Lortell Mariette. Lortell had given Esdeath arge number of resources¡ªvaluable materials for refining essence stones. Among them were sound-path essence stones and a recipe for crafting a telepathy-type essence stone. It was supposed to be a task for Esdeath to refine the stone so that she and Lortell couldmunicate through telepathy in the future. However, the resources Lortell provided were far more than necessary, likely in case Esdeath failed in her first few attempts. But when Esdeath inspected the materials, she realized something astonishing: they could also be used to refine apletely different essence stone, one that wasn''t supposed to exist yet¡ªthe Pre-nned Thoughts Essence Stone. This essence stone functioned like a magical recorder. You could "record" your thoughts in advance, andter, when needed, it would y those exact thoughts on repeat. It was perfect for fooling someone like Lilith, who relied on hearing real-time thoughts to catch lies. Esdeath smirked at the memory of her careful preparation. Before stepping into Lilith''s office, she had recorded her fake thoughts¡ªgrief-filled and full of regret over Luna. She knew Lilith would hear only those thoughts, no matter what Esdeath was truly thinking. And it had worked wlessly. Back in Lilith''s office, the powerful instructor had beenpletely checkmated¡ªnot by a high-rank weapon or an borate scheme, but by a simple D-rank essence stone. Esdeath couldn''t help but chuckle at the irony. Lilith, for all her strength and experience, had no way of countering something she didn''t even know existed. As Esdeath walked back to her dorm room, her smirk grew wider. She nced at the essence stone in her hand, admiring its dull brown glow. "Hehehe¡­ too bad,It''s my win, lolicon!" Maruti, walking beside her for a while, split off to head to her own dorm. Esdeath continued on alone, her steps light and confident. The cool night air brushed against Esdeath as she walked through the academy grounds, the Pre-nned Thoughts Essence Stone still clutched tightly in her hand. Its once-solid surface was now cracking, droplets of deep red blood oozing from its edges. Before her very eyes, the stone shattered into fragments and disappeared into thin air, leaving nothing behind. It was an expenditure type after all, It was bound to vanish after one use. Letting out a small sigh, she shook her head. She couldn''t dwell on it now. There was something more pressing she needed to do. Esdeath didn''t head straight to her dorm. Instead, she made her way to the academy cafeteria. Selene, her little secret, was waiting for her, and she needed to be fed. Esdeath couldn''t risk showing her to anyone else, not even identally. In the cafeteria, she collected enough food to feed both herself and Selene¡ªor at least that''s what she thought. She carried the tray carefully back to her room, making sure no one noticed her, andid out the dishes on her desk. "Here, this should be enough for both of us," Esdeath said confidently as Selene sat down beside her, her bright, curious eyes lighting up at the sight of the food. The two began to eat, but within just a few minutes, the tes were empty. Selene wiped her small mouth with her sleeve and looked up at Esdeath. "Still hungry," she said softly, her tone innocent but firm. Esdeath stared at her with narrowed eyes, ncing at the empty dishes. "You ate everything?! How are you not full?" Selene simply tilted her head, waiting patiently for more food. With a long sigh, Esdeath got up again. "Fine. I''ll go back to the cafeteria." This time, Esdeath returned with double the amount of food¡ªenough to feed three grown adults. She ced the heavy tray down, watching as Selene immediately dug in with enthusiasm. Finally, after what felt like ages, Selene leaned back with a satisfied sigh, patting her stomach. "Full now," she said with a small smile. Esdeath slumped into her chair, exhausted from the repeated trips. "How can you eat so much with that tiny belly?" she muttered under her breath. After cleaning up, Esdeath changed into her sleeping clothes¡ªa casual, oversized t-shirt. The shirt was so big and loose that it hung off her frame, barely clinging to her shoulders. If she bent over a little, it would reveal more than she wasfortable with, but the soft fabric made it perfect for sleeping. Selene had also changed. Unlike before, when she had nothing to wear, Esdeath and Maruti had bought her some simple clothes on their way back to the academy. Selene now wore a light,fortable outfit that made her look even more adorable.@@novelbin@@ As the night deepened, the two climbed onto Esdeath''s bed. The small mattress was barely big enough for both of them, but Selene didn''t seem to mind. She scooted closer to Esdeath, wrapping her small arms around her waist and resting her head against Esdeath''s chest. The night passed peacefully, and Esdeath was in a deep, dreamless sleep. Her body hadpletely rxed, her breathing steady and calm. Selene, on the other hand, was wide awake. The room was dim, but the moonlight streaming through the window was enough for her to see Esdeath clearly. Her eyes wandered over to Esdeath''s chest, where the oversized t-shirt had shifted slightly. Two soft, round shapes were visible through the fabric, rising and falling gently with every breath. Selene tilted her head, staring intently. Her tiny fingers twitched as if some instinct had taken over. Her curiosity grew stronger by the second until it reached a point where she couldn''t resist. "This is... milk, right?" Selene whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. Driven by what she thought was a perfectly logical conclusion, Selene leaned closer. She hesitated for a moment, but her instincts won out. ------- Esdeath''s peaceful sleep began to waver. A strange tingling sensation spread through her chest, and her brow furrowed as she stirred slightly. "Why does my chest feel weird?" she mumbled groggily, still half-asleep. She slowly opened her eyes, the blurry rooming into focus. As her gaze dropped down, she froze. Selene was perched over her, her tiny mouthtched onto Esdeath''s nipple through the loose fabric of the t-shirt. Her little cheeks puffed out as she sucked, her expression dead serious like she waspleting a vital mission. Esdeath''s scream shattered the midnight silence. "AHHHHHHHH!!!" With a speed that would put most martial artists to shame, Esdeath sprang out of bed,nding on the other side of the room in a defensive stance. One hand instinctively covered her chest while the other was ready to strike. Her face burned bright red, her heart racing with shock and embarrassment. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" she shouted, her voice a mix of outrage and confusion. Selene tilted her head innocently, licking her lips. "I thought there would be milk¡­" Esdeath''s jaw dropped. She blinked several times, trying to process what she just heard. "M-MILK?! I''m not a cow, you little gremlin!" Maruti Vs Ravenna Round—2 Maruti, still unconscious, drifted into a state of Ultra Instinct, a rare and extraordinary power bestowed by her constetion. This gift was so unique that only two known constetions possessed it: the Demon King Aurora and Lord Hanuman. Even Lilith, who had seen and battled countless warriors, had never truly understood Ultra Instinct. She had encountered the Demon King Aurora only once, during a fierce battle. Aurora, even at his weakest, had been too powerful to kill, forcing them to seal him instead. As for Lord Hanuman, Lilith had never even caught a glimpse of him. Watching Maruti now, Lilith''s sharp mind raced. "What is this? Is this some new type of essence stone?" she wondered, unable to mask her confusion. Suddenly, it felt as though time slowed down. Maruti, still in her Ultra Instinct mode, began to use multiple essence stones instinctively. Her body moved on its own, guided by a power far beyond her control. An orange me erupted around her hair, zing brightly. Yet, strangely, her hair wasn''t consumed by the fire¡ªit shimmered, glowing with a divine brilliance. Maruti''s muscles tensed as she let out a powerful roar, "AHHHHHHHRRRR!" The sound echoed through the arena, shaking the very ground beneath everyone''s feet. Her veins bulged, pulsing with energy, as if they might burst from her skin. Gasps filled the arena. She had no idea what she was doing. Her Ultra Instinct state consumed her, leaving her unaware of her surroundings or actions. She stood there, her powerful physique on full disy. Her body was wless, her muscles rippling with strength that made even seasoned bodybuilders look weak. Her skin shone with a divine glow, and her perfect proportions made her look like a goddess. Her full, round chest didn''t sag but stood firm, creating an air of power and grace. She was unintentionally mesmerizing, a mix of raw strength and unmatched beauty. Princess Ravenna, on the other hand, felt a chill run down her spine. Her confidence shattered as fear gripped her heart. She stepped back instinctively, her hands trembling. "N-no! Someone stop her! She has lost her mind" Ravenna screamed, her voice high-pitched and desperate. For everyone watching, it felt as though Maruti was pulling out her trump card¡ªa secret, ultimate move meant to turn the tide of battle. Everyone had their own trump card, after all. Some might have a berserk mode, while others relied on hidden skills or forbidden techniques. Still, the tension was palpable, and teachers held their breath, waiting for Lilith''s orders. Maruti''s eyes gleamed with determination as she bent her knees slightly, channeling all her strength into her feet. The ground beneath her cracked as she shot forward like a cannonball, a blur of raw power aimed directly at Ravenna. Her speed was blinding, almost impossible to track with the naked eye. If not for Ravenna standing far from Maruti, she would have already been caught. Realizing the danger rushing toward her, Ravenna raised a trembling hand and summoned her power. "Earth Vines!" she shouted, her voice a mix of urgency and confidence. The ground around her trembled violently before crumbling. From the broken earth, thick, towering vines shot up into the air like serpents waking from their slumber. Each vine was over three meters tall and half a meter thick, their rough surfaces glinting with an earthy glow as they surged forward to intercept Maruti. But Maruti didn''t falter. Her speed didn''t slow for even a moment. Her eyes zed with focus as she clenched her fists, and in that instant, she activated four essence stones at once. The first, a D-rank Overall Boost Essence Stone, surged through her body, enhancing all her physical abilities fivefold for the next five minutes. ¨C¨CD-rank Fiery Phantom Essence Stone, gave her an aura of burning mes that danced wildly around her figure. ¨CE-rank Fiery Thrust Essence Stone ¨CD-rank Phantom Fuel Essence Stone The air around Maruti grew suffocatingly hot as she roared with raw power. Without hesitation, she unleashed¨C Killer Move¡ªLion Roar!@@novelbin@@ Her fist mmed into the air with such force that it shook the battlefield. From her arm, a massive phantom lion, forged entirely of zing fire, erupted with a deafening roar. Its eyes burned with golden mes, and its mane crackled like an inferno as it lunged forward. The fiery lion collided with Ravenna''s towering vines, instantly setting them aze. The thick vines were reduced to ash in mere moments, unable to withstand the lion''s scorching power. But the attack didn''t stop there. The fiery lion continued its charge, heading straight for Ravenna. Her eyes widened in panic as she instinctively tried to move back, but the attack was too fast. It roared past her, grazing her so closely that a single strand of her pink hair burned away. The battlefield fell silent for a moment. Ravenna stood frozen, her hand trembling slightly as she touched her hair. The burned strand was insignificant, but the heat she felt and the sheer power of the attack left her shaken to her core. But Ravenna wasn''t ready to admit defeat just yet. Her fiery pink eyes glinted with determination as she unfurled her whip. With a confident smirk, she dered, "Fine! I''ll use my trump card, then!" At her words, the whip in her hand began to transform, twisting and writhing as it turned into a series of thick, living vines. Leaves sprouted from its surface, and the vines grew taller and taller, expanding rapidly as though fueled by an endless source of energy. "Let''s see how you handle this!" Ravenna shouted, her voice brimming with confidence as sheshed the vine whip toward Maruti with blinding speed. The sharp tips of the vines shot toward Maruti like piercing spears, their aim unrelenting. But Maruti, unfazed, caught the vines mid-air with her bare hands. Summoning fire into her palms, mes roared to life as she began burning the vines, watching them turn ck and crumble into ash. But just as she smirked in satisfaction, Ravenna let out a mockingugh. "It''s not that easy to burn thempletely!" she taunted, a bitter smile curling on her lips. To Maruti''s dismay, the vines began regenerating almost instantly. The more she burned, the faster they grew, as if fueled by the mes themselves. Within seconds, the vines multiplied, attacking from every angle. Before Maruti could react, the vines coiled around her like living ropes, wrapping tightly around her arms, legs, and torso. She struggled against their grip, but they only tightened, binding herpletely in a matter of moments. Ravenna''s smirk widened as she watched Maruti struggle. "I guess you''re not so powerful after all!" she mocked, her voiceced with triumph. With a sharp tug on the whip''s handle, she poured all her strength into the vines. Ravenna wasn''t weak either. She had consumed multiple strength-enhancing essence stones, and her supernatural power was nothing to scoff at. With a single swing, she sent Maruti flying high into the air, her body spinning helplessly like a ragdoll. The crowd gasped as Maruti soared upward, but Ravenna wasn''t done. Tightening her grip on the vine whip, she yanked it downward with all her might, mming Maruti''s body toward the solid ground with terrifying force. But just as Maruti was about to crash, she twisted her body mid-air,nding gracefully on her feet as though the attack hadn''t bothered her at all. Dust swirled around her as she straightened, her piercing gaze locked on Ravenna. Without wasting a moment, Maruti poured strength into her arms. With an audible snap, she broke free from the vines binding her. The crowd gasped again, their shock mounting. Before the vines could regenerate and attack once more, Maruti grabbed hold of them herself. Her muscles tensed as she pulled with immense force, and in a split second, Ravenna found herself yanked off the ground, her body flying upward like a leaf caught in a storm. It was like an Uno reverse¡ªwhat Ravenna had done to Maruti just moments ago, Maruti was now doing to her. Ravenna soared high into the air, her grip on the vine whip the only thing keeping her connected to the ground. She clung to the handle desperately, unwilling to let go, but that decision sealed her fate. "That was your biggest mistake," Maruti muttered under her breath, a dangerous glint in her eyes. Channeling every ounce of her strength, Maruti pulled the vine whip downward with a ferocity that sent Ravenna hurtling toward the ground. Ravenna''s eyes widened in terror, her bodypletely out of control as she plummeted. "NO¡ª!" was all she managed to cry out before she hit the ground with a deafening BAM! The impact cracked the earth beneath her, sending a cloud of dust and debris into the air. The sound echoed across the battlefield, silencing everyone who had been watching. When the dust began to settle, Ravennay sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain. Her head throbbed, and her body ached from the force of the crash. She tried to move, but her limbs refused to respond. "Now this is getting dangerous!" Lilith''s sharp voice cut through the silence. Her expression was grim as she turned to the teachers. "Stop her immediately!" At hermand, the teachers sprang into action, moving with lightning speed toward Maruti. Their swift movements signaled the seriousness of the situation, and it was clear that this fight had escted far beyond what was allowed. Maruti Vs Five Rank C At Lilith''smand, the teachers sprang into action, moving with precision and lightning speed. Two male teachers nked Maruti from both sides, their goal clear: suppress her without causing harm. Behind them, three female teachers stood ready as backup, watching closely for any unexpected moves. After all, Maruti was just a first-year student. The teachers weren''t trying to kill her¡ªthey only wanted to stop her from moving or knock her unconscious to prevent further chaos. For that reason, they refrained from using magic or essence stones, relying instead on their physical skills to subdue her. The male teachers advanced cautiously, their eyes focused on Maruti, but before either could strike, she made the first move. With explosive speed, Maruti charged at the teacher on her left. Her movements were a blur as she unleashed more than five strikes in rapid session, her fists pounding like hammers. The teacher raised his arms to block the attacks, gritting his teeth as the force of her punches pushed him back. "Such strength!....It''s like fighting someone at Rank C in hand-to-handbat!" he eximed, his voice tinged with disbelief. Gathering himself quickly, the teacher retaliated with a straight punch aimed at her chest. But Maruti reacted instantly. She lifted her leg, blocking his punch with her foot, and used the momentum to propel herself into the air. Her body spun in a smooth, controlled arc,pleting a perfect 180¡ã turn. In one fluid motion, her footshed out and connected with the teacher''s face. BAM! The sound echoed across the field as the kicknded squarely, sending the teacher staggering backward. His head reeled from the blow, and for a moment, it felt like his entire world was spinning. Before Maruti could fully regain her footing, the second male teacher saw his chance. He lunged at her, aiming to grab her while she was vulnerable. But Maruti was faster. nting her palm firmly on the ground, she pushed with incredible force, flipping her body backward. The sudden move took her high into the air, out of the teacher''s reach. In the blink of an eye, she twisted mid-air and locked her legs around his neck like a vice. The teacher''s eyes widened in shock. It all happened so quickly that he had no time to react. "I... I can''t breathe!" he choked out, struggling against her iron grip. Maruti''s legs tightened, her strength unrelenting as she held him in ce. The teacher iled, trying to free himself, but she didn''t give him the chance. With a sharp, controlled movement, Maruti used her legs to pull him downward, mming his head into the ground with a sickening THUD. The other female teachers wasted no time after seeing their colleagues struggle. They leapt into action, engaging Maruti in closebat. The two male teachers, though battered, also pushed themselves to their feet, unwilling to admit defeat so easily. After all, they were all Rank C fighters¡ªhow could a first-year student defeat them so easily? Now, all five teachers surrounded Maruti, each determined to bring her down. The scene turned chaotic as punches, kicks, and defensive maneuvers blurred together. Yet, despite the overwhelming odds, Maruti still seemed to be in the lead. "Is this really happening?" a student muttered in disbelief. "How can she fight five teachers at once?" Maruti moved with almost inhuman precision. Her strikes were fluid, sharp, and calcted¡ªlike a perfectly engineered machine built forbat. Her uracy was impable, and her movements were as slippery as a fish in water. Every time a teacher tried to grab or strike her, she dodged effortlessly, counterattacking with devastating force. In mere moments, Maruti disyed countless martial techniques that left even the audience stunned. From rapid kicks to lightning-fast punches, she overwhelmed the teachers, using her essence stones at precise intervals to amplify her attacks. "She''s incredible," someone whispered from the crowd, their tone filled with awe. "she is beating five Rank C teachers at once? Am I dreaming?" another gasped, unable to believe their eyes. One of the male teachers, his patience wearing thin, finally snapped. His face flushed with frustration as he growled, "That''s it! I''m done holding back. If this goes on any longer, I''ll lose my dignitypletely!" He poured mana in his body, preparing to activate his essence stone. But before he could make a move, a sudden THUD echoed through the field. Maruti''s body copsed onto the ground, motionless. The sound was quiet, almost anticlimactic, but it silenced the entire area. Shey there like a machine that had abruptly shut down, her chest rising and falling faintly withbored breaths. "Phew..." one of the female teachers exhaled in relief, brushing sweat from her brow. "Looks like whatever technique she was using drained all her mana. Or maybe it just ended on its own." The male teacher who had been about to use his essence stone cautiously stepped forward, kneeling beside Maruti''s body. He reached out to check her pulse. "She''s still alive," he said with a sigh. "But whatever that killer move was, it was terrifying." A heavy silence fell over the field as the audience finally let out a collective breath of relief. Whispers rippled through the crowd, some praising Maruti''s strength, others expressing their confusion over what had just happened. The healers arrived swiftly, surrounding Princess Ravenna with calm urgency. Her neck was visibly injured, a result of the harsh impact with the ground. Without wasting time, they gently lifted her onto a stretcher and carried her out of the arena. Though the injury was severe, there was no panic among the healers. Her natural affinity with nature had already begun its work. As long as her vital organs remained unharmed, her body would slowly regenerate. A faint glow seemed to radiate from her skin, slowly healing her wounds. The audience watched quietly as she was taken away, the tension in the air beginning to dissipate. The referee did not announce a winner between Maruti and Ravenna due to the uncertainty surrounding the oue. Although Maruti had initially fallen unconscious and seemed on the verge of defeat, she unexpectedly regained herposure, went berserk, and ultimately overcame Ravenna. Furthermore, Maruti''s subsequent attack on the teachers added to the confusion. To avoid controversy, it was decided that the final verdict would be postponed until a formal meeting between Maruti, the teachers, and the academy''s higher-ups. With that unresolved, it was time for the next match. The referee stepped forward and dered, "The next match is between Sylvania Rivenhart from ss A and Kaelith Maranthia from ss A." Lilith: "..." Audience: "..." A wave of silence swept over the arena. Everyone knew the oue before the match even began. Kaelith, the prodigy with unmatched skills and elemental mastery, was a sure winner. The only thought running through the audience''s minds was sympathy for poor Sylvania. As thepetitors entered the arena, Sylvania looked like she had already lost. Her hands trembled, her face was pale, and her eyes darted nervously toward Kaelith. Her lips quivered as she muttered under her breath, "Why is my luck so terrible? Why me?" Her body trembled visibly, and it was clear she wished she could be anywhere else but there. Kaelith, on the other hand, stood still with an air of indifference. Her cold gaze scanned Sylvaniazily, and a bored expression yed on her face as if the match was a waste of her time. The referee signaled the start. "Begin!" Sylvania, mustering all the courage she could, raised her wand and began to chant. "If I''m going to lose, I should at least use my strongest spell!" she said with a shaky voice. Sweat dripped down her forehead as she gathered mana, her trembling hands trying to stay steady. A faint, shimmering sphere began to materialize in the air before her. It wasrge and powerful¡ªpotentially destructive¡ªbut the casting took too long. Sylvania''s nervous eyes flicked toward Kaelith repeatedly, expecting her to attack at any moment. But Kaelith didn''t move. She just stood there, arms crossed, her face a mask of irritation. "Tch¡­" Kaelith clicked her tongue. "If you''re going to do something, hurry up. Don''t waste my time. Even Valen was better than you¡ªat least he attacked!" Her sharp words cut through the tense air,ced with contempt. Sylvania''s heart pounded violently in her chest. Thump. Thump. Thump. It felt like a drum in her ears, drowning out all other sounds. Her fear spiked, and her concentration wavered. Her trembling lips faltered, and her chant broke. The iplete spell backfired.@@novelbin@@ A surge of mana exploded within her body, sending shockwaves of pain through her veins. Blood sprayed from her mouth as she copsed to the ground with a dull thud, unconscious before she even knew what had happened. The audience let out a collective gasp, though no one was surprised by the oue. Kaelith let out a sigh of disappointment, brushing a strand of silver hair out of her face. "Pathetic," she muttered under her breath as she turned and walked away, not sparing Sylvania another nce. Refree sighed as she announced, "Winner kaelith Maranthia". Overlord Essence Stone A short break was announced following the battle between Kaelith and Sylvania. During this time, Maruti regained consciousness, Sylvania was healed by the academy''s healers, and Princess Ravenna''s injuries were fully treated. After half an hour, the audience returned to their seats, buzzing with excitement. The atmosphere was different now¡ªthis was the second half of the battle arena, and everyone knew the fights would only grow more intense and terrifying. As the crowd settled back into their seats, Esdeath made her way to her spot but chose to sit next to Maruti instead of Ethan this time. "Ugh¡­ I feel like throwing up. What the hell even happened back there?" Maruti grumbled, scratching her head with frustration. "There''s no need for you to know," Esdeath replied bluntly, her tone dismissive but calm. On the other side of the arena, Ethan sat beside Sylvania, who mmed her head onto the seat in front of her. Her face burned a deep crimson, radiating embarrassment. "So humiliating... I fainted because of my own spell! Why?! Why, why, why?!" she groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Don''t beat yourself up over it," Violet said, her voice kind and reassuring. "It happens to the best of us, and besides, it''s not like your opponent was just some nobody." Hearing this, Sylvania gave a small, reluctant nod, though her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment. She sat quietly, trying to shrink into her seat as murmurs and whispers echoed through the arena. But then, as if on cue, the entire crowd went silent. The air shifted, growing heavy with tension. All eyes turned toward the top section of the arena¡ªthe luxury seating reserved for the academy''s most esteemed guests. But it wasn''t the seats themselves that captured everyone''s attention; it was the figure who had just arrived. Lortell Mariette. Her tall,manding presence was impossible to ignore. As always, she wore extravagant clothingyers of fine fabric sorge and flowing they dragged across the ground despite her towering figure. Her every movement exuded an air of untouchable authority, and as she took her ce on the throne-like seat, her piercing eyes swept over the arena. Not a single person dared to meet her gaze. "Lortell¡­" Esdeath muttered softly, her lips curling into a faint smile as she caught sight of the woman. "The next match is between Valeria Olyndra from ss A and Esdeath Crimson from ss A!" the referee announced, his voice echoing through the arena. "Me? Already?" Esdeath thought, a hint of surprise shing across her face. She nced up toward the luxury seating where Lortell Mariette had just taken her ce. "What a coincidence," Esdeath mused. "She shows up, and now it''s my turn?" Lortell sat on her throne-like chair, her face uncharacteristically serene. Something good must have happened between her and her father¡ªit was the only exnation for her good mood. But as soon as the referee called Esdeath''s name, her expression shifted ever so slightly. Her lips curled downward, and her eyes narrowed as they settled on Valeria. "Hmph¡­ If that elf dares to injure my Esdeath too much, I''ll make sure she pays for it!" Lortell muttered coldly, her voice dripping with menace as she red at Valeria from her seat. Valeria Olyndra, the only elf in ss A, walked toward the arena gracefully, her bow strapped securely to her back. Unlike human archers, she didn''t carry any arrows. She didn''t need to.@@novelbin@@ As an elf, Valeria''s connection to the elements was far deeper than any human''s. She could summon arrows made purely of wind and mana, forming them into physical shapes. It was a skill that required immense talent and precision¡ªsomething that even most Rank C human awakeneds could only dream of mastering. Esdeath followed shortly after, walking into the arena with her usual rxed yet confident stride. She casually patted her shoulders and adjusted her skirt as she moved, ensuring nothing was out of ce. She didn''t want to risk disappointing Lortell¡ªnot even for a second. As she approached the center of the arena, her head was slightly lowered, but her sharp, calcting eyes peeked upward toward the luxury seats. Her gaze locked onto Lortell, who was watching her intently. "She''s looking at me, right?" Esdeath thought, her heart pounding with determination. "I need to make this look good¡ªI need to flex! Her lips twitched into the smallest of smirks, and she rolled her shoulders back, standing tall as her fingers lightly tapped the grip of her gun. "Begin!" the referee shouted, her voice ringing across the arena. BANG! Esdeath wasted no time, firing her gun the moment the match started. The bullet shot through the air with deadly precision, but just as it was about to hit Valeria, a translucent green sphere of energy enveloped her. The bullet disappeared the moment it touched the shield. "Pftt... What a joke!" Valeria chuckled, her confidence unshaken. She casually reached for her bow and pulled back its string. As she did, an arrow began to form, glowing with a mix of green and white. The energy shimmered like it was alive, giving the arrow an almost spiritual appearance. "Say goodbye, tall girl!" Valeria smirked before releasing the arrow. The glowing projectile shot through the air at a blinding speed, heading straight for Esdeath. But then¡ª Swish... Just as the arrow was about to hit its mark, it vanished into thin air. The crowd gasped, their eyes wide with shock. Even Valeria froze, her confidence crumbling as her face turned pale. "W-what happened?" she stammered, her voice trembling with disbelief. "Fufufufu..."A soft chuckle escaped Esdeath''s lips as she stood there, calm and unscathed. "What? What did you do?" Valeria demanded, panic creeping into her voice as she tried to summon another arrow. But this time, nothing happened. Only a faint breeze stirred in the air, her attempt failingpletely. "Nothing personal," Esdeath said with a sly grin. "I just have a stronger connection with the wind element than you. That''s why you can''t attack me using it." Her words echoed through the arena, leaving everyone stunned. The crowd erupted into murmurs, disbelief written all over their faces. Even Lortell and Lilith, who rarely showed much emotion, looked visibly surprised. "What? A human has more control over the wind element than a high elf? How is that even possible?" "This is absurd! Completely absurd!" Valeria''s face twisted in rage. Her pride as an elf, and a descendant of the great Hou Yi Olyndra, was being shattered. "A-ABSURD! HOW CAN THIS BE?" she screamed, her voice filled with frustration. "ME? A MAIN FAMILY DESCENDANT OF THE OLYNDRA CLAN?. ..THE GREAT HOU YI OLYNDRA, HOW CAN A MERE HUMAN SURPASS ME IN CONNECTING WITH THE ELEMENT?" Desperation flickered in her eyes as she pulled her bowstring again, determined to fight back. This time, instead of relying on her usual friendly connection with the wind, she forced the element to obey her will. Slowly, the arrow began to form, its glowing energy more intense than before. Valeria''s face twisted in concentration, sweat dripping down her brow as she poured everything she had into dominating the element. Esdeath''s calm demeanor wavered, her teeth gritting in anger. Watching the wind element respond to Valeria''s forceful will sparked a fire in her chest. "You dare to betray me and go to her?" Esdeath muttered under her breath. Her voice rose into a furious shout. "COME BACK!" But nothing happened. Valeria''s arrow continued to take shape, glowing brighter with power. Esdeath''s fists clenched, her anger growing. She took a step forward, her voice booming this time. "I SAID FUCKING COME BACK TO ME!" Swish.... The arrow in Valeria''s hands suddenly vanished, just like before. But because of shouting, a bright green aura began to leak from her body, swirling around her like a storm. The aura expanded, filling the entire arena. But only the awakened could see it. To ordinary people, the arena appeared unchanged, leaving them confused. "A-A Rank C essence stone?" Ethan gasped, his eyes wide in disbelief. "Yes! There''s no doubt about it!" Sylvania eximed, her voice trembling. "It''s the aura of a Rank C essence stone. But¡­ how does she even have one? And how can she use it? Even I can''t!" Even Violet''s face turned pale, her usually calm demeanor shaken. Lilith, standing among the teachers, narrowed her eyes as she recognized the aura immediately. "Overlord Essence Stone?" she muttered under her breath, watching Esdeath closely. The Overlord Essence Stone, It was a rule-path essence stone, one that grantedplete domination over the element the user has affinity with. Normally, the connection between Esdeath and the wind element would be nothing special¡ªa typical human affinity. But with this essence stone, Esdeath had full control over the wind element. "How could Valeria possiblypete against that?" Lilith thought, her mind racing. She quickly reached a conclusion. "Only top-tier Rank C users or those above can negate the effects of an Overlord Essence Stone. No wonder Valeria couldn''t do a single thing against her." But another question gnawed at her. "How did Esdeath get such a powerful essence stone? The Overlord Essence Stone is one of the rarest Rank C stones." Her gaze shifted toward Lortell, who sat calmly in the luxury seats, watching Esdeath with an almost possessive look in her eyes. "Did Lortell give it to her?" Lilith wondered, her thoughts growing heavier. Then, as she turned her attention back to Esdeath, her eyes widened in shock. "Her mana¡­ It''s grown over 80 times more thanst time!" Lilith''s mind reeled. Thest time she had assessed Esdeath, her mana pool was far below average for an awakened. But now, it was nearlyparable to that of a Rank C. "What kind of monstrous growth rate is this?" Lilith thought, unable to hide her surprise. But what could anyone do? The battle arena was a ce where the strong thrived, a brutal test of survival of the fittest. It wasn''t Esdeath''s fault she possessed such a rare and powerful essence stone¡ªor that she could wield it so effectively. Meanwhile, Valeria stood frozen, the realization sinking in. Without the ability to use her wind element, and with no physical arrows to fight, she had no way to continue. The match was already over. "The winner is Esdeath Crimson!" the referee announced, his voice cutting through the stunned silence of the arena. Esdeath concealed the faint green glow of the Rank C aura as she turned and walked away from the arena. A bright smile spread across her face, full of satisfaction. "It''s a good thing I used Lortell''s potion to temporarily increase my mana. Lortell must be very impressed with me now!" she thought, her heart racing with excitement. It wasn''t that Esdeath''s mana was particrly low. After looting the treasures of Trynne and using them to enhance her strength, she had umted enough mana to barely use a Rank C essence stone. However, sustaining it for a long period of time was another matter entirely. Overusing it would drain her mana pool, leaving her unable to use other essence stones when needed. That''s why she had decided to drink the potion Lortell gave her. The potion temporarily boosted her mana, just enough for her to "flex" in front of Lortell during the match. Satisfied with her performance, Esdeath left the arena with a content expression, feeling proud of her cleverness and the attention she believed she had earned. --- Meanwhile, in the spectator seats, Emma sat with a puzzled look on her face. Something Valeria had said earlier was still bothering her. "Who''s Hou Yi that Valeria was talking about?" Emma finally asked, breaking the silence. At once, Violet, Ethan, and Sylvania all turned to stare at her like she had grown a second head. "What? You *really* don''t know who Hou Yi is?" Sylvania asked, her tone almost disbelieving. "N-No¡­ Is he really that famous?" Emma stammered, feeling embarrassed by their reactions. Ethan let out a sigh before answering, "In ancient history, it''s written that Hou Yi was one of the greatest archers in existence, and the most legendary archer from the White Elves. Despite being mortal, he is said to have defeated a god andter married the second moon goddess, Chang''e." Emma''s eyes widened in awe as Ethan continued. "But because a mortal can''t have children with a god, Hou Yi married other women and had many descendants. All his descendants are known for their incredible natural talent in archery." "Wow¡­ You really know a lot!" Emma said, genuinely impressed by Ethan''s knowledge. Ethan, however, left out an important detail. What the ancient stories didn''t reveal was that the "god" Hou Yi defeated wasn''t some divine entity but a star constetion known as Deste Rising mes. Likewise, the "moon goddess" Chang''e wasn''t an actual deity but another star constetion. Arthur Mariette ONE DAY AGO Lortell said goodbye to Esdeath and left for her real home¡ªher father''s pce. She had received a letter from him earlier, saying he wanted to speak with her about something important. By the time she arrived at the pce, it was already night. As she stepped inside, the grand halls were filled with the soft glow of golden lights. The moment the maids and workers noticed her, they stopped what they were doing and bowed deeply in respect. "I greet the young mistress!" one of the maids said, her voice filled with formality. "Wee home, mydy!" another greeted, smiling warmly. Lortell, however, didn''t even nce at them. Her crimson eyes remained cold and focused as she walked upstairs with graceful but determined steps. She already knew where her father would be. Pushing open therge wooden doors of his study, she stepped inside. The room was elegant yet simple, with soft lighting and a faint scent of cedarwood lingering in the air. Sitting on a plush sofa was a man who looked far too young to be her father. He appeared to be in his early thirties, with strikingly handsome features. His sharp jawline, lightly muscr build, and bluish-white hair made him look almost like a noble sculpturee to life. His bluish-white eyes gleamed with a mysterious charm, so simr to Lortell''s. It was clear where Lortell had gotten her stunning appearance from. She was nearly a mirror image of him, except for her crimson eyes, which made her stand out in a way he didn''t. This was Arthur Mariette, her father and the current Archduke. Despite his youthful looks, Arthur was over sixty years old. His aura of authority and power filled the room, even when he was just sitting there. "Father¡­" Lortell called out softly, her voice carrying a rare trace of warmth. Arthur''s sharp ears caught her voice immediately. He turned to look at her, and his expression softened into a bright, genuine smile. "So, you actually came," he said warmly, clearly pleased. He gestured to the chair in front of him. "Come,e¡­ Sit here!" Though Lortell''s face remained calm, She silently obeyed and walked forward, taking the seat he had pointed to. "I heard you''ve been causing trouble in the academy," Arthur said, his tone suddenly serious. His face, however, remained calm and emotionless. Lortell''s crimson eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint curl of distaste formed on her lips. "Oh? Now you want to lecture me too?" But instead of scolding her, Arthur chuckled softly. His usualposed demeanor shifted into something warmer. "No, no¡­ I''m not here to lecture you. I was just surprised by this sudden change in you. Do you remember how you used to be? You barely spoke back then¡ªalmost never. At one point, your mother and I even thought you were mute," he said, his voice tinged with both warmth and sadness as he reminisced about the past. Arthur lowered his head slightly, his shoulders sagging. "I thought it was all our fault¡­ what your mother and I put you through," he said quietly, his voice filled with regret. Lortell didn''t respond right away, but her sharp gaze softened slightly. What Arthur remembered so painfully was not entirely his fault. It was Lortell''s mother who had insisted on conducting experiments on her when she was only a toddler. At the age of two, Lortell was forced to endure things no child should ever face. Her mother made her bathe in dense mana elixirs, the blood of ancient beasts, and other concoctions that burned like fire on her skin. Her diet was no better. Lortell was made to consume raw meat from monsters in the demon realm¡ªmeat so tough it could break steel. It was more torture than experimentation. Her mother had been cautious and constantly monitored her health, but the process was brutal. Yet, it yielded results. By the time Lortell turned seven, she had experienced her first awakening. At nine, her second awakening transformed her into a Progenitor Vampire¡ªa being of immense power. While this was a monumental achievement, it came at a heavy cost. Lortell became detached from the world, speaking little and withdrawing from social connections. She had grown strong, yes, but she had also grown distant. Arthur and her mother med themselves deeply for what had happened. Arthur, in particr, bore the weight of guilt for allowing his wife to carry out those experiments on their child. "I can only hope you''ll find it in your heart to forgive me for being such a terrible father," Arthur sighed, his voice heavy with remorse. Lortell''s lips twitched upward into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. She waved her hand dismissively. "No, no. I''m actually grateful for everything. If you hadn''t done that to me, how could I have be this strong?"@@novelbin@@ Her words were sincere. Lortell cherished her strength. It gave her the ability to protect Esdeath and exert dominance in a world that valued power above all else. For that, she truly felt grateful, even if the path to this strength had been paved with pain. Arthur smiled faintly, leaning back in his sofa. "You really have be livelier than before," he said, his voice warm but with a trace of curiosity. "I still remember the time you came back from that small trip to Swann. It was as if you had be apletely different person. You started talking, socializing¡­ and now, I hear you''ve been bullying a few girls." His tone remained casual as he continued, "Not that I care about those minor figures, but what surprised me was the reason. You did it for someone¡ªa girl who''s also from Swann." Arthur paused, studying his daughter with sharp eyes. He was an arch-duke; he rarely paid attention to the names of low-ranking nobles like barons or their children. But he wasn''t blind to the connection. "Tell me, Lortell. Is this person the reason for your change and the reason you bullied those girls?" For a moment, the room fell into an ufortable silence. Lortell didn''t say anything, but the slight flush in her cheeks. Finally, Lortell raised her hands to her face, covering her burning cheeks as her crimson eyes glistened with emotion. Her lips trembled, and then, with a voice full of raw vulnerability, she confessed, "I want to marry her!" An instant confession. Arthur''s calm and collected demeanor shattered for a brief moment. His perfect poker face¡ªa mask he had worn through countless schemes and negotiations¡ªalmost broke. His pale blue eyes widened in disbelief, and his usually calm features showed a flicker of genuine surprise. Lortell''s words echoed in his mind. "She wants to marry her?" Arthur Mariette was not a man who was easily shaken. He was known as "The Perfect Poker Face," a title he had earned during his past life of crime. He had once been a notorious criminal, feared across many kingdoms for his mastery of the transformation path. Arthur was a man of many faces, capable of changing his appearance and identity at will. Using this skill, he had traveled the world under countless aliases, robbing and scamming his way to infamy. His name became a legend when he even managed to fool and steal from two demon lords, escaping with their precious resources. His talents went beyond mere disguise. Arthur had a natural gift for maniption, acting, and plotting. No one could tell if he was lying or telling the truth. His deals were wless, his schemes nearly impossible to unravel. But his luck didn''tst forever. Five kingdoms eventually allied against him,unching a massive campaign to bring him down. Arthur found himself cornered and gravely injured, with no way to escape the mess he had created. It was then that he made a desperate decision. He offered a deal to the Kingdom of Anastasia, trading the immense wealth and rare resources he had stolen, along with critical intelligence about his enemies. The king, recognizing his value, pardoned his crimes and made him the arch-duke of Anastasia. Arthur''s past as a criminal was buried, erased slowly from history, and he took on his new role with the same precision and cunning that had once made him infamous. Because of Arthur being on Anastasia kingdom''s side, They benefited greatly. Arthur''s presence alwaysmanded respect, whether in negotiations or within his family. His sharp wit and unshakable demeanor earned him the nickname "The Statue of Sand." He only reveals the emotions he wished others to see, while hiding everything beneath a thickyer of mystery. But now, as Lortell''s confession echoed through the room, hisposed exterior cracked ever so slightly. It was as if a tiny hole had appeared in his carefully built statue, and grains of sand were slowly slipping through. For a brief moment, Arthur''s shock was evident, but he quickly recovered, regaining his usual calm demeanor. "Well¡­" Arthur leaned back against the sofa, chuckling softly to ease the tension. "I must admit, I''m surprised. I never imagined you''d be interested in girls, of all things." His tone was light, and his smile carried a hint of amusement. Lortell stared at him, her heart still racing from her impulsive confession. "Father, are you¡­ really okay with this?" Arthur sighed, folding his arms across his chest. "Why wouldn''t I be? If that''s what you want, just marry her whenever you''re ready." Lortell''s crimson eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Really? You''re not going to argue?" she asked, her voice filled with shock. Arthur''s lips curled into a knowing smile, his eyes gleaming with brilliance. "Your acting, my dear, is far inferior to mine. You weren''t asking for my permission; you were simply informing me of your decision. Whether I said yes or no wouldn''t have changed anything, would it?" His words left Lortell speechless. He had seen right through her, as he always did. Arthur''s expression softened as he continued. "Besides, it''s not like I''m in any position to oppose you. In my prime, I was a Rank A awakened, but you''ve surpassed me in every way. As a Rank S, your strength is leagues above mine. And let''s not forget¡­" He paused, his tone bing somber. "I''m not the man I used to be." Arthur nced at his hands, his fingers trembling slightly as he clenched them into fists. "Ever since that battle with the five kingdoms, my body has never fully recovered. Those injuries, I might look fine on the outside, but my strength is fading with each passing day. I''m not even at the level of a top-tier Rank B awakened anymore." His voice grew quieter, tinged with sadness. "And truth be told, I don''t have much time left." "Father, don''t say such things!" Lortell eximed, her voice filled with concern. She stepped closer to him, her crimson eyes softening. Arthur smiled at her encouragement, though his eyes carried the weight of reality. "That''s why I called you here, Lortell." He straightened his posture, his gaze steady and full of resolve. "Out of all my children, I believe you are the most suitable to seed me. I want you to be the next arch-duke." Lortell froze, a mixture of surprise and joy flooding her expression. "Me?" she whispered, barely able to process his words. Arthur nodded. "Yes, you. I know you''re not the eldest, nor are you human. But none of that matters to me. You''ve proven yourself in ways your siblings haven''t. You''re strong, intelligent, and capable of leading." For a moment, Lortell''s mind raced. Out of all his children, why her? She wasn''t even the firstborn. Arthur had five children in total¡ªtwo sons and three daughters. And beyond that, there was the unspoken truth of their world: she was a vampire, not a human like the rest of her family. Arthur had five wives, all Rank B awakened, and three hundred lower ranked concubines. It wasn''t out of indulgence or preference, but necessity. Awakened individuals, due to their immense power, had heightened physical needs¡ªsexual urges that far surpassed those of ordinary people. Their libidos were unmatched, thousands of times greater than that of an average human. This wasn''t something they could control, nor was it a matter of indulgence. It was simply a fact of their biology. A single partner, especially one who was not awakened or of a lower rank, couldn''t keep up with their overwhelming needs. This was why it wasmon for high-ranking awakened individuals to have multiple wives and numerous concubines. It was both a necessity and luxury or a sign of greed. In fact, in most awakened societies, it was considered a standard practice. Lortell Mariette was no exception, she inherited her father''s strength but had far surpassed him, bing a Rank S awakened. This elevated her to a realm of power few could evenprehend. However, with her immense strength came even greater challenges. Her physical urges were far more intense than even her father''s had been in his prime. If Lortell ever decided to abandon all restraint, her stamina and energy could allow her to indulge her needs continuously for months without stopping. It was an aspect of her awakened nature that she chose to control with unwavering discipline, but it was a reality she couldn''t ignore. In fact, if Lortell had been born a man, she could have fathered hundreds of children in a single night, given her Rank S abilities. The thought wasn''t something she dwelled on, but it was an undeniable truth of her existence as an awakened being. Despite these societal norms and the expectations ced on high-ranking awakened, Arthur''s decision to name Lortell as his sessor to the position of arch-duke was unprecedented. She was his middle child, not his eldest, and she wasn''t even human¡ªshe was a vampire. Typically, in noble families, the firstborn had the first opportunity to inherit the title and responsibilities of leadership And yet, despite these customs, Arthur had chosen Lortell¡ªa middle child and a vampire¡ªto inherit his title. How amazing was this? Being the archduke''s daughter was one thing, but bing the archduke herself was on apletely different level. Her status could tower above most, even surpassing the great Lilith. In the grand hierarchy of the kingdom, she would be second only to the king in terms of authority and influence. But her power wasn''t just about titles. It was built on the unshakable foundation of her father''s secrets and contributions to the kingdom¡ªthings even the king wouldn''t dare challenge easily. Lortell was untouchable in a way that few could ever hope to be. As for her ns to marry Esdeath? There was no room for doubt. Not a single soul would dare speak against it, not openly, at least. The world they lived in still clung to outdated prejudices¡ªracism, ssism, and scorn for same-sex unions. For many, such a marriage would be scandalous, a blow to Lortell''s pristine reputation. But what did reputation matter when you held power? In this world, strength rewrote the rules. Lortell knew it better than anyone. Rules were made by the strong, bent by the strong, and enforced by the strong. She smiled to herself, her joy uncontainable. "Yes," she thought, her heart fluttering, "no one will dare object. Our marriage will happen in peace, and it will be a grand celebration of fortune and strength." Her musings were interrupted by Arthur''s voice. His tone was calm but carried an edge of seriousness. "But my decision will stir up trouble for your siblings. They won''t be happy about this, you know. That will be your problem to handle." Lortell''s expression hardened, her joy reced by a look of quiet determination. She stood tall, her sharp gaze meeting Arthur''s for a moment. "Leave that to me," she said firmly. Her voice carried confidence, unyielding like steel. She gave him a slight bow, a gesture of respect but also one of finality. "I shall depart now." Arthur raised an eyebrow, a mix of curiosity and amusement flickering in his eyes. "Huh? You''re leaving already?" Lortell turned slightly, ncing over her shoulder with a faint smile curling her lips. Her words were soft yet filled with a heartfelt purpose. "How could I miss my future wife''s match?" And with that, she left. Violet Vs Claus (1) After the match between Esdeath and Valeria, Esdeath calmly returned to her seat, while Valeria left the arena in silence. Her face was pale, her expression grim, as though she had just faced something that shook her to her core. In Valeria''s eyes, Esdeath wasn''t just an opponent¡ªshe was an unbreakable wall. A wall that had suddenly appeared in her life, blocking the path to her dreams and potential. It was suffocating, frustrating, and terrifying all at once. Her fists clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms as she whispered to herself with trembling determination, "I have to ovee this wall... no matter what!" With those words, she walked away. --- When Esdeath returned to her seat, she noticed that Maruti wasn''t there. She tilted her head slightly, wondering where the girl could have gone. Momentster, Maruti came running towards her in the most carefree manner imaginable. With both arms raised at a 45¡ã angle like airne wings, she dashed through the wind,ughing softly to herself. "Wooo¡­ Fable! Why didn''t you tell me all of this happened?" Maruti said excitedly as she plopped down beside Esdeath, her energy as boundless as ever.@@novelbin@@ Esdeath raised an eyebrow, unsure where this was going. "What are you talking about now?" she asked with a sigh. Maruti, her eyes wide with wonder, began exining. "I heard that I went unconscious at the start of my match¡­ and then suddenly went berserk! I fought that cheeky princess and even some teachers, didn''t I?" she said, a mix of surprise and pride in her voice. Esdeath sighed deeply, her hand resting on her forehead as though Maruti''s excitement was already tiring her out. "Let me exin¡­" She went on to recount the events in detail. By the end of the exnation, Maruti lookedpletely satisfied. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she crossed her arms, nodding proudly. "Ultra Instinct, huh? Now that sounds like a proper cheat skill! I''m amazing!" Esdeath gave her a t look. "It''s a good thing you had that¡­ ''cheat skill,'' or else you''d have been defeated before you even got started. We need to be more cautious from now on. People with more power will always try their hardest to stay at the top. They won''t hesitate to crush others to win," she warned seriously. Maruti immediately waved her hand in denial, puffing out her chest proudly. "Hmph! It''s not like I won just because of that Ultra Instinct thing! I''m sure I would''ve gotten back up and given that princess a proper beating!" she dered with a confident snort. Esdeath''s lips curled into a sly smirk. "Really?" she asked, her tone dripping with mockery. Maruti raised her chin high, closing her eyes like an arrogant child boasting about their aplishments. "Of course! Did you forget what we always say? ''This foundation always reaches twice!''" she eximed, clearly proud of the odd phrase. "I would''ve beaten her in my second round, no doubt about it!" Esdeath groaned, rubbing her temples as though hearing the line physically pained her. "Whatever, whatever. Just don''t say that weird phrase again! It''s so embarrassing. I don''t even know why you came up with something like that!" "The next match is between Violet from ss A and us ndestine from ss A," the female referee announced in a clear, steady voice. As Violet stood to leave, she exchanged a quick nce with Ethan. His subtle nod conveyed encouragement, and she returned it with a small, determined smile before walking toward the arena. Her heavy sword rested on her shoulder, its weight seeming like nothing to her as she made her way forward. us entered the arena shortly after, her steps graceful but firm. A confident smile yed on her lips as she surveyed her opponent. Without hesitation, she drew her long sword, the polished de gleaming under the sunlight. She didn''t dare underestimate Violet¡ªnot after what she had seen. "Earth is weak against Lightning," us mused, recalling her easy victory over Emma earlier. "But my lightning element is at a disadvantage against Violet''s gravity element. This won''t be as simple." Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied Violet. "Not only that, she ced fourth in the written exams, and I saw herst battle. She''s no pushover." Still, us''s confidence didn''t waver. She unsheathed her sword and pointed it at Violet, a proud smirk tugging at her lips. "But even so, a marquise like me can''t lose to a lowly baron!" Her words were filled with certainty, as though her victory was already decided. Violet, on the other hand, was calm and collected. She drew her heavy sword in a single smooth motion, the massive weapon glowing faintly with a dark violet energy that radiated power. She adjusted her battle stance, her grip firm and steady, waiting for the referee to start the match. The referee raised her hand, her voice sharp and clear. "Begin!" She quickly stepped back to avoid the sh. *ng!* *sh!* *Cling!* The sound of swords colliding filled the arena almost instantly. Sparks flew as Violet and us exchanged a series of rapid blows. Violet''s heavy sword pulsed with dark violet energy, while us''s de crackled with fierce yellow lightning. The energy surrounding their weapons created an intense aura, making the audience watch in awe. Violet was the first to go on the offensive. She jumped high into the air with surprising agility, her massive sword raised above her head. With a loud cry, she brought it down in a powerful, straight sh aimed directly at us. "20x Gravity," Violet willed, her voice low but steady as the air around her sword seemed to warp under the immense force. us raised her sword just in time to block the attack. CLANG! The impact was so powerful that the ground beneath us cracked, spiderweb-like fractures spreading outward. us gritted her teeth, her arms shaking slightly as she held her ground. "This sword¡­ it''s unbelievably heavy," she thought, deflecting the blow with all her strength. Instead of countering immediately, us stepped back, her instincts urging her to create distance. Without hesitation, she began to run in a wide circle around Violet, her speed increasing rapidly. "From what I''ve observed, she can only manipte gravity in a small area, not the entire arena," us analyzed, her mind racing as she darted around. "If I keep moving quickly, she won''t have a chance to adjust her gravity field to trap me. I just need to wait for the right moment to strike!" us dashed forward in a rapid arc, her speed blurring her figure, and swiftly closed the distance behind Violet. Just as she was about to strike, an immense pressure crashed down on her body. us''s knees buckled under the force, and she fell to the ground, unable to move. Violet turned around slowly, a confident smirk on her face. "Did you really think you could sneak up on me?" Violet teased. us''s hands trembled as she gritted her teeth. "ARRRGHHH!" she roared, summoning every ounce of strength in her legs. With a burst of effort, she stood up against the crushing force of the gravity magic and charged forward like a storm. Violet''s smirk faltered for a moment, her eyes widening. "What?!" she muttered. Before Violet could react, us''s de shed across her shoulder. Pain seared through Violet, but before she could counterattack, us had already created distance between them, retreating with swift, calcted movements. "You''re quick," Violet admitted, clutching her injured shoulder. Her voice carried a taunt as she added, "But all this running around... aren''t you tired of ying coward? Fight me head-on!" us smirked, flipping her long sword in her hand as she caught her breath. "I''m not some child who falls for empty words," she replied coldly. "Save your prideful speeches for someone else. Winning is all that matters in the end." Her words were sharp, but Violet couldn''t deny the truth behind them. us''s strategy wasn''t shy, but it was effective. The crowd murmured, some booing at what they saw as "cowardly" tactics, while others watched with admiration for us''s intelligence and endurance. Then, us struck again, darting at Violet with blinding speed. This time, Violet was prepared. As us closed in, Violet raised her hand and called out, "Zero Gravity!" Immediately, us''s momentum stopped, her body suspended in mid-air. She floated helplessly, her sword swinging uselessly in the air. The pressure of gravity was gone, leaving her unable to control her movements. But us''s expression remained calm. She had expected something like this. Focusing her energy, she whispered, "Wind-Thunder Steps." Her body surged with lightning energy as she created invisible tforms beneath her feet. Using these tforms like stepping stones, she began to dash through the air toward Violet. Violet''s confident smirk deepened. us noticed the glint in her eyes¡ª"It''s a trap! ", us gasped. But it was toote. "Gravio Inverse!" Violetmanded, flicking her fingers. In an instant, us''s world turned upside down. Her body was yanked upward as gravity reversed, pulling her higher instead of down. The sudden shift threw her off bnce, and she struggled to reorient herself. Violet didn''t waste a second. sh..... She swung her heavy sword in a calcted arc, shing us''s leg. The sharp pain shot through us''s body as she let out a gasp. Blood stained her leg. us gritted her teeth and drove her sword into the ground, her face twisted in agony. "Thunder Charge!" she growled. The ground beneath Violet''s feet pulsed with waves of crackling lightning. The attack was sudden and violent, forcing Violet to retreat, but the shock still surged through her legs. She stumbled, her muscles screaming in pain from the intense electric jolt. Beautiful of this, us got free from upsde down gravity. Both fighters were visibly injured now, breathing heavily as they sized each other up. Dust and blood covered their bodies, and the once-pristine arena had turned into a battlefield littered with cracks and scorch marks. The audience held their breath, their eyes darting between the twobatants. Both fighters were now covered in cuts and bruises, their clothes slightly torn and their hair disheveled. The audience was on the edge of their seats, their cheers echoing through the arena. "She''s incredible!" one student murmured. "But Violet''s got her cornered, right?" another whispered. "I''m not so sure¡­ us doesn''t seem like she''s giving up," someone else replied. us pushed herself upright, leaning on her sword for support. Violet steadied herself, her breaths shallow but steady. Her gravity magic had taken a toll on her mana reserves. But in the battle they both a difference, us had a healing essence stone while violet did not. Right now while standing firm, us was actually healing her injuries of her leg, She couldn''t use something like Rank C essence stone to rapidly heal her body. But being lower rank, The healing costed high mana and more time, Very slowly healing. But after few breaths, They both rushed at each other, They exchanged many strikes. "Now i don''t have enough to Manipte even a small area''s gravity, I can only focus on my sword right now! And my mana is also almost running out", violet thought. While us was in no better, "My healing and other thing costed my so much mana and I was running at rapid speed using the essence stones The whole time, I don''t have much mana left ", she thought. But despite being in tough situation, Not one of them showed a worried expression, So that the other person couldn''t be confidence. Suddenly, both fighters stopped moving. Their swords dropped slightly as a strange realization hit them. Their manapletely drained. The energy around their weapons flickered and vanished. us felt it first. Her breathing slowed as the realization dawned upon her. "No mana..." she thought, her heart sinking. The warm flow of energy she had been relying on throughout the fight waspletely gone. Her healing essence stone had drained what little remained. Now, all she had left was her body¡ªand that wasn''t in the best condition. Across from her, Violet came to the same realization. Her heavy sword, previously light as a feather thanks to her gravity magic, suddenly became unbearable. "No..." she muttered under her breath as the sword slipped from her grasp. It hit the ground with a deafening thud, kicking up dust. "I can''t lift it without my magic," she thought, clenching her fists. She red at us, masking the dread building in her chest. Her opponent still held her longsword, and though us was breathing heavily, her advantage was painfully clear. The audience erupted in murmurs. "Violet dropped her weapon!" a young man eximed, his voice tinged with worry. "She''spletely defenseless now!" another added, leaning closer to the railing. Nearby, a girl frowned and crossed her arms. "us has the upper hand," she said confidently. "She can still use her sword, and Violet doesn''t even have the strength to fight barehanded." But a voice from behind chimed in, "Don''t be so quick to decide! Even if us has her sword, she''s just as exhausted as Violet. Without mana, neither of them is as strong as they look. They''re practically normal people now." The young woman beside him scoffed. "Normal people? No. Awakened without mana are worse than normal people if they don''t have anybat training." Violet Vs Claus (2) Both us and Violet were at their limits. Their mana hadpletely run out, leaving them unable to use magic or essence stones. us, however, had the upper hand. She still held her longsword, while Violet was barehanded. Violet''s breath steadied as she took abat stance, her eyes sharp with focus. "I have an A-grade ESR talent. My mana will recover faster than hers. I just need to stall for a bit. One good punch with mana, and I can turn this around," she thought with determination. us wasn''t oblivious to this n. She could feel the tension in the air. Without hesitation, she charged forward with her sword, her movements quick and forceful. us shed, and Violet barely dodged the de, her body twisting at thest second. But us didn''t relent. She attacked again and again, her strikes relentless and precise. Dodge. Dodge. Dodge. Violet narrowly avoided every blow, her body moving on pure instinct. Sweat dripped down her forehead as her heart pounded in her chest. But us wasn''t going to let up. Then, in a sudden move, us hurled her longsword straight at Violet. Violet''s eyes widened in shock. "She threw her sword?" she gasped, dodging it instinctively. But it was a trap. As Violet dodged, her movements faltered for a split second, and that was all us needed. She closed the distance in a sh. Before Violet could react, us delivered a powerful kick to her face. The force of the blow sent Violet stumbling back, caughtpletely off guard. us didn''t stop. She followed with a fierce punch to Violet''s abdomen, knocking the air out of her lungs. A pained gasp escaped Violet as she felt the impact deep in her core. Without missing a beat, us grabbed Violet as if embracing her and executed a wless judo throw. She mmed Violet''s head into the ground with a heavy thud. Violet''s vision blurred. Her head spun, and her body felt like it was on fire. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, each one heavier than thest. But us wasn''t done. She leapt onto Violet''s prone body, pinning her down. Raising her fists, she began punching Violet''s face without mercy. "Just give up already!" us shouted, her voice filled with frustration and pride. "There''s no way I''m losing to someone like you! Your A-grade aptitude and gravity magic are the only reasons you''vested this long!" Violet winced as she tried to block the punches with her arms. Her body ached, her strength was failing, but deep in her heart, she refused to give up. Violet''s vision blurred as her consciousness wavered, but a memory from her past kept her from slipping into darkness. Years ago, when she was still a child and hadn''t awakened, she was just a little girl trying to navigate a harsh world. On one particr day, a group of bullies had cornered her. Theyughed cruelly as they taunted her, shoving her around. Fear gripped her small frame as she tried to hold back tears. But suddenly, a fist came out of nowhere,nding squarely on one of the bully''s faces and knocking him out cold. The others froze for a moment, startled by the interruption. It was a boy, about her age, with vibrant blue hair and eyes as deep and clear as the ocean. He stood defiantly in front of her, his small body shielding her from harm. His face was both cute and determined, a mix of innocence and courage. "Leave her alone!" he shouted, his voice unwavering despite the odds. The bullies, however, weren''t intimidated. There were too many of them, and he was alone. They quickly regained theirposure and lunged at him.@@novelbin@@ Punch after punch, he fought back, his small fistsnding wherever they could. But for every punch he threw, he took several in return. The bullies'' strength and numbers were overwhelming. Violet watched in fear, convinced he would be beaten down. Yet, even as blood dripped from his lips and bruises formed on his small frame, he didn''t back down. "Stop! Just run! You can''t win against them!" Violet cried out, her voice trembling with worry. But the boy didn''t retreat. His determination was like a zing fire. One punch, then another¡ªhe kept going. His movements were clumsy and untrained, but his will was unshakable. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he managed to knock out four of the bullies. The remaining two, panting heavily and clearly shaken, began to hesitate. "Damn it¡­ this kid just doesn''t know when to quit. Let''s go¡ªI''m done with this!" one of them muttered, trying to mask his fear. And just like that, the bullies ran off, leaving Violet and the boy alone. Violet stared at him, wide-eyed and amazed. Despite his injuries, he stood tall, wiping the blood from his lip with a small, triumphant grin. "Who¡­ who are you? Why did you help me? What if they had hurt you even worse?" Violet asked, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and gratitude. The boy turned to her, his ocean-blue eyes shining with warmth. He smiled brightly, revealing all his teeth, as if the pain didn''t matter to him. "I''m Ethan," he said proudly. "And I''m a hero. Heroes don''t give up. We''re meant to protect everyone." "A hero doesn''t give up?" Violet repeated softly, the words echoing in her heart. In that moment, something shifted inside her. A sense of righteousness, a desire to be strong, began to stir in her young heart. From that day on, Ethan and Violet became inseparable friends. As the years passed, things began to change. Violet awakened at the age of eleven, her status as a Baroness granting her privileges and power. But Ethan, to her surprise, had yet to awaken. The roles reversed. The boy who had once stood up to protect her now found himself being shielded by her. Whenever someone tried to pick on Ethan, Violet would step in without hesitation. Her strength and status made sure no one dared harm him. "You don''t have to do this," Ethan would say, his voice tinged with frustration. "Even though I''m not awakened, I can protect myself!" But Violet would only smile brightly, her eyes full of the same determination she had seen in him years ago. "Don''t worry," she''d say confidently. "Aren''t heroes meant to protect everyone? From now on, I''ll protect you." ------------ Remembering those moments, a surge of fire ignited inside Violet''s heart. Her tired eyes widened, zing with a fierce resolve as though she had seen a ghost. "Heroes don''t give up!" she screamed, her voice raw and filled with everything she had left. Her clenched teeth dug into her lip as she pushed past her exhaustion, channeling thest remnants of her strength. Her fist crackled with dark violet energy, glowing with an faint glow. With all her might, she swung her mana-infused fist andnded a devastating blow on us''s jaw. BAM! The sound was deafening. us''s body was sent flying backward, her head snapping to the side as her momentum carried her. She hit the ground hard, her body sprawled out as two of her teeth broke instantly, scattering onto the arena floor. "Cough¡­ cough¡­" us gasped, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth as she struggled to breathe. Rage red in her eyes as she managed to push herself halfway up, ring daggers at Violet. "A lowly baron dares to do this to me?!" us yelled, her voice trembling with fury and humiliation. Violet, panting heavily, struggled to sit up. Her body screamed in pain, but her resolve didn''t waver. She knew she didn''t have the strength to keep fighting. Every inch of her ached, and her legs felt like they could give out at any moment. But she wasn''t done yet. Ignoring the pain, Violet forced herself to her feet, staggering toward us''s discarded longsword. She reached it, her trembling hands wrapping around the hilt as she picked it up. The weapon felt heavier than ever in her exhausted state, but she tightened her grip, willing herself to move. us, still on the ground, tried to rise, but before she could fully get up, Violet was already standing over her. The de of the longsword now rested firmly against us''s neck. The crowd fell silent. us froze, her body tense and shaking with anger. Her fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, leaving red crescents on her skin. She red at Violet with pure hatred, her lips trembling as she felt the cold steel against her throat. Her face was contorted with rage and humiliation. She wanted to scream, to fight back, to do something¡ªanything. But deep down, she knew. It was over. She had been defeated. us''s vision blurred, and for a moment, she thought she might cough up blood from the sheer frustration choking her. The referee raised his hand, his voice cutting through the tension. "Winner: Violet Vondarion!" The announcement echoed across the arena. For a brief moment, there was silence. Then, the crowd erupted into cheers and apuse, their excitement filling the air. The match had been breathtaking, thrilling to the very end. No one had been able to predict the victor until thest moment, and now they celebrated the triumph they had just witnessed. Violet''s chest rose and fell with heavy breaths as she lowered the sword. Her body felt like it was about to copse, but she stood tall, her pride shining through the exhaustion. Slowly, with unsteady steps, she began to walk away from the battlefield. Her legs trembled with each movement, but she held her head high. us, still on the ground, clenched her teeth, her fists trembling. She had no choice but to ept defeat. Bothbatants left the arena, their bodies broken but their spirits unyielding. Emma’s Death Esdeath''s lips curled into a wicked smile as she delivered her finalmand. "KILL HER." For a moment, the room was silent, the tension thick and suffocating. Emma''s eyes widened in terror as she realized what Esdeath had done. "Corin, no!" Emma cried, stepping back in fear. "Please don''t listen to her! You''re better than this!" But Corin stood frozen, his ws trembling as he stared at Emma. In his mind, a storm raged¡ªa battle between Esdeath''s poisonous words and the faint hope Emma offered. Corin''s thoughts were in turmoil, spinning wildly between guilt, fear, and confusion. But in the end, he made his choice. He decided to believe in Esdeath. With a roar of anguish, he raised his ws high. "ARRRGHHH!" Emma''s scream pierced the room as Corin''s sharp ws tore into her abdomen. Blood spilled out like a crimson flood, staining the floor beneath them. But Corin didn''t stop. His ws shed again, brutally ripping into her chest. Her clothes were shredded, and her body was left mutted. One of her breasts was severed in half, while the other hung barely intact. Her intestines spilled out, her lifeless body a grotesque sight. Her eyes remained open, wide and nk, but her soul was gone. Emma was dead. Corin stood over her motionless body, panting heavily. Tears streamed down his face, but he told himself this was necessary. He had to do this to break free, to achieve the freedom Esdeath promised. But then, a panicked voice broke the silence. "Here! He''s here! Corin killed Emma!" Esdeath''s voice rang out, trembling with horror. Corin spun around, his heart dropping. Standing behind Esdeath were a female teacher, two male teachers, and someone else¡ªEthan. The real Ethan. Esdeath''s body shook as if in fear, her eyes wide and filled with what seemed like genuine terror. "He actually killed her," she said, her voice cracking. "I saw him talking with her, and I rushed to find help, but I never imagined he would kill his own girlfriend!" Her performance was wless. Corin''s mind reeled. "W-What? But you told me to¡ª" Before he could finish, Esdeath interrupted, her voice trembling as she clung to the chubby male teacher. "This monster haspletely lost his mind!" she cried, hiding behind the teacher. "Please, kill him before he teleports away again!" Behind her act of fear, Esdeath''s lips curled into a sinister smile. In that moment, everything clicked in Corin''s mind. He realized the truth. He had been manipted, schemed against from the very beginning. His teeth clenched, his hands trembling with rage. "ESDEATH¡­ YOU FRAMED ME, YOU LIAR!" he roared, his voice echoing in the room. But his shout was drowned out by an even more furious presence. Ethan. Ethan stood frozen, staring at Emma''s mangled corpse. Her lifeless bodyy twisted and broken, her insides exposed in a horrific disy. His hands trembled, his entire body shaking with rage. "Emma¡­" he whispered, his voice barely audible. His eyes reddened, blood vessels bulging as tears of fury welled up. Then his rage exploded, raw and unrestrained. "CORIN, YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" Ethan roared, his voice shaking the very air. Without hesitation, he unsheathed his sword. His grip was tight, his knuckles white with rage. He charged at Corin, his de gleaming as his emotions fueled his every step. There was no hesitation, no mercy. Corin barely had time to react as Ethan closed the distance between them, his sword swinging with deadly precision. Corin''s mind was racing, his body trembling as he stood on the brink of copse. "There''s no way I can defeat three teachers, let alone Ethan," he thought, his fists clenching. "But I have to survive¡­ I have to expose the truth. For Emma, I need to do this!" With sheer willpower, Corin focused his energy, channeling what little strength he had left into one final act. "Teleport!" In a sh, his body vanished just as Ethan''s sword came crashing down, missing him by inches. "YOU!" Ethan roared, his voice filled with rage. "You''re not getting away with this! Today, you die!" Without a second thought, Ethan charged forward, his fury blinding him. He broke through walls like they were paper, smashing everything in his path as he searched for Corin. "Ethan! Calm yourself!" one of the teachers yelled. "Vice Principal Lilith has already set up a formation. The moment Corin steps outside a two-kilometer range, we''ll pinpoint his location and capture him. If he stays within range, he''ll end up in our hands!" But Ethan wasn''t listening. His mind was consumed by one thought: Kill Corin. Meanwhile, Esdeath stood back, watching the chaos unfold with a sly smile. She stepped out from behind the chubby teacher, her bodynguage rxed and carefree. Everything was going ording to her n. Humming a cheerful tune, she skipped down the hallway, her steps light and bouncy. "La,,,¡­ La,,~¡­" she sang softly, waving her arms in the air like a child without a care in the world. The chubby teacher nced at her retreating figure and muttered under his breath, "Looks like she''s lost her mind in all this chaos too¡­"@@novelbin@@ --- "Huff¡­ Finally done!" Maruti let out a long sigh as she flopped onto the bed, her arms and legs sprawled out. "Now I can go back to my room and sleep!" The clear night sky was visible from the window, with the full moon glowing brightly and countless stars twinkling in the distance. It was a beautiful, peaceful sight, but Maruti was too exhausted to fully appreciate it. She wasn''t alone. Beside her, Kaelithy on the bed as well, her silver hair shimmering faintly in the moonlight as she gazed out at the sky. "You know," Kaelith said softly, her voice calm, "we finally finished all the work." Maruti''s face twisted with irritation as she sat up slightly. "We? Who''s we? You made me do everything! I cleaned, arranged the furniture, polished the windows¡ªyou didn''t even lift a finger!" Kaelith didn''t deny it. Instead, she turned her head to look at Maruti with a faint smile. "Didn''t you say friends help each other? The academy made everyone live in dorms. I didn''t bring any maids, and I don''t know how to do housework." Maruti''s eyes twitched in frustration. "Friends help each other? Then let me tell you something: friends also p each other!" The room fell silent after her remark, the only sounding from the faint rustle of the wind outside. Both girls stared out at the glowing moon above. After a moment, Kaelith broke the silence, her voice softer than before. "You know¡­ being a Silver Dragon isn''t easy. Sometimes, I wish I was born as someone like you." Maruti nced at her, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. But then she smirked, leaning back on her elbows. "Then why don''t you just die? Maybe you''ll be reborn as someone you like. But make sure to leave me all your property before you go!" Kaelith''s eye twitched at the bluntment, but then she shook her head with a small chuckle. "You''re painfully honest," she said, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance. But then she turned her head toward Maruti and smiled¡ªa genuine, warm smile. "Still¡­ I kind of like that about you. You''re the only one who talks so friendly to me like this, I tried your method to make friends but it seems like it is not working.", Kailith said in solemn voice. She paused, her eyes shifting to the moon again, before she continued, "For some reason, every time I''m around you, I feel happy." Kaelith hesitated for a moment, as if debating something in her mind, before pulling out a delicate white flower with five leaves. Its soft petals shimmered faintly under the moonlight, giving it a magical appearance. She extended it toward Maruti. "Here. This is for you," she said in a solemn voice. Maruti took the flower, examining it with a raised eyebrow. Her expression shifted to one of disappointment. "A flower? Really? You''re so cheap," she said with a smirk, rolling her eyes. Without warning, she popped the flower into her mouth, chewing it and swallowing it in one go. Kaelith stared at her, wide-eyed. "What... what a weird way of epting things!" she said, shaking her head with a bewildered smile. Maruti paused, her smirk fading for a brief moment. She nced at Kaelith, who still wore that small, genuine smile. For a second, the mood shifted, but Maruti quickly broke it with a sigh. "Well, I''m going back to my room," she said, pushing herself to sit up. But before she could get to her feet, Kaelith suddenly lunged forward, pinning her down on the bed. Maruti''s eyes widened in shock. "What the hell¡ª" she stammered, but her words caught in her throat. Kaelith''s breathing was heavy, her chest rising and falling quickly. Her long, silvery hair fell over Maruti''s shorter hair, mixing together in the dim light. Kaelith''s body hovered over Maruti''s, her face just inches away. She grabbed Maruti''s wrists, holding them firmly down against the mattress. Maruti''s heartbeat raced. She stared up at Kaelith, her wide eyes meeting the intense, almost desperate gaze of the Silver Dragon. Their faces were so close she could feel the warmth of Kaelith''s breath. "Don''t go yet," Kaelith whispered, her voice shaky but firm. Maruti gulped, trying to ignore the strange flutter in her chest. "B-but... why?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely audible. Kaelith didn''t answer right away. Instead, she reached into the pocket of her skirt, her hand fumbling for something. After a moment, she pulled out a small, silver, spiral-shaped locket. She held it up in front of Maruti''s face, the locket swinging gently from side to side like a hypnotist''s charm. The soft silver glint caught Maruti''s attention, and she stared at it in confusion. Kaelith leaned in closer, her lips almost brushing Maruti''s ear. In a low, almost enchanting whisper, she said, "Break up with Esdeath... and be my best friend forever." For a moment, the room was filled with silence. Kaelith held her breath, her heart pounding as she waited for Maruti''s reaction. "Did it work? Did I seed?" Kaelith thought nervously, her grip on the locket tightening. Maruti blinked, her nk eyes meeting Kaelith''s hopeful ones. Then, after a long pause, she spoke. "Umm... should I say Fuck you? " First Arc Ends Maruti blinked, her nk eyes locking with Kaelith''s hopeful gaze. After a long, awkward pause, she tilted her head and spoke, her tonepletely t. "Umm... should I say ''screw you'' or something?" Kaelith froze, both puzzled and shocked. "What? It didn''t work?" she thought, her surprise evident. "But this enchantment is strong enough to permanently hypnotize several rank-C awakened at once! What''s going on here?" She furrowed her brows, her expression serious as she tried again, focusing harder this time. But Maruti remained unaffected. With a sharp, unimpressed look, she pushed Kaelith off her with surprising ease. "Stop ying these childish games. You''re supposed to be a grown-up now!" Maruti snapped as she sat up straight. Kaelith didn''t resist. Instead, she stayed lying on the bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling above. A faint flush crept onto her cheeks, betraying her embarrassment over what had just happened. Maruti, meanwhile, muttered to herself as she stood up hurriedly. "I swear, I''m getting a bad feeling about this girl. I better leave before things get weirder." She made her way quickly to the door, her steps urgent. But just as her hand reached the door handle, Kaelith''s voice broke the silence. "Do you know how to cook?" she asked softly, her tone surprisingly subdued. "I''m hungry. The academy''s locked down while they search for that worm Corin, and the canteen''s closed too." Maruti paused, turning slightly to nce at her. "Cook? Well, my cooking is... better than someone trying for the first time, at least." Sheughed a little, thinking out loud. "But now that I think about it, Fable makes the tastiest food. Still don''t know where she learned all that from. She''ll definitely make the perfect housewife one day. Hehehe..." Kaelith''s gaze sharpened at the mention of this mysterious person. "Who''s Fable?" Maruti pped her forehead lightly, chuckling. "It''s Esdeath. Just a nickname I use for her." She smiled as she turned fully back toward the door. "Anyway, I''ll be going now. Take care!" And with that, she left, the door clicking shut behind her, leaving the room in silence. Kaelith''s expression darkened immediately. Her teeth clenched in frustration as a dangerous glint shed in her eyes. "Esdeath again," she hissed under her breath, seething with rage. Her fingers curled into fists as she grabbed the hypnotizing artifact and hurled it against the wall. The loud *crack* echoed in the quiet room, a sharp reminder of her anger. -------------- After subduing Corin, Esdeath quietly returned to the academy as if nothing had happened. Her steps were calm, her face expressionless, betraying none of the chaos that had just urred. She moved silently through the academy halls, the faint moonlight spilling through the windows casting her in a serene glow. It waste, and the quietness of the night seemed to match her mood perfectly. Soon, she reached the dormitory area, her door just a few steps away. Esdeath''s thoughts were elsewhere, her mind reying everything that had unfolded earlier. But then, out of nowhere, two hands slid from behind her, grabbing her breasts gently but firmly, as if teasing her. It was an intimate touch, the kind a lover might use. "Your breasts have really grown much bigger!" a soft, romantic voice whispered warmly in her ear. Esdeath''s entire body froze, her face instantly turning red. She quickly turned her head, and her wide eyes met the familiar, radiant face of Lortell Mariette. Her face was glowing, even in the dim light of the night. "L-Lortell?" Esdeath stammered, her voice unsteady, her cheeks burning. Lortell let out a softugh, her fingers lingering for just a moment before she released Esdeath and stood straight, her smile yful yet dazzling. "Of course, it''s me. My dorm room is right next to yours," she said with a teasing tone, as if the situation waspletely normal. Esdeath blinked in surprise, her thoughts racing. She hadpletely forgotten about the dorm assignments. Of all the coincidences, Lortell''s room had to be right next to hers? "That''s¡­ great¡ªI mean, what a coincidence!" Esdeath blurted out, almost unable to contain the excitement in her voice. But as quickly as the excitement bubbled up, her expression turned serious. *"If Lortell is in the next room, what if she finds out about Selene?"* Esdeath thought, her heart sinking at the possibility. Her mind spun in frustration. Thankfully, she reminded herself of the academy''s protective measures. Investigative magic or essence stones werepletely banned in the academy to prevent students from spying on others. The teachers had set up an intricate trap to catch the person behind the mysterious kidnappings¡ªany attempt to investigate would trigger a deadly counterattack, instantly incapacitating the culprit and alerting the staff. This exined why the teachers themselves hadn''t used such methods to find Corin. Removing those measures would take too long, and by then, Corin would have fled. But Esdeath knew the truth: Corin wasn''t fleeing anymore. He was dead. Pushing those thoughts aside, Esdeath forced a smile. "It''ste. I should go to sleep now," she said softly, her tone lighter. Her warm smile was small, but it caught Lortell off guard. The normally cold andposed Lortell felt something shift in her heart. She reached out suddenly, her hands cupping Esdeath''s cheeks gently. "Why are you so cute?" Lortell murmured, her voice almost tender as she began poking Esdeath''s soft cheeks yfully. Esdeath''s blush deepened, the redness spreading from her cheeks down to her neck. Her heart pounded in her chest as Lortell''s touch lingered. "Goodnight!" Esdeath quickly turned around, her heart racing as she strode toward her door. She knew that if she lingered even a moment longer, her emotions would spill out, and she couldn''t afford to let that happen. Reaching the door, she ced her hand on the handle, ready to step inside and escape this growing tension. But then, she hesitated. Her hand froze, and something inside her urged her to look back. Turning her head slightly, she asked, her voice polite but tinged with curiosity, "Why are you still here?" Lortell stood casually behind her, her posture rxed yet confident, as if she had all the time in the world. Her crimson eyes met Esdeath''s, gleaming with mischief. "Because I''ming too," she said matter-of-factly. "That Corin has turned into a wolfman. What if hees after you? I''ll protect you." Her words were spoken with such conviction, leaving no room for argument. Esdeath blinked, her mind scrambling for an excuse. Before she could respond, Lortell stepped forward, her hand reaching out toward the door handle. "Now stand aside and let me enter first. What if he''s already in there?" Panic surged through Esdeath. Moving instinctively, she spread her arms wide, blocking the door like a human barricade, her posture stiff and awkward. "No need! No need!" she said quickly, her voice almost too loud. "I''m safe, really. There''s no need for you to force yourself. And besides, you''re just next door anyway! If anything happens, I''ll let you know right away!" Lortell stopped, raising an elegant eyebrow at Esdeath''s sudden outburst. "Are you sure?" she asked, her tone skeptical but amused. "Yes, absolutely sure!" Esdeath nodded quickly, her expression overly earnest as she tried to keep herposure. But Lortell wasn''t convinced. She tilted her head slightly, her long silver white hair cascading over her shoulder, and took a small step closer. Her tall frame loomed over Esdeath, and she bent slightly, bringing her face level with Esdeath''s. Before Esdeath could react, Lortell leaned in, her lips brushing lightly against Esdeath''s ear. The closeness sent a shiver down Esdeath''s spine, and her breath hitched. "Do you know you''re so beautiful? ," Lortell whispered, her voice low and sultry, every word dripping with warmth and affection. "So beautiful that every night, when I''m in bed, I can''t help but think of you." Esdeath''s entire face turned crimson, the blush spreading rapidly as if her body had overheated. Her lips parted, but no words came out. Her heart pounded so loudly she swore Lortell could hear it. Lortell pulled back just enough to look at her face, her crimson eyes sparkling with amusement. A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "You really are so adorable," she said, her tone light and teasing. Without giving Esdeath a chance to respond, Lortell straightened up and waved casually. "Well then, goodnight!" she said cheerfully before turning and walking toward her own dorm room. Esdeath watched, frozen in ce, as Lortell disappeared through her door. The hallway felt quiet again, but her heart was anything but. She clutched her chest, trying to calm the rapid beating. Just as esdeath saw lortell entering, She entred her room too. As Esdeath stepped into the room, she immediately noticed Selene pacing back and forth like a restless child caught in a dilemma. The small girl''s movements were quick and erratic, her hands nervously fidgeting with the hem of her dress. The moment Selene caught sight of Esdeath, she froze like a deer in headlights. Without a word, she dashed to the bed, plopped herself down, and sat stiffly, her legs dangling over the edge. Her wide eyes darted around the room, refusing to meet Esdeath''s gaze. Esdeath stood silently by the door, her sharp eyes narrowing. Something felt off. There was an unusual tension in the air, and Selene''s frantic energy only added to it. "I didn''t do anything!" Selene blurted out suddenly, her voice high-pitched, almost squeaky, like a guilty child trying too hard to appear innocent. Her expression was a mix of panic and feignedposure, her lips curling into a forced, awkward smile. Esdeath tilted her head, a skeptical look crossing her face. "What?" she asked, her tone t but her eyes inquisitive. Selene quickly shook her head, her silver hair swaying with the motion. "I said... nothing happened!" she stammered, her words stumbling over each other. "Everything is fine! Totally fine! N-normal... everything is normal," she added, her voice trailing off into a nervous whisper.@@novelbin@@ It was painfully obvious she was lying. Selene''s hands gripped the edge of the bed tightly, her knuckles turning white. Her feet kicked lightly against the floor as if trying to distract herself from the weight of her own words. Esdeath sighed deeply, her lips curving into a bitter, annoyed smile. She crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe, watching Selene''s increasingly suspicious behavior. "Something must have happened," she said calmly, her voice carrying a hint of exasperation. "Now, tell me what happened. Don''t make me drag it out of you." Elara Erevan The academy was slowly waking up to a new day, but the atmosphere was heavy. While some students tried to move past the events of the previous night, others were consumed by grief. Families mourned for their lost children, and friends grappled with the empty spaces left behind. At the academy''s graveyard, where students and soldiers who had passed wereid to rest, the fresh graves stood as a solemn reminder of the tragedy. The academy buried them here to honor their sacrifice, to show that their deaths were not in vain. Ethan stood before one of the graves, his face grim, his shoulders heavy with guilt. The headstone read: Emma Atherton. He stared at it in silence, his hands clenched tightly at his sides. As the wind rustled the trees, a gentle hand rested on his shoulder. "Don''t me yourself too much," Violet said softly, her voice carrying both sadness and determination. "It wasn''t your fault that Emma died. Life can be cruel, Ethan. The dead don''te back, no matter how much we want them to. All we can do is keep moving forward." Ethan''s jaw tightened, his teeth grinding in frustration. His mind raced with bitter thoughts.@@novelbin@@ "What''s the point of my rebirth if I couldn''t even save one person who was actually my friend?" he thought, anger burning in his chest. "In my previous life, Emma survived. But here, after my second chance, instead of saving more lives, I let someone who should''ve lived die. All because of my recklessness." he thought in his mind. The weight of his failure threatened to crush him, but then, like a ray of light cutting through the darkness, a spark ignited in his mind. He looked up at the clear sky, his eyes narrowing with resolve. "No," he said firmly, his voice low but growing stronger. "This can''t stop me. I lost one person because of my mistakes, but I''ll atone for it. I''ll save thousands of others. I can''t give up¡ªnot without trying." Violet stepped closer, her gaze softening as she heard his words. "That''s more like it," she said, a small, encouraging smile forming on her lips. "Emma may be gone, but we''ll always remember her. She''ll live on in our hearts." As Ethan absorbed Violet''s words, another voice joined them. "Well said," Sylvania added, her tone filled with quiet strength as she ced aforting hand on Ethan''s other shoulder. "Honoring her memory doesn''t mean stopping. It means pushing forward, doing better, and making sure her loss wasn''t meaningless." Ethan nodded, a flicker of determination lighting his eyes. He turned to the two girls, his closest allies, and felt a renewed sense of purpose. "I''ll keep moving forward," he promised. "For Emma. For everyone. I won''t let her sacrifice go to waste,Let''s go back to the academy." Sylvania and violent looked at each other and nodded. ------------- The sun was high in the sky, marking the time at 11 a.m., but there were still a couple of hours before the afternoon sses began. However, none of that mattered at the moment. Arge crowd had gathered near the academy''s main gate, buzzing with curiosity and excitement. Among the crowd stood students and teachers, and even notable figures like Lilith and Lortell were present. Everyone seemed to be waiting for someone important. Suddenly, a strange, sleek, pitch-ck contraption rolled into view. It had four small wheels and moved without any visible horse or earth wyvern pulling it. The sight left the crowd astonished. "What is that?" whispered a student, eyes wide. "That''s a... car," another murmured in awe. The car came to a smooth stop just outside the academy gates. The door opened, and out stepped a striking figure. He had sharp, pointed ears and dark, tanned skin that contrasted with his bright green robe and glittering jewelry. His facial features were so handsome that many of the students, especially the girls, couldn''t help but blush. "A dark elf¡­" someone whispered in amazement. The man''s presencemanded attention, but his warm smile and confident demeanor kept the crowd at ease. Lilith stepped forward and greeted him with a respectful bow. "Finally, you''ve arrived, Principal." The man chuckled softly, his white teeth gleaming as he spoke. "No need to be so formal, Ms. Lilith. You are my senior, after all." His words carried both respect and charm, leaving several students swooning. The other teachers followed Lilith''s lead and bowed their heads in greeting. Everyone except Lortell, who remained unmoved, arms crossed, her expression indifferent. The man was none other than **ra Erevan**, the principal of the Awakened Academy. He was a living legend among the awakened, a dark elf who had lived for over two centuries. He had been alive during the time of the great hero, Lilith, and the team that sealed the Demon King. However, unlike the others, ra hadn''t joined the final battle. Why? At that time, ra was only a Rank A awakened,cking the strength to fight alongside the hero''s team. Instead, he stayed behind to manage the academy and support from afar. When the hero and his team returned, they were victorious but gravely injured. Lilith, in particr, had suffered the most, her rank dropping to A after the battle. Though they had sealed the Demon King, the cost was great. As time passed, the hero and the rest of the team sumbed to old age, leaving only Lilith and ra behind. But unlike Lilith, whose strength diminished over time, ra continued to grow stronger. Now, ra Erevan stood as an S-rank awakened, a master of the time path, and the principal of the Awakened Academy. His rise in strength and status ced him above even Lilith within the academy''s hierarchy. Beyond his position, ra had another critical role: to keep Lortell Mariette in check. Lortell, with her own S-rank power and enigmatic presence, was a force that could challenge the academy''s authority. ra, being one of the few who could rival her, acted as a safeguard. For weeks, the academy had been gued with chaos¡ªstudents disappearing one after another, leaving everyone on edge. With no other choice, the academy sought help from Principal ra Erevan. ra arrived, his presencemanding respect and reassurance. Standing before the gathered crowd of students and teachers, he dered with unwavering confidence, "There''s no need to worry anymore. Now that I''m here, let''s see who daresy a hand on my students." He walked through the academy gates with a calm demeanor, but as he scanned the crowd, his gazended on a particr girl. **Esdeath Crimson.** His sharp eyes narrowed slightly as he took her in¡ªa girl with long, flowing ck hair and an unsettling grin that stretched wide across her face. Her eerie eyes locked onto him, brimming with something almost inhuman. "A ck-haired girl?" ra thought, a flicker of surprise crossing his usuallyposed features. Her grin sent a shiver down his spine, making even someone as powerful as him feel momentarily uneasy. He quicklyposed himself, dismissed the thought, and walked inside. The crowd began to disperse, and soon, it was time for sses. --- Esdeath and Maruti entered their ssroom together. But this wasn''t ss B anymore. They had both been promoted to **ss A**, the most elite group of students in the academy. The ssroom was spacious, designed to amodate sixty to seventy studentsfortably. However, ss A had barely thirty students, leaving much of the room empty and adding to its imposing atmosphere. As Esdeath and Maruti stepped inside, the room was already in chaos. "Hey! You''ve been staring at my skirt and my chest, haven''t you?" snapped a red-haired girl, her tone filled with disgust. Her name was Ria, one of the ss A students. With thick eyebrows, long eyshes, and a well-toned figure, she was as fiery as her appearance. She had a firm grip on the tie of a pale, scrawny boy¡ªValen Vandris. He was a ssic nerd,plete with sses, a weak posture, and little to no confidence. Or so everyone thought. To everyone''s surprise, Valen seemed unusually bold today. Adjusting his sses, he responded in a calm, matter-of-fact tone, "Staring at you? Please, don''t tter yourself. I was looking at your outfit. You''re clearly trying to imitate mydy boss by wearing a short skirt, leaving your shirt buttons undone, and tying your tie so loosely. Am I wrong?" His words hit Ria like a thunderbolt. Her face flushed with embarrassment as the truth of his observation sank in. "You¡­!" she growled through gritted teeth, her grip on his tie tightening before she abruptly let go. Her frustration boiled over as she jumped onto a nearby bench, raising her leg high in the air to deliver a powerful kick aimed straight at Valen''s face. But the moment her leg shot up, her skirt shifted, exposing far more than she intended. Valen froze, his face turning a deep shade of red as his sses fogged up. "D-Did I just see¡­ heaven?" he stammered, unable to believe what had just happened. The entire room erupted inughter, some students smirking while others whispered and snickered among themselves. Ria quickly realized her mistake, her face burning red as she adjusted her skirt and red daggers at Valen. "Y-You pervert!" she screamed, pointing an using finger at him. Valen, still dazed from what he saw, muttered, "It''s not my fault you did that¡­" But before he could finish, Ria clenched her fist, her face red with embarrassment. "Shut up, you pervert!" she yelled, swinging her fist at him with her eyes squeezed shut. **Swish.** The punch was just inches away from Valen''s face when it suddenly stopped. Ria opened her eyes, startled, only to see her fist caught mid-air by Maruti, who blocked it effortlessly with her palm. "Lady Boss''s friend?" Valen muttered in surprise, staring at Maruti. With a bored expression, Maruti nced at Esdeath, ignoring Ria entirely. "Is this kind of stuff normal in school genre manga and anime? Why are these mangakas so obsessed with panties?" she asked in apletely serious tone. "Beats me," Esdeath replied casually as she walked into the ssroom, her expression unreadable. "What¡­ What are you even talking about?" Ria stammered, lookingpletely lost and uneasy. Maruti turned her gaze to Ria, her tone blunt. "And you, t-chested girl, what''s the big deal? You raised your leg, and he saw something. So what? It''s not like he stole your virginity. If you don''t want anyone to see anything, then wear pants." The room fell silent for a moment before bursting intoughter. "t¡­ t-chested?" Ria repeated, her face turning an even deeper shade of red as she trembled in embarrassment. Maruti shrugged, her expression indifferent. "Of course. Anyone can see you''re using magic to make your chest look bigger. That means you want people to notice, right?" Ria clenched her teeth, struggling to keep herposure. Finally, she pulled her fist back, huffing. "Forget it. I''ll let it go this time!" she snapped, retreating to her seat in a storm of frustration. Valen, still standing, turned his attention to Esdeath as she walked further into the ssroom. His sses gleamed as his jaw dropped in surprise. "Lady Boss, did you¡­ change your style?" Esdeath scratched the back of her head, smiling awkwardly. "Y-Yeah. Exposing too much skin isn''t all that cool, you know. Wearing stylish clothes that cover you up but still manage to enhance your beauty is, uh, way more impressive!" She nodded to herself, clearly making up nonsense on the spot. Valen''s eyes sparkled with admiration. "Lady Boss is so wise!" he eximed, as if she''d just shared the secrets of the universe. Spiral Head Girl The ssroom was settling down as students moved to their respective seats, but something kept drawing everyone''s attention¡ªthest seat in the middle row. Why? Despite more than half the ssroom being empty, Esdeath and Maruti were both seated there, rxed as if they owned the ce. Meanwhile, Ethan was seated in the middle row, with Violet on one side and Sylvania on the other. Valen, who had been nervously hovering nearby, made his way toward Esdeath, clearly intending to sit next to her. But Esdeath raised her hand, stopping him. "Go sit on the first bench like you usually do. There''s no need to force yourself to prove anything." Her tone was casual, almost dismissive, as if she were giving an order instead of a suggestion. Valen hesitated, looking a little disappointed but nodded. "As you wish, Lady Boss," he muttered and shuffled to the front row. Esdeath smirked as she leaned back in her chair. "That guy''s useful. He can do our assignments for us, so we don''t waste time on boring stuff," she said, her voice dripping with amusement. Maruti, sitting beside her, didn''t seem to share the same lightheartedness. Instead, she nced at Esdeath, a curious frown forming on her face. "You said it''s time for Arc 2. So, what''s the n? Reap some benefits? Rob people when they''re in a tight spot?" Esdeath''s smirk disappeared, reced by a serious expression as she met Maruti''s gaze. Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. "Nothing. We avoid it with everything we''ve got." Maruti raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that answer. "Avoid it? Really? Why?" Esdeath let out a sigh, leaning forward slightly. "The first and second arcs areplete opposites. In the first arc, you can survive even if you do nothing. But the second arc? It''s likeparing an ant to a mountain. The difficulty skyrockets. As long as you''re in the academy during this arc, the chances of dying are ridiculously high." Maruti tilted her head, still unconvinced. "Then why stay here? Why not just leave?" Esdeath''s lips curled into a bitter smile. "Do you think I haven''t thought of that? I wanted a private room outside the academy for this very reason. But the academy has rules. No one is allowed to live outside the dorms during this time. You can only leave for a few hours at most,This was one of the reasons I wanted to get an private room, So that when timees I just give some excuses and won''te to academy." She leaned back in her chair, frustration flickering in her eerie eyes. "Bad luck, huh? We''re all trapped here, whether we like it or not." Maruti leaned back, crossing her arms as she processed Esdeath''s exnation. "Is this a game? Or some twisted scheme to get us all killed?" Esdeath let out a bitterugh, her eerie eyes narrowing slightly. "That''s exactly what you''d expect from a trash game. They don''t even know how to properly increase difficulty step by step as we grow stronger. It''s like someone threw a broken challenge at us and hoped for the best. Honestly, even I could design a better game than this!" She sighed, running a hand through her hair. Before Maruti could respond, the sound of chairs scraping interrupted them. The entire ss stood up at once, greeting the teacher with a respectful bow. Esdeath and Maruti exchanged a quick nce before reluctantly following suit. The teacher, a tall woman with sleek ck hair and a calm demeanor, gestured for everyone to sit. "Good morning, everyone," Sora said, her voice soft yetmanding. Once seated, Esdeath leaned slightly toward Maruti and continued in a hushed tone, "At least now that we''re in ss A, it''ll be easier to avoid her. We don''t even have to try." Maruti''s expression darkened as she mulled over Esdeath''s words. "If it''s as you say, she might already be here." --------- Meanwhile, in ss B The mood in ss B was somber as the teacher, Sylvia, walked in. Her green eyes flickered with a stern light as she stood at the front of the room. "You all already know about the recent tragedies," she began, her voice firm. "Many students have lost their lives. To honor their memory, let''s observe a minute of silence." The ss fell silent, heads bowed in respect for their fallen peers. After the solemn moment passed, Sylvia''s tone shifted. A soft smile appeared on her face as she spoke again, "But today is a fresh start. We also have someone new joining us." She turned toward the door, her smile widening. A girl stepped into the ssroom. She had short gray hair that fell neatly over her forehead and an above-average appearance. Her soft smile seemed warm, yet unremarkable. "This is Caramel," Sylvia introduced. "She was supposed to join us when the academy term started, but her carriage was attacked by bandits, and she suffered an injury on her forehead. Thankfully, she''s recovered and is finally here. Please help her adjust and share your notes." Caramel bowed politely. "Please take care of me," she said with a small, pleasant smile. As she bowed, a strand of her hair shifted, briefly revealing a spiral-shaped scar on her forehead. The air in the room changed instantly. Sylvia''s green eyes widened, her pupils transforming into heart shapes. She took a step closer to Caramel, her voice trembling with uncharacteristic excitement. "Caramel, are you single? Are you free today? We could go on a date¡ªwhat do you think?" The ss erupted into chaos. "No fair! Caramel, I fell in love with you at first sight. Marry me!" "No, me! I''ll be the perfect partner for you!" "Forget them, Caramel! I''ll do anything for you¡ªeven die if that''s what you want!" It wasn''t just the boys; the girls were no exception. Everyone was shouting over each other, their voices filled with desperate obsession rather than love. Some students had even climbed onto their desks, reaching toward Caramel as if trying to im her. Caramel, for her part, simply stood there with an innocent smile, her eyes glimmering with a faint, mysterious light. -------------- Esdeath leaned closer to Maruti, her tone low and serious. "Yeah, she''s already dead. She just doesn''t know it yet. The scar on her forehead, It''s a symbol her a rare second awakening of an anomaly ss¡ª''Spiral Head Girl.'' For now, anyone who sees that scar will fall head over heels for her. But soon, just being near her will make people fall in love." Maruti raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "So¡­does that mean you could fall for her too?" Esdeath rolled her eyes and let out a small chuckle. "Of course not. Unfortunately, I''m already madly in love with someone else. This only works on people with low spirit. Ethan will definitely not be affected." She paused for emphasis, then added, "People with high spirit¡ªlike Lilith, Kaelith, and Violet¡ªwon''t be. Violet being in love with Ethan,Thus despite being weaker physically she won''t be affected. Sylvania might feel a slight pull, but if she keeps her head on straight, she can resist it." Maruti tilted her head, grinning. "What about me?" Esdeath pped her own forehead dramatically, exasperated. "Didn''t I tell you back in the arena? With your ultra instinct , you''re also protected from charm and mind effects to some degree. As long as you don''t turn into a simp, your chances of falling in love are basically zero." Maruti''s grin grew wider as she crossed her arms behind her head, looking smug. "Well, that''s a relief! No need to worry, then!" Her cheerful moment, however, was short-lived. The ssroom door opened, and Kaelith stepped in, her presencemanding as always. Her piercing silver eyes scanned the room like a hawk searching for prey. Her gaze brieflynded on Maruti, and with a casual wave of her hand¡ªalmost like a expressionless yet deep hidden meaning of "hiii... ". Maruti groaned quietly, pping her forehead. "Not her again¡­" she muttered, shutting her eyes in frustration. Kaelith''s attention then shifted to Esdeath, who sat beside Maruti. Her expression instantly soured, and she let out an irritated "Hmph!" before striding purposefully to the back of the ssroom. To Esdeath''s confusion, Kaelith didn''t sit anywhere else. Instead, she wedged herself "forcefully" between Esdeath and Maruti, practically shoving them apart. Kaelith crossed her arms and leaned back with a haughty air, her expression smug as if she''d just won a grand victory. Esdeath blinked,pletely baffled, her face showing the rare "What the heck just happened?" expression. She nced at Maruti for answers, her eyes silently pleading for an exnation. But every time Esdeath tried to meet her gaze, Maruti would quickly look away, pretending not to notice. Her expression screamed, "Don''t ask me! I have no idea either!" As the ss dragged on, Kaelith remained seated between Esdeath and Maruti, her presence a silent but palpable barrier. Esdeath maintained a calm demeanor, ustomed to such disruptions, while Maruti''s frustration simmered beneath the surface. When the ss finally ended in the early evening, the two friends finally somehow reunited outside, eager to distance themselves from Kaelith''s unsettling presence. They headed toward the cafeteria, where Esdeath nned to grab a meal and collect extra food for Selene. Maruti''s anger boiled over as she stomped her foot on the ground three times, her voice rising in exasperation. "That Kaelith! Who does she think she is? A silver dragon? Big deal! I couldn''t care less," she fumed.@@novelbin@@ Her eyes sparkled with determination as she continued, "If she''s a silver dragon, then I''ll be a golden dragon and eat her alive!" Esdeath''s expression remained neutral, as if such outbursts were part of her daily routine. "Did you pick a fight with that overpowered character?" she asked, her tone casual. "And just so you know, there''s no such thing as a golden dragon. Silver dragons are the only ones, a half-constetion species." Maruti''s eyes widened in surprise. "Really? But how?" she questioned, her curiosity piqued. Esdeath sighed, a hint of boredom creeping into her voice. "I guess it''s time to pick up where we left off," J?rmungandr Maruti''s body grew, stretching untils themselves seemed like marbles beside him. The sun was now nothing more than a round mango in front of him¡ªa mango he had craved all along. Without hesitation, Maruti opened his mouth wide, and in one swift gulp, he swallowed the sun whole. Darkness swept through the space as he devoured it, not even leaving a burp in its ce. For a brief moment, remnants of the sun''s glow lingered, casting faint, fleeting light. But those moments quickly passed, and pure darkness took over. On thes below, chaos erupted. Beings who had suffered under the sun''s relentless heat now found themselves plunged into a night unlike any they had known. Celebrations broke out in some ces, with people cheering and praising the unexpected relief. "Finally! No more scorching heat!" they shouted, dancing in the sudden coolness. But elsewhere, fear and despair gripped the hearts of many. People cried out in panic. "First the unbearable heat, nowplete darkness? Are we cursed? Is this the end of the world?" Seraphine, standing on her pce, stared at the darkened sky with a deep frown. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and frustration. "What''s going on? First, the sun''s extreme heat, and now this? Cmity after cmity¡ªjust who or what is behind all this?" She sighed, her body rxing slightly. "Well, at least I don''t have to keep using my killer move to create artificial greenery anymore," she muttered, her voice tired. Maintaining her move had drained her strength day after day. Now, at least, she could rest. Meanwhile, in the vastness of space, panic rippled across the realms. Divine beings from countless corners of existence gathered near the sun''s former position, teleporting in one after another. Their faces were filled with shock and concern as they searched for the Sun God, Surya. But instead of Surya, they saw a colossal figure¡ªa monkey child so massive that even the now-missing sun seemed tiny inparison. It was Maruti. He stood where the sun once zed, his enormous form dominating the void. His face was a mix of dissatisfaction and frustration as he rubbed his belly. "That mango wasn''t tasty at all," he grumbled, his voice booming across the empty expanse. "It even burns! What kind of mango is this?" The gods stared at him in stunned silence, their minds struggling to process what had just happened. One of them whispered, "This¡­ this child swallowed the sun?" Another deity, his face grim, stepped forward. "Wait a minute. If he''s this big, won''t his gravity pull thes towards him? They''ll collide into him and destroy themselves!" Indra floated forward from the group, his presencemanding as he raised his hand to calm the growing panic. His voice was steady as he said, "There''s no need to worry. Look at thes¡ªthey''re still in their orbits, just like before. Do you know what that means?" He paused briefly, letting his words sink in before continuing, "It means that although he''s grown massive, his mass is only virtual. After swallowing the sun, his weight matches that of the sun¡ªnot more, not less. The bnce remains intact for now. We have time to decide our next move." Indra''s calm and confident exnation eased the tension among the gods, and murmurs of agreement rippled through the group. "I suggest we vote," a goddess with emerald-green hair and matching eyes said as she stepped forward. She held an elegant wand, her presence both enchanting andmanding. "We should decide whether to negotiate with this being or attack and destroy him." It was Gaia, the Goddess of Earth and Land, revered by many as Mother Gaia. Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. As one of the most powerful deities, equal to or possibly even stronger than Zeus and Indra, her words carried immense weight. "If that''s what Mother Gaia proposes," Indra said, nodding, "then we shall vote." The gods quickly cast their votes, and unsurprisingly, the majority sided with killing Maruti. Indra took a deep breath, raising his hand to announce the decision. "Very well, as per the results of the vo¡ª" Before he could finish, a shockwave tore through space, breaking their bnce and forcing many to steady themselves. "What was that?" a god gasped, his eyes wide. As they turned toward the source, their collective breath hitched. One word filled their minds: *J?rmungandr.* A massive serpent, farrger than anything they had seen before, loomed in the distance. Its thick, silver-scaled body shimmered, and its dragon-like head radiated pure menace. The sight of it was enough to strike fear into even the bravest gods. "Why is J?rmungandr¡ªthe World Snake¡ªhere? He never leaves his resting ce!" Indra eximed, his voiceced with disbelief. "And why does he look¡­ evenrger than before?" The gods exchanged nervous nces, their confusion growing. "What in the heavens is going on?" a bald-headed deity croaked, his voice hoarse and trembling. Before anyone could answer, a sudden burst of light illuminated the space. From the light emerged a man, his body battered and covered in blood. His wounds were severe, and blood trickled from his lips as he struggled to stand. "Who did this to you?" Gaia demanded, her voice sharp and authoritative. "And where is Zeus? Wasn''t he the one tasked with keeping J?rmungandr in check?" The wounded man panted, clutching his chest as he spoke. "Kratos¡­ Kratos has returned. He''s going to kill Zeus!" "Wasn''t he died like two times already?, how can hee back every time? "Indra said in frustation. The wounded man, still panting heavily, replied, "It seems Kratos made a deal with Kirmada, one of the Lords of Hell, and managed to return to life again!" "Please¡­ save Lord Zeus!" the man pleaded desperately, but as he looked around, no one dared to meet his gaze. A heavy silence hung in the air before one of the gods muttered under his breath, "Who even wants to fight him? I''m not ready to die!" The same thought echoed in the minds of many others. Sensing the unease, Indra quickly changed the subject. "First, we need to handle the current situation," he said, his sharp eyes fixed on J?rmungandr. "We''ll deal with Zeuster." The gods exchanged hesitant nces but nodded in agreement. One by one, they summoned their mana, their bodies radiating immense energy. Auras burst forth, filling the vast space as they prepared to face the World Snake. But just as they braced themselves¡ª Swish¡­.. J?rmungandr ignored thempletely. He slithered past even Gaia and Indra, as if they were insignificant specks of dust. Gaia: "¡­" Indra: "¡­" Other gods: "¡­" For a moment, the gods stood frozen, stunned by the tant disregard. Then a realization struck Indra. His voice trembled with astonishment as he said, "Wait¡­ don''t tell me¡­ is he trying to help us?" It was true. J?rmungandr wasn''t interested in the gods. His massive body surged through space, heading directly for Maruti. As the snake raced forward, his thoughts swirled. "Srrrr...I don''t know why I am doing, but it feels like fate is guiding me. I need to stop this reckless child before it''s toote,Srrrrrr..." Meanwhile, Maruti noticed the enormous snake approaching him. The gods were so smallpared to him that they didn''t even catch his attention. But the snake?@@novelbin@@ Maruti tilted his head in curiosity. "A toy snake?" That was his first thought. Before J?rmungandr could reach him, Maruti stretched out his massive hand and grabbed the snake with ease. Compared to Maruti, J?rmungandr was like a tennis ball next to a basketball. With a yful grin, Maruti wrapped the snake around his waist like a belt. "What a nice piece of jewelry!" he thought, admiring his new essory. Shock rippled through the gods as they watched the scene unfold. "Did he just¡­ turn J?rmungandr into a belt?" one god stammered, disbelief etched across his face. But then, a deep, boomingugh erupted, breaking the tense silence. "Hahahaha! HAHAHA!" It was J?rmungandr. Tears of joy glimmered in his eyes as heughed. "After thousands of years, I''ve finally found someone who reminds me of my battles with that damn Thor!" Hisughter faded into a fierce growl. "But don''t think I''ll be defeated this easily. Not without finishing my fight with Thor!" In an instant, J?rmungandr''s body began to grow. He expanded, doubling, then tripling in size, until he was four timesrger than before. Without hesitation, he coiled tightly around Maruti, squeezing with all his might. Maruti''s eyes widened in panic. He had nobat experience¡ªhe was just a child after all. As J?rmungandr''s grip tightened, Maruti''s stomach churned painfully. "Urghhh¡­" he groaned, his massive form trembling under the pressure. And then, he vomited. But what came out wasn''t food¡ªit was the sun. The fiery orb burst forth, glowing brilliantly as it returned to space. Light flooded the void, washing away the darkness that had consumed the realms. Birth Of First Silver Dragon The fiery orb shot out, glowing brilliantly as it returned to its rightful ce in space. Its warm light began to dispel the darkness that had engulfed the realms. But something was wrong. The sun''s radiance wasn''t as scorching or vibrant as before. The Sun God, Surya, materialized in a weakened state. His body, a construct of divine essence and will, crumbled to the ground. Panting heavily, he muttered, "What¡­ what happened?" As he tried to make sense of his condition, memories hit him like a tidal wave. He saw himself scorching rivers, drying oceans, and causing unimaginable suffering to all living beings. "Why? Why did I do such things?" he whispered, his confusion growing. Meanwhile, Maruti''s enormous body began to shrink rapidly. In moments, the colossal figure that had swallowed the sun was gone, reced by a small child. His tiny form fell floating in space. Marutiy unconscious, his chest rising and falling weakly. He was only four years old. No ordinary being, let alone a child, could have swallowed the sun without suffering severe consequences. It was a feat that defied all logic. J?rmungandr, his mission seeminglyplete, spared no further attention to the child. Without a word, the massive serpent turned and slithered back to his distantir, leaving the gods to decide Maruti''s fate. Gaia was the first to break the silence. Her emerald eyes burned with resolve as she spoke. "This is our chance. We voted to eliminate him, and now he''s defenseless. Even as a child, he had enough power to defeat a high-ranking deity like Surya. If we allow him to grow, no one will be able to stop him." Her words carried weight, and the other gods hesitated only briefly before nodding in agreement. One by one, they summoned their power and flew toward Maruti''s unconscious body. Their speed was incredible, and they arrived in the blink of an eye, surrounding the child like a storm about to strike. The air grew heavy with tension, and all eyes were on Maruti, his small form lying helplessly in the vast expanse of space. Many deities hesitated, their expressions heavy with doubt. "Killing an innocent child... it doesn''t feel right," one of them murmured. Gaia sighed, her face stern but conflicted. "Do we have another choice?" she asked, summoning a glowing dagger into her hand. "If no one else will do it, I''ll bear the sins and karma of killing this child." Her hand trembled as she raised the de, her teeth gritted in determination. But just as she was about to strike, her arm froze. It was as if an invisible force was holding her back. "Why¡­ why can''t I move my hand?" Gaia thought, panic rising in her chest. "I''ll try," a courageous god volunteered, stepping forward. He grasped his weapon and aimed at the unconscious Maruti, but his hand stopped mid-swing, unable to move any closer. The other gods exchanged puzzled nces. Something beyond their understanding was happening. Gaia closed her eyes and exhaled slowly, a hint of awe softening her voice. "It''s fate," she whispered. "Fate won''t allow us to kill him. That means¡­ this child has a greater purpose." The others weren''t fools. They immediately understood the weight of her words. "If fate wants him alive, then we should send him back where he came from," one deity suggested. Gaia nodded, determination recing hesitation in her voice. "Let''s do that." --- Far from where the gods stood, a woman floated in the void of space. She appeared to be in her early thirties, her long, greyish-white hair cascading over her tanned skin. Her beauty was striking, but her dark and revealing attire gave her an ominous air. Her body was covered in injuries, and her movements were sluggish, as though every moment was a struggle. Suddenly, glowing blue chains materialized around her, crackling with lightning that surged painfully through her body. The woman gasped and turned to see who had bound her, and her eyes darkened at the sight. Indra stood before her, his divine aura radiating power and confidence. A sly smile spread across his face. "I knew it was you, Atrox Fortuna, the goddess of misfortune," he said. His voice was sharp with usation. "You were the reason behind Surya''s madness." --- Three days had passed since the incident. The gods had returned Maruti to his home, erasing his memories of what had happened. Their methods were powerful, leaving no trace of his actions or the events in his mind. Meanwhile, Zeus had fallen at the hands of Kratos. The gods, paralyzed by fear, had done nothing to intervene. None of them dared to face the Ghost of Sparta and risk their own lives. But the most pressing issue was Surya. He had broken divinew, raising his temperature to such an extreme that millions of lives had perished in agony. Now, the gods gathered in a grand chamber, their faces grim as they prepared to pass judgment. Surya sat in the center of the room, his weakened form hunched on the cold floor. He looked like a prisoner, his once-bright essence dimmed by guilt and shame. The gods sat in a half-circle around him, their voices hushed but heavy with the weight of what was toe. Everyone knew this moment would determine the Sun God''s fate. The chamber grew tense as soldiers dragged a woman in chains to stand beside Surya. Her once-proud demeanor was gone, reced by a cold resignation. She was none other than Atrox Fortuna, the goddess of misfortune, her presence causing unease among the gods. Indra stood first, his voice sharp and unwavering. "Before we pass judgment, let me say this¡ªSurya''s actions were not entirely his own. He was manipted by Fortuna, whose powers filled his heart with pride and ego. Consumed by such thoughts, hemitted these atrocities." A god with a long beard and piercing blue eyes frowned deeply. "But that does not absolve him of guilt. A high-ranking god, brought low by the schemes of a lesser deity? It''s a disgrace to his status and our divine order."@@novelbin@@ The council murmured in agreement. Fortuna, despite being a low-mid-ranking goddess, had managed to corrupt Surya, something that was unthinkable for someone of his rank. This failure was not easy to overlook. Fortuna clenched her fists, her lips trembling with frustration. "Am I truly going to die?" she thought bitterly. Her mind raced. "Hundreds of years... I nned for centuries to slowly corrupt Surya''s mind, to lead the gods into a great war. That war was supposed to be my chance to rise in power. And now... all of it ruined in minutes by that cursed monkey child!" Her gaze darted toward the floor, her anger bubbling beneath the surface, but she remained silent. Gaia rose to speak next, her tone heavy with anger. "As the goddess of earth andnd, I''ve suffered the greatest losses because of Surya''s recklessness. Because of him, rivers dried, oceans burned, and countless lives were destroyed. I demand that Surya take full responsibility by self-detonating, allowing nature to choose a new Sun God." Her words struck the council like a hammer. Many hesitated, their faces dark with conflict. Gaia''s proposal was harsh, almost unthinkable. But could they deny it entirely? Surya''s actions had caused immeasurable pain, and justice demanded a heavy price. Surya himself broke the silence, his voice soft yet filled with sorrow. "I ept," he said, bowing his head. There was no fight left in him, only regret. He closed his eyes, preparing to end his existence right then and there. But before he could act, a voice cried out, trembling with anguish. "No, you can''t!" All eyes turned toward the speaker. It was Selene, the goddess of the moon, her silver hair flowing like a river of light. Tears streamed down her face as she stepped forward, her hands trembling. "Please, don''t do this," Selene begged, her voice breaking with each word. "I can''t bear to lose you like this, my love. Not this way." The gods watched in silence as Selene turned to face them, her knees hitting the ground as she pleaded. "I''ll take his ce. Let me self-detonate instead. I''ll bear the punishment for his actions. But please... spare him." Her tears fell freely, glistening like stars as they hit the floor. Her pain was palpable, piercing through even the hardest of hearts. The council members looked at one another, their stern expressions faltering under the weight of her plea. Surya''s voice broke in desperation as he reached out, "No, Selene¡ª" Before he could finish, Selene''s body turned to stone before his eyes. The room fell silent as cracks began to appear on her fragile form. A momentter, her body shattered into countless pieces, scattering like ash in the air. She had self-detonated. But it wasn''t her true body. The real Selene was the moon itself, and her soul and essence resided within that celestial sphere. When her will shattered, so did her essence, and in that instant, Selene was no more. "NOOOOO!" Surya''s cry echoed through the chamber, filled with unbearable grief. He fell to his knees, his hands trembling as he clutched the ground. The goddess he loved, the one who had sacrificed everything for him, was gone. But Selene had made a critical mistake. Unlike a nned self-detonation, which left behind a will and properly redistributed power, her impulsive act left her essence untethered. The moon, which once glowed brightly in the night sky, turned grim and dark. Its lightless surface looked lifeless, like a reflection of her death. But momentster, something extraordinary happened. A stream of silver light, radiant like flowing water, poured from the moon''s surface. It glimmered like a river of stars, cascading through the void of space before piercing Earth''s atmosphere with unstoppable force. The celestial silver essence, raw and powerful, searched for a host. It didn''t choose a human, elf, or dwarf. Instead, it found something far more ancient¡ªa massive creature with two long wings, sharp horns, and shimmering white scales. A female white dragon. The essence struck her like lightning, embedding itself deep into her being. The dragon let out an earth-shaking roar. "ROOOAAARRRR!" Her cries were deafening as her body writhed in agony. She thrashed violently, her massive wings pping uncontrobly as she wed at the ground. Her pain was unimaginable, as if her very flesh and bones were being torn apart. The agony continued for days, each second stretching into an eternity. The dragon''s mighty roars echoed across mountains and valleys, shaking the earth itself. Her body glowed with a radiant silver light, so bright it was blinding. Slowly, the essence began to merge with her. Her white scales turned to shimmering silver, glowing faintly like moonlight. Her horns gleamed with a metallic sheen, and her eyes became orbs of pure silver, reflecting the heavens above. When the pain subsided, she stood tall, her powerful body radiating divine energy. Her transformation wasplete. The first Silver Dragon had been born. What To Do? "Oww... What a tragic love story! I''m in tears!" Maruti mocked dramatically, wiping away invisible crocodile tears. Esdeath remained expressionless, her cold demeanor unchanging. The two of them arrived at the cafeteria, picked up their food, and began eating, each bite filled with a strange, contrasting calmness given the tension surrounding them. --- Meanwhile, in the principal''s office, a tense atmosphere filled the room. Principal ra sat behind his grand oak desk, his brow furrowed as he examined the stack of papers handed to him by Vice Principal Lilith. Several other faculty members stood around, their faces reflecting the gravity of the situation. ra''s eyes scanned the documents with a sharp gaze. "So, this is the record of all the students who went missing or were found dead?" he murmured, his voice low and heavy. Lilith leaned back in her chair, her silver eyes cold and focused. "Yes, these are all the cases. And in my opinion, there''s onemon thread tying them together¡ªEsdeath Crimson," she stated firmly. ra looked up at her, his expression cautious but curious. "Esdeath? Why do you suspect her? She''s only been here a few months. How could she be capable of something like this?" Lilith''s tone turned sharper as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. "That''s exactly the problem, ra. Nothing like this has ever happened before in the academy. Decades of peace, and suddenly, the moment she steps foot here, students start dying or disappearing!" ra stayed silent, letting her continue. "Let''s not forget the first incident," Lilith pressed. "Eldon Karanthis. He was killed by a child. And what did the child say? That Esdeath told him to do it. We had no evidence, so nothing could be done, but that alone was suspicious." She paused, letting her words sink in. "And then there''s Luna Cassia. She goes missing, and guess who her roommate was? Esdeath." ra rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his fingers tapping lightly against the desk. "It''s strange, yes. But how could she manage all of this so wlessly? She''s just a first-year student, someone who awakened mere months ago. She has no formal training, no history of advanced skills." Lilith''s eyes narrowed. "That''s what makes her even more dangerous. She''s ck-haired, ra. You know the rumors. What if she''s cursed? What if¡ª" "That''s just spection," another professor interrupted, raising her hand. She was a calm woman with soft features, but her voice carried authority. "Her affinity wasn''t dark, remember? And we have no evidence against her. We can''t act based on theories and assumptions." Lilith let out a frustrated snort, her annoyance evident. "Dark affinity?" she thought bitterly. "Who''s going to tell them that the Demon King doesn''t even have a dark affinity? That''s just a convenient stereotype everyone clings to!" It was true. Over the years, people had built a myth that dark magic and evil went hand in hand. Most believed it without question. But those who knew the truth understood how na?ve that belief was. But the second point was truly on point, "We have no evidence, so what can we do?" ra''s calm demeanor persisted as he smiled knowingly. "But there''s something new to note. Today, no students went missing or were killed. That tells me one thing¡ªwhoever the suspect is, they''re aware that I''m more than just someone who understands time magic. They know I''ve made strides in investigation as well, and they can''t fool me easily." Lilith nodded thoughtfully. "That does make sense," she admitted. "But we have another issue¡ªthe waves of monsters keeping. It''s wearing down our defenses and morale." Before the conversation could go further, a male professor burst into the room without knocking. His face was lit with excitement, so much so that he seemed to have forgotten basic decorum. "Vice Principal! Principal! The monster waves have stopped!" he eximed, his voice full of enthusiasm. A stunned silence filled the room, broken only by the incredulous voice of the female professor. "Really?" she nearly shouted, her eyes wide with disbelief. Lilith let out a relieved breath, her tense shoulders rxing. "Finally, after all these days of constant fighting, our forces can rest. I can rest," she thought, the weight on her chest lifting slightly. ra pped his hands together, his expression bright. "That''s excellent news! Now we can turn our attention to other matters. Let''s resume the first-yearpetition. Make sure it starts and ends tomorrow to avoid any unnecessary pressure," he ordered. The room collectively nodded in agreement, the air lighter now. ------ Back in the cafeteria, Esdeath stood up abruptly, brushing off her uniform. "I''m done," she said tly, finishing her meal with her usual cold efficiency. Maruti looked up in shock, her mouth still full of food. "Wait, already? I''m not even halfway done!" she protested, her words muffled by arge piece of meat stuffed into her cheek. Esdeath nced at her with a faint smirk. "If you eat that much, you''ll get fat again. But it''s your choice. I''m leaving." Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away. "Go on, then! I''m not a child who needs help eating!" Maruti snorted, stuffing another piece of meat into her mouth. Her peace, however, was short-lived. A group of students entered the cafeteria, their loud chatter silencing the room. At the center of the group was a girl with caramel-colored spiral hair, her presencemanding the attention of everyone present. Maruti froze mid-bite, her breath hitching. The piece of meat slipped from her mouth back onto her te. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she stared at the girl in disbelief. "Caramel¡­ What is she doing here? ording to the fable, she should be arguing with Ethan right now. Did something change in the future?" She shook her head quickly, trying to focus. This wasn''t the time to think about changes in the timeline. What mattered was leaving¡ªimmediately and unnoticed, especially by Caramel. But as the group fully entered, two boys stationed themselves at the door, blocking the exit. "No one is allowed to leave or enter during Goddess Caramel''s meal! No disturbances are permitted!" one of them dered loudly. Maruti bit her lip in anger, her annoyance growing. "Of course they''d pull this nonsense now," she thought bitterly. The rest of the cafeteria, however, seemed unaffected¡ªor rather,pletely affected in the opposite way. A wave of admiration swept through the students as they rushed toward Caramel, showering her withpliments. "You''re so beautiful, Goddess Caramel!" "Can I carry your tray for you?" "You''re perfect!" Even the cafeteria maid, who was cing dishes on a nearby table, froze when her eyes fell on Caramel. Her cheeks flushed as she rushed forward. "Your name is Caramel, right? I think I''m in love with you. Let me feed you with my own hands!" she said breathlessly, immediately picking up a spoon and offering it to Caramel. The students gasped, jealousy shing in their eyes. "Hey, no fair! I should be the one feeding her!"@@novelbin@@ "No, me!" "No, it''s my turn!" Chaos erupted as the crowd surged forward, each person desperate for Caramel''s attention. Maruti, however, stayed rooted in her seat, watching the ridiculous scene with wide eyes. And then it hit her. "Oh no! If I act indifferent, she''ll notice me for sure! I need to blend in, pretend like I''m just as smitten as everyone else!" She hurriedly began to stand, ready to join the frenzy. But it was toote. Caramel''s grey eyes locked onto her. Maruti froze again, her heart sinking. "I''m doomed." Caramel stood up gracefully, her eyes locked on Maruti like a hawk spotting its prey. The cafeteria grew silent, all eyes following Caramel as she walked toward Maruti with a calm butmanding presence. Maruti''s heart raced, and she hunched over her te, pretending to be deeply fascinated by her half-eaten piece of meat. "Don''t look up, don''t look up. Maybe she''ll think I''m invisible." But Caramel stopped right in front of her. "Hey, you!" Caramel''s voice rang out. "Why are you so quiet? Do I not look beautiful to you? Do you not like me?" Maruti froze, her mind scrambling like a squirrel on a slippery branch. She slowly lifted her head, meeting Caramel''s intense gaze. Her thoughts went into overdrive. "Okay, think, Maruti, think! If I say yes and act all lovey-dovey, she''ll know I''m faking it and if I say no, I''ll be the first person in history to deny her, and that might just get me in more trouble or worse... dragged into a drama where I can''t escape. What to do¡­ what to do?" She swallowed hard, ncing at the spoon in her hand. "Maybe I can fake choking? No, too dramatic. Or maybe I could just faint? But what if she makes me confess while unconscious?!" It Must Be Tough….. Maruti stared at the absurdly long love letter, then at Caramel,pletely dumbfounded. "What the hell happened to her?" she thought, her mind spinning as she tried to make sense of the bizarre situation. How could she not be surprised? Just yesterday, Caramel had forced Maruti topliment her. Annoyed, Maruti had done the opposite¡ªhumiliating her instead. "Is she¡­ a masochist?" Maruti wondered in disbelief, shaking her head. But in the end, who cared? Maruti casually threw the love letter onto the ground and said inly, "No." Without another word, she walked past Caramel. Before she could take more than a step, Caramel blocked her path, her face a mix of desperation and frustration. "What do you mean, no? You didn''t even bother to read it! Do you know how much love I poured into that letter?" Caramel''s voice trembled with anger, her eyes pleading. Maruti nced at her shoulder, where Caramel had ced her hand, and shrugged it off. Her tone turned cold, devoid of any sympathy. "I don''t care." With a swift motion, Maruti grabbed Caramel''s wrist and effortlessly flipped her over using Aikido. Caramel wasn''t trained or flexible like some of the academy''s top students, and her head mmed hard against the floor as shended with a thud.@@novelbin@@ Maruti snorted, brushing her hands off like she''d just swatted away an annoying fly. "Hmph. Come back when you''re stronger," she said coldly, turning and walking away without a second nce. Caramel groaned, sitting up slowly, her face red with embarrassment and anger. Her hands trembled as she gritted her teeth. "Maruti!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the corridor. "I''m expressing my love with sincerity! Don''t make me use force!" Maruti didn''t even flinch. She kept walking,pletely ignoring Caramel''s outburst. Caramel''s scream grew louder, more guttural, as rage consumed her. The spiral-shaped scar on her face began to grow, twisting and turning as moreyers were added to it. Her body trembled with unrestrained anger, and something within her shifted. Caramel was inching closer and closer to bing a full-fledged anomaly. ---------------- In Lortell''s room, the atmosphere was heavy with the scent of ink and parchment. Lortell sat slumped at her desk, her chin resting on her palm as her other hand reluctantly scribbled on a document. A tall stack of paperwork loomed before her, an endless sea of obligations. Her face twisted with frustration as she muttered under her breath, "Why do I have to do this boring stuff? I''d rather be on a date with Esdeath!" Lorraine stood beside her, her gaze scanning the documents. Unlike Lortell, Lorraine looked calm and collected. With a patient smile, she replied, "You''re going to be the next arch-duke, Lortell. Learning how to handle paperwork is part of the job. Don''t worry; it feels overwhelming now, but with practice, you''ll finish this in no time." Lortell groaned, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. "Can''t I learn all this after I be the arch-duke? Why so early?" Lorraine''s eyes sparkled mischievously as she delivered her reply with a knowing grin. "So that you can spend more time with Esdeath after your marriage." The mention of Esdeath worked like magic. Lortell''s face flushed bright red, and she quickly turned back to her work, her pen moving faster than before. "Fine, fine! No need to manipte me. I''ll do it!" Lorraine chuckled softly, her innocent smile masking her satisfaction. "Using Esdeath always works," she thought, barely hiding her amusement. ----------- Meanwhile, outside the academy, Esdeath walked through the bustling streets, her expression tinged with mild annoyance. The reason for her mood was perched atop her head¡ªSelene. Selene, tiny and full of energy, sat on Esdeath''s shoulders like a queen on her throne. Her little hands clutched Esdeath''s hair as if they were reins, tugging left and right to "guide" her. Esdeath sighed. The only reason she wasn''t attending today''s lecture was because Selene had begged her nonstop to see the outside world. Giving in, Esdeath decided to spend the day showing Selene around. The morning had been a whirlwind of activity. Esdeath recalled their first stop¡ªa magical roller coaster. "Woahhhhhh! I''m flying!" Selene had screamed, her eyes tightly shut in a mix of fear and excitement. Esdeath, on the other hand, remained utterly calm. As the ride twisted and turned at breakneck speed, her long hair whipped behind her. Yet, she held a coffee in one hand, sipping through a straw as if she were on a leisurely stroll. "A dragon being this thrilled about flying¡­ what a strange freeling," she had thought, her expression as neutral as ever. After the ride, the duo explored various attractions: swings, a ghost vi, climbing challenges, and even an eatingpetition. Selene''s energy seemed endless, bouncing from one activity to the next without a hint of fatigue. Now, sitting atop Esdeath''s shoulders, Selene spotted another attraction. Her small fingers tugged excitedly at Esdeath''s hair. "Mother! Look, that shooting game over there!" Esdeath sighed deeply but didn''t protest. "Yeah, yeah¡­ I see it," she muttered, her voice t as she adjusted Selene''s weight and headed toward the shop. The balloon shooting stall was lively, with bursts ofughter and excited chatter filling the air. Esdeath stood before it, arms crossed, her expression tinged with mild exasperation. She let out a sigh. "This has to be the easiest game for me," she muttered under her breath. Selene, still perched on her head, tugged at her hair eagerly. "Mother! Do your best!" With a gentle motion, Esdeath grabbed Selene and ced her on the ground. "Watch and learn, little dragon," she said with a sly smirk, her confidence radiating. She handed a bronze coin to the shop owner, who handed her a toy gun and three bullets. BANG! BANG! BANG! The sound of precise shots rang through the air. Esdeath didn''t waste a single bullet, hitting the three long-range balloons effortlessly. Selene''s jaw dropped in awe. Her golden eyes sparkled as she stared at Esdeath with a newfound admiration. Esdeath picked up the prize¡ªa plush dragon toy half the size of her arm. She held it with pride, her smirk widening as she handed it to Selene. But their moment was interrupted by a hand gently resting on Selene''s head. Selene turned to see an older woman in her fifties, with long brown hair tied back neatly. She wore a simple robe and squinted through tiny eyes that seemed almost shut. The woman''s fingers brushed against Selene''s horns. "Are those... horns?" the woman asked, her tone filled with curiosity. Selene froze for a second before scurrying behind Esdeath, clutching the edge of her skirt. She peeked out cautiously, her cheeks puffed up in annoyance. "Only Mother can touch my horns! Hmph!" she dered with a cute pout, crossing her arms as she red at the old woman. The woman''s gaze shifted between Selene and Esdeath. Her sharp eyes scanned Esdeath''s ck hair, then Selene''s half-ck locks. A light bulb seemed to go off in her head. "So that''s how it is..." the woman mumbled to herself, convinced she had solved a great mystery. "It''s not a horn," Esdeath exined with an awkward smile, trying to clear up the misunderstanding. "It''s just a hairband." But the old woman ignored her entirely. Her face softened with pity as she turned to Esdeath. "You''ve had a child at such a young age... Poor girl, it must be so tough for you!" Esdeath blinked, stunned by the sudden leap in logic. "What?" Before she could say more, the woman continued, her voice rising with indignation. "And you''re wearing an academy uniform! How could your parents allow this? And the academy hasn''t punished the father for this? What is the worlding to?" The woman paused dramatically, her face filled with righteous fury. "Tell me, child, who''s the father? I''ll hunt him down and beat the shit out of him! ", Esdeath''s patience snapped. A vein throbbed on her forehead as her face flushed with both anger and embarrassment. She leaned forward, her voice booming, "YOUR HUSBAND, YOU OLD HAG! NOW SHUT UP AND GET LOST!" The woman flinched, covering her ears from the sheer volume. She crossed her arms and sniffed indignantly, muttering as she walked away. "Kids these days... no manners, no patience. And they''re raising children like this? Unbelievable..." She disappeared into the crowd, still grumbling. Esdeath stood there, fuming. Her face was red as a tomato, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. "First, Wasn''t being a yandere enough?, that now people think I''m a teenage mother!" she muttered under her breath, ring at the space where the old woman had vanished as she stomped her feet on ground several times. Selene tugged at her sleeve gently. "Mother... are you okay?" Esdeath sighed, forcing a small smile as she patted Selene''s head. "My whole mood got ruined, Let''s go back to academy before I lose my sanitypletely." Selene nodded, clutching the plush dragon tightly as they walked away, leaving the chaos behind. Date? Esdeath carefully sneaked back into the academy, Selene clinging to her tightly as they maneuvered through the halls. Avoiding the watchful eyes of students and staff was an exhausting task. By the time they reached her dorm room, Esdeath was drained. She plopped onto her bed, her mind racing. Every day, she wondered how to reveal Selene''s presence without causing chaos or breaking academy rules. It was frustrating beyond belief, and the constant worry gnawed at her. After resting for half an hour, Esdeath remembered an errand. She had bought new clothes for Maruti and needed to deliver them. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed the package and headed to Maruti''s dorm room. When she knocked, the door opened just a crack. Before Esdeath could say anything, a hand shot out, grabbed her wrist, and yanked her inside. "What the hell¡ª" Esdeath started, startled. "Shhh!" Maruti hissed, pressing a finger to her lips. Her eyes darted nervously around the room. Esdeath narrowed her eyes, lowering her voice. "What''s going on?" she asked, her toneced with suspicion. Maruti hesitated before speaking. "I think¡­ I might have messed up," she muttered, avoiding Esdeath''s gaze. Esdeath crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. "Messed up how?" Maruti fidgeted with her fingers, her face red with embarrassment. "I got into a small argument with Caramel yesterday. It wasn''t a big deal, but this morning she gave me a long love letter and¡­ well, she confessed to me." Esdeath raised an eyebrow. "And?" "Of course, I rejected her!" Maruti said proudly, puffing out her chest. Esdeath pinched the bridge of her nose. "Go on." "Now I feel like someone''s following me everywhere! And the other students¡­ they''re looking at me like they''re possessed or something!" Maruti whispered, her voice trembling slightly. Hearing this, Esdeath immediately understood. She began pacing the room, muttering to herself. "I *told* you not to get involved with her. You can''t do anything right, can you?" Maruti shrank under her scolding, her shoulders slumping. Esdeath sighed deeply, her frustration evident. "She was supposed to fall for Ethan, not you! Now who''s going to distract him tomorrow?" Maruti perked up at the mention of distraction, her curiosity piqued. "Distract? If that''s all you need, I can handle it," she offered confidently. Esdeath stopped pacing and gave her a pointed look. "You? Handle it? You couldn''t even stay out of trouble with Caramel!" Maruti straightened up, her pride wounded. "I''ll make it work this time! Just tell me who thing about second arc first. " ---------------- The evening faded into night, and like a flowing river, the night passed quietly, giving way to the soft hues of morning. Lortell woke up early, hurriedly changing into her usual elegant clothes. She felt a burst of energy as she moved toward the door, ready to greet Esdeath with a cheerful good morning. But as she opened the door¡ª "Good morning!" Esdeath stood just outside, her innocent smile radiating charm. Lortell''s face lit up instantly. She bent down slightly, matching Esdeath''s height, and pulled her into a tight hug. "Seeing your face first thing in the morning¡­ how fortunate!" she praised, her tone warm and genuine. Yet inwardly, Lortell cursed herself. *Damn it! I''mte! I should''ve been the one to greet her first. I''ll wake up even earlier tomorrow!* What Lortell didn''t know was that Esdeath had woken up extra early deliberately. She couldn''t risk Lortell standing by her door and potentially noticing Selene. Worse, what if Lortell decided to sneak into her room for a surprise and discovered Selene? That would cause utter chaos. As Lortell hugged her, Esdeath''s face turned slightly red, her heart racing as she felt Lortell''s soft curves pressing against her. "Urgh¡­ no matter how much I prepare myself, I can''t stop this feeling," Esdeath thought, frustrated. "If only I had a soul path method to separate my soul or a wisdom path essence stone to control my emotions." Even though Esdeath owned hundreds of essence stones, not a single one could separate souls or suppress the overwhelming emotions she was feeling. She sighed inwardly, resigned to her fate. When Lortell finally let go, she smiled brightly. "Let''s go for a bath!"@@novelbin@@ Esdeath nodded, and they began walking toward the academy''s bath area. Lortell casually rested an arm over Esdeath''s shoulder, their closeness resembling two best friends heading out together. As they strolled down the corridor, Lortell leaned in, her lips just inches from Esdeath''s ear. "Today''s the end of yourpetition, right? So¡­ how about we go on a date tomorrow?" she whispered in a sultry voice, her warm breath sending shivers down Esdeath''s spine. "D-Date?" Esdeath stammered, her whole body stiffening as her face turned crimson. Lortell chuckled at her reaction, enjoying every bit of Esdeath''s flustered state. "I was just teasing," she said, her tone light and yful. "What I meant was, the weather will be beautiful tomorrow. Let''s hang out somewhere. You must be bored staying in the academy all this time, right?" Esdeath let out a small sigh of relief, though her heart was still racing from the earlierment. "Sure," she replied, her voice steady but her mind a mess. Without waiting for Lortell, Esdeath quickened her pace, practically darting towards the bath area. Her steps were hurried, almost as if she were running away, leaving Lortell behind. In her head, one word repeated over and over like a mantra: Date, date, date, date, date... Lortell stood in ce, watching Esdeath''s retreating figure with an amused smile. Her sharp eyes glimmered with a mixture of satisfaction and intent. "She does have some feelings for me," Lortell mused, her smile softening. "Just a little push, and she''ll be mine." Her expression shifted slightly, her gaze growing serious as darker thoughts crept in. "If only she would propose to me," she thought. Her fingers tightened slightly as an old memory surfaced, filling her chest with a mixture of longing and regret. "I can''t afford to make the same mistake as before, not again." Her jaw clenched, and for a brief moment, her thoughts darkened. "But If she rejects me... I don''t think I could bear it. I might¡ªno, I mustn''t think like that." Lortell''s jaw tightened briefly, a shadow crossing her face as old memories surfaced. But just as quickly, she brushed them aside, recing the grim look with her usual confident smile. She thought firmly, stepping forward. "I know my sweet Esdeath won''t reject me. She''s already mine in every way that matters." With that, Lortell followed Esdeath, her steps calm but purposeful, her thoughts a mix of affection and determination. ------------ In Ethan''s dorm room, the first rays of morning light seeped through the curtains. Ethan woke up, stretching his limbs before rubbing his eyes. Despite the early hour, his expression was serious, not a trace of sleepiness lingering on his face. He looked down at his hand, noticing the faint trembling in his fingers. He clenched them into a fist, his jaw tightening. He knew exactly what this feeling was. "Today is the day Violet got kidnapped," he muttered to himself, his voice heavy with regret. "And I couldn''t do anything back then. But this time¡­ this time, it will be different. I''ll protect Violet, no matter what!" For the past few days, Ethan hadn''t been idle. Late at night, he had wandered the academy grounds, searching for clues, hoping to find the man who had been abducting students. Every corner, every shadow, he had checked for anything out of the ordinary. He had also been investigating Corin''s disappearance. The academy had dered Corin dead after findingrge amounts of his blood in the forest. But Ethan couldn''t ept it¡ªnot without seeing Corin''s body with his own eyes. Yet, despite all his efforts, he had found nothing. No clues, no traces, no leads. It was as though the culprit had vanished into thin air. The only thing Ethan had to rely on were his memories from his previous life. He knew that today was the day Violet would disappear. He couldn''t let history repeat itself. "I''ve been keeping an eye on her since the day before yesterday," he thought, his mind racing. "What if they decide to act earlier this time? What if she''s already in danger?" His fists clenched tighter, his nails digging into his palms. "I made a grave mistake before. I let Emma die because I was careless. But not this time. I won''t let anything happen to Violet. I''ll protect her, no matter what!" A voice broke the tense silence. "I like your resolve, young man." Startled, Ethan turned to see Gareth''s soul floating in the air like a faint, ghostly figure. The old warrior stroked his ghostly beard, his gaze steady. "Although I''m just a split soul now," Gareth said, his tone grave, "I haven''t been able to find anything either. Whoever is behind this is a high-ranking individual. Be cautious." Ethan nodded firmly. "I can''t stay here. What if they try to take her now, in the early morning?" Without another word, Ethan grabbed his belongings and left his room. Princess Confesses Her Wrongdoings Ethan walked with Violet and Sylvain toward the ssroom. While they chatted lightly, his focus was elsewhere. His eyes darted back and forth, scanning for anything unusual. He knew the chances of someone trying to kidnap Violet in such a crowded, open environment were slim, but he couldn''t shake the tension gripping him. In his previous life, Ethan had been a ss C nobody, barely noticed by anyone. He hadn''t known the details of how Violet had been kidnapped or who was involved. All he remembered was the date¡ªit was supposed to happen today. The lecture hall buzzed with the usual chatter of students settling in. Today''s schedule was lighter than usual, with only half the normal number of lectures. The rest of the day was reserved for the resumedpetition, including the much-anticipated fight featuring Kaelith, Ethan, Esdeath, Maruti, and Violet. Ethan kept his head low but his mind sharp. "In my past life, by this time, monsters and even demons had already invaded the academy grounds," he thought, his brow furrowed. "Thepetition never fully resumed because of it. But now¡­ something''s changed." The realization struck him. The monster waves hadn''te this time, and the academy remained safe for now. He let out a soft sigh of relief. "Fewer lives lost¡­ that''s something to be grateful for," he thought, momentarily easing the tension in his chest. His gaze drifted toward thest bench in the middle row of the ssroom. It waspletely empty. Usually, Maruti, Kaelith, and Esdeath sat there together. Ethan couldn''t help but frown. "Maruti and Kaelith seem decent enough," he thought. "But Esdeath¡­ she''s different. She always gives me the chills. Why would they stick around someone like her?" He shook his head, deciding it wasn''t worth overthinking. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the academy, a meeting was taking ce in a dimly lit chamber. The atmosphere was heavy, oppressive even, as if the room itself held its breath. At one side of the long table sat figures of immense power and authority¡ªPrincipal ra, Vice Principal Lilith, Princess Ravenna, and several other nobles and royals. Their faces were solemn, their presence demanding. On the opposite side, a far less intimidating group sat¡ªMaruti, Esdeath, a few academy teachers, and a handful of second-year students. Despite their ordinary appearance, their expressions carried a quiet confidence, though Maruti fidgeted slightly, clearly ufortable under the weight of so many powerful gazes. The dim light flickered, casting long shadows across the room. The stillness felt like the calm before a storm, as though a judgment was about to be passed. The silence in the room was finally broken by a royal man seated at the far end of the table. His face was red with anger, and his voice carried a sharp edge. "I would like to reconfirm the situation," he began, his tone heavy with frustration. "This brat Maruti used some unknown demonic method to defeat our princess. We must investigate this matter further and check historical records. Such a move must surely be illegal!" It was evident from his words that he was still fuming over thepetition. He had been one of the royal guests in attendance and clearly held a bias. The meeting was focused on one thing¡ªdetermining whether Maruti had cheated during thepetition and deciding who should truly be dered the winner. The air grew thick with tension until a cold, chilling voice shattered the stillness. "From my perspective, it''s actually the opposite," Esdeath said, her tone calm yet cutting. "Our dear princess was the one who cheated." Her words hung in the air like a sharp de, cutting through the room''s tension. The room fell into utter silence. "W-What absurd nonsense is this?!" the royal man stammered, hisposure cracking. Principal ra, seated at the head of the table, red at Esdeath with a gaze so sharp it could pierce through steel. His tone was cold as ice. "Student Esdeath, do you even know the weight of your words? To falsely use a princess is a grave sin!" But Esdeath didn''t falter. If anything, her smirk grew more pronounced, a wicked edge curling at her lips. "Hmph... Everyone saw it," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "The princess used some unknown method to knock Maruti unconscious in mere seconds. As someone with a Rank C essence stone myself, I can identify such things clearly." She paused for effect, allowing her words to sink in before continuing. "Of course, using a Rank C essence stone isn''t illegal," she added, her smirk growing wider, "but we all know the princess isn''t strong enough to wield one. That means someone must have helped her. And *that* is clearly cheating." Her words sent a ripple through the room. Esdeath''s boldness held weight not just because of her confidence but because, as a noble herself, her words carried some authority. If she had been amoner, her usations might have been dismissed outright. The royal man who had spoken earlier began to sweat. A single bead of perspiration ran down his forehead as he struggled to respond. "What rubbish are you spouting?" another voice chimed in, this time from a noblewoman seated across the table. She lifted her chin arrogantly, her tone filled with scorn. "Do you have any proof to back up such outrageous ims?" "Yeah!" another royal, a man d in tinum-colored armor, added. His tone was threatening as he red at Esdeath. "Don''t think you can just walk away after throwing out such baseless usations!" The tension in the room thickened as Esdeath''s smirk remained unwavering. But before she could respond, Maruti suddenly spoke up, her voice brimming with confidence. "Proof? Of course, we have proof," Maruti said, her eyes narrowing as she turned toward Princess Ravenna. The princess''s expression darkened, but before Maruti could borate further, another voice broke through the heavy silence. "I saw it too," said a mesmerizing yetmanding female voice, deep and unwavering. All eyes turned toward the back of the room. There, standing casually, was Kaelith, her silver hair catching the faint light in the room. Her gaze was sharp and piercing, a small smirk ying on her lips. "I saw it clearly," Kaelith continued, her voice calm but firm. "Princess Ravenna used an unknown essence stone. It wasn''t ordinary¡ªit was in liquid form." Gasps rippled through the room. "Kaelith!" Lilith''s voice roared as she shot up from her seat, mming her palm onto the table. The loud thud echoed, adding to the already tense atmosphere. Lilith''s fiery gaze burned into her daughter. She was clearly furious that Kaelith had spoken against the princess, someone she was clearly allied with. But Kaelith, as always, remained unfazed. She rolled her eyes dramatically, her nonchnt demeanor almost taunting her mother. The turn of events was something no one had predicted¡ªnot even Maruti or Esdeath. Kaelith''s sudden testimony against Princess Ravenna was shocking enough, but now an opportunity presented itself, one that could be used to their advantage. Maruti''s lips curled into a small, sly smile as she leaned back in her chair, her expression carefree yet calcting. "Of course, we have other proof as well," she said, her voice calm butced with confidence. The room fell into stunned silence, all eyes fixed on Maruti. "What proof could she possibly have?" people whispered among themselves. Maruti''s gaze shifted to Princess Ravenna, and she spoke again, her tone dripping with mockery. "Just ask the princess whether she cheated or not. That''s it. Let her answer." Her statement sent a ripple of shock through the crowd. "Why would anyone admit to their crimes?" most people thought, their disbelief evident on their faces. All eyes turned to Princess Ravenna, who sat rigid in her chair. Her face was pale, her lips trembling. There was no trace of the proud, graceful demeanor she usually carried. Instead, her expression was grim, her pink eyes clouded with fear and guilt. But what came next shook everyone to their core. "Y-Yes," Ravenna stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. She lowered her head, unable to meet anyone''s gaze. "I cheated¡­" Her words, though quiet, thundered through the room. Shock. Utter andplete shock. The princess¡ªthe princess¡ªhad actually confessed to cheating? Gasps erupted, followed by murmurs of disbelief.@@novelbin@@ "Princess, what are you saying?!" one of the royals shouted, rising from his seat. He pointed usingly at Maruti and Esdeath. "Did those two threaten you? Tell us the truth!" But the situation had already spiraled out of control. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Ravenna suddenly screamed, her voice breaking as tears welled up in her eyes. Her hands clenched into fists on the table as she red at the royal who had spoken. "I''ve had enough of this! I don''t want to lie anymore!" Her voice cracked, and she choked back a sob. "I didn''t want to lose! I was so afraid of losing that I chose to cheat. And now¡­ now I can''t lie to myself any longer!" Tears streamed down her cheeks, glistening like dew as they fell onto the polished wooden table. Her sobs grew louder, shaking her slender shoulders. Despite her emotional breakdown, her beauty remained undeniable¡ªher tear-streaked face was as captivating as ever, her pink cheeks flushed with emotion. For the first time, Princess Ravenna wasn''t hiding behind lies. She wasn''t justifying her actions for the sake of the kingdom or her pride. This time, every word she spoke came straight from her heart. "I don''t want to deceive myself anymore," she whispered between sobs, her voice heavy with regret. The room was silent, save for the sound of her crying. The royals and nobles were stunned, unsure of how to react. In the midst of the chaos, Esdeath watched the scene unfold, her crimson eyes gleaming with satisfaction. A faint smirk yed on her lips, but she kept her expressionposed, hiding the amusement bubbling inside her. "Hehehe¡­ this settles it," Esdeath thought to herself, her mind racing with triumph. "I knew this princess would make a perfect chess piece." To everyone else, it seemed like Ravenna had broken down under the weight of her own guilt, confessing her wrongdoing out of genuine remorse. But the reality was far more sinister. This wasn''t an act of redemption¡ªit was maniption. Esdeath had orchestrated the entire situation from the very beginning. Because I Can See Future Last Night : The academy required every student, even royalty, to stay in the dorms. Of course, Princess Ravenna''s room was far more luxurious than the others, with its soft, silky sheets and a bed fit for royalty. She slept soundly, her body half-covered by the luxurious nket, her serene face radiating beauty even in slumber. Anyone who saw her like this might feel the urge to protect her or hold her close. But her peaceful sleep didn''tst long. A sharp knock on her forehead jolted her awake. "Ouch¡­" Ravenna mumbled as she stirred, her dream fading away. Slowly, she opened her eyes, her vision blurry at first. After a moment, her surroundings came into focus. The first thing she saw made her heart skip a beat. Standing over her, wearing a smug expression, was a woman she could never forget. "Knock, knock. Anybody home?" the woman teased, tapping her forehead with her knuckles. "Maruti?" Ravenna gasped, her voice trembling. Panic surged through her as she quickly sat up, pressing her back against the wall for support. Her defensive stance was shaky and unsteady, but it was all she could manage. Maruti didn''t flinch. In fact, sheughed. "What''s with that pitiful reaction? If I were an assassin, you''d already be dead," she said mockingly, her eyes glinting with amusement. Ravenna''s gaze darted around the room, and that''s when she noticed another figure leaning casually against the doorframe. Her stomach churned. "Esdeath? What¡­ what are you two doing here?" she stammered, her voice shaking as fear crept into her. "If you try anything, I''ll scream!" Esdeath smirked and waved her hand dismissively. "Rx, princess. We''re not here to hurt you. We just need a favor." Her tone was calm, almost yful, as if they were discussing something trivial. Ravenna''s shoulders eased slightly, though her unease didn''tpletely vanish. "A favor?" she repeated cautiously. Esdeath nodded, stepping closer with a sly smile. "Yes. We already know you cheated in your match against Maruti." Her voice was soft but firm, and her words carried a weight that made Ravenna''s breath hitch. "What?" Ravenna whispered, her eyes wide. She clutched the nket tightly, as if it could shield her from their piercing gazes. Esdeath continued, her tone as casual as ever. "You used a Rank C Soul Cracker Essence Stone to knock Maruti unconscious, didn''t you? All we want is for you to admit the truth at tomorrow''s meeting." Ravenna''s heart pounded in her chest. How did they know? She thought she''d been careful. Her trembling hands gripped the nket tighter as she stared at Esdeath in disbelief. "How¡­ how do you know about that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Esdeath''s crimson eyes gleamed with mischief as she added, "Just like we know your actual ESR talent is Rank C, not the Rank A you''ve been pretending to have." Ravenna''s jaw dropped, her face pale. It felt like the ground beneath her was crumbling. They knew everything¡ªher secret, her lies, all of it. "You must be kidding, right? Do you think I''m some kind of fool?" Princess Ravenna let out a nervous, awkwardugh, trying to mask the growing fear in her voice. "Everyone saw my ESR talent during the affinity test. It''s Rank A!" Esdeath didn''t reply. She didn''t need to. Slowly, she stepped closer to the princess, her every movement deliberate, calcted. The closer Esdeath got, the more Ravenna''sposure crumbled. Her hands gripped the nket tightly, and her entire body trembled. The once-proud princess now looked as if she wanted to disappear. Finally, Esdeath stopped at the edge of the bed. Without a word, she leaned down until their faces were mere inches apart. Ravenna froze, her breath hitching as she found herself staring directly into Esdeath''s eyes. Those eyes¡­ They weren''t normal by any means. Pure crimson red with intricate ring-like patterns that seemed to shift and move even though they were perfectly still. It was like staring into a swirling abyss. Ravenna felt her body grow cold as if she were being pulled into an endless ck hole. Her chest tightened, and an invisible weight seemed to crush her. The eerie deathly aura surrounding Esdeath made it hard to breathe. "Tell me, princess," Esdeath said, her voice low and chilling. "Have you ever seen anyone with eyes as ominous as mine?" Ravenna swallowed hard, her throat dry. Her mind screamed at her to look away, but she couldn''t. *"Not just her eyes¡­ I''ve never seen anyone who looks as ghostly as her,"* she thought, her heart pounding in her chest. Esdeath smirked slightly, then leaned even closer, her lips near Ravenna''s ear. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it sent shivers down the princess''s spine. "You asked how I know your secret? It''s simple. I can see the future." Ravenna''s eyes widened in shock. "What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. Esdeath straightened up, taking a step back, her expression amused. She chuckled softly. "That''s right. I''m an Esper. I can see the future. And in the future, someone exposes your little secret¡ªhow you really have a Rank C ESR talent, not Rank A. If I''m wrong, feel free to deny it. Go ahead, tell me you don''t have a Rank C ESR talent," she said with a mocking smile. Ravenna''s mouth opened, but no words came out. She couldn''t deny it. The words Esdeath spoke were true, and the fact that she knew this terrified her. "This was a top-secret matter," Ravenna thought, her mind spinning. "No one except a handful of people knows about my actual ESR talent. Could she really see the future?" But then, Ravenna forced a bitterugh, trying to regain some control. "Oh, really? So, you''re going to tell everyone you can see the future? Do you actually think anyone will believe that nonsense?" Before Esdeath could respond, Maruti burst outughing. Sheughed so hard she nearly fell off the bed, clutching her stomach as she rolled back and forth. "Haha! This cheeky princess is such an idiot!" Maruti said through fits ofughter. She finally managed to sit up, wiping a tear from her eye as her expression turned serious. "Listen closely, Princess," Maruti said, her voice sharp. "Esdeath didn''t just say she saw your secret get exposed. She also saw how it happened. Which means¡­" Maruti''s eyes narrowed as she leaned forward, her tone dark and threatening. "¡­we can do exactly what she saw. Whether you cooperate or not, the truth wille out." Ravenna''s heart sank, and a cold sweat dripped down her back. Maruti crossed her arms and continued, her re piercing. "And don''t even think about trying to silence us. Do you really think we''de here without a n? We have backers, Even if you somehow got rid of us, the truth would still be revealed. So, you only have one choice." The room was eerily quiet as Princess Ravenna''s mind spiraled into chaos. For seventeen years, she had lived a life of luxury, doted on as the beloved princess of the kingdom. She had never been cornered like this before and didn''t know how to escape. Esdeath and Maruti weren''t giving her time to think. Why?@@novelbin@@ Because they couldn''t let her regain control. Maruti had imed they had evidence and powerful backers to expose her secret. But was that true? Of course not. Esdeath and Maruti had no backers, no evidence, nothing concrete to use against her. The only reason Esdeath even knew about Ravenna''s secret was because, in the near future of *Free Life Fantasy*, Ravenna confided this to Ethan. Beyond that, they had nothing. Yet Ravenna didn''t know this. To her, this felt like an inescapable trap. She believed she had no way out, no option but to give in. But in reality? All she had to do was say, "No". That''s it. Esdeath and Maruti couldn''t do anything. Ravenna was the princess of the kingdom, a figure too important to be harmed. Esdeath couldn''t afford to make a reckless move like that. But who would tell this to Ravenna? In her mind, this was an impossible situation. She lowered her head, her hands clutching her knees as her body trembled. Her eyes glistened with tears that threatened to fall. "Okay," she whispered, barely audible. Maruti tilted her head mockingly. "What was that? I didn''t hear you!" Ravenna clenched her fists, her voice shaky but louder this time. "Okay! I''ll do as you say!" Maruti''s face lit up with joy. "Yay!" she eximed, spreading her arms wide. Before Ravenna could react, Maruti pulled her into a tight hug. Her embrace was firm, unyielding. Then, without warning, Maruti leaned in and pressed her lips against Ravenna''s. Ravenna''s eyes widened in shock. She tried to pull away, but Maruti''s strength overpowered her. The kiss was deep, invasive, andpletely dominating. Ravenna felt utterly helpless. After a few moments, Maruti finally withdrew, her tongue sliding out of Ravenna''s mouth as a thin trail of saliva dripped onto Ravenna''s chest. "Ahh," Maruti said with a satisfied grin, her eyes gleaming. "What a delicious taste. No arrogance, no ego, no pride¡­ only pure helplessness, 9.5/10." Ravenna sat frozen, her face flushed with embarrassment and anger, but she didn''t dare speak. Maruti''sughter echoed in the room, and Esdeath simply watched with an amused smile. The princess had been defeated¡ªnot by strength, but by fear. Maruti jumped off the bed and rushed to the door with the energy of a yful child. "Let''s gooo!" she called out mockingly, throwing the door open. She turned back to grin at Ravenna onest time. "Sweet dreams, Cheeky Princess! Hahaha¡­" she jeered before stepping out and disappearing into the hallway. Esdeath followed Maruti to the door. Her hand rested on the handle, but she paused, turning back to Ravenna with an amused smirk. "Do you want to know who exposes you in the future?" Esdeath asked, her voice low and taunting. Ravenna didn''t respond, her trembling lips unable to form words. Esdeath didn''t wait for an answer. "It was Ethan," she said coldly. With that, she stepped out and closed the door behind her. The room fell silent, and Ravenna felt as if the walls were closing in around her. Her hands clutched the edge of the nket, her body shaking. Tears began to spill down her cheeks, one after the other, as her sobs broke the silence. "What am I going to do tomorrow?" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with despair. Her fingers traced her lips as fresh tears welled up. "That bitch even stole my kiss¡­ again. Sob¡­ Sob¡­" She cried for what felt like an eternity, her tears soaking the sheets. Eventually, her sobs quieted, leaving only the sound of her shaky breathing. Her trembling hands clenched into fists. Anger and regret burned inside her as she mmed her fist against the bed. "This is all my fault!" she yelled, her voice breaking. "If I hadn''t cheated, none of this would''ve happened!" Her breathing quickened as the truth she had been avoiding for so long hit her like a tidal wave. "Every time I cheated, I told myself it was for the kingdom¡­ but deep down, I knew it wasn''t true. It was all for me. I was too afraid to lose. I wanted to keep winning, no matter the cost!" She wiped her tears away, her pink eyes shimmering with a new determination. Her trembling stopped, and she sat up straight. "That''s it," she whispered to herself, her voice steadier now. "No more running. No more lies." She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms. "Tomorrow, I''ll confess everything. Not because I''m being ckmailed. Not because they forced me. But for me. For my own peace of mind. No more running away from the truth." Perfect Fairness Or Equality Doesn’t Exists The sses had ended, and there was still some time left before thepetition began. The academy grounds buzzed with excitement as students prepared themselves, either practicing, strategizing, or nervously fidgeting. However, amidst all the chatter and spection, one thing was oddly clear in everyone''s mind: Who would take second ce? Wait, second ce? Not first? Well... it wasn''t hard to figure out why. Kaelith, the Silver Dragon, was there. Everyone knew that beating her was next to impossible. She was a league of her own, and the idea of someone else taking first ce felt more like a fairy tale than reality. So, the real fun was in watching the battle for second ce. Would it be Violet, Maruti, Ethan, or Esdeath? The anticipation filled the air.@@novelbin@@ -------- Meanwhile, Ethan was walking alongside Violet and Sylvania through the academy corridors. They were on their way to prepare for thepetition, their casual conversation asionally interrupted by the excitement around them. As they approached a room, Violet and Sylvania suddenly stopped right in front of the door. Ethan, who had been distracted, nearly bumped into them but stopped just in time. He tilted his head in confusion as they both turned around to face him, their cheeks slightly flushed. "Ethan, are you doing this on purpose, or are you just clueless?" Sylvania asked, her voice tinged with both irritation and embarrassment. "Huh? What are you talking about?" Ethan replied, genuinely baffled. Sylvania''s face turned a deeper shade of red. She clenched her fist and, before Ethan could piece things together,nded a solid punch on his head. "That''s thedies'' washroom, you idiot!" she snapped. "Oh¡­ shoot!" Ethan finally realized his mistake, his eyes widening. "I was so focused on keeping an eye on the surroundings, I didn''t even notice!" he thought in his mind. "If you ever do this again, we will kill you," violet warned, her tone dead serious despite her flushed cheeks. The two girls huffed and walked into the washroom, leaving Ethan standing outside, rubbing the back of his head where Sylvania had punched him. "Great, just great," Ethan muttered to himself, ncing nervously around to make sure no one had seen the embarrassing scene. He sighed, deciding to stay outside and keep watch. "At least I can guard the door... I guess." After a few tense moments that felt like hours, Violet and Sylvania finally came out. Ethan immediately straightened up, letting out a long breath of relief. "Thank goodness nothing happened!" he mumbled under his breath. They both looked Ethan with still pissed look but soon their anger faded away and they walked towards the cafeteria. Meanwhile someone else was watching from the surroundings that even Ethan didn''t notice. Yep! It was none other than maruti. She had her bored as she thought, "How am I gonna distract him? ", she thought. But then a idea appeared on her mind. ----------- The atmosphere in the cafeteria was lively, filled with chatter andughter as students discussed the uingpetition. Ethan, Violet, and Sylvania had just picked up their dishes and were making their way to an empty table. But before they could reach it, a loud voice echoed through the room. "Step asiddeeee!" Out of nowhere, Maruti came bolting toward them at full speed. She didn''t even give anyone time to move aside before crashing directly into Ethan. BAM! The collision sent Ethan''s te flying into the air, scattering food everywhere. Both of them fell to the ground with a thud¡ªEthan t on his back, and Marutinding squarely on top of him. Herrge chest smothered Ethan''s face, and her body was now covered in sauce and bits of food from the spilled te. The entire cafeteria froze. To anyone watching, the scene looked ridiculously intimate. Marutiy sprawled on top of Ethan, her chestpletely covering his face. Some students stared in shock, while others were already whispering amongst themselves. "I¡­ can''t¡­ breathe¡­" Ethan''s muffled voice came from beneath her. He iled his arms weakly, desperately trying to push her off. Realizing this, Maruti finally rolled off him, copsing beside him with an exaggerated sigh. The cafeteria erupted into chaos. "Lucky bastard!" someone yelled. "Why couldn''t it be me? I''d happily let her crush me like that!" another voice groaned in jealousy. Meanwhile, Violet and Sylvania rushed forward, their faces a mix of anger and concern. Violet quickly extended her hand to Ethan, while Sylvania helped Maruti up. Ethan stood up slowly, scratching his head in confusion. "What just happened?" he mumbled, still dazed. But Maruti wasn''t done yet. As Sylvania helped her up, Maruti suddenly extended her hand dramatically, and the moment Sylvania''s fingers touched hers, she let out an exaggerated scream. "Ow! My hand! It''s broken!" Maruti cried, clutching her hand as if it was about to fall off. She rolled back and forth on the floor like a child throwing a tantrum. The students in the cafeteria stared in confusion, unsure whether tough or take her seriously. "I can''t stand up! My foot''s fractured too!" Maruti wailed, clutching her leg and wincing like she was in unimaginable pain. "What? Who gets a fracture from a tiny bump?" Ethan said, raising an eyebrow. Maruti suddenly pointed an using finger at Ethan, ring at him with mock anger. "You! You did this on purpose, didn''t you? You wanted to injure me so I couldn''t participate in today''spetition!" "What kind of nonsense is that?" Violet snapped, crossing her arms. "You were the one who ran into him!" "Yeah, it feels more like you''re the one trying to damage Ethan''s reputation," Sylvania added with a re. Before the argument could escte further, Ethan raised his hands, trying to calm them down. "Rx, everyone! It''s just a small fracture¡ªif it''s even real. The nurse will heal her in no time." Maruti shot Ethan a dramatic look, fake tears shimmering in her eyes. She gestured toward the bits of food and sauce smeared across her clothes and even on her chest. "Do you really think I can go to the nurse''s office like this? Look at me!" Ethan looked at the mess on her outfit and sighed. Maruti crossed her arms and demanded, "Since you''re the reason this happened, you should take me to my room so I can change. After that, you can escort me to the nurse''s office!" Ethan felt a headacheing on but nodded reluctantly. "Fine," he said with another sigh, "I''ll take you." But before Ethan could even move, Violet and Sylvania stepped in, both ring furiously. "There''s no need for that!" they said in unison. Sylvania rushed toward Maruti and bent down, attempting to lift her up. Her hands strained, her face turning red from the effort, but Maruti didn''t budge an inch. "Why is she so heavy?" Sylvania muttered through clenched teeth. She tried again, groaning with effort, but in the end, she gave up, panting in exhaustion. Violet stepped forward confidently. "Let me handle this," she said, cracking her knuckles. With a flick of her hand, she cast her spell. "Zero Gravity!" Instantly, Maruti''s weight was supposed to disappear, and Violet grinned as she reached down to lift her. But to her shock, even with zero gravity, Maruti still didn''t move. Violet tugged harder, her confusion growing. "H-how?" Violet stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief. What neither of them knew was that Maruti was secretly using her immense strength to hold herself down. Without anyone noticing, her fingers were gripping the t ground beneath her, preventing them from lifting her. In the end, with no other options, Ethan stepped forward, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I''ll have to do it," he said. He crouched down and, with surprising ease, lifted Maruti into his arms like a princess. "Wow," Ethan muttered as he carried her, "you''re lighter than I thought." Of course, Maruti didn''t resist at all. Instead, she rxed in his arms, hiding her smile as her n had gone exactly as she wanted. "It worked!" Maruti thought to herself, feeling triumphant as she leaned slightly into Ethan''s chest. -------------- Kaelith sat at her desk, quietly flipping through the pages of a thick book, her silver hair glowing faintly in the soft light. She was focused, her sharp silver eyes scanning every word. But suddenly, the in the shape of lenses she wore over her eyes slid off,nding on the desk with a faint crack. Before she could react, the lenses shattered. A bright glow erupted from her now-uncovered silver eyes, a light so intense it reflected off every surface in the room. Kaelith froze, her breath hitching as she felt an overwhelming surge in her aura. It was as if a dam inside her had broken. Realizing what was happening, she quickly pushed her chair back and sat cross-legged on the floor. Closing her eyes, she concentrated, trying to steady the wild energy coursing through her body. It took half an hour of deep focus, her chest rising and falling with controlled breaths, before the pressure finally subsided. Slowly, Kaelith opened her glowing silver eyes, now calm but still luminous. "The seal my mother ced on me has broken," she murmured, her voice tinged with both concern and urgency. She stood up, brushing her silver hair over her shoulder. "I need to inform her." ------- Kaelith arrived at Lilith''s office momentster, her steps quick but steady. Pushing the door open, she found her mother seated at arge desk, buried under piles of paperwork. Lilith, wearing a pair of small sses, looked up briefly, her youthful face showing no surprise at Kaelith''s sudden arrival. It was always jarring to see them together. Lilith, with her petite frame and youthful features, looked more like Kaelith''s younger sister than her mother. The sight of her diligently working with her small hands only added to the impression. Kaelith didn''t waste time. "Mother," she began, her tone firm. "The seal you ced on me has broken. I need you to put a new one on me." Lilith sighed heavily, setting down her pen and removing her sses. She rubbed her temples, exhaustion clear on her face. "Kaelith, do you see how much work I''m drowning in right now? Putting the seals on you again will take hours, and honestly¡­" She trailed off, her voice softening. "I don''t think it''s necessary anymore." Kaelith blinked, taken aback. "What do you mean? If my strength isn''t reduced, it won''t be fair to the other students in thepetition!" Lilith let out another sigh, this time with a hint of sadness. She leaned back in her chair, her silver eyes meeting Kaelith''s glowing silver ones. "Kaelith," she began gently, "you still don''t understand how this world works, do you?" Kaelith frowned slightly, confused by her mother''s tone. "There''s no such thing as ''fair'' or ''equal'' in this world," Lilith said, her voice steady butced with bitterness. "People like to talk about fairness¡ªthat anyone can seed regardless of whether they''re born amoner, a noble, or even royalty. But do you think that''s really true?" Lilith paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. Then she continued, her gaze unwavering. "Of course not. In reality, someone born into nobility has clear advantages overmoners. And someone born into royalty? Their opportunities are limitless. The rich get richer, and the poor¡­ well, they struggle just to survive." Kaelith stayed silent, her hands clenched at her sides. Lilith leaned forward, her expression softening with sympathy. "The reason I ced those seals on you wasn''t to make things fair for the other students. It was to make things fair for Princess Ravenna, But now that she''s disqualified, there''s no need for you to hold back anymore." Kaelith''s heart sank at this revtion. Another truth about the world''s cruel reality had beenid bare before her. But rather than feeling anger or frustration, she simply lowered her head, her silver hair falling over her face. "Understood," she said quietly, her voice devoid of emotion. Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked out of the room, the door clicking softly shut behind her. That’s So Gay! Ethan carefully carried Maruti like a princess all the way to her dorm room. His arms, though strong, felt a little strained under her surprising weight, but he didn''tin. He opened the door with his foot, entered the cozy room, and gently ced her on the edge of her bed. "There, happy now?" Ethan asked, exhaling as he stretched his arms. Maruti crossed her arms, tilting her head dramatically. "Not yet. Go grab a wet cloth and clean where the food dripped on me," she demanded, her tone bossy. Ethan sighed, clearly not thrilled but too tired to argue. "Alright, fine." He walked to the small sink in her room, wet a clean cloth, and returned. He started wiping the sauce and food stains on her back and skirt, carefully ensuring he wasn''t being rough. It wasn''t as bad as he thought until he came to the final stain.@@novelbin@@ Thest spot was right in the middle of Maruti''s chest. Herrge, round breasts seemed to taunt him, sitting prominently and creating an incredibly awkward situation. They were full and smooth, practically defying gravity. Ethan''s hand froze mid-air, trembling slightly as his face turned a deep shade of red. "Are you¡­ sure you want me to do this?" Ethan stammered, his voice uneven. Maruti raised an eyebrow,pletely unfazed. She didn''t blush or show even a hint of embarrassment. Instead, her expression was serious, almost bored. "Yeah, of course. Don''t waste time¡ªjust clean it up." Her indifference only made Ethan more flustered. He hesitated for a moment before finally pressing the damp cloth against her chest. His fingers identally brushed against her skin, and he was instantly aware of how soft and warm it felt. The fabric of her shirt clung slightly, and the gentle give of her body under his hand made his heart race. But then, Maruti let out a deliberate moan. "Ahhh~ Be gentle! You''re being so rough~" she eximed, her voice loud and sultry. Ethan froze,pletely mortified. His entire face burned as if it were on fire. "Y-you! Don''t shout like that!" he stuttered, quickly pulling his hand back as if he''d been burned. Maruti raised a hand to her lips, feigning an apologetic look. "Oops, my bad! I wasn''t expecting that; you caught me off guard!" she said, her tone full of mock innocence. Inside, however, she was fighting to keep a straight face. Her thoughts were smug and triumphant. "Fuhahaha! This is too easy! He''s too easy mess with!" Ethan, meanwhile, stood stiffly, unsure if he should finish cleaning or just run out of the room to save himself. His thoughts were a chaotic mess as he tried to avoid looking at Maruti''s chest, which seemed to mock him with every passing second. "Can you hurry up already?" Maruti said, her tone sharp as she waved her hand dismissively. "You''re making this more awkward than it needs to be." Ethan sighed deeply. "Okay," he muttered, trying to focus as he resumed cleaning the stain. He wiped slowly, his hand brushing lightly over the fabric. But Maruti wasn''t going to let him off so easily. "Yes!~ Keep going like that. That''s the spot!" she moaned deliberately, her voice dripping with mockery. Ethan''s face burned red, but this time he refused to react. He gritted his teeth, ignoring her antics, and continued wiping. Still, no matter how hard he tried, the stain was stubborn and wouldn''tpletelye off. Maruti sighed loudly. "You can''t even do this properly? Use some water, genius!" she ordered, rolling her eyes like a bossy tyrant. Ethan exhaled in frustration, but he went to grab a ss of water without saying a word. As he returned and leaned forward to pour a little water on the stain, Maruti extended her leg and gently nudged his bnce. "Whoa¡ª" Ethan stumbled. **Ssh! Ssh! Ssh!** The water spilled all over Maruti, soaking her face and chestpletely. Her shirt, now drenched, clung to her body and turned semi-translucent, revealing her bra underneath in startling detail. Ethan froze, his face heating up as he realized the situation had gone from awkward to downright embarrassing. Maruti nced down at herself and then back at Ethan, her expression unimpressed. "What did you just do? Now I have to change! Go get my clothes¡ªbring me a new shirt!" she barked like a tyrant giving orders. Ethan clenched his fists in frustration. *Someone just kill me already!* he thought, desperately wanting to escape. His patience was wearing thin, but when he looked at her, his words caught in his throat. Her soaked shirt, sticking to her skin, was way too distracting. He quickly averted his gaze, his mind screaming at him to stayposed. With no choice, he grabbed a clean shirt from her wardrobe and handed it over. Maruti raised her hands with an exaggerated sigh. "My arm''s injured. Take this shirt off and dress me in the new one," she said nonchntly. Ethan''s jaw dropped. "What?!" he shouted, his voice filled with embarrassment and disbelief. --- Meanwhile, back in the cafeteria, Violet and Sylvania sat at their table, finishing their lunches. "We''re already done eating. How long is Ethan going to take?" Violet asked, leaning back with a tired sigh. Sylvania shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe something came up. Let''s just take a stroll around the academy while we wait for him," she suggested with a smile. Violet nodded, standing up from her seat. The two girls left the cafeteria,pletely unaware of the chaotic and awkward situation Ethan was enduring at that very moment. ---------- Inside Maruti''s dorm room, Ethan was battling his nerves. With a blindfold tied over his eyes, he managed to awkwardly pull off Maruti''s shirt and dress her in a new one. The only task left was buttoning it up, but that seemed like a mountain to climb. "Calm down... calm down. Only the buttons are left," Ethan muttered to himself, trying to steady his trembling hands as he began fastening them. But as his hands reached the upper buttons, he hit a problem¡ªMaruti''srge chest. The fabric strained, making it difficult to close the buttons. And he was doing this blindfolded, which didn''t help. "Don''t squeeze the shirt so hard. My breasts hurt!" Maruti snapped, her voice sharp. "S-sorry!" Ethan stammered, his face red as he fumbled to finish. After what felt like an eternity, Ethan fell to the ground, exhausted. He let out a deep sigh of relief. "Finally done!" he said, pulling off the blindfold and wiping the sweat from his forehead. Maruti, on the other hand, looked unimpressed. She crossed her arms and huffed. While she didn''t feel embarrassed at all¡ªhaving no shame in exposing herself¡ªshe was silently cursing her situation. "If it weren''t for my mistake, I''d never have taken this ridiculous job of distracting Ethan," she grumbled under her breath. Ethan stood up, eager to escape the room and forget this ordeal. But just as he turned to leave, Maruti called out. "Wait a minute. Now that you''ve changed my shirt... why not change my skirt too?" she asked, giving him a teasing, sultry look. Ethan froze mid-step, his face turning a shade of crimson. He turned back slowly, his eyes wide. "Are you serious right now?" he asked. Maruti just smirked, leaning back casually. Ethan stared at her for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. "Okay, I have to ask," he said, crossing his arms. "Are you, by any chance, interested in me? You''re making me do all this on purpose, aren''t you?" Maruti :".... " The room fell silent. Maruti stared at him, her expression unreadable. She didn''t blink, didn''t flinch, and the heavy silence made Ethan regret asking. He felt a chill run down his spine. "I-I''m sorry¡ª" he began, but Maruti interrupted him. "That''s so gay," she said tly. "What?" Ethan blinked,pletely baffled. "I said, that''s so gay," Maruti repeated, this time with a hint of disappointment in her voice. "How is that gay?!" Ethan protested, his voice rising. Maruti sighed dramatically. "You wouldn''t understand," she said, rolling her eyes. Of course, Ethan didn''t know that Maruti was once a man. For him, it was a normal interaction between a guy and a girl. But for her, this entire situation wasughably ironic. Before Ethan could argue further, Maruti kicked his leg lightly. "Shoo! Shoo! Get the hell out of here. I''ll handle the rest myself!" "Are you sure?" Ethan asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, yeah! I don''t want to see your face anymore. Go!" Maruti waved him off like she was swatting away a fly. Ethan didn''t need to be told twice. He bolted for the door, muttering, "I swear, I''ll never set foot in this room again." As the door closed behind him, Maruti smirked to herself. "Let him go," she murmured to herself. "My job''s done anyway. Violet must be kidnapped by now, right?" But the thought wasn''t enough to keep her at ease. She couldn''t just sit around and hope everything had gone ording to n. She needed confirmation. Maruti stood up effortlessly, her supposed injurypletely forgotten. It had been nothing more than an act to get Ethan to stay longer. With quick, silent steps, she slipped out of the dorm room and began tailing Ethan from a distance. Ethan wandered through various ces in search of Violet. The dining hall, the courtyard, even the library. Every spot he checked and found empty brought a growing, triumphant smile to Maruti''s face. "He''s panicking," she thought, her grin widening. "This has to mean Violet''s already been taken. Everything''s going smoothly!" But her confidence shattered in an instant. Up ahead, Ethan turned a corner, and there she was¡ªViolet. Safe and sound. Maruti''s breath hitched, and her smile froze beforepletely fading. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "She didn''t get kidnapped?" she whispered to herself, unable to process what she was seeing. She watched as Ethan and Violet exchanged a few words, their faces lighting up with relief as they reunited. "This can''t be happening," Maruti muttered, her mind racing. From what Esdeath had said, Violet should''ve been long gone by now. She clenched her fists, her frustration growing. "Thepetition starts in twenty minutes. There''s no way I can make a move now. How is she supposed to get kidnapped in this short time?" Her shoulders slumped, and she let out a long, exasperated sigh. There was nothing she could do. Her n had failed¡ªfor now. "Whatever," she muttered under her breath as she turned and walked away. "I tried my best. There''s still the evening¡­ and then the night. It''s out of my hands now. If she''s going to get kidnapped, it''ll depend entirely on luck." She Kissed Someone --- Esdeath''s sharp eyes bore into Maruti as she scolded her in a low, tense voice, making sure no one else passing by could hear. "What do you mean she didn''t get kidnapped?" Maruti threw up her hands, her tone defensive yet honest. "How should I know? I did my best to distract Ethan, but Violet was still there, even after all that time!" She huffed, clearly annoyed but trying to stay truthful. Esdeath let out a long sigh, her frustration evident. "Whatever, whatever. There''s still the evening, and then the night. Even if she doesn''t get kidnapped, there''s still a high chance the oue won''t change!" Her words were curt, but there was a hint of determination in her voice, as if she had already calcted the next steps in her mind. Maruti opened her mouth, ready to protest or perhaps exin further, but Esdeath raised her hand sharply, cutting her off. "Enough. Let''s meet at the arenater. I''m going first." With that, she turned on her shoes and strode away, her long hair swaying behind her as she left without another word. Maruti slumped against the nearby wall, letting out a deep breath of relief. The tension that had built up during their conversation finally eased. "Really? What''s the point of me doing all this nonsense if the oue isn''t going to change much anyway?" she muttered to herself, shaking her head in exasperation. She lingered there for a few moments, letting her mind wander before stretching her limbs with a groan. "Not like I care," she said with a shrug, her tone dismissive. She pushed herself off the wall and made her way toward the weapons rack to grab her bec de corbin. ------- Meanwhile, in the academy corridors, Kaelith walked with her usual air of confidence, but the whispers around her caught her attention. Students in small groups huddled together, their voices hushed but loud enough to carry. "You heard about it, right? Ethan lifted Maruti like a princess and carried her to her dorm room! Can you even imagine what might''ve happened after that?" one girl whispered dramatically, her voice dripping with excitement. Her friend giggled, her cheeks flushed. "Kyaa~! I wish my knight in shining armor would sweep me off my feet like that! It sounds so dreamy!" Kaelith''s sharp hearing picked up every word, though she kept her face carefully neutral. The rumor was spreading like wildfire, and why wouldn''t it? Ethan had carried Maruti in front of the entire cafeteria¡ªdozens of students had seen it firsthand. Both Ethan and Maruti were popr in their own ways, so the story was bound to be the talk of the academy.@@novelbin@@ Kaelith''s mind turned over the information as her shoes clicked softly against the stone floor. "Is that true?" she wondered, a fleeting thought crossing her sharp mind. But she didn''t stop or bother to confirm it with the gossiping girls. It wasn''t worth her time. Kaelith''s pace quickened, the faint murmurs fading into the background as she turned a corner. Suddenly, a figure collided with her. While Kaelith remained steady, the other person stumbled backward,nding on the ground with a soft thud. The girl was none other than Maruti. "Who the fu¡ª" Maruti''s frustration red, but the words died on her lips when she recognized Kaelith. Her expression shifted to an awkward smile. "Oh, it''s you¡­" Kaelith extended a hand without a word, and Maruti hesitated briefly before taking it. As she helped Maruti to her feet, Kaelith''s senses, sharp beyond humanprehension due to her unsealed abilities, caught something peculiar. A faint, unfamiliar scent clung to Maruti, one that stirred a strange sense of familiarity. Kaelith''s brows furrowed slightly as her mind raced. "This scent¡­ I''ve smelled it before, but where? Her mind briefly wandered to the rumors about Ethan and Maruti. But she quickly dismissed the thought. She had encountered Ethan before and knew his scent. The same went for Esdeath¡ªit wasn''t hers either. " I''ve met this person before but who is this person?," she thought, the faint familiarity tugging at her mind like a distant echo. Maruti dusted herself off, her smirk returning as she teased, "Should I say thanks? But friends don''t say thanks, right?" Kaelith''s gaze locked onto Maruti, her usualposure faltering. Her heart thudded in her chest, an unfamiliar rhythm that caught her off guard. For a moment, time seemed to slow. Her eyes took in every detail¡ªMaruti''s long, thickshes, the curve of her lips, and the natural beauty in her soft, glowing features. Those lips¡­ they looked impossibly inviting, tempting her with thoughts she couldn''t understand. Before she realized what she was doing, Kaelith reached out and ced her hands gently on Maruti''s cheeks. Maruti froze, her teasing words forgotten as confusion flickered in her wide eyes. "What are you¡ª" Kaelith leaned in slowly, her thumb brushing against Maruti''s lips, the soft texture making her breath hitch. The touch was tender, almost reverent, as Kaelith''s thumb traced the edge of Maruti''s lips, her gaze lingering on them like they held a secret only she could unlock. The moment felt impossibly intimate, as though the rest of the world had faded away, leaving only the two of them suspended in that delicate stillness. Maruti''s breath hitched, her heart racing in her chest. She couldn''t move, couldn''t think,pletely overwhelmed by the unexpected closeness. Then, as if waking from a dream, Kaelith blinked, her hands suddenly retreating. She stepped back, her face flushing as she clenched her fists at her sides. She turned back so Maruti couldn''t see her flushed face. "What the hell was I thinking?" she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible. Her heart pounded erratically, confusion and embarrassment warring within her. "I must be going insane! ",She thought unable to meet Maruti''s wide-eyed gaze any longer. "Hey! Were you trying to hypnotize me again?" Maruti''s tone was sharp, annoyance clear on her face. Kaelith blinked, quickly regaining herposure. Turning back, her usual confidence shone through. "I saw something in your mouth. You didn''t brush your teeth today, did you?" Maruti froze, her face flushing with embarrassment. "How did you¡ª" She clenched her teeth, Kaelith''s observation striking true. "I was busy fighting that zombie boss in my dream and didn''t got the time to brush my teeth! How did she notice with just a nce?" Maruti thought, frustration bubbling up. "No wonder fable created Selene to counter her." But Kaelith''s sharp gaze caught something else. As Maruti gritted her teeth, her mouth exposed for a moment, Kaelith stepped forward without hesitation. "Wait, what are you¡ª" Maruti''s words were cut off as Kaelith gently slipped her index finger into her mouth. Maruti tried to back away, but Kaelith calmly retrieved a small drop of saliva, studying it intently. "Hey! Are you ying scientist today?" Maruti snapped, her cheeks reddening. Kaelith didn''t respond, her focus fixed on the saliva. Her expression shifted subtly, her eyes narrowing as her face turned unreadable, the usual confidence reced with a solemn neutrality. Without a word, Kaelith wiped her finger clean and stood still for a moment. Maruti sighed, crossing her arms. "Cough..cough....Whatever. Let''s just go to the arena together now, okay?" But Kaelith shook her head, her tone oddly firm. "No. You go first. I''ll jointer." She didn''t wait for Maruti''s reply, turning on her heel and walking away briskly. Maruti shrugged, dismissing the interaction and heading toward the arena. Meanwhile, Kaelith''s calm exterior hid a storm brewing inside. A single thought echoed in her mind, shaking herposure. "She kissed someone." ------------- The arena was bustling with energy, packed with more spectators than usual. Today was the final day of thepetition, and most people preferred to watch the decisive matches. Despite the entrance fee being higher than usual, the arena waspletely full, showing just how popr the event was. All thepetitors and important figures arrived early. However, two special guests stood out: ra, the academy''s principal, and Princess Ravenna. Special seats were arranged for them, emphasizing their importance. There was, however, a notable issue. Thepetition had five participants, but the matches were one-on-one. This meant one person would be left without an opponent in the first round. To solve this, the higher-ups decided beforehand that Kaelith, known as the strongestpetitor, would advance directly to the semi-finals without needing to fight in the first round. This left the remaining four topete in the quarter-finals, and one of them would face an extra challenge. That unlucky person was Maruti. Why Maruti? The reason was clear to everyone. Her strained rtionship with Princess Ravenna yed a role. This decision seemed like another way to make things harder for her. Here''s how the matches would proceed: 1. In the first round, Maruti would fight Violet Vandarion, both from ss A. 2. If Maruti won, she would face one of the remaining threepetitors: Esdeath, Ethan, or Kaelith, in the semi-finals. The other two would fight each other. 3. If Violet won instead, she would follow the same path as Maruti, fighting one of the three and aiming for the finals. The referee entered the arena, and all eyes turned to her. Raising her hand to quiet the crowd, she announced the first match: "The first match is between¡ªMaruti from ss A versus Violet Vandarion from ss A!" This Foundation Always Reaches Twice As soon as the referee announced their names, both Violet and Maruti stepped into the arena, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a de. Violet entered first, her eyes filled with determination. Her practice sessions with Ethan had paid off¡ªher movements were sharper, her aim more precise, and her confidence stronger than ever. Today, she was ready to prove herself. Maruti followed, her demeanorpletely opposite. She strolled into the arenazily, her expression bored, as if she would rather be anywhere else. Holding her bec de Corbin weapon casually over her shoulder, she sighed. "Huff... Beating up kids is so boring. Should I just quit?" she wondered to herself but quickly shook her head. "Withdrawing would just create more trouble. Better get this over with." The referee couldn''t help but shiver when Maruti stepped closer. Memories of theirst encounter shed through her mind¡ªthe moment when Maruti had punched her square in the face, knocking her out cold and breaking several teeth. Swallowing her fear, the referee quickly raised her hand and shouted, "Start!" before dashing to the sidelines, as far away from Maruti as possible.@@novelbin@@ The moment the match began, Violet didn''t waste a second. "20x Gravity!" she called out, and the entire arena seemed to shift. Maruti instantly felt the gravity around her increase by twenty times, but to everyone''s shock, she didn''t even blink. She stood there calmly, unaffected, as though the spell was nothing more than a gentle breeze. The crowd murmured in disbelief. This was Violet''s signature move¡ªthe same ability that had brought her countless victories by forcing her opponents to their knees. Yet, Maruti acted as if it didn''t exist. "Is that it?" Maruti asked, her tone dripping with boredom as she casually adjusted her grip on her weapon. Violet clenched her fists, her heart pounding. She had anticipated Maruti would be a formidable opponent, but seeing her like this was unnerving. Still, she wasn''t going to back down. "I knew she was strong," Violet thought, determination burning in her chest. "But I came prepared for this!" Letting go of her heavy sword, Violet raised her hand high above her head. A faint blue glow began to form in the air above her palm. The light grew brighter, swirling and crackling as debris and small fragments from the arena floor began flying toward it, drawn in as if by a powerful force. The blue sphere pulsed and expanded, humming with energy. Violet''s face was set with fierce concentration as she poured her mana into her new technique. "This will work! It has to!" "Take this!" Violet shouted, her voice ringing across the arena. "Blue Sphere!" With a flick of her hand, Violet sent the massive blue energy sphere forward. It crackled with power, its glow illuminating the arena. However, despite its strength, the ball was only the size of a basketball and much slower than Maruti''s incredible speed. Maruti immediately recognized the danger. Without hesitation, she sprinted across the arena with astonishing agility. Her speed was unbelievable¡ªpure physical strength with no magic or essence stones aiding her. The blue sphere tried to follow her, but it was left far behind as Maruti moved like a blur, weaving effortlessly through the arena. She drew a wide arc and then charged directly toward Violet. The crowd sat in stunned silence, their mouths hanging open. Nobody could believe what they were seeing. Maruti was so fast that most of the audience couldn''t even track her movements. In the blink of an eye, Maruti was right in front of Violet. Violet''s heart raced as she gripped her heavy sword tightly, raising it just in time to block the iing punch. "You left a gap!" Maruti shouted as she stretched her right hand back and unleashed a powerful strike. BAM! The punchnded with such force that the ground beneath Violet cracked. But Violet, prepared for the attack, held her ground and blocked it with her heavy sword, gritting her teeth from the impact. Her arms trembled under the sheer strength of Maruti''s punch. "Such raw power!" Violet thought, her eyes wide with shock. Even though she had expected Maruti to be strong, experiencing it firsthand was overwhelming. But Violet wasn''t just defending¡ªshe had a n. A sly smirk crept onto her face. Exposing a gap had been intentional, a clever trap to lure Maruti into attacking. "Gravity Inverse!" Violet shouted. At once, Maruti''s gravity flipped. Her body was pulled upward, leaving her spinning helplessly in midair. The sudden reversal caught her off guard, and she had no way to defend herself. Violet seized the opportunity without hesitation. She curled her index finger, and a brilliant red light appeared, forming a glowing red sphere of energy in her palm. "Red Sphere!" Violet dered, sending the attack hurtling toward Maruti. The entire sequence happened in the blink of an eye. Maruti had no time to react, and dodging was impossible. Her only option was to block the attack. "Phoenix Shield," Maruti willed, her voice steady yetmanding. In an instant, a shimmering shield with the image of a zing phoenix etched across it materialized before her, glowing with fiery energy. The moment the red sphere collided with the shield, chaos erupted. Unlike the blue sphere, which attracted everything, the red sphere''s power was pure repulsion¡ªit pushed away everything it touched with an overwhelming force. *BOOM!* The impact was devastating. The Phoenix Shield shattered instantly, unable to withstand the immense energy Violet had poured into the attack. Maruti wasunched backward like a cannonball, tumbling and crashing across the arena floor. Dust and debris flew in all directions as her body mmed into the ground multiple times. Despite the brutal force, Maruti regained control mid-flight, twisting her body andnding firmly on her feet at the edge of the arena. Her breaths came heavy, but she stood tall, brushing off the dirt like it was nothing. "Hahaha¡­ interesting," she muttered to herself, a wild grin spreading across her face. "Is she trying to y wannabe Gojo?" Her fiery determination red. She raised her hand, summoning a wall of mes in front of her. The red sphere, relentless in its pursuit, crashed into the fire wall. The mes roared and hissed, holding the red sphere back, but cracks began to appear in the barrier. Maruti gritted her teeth. "This thing''s not stopping. I just have to wait until she burns through all her mana!" But then, her instincts screamed danger. A chill ran down her spine. She turned her head sharply to the side¡ªand her heart sank. The blue sphere. The same slow-moving, destructive sphere she had dodged earlier was now inches away, hurtling toward her. In her focus on dealing with the red sphere, she hadpletely forgotten about the blue one. Violet smirked from the other end of the arena, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. She had nned this all along. Knowing the blue sphere''s speed was slow, she used the red sphere to keep Maruti upied, setting up the perfect trap. BOOM! The blue sphere smashed into the fire wall alongside the red one, thebined forces of attraction and repulsion colliding in a devastating explosion. The ground beneath the arena cracked and crumbled. Smoke and debris shot into the air like a volcanic eruption, leaving a massive gaping hole in the arena floor. The protective barrier around the audience shimmered, absorbing the shockwave and ensuring no one was harmed. But the sheer intensity of the explosion left many spectators covering their ears, their faces pale with shock. Violet stumbled forward, her body trembling. Drops of blood trickled from her lips, and her vision blurred from exhaustion. She had poured every ounce of mana into her two ultimate moves, leaving her mentally and physically drained. But despite her exhaustion, a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Two moves¡­ to conquer the world," she whispered to herself, pride and relief washing over her. The crowd erupted into murmurs. "Did Maruti actually lose to Violet?" one man gasped, disbelief written all over his face. "She underestimated Violet and paid the price," a girl snorted, crossing her arms with a look of disappointment. "A win is a win," someone else said with a shrug. "Doesn''t matter how it''s achieved." The tension in the arena was palpable. All eyes were on the smoking crater, waiting to see if Maruti had truly been defeated. As the dust began to clear, Violet''s heart skipped a beat. Her eyes widened in disbelief. No one was there. Before she could process what was happening, a voice came from right behind her, soft yet yful. "What''s up, girl?" The words sent shivers down her spine. Violet spun around quickly, her breath caught in her throat. There, just inches away, stood Maruti, unharmed and grinning. "How?" The only word Violet managed to whisper, her voice trembling with shock. Maruti smirked,"Too bad, but this foundation always reaches twice." Three Moves "How?" The only word Violet managed to whisper, her voice trembling with shock. Maruti smirked,"Too bad, but this foundation always reaches twice." Violet''s body tensed as she watched Maruti''s fist speeding toward her face. The sheer force of the wind from Maruti''s punch brushed against her skin, sending chills down her spine. But just before the impact¡ª "I ept defeat!" Violet shut her eyes and spoke firmly. For a moment, there was silence. Then¡ªSwish!¡ªthe air trembled from the leftover pressure of Maruti''s halted punch. Her fist hovered just inches away from Violet''s face. Maruti sighed, lowering her hand. She had wanted Violet to fight until the very end, but it seemed she knew when to back down. "The winner of this match¡ªMaruti from ss A!" the referee announced. The arena erupted in cheers. The audience, who had been holding their breath, now roared with excitement. Even though Violet lost, her performance was nothing short of impressive. Up in the stands, Esdeath watched the match unfold with an amused smirk. She leaned back, arms crossed. "Young ones are full of energy and make reckless choices," she murmured to herself. "But she knows when to surrender. Quite knowledgeable for her age." But suddenly¡ª**p!** She smacked her own face, her expression twisting in frustration. Why? Because although her eyes were supposed to be on the arena, her right eye kept trying to steal nces at the VIP seats. Specifically¡ªwhere Lortell Mariette was sitting. "Stop looking at her!" Esdeath scolded herself inwardly, gripping the armrest of her seat. She forced herself to focus on thepetition, but the weight of her emotions, influenced by the real Esdeath''s lingering presence in her mind, made it increasingly difficult. Meanwhile, Maruti walked over and sat down beside her, still grinning. "This ''Turn Phantom Essence Stone'' is amazing," Maruti said, stretching her arms. "For three whole breaths, my body turned into a phantom, making all physical attacks useless." Esdeath smiled faintly but didn''t seem too interested. "Forget about that," she said. "What I really want to see is the second match. Let''s see who''s fighting next. The best oue would be Ethan versus Kaelith. If that happens, we''ll gain the most benefit from this." But The moment the referee announced the next match, both Esdeath and Maruti felt their excitement drain away, reced by deep disappointment. "The next match is between Maruti from ss A and Kaelith Maranthia from ss A!" the referee dered. A collective sigh spread through the audience. Some students even leaned back in their seats, shaking their heads. Everyone already knew the oue. Maruti let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing the back of her head. "Seriously? Just my luck." Esdeath crossed her arms, exhaling. "It seems your luck is even worse than mine. Now, it''s all up to me whether we win thispetition or not." Maruti turned to her with a hopeful look. "Is there any chance I can win?" Esdeath didn''t hesitate. She shook her head firmly. "Nope. Right now, it''s impossible. Just stick to the n. If I were the one fighting, I could make it work¡ªbut your chances are still high if you do it right." Maruti nodded. She had no choice but to trust Esdeath''s judgment. With a deep breath, she stood up and walked toward the arena. --- The battle between Violet and Maruti hadsted only a few minutes, and now the next match was about to begin. Kaelith Maranthia stepped onto the battlefield with absolute confidence. Her silver hair floated upward, as if defying gravity, while her cold silver eyes scanned the surroundings with an icy sharpness. She carried no weapon. She didn''t need one. Kaelith was the strongest first-year student¡ªeven among the second years, no one could rival her. Only a few third-year students could match her power. Her very presence was overwhelming. Maruti entered the arena with a casual smile, trying to ease the tension. But Kaelith didn''t react. Her face remained cold, her expression unreadable. The referee raised her hand. "Begin!" Maruti stepped back¡ª And then¡ª Ssh! Ssh! Ssh! A mighty aura erupted from Kaelith, surging like cold silver mes. The sheer force of her energy sent a violent shockwave across the battlefield, splitting the ground clean in half like a sword slicing through butter. The air grew heavier¡ªthicker¡ªas her aura intensified. Cracks spread across the arena floor. Then¡ª Swoosh! Silver horns¡ªsharp and radiant¡ªburst from her head. She looked like a deity descending onto the battlefield. Even though she hadn''t moved, her presence alone was enough to make Maruti stumble, her knees threatening to buckle. Even the audience felt an eerie chill crawl down their spines. Maruti clenched her fists, gritting her teeth. "A B-rank level aura?! Even the barrier is struggling to hold it back!" This wasn''t just a difference in strength. It was absolute domination. If it were anyone else, they would have pissed their pants by now. But instead of fear, a wide smile stretched across Maruti''s face. "Hahahaha¡­ very nice! As expected from you," she said, her voice filled with excitement. Then, with a teasing tone, she added, "But are you really satisfied with winning without even taking a single hit from me?" Kaelith narrowed her silver eyes. For the first time, she spoke. "What are you trying to say?" She adjusted her aura slightly, making the pressure a little more bearable. Maruti grinned. "What I mean is¡ªeveryone already knows you''re stronger and will win. But where''s the fun in that? Let''s make a game out of it." Kaelith raised an eyebrow but stayed silent, listening. "I''ll make three moves on you," Maruti continued. "You can''t dodge or attack¡ªonly defend. Then, you get to make three moves on me, and I''ll do the same. Whoever stays standing in the end wins!" She paused, then smirked. "Of course, you can refuse¡­ if you''re afraid." Kaelith''s lips curled into a sly smile. "Me? Afraid?" she scoffed. Then, she chuckled and added, "Fine. But let''s change the rules. I''ll only make one move. If you''re still standing after that, you win." Maruti nodded quickly, feeling a sense of relief. She had used Kaelith''s pride against her to get a huge advantage. Kaelith withdrew her intense aura, making the air around her feel less suffocating. Her eyes softened slightly, but inside, she was smiling for a different reason. "This will also give me a chance to show her my true strength," she thought. The truth was, she had let her aura explode so fiercely earlier because she wasn''t just angry¡ªshe was sad. She wanted to prove her superiority to Maruti. Or rather¡­ she wanted to show off. Why? The reason was short but left a deep impact on her heart. ¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¨C¡ª¡ª When Kaelith first found out that Maruti had kissed someone, she froze in shock. Maruti¡­ had a boyfriend? Her mind struggled to ept it. Of course, she didn''t know the full story¡ªthat the person Maruti kissed was actually Princess Ravenna. If she had known, her reaction would have been even more extreme. But even with just that much information, her heart felt¡­ weird. She acted normal on the outside, as if it didn''t bother her. But before the match even started, she had been alone in the gym, punching a solid iron training dummy¡ªone that was reinforced with enchantments to make it even harder. She wanted to forget about it. She wanted to focus on something else. But no matter how hard she tried¡­ the same thoughts kept circling in her mind. "Of course, she''s beautiful and popr¡­ it''s no surprise that she has a boyfriend." She threw another punch¡ªharder this time. Then, she gritted her teeth. "But why? Why does my chest hurt so much?" Her fists trembled. "Is it because she won''t be interested in being my friend anymore? Will she start spending all her time with him instead?" She didn''t know the answer. All she knew was that her mind was a mess. BAM! Kaelith''s fist mmed into the iron dummy with all her strength. CRACK! The metal dummy shattered into pieces, breaking apart like bricks hit by a hammer. Her breathing was heavy¡ªnot because she was tired, but because something inside her felt unbearably heavy. Her heart was restless, her thoughts a tangled mess. Just then, a voice called out from behind her. "Umm¡­ Ms. Kaelith? Thepetition has already started. Why aren''t you there yet?" It was a girl''s voice. Kaelith turned around with an icy gaze. The girl flinched. Her name was Althea¡ªone of the volunteers responsible for making sure the tournament ran smoothly. She hade to remind Kaelith to hurry up before she caused dys in the schedule. But the moment Kaelith looked at her, Althea felt her breath hitch. "Why do her eyes feel so heavy? Was she¡­ crying?" Althea thought in frustration. Kaelith didn''t answer her thoughts, of course. Instead, she spoke in an expressionless voice. "Let''s go." With that, she started walking. Althea followed beside her, feeling the weight of silence between them. It was awkward. Althea was naturally a talkative girl, and this tense atmosphere was suffocating. She wanted to say something¡ªanything¡ªto break the silence. Then, an idea popped into her head. "Are you feeling down because of something?" she asked casually. Kaelith didn''t reply. But Althea wasn''t discouraged. "You know," she continued, "I''ve been feeling a little sad too. I broke up with my boyfriendst week,He was a Rank C." She sighed dramatically, then smiled. "But it''s fine! I already found a new boyfriend¡ªand he''s even better!" she said with excitement. Kaelith''s silver eyebrows rose slightly. For the first time, she showed a bit of interest. "Is he Rank B?" she asked. Since Althea imed her new boyfriend was "better," Kaelith assumed he must be a Rank B Awakened. That would be impressive, considering how rare and powerful they were. Rank B individuals were basically elites¡ªthey had wealth, strength, and endless opportunities. But to her surprise, Althea shook her head. "No! He''s Rank D!" Kaelith froze.@@novelbin@@ "¡­Huh? But wasn''t your previous boyfriend Rank C?" she asked, confused. "Wouldn''t that make him better?" For a second, irritation shed across Althea''s face. "Hmph! My ex acted all high and mighty just because he was a Rank C," she scoffed. "He always did whatever he wanted during our dates, but he never actually showed his strength. Who knows? Maybe he was faking it the whole time." Kaelith frowned slightly. "Maybe he had a reason to hide it," she said. Althea rolled her eyes. "What reason could he have to hide things from his own girlfriend? Why even date me if he wasn''t going to be real with me?" Kaelith didn''t answer. Althea continued, her voice firm. "You''re a girl too, so you should understand." She took a deep breath and then said, "Every average girl wants someone who gives her attention. When she''s with him, she should feel safe andfortable." Kaelith listened quietly. "No woman wants a weak loser who just acts tough leven if it''s a good boy," Althea continued. "A mother wants a strong child. A wife wants a strong husband. A sister wants a strong brother. Every average girl wants her partner to have superior genes." She let her words settle for a moment before finishing with a soft, dreamy sigh. "Compared to my ex, I feel so much safer with my new boyfriend. Every time I hug him, his chest is so wide¡ªI feel like a little cake in his arms. He really cares about me." Her face turned pink as she hugged the air, lost in her thoughts. But Kaelith wasn''t paying attention to that anymore. Her heart stopped for a moment. A deep realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. "¡­Does that mean Maruti also thinks all my strength is just a bias? That I''m all talk?" Her mind spun in shock. "She might be right. Everyone naturally follows someone stronger than them, someone superior." "If I show off my powers¡­ will Maruti start paying more attention to me? Will she see me as someone superior to her ''boyfriend''?" Her hands clenched. For the first time, she realized she didn''t just want to win. She wanted Maruti''s attention. No! More like needed it than ''want it''. Mountain Cutting Slash "Match start!" the referee announced before quickly stepping back to give the fighters space. Ethan adjusted his stance, sliding his right foot backward while raising his sword to his shoulder. The tip of his de pointed directly at Esdeath, steady and unwavering. sh¡­ Ssh¡­ Ssh¡­ A brilliant golden aura exploded from his body, spreading across the arena like a warm wave of sunlight. It was as if a powerful river of life itself had burst forth, washing over the spectators. The air felt lighter. The tension in the audience''s hearts melted away. A soothing warmth filled the arena, making everyone feel safe¡ªprotected. Lilith narrowed her eyes, watching closely. "Righteous Aura¡­ also called the Radiance of Hope," she muttered under her breath. "An aura that represents hope itself." Lortell, however, was far from calm. Her face was pale, her forehead damp with cold sweat. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her dress as worry wed at her chest. "Only one in a hundred thousand can possess a Righteous Aura," she thought, her mind racing with panic. She clenched her fists tightly. "I told you not to enter thepetition! What if you get hurt? My heart aches just thinking about it!" Her stomach twisted with unease, and she instinctively wanted to interfere, to stop this match before it was toote. But she couldn''t. Esdeath had made it very clear¡ªno one was allowed to interfere. "If anyone dares to stop the match, I''ll be angry," Esdeath had warned her. Lortell had no choice but to watch. To suffer through the agony of waiting. To pray that Esdeath would be okay. ***@@novelbin@@ In the arena, Esdeath remainedpletely unfazed. She didn''t summon any aura. She didn''t take a defensive stance. Instead, she simply raised her right hand. With her index and middle fingers extended, her ring and pinky curled inward, and her thumb sticking up, she made the shape of a gun with her palm¡ªaiming it straight at Ethan. A smirk curled her lips. "You should feel honored," she said casually. "I''m pointing my gun at you." Ethan scoffed, unimpressed. "Hands don''t shoot," he said, his voice firm. BANG! Esdeath mimicked the sound of a gunshot with her mouth. Ethan''s instincts kicked in instantly. His body reacted before his mind could process the ridiculousness of the situation. A shimmering green shield materialized in front of him, blocking the supposed "attack." Then¡ª Laughter. Loud, carefree, echoingughter filled the arena. "Hahahahaha¡­" Esdeath grinned, her sharp red eyes glinting with mischief. "You just said hands don''t shoot," she teased. "So why did you put up a defense?" Her mocking words cut through the air like a de. The audience fell into an awkward silence. She had just openly mocked Ethan¡ªone of the strongest contestants¡ªin front of everyone. But no oneughed. Not a single person. Why? Because this was a seriouspetition. A high-stakes battle in front of countless spectators. Who jokes around in a ce like this? The situation felt¡­ strange. Ufortable. Awkward. But if there was one person who wasn''t bothered by it¡ª It was Esdeath. She stood there, her expression rxed,pletely at ease, as if the battle didn''t concern her at all. Ethan ignored Esdeath''sughter and charged forward, chanting a spell in his mind as he moved. Unlike Esdeath, Ethan had years of experience in magic, the use of essence stones, and sword techniques. As he rushed at her, two magic circles appeared on both sides of Esdeath¡ªone to her left and one to her right. In an instant, sharp crystal needles shot out from them. Bang! Bang! Bang! Esdeath fired her pistols at the iing crystals, shattering them before they could reach her. Yes, pistols¡ªplural. Since there were no rules about how many weapons she could carry, she simply pulled out another gun from thin air and fired with both hands, her uracy almost perfect. Meanwhile, Ethan took advantage of the moment and closed the distance between them. As soon as he was close enough, he swung his sword down at her. But Esdeath reacted instantly¡ªshe aimed at his sword and shot, disrupting his momentum before turning her gun toward him. Ethan quickly dodged. The battle between them grew fiercer, with the constant sound of gunfire echoing throughout the arena. Bang! Bang! Bang! "I can''t aim for his head or chest. If I hit him, he might die. Using guns is really holding me back!" Esdeath thought, feeling frustrated. But she didn''t give up. She jumped backward to create more space. Then, in a sh, her pistols disappeared, and in her hands appeared an AR rifle¡ªa much stronger weapon. Ethan''s eyes widened in shock. As someone from the future, he knew exactly what kind of gun this was. Tat! Tat! Tat! Drrr! Esdeath opened fire, and Ethan had no choice but to run at full speed, dodging the bullets as best he could. Even though she had gained some distance, Esdeath still felt uneasy. "I can''t let him have enough time to use his sword arts!" she thought. "Wind Steps!" She stepped onto thin air and shot upward, increasing the distance between them even more. Her wind affinity made such movements possible. At once, she drew her gun again¡ªbut this time, instead of an AR rifle, she was holding a long, sleek, futuristic-looking sniper rifle. Everyone watching the fight was stunned. "Just how many guns is she carrying?!" But what they didn''t know was that Esdeath wasn''t actually pulling out different weapons. Everything she was using was the same gun¡ªher ZK-20. She simply stored it inside her storage-type essence stone and re-summoned it in a different form each time. This trick made it seem like she had countless weapons at her disposal. Of course, she did have other guns in her arsenal¡ªbut none of them matched the sheer power of the ZK-20. As Esdeath hovered in the air, a huge glowing energy sphere started forming at the tip of her sniper rifle. Electric currents crackled wildly around it, making it look even more dangerous. Ethan''s eyes widened. He immediately knew that letting this attack happen would be a terrible mistake. "Warp!" He activated an advanced teleportation magic that only a handful of people could use, instantly vanishing from his spot and reappearing behind Esdeath. Before Esdeath could even react¡ª BAM! Ethan delivered a powerful kick to her back, sending her crashing straight toward the ground at high speed. The impact was brutal. Dust exploded into the air as shended with a loud thud. The ground trembled from the force. Lortell, watching from the stands, smacked her own head repeatedly, her face filled with worry. "That must''ve hurt¡­ that must''ve hurt¡­" she muttered, squeezing her eyes shut. But as the dust began to settle, Esdeath stood up. She didn''t look hurt at all. However, when she nced around the arena, she noticed something strange¡ªthere were multiple Ethans. No, not just multiple¡ªdozens. No¡­ nearly a hundred of them! The entire arena was filled with Ethans, and each one looked as real as the original. "Water Path Killer Move¡ªHundred Sea Clones!" All the Ethans roared in unison as they charged at Esdeath from all directions. A smirk spread across her lips. "So, he finally gained an affinity with the water element," she thought. Gaining an elemental affinity wasn''t exactly difficult, but it wasn''t easy either. If someone had an essence stone that granted affinity, all they had to do was use it. But finding such stones was the real challenge. Esdeath also had an Elemental King Essence Stone that could grant her affinity with five different elements. However, since it was a B-rank essence stone, she couldn''t use it yet. As all the clones rushed toward her, Esdeath''s smirk widened into a wicked grin. "Hundred clones? Then I''ll counter with a hundred guns," she whispered to herself. In an instant, dozens of AR rifles, resembling M4A1s, materialized in mid-air around her. They hovered in a perfect circle, as if controlled by some unseen force. It almost looked like she had transformed into some kind of mechanical war machine, prepared to unleash destruction. "Open fire!" With hermand, a surge of mystical energy flowed through the floating weapons. Then¡ª Drrrrrrr! A deafening storm of gunfire erupted. The rifles fired in all directions, bullets raining down like a relentless storm. The sheer intensity of the attack was overwhelming. Even as Esdeath moved, the guns floated with her, proving that she wasn''t restricted in her mobility. The battlefield turned into chaos. Dozens of clones were wiped out almost instantly, their bodies bursting into water upon impact. Even the protective barrier around the arena suffered damage, barely holding on against the insane barrage. In just a few moments, all of Ethan''s clones had been destroyed, leaving only the real him standing. Although he had managed to shield himself with an invisible barrier, he was still injured from the attack. But¡ª The wounds on his body healed at an unnatural speed. After all, he had a Rank B Righteous skill. The crowd was stunned. "W-What was that move?!" someone gasped. "You can use guns like that?!" Esdeath casually let go of her weapons. One by one, all of them dropped to the ground, many of them breaking apart due to being used to their absolute limits. Ethan gritted his teeth and gripped his sword tightly. "It''s time to end this¡ªRising Sea sh!" He roared as he swung his sword¡ªnot from top to bottom, but from bottom to top, like an enormous wave rising from the ocean. A powerful crescent-shaped sh of water shot toward Esdeath. But Esdeath remained calm. "Turn Phantom!" Her body shimmered as she activated her essence stone''s ability. In an instant, she became intangible. The massive sword wave passed right through her, crashing into the arena walls and sending shockwaves everywhere. Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Ohh¡­ so that''s it!" He immediately realized what she had done. "She used a Turn Phantom essence stone¡­" Then, he smirked. "I guess it''s time to use my sword arts." "Azurelion sword style¨CFirst Form", He said as he swung horizontally. "Mountain Cutting sh! ", End Of Competition Thepetition had finally ended, and now it was time for the rewards. Almost everyone had already left the arena, especially the outsiders. Only a few dozen people remained to witness the award ceremony. The principal was not there from the beginning. He had left for the capital city to meet with the king for other important matters. Being the head of the academy, he had many responsibilities. This Awakend Academy was not the only one in the Anastasia Kingdom¡ªthere were several other branches as well. That left Lortell and Lilith, but Lilith had gone somewhere quite a while ago and still hadn''t returned. Still, some important figures remained, and Lortell was among them. Ethan''s expression darkened every time he looked at Lortell. If someone asked him who he hated the most in the academy, his answer would be either Corin or Lortell. But right now, he wasn''t in a position to say anything. Meanwhile, Sylviana and Violet were also there. Even though they hadn''t won, Ethan had secured second ce, which was still an achievement. A volunteer girl stepped forward, holding a silver tray in her hands. On it was the reward for the first-ce winner. But just as she was about to move forward, Lortell suddenly snatched the tray from her hands. "Let me," Lortell said with a smile, stepping forward confidently. "Esdeath Crimson, for achieving first ce, is awarded the Warrior Spirit Essence Stone," a girl announced from behind. The arena filled with the sound of apuse as everyone pped. Lortell approached Esdeath, handing her the silver tray along with her reward. The reward was a dark blue essence stone, about the size of half a palm. It had a carved figure of a warrior holding a long sword, giving it a majestic appearance. But Lortell didn¡¯t stop there. She leaned in, bending down slightly to match Esdeath¡¯s height, and then, without hesitation, she pressed a soft kiss against Esdeath¡¯s left cheek. "Good job," Lortell whispered in a sultry voice, her warm breath brushing against Esdeath¡¯s skin. Esdeath¡¯s cheeks flushed red as she felt the soft warmth lingering on her skin. Meanwhile, Lortell casually returned to her position with a proud grin, lookingpletely satisfied with herself. The volunteer girl, still holding the second-ce reward, turned toward Lortell and offered it to her, expecting her to hand it over to Ethan just like she did with Esdeath¡¯s reward. But Lortell immediately refused, waving her hand dismissively. ¡°You go. I already did my part,¡± she said, clearly uninterested. Of course, she had only bothered to give the reward personally because it was Esdeath. --------- More than half an hour ago¡ª Outside the academy, in a small, peaceful garden where many students and staff often came to rx in the evening, two girls sat quietly on a wooden bench. At first nce, they looked like an older and younger sister pair. But in reality, they were mother and daughter. Yes! They were none other than Lilith and Kaelith. Lilith, with her small childlike body, turned her head toward Kaelith, her sharp silver eyes serious. ¡°Kaelith, what you said earlier... is it true? You¡¯re friends with Maruti?¡± she asked. Kaelith nodded without hesitation. Lilith let out a deep sigh, shaking her head. ¡°No! You shouldn¡¯t be,¡± she protested firmly. Kaelith frowned, her irritation growing. ¡°Why? Why are you always trying to take away the little happiness I have? Can¡¯t I even make a single friend?¡± she snapped, her voice filled with frustration. Lilith¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, but her tone remained calm. ¡°That¡¯s not it. I¡¯m not telling you not to make friends. In fact, make as many as you want¡ªhundreds if you like. I have no problem with that.¡± She paused before continuing, her voice turning serious. ¡°The problem is with *her*¡ªMaruti. Do you even know who she really is? She is Maruti Vanara.¡± Kaelith tilted her head slightly, confused. ¡°So what?¡± Lilith sighed again. ¡°Her father is Mourya Vanara, an A-ranked barbarian. His talent is immense. Normally, barbarians who live in the forests as tribes don¡¯t have enough resources to grow strong. Most of them never even reach B-rank. But Mourya¡­ he¡¯s different. He has great influence and intelligence, and he¡¯s already an A-rank awakened. In another ten years, he¡¯ll likely be an S-rank.¡± Kaelith still didn¡¯t see the issue. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± she asked. Lilith¡¯s voice became softer, but there was sadness in her tone. ¡°The problem is that Mourya is against the kingdom. He wants to expand his territory, which could lead to war. And¡­ there¡¯s another reason, a personal one.¡± She took a deep breath, her expression turning grim. ¡°A long time ago, I noticed Mourya¡¯s immense talent and knew he would be dangerous. So, before he could grow into a real threat, I sent assassins to eliminate him.¡± Kaelith¡¯s eyes widened slightly, sensing that the story was about to take a dark turn. ¡°But¡­ they made a terrible mistake,¡± Lilith continued. ¡°Instead of Mourya, they killed his older brother. The two of them looked almost identical, and my assassins targeted the wrong man.¡± Lilith¡¯s silver eyes locked onto Kaelith¡¯s with a piercing gaze. ¡°Sooner orter, Mourya will find out the truth about his brother¡¯s death. When that happens, all hell will break loose. And when that dayes, Maruti will stand by her father¡¯s side. And you¡­¡± She hesitated for a moment before finishing, ¡°You will have to stand by mine.¡± Kaelith¡¯s breath caught in her throat as the weight of those words sank in. Lilith leaned closer, her voice calm yet sharp, like a dagger to the heart. ¡°If your friendship with her continues¡­ if you grow more attached to her¡­ it will only hurt you more in the end.¡± Kaelith clenched her fists, trying to push away the unsettling feeling creeping into her heart. Lilith¡¯s final words struck like thunder. ¡°Sooner orter¡­ you will have to kill her with your own hands.¡± Lilith had no idea that Esdeath had already turned Rowan, the head of the Lothal tribe, against Mourya. Esdeath had cleverly framed rowan for assassinating his brother, shifting all of Mourya¡¯s hatred toward Rowan instead. And as for Lilith being responsible for Mourya¡¯s brother¡¯s death? Now That was nothing more than a mystery. But how could she know that? Lilith stood up from the bench, brushing off her skirt. ¡°Well, I think I¡¯ve exined everything to you. I¡¯m heading to the capital now. Principal ra is already there. I¡¯ll be back by tomorrow morning,¡± she said, her voice calm but firm. Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away. Kaelith watched her mother¡¯s disappearing figure and scoffed. ¡°Well, it was actually a good thing that you failed,¡± she muttered to herself. ¡°If you had seeded, Maruti wouldn¡¯t even exist. And as for you being Mourya¡¯s enemy¡­ that¡¯s your problem. Why should I care?, it''s toote for me to leave her.¡± ----------- Meanwhile, back at the academy dorms, Maruti was lounging in her room, stretching her armszily. ¡°Phew¡­ what bad luck,¡± she sighed, shaking her head. ¡°I should have gotten first ce¡­ Sigh¡­¡± Still, she had no real regrets. ¡°I ran straight here after thepetition because I was afraid Kaelith mighte after me and beat me up for what I did at the arena,¡± she chuckled to herself, remembering her little stunt. As she was thinking about it, a sudden knock at the door made her pause. ¡°Now who could that be?¡± Maruti grumbled, annoyed as she got up to open it. Standing at the door was a boy from ss B, looking nervous. ¡°M-Maruti¡­ Ms. Kaya has called for you urgently!¡± he said in a panicked voice. ¡°Kaya, huh?¡± Maruti raised an eyebrow, thinking about the teacher who had once gifted her a pair of bras. ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t go if it were anyone else calling me, but since she helped me in the past, I guess I can do her this small favor,hahaha,¡± she chuckled to herself. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go!¡± she agreed, stepping out.@@novelbin@@ The boy led her through the academy grounds, taking the garden route. But as they walked, Maruti started feeling uneasy. The path they were taking led deeper and deeper into the back of the academy, where hardly anyone went. After a few more steps, Maruti suddenly stopped. Her expression turned grim as a cold chill spread through her voice. ¡°Hey¡­ just spit it out. Where are you really taking me?¡± The boy froze in ce and swallowed hard. Then, he forced a nervous smile and said, ¡°Well¡­ see for yourself.¡± At that moment, a shadowy figure stepped out from behind a tree. It was a girl wearing the academy uniform, but she also had a robe covering her face. Maruti narrowed her eyes as the girl slowly removed her hood. Short, messy hair fell over her forehead, but it wasn¡¯t enough to hide therge spiral-shaped scar stretching from her forehead down to her left eye. Maruti¡¯s expression darkened as recognition hit her. ¡°You¡­!¡± The girl standing before her was none other than Caramel. Maruti clenched her fists. She knew something was off! Meanwhile, the boy next to her grinned excitedly and turned to Caramel. ¡°Ms. Caramel, I did exactly as you asked! Now, you¡¯ll hold my hand, as per the deal, right?¡± he said, practically jumping with excitement. Warrior Spirit Kaelith had killed Caramel. With her death, the strange power that had bound so many people vanished, and those under her control were finally freed. Many of them slowly opened their eyes, blinking in confusion as they rubbed their faces. Their gazes darted around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. ¡°What happened¡­? Why am I here?¡± some mumbled, their voices shaky. But not everyone was simply confused. There were some who had lost themselvespletely. Those who had been under Caramel¡¯s control for too long had gone mad. As their eyesnded on Caramel¡¯s lifeless body, horror twisted their faces. A wave of agony washed over them, and then, as if something inside them had shattered, they began to act in ways no one could understand. ¡°No! This can¡¯t be happening! I can¡¯t live without my goddess!¡± someone screamed, clutching their head. One by one, they started banging their heads against the walls with such force that their skulls cracked open. Others wed at their own skin, ripping out their hair, their nails digging deep into their flesh as if trying to tear something out of themselves. Some bit their own tongues, blood spilling from their mouths. Others grabbed whatever they could find¡ªsharp objects, their own nails¡ªand cut into their own arms, their eyes empty, lost in despair. Their madness had taken them beyond saving. The teachers who had also been freed from Caramel¡¯s control gasped as they regained their senses. They rushed to help, trying to stop the students from hurting themselves any further. But then, all at once, their own memories came flooding back¡ªthe things they had done while under Caramel¡¯s influence. The cruel words they had spoken, the actions they had taken against their own student. ¡°No¡­ I did this?¡± a teacher whispered in disbelief, their hands trembling. Many of them felt a deep sense of guilt and horror. They couldn¡¯t believe that they had been controlled sopletely, that they had lost themselves without even realizing it. Kaelith and Maruti stood back, watching the chaos unfold before them. But neither of them moved to help. Kaelith let out a long sigh. ¡°You see that?¡± she said, tilting her head toward the scene. ¡°I saved you, not your boyfriend. Or¡­ don¡¯t tell me he was one of the ones under Caramel¡¯s control?¡± She smirked slightly. Maruti blinked several times, taken aback. ¡°Boyfriend? Who said I have a boyfriend?¡± she asked, her voice filled with disbelief. Kaelith snorted. ¡°Hmph! Like I don¡¯t know? Stop trying to keep it a secret,¡± she said, crossing her arms in what seemed like mild jealousy. Maruti made a face, her expression filled with disgust. ¡°A boyfriend? Me? I¡¯d rather die than have a boyfriend!¡± she said firmly. Kaelith¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up with interest. A small smile yed on her lips as she leaned in slightly. ¡°Ohhh¡­ so it¡¯s actually a girl?¡± she teased. ¡°You¡ª!¡± Maruti¡¯s face turned red with anger, and she kicked at Kaelith¡¯s legs several times. ¡°I¡¯m not the type to be tied down in a rtionship! I like being free¡± she huffed. Kaelith chuckled but said nothing. Maruti turned her back and started walking away. ¡°Didn¡¯t I already tell you? Rule number three¡ªfriends don¡¯t lie to each other. It¡¯s up to you whether you believe me or not,¡± she said over her shoulder before leaving. Kaelith watched as Maruti¡¯s figure disappeared into the distance. She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. ¡°Was I just overthinking it?¡± she muttered to herself. ¡°Maybe it was some ident¡­ Maybe she fell down the stairs andnded on someone, or something else like that. Yeah, that has to be it!¡± Deciding to believe in Maruti¡¯s words, she pushed aside her doubts. But then, her gaze dropped to the shirt she was wearing. The moment she focused on it, a familiar scent filled her nose. ¡°This shirt¡­ It smells just like Maruti.¡± A warm, overwhelming fragrance surrounded her, making her feel as if she were wrapped in Maruti¡¯s embrace. Her heart skipped a beat as she brought her hands close to her face, inhaling deeply. It was strange. She had never felt like this before. Her cheeks felt a little hot, She actually thought of holding maruti''s soft cheeks and about to kiss but she quickly shook her head, pushing away the weird dirty thoughts. ¡°Ugh, what am I even thinking?¡± she whispered before heading toward her own dorm room. Even as she walked, her heart continued pounding in her chest, refusing to calm down. ----------- While all of this chaos had been unfolding inside the academy, Esdeath had been outside. By the time she returned, everything had already settled. She didn¡¯t need to ask what had happened¡ªone nce was enough. The aftermath spoke for itself. Her sharp eyes scanned the scene as she pieced everything together in her mind. ¡°In *Free Life Fantasy*, Caramel was supposed to survive until midnight,¡± she thought. ¡°She was like a firecracker¡­ glowing brightly for a short time before burning out forever. Her strength grew fast, but in the end, she died on her own.¡± But whatever the case, it didn¡¯t really matter anymore. Caramel¡¯s main purpose had been to distract Ethan so that Violet could be kidnapped. Yet, Violet was still here. That meant Caramel had failedpletely. With a shrug, Esdeath continued walking through the academy corridors, deep in thought. As she turned a corner, she spotted someone heading in her direction¡ªMaruti. ¡°Yo¡ª¡± Esdeath started, lifting a hand in greeting. But before she could finish, Maruti scoffed, her face twisted in irritation.@@novelbin@@ ¡°Eat shit and die,¡± she snapped, not even slowing down as she walked past. Esdeath blinked, then let out a dryugh. ¡°Yeah, fuck you too,¡± she said casually, not bothering to look back as she continued on her way. The encounter was brief, but Esdeath immediately understood the reason behind Maruti¡¯s bad mood. ¡°Not in the mood, huh?¡± she muttered. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess. The only person who could have annoyed Maruti this much was Caramel. With a sigh, Esdeath shook her head. ¡°She¡¯ll be back to her usual self by tomorrow,¡± she said to herself, her voice light with amusement. And with that, she headed toward her own dorm room, ready to put the day behind her. ------------------ Inside Esdeath¡¯s dorm room, Selene was sitting on the bed,pletely focused on a book. It wasn¡¯t a storybook or anything about science. Instead, it was a mix of history and general knowledge. But the real reason she was reading it had nothing to do with studying¡ªit was all because of Lortell Mariette. When Selene had gone out with Esdeath earlier, she had purposely chosen this book just to learn more about Lortell. Esdeath, having no idea about Selene¡¯s true reason, had simply nodded and agreed, thinking that learning general knowledge would help Selene understand the world better. Selene¡¯s eyes sparkled as she read a certain section. ¡°Daughter of the Arch-Duke and captain of the Third Division¡­ Dad is just so cool!¡± she whispered to herself, feeling a deep admiration for Lortell. After finishing the page, she closed the book andy down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. ¡°From what I know, other people don¡¯t seem to know about Dad and Mother¡¯s rtionship. That means¡­ this is just like the story I read yesterday,¡± she thought. A bittersweet smile formed on her lips as she remembered the story. ¡°It was about a heroine who secretly loved the hero, and even though they had a child together, the hero¡¯s rich family didn¡¯t allow them to marry. So, the heroine had no choice but to raise the child alone. The hero could only visit her a few times, and whenever they met, they had small conversations before parting ways again.¡± Selene sighed, feeling sad as she imagined her own parents in the same situation. But then, her eyes suddenly lit up with excitement. ¡°But in the end, the hero ran away with the heroine! After facing many hardships, they finally got to live a happy life together.¡± She sat up, her heart filled with determination. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯ll just have to reunite Dad and Mother myself!¡± she dered, clenching her small fists. Just then, the door swung open, and Esdeath stepped inside. As always, the moment Selene saw Esdeath, her mood brightened even more. She quickly put the book aside and ran toward her, throwing her arms around Esdeath¡¯s thighs. ¡°Mother! I finally refined a Rank C essence stone! All by myself!¡± she announced proudly, looking up at Esdeath with shining eyes. Esdeath smiled and gently patted Selene¡¯s head. ¡°Good job,¡± she praised. Selene¡¯s face turned slightly red, her heart swelling with happiness. Letting go of Esdeath, she quickly ran back to her bed, eager to read more books. Meanwhile, Esdeath was in a good mood as well. Today had been a sessful day¡ªshe had won first ce and obtained a soul-strengthening essence stone. Although this wouldn¡¯tpletely fix her soul-rted problems, it was definitely a great help for now. Holding the essence stone in her hands, she looked at it with determination. ¡°I should refine it as soon as possible,¡± she muttered to herself. Esdeath sat on the ground without wasting any time and took out the Warrior Spirit Essence Stone. Unlike the Loyalty Essence Stone, which had Trynne''s will inside it, this one was pure. Her system allowed her to refine any essence stone up to Rank B instantly, but because Trynne had ced her will inside the Loyalty Essence Stone, things were different. Trynne had done it so that if someone used the stone on a weapon to make it loyal to them, she would also have ess to it. Even though Trynne was dead, there was always the chance that one of her subordinates could still use it. Because of that, Esdeath had no choice but to remove Trynne''s will before refining it. Since she didn¡¯t have much time, she had to make a sacrifice¡ªfour months of her lifespan. But the Warrior Spirit Essence Stone was different. It waspletely pure. Esdeath used her system and refined it instantly. ¡°At least that¡¯s the best use of my system,¡± she sighed. This essence stone was a one-time-use item. As soon as she refined and used it, the stone vanished. Suddenly, Esdeath''s soul was pulled out of her body. It appeared as a small, glowing dark blue orb, but something about it was unusual. The orb wasn¡¯t whole¡ªit looked like two half-spheres stuck together, slowly merging into one. One half was Esdeath. The other half was Fable. It was a beautiful sight, but ordinary people couldn¡¯t see it. Even Selene wouldn¡¯t be able to see this happening. A mystical energy surged through the air, and then the orb began to change. It expanded, slowly forming limbs, a head, and a body. It grewrger, shifting into the shape of a small girl. Half of her body was dark pink overflowing with obsession, while the other half was dark blue. As time passed, the small girl grew into a teenager, and armor formed over her body. The armor was deep blue, gleaming under the faint light. She floated in the air, looking like a true warrior. Most souls started as tiny orbs and had to go through several stages¡ªexpanding, forming limbs, then gradually taking a human shape. But Esdeath¡¯s soul had skipped three whole steps, transforming into a warrior form instantly. That was why the Warrior Spirit Essence Stone was so rare and valuable. But it came with a risk. "Strengthening my soul also means I''m strengthening Esdeath''s soul¡­ She will start affecting me even more," Esdeath thought, her expression serious. As expected, a powerful current of energy rushed toward her body. It wasn¡¯t painful, but it was an eerie sensation¡ªlike someone was trying to take control of her. Esdeath gritted her teeth and focused, refusing to give in. Her will remained strong, unshaken. After about an hour, she finally opened her eyes, feeling satisfied. ¡°No matter what, my soul and will are stronger than Esdeath¡¯s. There¡¯s only a slim chance she can take control of my body ,¡± she whispered to herself with a small smile. Looking outside, she realized it was already nighttime. Feeling tired, she picked up Selene and carried her to bed. Snuggling beside Selene, she closed her eyes, but sleep wouldn¡¯te. Her heart was racing with excitement. "Tomorrow is my first date with Lortell¡­ I wonder how it will go," she thought, her face turning red just from imagining it. Kailith’s First Kiss Lortell stepped into the restaurant, taking a deep breath and pushing all the earlier troubles out of her mind. She had finally left all those stressful encounters behind and was determined to enjoy this moment. The restaurant was one of the most luxurious caf¨¦s here. Lortell had booked the seats long ago, making sure everything was perfect for today. As she entered, her eyes immediatelynded on Esdeath, who was already sitting quietly at their table. Lortell smiled and walked over. "Sorry for beingte!" she said cheerfully as she took her seat across from Esdeath. The table between them was decorated with fine silverware, delicate candles, and a soft floral centerpiece. Esdeath, however, simply shook her head, as if to say it wasn¡¯t a big deal. But there was something about the way she was sitting¡­ Her arms were crossed, and she was subtly pushing her chest up, making her already impressive bust look evenrger. It was obvious that she was trying to intimidate Lortell with her figure. Lortell raised an eyebrow, suppressing a smirk. "Really?" Before she could say anything, a waiter arrived, carrying several top-ss dishes. The aroma of the delicious food filled the air as he carefully ced each te on the table. Everything looked perfect. Lortell rxed, ready to enjoy her date in peace. ¡ª------------ Meanwhile, back at the academy, a heated match was taking ce inside the volleyball court. Well, technically, the court could also be used for basketball, and today, it had been transformed into a battleground for an intense basketball match. This was the same court where second-year students usually bullied the weaker freshmen. Those with lower status were often forced to "pay respect" in the form of money or gifts to avoid trouble. They had even tried to extort Esdeath once¡­ but that had backfired horribly on them. Right now, though, none of that mattered. Because all eyes were on the basketball game. Two teams were going head-to-head. One team was wearing bright yellow jerseys with "LAKERS" written across the front in bold, capital letters. Their matching yellow shorts made them stand out even more. The opposing team wore red jerseys, with the word "SERUMS" printed in bold letters. The game was fierce, but one girl was outshining everyone else. A yer from the Lakers team. Jersey number 13. She had tanned skin, short brown hair, and a curvy figure with wide hips. Despite being busty, her body was also lean and muscr. Her leg muscles were toned yet soft, showing both strength and agility. Every movement she made was graceful, yet powerful. And somehow, despite all logic, her chest bounced wildly as she ran,pletely defying thews of physics. Despite being a match between girls, Dozens of male students stood on the sidelines, watching the match with wide eyes. But truthfully, most of them weren¡¯t here for the game itself. They were here to watch her. She was none other than Maruti. A grin stretched across her face, showing her sharp teeth as she dribbled the basketball effortlessly. She weaved through the enemy team like a pro, dodging their attempts to block her with ridiculous ease. Her movements were fast, smooth, and filled with confidence. "Hahaha¡­ Ain''t no way I''m gonna be defeated by a bunch of girls!" sheughed in her mind, her golden like brown eyes gleaming with excitement. Maruti felt like this was her court. There was no way she was going to lose. She charged forward, her grip tightening on the ball, but just as she was about to score, someone blocked her path. A tall girl with long silver hair and piercing silver eyes stood in front of her, staring at her with a focused expression. "Tch¡­ She always gets in my way," Maruti muttered under her breath. "If I can''t beat you in real life, I''ll beat you in this game!" She dashed forward at full speed. Kaelith moved to intercept her. Their eyes met, both filled with determination. Just before reaching her, Maruti suddenly stopped and stepped back, raising her hand as if to shoot. "It¡¯s a feint!" Kaelith realized, her eyes widening. She jumped, fully stretching her arms to block the ball¡ªonly for Maruti to smirk. Maruti didn¡¯t shoot. Instead, the moment Kaelith was in the air, Maruti dashed past her and jumped toward the basket, scoring with ease. The whistle blew. "Lakers team wins!" Cheers erupted from the sidelines. "Whoa!" "That was crazy!" "Lakers did it!" Maruti grinned, but instead of celebrating normally, she decided to show off. She grabbed onto the rim, intending to flip her body through the hoop andnd smoothly on the ground. She had done it plenty of times before in her previous life. It was easy as breathing. Her head passed through. Her chest squeezed through tightly. But it was smoother than any pillow, It got past easily. Then¡ª She got stuck. "Huh?" Maruti blinked. She tried wiggling, but her waist wouldn¡¯t budge. Realization hit her. She was no longer the lean guy she used to be¡ªnow she had a curvier body with wide hips. And those wide hips were exactly why she was stuck. Her jersey slid down slightly, revealing her tanned stomach and the lower part of her breasts. It wasn¡¯tpletely exposed, but the way it looked made everyone¡¯s imagination run wild. The court fell silent. The boys on the sidelines stared. Maruti¡¯s face turned red. "Umm¡­ Kaelith," she called out awkwardly. "I think I got stuck." Kaelith, who had been watching with her arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. Maruti wiggled, struggling to move. "Help your friend out, will you?" ------------- Lortell and Esdeath sat across from each other, enjoying their meal while stealing nces at one another. A warm,fortable silence lingered between them, broken only by the asional chuckle or soft exchange of words. Esdeath, usually confident, found herself growing nervous. She wanted to keep the conversation going, but she struggled to find the right words. Her mind raced, trying toe up with something clever or interesting to say. And then¡ªher fingers slipped. The spoon in her hand fell to the floor with a small clink. "I''ll get it," Lortell said with a smile, already moving before Esdeath could react. Lortell was tall, so if the spoon had fallen beside her, she wouldn¡¯t have even needed to stretch. But it hadnded closer to Esdeath, meaning she had to lean forward to reach it. As she bent down, Lortell¡¯s eyesnded on Esdeath¡¯s legs. Her breath hitched. Esdeath wasn¡¯t looking at her. Instead, she kept her gaze fixed straight ahead, pretending not to notice as she subtly lifted the corner of her skirt. A hint of ck panties peeked out, framed by the sheer fabric of her thigh-high stockings. The dark material hugged her legs perfectly, disappearing beneath her uniform skirt that rested against her soft skin. A deep blush spread across Esdeath¡¯s face. She was embarrassed, but she was also doing this on purpose. "Take the hint... Take the hint..." she repeated in her mind, hoping Lortell would understand what she was trying to do. Lortell''s lips curled into a smirk. She understood. Oh, she understood very well. But why give Esdeath what she wanted so easily?@@novelbin@@ Lortell loved watching her squirm. Instead of reacting right away, she picked up the spoon casually, dusted it off with a napkin, and then¡ªrather than sitting back in her seat¡ªshe slid into the space beside Esdeath. Esdeath¡¯s heart pounded. "Here," Lortell said with a teasing smile, handing back the spoon. Just as Esdeath reached for it, Lortell ced her free hand on Esdeath¡¯s thigh. Her fingers pressed in slightly, squeezing gently. The warmth of her touch burned through the thin fabric of Esdeath¡¯s stockings. Then, leaning in close, Lortell brought her lips near Esdeath¡¯s ear. "Eat slowly," she whispered, her breath hot against Esdeath¡¯s skin. "No need to rush. We still have a lot left to do... especially at night." A visible shiver ran through Esdeath¡¯s body. Her grip tightened around the spoon, her mind going nk for a moment. Lortell chuckled under her breath, enjoying every second of Esdeath¡¯s reaction. From her perspective, Tonight was going to be fun. -------------- Basketball Court Changing Room. Inside the changing room, the sound of running water from the nearby showers had faded, and the once-crowded space was now empty¡ªexcept for Maruti and Kaelith. Maruti had finally gotten unstuck from the basketball hoop, thanks to Kaelith¡¯s help. Even though they had yed on opposite teams, they were still friends. And right now, they were changing together in the same room. But Kaelith was not happy. "I''m telling you, stop being so careless about exposing your body!" she scolded, crossing her arms. "Do you have no shame? Do you even care that people look at you with dirty gazes?" Unlike in modern Earth, this world was more like medieval Europe. Women had fewer rights and were often treated as lesser than men. In most ces, same-sex rtionships were considered a taboo¡ªsomething people despised, sometimes even punished. Only awakened women, those with power and status, could refuse marriage. Normal girls were usually married off by the age of sixteen. Kaelith had grown up with these beliefs, and seeing how carefree Maruti was made her extremely ufortable. But Maruti didn¡¯t care in the slightest. "Who cares?" she said with a shrug. She grabbed the hem of her jersey and pulled it over her head. As she did, herrge breasts bounced freely, unrestrained now that the tight fabric was gone. Kaelith turned red with anger. "I care¡ª!" She whipped around to give Maruti another scolding, but the moment her eyesnded on Maruti¡¯s exposed body, her words caught in her throat. A deep blush spread across her cheeks. Her heart started pounding wildly. Without thinking, she spun back around, facing the lockers instead. "Hurry up and change already!" she snapped. Maruti blinked, then smirked as she put her hands on her hips. "Huh? Is your face red from looking at a girl¡¯s body?" she teased. "I-It¡¯s not!" Kaelith stammered, keeping her back turned. Maruti grinned mischievously. She jumped in front of Kaelith, spreading her arms wide. "Then open your damn eyes and look!" Kaelith gasped and immediately turned the other way, eyes shut tight. Her face felt like it was on fire. "Stop ying around and put something on already!" she shouted. Maruti chuckled. "Huh? I don¡¯t want to, though." She kept moving in front of Kaelith every time she tried to turn away, enjoying the rare opportunity to tease the strongest first-year student. Who else could make Kaelith Maranthia this flustered? No one. Maruti was the first to aplish it. And she was going to enjoy every second of it. Kaelith¡¯s patience finally ran out. She took a deep breath, turned back, and grabbed Maruti¡¯s wrist firmly. Her silver eyes were sharp and serious. "Stop provoking me," she said, her voice low. "If you keep acting like this, what if someone forces themselves on you? You don¡¯t know what people are thinking. How will you defend yourself then?" Maruti rolled her eyes. "Huh? Why so serious?" She waved a hand dismissively. "I¡¯ll just beat the shit out of them. Simple." Kaelith shook her head, tightening her grip. "You¡¯r beauty is top tier Maruti. But beauty alone won¡¯t protect you. When ites to overall strengthpare to world, even I am considered mid-tier and You can¡¯t even defeat me. What if I lose my patience andy my hands on you?" "Pfft¡­" Maruti burst intoughter. "You? Lay your hands on me?" She grinned, mocking. "You always say the funniest things that''s why I decided to continue being friends with you. I still haven¡¯t forgotten how you used a stupid ne to hypnotize me. Hahaha!" Kaelith¡¯s face turned red. Her grip on Maruti¡¯s wrist tightened, and the next thing Maruti knew¡ª SLAM! Her back hit the cold metal locker. "What the¡ª?!" Maruti gasped. Kaelith was close. Too close. Her face, usually so strong and untouchable, now looked¡­ vulnerable. Embarrassed. Even a little desperate. Maruti had never seen her like this before. "It¡¯s all your fault¡­" Kaelith whispered. And then¡ª She kissed her. Maruti froze. Kaelith¡¯s lips pressed tightly against hers, stealing her breath. Her warm, wet tongue pushed inside, intertwining with Maruti¡¯s. It was deep, intense¡ªalmost like she had been holding it in for years. Maruti was too shocked to react. Then Kaelith¡¯s free hand moved¡ªto her chest. She squeezed. Maruti¡¯s eyes widened. After what felt like an eternity, Kaelith finally pulled back. Her face was flushed, her breathing uneven. "I told you to stop provoking me," she said, her voice shaking. "I was already struggling to control myself. I didn¡¯t want to ruin our friendship¡­" Her silver eyes shimmered¡ªa single tear fell. "It¡¯s all your fault¡­ It¡¯s all your fault¡­" she whispered again. Then she kissed her again. Not just on the lips¡ªon her neck, her corbone¡­ She licked her upper chest, her hands grabbing Maruti¡¯s breasts, lifting her slightly off the ground as she kissed her even deeper. Kaelith hadpletely lost control. Meanwhile¡ª Maruti didn¡¯t move. Her eyes were wide, her body frozen in ce. Her mind was nk, except for one thought. "I¡¯m fucked." The Nightmare Begins The day had been nothing short of perfect. Esdeath and Lortell had eaten together, then spent hours shopping. Though Esdeath insisted she didn¡¯t need anything, Lortell wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer. She kept buying one thing after another¡ªjewelry, dresses, rare essories, even books Esdeath might like. The sheer amount of gifts was beyond extravagant; the total cost was enough to be a lifetime¡¯s savings for most people. After shopping, they wandered through the city, ying games at stalls, exploring hidden alleyways filled with unique shops, and visiting ces that held a certain charm. Lortell had thought this date would be challenging, that Esdeath might resist her advances, but to her surprise, everything felt¡­ natural. Smooth. Before they knew it, the sky had darkened into a warm evening glow, and they found themselves under a small bridge that crossed a quiet river. It was secluded, a ce where no one usually passed by. The soft ripples of water reflected the golden hues of the sunset, casting a peaceful atmosphere around them. Lortell moved closer, pressing Esdeath gently against the stone wall. One of her hands rested against the wall beside Esdeath''s head, while her forehead touched Esdeath¡¯s, closing the space between them. Esdeath¡¯s face turned red. She lowered her gaze, unable to meet Lortell¡¯s intense stare. Her heart pounded against her chest. ¡°Esdeath,¡± Lortell¡¯s voice was deep, soft, her warm breath tickling Esdeath¡¯s skin. ¡°You know¡­ there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been wanting to tell you.¡± Esdeath hesitated but finally looked into Lortell¡¯s red eyes, her own red ones shimmering with emotion. ¡°M-Me too¡­ I wanted to tell you something, too.¡± Lortell smirked slightly. ¡°Oh? Then you go first.¡± Esdeath swallowed hard. Her hands trembled slightly as she balled them into fists, gathering all her courage. She took a deep breath, her lips parting. ¡°I-I lo¡ª¡± BAM! A sudden force interrupted her. Something flew in and smacked Lortell right in the face. Lortell¡¯s expression turned dark, her brows twitching with annoyance. ¡°Who the¡ª¡± She was about to curse but paused when she saw a golden letter floating in the air. Her sharp eyes recognized it instantly. A Golden Flying Letter Essence Stone. Her heart sank. She reached out, catching the letter as it glowed faintly in her hands. With a tense expression, she unfolded it and scanned the contents. Her entire body froze. Her breath hitched, and her fingers tightened around the letter. Her red eyes, which moments ago held warmth and mischief, were now filled with shock and disbelief. The words in the letter burned into her mind. Her father, Arthur Mariette, was gravely ill. He was taking hisst breaths¡­ and he wanted to see her. One final time. For the first time in a long while, Lortell felt something heavy settle in her chest. A feeling she couldn¡¯t ignore. Lortell turned to Esdeath with an apologetic look. "Esdeath¡­ I''m really sorry, but something urgent hase up," she said, her voiceced with regret. ¡ª------------ They stood at the edge of the market, right where the path led back to the academy. The evening breeze was gentle, but the moment felt heavy.@@novelbin@@ Lortell leaned forward and ced a soft kiss on Esdeath¡¯s cheek before pulling back. "Please forgive me. I won¡¯t leave you alone next time, I promise. Just this once, let me go," she said, her voice gentle but firm. She had already apologized more times than Esdeath could count. Esdeath let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. "I understand. You don¡¯t need to apologize so much. Honestly, it doesn¡¯t suit you. You should¡¯ve just said, ¡®I¡¯m leaving,¡¯ and I would¡¯ve obeyed without a second thought," she said, smiling. Lortell smirked. "I see. Well, I¡¯m d you understand. We¡¯ll meet again soon," she said, waving her hand before turning to leave. Esdeath stood still, watching Lortell¡¯s figure grow smaller in the distance. Her red eyes dimmed slightly. ¡°I wanted to tell you¡­ I love you,¡± she whispered to herself, her voice barely reaching the wind. Both of them had wanted to confess that night. Both had gathered the courage. But a single letter had interfered. Lortell had two choices: rush her confession and then leave or meet her father first and confesster. She wanted her confession to be special, not something hurried in passing. Besides, Esdeath wasn¡¯t going anywhere. She could always confess next time. But what Lortell didn¡¯t know was¡­ She had just made the worst decision of her life. --------------- Esdeath arrived back at the academy just as the sun was beginning to set. The golden light spread across the sky, painting everything in warm, soft hues. The gentle evening breeze brushed against her skin, making her feel oddly calm. It was a beautiful, peaceful moment. But the second she stepped inside the academy, a strange sensation washed over her body. She froze for a brief moment, her red eyes narrowing slightly. "What¡­ is this feeling?" she wondered. It was unsettling, but she quickly shook her head. "It must be because my date got interrupted halfway," she muttered, trying to push the uneasy feeling aside as she continued walking. ¡ª------------ "Ugh¡­ I actually let my lust take over me. My mind has beenpletely corrupted," Kailith groaned, burying her face in her hands. A deep blush covered her cheeks as she fidgeted on the seat, her bare legs shifting ufortably. She was still half-naked, her body covered in light marks from everything she and Maruti had done¡­ multiple times. Now that her mind had cleared, guilt started creeping in. Maruti, who was calmly putting on her uniform, nced at her with an amused look. "Why the fuss? Weren¡¯t you the one who started all this?" she asked with a sigh. "I know, but¡ª but girls aren¡¯t supposed to do things like this! And with another girl at that! It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯spletely taboo!" Kailith said in frustration, gripping her own arms tightly. Maruti let out a small, bitterugh. "Does she really not know she has an interest in girls?" Maruti thought, It was first time watching Kailith''s flustered expression. It was actually kind of cute. She couldn''t help but chuckle softly. "Just hurry up and put on your clothes before someone walks in," Maruti said, leaning in slightly. Then, with a teasing smirk, she added, "And if this bothers you so much¡­ just call me whenever you feel horny." Her tone was yful, but the effect was immediate. Kailith shot up from her seat, her expression suddenly serious. "Does that mean¡­ we¡¯re in that kind of rtionship?" she asked hesitantly, looking away in embarrassment. Maruti blinked in surprise before shaking her head. "Nope. I don¡¯t like being in rtionships," she replied casually. Kailith frowned and crossed her arms, pouting slightly. "Then tell me¡­ how many times have you done this before?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of jealousy. Maruti tilted her head. "Huh? What?" "Don¡¯t y dumb," Kailith huffed, her silver eyes narrowing. "You¡¯re way too experienced at this." Hearing that, Maruti chuckled. How was she supposed to exin? In her previous life, she was a man¡­ and let¡¯s just say, she had plenty of experience. She let out a sigh. "Believe it or not, theoretically, I¡¯m a virgin. You¡¯re my first," she said with a half-smile. "Let¡¯s just say¡­ I¡¯m half-virgin now." Kailith¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "I was your first?" she asked,pletely caught off guard. Maruti waved her handzily as she walked toward the door. "Rule number three¡ªfriends don¡¯t lie, I practiced a lot at home and got pro at these kind of things," she said before stepping out. As she left, she couldn''t help but smirk to herself. "If I still had my thing, this would¡¯ve been way more fun. It felt weird in a girl¡¯s body¡­ but it was still pretty good. Guess I¡¯ll let it slide," she thought as she disappeared down the hall. Inside the room, Kailith sat still for a moment, rubbing her hands together as a slow, excited smile spread across her face. "That means¡­ I¡¯m her number one," she murmured to herself, her silver eyes shining. Then, she straightened up with sudden determination. "Ahem¡­ ahem¡­ now I just need to make sure I stay her number one for life," she dered to herself. As she put her clothes back on, another thought crossed her mind. "What did she mean by ¡®call me whenever you feel horny¡¯? Does she not know that as a pseudo-Constetion species, we have no such physical limits? If one wanted and had control over emotions, They could staypletely calm for their whole life¡­ or do it every single day for years without stopping." Her face turned even redder at the realization. "She really has no idea what she just got herself into," ------------------ The back side of the academy, near the outskirts of the giant Colossal Forest, was usually a ce of rxation for many lower and middle-ranked mercenaries, along with the academy''s high-ranking teachers. Among them were two Rank A Awakened. One was an older man in his fifties, with slight wrinkles, a small beard, and a cool mustache. He sat calmly, sipping tea. Beside him was a woman in her early thirties, in the prime of her youth. She had striking purple hair, thick eyshes, and wore a gown-like dress with revealing cuts that drew attention. Her bold red lipstick and makeup gave her an alluring charm. "Hahaha¡­ Another peaceful day! No monster waves, no students getting abducted. That means tomorrow, I can finally rx and go on a date with some young men," the woman, Ms. Felicia,ughed cheerfully. The old man let out a satisfied sigh. "You¡¯re right, Ms. Felicia. I can finally visit my grandchildren again," he said, closing his eyes and taking in the taste of his tea. Just as he was about to take another sip, he noticed his cup was empty. He turned toward a Rank C Awakened, an assistant teacher who was currently acting as a waiter. The assistant quickly grabbed a fresh tea box and rushed forward. "Here¡ª" Swish! The sound was sharp, cutting through the air like a whisper of death. Fast¡­ fast¡­ Too fast! The assistant never got the chance to finish his sentence. An arrow filled with dense mana zipped through the air at terrifying speed. Before anyone could react, his head was gone¡ªbeheaded in an instant. The entire group froze. Their eyes widened in shock. "What just happened?!" The two Rank A Awakened immediately stood up, and the others rushed forward in rm. One of the awakened members quickly took to the air, trying to spot the direction from which the attack hade. But the moment heid eyes on it, his face wentpletely pale. Cold sweat covered his entire body, and a shiver ran down his spine. His breath hitched, his limbs trembled, and for a moment, he felt as if he might lose control of his dder. What he saw was something straight out of a nightmare. A massive wave of monsters was emerging from the forest¡ªan army so vast it stretched nearly beyond sight. Goblins, Orcs, Skeletons, and even humanoid creatures filled thend like anrge river. But that wasn¡¯t the worst part. Among them were terrifying Rank A-level monsters: ¡ªScorching Lava Snake slithered forward, its body made of molten rock, oozing with liquid fire with bull like face and horns instead of snake head. ¡ªSpider Queen Madam Eight Legs, a grotesque creature with an eerily human-like face, scuttled alongside them, her many eyes gleaming with hunger. Even Rank B-level monsters were present: ¡ªThe Eight-Horned Raging Bull, a creature with muscles like steel, stomped the ground, its breath thick with steam. ¡ªThe Lightning Charm Wolf, its fur crackling with blue electricity, growled lowly, its piercing eyes scanning for prey. But even more horrifying were the figures mixed within the army. Real demons. Some had human-like bodies with ominous horns protruding from their heads, while others had grey, monstrous forms, their eyes glowing with pure malice. But that was only half of the terror. The man turned his gaze to the sky¡ªonly for his breath to hitch. There, soaring high above, were creatures that should never have been enemies of humans. A Divine me Phoenix¡­ and Red Dragons. His mind spiraled into chaos. "Why¡­? Why are red dragons here?!" he muttered in horror. The dragons had long established treaties with humans¡ªagreements of peace that hadsted for generations. Then why¡­? Why did it feel like every species had suddenly joined forces to wipe out humanity? His thoughts crumbled. His reason copsed. The overwhelming terror consumed him entirely. "This is the end¡­! Hahaha¡­ HAHAHAHAHAHA!" His mind snapped. His body trembled violently as he let out a crazed, hopelessugh. And then¡ª FWOOOSH! The Divine me Phoenix pped its massive wings once. A wave of fire erupted, roaring across the vast distance like a tidal wave of destruction. The heat alone was enough to turn steel into liquid. Before the man could even react, the mes engulfed him entirely. His body didn¡¯t burn. It melted. It''s as if His existence was erased in an instant. He was beyond dead. Let’s Not Meet Again! Beep!¡­ Beep!¡­ Beep!¡­ Loud sirens suddenly echoed across the entire academy. The sharp, shrill sound pierced the air, making everyone''s hearts pound with unease. It wasn''t just the academy¡ªthis rm rang across the vast city, warning everyone of an iing catastrophe. Students who had been resting in their dorm rooms rushed out in panic. Some looked confused, others were already gripping their weapons, their instincts screaming that something was terribly wrong. Then, a powerful voice boomed across the academy through the magical announcement system. "All students, listen carefully! This is Vice Principal Lilith Maranthia. A massive tide of monsters is heading this way. An S rank Level Formation has appeared, Covering arge portion ofnd, We can''t ran away, Ourmunication systems are down, which means there is definitely a traitor among us. Right now, we have no choice but to fight until we can restoremunication and call for reinforcements!" The message ended, leaving an eerie silence for just a moment¡ªbefore chaos erupted. Many students gasped in shock. Others clenched their fists, adrenaline surging through their veins. "Hahaha! This is my chance!" one boy shouted excitedly, his eyes burning with ambition. "I''ll kill these puny monsters and be a hero!" Meanwhile, some students rushed to the rooftop, eager to see what they were up against. The moment they saw it, their bodies froze. A massive, endless wave of monsters stretched across the horizon. The ground trembled beneath their feet as thousands of creatures moved forward like an unstoppable tsunami. Goblins, orcs, skeletons, humanoid beasts¡ªcreatures from nightmares, all surging toward the academy. Some students gasped in horror. "I¡­ I won''t survive this¡­" one student muttered, his legs trembling. His breathing grew rapid, panic creeping into his voice. "I need to run! If I stay here, I''ll die!" He wasn''t alone. Many students shared the same thought. Their survival instincts screamed at them to flee. -------- Ethan Rothyer stood among the students, his expression dark and serious. He clenched his fists. "I had a feeling something was off yesterday. It was too quiet. But something this big¡­ it was bound to happen sooner orter." His gaze turned sharp. He knew what he had to do. Reaching to his side, he grabbed his sword and tightened his grip around the hilt. "Last time, I ran away¡­ and people died,Who could be saved!", He exhaled, steadying himself. "But this time¡­ I won''t run. I''ll fight. I''ll save even more people", ------ Meanwhile, inside a quiet dorm room, Esdeath Crimson stood before her daughter,Selene. Her deep red eyes were calm, yet serious. "Stay in the room," Esdeath ordered, her voice steady. "Don''t leave until Ie back. Okay?" Selene silently nodded, her expression unreadable. Esdeath turned toward the door. She wasn''t the fable but real Esdeath. This was her first time stepping into battle, her first time fighting in a real war. But even as she stepped forward, her heart did not waver. ------------- It didn''t take long before many students lost their courage. Fear gripped their hearts, and dozens of them decided to run for their lives. Without looking back, they sprinted towards the academy gates, pushing and shoving in desperation. For a moment, relief filled their faces as they made it past the gates. But just a few minutes into their escape, something invisible struck them like a solid wall. BAM! Students tumbled backward, some falling onto the ground, others rubbing their foreheads in shock. "What was that?" one boy gasped, blinking in confusion. Then the realization hit. "The vice principal wasn''t lying¡­ There really is a barrier!" Another student eximed in horror. A girl with long red hair dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Sob¡­ sob¡­ So we really can''t escape? We have no choice but to fight?" Her voice trembled as she clenched her fists. "I don''t want to fight! This must be a dream¡ªno, a nightmare!" another student cried out, hugging themselves as panic spread. But in the midst of their despair, a sudden burst ofughter echoed through the air. "Haha! I''m saved! I actually made it through!" A few students turned to see a boy standing on the other side of the barrier, cheering in excitement. Another girl, her face full of happiness, jumped up and down. "I got past too! I can escape!" The ones trapped inside stared with wide eyes, their mouths slightly open in shock. "How?! How did they get out while we''re stuck here?" one boy asked, his voice filled with disbelief. That was when another voice spoke up. A tall, thin boy with orange hair and sses calmly adjusted his frames. His expression remained cool and collected as he observed the scene. It was Valen Vandris. "It seems," Valen said, his voice smooth and confident, "this formation is only restricting those with a certain level of power. In other words, it treats the weaker ones as useless and lets them go." A silence fell over the students as the weight of his words sank in. "You!" One boy, his face red with anger, pointed at Valen. "Why are you acting so smug? You''re standing outside the barrier too! That means you''re just as weak as them!" Valen chuckled,pletely unfazed. "So what?" He shrugged. "Sometimes, the weakest survive the longest. Unlike you, I don''t n on dying today." With a carefree wave, he turned around and took off at full speed, disappearing into the distance. Meanwhile, beyond the academy, a few monsters were still lurking, their glowing eyes fixed on the city instead of the school. Their numbers were smaller, but the danger was still very real. But valen clearly had greater advantage of surviving outside of formation. "Don''t worrydy boss, I''ll bring reinforcement with me!",He thought as he ran. ------------------ A few minutes had passed, and the academy was already in chaos. Explosions, shes of lightning, and deadly attacks echoed from every direction. The ground trembled from time to time, and the horrifying screams of humans mixed with the roars of monsters, sending waves of fear through the air. Many students were so terrified that they fainted just from hearing those dreadful sounds. Even though most of the monsters and demons were fighting against the academy forces outside, some had managed to sneak inside. One such intruder was a low-rank demon. He had gray skin, a narrow ck horn, and bloodshot red eyes. Right now, he was fighting against two female students. Even though he was only a low-rank demon, for those girls, he might as well have been the Demon King himself. They exchanged a few moves, trying their best to hold their ground, but soon, exhaustion overtook them. They copsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. The demon showed no mercy. With a swift swing of his sword, he beheaded them both in an instant. "Tch. Damn humans," he muttered in disgust. "After everything we did for you, you ridiculed us. And now, you think we''ll just stay silent while you steal what''s rightfully ours? You all deserve to die!" But then, his sharp senses picked up something. He turned his head towards a nearby pir. "Who''s there?" he demanded. He was right¡ªsomeone was hiding behind it. It was none other than Esdeath Crimson. Her expression was grim as she clutched her head, trying to figure out a way out of this situation. "Urgh...shit, What shitty situation i rank into?", "I''ve never learned any magic," she thought anxiously. "I only have fragments of memories of what my other personality did these past few weeks!" She had weapons, but she didn''t know how to use the storage-type essence stone. And even if she took something out, she wasn''t sure how to wield it properly. The only weapon she somewhat understood was her ZK-20, but she wasn''t like Fable, who could turn it into guns or snipers. Her knowledge was too limited. "There''s no point in hiding," the demon sneered. "Come out and ept your death!" Esdeath took a deep breath, calming herself. "I guess you got me," she said, still behind the pir. "But what exactly are you trying to prove by killing me?" The demon frowned. "What do you mean?" "I heard you earlier," Esdeath continued, her voice steady. "You''re attacking because humans took your resources, and now you want revenge, right? But I assure you, I don''t have anything valuable. Killing me is just a waste of your time." The demon scoffed, crossing his arms. "Hmph¡­ It''s not just about resources. You humans killed our innocent people¡ªeven children to take away our resources and Now, I''ll take revenge by killing all of you!"@@novelbin@@ At that moment, a slow, wicked smirk spread across Esdeath''s face. "Huh? Then aren''t you doing the exact same thing by killing an innocent person like me?" she asked, her voice dripping with mockery. "What''s the difference between you and the humans you hate?" The demon''s breath hitched. For the first time, doubt flickered in the demon''s eyes. Esdeath''s words struck something deep within him, making him question his own sense of justice. But he quickly shook off the hesitation and tightened his grip on his sword. "Enough chit-chat¡ª" he began, raising his weapon. Before he could finish, Esdeath interrupted with a soft, almost yful voice. "Besides, we''re on the same side." The demon narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Same side?" Esdeath slowly stepped out from behind the pir, finally revealing herself. Her skin was ghostly pale, almost like a fairy from a dark tale, and her deep red eyes glowed with an eerie light. The demon instinctively lowered his guard. He understood now. "What is a vampire doing here in the academy?" he asked, still holding his sword but without the same hostility. Esdeath was so close to looking like a vampire that even Lortell had been fooled. Forget about this low-rank demon¡ªit was easy to trick him. Adding to the illusion, she was still wearing the same outfit from her date with Lortell. It was elegant and far from the standard academy uniform, making it easy for the demon to assume she wasn''t a student. On the outside, Esdeath''s expression remained calm andposed. But inside, she was brimming with excitement. "Thank goodness he took the bait!" she thought to herself. She looked at the demon with a serious face, her voice carrying a hint of pride. "I''m Esdeath Bloodborne, a low-rank vampire. I saw themotion and figured it would be a good opportunity to suck some human blood and get stronger." The demon let out a small sigh of relief. "I see. Alright then, just don''t get in my way." Esdeath took a step closer to him, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. "There are some students over there," she said, pointing towards a direction. "They''re too strong for me, but I think you can handle them." The demon smirked, satisfied with her words. "Hmph, leave it to me." He turned and started walking towards the area she had pointed to. "Alright then, let''s not meet again¡ª" *Srrrrrr...* A chilling sound echoed in the air. The demon''s eyes widened in shock. A long, thin sword had pierced cleanly through his back, stabbing straight through his chest. It was over a meter long, yet barely three centimeters thick¡ªa deadly weapon meant for swift and precise kills. He coughed violently, blood dripping from his mouth. Slowly, he turned his head, struggling to look behind him. There stood Esdeath, holding the sword with a wide, wicked grin. "Yeah, let''s not meet again," she whispered, her voice dripping with amusement. Who Are You? Another announcement echoed through the battlefield. "All students, form groups and fight together! This will increase your chances of survival. And make sure to have a healer with you!" Lilith¡¯s voice rang out, firm andmanding. Of course, many students had already teamed up even before Lilith made the announcement. It wasmon sense¡ªfighting alone in arge-scale battle was too risky. Among the many groups, a handsome blonde-haired boy stood confidently, dressed in shining armor. He smirked as he addressed the four girls standing behind him. "Don¡¯t worry,dies! I¡¯ll show these low-rank goblins their ce!" he boasted, puffing out his chest. The girls giggled and cheered for him as he unsheathed his sword with a dramatic flourish. They were positioned a little behind the academy, where tall trees and patches of grass covered the area. Many students had chosen to fight outside rather than hiding within the academy walls. The blonde boy''s confidence soared. After all, goblins were weak and cowardly creatures. What was there to fear? "Come at me, you punks!" he taunted, waving his sword. But what he failed to realize was that goblins were not just weak¡ªthey were also cunning and filthy. Instead of charging straight at him, the goblins changed their strategy. From the trees, small, wed hands began throwing rocks, hurling them toward the four girls behind him. At the same time, dozens of goblins rushed toward him from the front. "Ahh!" one of the girls screamed as a rock hit her shoulder. "An ambush!" another cried out in panic. The blonde boy turned back in rm, just as another group of goblins emerged from the bushes and attacked the girls from behind. "Damn it!" he growled, about to step in¡ª But in that moment, a goblin threw a handful of dirt straight into his eyes. His vision blurred. Pain and irritation burned through his eyes as he stumbled backward. "You filthy creatures!" he roared. "Do you have no honor? No pride?" Honor? Pride? Such things didn¡¯t exist for monsters. The only thing that mattered to them was survival and victory. Blindly, he swung his sword in all directions, but the goblins were faster. They swarmed him like a pack of starving wolves, their sharp ws grabbing at his armor. "Get off me!" he screamed, trying to shake them off. But there were too many. With a sickening rip, they tore through the straps of his armor, exposing his flesh. He fell to the ground. And the moment his back hit the dirt¡ª It was over. "AARRRGHHHHH!" His screams filled the air as the goblins wed at his body. One of them bit into his neck, tearing through his flesh. Another stabbed its dagger into his stomach, twisting it cruelly. His intestines spilled out as warm blood soaked the ground beneath him. He iled, but it was useless. His body jerked, then stiffened as his life slipped away. The girls met the same fate. They shrieked and pleaded for mercy, but the goblins showed none. Their bodies were torn apart, their flesh devoured. By the time the goblins finished, there were no clear corpses left. Only shredded pieces of flesh and scattered bones remained. And the battlefield moved on, as if they had never existed. ------------- The night was deep, and under the pale glow of the crescent moon, arge team charged forward with determination. This group was made up of second-year students, a few teachers, and leading them was Rank B teacher, Astral. Anyone who reached B Rank had both power and experience, and under his guidance, the team had already taken down hordes of orcs and skeletons. "Charge! Charge! Charge!" Astral''s voice rang across the battlefield. "Go from the left! Healers, cast enhancement spells! Archers, fire at the skeletons and support the front lines! Swordsmen, follow me!" The battle raged on for what felt like hours. Their swords shed, spells flew through the air, and bodies of monsters piled up. But even for skilled warriors, exhaustion was inevitable. Astral could feel his mana reserves running low. His breaths became heavy, and his movements slower. The rest of the team was in the same condition¡ªthey had fought too long without rest. They had to retreat before it was toote. But just as they were about to fall back¡ª A huge shadow loomed over them. Astral turned to look, and for the first time in a long while, his eyes widened in fear. Standing before them was a fifteen-meter-tall spider, its monstrous legs clicking against the ground. But this was no ordinary beast. Its upper body was that of a woman, with eerie multiple eyes blinking at them, filled with hunger and amusement. It was a Rank A Monster¡ª Madam Eight Legs. Astral¡¯s heart sank. "An A Rank¡­?" His voice trembled. A Rank B like him had no chance against a Rank A¡ªespecially in his exhausted state. Even running away wasn¡¯t an option. If he were at full power, maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªhe could escape. But now? There was only one thing he could do. He took a deep breath, turned to his team, and forced a smile. "Everyone, listen!" he shouted. "You all run away while I distract this damn thing! Split up and run in different directions¡ªat least half of you will survive that way!" His voice was steady, but deep down, he knew this was the end. The students and teachers trembled in fear. They wanted to help. They wanted to fight by his side. But against an A Rank monster? They would be nothing more than fodder. With tears in their eyes, they nodded and ran, their hearts heavy with guilt. "We will never forget your bravery, Teacher Astral!" "You¡¯ll always be in our hearts!" "You were a truerade!" Hearing their words, Astral smiled. He unsheathed his sword, gripping it tightly, and turned to face Madam Eight Legs. The monstrous spider raised one of her massive legs, ready to crush him. Astral braced himself. Then¡ª Boom! A massive lightning bolt shot down from the sky, striking Madam Eight Legs'' head. The force of the impact sent her staggering back by dozens of steps, shrieking in pain. Astral blinked in shock. That power¡ª! A figure floated down from the sky. An old man with slight wrinkles, a cool mustache, and an aura of authority. Astral''s eyes lit up in recognition. "Professor Voltez!" he gasped. A Rank A Mage¡ª One of the guardian patroling the forest. As Astral stood frozen in shock, another figure appeared in the sky. A young woman, floating gracefully, her long purple hair flowing behind her like silk in the wind. She was in the prime of her youth, and her presence alone was enough to captivate anyone who saw her. Then, in a voice both elegant and powerful, she called out¡ª "Starlight st!" Her words echoed across the battlefield, carrying a strange beauty despite the chaos around them. With a simple wave of her hands, the sky lit up with countless twinkling lights¡ª Like starsing to life. And then¡ª Boom! Bam! Bam! One after another, the sparkling starlights rained down upon the battlefield. Explosions erupted everywhere, sending shockwaves through the ground. Hundreds of monsters were instantly sted away, their bodies torn apart by the overwhelming force. Even Madam Eight Legs, the terrifying Rank A monster, let out a piercing shriek as the explosions engulfed her. The sheer power of the attack was enough to shake the earth, causing the ground beneath them to crack and crumble. Astral, despite the chaos, felt nothing but relief. A bright smile appeared on his tired face. "Ms. Felicia too¡­?" he muttered in disbelief. Felicia¡ªanother Rank A awakened. With both Voltez and Felicia here, he was saved. Voltez turned to him, his voice strong andmanding. "Go retreat. We¡¯ll take care of the rest." Astral hesitated for a moment, but he knew the truth. Compared to Rank A awakeneds, he was nowhere near strong enough. Letting out a deep sigh, he nodded. "I really can¡¯tpare to the power of Rank A," he said softly before turning away and retreating without another word. --- Meanwhile, inside the principal¡¯s office¡ª Lilith and ra had both risen from their seats. Their faces were serious, their gazes sharp. A mix of calm determination and quiet fury burned in their eyes. "It seems¡­" ra¡¯s deep voice broke the silence. "It¡¯s time to join the battle." Lilith let out a slow breath before gripping the hilt of her saber-like sword. The de was taller than half of her small body, yet she held it effortlessly. "You¡¯re right," she said, her voice carrying a cold edge. "I¡¯ll take care of the traitors who dared to break the treaty between humans and dragons." ra smirked slightly, cracking his knuckles.@@novelbin@@ "Then I¡¯ll handle the high-rank demons causing havoc." The two locked eyes for a moment before nodding to each other. Then, without another word¡ª They left the room, stepping into the battlefield that awaited them. -------------------- "Yeah, let''s not meet again," Esdeath whispered, her voice full of amusement. The demon gritted his teeth in rage. "You traitor!" he spat. With trembling hands, he struggled to cast a spell. Esdeath noticed it immediately, but she didn¡¯t know how to stop him from using magic. So, she did the simplest thing¡ªshe charged straight at him. Letting go of her ZK-20 gun, she turned it back into a bracelet, which wrapped around her right wrist. Then, without hesitation¡ª BAM! She punched him square in the face. A powerful shockwave exploded from the impact,pletely blowing his head apart. Blood sttered everywhere¡ªon her face, on the floor, and staining her white turtleneck in deep red. She looked down at her fist, eyes wide in surprise. "Was I always this strong?" she wondered. She had no idea. Thanks to Fable, she had absorbed so many strength-enhancing essence stones over time that her physical power had grown without her realizing it. And now, it was enough topletely destroy a low-rank demon with a single hit. The demon''s lifeless body copsed onto the ground, blood still pouring from the headless neck. Esdeath stared at the corpse. "I killed someone." But she felt nothing. No guilt, no fear. "Is it because he was a demon?" she asked herself, cing a hand on her chest. Then, unexpectedly, a grin spread across her face. "It actually felt kind of good. Should I kill another one?" The thought lingered for a moment before she shook her head. "Ugh... what am I thinking?" She quickly cleared her mind. Lortell had told her not to do chores, Training or anything like that, Just stay by her side, For all eternity. "She¡¯ll always be by my side," Esdeath reminded herself. "I can¡¯t ignore my goddess¡¯s words. Her words are absolute." She had only fought because she had no other choice. If there was ever a chance to avoid fighting, she would follow what Lortell had said ten years ago. Just as she settled her thoughts, a loud voice echoed down the hallway. "Fableeeee!" There was only one person who could be that loud. Maruti. The girl came running toward Esdeath, panting hard. "What are you doing here?! Why did you leave Selene alone in the room like that?" she demanded. "Selene? Alone in the room?" Esdeath froze. Her daughter¡ªSelene, with her half-ck, half-white hair. "How does Maruti know about her?" Esdeath wondered, feeling a chill down her spine. It was supposed to be a secret. Only she and Lortell knew. "Maybe¡­ she was close to my previous personality?" Esdeath didn¡¯t have an answer, but for now, she decided to y along. "Yeah! I was just checking the area before taking her out. Let¡¯s go get her!" She quickly turned back toward her dorm room. As they walked, Maruti spoke up again. "You once said you know the best hiding ce, right? Now¡¯s the perfect time to go there and survive!" Esdeath nodded without thinking. "Yeah, I¡¯ll tell you once we get Selene!" she replied, walking even faster. But then¡ª Maruti stopped. Esdeath noticed immediately. "Why did you stop?" she asked, turning around. Maruti¡¯s face had changed. Gone was the usual cheerful and carefree expression. Now, she looked serious¡ªtoo serious. Esdeath felt a strange sense of danger creeping in. "You know what?" Maruti said, her voice low and cold. "You never told me about a hiding ce. So how did you just agree to my words so easily?" Her eyes locked onto Esdeath¡¯s. "Who are you?" Divine Rank–Freedom "Who are you?" Maruti asked, her voice serious and sharp. Esdeath lowered her head slightly, then let out a scoff. "I guess there¡¯s no point in hiding anymore¡­ I¡¯m Esdeath Crimson¡ª" Before she could even finish her sentence¡ª "Switch back!" Maruti¡¯s loud voice rang out, cutting her off. "What?" Esdeath blinked, confused. But before she could react, Maruti ran toward her and grabbed her arms, shaking her wildly. "I said switch back! Switch back! Switch back!" Maruti yelled, her tone filled with irritation and urgency. "You little fool! Do you even understand what¡¯s happening right now? This isn¡¯t something you can handle! Switch back to Fable!" Esdeath gritted her teeth. She yanked her arms free from Maruti¡¯s grip. "Stop it!" she shouted, her frustration spilling over. "But why?" Maruti yelled back, eyes burning with disbelief. "It¡¯s my body!" Esdeath snapped. "It¡¯s up to me whether I want to switch or not! Besides¡­ I don¡¯t even know how to switch back!" Maruti¡¯s eyes narrowed like a cat sensing danger. "Huh? You don¡¯t know?" she muttered. That was bad. That was really, really bad. Maruti felt like she had fallen into a nightmare. She wasn¡¯t the type toe up with ns, and now she had to protect this Esdeath because if she died, then Fable would probably die too. And how long would it take for Fable to return? She had no idea. "What a shitty situation!" Maruti groaned, rubbing her temples. But then¡ª A deafening roar shook the sky. Maruti and Esdeath''s heads snapped upward looking outside fromrge window in second floor corridors. A Divine me Phoenix soared above the academy, its massive wings pping with power. Its golden-red feathers glowed like molten fire, illuminating the night like a second sun. Then, it opened its beak¡ª And a huge orange beam sted from its mouth. The beam streaked across the sky¡ª Ssh! Ssh! Ssh! Everything it touched melted instantly. The academy, one of the strongest magic institutions in the world, was cut in half. The middle section simply vanished, reduced to molten liquid. Anyone standing in its path didn¡¯t even have time to scream. They melted on the spot. Their bodies turned into liquid, then evaporated into nothing. The ground where the beamnded was now a glowing pool ofva, and anything nearby erupted into mes. Students who had been close to the st stumbled away, mes clinging to their clothes, their skin. "Aaaahhhh! HELP! Water magic isn¡¯t working!" "It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!" Panicked screams filled the air. Some students, desperate to escape, ran toward the academy doors¡ª But in just seconds, their burning bodies copsed into piles of ash. Not even their bones remained. And the worst part?@@novelbin@@ The beam had struck just a few steps behind where Maruti and Esdeath had been arguing. Maruti swallowed hard. If they had moved just a little slower¡­ They would have been gone. She took a deep breath, forcing down the panic wing at her chest. There was no time to think about Fable anymore. She turned to Esdeath, grabbing her hand in a tight grip. "Fuck Fable for now! Take Selene and run! Now!" She yanked Esdeath forward, sprinting toward the dorm room where Selene was. If they didn¡¯t move fast, they¡¯d be next. Outside the academy, two massive red dragons were wreaking havoc. They showed no mercy, tearing through both humans and monsters alike, their enormous ws ripping apart everything in their way. Each dragon was over fifty meters tall, their colossal bodies casting terrifying shadows over the battlefield. From their mouths, scorching breath poured out like liquid fire, melting everything it touched¡ªthe ground, the buildings, the people. Nothing could withstand their destructive mes. Above them, the Divine me Phoenix let out another deafening roar. It pped its mighty wings, ready to unleash a second beam of destruction. But just as the phoenix was about to attack¡ª A blur of movement shed through the sky. It was fast. So fast. Faster than the wind. Faster than lightning. Before the phoenix, or even the red dragons, could react¡ª A sharp sound echoed through the air. Tck! The next moment¡ª The phoenix¡¯s head was gone. Its massive body plummeted to the ground, lifeless. As soon as itnded, an explosion of fire erupted from its corpse, lighting up the entire battlefield. The two red dragons instantly turned their attention to the cause of this sudden death. And the moment their eyesnded on the figure before them¡ª They froze. Their dragon faces twisted into something close to fear. Then, without hesitation, they pped their enormous wings and moved back, putting distance between themselves and the one who had just appeared. It was as if a towering mountain had suddenly descended upon them. Because standing before them¡ª Was a dragon over a hundred meters tall. More than twice their size. Its silver scales gleamed under the moonlight, each one shining like polished steel. Its sharp fangs looked strong enough to crush anything in a single bite. And its ws¡­ They were long, curved, and deadly. Just one swipe could tear apart anything in its path. One of the red dragons finally spoke, its deep voice filled with unease. "Lilith Maranthia¡­" At that moment, blue lightning crackled across the silver dragon¡¯s body. And then¡ª The enormous creature began to shrink. Its body rapidly transformed, shrinking down into a much smaller figure. Within seconds, the towering dragon had turned into a young girl. She was petite, almost doll-like, with long dragon horns curling from her head. Her silver hair flowed down her back, and her eyes burned with fury. Despite her small size, she radiated an overwhelming presence¡ªlike a deity who had descended upon the battlefield. Lilith Maranthia gritted her teeth and pointed her sword directly at the red dragons. "You traitors!" she shouted, her voice shaking with anger. "You broke the treaty between dragons and humans! That treaty hassted for two hundred years! From this moment on, all dragons will be your enemies!" But the red dragons'' reaction was not what Lilith expected. Instead of backing down¡ª A red glow surged through one of them. The dragon in front began to change. Its massive form shrank down, shifting into a human shape. And when the transformation wasplete¡ª A tall woman stood in its ce. Her skin was dark, almost bronze, and her long red hair cascaded down her back like flowing fire. She had a fierce, sharp gaze and a powerful aura. She was also incredibly well-built¡ªher chest heavy, her frame muscr yet feminine. She looked like some kind of battle-hardened warrior, a force of nature in human form. But more than anything¡ª She looked furious. "You," she growled, her voice deep and filled with rage. "You, who are nothing but a ve to humans¡­ What right do you have to use us of breaking thew?" Lilith¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "What?" she muttered. The woman¡¯s fiery gaze locked onto her, filled with hatred. "You kidnapped my newborn son!" she roared. "The prince of the red dragons! I can sense that he is here!" Her fury burned hotter than dragon fire. "By doing this, you and your pathetic humans were the first to break thew! And now¡ª" Her eyes narrowed, her voice shaking with wrath. "You are all enemies of the dragon race." Lilith¡¯s heart pounded. This was bad. Very bad. The dragon race was small in number, and they rarely sought out conflict. They avoided war unless absolutely necessary. But by stealing a newborn prince¡­ The humans hadmitted an unforgivable crime. This wasn¡¯t just a provocation. It was a deration of war. "Wait, Vaelthara!" Lilith shouted, her voice desperate. "We didn¡¯t do anything! This must be some kind of misunderstanding!" But Vaelthara¡ªthe red dragon queen¡ªonly red at her. Her body shimmered¡ª And in an instant, she shifted back into her dragon form. Her enormous wings spread wide, her ws digging into the ground. She raised her head high, preparing to unleash a devastating attack. "There is nothing to discuss!" Her voice thundered across the battlefield. "We will talk¡ª" Her mouth opened, mes flickering in her throat. "After your death!" -------------- "Ahh... Where are we even going? And what the hell is happening?!" Selene shouted, her voice shaky as she clung tightly to Esdeath. Her whole body was bouncing up and down as Esdeath sprinted at an incredible speed, carrying Selene on her shoulders like she weighed nothing. The world around them was a blur, and Selene''s stomach felt like it was flipping over itself. Meanwhile, Maruti ran ahead, leading the way. The entire area was in chaos¡ªmonsters howling, trees copsing, and the ground trembling under the weight of the destruction. But the three of them kept moving, dodging debris and cutting down anything that got in their way. Selene, still confused and terrified, tried to get answers. "Hey! Can someone at least tell me what¡¯s going on?! Why are we running?!" "Shut up, question kid! First, we need to get the hell out of here!" Maruti snapped, not even looking back. Despite her words, she made sure to punch or kick away any monster that got too close. Some of them were cut in half, while others were sent flying like ragdolls. Esdeath also fought when needed, but she couldn¡¯t help but notice something. "She''s insanely strong for a first-year..." Esdeath muttered under her breath. She was fast, butpared to Maruti, she felt like a snail. As they kept running, Esdeath finally asked the question that had been bothering her. "How the hell are we getting past the barrier?" Maruti grinned, her confidence radiating. "Simple. The barrier only blocks beings above a certain power level, meaning it scans mana to check who gets stopped." Esdeath narrowed her eyes. "And?" "And..." Maruti smirked. "At the veryst moment, I''ll drain my mana to zero using a Rank B essence stone. That way, my mana will be too low to register as a threat, and the barrier will let me pass. Since I''m holding onto you, you¡¯lle through with me!" She grabbed Esdeath''s hand tightly, her grip warm and firm. "Alright, full speed ahead!" The barrier was now just a step away. Maruti grinned and activated her ability. "Rank B Fire Body¡ª!" But before she could evenplete the spell, her body had already passed through the barrier effortlessly. Esdeath and Selene, however, mmed into it like they had hit an invisible wall. BANG! Both of them were sent flying backward,nding hard on the ground. For a moment, there was silence. Then, as if their brains had just caught up with reality, Esdeath and Selene exchanged looks of pure disbelief. "What the hell just happened?!" Maruti shouted, just as confused as them. She took a step back inside the barrier. Then she stepped outside. Then back inside again. She kept repeating the motion, stepping in and out with a look of amusement on her face. It looked ridiculous¡ªalmost like aedy skit. Esdeath, on the other hand, stood up and ced her hand on the barrier. Unlike Maruti, who could only sense it, Esdeath could *see* it clearly. A transparent green wall shimmered before her, with tiny electric currents running through it. The moment she touched it, a strong force repelled her hand, pushing her back. She nced at Maruti again, who was still stepping in and out like she was testing a new toy. "There¡¯s no way she¡¯s weak¡­ So why isn¡¯t the barrier stopping her?" Esdeath thought to herself. Her eyes widened slightly as she came to a realization. There was only one answer. One word formed in her mind. "Divine Rank Essence Stone¡ª''Freedom''." Succubus and Ex-Fiancé Lortell ran through the long, elegant corridors of the grand pce. Her heels clicked against the polished marble floors, her steps quick and urgent. Maids bowed and greeted her as she passed, but she didn¡¯t spare them a single nce. Her heart pounded in her chest. Something felt wrong. She reached arge wooden door and, without hesitation, shoved it open with a loud bang. "Father! Are you alright?" she nearly shouted. Inside, Arthur Mariette satfortably on a luxurious sofa, sipping tea from a delicate porcin cup. He didn¡¯t even flinch at her sudden entrance. Instead, he slowly turned his head toward her, his facepletely calm¡ªexpressionless, as if she had merely interrupted a peaceful night. "Huh?" he muttered, raising an eyebrow. Lortell¡¯s eyes widened in relief. He was fine. She let out a small breath¡ª But then, realization hit her, and a flicker of surprise crossed her face. "Wait¡­ you¡¯re not dead yet?" she blurted out. Arthur choked on his tea. "What do you mean dead yet?!" he snapped, his tone suddenly childish and irritated. "I¡¯m not dying that easily!" Before Lortell could respond¡ª Beep¡­ Beep¡­ Beep¡­ A sharp, rhythmic pulse echoed in her mind. And then¡ª A violent shock, like lightning, coursed through her body. Her breath hitched. She knew what this was. It was the signal from the essence stones she had ced on Esdeath¡¯s body. She had set up hundreds of them¡ªmeant to track Esdeath¡¯s location and detect danger. And right now¡ª All of them were signaling at once. Danger. Extreme danger. Lortell¡¯s face paled. Her pupils shrank. "Someone set me up! They made me think my father was dying!" she gasped, realization crashing into her like a tidal wave. Her hands clenched into fists. "Oh, shit¡­ Esdeath is in danger!" Arthur, still seated, heard her words. He didn¡¯t understand everything, but he caught enough to know it was serious. Lortell wasted no time. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a rare-looking essence stone. It was an Emergency Teleportation Stone¡ªa one-time-use item that could instantly transport her to the academy. Without hesitation, she poured her mana into it¡ª Crack! The stone shattered into pieces. She froze. Her heart sank. "Damn it¡­ I knew it wouldn¡¯t work!" she growled under her breath. She turned sharply toward the door. "I need to get to the government teleportation facility!" she thought, ready to sprint out of the room. But before she could¡ª "Wait," Arthur said casually, taking another sip of his tea. "I have a teleportation portal here. Let¡¯s use that." Lortell whipped her head around, her eyes zing with urgency. She didn''t ask any questions. "Let¡¯s use it! Hurry!" she said, her voice sharp with desperation. Arthur didn¡¯t waste any time. Both of them rushed down to the basement. A massive portal stood in the center, glowing with a swirling, water-like energy. Arthur quickly adjusted the coordinates. His hands moved swiftly, setting everything in ce. "Alright, let¡¯s go!" he called out. But then¡ª Crack! A sharp shattering sound echoed through the basement. The portal¡¯s ss-like surface broke into countless pieces, scattering across the floor. Arthur¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "Someone definitely knew we¡¯d use this teleportation too¡­" he muttered, his face darkening. Lortell clenched her teeth. Her fists tightened. "Shit¡­ shit¡­ SHIT!" She had no time to think. She had to move. Now. BAMMMM! A massive shockwave exploded from where she stood as sheunched forward at full speed. The entire pce trembled. Walls cracked. Ceilings copsed. Within seconds, the entire grand pce crumbled into dust, reduced to nothing but ruins. Trees were uprooted. Debris flew in all directions, covering the sky in a thick cloud of dust and rubble. Screams of panic filled the air. Who knew how many people had been buried alive under the falling stone and wood? Then¡ª A hand pushed through the debris. Arthur slowly climbed out, his body covered in dust and dirt. He coughed, shaking off the rubble. "Hold on, I¡¯ming too!" he shouted. But Lortell was already gone. Kilometers ahead. Her speed was insane¡ªfar beyond what even S-rank fighters could match. Everywhere she ran, powerful shockwaves followed, tearing apart thend beneath her. She was like a red sh of lightning, unstoppable and blinding. Then¡ª BAM! With a single leap, she spread her long bat-like wings. A powerful p sent her soaring high into the sky. The moment she took flight, her speed doubled¡ªno, tripled. She was nothing but a streak of red light, cutting through the sky like a meteor. "Just hold on for a few minutes, Esdeath!" she shouted, her voice lost in the wind. "I¡¯ming!" ------------------- Calista¡¯s face was pale as she stood frozen, staring at the Rank B monster in front of her¡ªLightning Charm Wolf. Her heart pounded in her chest. But as her eyes quickly scanned the beast, she felt a small sense of relief. The wolf was badly injured. Deep wounds covered its body, blood dripping onto the ground. Its breathing was heavy. Its strength was nowhere near its peak. But¡­ That didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t dangerous. "Howl¡­!" The wolf raised its head and let out a deafening roar. A bolt of lightning crackled from its sharp horn¡ªrushing straight at Calista. Her eyes widened. But instead of running, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and pressed her palms together in prayer. A golden magic circle appeared in the air. Sacred symbols andplex patterns glowed brightly. The lightning strike hit the magic circle¡ªbut it didn¡¯t break through. Instead, the holy energy absorbed the attack and retaliated. A brilliant beam of holy light shot forward, striking the wolf head-on. "Arghhh!" The Lightning Charm Wolf howled in pain. It staggered backward, its fur burning where the holy light touched. Holy magic was extremely effective against monsters like him. Calista sighed in relief. But then¡ª Zzt! The wolf moved. Instead of charging straight at her, it used its speed. With a sh of lightning, it circled around her at incredible speed, blurring in and out of sight. It was waiting for the right moment to strike. Calista didn¡¯t hesitate. She pressed her palms together once more, whispering a desperate prayer. A glowing barrier of holy light formed around her, keeping the wolf at bay. BAM! BAM! BAM! The Lightning Charm Wolf mmed into the barrier again and again, trying to break through. Calista¡¯s breath grew heavy. Sweat dripped down her forehead. She knew she couldn¡¯t outrun this beast. The Lightning Charm Wolf was one of the fastest monsters known. Crack! Her heart sank. A small crack appeared on the barrier. The wolf saw it too. With a gleam in its eyes, it became even more aggressive, its attacks turning wilder and fiercer. Calista clenched her fists. Her magic was strong, but¡­ "I''m not strong enough!" She bit her lip in frustration. She was good at healing. She was good at defending. But she wasn¡¯t a fighter. That was why¡ª She never made it to the finals in anypetition. BOOM! With onest, powerful lightning attack¡ª The barrier shattered. Holy light scattered into the air like ss breaking into tiny pieces. Calista stumbled back, eyes wide. She waspletely exposed. The Lightning Charm Wolf didn¡¯t waste a second. With a burst of speed, it lunged straight at her. Calista gritted her teeth. "It seems I have no choice!" Calista clenched her fists, her heart pounding. Then¡ª A strange energy burst out of her. A dark pink aura swirled around her body, filling the air with a sweet, intoxicating fragrance. Her body began to change. A single horn grew from her forehead. Her pupils turned sharp¡ªlike a cat¡¯s, Her usual vibrant blue eyes turned into dark pink. Her teeth became fangs. And from behind her, a long ck tail emerged, curling slightly at the end in the shape of a heart. She smirked, her lips parting to reveal her sharp teeth. "You fucking wolf!" With lightning speed, she stepped forward and swung her fist. Bam! Her punch smashed directly into the wolf¡¯s forehead. The massive beast flew backward, its body skidding across the ground, leaving deep marks in the dirt. It groaned in pain. But it wasn¡¯t down yet. The wolf tried to get up, its legs shaking¡ª But it was toote. Calista¡¯s dark pink eyes locked onto the beast. Her aura surged, flowing into the wolf like an invisible wave. The wolf¡¯s body trembled. Then¡ª Its struggles stopped. The once ferocious beast now lowered its head. It sat down like an obedient dog, its glowing eyes staring up at her. A satisfied smile spread across Calista¡¯s lips. She reached out and patted the wolf¡¯s head. "You¡¯ll make a good pet," she whispered. There was no doubt about it. Calista wasn¡¯t fully human. She was half-subus. She had an affinity with both the Light Element and the Charm Element.@@novelbin@@ The Lightning Charm Wolf was already at its weakest. With her charm magic, she immediately enved him. She turned her gaze back toward the battlefield, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Now then¡­ shall we continue?" Her innocent aura was gone. In its ce was the presence of a cunning woman¡ªone who had bad intentions. ------------ At the same time¡­ Esdeath and Selene coughed up blood. The sheer pressure in the air made it impossible to breathe. Before them stood a terrifying beast¡ª The Scorching Lava Snake. An Rank A monster. It had originally been fighting two Rank A teachers, but somehow, it had escaped from them¡ª And now¡­ It was here. Although it had used up some of its mana, it was still strong enough to kill ten Esdeaths with ease. There was no doubt about it. They were going to die here. They could not even stand. Running was impossible. The Scorching Lava Snake opened its massive jaws. A fiery glow shone from deep within its throat. Moltenva bubbled inside, ready to be unleashed. A single breath from this beast¡ª And everything would be turned to ash. Esdeath and Selene stared at it. Their bodies refused to move. Their minds screamed for them to run¡ª But there was nowhere to go. This was it. They could only wait for their deaths. Ssh¡­ Ssh¡­ Ssh¡­ The sound of thick, bubbling liquid filled the air. The Scorching Lava Snake hissed and opened its massive jaws. A bright, molten glow shone deep within its throat. And then¡ª Boom! A scorching beam ofva shot forward, rushing straight toward Esdeath and Selene at terrifying speed. Their eyes widened. At that moment, time seemed to slow down. Death was right in front of them. There was no way to dodge. No way to survive. But then¡ª A shadow suddenly appeared before them. A figure stepped in, standing between them and the deadly attack. And just before theva could reach them¡ª Whoosh! A massive green magic circle red to life, blocking the fiery st. Theva crashed against the barrier, sending shockwaves in all directions. Esdeath gasped. She could barely believe what she was seeing. The one who had saved them¡­ He had green hair and soft green eyes. His face was tense with effort, his arms shaking as he struggled to keep the barrier up. He was wearing the academy uniform¡ª Which meant he was one of the students. But Esdeath couldn¡¯t shake off the strange feeling in her chest. He looked familiar. Too familiar. Her heart pounded as she quickly asked, "Who¡­ Who are you?" The boy turned to her. A warm, genuine smile appeared on his lips. And then, with a voice filled with certainty, he said¡ª "It¡¯s me. Your ex-fianc¨¦." Massacre "Let the massacre begin," ra whispered to himself, a wicked smile forming on his lips. He had done so much to reach this moment. The kidnapping of students. The horrible experiments on them. Misinforming Lortell, making her leave the academy to search for her father. Stealing the demons¡¯ resources. Kidnapping the Red Dragon Queen¡¯s son. It was all his doing. From the very beginning, he had nned everything. For 150 years, he had worked in the shadows, preparing for this exact moment. And now¡­ finally, his patience had paid off. ------------ THUMP!..... A golden lightning bolt shot down from the sky, striking the ground with an earth-shaking force. It crashed into the academy¡ªor at least, what was left of it. The grand academy had already been destroyed during the fierce battle between Lilith and the Red Dragon. Only the basement remained intact, hidden beneath the ruins. But¡ª BAM! As the lightning struck, the earth trembled violently. The impact was so strong that the basement copsed in on itself, the ground caving in like a sinkhole. A huge cloud of dust and debris rose into the air.@@novelbin@@ For a moment, everything was silent. But then¡ª A figure shot up from the buried ruins, rising into the sky like aet. Blinding divine light surged around him, illuminating the battlefield. He hovered above the ground, sitting cross-legged in mid-air as if gravity had no hold on him. His eyes were closed, his expression calm. Floating before him was a swirling sphere of purple liquid energy, pulsing with a strange, mysterious power. With inhuman speed, he moved his hands, pouring valuable resources into the sphere. His arms blurred, moving so fast that they created the illusion of four extra hands working alongside him. But the most shocking thing¡ª He looked exactly like Principal ra. An identical face. The same long dark-elf ears. The same powerful aura. And yet, this wasn¡¯t him. This was his clone. The real ra narrowed his eyes, his expression turning serious. ¡°I have to protect my clone at all costs,¡± he thought, his heart pounding. ¡°The refinement cannot be interrupted. If anything goes wrong, my 150 years of struggle¡­ all my efforts¡­ will be for nothing!¡± He clenched his fists, his gaze burning with determination. No matter what, he would not let anyone stop him. Just as ra turned away, a voice came from behind him. "Mother...?" It was a trembling, broken voice filled with pain. ra slowly turned back. Kaelith was standing there, frozen in ce. Her silver eyes were locked onto her mother¡¯s lifeless body, lying in a pool of blood. Her face was pale,pletely nk, as if her mind refused to ept what she was seeing. Then, her body started to shake. "You...!" Her voice cracked with raw fury as her fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her skin. "Why... Why did you do this!?" Her teeth ground together as her rage surged, her silver dragon aura beginning to leak out, making the air around her tremble. ra sighed, shaking his head. "There''s not much time to exin, and even if I did¡ª" His gaze turned cold. "You wouldn''t remember anything anyway." Without hesitation, he lifted his hand and pointed his index finger at her. "Pan." A sudden force struck. Blood sttered everywhere. Kaelith¡¯s eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat. She couldn¡¯t even react. For a moment, she felt nothing. No pain. No wounds. Then she touched her belly. It was fine. No injury. Not even a scratch. But then¡ª Her heart nearly stopped. If she wasn¡¯t hurt¡­ then whose blood was this? Her gaze slowly moved forward, her pupils shrinking to tiny dots. Maruti stood in front of her, her body swaying. A massive hole was blown through her abdomen. Blood gushed from the gaping wound, her organs torn apart. She coughed violently, blood spilling from her lips as her body copsed backward. Before she could hit the ground, Kaelith rushed forward and caught her, carefullyying her down. Tears streamed down Kaelith¡¯s face as she clutched Maruti¡¯s trembling hand. "Why... Why did you do that!?" Her voice cracked as she sobbed, her shoulders shaking uncontrobly. Maruti let out a weak, painful chuckle. "Don''t misunderstand, lizard," she rasped, her breaths shallow. "I only saved you... because I don¡¯t like owing favors." More blood spilled from her lips. She tried tough again, but her voice was barely a whisper now. "I guess... I really cut out to be a tank... huh?" And then¡ª She stopped moving. Her eyelids didn¡¯t flutter. Her fingers didn¡¯t twitch. Her chest no longer rose and fell. She was gone. Kaelith¡¯s breath hitched. The rain continued to pour, washing away the blood. The whole battlefield was painted red, and yet everything was quiet. No sounds of fighting. No screams. Only the soft, rhythmic pattering of raindrops echoed through the silence. Then, Kaelith''s sorrow turned into pure, uncontroble rage. Her eyes burned red with fury as she gritted her teeth. "YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" She shot to her feet, her icy silver aura exploding outward, causing the very air to crackle. Her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. And then¡ª She lunged forward, raising her fist to punch ra straight in the face. But before she could reach him¡ª "Time Cutting Edge." ra¡¯s calm voice rang out as he waved his palm. A ripple spread through the air. Kaelith¡¯s body suddenly froze in ce. Then¡ª Swish. Her head separated cleanly from her shoulders. For a brief second, her body stood still, her expression frozen in shock. Then her head hit the ground. A momentter, her body followed. She was dead. ra looked down at her lifeless corpse and scoffed. "Did you really think an immature dragon could match an S-rank?" He turned away, unfazed, as if killing her was nothing more than swatting a fly. The rain continued to fall. The massacre had only just begun. As ra walked through the battlefield, his gaze fell upon Vaelthara. She stood there, frozen in shock, unable to process the devastation around her. Her hands trembled, her lips slightly parted, but no words came out. Her mind was nk. She had just witnessed Kaelith , Lilith died by his hands. It was terrifying. ra¡¯s piercing gaze locked onto her. "What are you looking at?" His voice was cold and indifferent, as if she were nothing more than an insect. Vaelthara¡¯s body tensed. She tried to move. She tried to run. But then¡ª "Time Cutting Edge." A sharp slicing sound filled the air. Her head separated from her shoulders in a single, clean cut. Her body copsed onto the ground, lifeless. She never even got the chance to scream. ra barely spared her a nce. His eyes swept across the battlefield. Everything was in ruins. The academy, the dorms, the training grounds¡ªeverything had copsed. The once beautiful trees surrounding the academy were now uprooted, their trunks snapped like twigs. The air was thick with dust and the metallic scent of blood. Bodiesy scattered across the field, both human and monster alike. The powerful creatures that once roamed this ce¡ªthe Scorching Lava Snake, the monstrous Madam Eight Legs, and even the dangerous B-rank beasts¡ªwere all dead. Only a handful of students had survived. And yet, there was still one thing standing in his way. Lightning. Bolts of golden lightning rained down from the sky, crackling with immense power, preventing him from reaching his true goal. His eyes narrowed. His final objective was simple. He needed to protect his clone. That body was currently refining something precious¡ªhis Divine Rank Essence Stone. Once the refinement wasplete, Everything Will Be At Peace. Without wasting any time, ra flew toward his clone. But then¡ª "Mountain Cutting sh!" A thunderous voice echoed across the battlefield. A massive golden energy wave surged forward, cutting through the air like a de. It was fast. It was powerful. But ra barely nced at it. Raising his hand, he conjured a protective shield. The golden sh struck the shield with a deafening impact¡ªboom¡ªbut it failed to even leave a scratch. His gaze slowly shifted toward the attacker. Ethan. Of course, it was him. "You were right, Sir Gareth," Ethan said, his voice firm. "He really is the one behind all this!" He transmitted the message through his mind. But before he could continue, a voice echoed inside him, urgent and sharp. "Why did you attack him? I told you to go for his clone first! Now it¡¯s toote!" It was Gareth. "But¡ª" Ethan hesitated. But then¡ª "You pest!" ra''s face twisted in irritation. He waved his palm. "Time Cutting Edge." Swish. Before Ethan could even react, his head was severed from his body. His head hit the ground with a soft thud. His lifeless body followed, copsing onto the dirt. Just like that¡­ The main protagonist of Free Life Fantasy. The one who was supposed to rise, to fight against the Demon King one day¡­ Nowy motionless on the ground. Dead. Clearly dead. randed on the battlefield, his expression calm. With a flick of his wrist, a massive teleportation formation appeared beneath him. A brilliant pentagram magic circle glowed brightly, and five figures emerged from it. Two women. Three men. Each of them d in heavy armor, wielding powerful weapons. All of them were Rank A warriors. ra looked at them with satisfaction. "There are still teachers and students alive," he said, his voice steady. "They will figure out what¡¯s happening soon and try to stop me." He turned toward his clone, still sitting in meditation, refining the Divine Rank Essence Stone. "Your job is simple¡ªprotect my clone until the refinement isplete." The five warriors nodded, stepping into formation around the clone. ra exhaled slowly, then turned his gaze upward. The sky had darkened. A zing red light shone above the academy, illuminating the battlefield in a crimson glow. A bitter smile tugged at his lips. "As for me," he murmured, his voice carrying a strange amusement. "It¡¯s time to face the biggest threat." The red light grew brighter. And then¡ª Boom. The academy¡¯s final barrier¡ªthe strongest defense spell ever created¡ªshattered into millions of pieces, crumbling like broken ss. And through the broken remains, a figure descended. Lortell Mariette. Shended gracefully, her long tinum hair flowing behind her. Her crimson eyes swept over the battlefield, scanning everything in an instant. Her gazended on Lilith¡¯s lifeless body. Then on Maruti. Then on Kaelith. Then on Ethan. All dead. Her expression darkened. And then¡ª She saw ra¡¯s clone. Her sharp mind only needed one second to understand everything. ra smirked. "Toote¡­ toote, Lortell Mariette!" he roared,unching himself toward her like a streak of light. Lortell¡¯s red broadsword gleamed as she raised it high. Her lips curled into a snarl. "You¡¯re dead meat, pointy ear!" A wave of pure killing intent burst out of her. A red death aura leaked from her body, as vast as an ocean, filling the battlefield with an overwhelming sense of doom. ra pulled out his own sword, its de glowing with brilliant white light. His aura exploded outward, shing against hers. Then¡ª They charged at each other. Esdeath ‘s Death? A Few Minutes Ago Ethan and his team stood frozen as they faced a massive beast¡ªa Rank B monster known as the Eight-Horned Raging Bull. Steam rose from the bull¡¯s nostrils, and its hooves scraped against the ground, kicking up dirt. Its eyes burned with fury, locked onto them like a predator ready to charge. The sheer size of the monster made it feel like an unshakable wall standing before them. Ethan swallowed hard. As a Rank C level, defeating a Rank B monster was an extremely difficult task. The difference in strength was overwhelming. His grip tightened around his sword, but he didn''t let fear take over. "I can do this¡­" he muttered under his breath. In his previous life, he had fought against countless monsters¡ªRank A, Rank B, it didn¡¯t matter. He had survived battles where he had to face dozens of Rank B monsters for days without rest. Especially in the "Age of Chaos," when death lurked around every corner. He knew monsters better than anyone. He knew their strengths, their weaknesses, and most importantly¡ªtheir habits. Ethan took a deep breath and turned to his team. "Listen up! Don''t panic!" His voice was firm, steady, cutting through the tension like a blade. The others looked at him, their faces pale, their hands trembling. Ethan pointed at the bull. "Monsters have low intelligence, especially this one. It only attacks in a straight line, charging with its horns. Blocking it is impossible for us, but dodging? That¡¯s a different story." Hope flickered in their eyes. "If we can distract it long enough, Sylvania will cast an illusion spell to make us invisible and hide our scent. Once that happens, we¡¯ll slip through the tunnel and escape," Ethan continued. Sylvania immediately nodded. "Got it!" She gripped her wand tightly, determination shining in her eyes. "I¡¯ll help too!" Violet stepped forward, drawing her heavy sword. "And me!" A muscular boy stepped beside her. It was Kartes¡ªthe same boy who had fought Violet in the competition. He held twin daggers, his eyes blazing with battle spirit. "Me too!" Another voice joined in. "And me!" "I¡¯ll do whatever I can!" One by one, the others stepped forward. Ethan''s heart swelled. Their fear was still there, but their willingness to fight was stronger. He smiled, feeling his own confidence soar. "Alright, let¡¯s do this!" But then¡ª A gentle breeze swept through the battlefield. A silver fragrance spread in the air, drifting around them like mist. It was sweet and intoxicating, wrapping around them like an invisible embrace. Ethan¡¯s eyes widened. "What¡¯s this sweet scent¡­?" Before anyone could answer¡ª BOOM! A massive force exploded in the air. A heavy silver aura crashed down on them like an unseen weight. It was suffocating, pressing against their bodies like a mountain. Thud! One by one, they dropped to their knees, gasping for breath. Even the monstrous Eight-Horned Raging Bull, who had seemed unstoppable moments ago, let out a pained cry and collapsed, its legs trembling under the immense pressure. It was none other than Lilith¡¯s silver aura. A force so heavy, so overwhelming, that it pressed against the air like an invisible storm. The entire battlefield trembled under its might. But Ethan didn¡¯t falter. His hands clenched into fists, his breathing steady. He had faced strong enemies before¡ªhe wasn¡¯t going to let this crush him. Splash¡­ Splash¡­ Splash¡­ A golden glow spread through the academy garden, like the first light of dawn cutting through the night. It was Ethan¡¯s Righteous Aura. His body radiated with warmth and strength, pushing back against Lilith¡¯s suffocating presence. Auras not only depended only on raw power, but also an one¡¯s fighting spirit and power in soul. And Ethan? He was born with one of the rarest auras in existence¡ªthe Righteous Aura. It gave him the ability to resist powerful auras, even Lilith¡¯s. At least to some extent. Especially when she was far away. Lilith wasn¡¯t even in the academy anymore¡ªshe was floating high above the ruins, far from them, yet, her aura had still reached them. Even so, Ethan stood up. And one by one, his subordinates followed. The weight in the air hadn¡¯t disappeared, but it had become bearable. They could move again. They could fight again. But the one suffering the most was none other than the Eight-Horned Raging Bull. The monster groaned in agony, trapped between two powerful auras. Its massive body trembled, bloodshot eyes darting around in confusion. "This is our chance!" Ethan¡¯s voice rang out, filled with determination. "We can actually kill him!" Without hesitation, he charged forward. "Rising Sea Slash!" His sword glowed with golden energy as he swung it in a wide arc. The attack sliced through the air like a crashing wave, slamming into the bull¡¯s thick hide. Slash! S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A deep, bloody wound appeared on the monster¡¯s side. "ROAR!!" The bull howled in pain, staggering. The others didn¡¯t waste a second. They attacked together. Swords, spells, arrows¡ªthey threw everything they had at the beast. But despite their efforts, their attacks barely left a scratch. After all, this monster¡¯s skin was as tough as steel. Even so, the constant attacks began to take their toll. The bull was gravely injured. Blood dripped from its wounds, its breaths becoming ragged. Then¡ª Everything changed. Suddenly, the crushing weight disappeared. The air felt light again. But instead of relief, everyone¡¯s faces turned pale. Lilith¡¯s aura was gone. And that could only mean one thing¡ª The Raging Bull could move again. As if on cue, the massive beast let out a furious snort. It stomped its hooves, rising back to its feet. Even though its body was covered in wounds, even though blood poured from deep gashes¡ª Its eyes burned with rage. And then¡ª "Sword General!" Ethan¡¯s roar shook the battlefield. A golden light exploded around him, and in an instant¡ª His hair turned white. Golden sparks danced around him, crackling like tiny stars. His entire body glowed with radiant energy. Swish! He moved so fast it was like he had vanished. Then¡ª SLASH! The next moment, he appeared behind the Raging Bull. And one of the bull¡¯s legs fell to the ground. A clean cut. A deep, painful groan tore from the monster¡¯s throat as it struggled to stay upright. With just three legs left, it stumbled. But instead of attacking again¡ª It turned around. Not toward Ethan. Not toward the other students. But toward the edge of the garden. Then¡ª It ran. It ran as fast as it could, fleeing. Just like animals, monsters also had survival instincts. And right now, the Eight-Horned Raging Bull knew¡ª If it stayed here, it would die. So it did the only thing it could. It ran for its life. The massive beast disappeared into the distance. No one chased after it. Instead, they all let out a deep sigh of relief, their bodies trembling from exhaustion. But then¡ª Drip. A single drop of water hit the ground. Then another. And within seconds¡ª Rain poured down in thick, heavy sheets. Cold. Icy. Unforgiving. But something was wrong. The rain wasn¡¯t clear. It wasn¡¯t normal. It was red. Dark red droplets fell from the sky, staining the ground, their clothes, their faces. "It¡¯s blood!" A female student shrieked, her voice filled with horror. More students looked up in shock, their eyes wide with fear. "I don¡¯t want to stay here!" "I wanna go home!" Their cries filled the air, panic spreading like wildfire. They had all dreamed of becoming awakened warriors, of gaining power and standing tall. But now, standing in the middle of a battlefield drenched in blood, they realized the truth¡ª This was nothing like their dreams. This was terrifying. Many of them regretted their choices. If they had known it would be like this, they would have chosen a peaceful life at home instead. But then¡ª A voice echoed in Ethan¡¯s mind. It was Gareth. "Lad, I think I finally understand what¡¯s happening." Ethan¡¯s brows furrowed. "What do you mean?" "You know, my inheritance is in the underground library," Gareth said. "You weren¡¯t the first person to reach me." "One of the people who found me¡­ was Principal Elara." Ethan¡¯s breath hitched. "What are you trying to say?" "Before he discovered me, I noticed something strange. He was gathering countless valuable resources in the academy¡¯s basement. He visited almost every day." Gareth paused before continuing, his voice grave. "And judging by what¡¯s happening now¡­ someone is refining an essence stone of divine level!" Ethan¡¯s eyes widened. "You mean¡ªPrincipal Elara is refining a divine rank essence stone right now?" "Yes. We even met once years ago," Gareth admitted. "He told me something back then¡ªhe wanted to revive someone." There was a short silence before Gareth added, "If I had to sum up his character in one sentence, I¡¯d say this¡ª He is a good person willing to do the wrong thing to achieve something good." Ethan clenched his fists. "I don¡¯t fully understand what you¡¯re saying¡­ but we have to stop him!" His mind was set. He spun around to face the other students. "You all go hide in the tunnel! I still have something important to do!" Violet and Sylvania immediately panicked. "What important thing?! You¡¯re not going anywhere!" Violet snapped. "Yes! This is our last chance to survive!" Sylvania cried, tears welling in her eyes. But Ethan shook his head, his expression firm. "I can¡¯t stop now. Just do as I say!" "Then let me go with you!" Violet shouted desperately. "Me too! I¡¯ll come with you!" Sylvania insisted. "No!" Ethan refused without hesitation. "You two take care of the others while I¡¯m away. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be back!" And with that¡ªhe turned and ran. "Ethan!" Their desperate voices rang out behind him. "For our friendship¡¯s sake¡­ don¡¯t chase me. I¡¯ll be back. I promise!" His voice grew smaller and smaller as he disappeared into the storm. ¡ª--------- Meanwhile, just a little away from the academy garden¡ª Esdeath lay unconscious on the cold, muddy ground. Beside her, Selene clung to her mother¡¯s body, sobbing. "Mother¡­ wake up!" Her tiny hands shook Esdeath¡¯s shoulders, but there was no response. Selene''s cries echoed in the eerie silence. And then¡ª A deep, rumbling sound broke through the air. Thud. Thud. Thud. Heavy footsteps. Growing louder. Selene looked up, her tear-filled eyes widening in horror. It was a monster. A massive beast with jagged horns and bloodshot eyes. The Eight-Horned Raging Bull. He was injured. One of his legs was missing. His body was covered in wounds. Blood dripped from his mangled flesh. But that didn¡¯t stop him. His gaze locked onto Selenea md Esdeath. Although he was injured but what can a little girl and teenage female who is unconscious do to him? His nostrils flared. And then¡ª He charged. Selene¡¯s heart pounded in terror. "Mother, wake up!" She glanced between Esdeath and the monster, her tiny hands shaking. Selene stood up with a determined expression, her small fists clenched tightly. The giant monster was coming closer, its heavy steps making the ground tremble. Fear gripped her heart, but she refused to back down. But then¡ª BANG! A massive wave of black energy shot out, crackling with the power of death. The air turned cold, and the Eight-Horned Raging Bull let out a deafening roar. Its monstrous eyes widened in shock as half of its body was instantly erased, leaving nothing but ashes. With a final groan, it collapsed to the ground, lifeless. Selene gasped and quickly turned around. Standing there, completely unharmed, was Esdeath. Her long black hair was damp from the red rain, her uniform was torn in places, and her skin was smeared with dirt and blood. But her face... her face was completely blank, as if nothing had happened. "So what the fuck is going on here?" Esdeath muttered, looking at the chaotic battlefield around her. Yes. The one who had woken up was not the real Esdeath. It was Fable. Her sharp red eyes scanned the ruins of the academy grounds. Blood was everywhere. The bodies of students and monsters lay scattered like broken dolls. The sky rumbled with lightning, and the air smelled of burning flesh and rain. "Did I wake up too late?" she wondered. But then, a sharp pain shot through her head. Flashes of memories poured into her mind¡ªthe real Esdeath''s actions from the past few hours. "Ouch¡­!" She touched her forehead, feeling dizzy. But as more memories surfaced¡ª "FUCK YOU, ESDEATH!" she suddenly screamed, her face turning red with embarrassment. Selene flinched. "Mother has gone insane¡­ she''s cursing herself¡­" Esdeath exhaled sharply, trying to calm down. The memories were overwhelming, but at least she understood the situation now. She quickly turned to Selene. "Selene, go to the academy garden," she ordered. "Fly up and check if there''s a dark-skinned man floating in the air. He should have a purple vortex in front of him." Selene hesitated for a moment, but seeing Esdeath¡¯s serious expression, she nodded and ran toward the academy garden. Esdeath, meanwhile, took a deep breath and looked around, thinking about her next move. But then¡ª A chilling warning shot through her body. Danger. She instantly turned around¡ª A Lightning Charm Wolf was racing toward her at full speed, its golden eyes glowing like burning suns. Sparks of electricity crackled around its sleek fur as it charged straight at her, ready to rip her apart. "Another Rank B monster?" Esdeath muttered. She quickly manipulated her ZK-20, reshaping it into a long, white sniper rifle. With steady hands, she aimed directly at the wolf''s head¡ª But before she could pull the trigger¡ª A voice whispered behind her. "You fell for it." SLASH! Cold steel pierced through her back. Her body stiffened. Pain exploded in her chest as blood gushed out from the wound. She staggered, her breath hitching in her throat. A sickening taste of iron filled her mouth. Slowly, she turned her head¡ª A girl with long, white hair and glowing dark pink eyes stood behind her, holding a blood-stained sword. It was Calista Seraphine. "Hehehe¡­ How does it feel, Esdeath Crimson?" Calista giggled, her eyes filled with cruel amusement. Esdeath gritted her teeth as her legs gave out. She collapsed to the ground, coughing violently. Blood dripped from her lips, staining the dirt beneath her. Calista yanked her sword out of Esdeath¡¯s body and stepped back. The Lightning Charm Wolf stopped as well, watching the scene with sharp eyes. "Vice Principal Lilith told me to do this," Calista said, her voice strangely calm. "She knew about my succubus identity and told me to do this But I never have agreed to kill a fellow classmate" She looked down at Esdeath''s motionless body, her expression darkening. "But¡­" A memory flashed in her mind¡ªthe day after the affinity test. Esdeath¡¯s voice echoed in her head. "I know everything that¡¯s happening inside your church kingdom." Calista clenched her fists. "For so long, Day and night i wondered¡ªhow do you know? I was constantly afraid that what if you expose us the very next moment ", "But now¡­ none of it matters " "You are dead!", With a satisfied smirk, Calista turned around and walked away, leaving her lying in the dirt. She didn¡¯t look back. But she should have. The Final Showdown Boom! Bam! Slam! The ground shook violently as shockwaves tore through the battlefield, sending debris and shattered earth flying everywhere. What was already a ruined land was now breaking even more, turning into a true wasteland. In the middle of this chaos, Lortell Mariette and Elara clashed like two unstoppable forces. Their attacks sent waves of power crashing against each other, shaking the air itself. Two Rank A fighters stood in front of Elara¡¯s clone, protecting it like a shield. Meanwhile, three more Rank A fighters rushed forward, joining the battle to support Elara. "Earth Fetus Prison!" One of the Rank A women raised her hands, her voice echoing through the battlefield. The ground trembled¡ªthen, all of a sudden, a massive wave of sand exploded from below, rising like a tsunami. It surged forward, swallowing Lortell whole in an instant. Before anyone could react¡ª "Eternal Vacuum Chamber!" Another Rank A fighter shouted, and thick layers of solid iron formed in the air, sealing Lortell inside a steel prison. For a moment, the battlefield went silent. Then¡ª Crack! A sharp sound echoed as red swords and spears stabbed through the iron chamber from the inside. Boom! The entire prison shattered into pieces. And from within, Lortell emerged. She floated high in the sky like a tyrant queen, her cold red eyes glowing with terrifying power. Her long, silver hair flowed wildly in the wind, and the blood covering her body only made her look more menacing. "Blood Absorption." With just those two words, every drop of blood on the battlefield¡ªthe blood of monsters, demons, and fallen warriors¡ªrose into the air. It gathered together, twisting and swirling, forming a gigantic vortex. A brilliant red aura spread out, painting the entire battlefield in its crimson glow. But unlike Lilith¡¯s overwhelming aura, Lortell kept hers restrained. She made sure it didn¡¯t affect Esdeath, who might be nearby. Slowly, she lifted her right hand. Then, she raised a single finger. And flicked it downward. "Blood Sea Slash." At her command, the swirling vortex of blood shifted, transforming into a sea of swords, spears, and arrows. The three Rank A fighters froze. Their faces turned pale. They knew what this was¡ªan S-rank killer move. It was too much. Too strong. Too fast. The sky, which had been dark with storm clouds, was now filled with countless crimson weapons. Blades so sharp they could cut through mountains. Arrows so fast they could pierce through steel. Spears so deadly they could shatter defenses in an instant. And all of them pointed downward. "Descend." At Lortell¡¯s cold command, the blood weapons shot down like a rainstorm of death. Fast. So fast. One moment, the weapons were high in the sky¡ª The next moment, they were only ten meters away. But just as they were about to hit¡ª "S-rank killer move¡ªReverse!" Elara¡¯s voice rang out. Swish! In an instant, all the blood weapons stopped. Then¡ª They turned around. Now, instead of striking the Rank A fighters, they aimed straight at Lortell. A deadly rainstorm, now falling back toward its own master. But Lortell only scoffed. "Blood Manipulation." With just a thought, she took back control. The weapons halted in mid-air, trembling under her command. But instead of attacking again, she made them merge back into the swirling vortex of blood. It descended onto the ground, pooling like a crimson lake beneath her feet. Her red eyes swept across the three Rank A fighters¡ªone woman, two men. She snorted. "You¡¯re all a hindrance." Then she lifted her hand once more. "Blood Summon." At Lortell''s command, something¡ªno, someone¡ªbegan to rise from the swirling vortex of blood. The pool of crimson shrank as the liquid took shape, forming three massive, hound-like creatures. They stood on two legs, towering over the battlefield with their muscular bodies. Their eyes glowed red, their sharp claws dripped with fresh blood, and their bodies pulsed with raw power. Each one was a Rank A monster, created purely from blood. "Go," Lortell ordered coldly. With a deafening roar, the three blood hounds charged forward, crashing into the Rank A fighters. The battle turned fierce as claws clashed against weapons, and the ground trembled from the impact. Elara, watching from a distance, couldn''t help but feel a strange mix of admiration and dread. "She''s only twenty years old, yet she''s stronger than me," he thought bitterly. "Even though I''m an S-rank Time mage, I''m more skilled in defense, deduction, and investigation. But in direct combat¡­ she''s a monster." Lortell¡¯s sharp gaze locked onto him. "Now," she said, pointing her blood-red sword at him, "no one can interfere." Meanwhile Elara¡¯s clone remained focused, his hands carefully holding a golden egg, far larger than any normal egg. It was a Divine Flame Phoenix¡¯s Egg¡ªthe very reason the Divine Flame Phoenix had attacked the academy. Without hesitation, he threw the egg into the purple liquid vortex in front of him. The vortex pulsed, absorbing it completely. "That''s it," Elara thought, his heart pounding. "I only have one shot at this. Everything is going according to plan." He then pulled out something even more precious¡ªa tiny red dragon, no bigger than a child¡¯s arms. Its ruby-red scales glowed faintly, its small chest rising and falling. Though weak and unconscious, it was alive. It was the son of the Red Dragon Queen. Without hesitation, Elara tossed the baby dragon into the vortex. "Krrchh... Arhchhh!" The dragon¡¯s eyes fluttered open in shock, but it was too late. The moment it entered, its tiny body was sucked inside, vanishing into the abyss. At that same moment, Lortell continued raining down attacks on Elara. He was fast¡ªan expert at dodging and blocking¡ªbut for some reason, he couldn¡¯t avoid a single one of her attacks. Slash! A blood sword buried deep into his side. Stab! A second pierced through his shoulder. His once-pristine robe was now torn and drenched in blood. "What¡¯s happening¡­?" Elara gritted his teeth, feeling pain shoot through his entire body. "Why can''t I dodge anything?!" Lortell saw his confused and frustrated expression. Her lips curled into a mocking smile. "What¡¯s wrong?" she asked, her voice laced with amusement. "Trying to figure out why you can¡¯t dodge?" Elara¡¯s breath was ragged, his mind racing for an answer. Lortell¡¯s red eyes gleamed as she raised her sword. "You are at your wits end anyway, How about i tell you?" she said with a chuckle. Then, she laughed¡ªa cold, merciless sound. "It¡¯s because I hold a Divine-Rank Essence Stone...Sure Hit." Elara¡¯s face turned pale. The Sure Hit essence stone was a Luck-path essence stone. In Free Life Fantasy, Lortell was known as the "Sure Hit Queen". Because of this essence stone, dodging her attacks was nearly impossible. Only someone with another Luck-path essence stone that countered hers could avoid her strikes. But Elara wasn¡¯t one of them. His mind raced for a way to stop Lortell, but almost every plan had already failed. He had set up multiple traps across the academy, specifically to stop her, but none had worked. ¡°Her regeneration is almost instant... It¡¯s like she¡¯s immortal¡­ All my attacks are useless!¡± Elara clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him. Then, a commanding voice rang out from high above. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Everyone who is still alive, all teachers and students¡ªattack Principal Elara''s clone who is floating in air! Stop whatever he is doing at all costs!¡± It was a man¡¯s voice¡ªstrong, authoritative, and impossible to ignore. ¡°This is an order from me, Arch-duke Arthur Mariette.¡± The moment those words echoed across the battlefield, people who had been hiding slowly stepped out. All eyes turned to the sky. There, floating high above, was Arthur Mariette himself. ¡°It¡¯s really the Arch-duke!¡± A Rank A teacher, Voltz, gasped in shock. ¡°Do as Sir Arch-duke says, even if it costs your life!¡± Another voice called out. Felicia, a high-ranking mage, soared into the air, her long purple hair flowing behind her. Dozens of students rushed forward, all charging toward Elara¡¯s clone. ¡°Damn it!¡± The two Rank A fighters guarding the clone cursed, their expressions darkening. Chaos erupted once again. Felicia lifted her palm, and countless shimmering starlights filled the sky. ¡°Purple Star Dust!¡± she called out. The lights shot forward like a meteor shower, raining destruction upon Elara¡¯s defenders. But a female Rank A with white hair stepped up, her breath cold as ice. ¡°Ice Flow.¡± A wave of freezing mist spread out, forming solid snow walls that intercepted Felicia¡¯s attack. The students who had rushed forward were nothing more than cannon fodder. Many died in an instant. ¡°Lightning Bolt!¡± ¡°Light Saber!¡± ¡°Malevolent Spikes!¡± Deadly attacks clashed in the air as both sides engaged in fierce combat. Meanwhile, those fighting against the blood hounds finally saw hope. ¡°I killed one!¡± A fighter, covered in thick, dark-red blood, cheered in victory. But Lortell smiled. She raised a hand, her red eyes glinting with amusement. ¡°Blood Explosion.¡± Bubbles began forming all over his body. Then¡ª BOOM! His body exploded into pieces. The battlefield fell into a stunned silence. The realization struck instantly¡ªif any of the blood hound¡¯s blood got on them, they would meet the same fate. ¡°We can¡¯t let their blood touch us!¡± someone shouted in horror. At that moment, Elara¡¯s voice roared through the chaos. ¡°Focus on me!¡± He charged straight at Lortell, determination burning in his eyes. Lortell scoffed. ¡°Running straight at me? How bold.¡± She tightened her grip on her sword. In a flash, she moved. Her blade pierced straight through his chest. Elara coughed, blood trickling from his lips¡ªbut then, he chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s it¡­¡± Lortell¡¯s eyes widened. Something felt wrong. Before she could react¡ª ¡°Time Prison.¡± A strange silence swept over the battlefield. A ripple in the air spread out, warping everything around them. Lortell¡¯s body froze in place. Elara, too, was trapped. Both were locked inside the Time Prison. It was an S-rank defensive move¡ªa desperate measure. But Elara had planned for this. He knew Lortell wouldn¡¯t be trapped for long. So he got as close as possible¡­ even imprisoning himself to ensure she stayed trapped for a while. The moment Lortell was sealed, her blood hounds collapsed into pools of liquid. The two remaining Rank A fighters looked at Elara¡¯s motionless body. They knew he was frozen. Without hesitation, they turned away from him and rushed back to defend Elara¡¯s clone. ------------ All four Rank A awakened fighters were locked in an intense battle against two powerful Rank A warriors, Arthur Mariette¡ªwho was far from his peak condition¡ªalong with three Rank B fighters and dozens of students. The pressure was immense, but instead of feeling threatened, Elara¡¯s clone only laughed. "Only one last material remains!" he declared, his voice filled with excitement. From his storage-type essence stone, he pulled out a person. A young man with golden hair, sharp claws, and two beast-like golden ears above his forehead with humanoid body, he was no longer a tall wolfman but actually very cute looking femboy wolfman that resembled cute flat chested wolf girl instead . His body was still, his eyes shut¡ªhe was clearly unconscious. Corin Reynold. He was alive. And now, he was the final ingredient needed to refine Elara¡¯s Divine Rank Essence Stone. Without hesitation, Elara¡¯s clone tossed Corin¡¯s limp body into a swirling purple vortex. The moment Corin was absorbed, the air itself seemed to change. Woosh... A brilliant purple light burst forth, illuminating the entire battlefield. The blood-soaked rain that had been falling suddenly stopped. The roaring thunder and wild lightning strikes vanished. The dark storm clouds faded, turning back to white, and the trembling earth finally became still. Elara¡¯s clone stood frozen, his eyes locked onto the Divine Rank Essence Stone as it began to take shape before him. At first, it was cracked, resembling a broken mechanical gemstone, but then... it started to change. The gemstone transformed into something ancient, something powerful¡ªan artifact resembling the heart of an old clock. Tick... Tock... The faint sound of gears moving echoed through the battlefield. The gemstone¡¯s surface smoothed out, the cracks sealing themselves shut, as it fully formed into a deep purple, flawless time essence stone. The second hand on its surface moved like a real clock, ticking steadily with each passing moment. Meanwhile... Guh! A sharp cracking sound rang through the air as Lortell shattered the Time Prison and broke free. She didn¡¯t attack Elara. She didn¡¯t say a word. Her piercing eyes, filled with cold determination, locked onto Elara¡¯s clone. "Charge! Don¡¯t stop¡ªattack now!" The remaining warriors roared as they launched themselves toward Elara¡¯s clone, their desperation growing with each passing second. Arthur Mariette clenched his fists, pulling every last bit of strength from his exhausted body. His form flickered with violent energy as he activated his current fastest transformation. "Myriad Lightning Charm Wolf Transformation!" Swish! His body shifted into the form of a massive lightning-cloaked wolf, moving at a speed that no human could possibly match. The air crackled around him as he streaked forward, faster than the eye could follow. Lortell, with her bat-like wings unfurled, also shot forward like a crimson comet, her speed matching Arthur¡¯s lightning-fast charge. But then¡ª "Hahahaha... too late! You''re all too late!" A chilling laugh cut through the battlefield. It wasn¡¯t from Elara¡¯s clone. It was from the real Principal Elara, laying down in ground, watching everything unfold with a twisted smile. As he spoke, he lifted his trembling hand and touched his own blood and coughed more blood from his mouth. In that instant¡ª It was as if time itself had slowed down. The battlefield fell into complete silence. No sound of wind. No sound of battle. Only one thing remained. Tick... Tock... Tick... Tock... The Divine Rank Essence Stone was now fully refined. Elara¡¯s clone slowly extended his hand toward it. He didn¡¯t need to merge it into his body¡ªthis was an expenditure-type essence stone. That meant he didn¡¯t have to integrate it into his soul and body. One touch. Just one touch was all it took to activate it. A huge, triumphant smile spread across his face. His fingers, trembling with excitement, reached closer... just inches away from the artifact. At that moment, countless memories flashed through his mind. The pain. The sacrifices. The endless years of suffering. One hundred and fifty years of struggle¡ªall leading to this very moment. Divine Rank—Ago Two Hundred Years Ago!... "Sob... sob... My son, it''s all my fault... I should never have pushed you... I''m responsible for your death!" A woman cried endlessly, her body shaking as she clutched the cold tombstone. Beside her, her husband knelt, tears streaming down his face, his hands trembling as he held onto the grave marker. They were in the academy¡¯s graveyard, mourning the loss of their son. But they were not the only ones. Dozens of parents stood among the rows of graves, their cries filling the air. Fathers, who once held their children with pride, now stood broken, their shoulders hunched in sorrow. Mothers, who once dreamed of their child''s bright future, now collapsed in despair, wailing over the lifeless names carved into stone. A terrible tragedy had occurred. A mission gone wrong. An unexpected disaster. And many young academy students had lost their lives. But to the Awakened Academy, this was nothing unusual. From the very first semester, students were sent on missions¡ªexploring ancient ruins, clearing dungeons, facing dangers far beyond their years. By the second year, the missions became even harder. The risks grew deadlier. It was a well-known fact: each year, nearly a thousand students joined the academy, yet only a few hundred made it to the second year. Many perished. Some, fearing death, chose to leave. Others simply could not keep up. By the third year, only a handful remained. Why? Because the missions given to third-year students were nothing short of brutal. Monster hordes. Warfront assignments. Life-or-death situations where the odds of survival were painfully slim. Yet, those who conquered these trials became legends, stepping into a future filled with glory. But what of those who fell? The students buried here were among them¡ªyoung souls who fought, struggled, and died before they could reach their dreams. Their parents wept, drowning in regret. They had once been proud, watching their sons and daughters enter the prestigious academy, believing it was the path to greatness. But now, standing before their children''s graves, all they felt was unbearable grief. A short distance away, Principal Elara stood, watching the grieving families with a cold expression. His face was unreadable, but inside, he was puzzled. Twenty years... It¡¯s been twenty years since he became the principal, yet he still didn¡¯t understand. Why do they cry so much? They had signed the contracts before they were assigned to mission. They had agreed to let their children face these dangers so that they can earn more credit points. They knew the risks. So why did they act so surprised? Why did they weep as if they hadn¡¯t known what was coming? Elara never understood why those parents felt such unbearable pain. Weren¡¯t they the ones who made the choice? More importantly, couldn¡¯t they just have another child? They weren¡¯t too old. They could still move on. He simply couldn¡¯t understand their feelings. Until... Another twenty-five years passed. In those years, Elara got married and had a daughter. She was the light of his life. Every day, he played with her, held her in his arms, and took care of her every need. She was full of energy, always asking questions, always running around with bright eyes filled with curiosity. She had a special love for healing magic. From a young age, she would sit beside injured animals, gently placing her hands over them, trying to heal them. She had an affinity for both light and nature elements, making her a rare and gifted healer. As the years passed, she grew into a beautiful young woman. At sixteen, she enrolled in the academy, just like many before her. She worked hard, performed brilliantly, and soon became the class representative. Elara was proud. He truly believed she had a bright future ahead. His wife, a professor at the academy, always watched over their daughter, guiding her, protecting her, and helping her grow stronger. With such talent, such potential, nothing could go wrong. That¡¯s what he thought. But tonight, in the dead of night, he stood in the academy graveyard. Rain poured from the sky, soaking his clothes, but he didn¡¯t notice. His eyes were wide open, unblinking. His body trembled violently. Because in front of him, lying cold and lifeless on the ground, were the bodies of his wife and daughter. Two soldiers had carried them back from their mission. Their leader stepped forward, bowing his head. "We are very sorry, Principal. The dungeon was linked to the inheritance of the Demon Lord of Anomaly. Your wife was assigned as the guide, so she had to go as well. In the end¡­ not a single one survived." Elara barely heard him. The soldier continued, lowering his voice. "You were¡­ lucky. Their bodies were retrieved intact. Some of the others¡­ there was nothing left to bring back." Elara said nothing. His hands clenched into fists. His nails dug into his palms so hard that blood trickled down his fingers, but he didn''t even feel the pain. "You all go. Leave me alone," he said in a hoarse voice. The soldiers nodded and silently walked away, leaving him alone in the graveyard. Elara stood there for a long time. The rain continued to fall, but he did not move. Slowly, he lifted a trembling hand and placed it over his heart. "So this¡­ this is what they were feeling?" His thoughts were rough, broken. Such unbearable, unimaginable pain. Tears slid down his face, mixing with the rain, but he didn''t care. He cried for a long, long time, his sobs echoing in the empty graveyard. When his tears finally dried, he buried them with his own hands. After that, everything felt meaningless. He fell into deep depression. He took months of leave from the academy, hoping that time would heal the pain. But nothing worked. No matter how much time passed, the ache in his heart never faded. In the end, he made his decision. He would end his life. One evening, he traveled far, far away to the tallest mountain he could find¡ªa place so high that it seemed to touch the sky itself. The wind howled around him as he stepped to the edge of the cliff. Without hesitation, he closed his eyes and jumped. Falling¡­ The wind roared in his ears, his heart pounded in his chest, but he felt no fear. This was the end. But suddenly¡ª Thump! Instead of hitting the ground, he felt himself land on something soft. His eyes flew open. He wasn¡¯t dead. He wasn¡¯t even hurt. He had fallen onto a cloud. But instead of passing through it, he felt his entire body being pulled away¡ªteleported. Then¡ª Thump! He crashed onto hard ground. Dazed and confused, he slowly lifted his head. Darkness surrounded him. The air was damp and heavy. A single torch flickered weakly on the cave wall, casting eerie shadows around him. He was in an unknown cave. Breathing heavily, he pushed himself up, his mind still spinning. "What¡­ happened? How did I get here?" Elara stood up and saw the torch giving only faint light. Elara stood up and saw the torch giving only a faint light. He walked slowly and approached the torch, closely inspecting it. The moment he got near, he felt a strange heat coming from the flame. It wasn¡¯t normal fire. "Nirvana Fire?" he muttered in surprise. This fire was legendary, known for its extreme heat and its eternal nature. But it had disappeared around thousand of years ago, ever since it was used to burn Jeanne D''Arc. People started calling it cursed, and over time, its recipe was lost, fading into history. Yet here it was, still burning. Elara took the torch in his hand and continued exploring the cave. The path ahead was rough, with uneven ground and sharp rocks blocking his way. Strange echoes filled the air, and the deeper he went, the colder it became. He encountered obstacles, but as a top-tier Rank A awakened, he easily overcame them, pushing forward without hesitation. After what felt like hours, he finally arrived at the end of the cave. But instead of treasure, what lay before him was a ruined library. The shelves were burned, books reduced to ashes, and the air smelled of old, charred paper. Only one thing remained¡ªa half-burned book placed on a half-burned table. He stepped forward and picked up the book, his fingers brushing against the rough, damaged pages. Only two pages were still intact. The words were written in an ancient language, but he understood them. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Kratos is determined this time. No one is coming forward to save Zeus. He also killed the Fate Sisters. The Divine Rank Essence Stone, Ago, on them is now destroyed. Should I refine it?" "I even have the recipe for it, but the materials are very valuable and rare. It will be difficult, but soon I will give it a try. For now, I can only watch Zeus come closer to his end. There is nothing I can do." At the bottom of the page, three words were written. "Written by Odin." Elara''s eyes widened. Just how old was this book? His hands tightened around the fragile pages. The contents alone were shocking, but what truly mattered was the Divine Rank Essence Stone, Ago. Ago was a stone that could send a person¡¯s will and memories back in time. Whether it was three days ago or three hundred years ago, it didn¡¯t matter. A deep emotion surged in his chest. A rare smile formed on his lips, something he hadn¡¯t felt in years. "That means¡­ I can actually save my daughter and wife?" His heart pounded with hope, his mind racing with possibilities. But as he read the recipe again, his smile faded. The materials needed were rare, some of them completely extinct. And the most important one¡­ Four-Winged Divine Pegasus. Pegasus only existed in heaven. How could anyone reach heaven without dying? His fingers curled into a fist. Even obtaining a normal Pegasus was impossible. But he wasn¡¯t going to give up. "Either it takes decades or centuries, I''ll make a substitute for this recipe," he muttered. Determination filled his voice as he turned to leave the cave. There was no exit. He didn¡¯t hesitate. Gathering his strength, he clenched his fist and struck the rock ceiling with full force. The impact sent shockwaves through the cave, cracks spreading in all directions. With a final push, the wall shattered, sending debris flying. He stepped outside and saw the Vanara Tribe in the distance. Without stopping, he turned away and headed straight back to the academy. Years passed like a flowing river. Elara never stopped searching, even as time continued to slip through his fingers. He wasn¡¯t alone anymore. Over the years, he gathered a few people who shared the same goal. His team was small but extremely secretive¡ªso well-hidden that no one even knew they existed. He had been careful. He never involved Lilith or anyone close to him. Because he knew. Lilith would never approve of something like this. But despite all the effort, despite the years spent chasing the impossible, there were no significant results. No matter how hard they tried, the materials needed were either too rare or simply didn''t exist anymore. He was beginning to lose hope. But then, on a day that would change everything, a miracle happened. One of his subordinates returned with something unexpected. "Leader, look at this!" A man in a green robe came running toward him, panting heavily. His face was flushed, his breath ragged, as if he had traveled a long distance without stopping. Elara turned to him, surprised. "Howard, take a breath first. Weren''t you in another kingdom for the past few months? How did you get here without any notice?" Howard shook his head. "There''s no time to talk about that! Look at what I found! We don¡¯t need to modify the recipe anymore. Someone else already did it before us!" Elara''s eyes widened. "What?" "Yes! But it¡¯s in the form of a story." Howard took out a glowing stone, its surface shimmering with strange energy. "We just need to decide what to do with it!" Elara recognized it immediately. A Bookworm Essence Stone. Without hesitation, he refined it. The moment he did, something flashed in his mind¡ªa story buried deep in history¡ª God Of Wealth A flood of memories surged through Elara¡¯s mind. It was a story from an era long lost in time¡ªnine hundred thousand years ago, in what was known as The Age of Constellations. At that time, there was a merchant unlike any other. A man who traded across the entire world, whose name was known in every kingdom, empire, and tribe. Though he was a king, people did not call him by his royal title. Instead, they called him "The Merchant King" or "The God of Wealth." Why? Because under his rule, his kingdom had become the greatest trading hub in the world. No one was richer than him. No one could match his influence. Even though he was human, there were those who worshipped him as if he were a true god. Merchants across the world saw him as their greatest idol. His name was Kuber. His life was one of unimaginable luxury. He owned countless palaces spread across different lands. Millions of people worked under him. Wherever he traveled, nobles and rulers welcomed him with the highest honors. Even his food was prepared by the best chefs in the world, which was why he was a little chubby. Yet, despite all his wealth and power, he had only one woman in his life¡ªhis wife. He never took a concubine. Never sought more. For him, his wife was enough. And together, they had a son, a boy who would one day inherit everything he had built. Kuber loved them both. He truly did. But... He barely spent time with them. There was always too much work. Too many things to take care of. Months would pass, sometimes even an entire year, without him seeing his wife or son. One day, while he was buried in paperwork, a trusted subordinate entered his chamber with a troubled expression. "My liege, your son is ill. He has been coughing non-stop," the man reported. "The mistress has been asking you to finish your work and visit him as soon as possible!" Kuber barely looked up from his documents. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the concern. "I have too much to do," he said firmly. "Send for the best healers from all over the world. Tell them to treat my son. He will be fine in no time." And with that, he continued working, unaware that his world was about to shatter. Soon, terrifying news spread across the world. A plague had appeared. But this was not an ordinary disease. It was a deadly illness that only affected awakened people. The mana circuits inside their veins would start to break down, corrupting their blood. At first, the symptoms seemed minor¡ªjust a simple cough. But as time passed, their organs would slowly decay from the inside. In simpler words, it was like cancer, but it only happened to awakened people. And there was no cure. When Kuber learned of this, his heart nearly stopped. His son had been infected. His hands trembled as he clutched the message. His entire body felt cold. He needed to go back. He had to see his son. But when he tried to return home, he realized it wasn¡¯t so easy. All transportation was blocked. The plague was spreading too fast. Kingdoms had declared curfews. Chaos had broken out. People were fighting in the streets over medicine and supplies. No one even understood how the disease was spreading, so fear gripped the world like a nightmare. What should have been a short journey turned into a desperate, agonizing struggle. Days passed. Every moment felt like a blade cutting into his heart. By the time he finally reached his kingdom, he had no time to think. He ran. Despite his heavy body, he ran as fast as he could. He burst through the doors, gasping for breath, desperate to see his son¡ª But it was too late. His son was already gone. His wife sat beside the bed, crying uncontrollably. The room was filled with relatives, their faces full of sorrow. Kuber felt like the air had been sucked out of his lungs. Slowly, step by step, he approached the lifeless body of his child. His hands shook as he reached out¡ªbut before he could touch his son¡¯s cold face, his wife¡¯s voice shattered the silence. "Money, money, money!" she sobbed, her voice full of rage and despair. "Can your money bring our son back to life?!" Her words struck him like lightning. He wanted to scream. He wanted to tear himself apart. But he couldn¡¯t even cry. Because he knew this was his fault. And yet¡ª He still refused to accept it. There had to be something he could do. Anything. But what? There was nothing. He was the richest man in the world, yet he was completely powerless. And then, the next day¡ª Another piece of news spread across the world. The cure had been found. After three months of suffering, the top healers had finally discovered the medicine to save those infected by the plague. The world rejoiced. But Kuber¡­ Kuber was not happy. He was furious. He slammed his fist against the stone wall so hard that blood dripped from his knuckles. "One day¡­" he whispered, his voice shaking. "If my son had lived for just one more day, he would still be alive¡­!" His chest burned with pain. It felt like fate had played a cruel joke on him. He had everything¡ªwealth, power, influence¡ª But not the time to save his son. And then, a terrifying thought entered his mind. "Money, money, money¡­ Can money buy me time?" His eyes gleamed with mad determination. "I won¡¯t back down unless I try." If time had taken his son away¡ª Then he would buy time itself. After that day, he devoted everything¡ªhis time, his wealth, his very soul¡ªto his new goal. He traveled across the world, searching for answers. He hired the greatest historians to dig through ancient records, recruited artifact collectors to find lost relics, and commanded top awakened warriors to work under him. Years passed, and finally, his efforts bore fruit. One day, deep within a hidden archive, he discovered something extraordinary¡ª A book written by none other than Odin himself. Its pages contained a recipe for an essence stone called *Ago.* This stone, according to legend, had the power to manipulate time. His heart pounded as he read through the ingredients. But his excitement quickly turned into despair. Most of the materials required to refine *Ago* had long gone extinct. It was impossible to create. But Kuber refused to accept that. If he couldn¡¯t follow the exact recipe¡ª Then he would create a substitute. And so, his journey continued. He traveled to lands no one had ever set foot in before, searching for materials that could replace the ones lost to time. After countless months, he finally learned about a place that might hold what he needed. A realm unlike any other. A world beyond their world. It was called *Terra Divina.* Determined, he gathered a team of elite warriors and ventured into this unknown land. But the moment they arrived, they realized¡ª This was no ordinary place. It was a world full of creatures beyond imagination. The first nightmare they encountered was a massive flock of *Ancient Cranes.* At first glance, they looked like normal cranes found on Earth¡ª But they were dozens of times larger, their feathers as hard as steel, their wings strong enough to create hurricanes with a single flap. The battle was brutal, but in the end, Kuber and his men prevailed. He carefully collected the wings of the fallen creatures, knowing they would be useful. Next, they encountered a monstrous tiger-like beast with impossibly long, curved fangs¡ªsharp enough to tear through solid rock. It pounced on them with terrifying speed, but after a fierce struggle, they managed to slay it. Kuber took its fangs. He didn¡¯t know if they would work as a substitute, but he wasn¡¯t taking any chances. As they journeyed deeper, they came across a towering tree¡ª Only, it wasn¡¯t just a tree. It was alive. The massive branches moved like arms, attacking anything that came near. Each strike could crush a man into dust. But Kuber and his team refused to back down. After an exhausting fight, the living tree finally fell. Kuber collected its powerful branches. But the greatest challenge lay ahead. They reached a vast river¡ª No, it wasn¡¯t just a river. It was as wide as an ocean, and its waters glowed with a deep purple hue. The moment they stepped near it, something emerged from its depths. A giant leviathan. It was unlike anything they had ever seen¡ª A monstrous being covered in unbreakable scales, its roar shaking the entire realm. The battle that followed was their hardest yet. One by one, his subordinates fell. Swords shattered. Spells failed. Blood stained the river. But Kuber refused to die here. With his last remaining strength, he struck the final blow¡ª And the leviathan collapsed. Breathing heavily, barely able to stand, Kuber took its unyielding shells. But the cost of victory was devastating. By the time he reached his final destination¡ª He was the only one left. His entire team had perished. His body was covered in wounds, his once-lavish robes torn and stained with blood. Yet, despite the pain, he kept walking. This strange realm didn¡¯t follow the laws of nature. Though it was daytime, the sky was filled with shining stars. He staggered forward across a vast desert. Hours passed. The stars above grew brighter, glowing like diamonds scattered across a dark canvas. And then¡ª Something incredible appeared before him. A rainbow. But it wasn¡¯t like any rainbow he had ever seen. It shimmered with a deep, glowing purple, stretching across the endless horizon. His breath hitched. He had finally made it. After what felt like an eternity¡ª He had reached his goal. He stood before the legendary place known as¡ª The River Sand of Flawless Time. Kuber¡¯s face lit up with happiness. He laughed out loud, running toward the river of sand in front of him, completely forgetting his exhaustion. He had finally made it! But just as he was about to step forward¡ª A tall knight in silver-grey armor appeared before him. The knight stood firmly, his presence overwhelming. In his hands, he held a sharp saber that gleamed under the starry sky. "Stop right there!" the knight commanded. His voice alone created a powerful shockwave, knocking Kuber off his feet. Kuber hit the ground hard. His heart pounded. "No! Please, don¡¯t stop me now! I¡¯ve finally reached my goal!" he pleaded, pushing himself up. "I came here for¡ª" But before he could finish, the knight interrupted. "I already know," he said in a calm, deep voice. "Anyone who sets foot in this realm¡ªhis past and present become known to me." Kuber froze, stunned. The knight continued, "I¡¯m stopping you, but not as a guardian. I am a *trader* of this place." Kuber blinked in confusion. "Trader?" The knight didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, he reached into the air and pulled out something. An *hourglass.* Its glass shimmered with an eerie glow, and inside, golden sand slowly flowed. He placed it gently on the ground, then sat down. "Pay me the price," the knight said. "The more valuable the payment, the more sand will fall. That will be the time you earn. Your will can return to the past for that much time." Kuber¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. "Really?!" he shouted in excitement. His face broke into a wide grin. "I have so much money! Take everything! Take it all!" He couldn¡¯t stop laughing as he pulled out treasures from his storage-type Essence Stone. Endless mountains of gold coins, rare gems, and priceless artifacts spilled out, enough to make entire kingdoms feel like beggars. The knight, unfazed, waved his hand. Out of nowhere, a large pond appeared before them. Its waters were still, reflecting the night sky. "Pour any valuable thing into this," the knight instructed. Kuber nodded eagerly and started tossing his wealth into the pond. Gems sparkled as they sank. Gold coins clinked as they disappeared below the surface. But then¡ª Something strange happened. The hourglass remained still. Not a single grain of sand moved. Not even a second was earned. Kuber¡¯s smile vanished. His face turned pale. "What¡­?" he muttered. He poured more. Nothing. He threw in even rarer treasures. Still nothing. "What¡¯s happening?!" Kuber¡¯s voice shook with panic. "Is it broken? Is there some kind of mistake?!" The knight simply shook his head. "Money can indeed buy time," he said. "But not your time." Kuber¡¯s breath hitched. "You can buy the time of others. The present. The future. But the past¡­" The knight met Kuber¡¯s desperate eyes. "Not even all the wealth in the world can buy back the past." Kuber¡¯s hands trembled. His mind refused to accept it. "Tell me Kuber, What is more valuable than past?", But kuber ignored him. "No¡­ No! You¡¯re lying!" He lost control, frantically pulling out every last treasure he had. Gold, jewels, rare artifacts¡ª Everything he had ever gathered. One by one, he threw them all into the pond. Still¡ª Nothing changed. Finally, Kuber had only a few things left. His breathing was heavy. His hands shook as he reached into his storage. Then, his eyes fell on a small object. A single egg. The Egg of Divine Flame Pheonix. A hesitant moment passed. Then, with trembling hands, Kuber dropped it into the pond. The moment it touched the water¡ª The hourglass glowed. Kuber¡¯s heart nearly stopped. Then¡ª A single grain of sand dropped down. A golden message appeared in the air. "One year." His eyes widened. It worked. Without hesitation, Kuber took out more treasures and poured them into the pond. The giant leviathan¡¯s scales, the wings of the ancient cranes, the long-toothed tiger¡¯s fangs, and the branches of the living tree¡ª One by one, he dropped them all in. The hourglass glowed again and again. More and more sand fell. He had earned even more time. Only then did the knight, still sitting calmly in his armor, finally speak. "Now do you understand?" he asked. "What is more valuable than the past?" Kuber¡¯s eyes widened with realization. "It¡¯s the future, isn¡¯t it?" he said. The knight nodded. "Yes." He gestured toward the pond. "The phoenix¡¯s chick was inside that egg. It had a future. But now, its future has been swallowed by this place." He continued, "In this realm, very few living beings can breed. But from the ancient cranes¡¯ wings, new ancient cranes are born. From the long-toothed tiger¡¯s fangs, newborn tigers are born. From the living tree¡¯s branches, countless new living trees grow. And from the scales of the giant leviathan, new baby leviathans are born." The knight looked into Kuber¡¯s eyes. "All of them had a future¡­ but now, that future belongs to me." Kuber swallowed hard. Then, the knight glanced at the hourglass. His expression remained calm, but his voice carried a hint of finality. "But you already wasted so many years," he said. "These gained years will not be enough for you, will they?" Kuber clenched his fists. No. It wasn¡¯t enough. But he had one last option. "I still have one thing left," he said with determination. Reaching into his storage, he pulled out something¡ªor rather, someone. A figure dropped onto the ground. It looked human¡­ but wasn¡¯t. The person had two blue animal ears on top of his forehead, along with a long blue-furred tail. A wolf-man. And he was still alive. Kuber took a deep breath. "He is a slave," he admitted. "I bought him after a lot of effort. This was my final trump card¡­ something I kept for when I had no other choice." The knight remained silent, watching him closely. Kuber continued, "He has a very special affinity. He¡¯s incredibly strong¡­ but he also goes berserk. That¡¯s why I made him fall into a deep sleep." Then, without hesitation¡ª He pushed the wolf-man into the pond. The moment the body touched the water, the hourglass shined brightly. A powerful glow filled the entire space. Then, golden words appeared in the air. "Ten Years." Kuber¡¯s heart pounded. He had done it. His lips trembled as he stared at the glowing hourglass. "I succeeded¡­" he whispered. Then, louder¡ª "I actually succeeded!" Tears streamed down his face. Yes! He had bought time. And as per the trade¡ª His will, along with all his memories, was sent back in time. This time, he already knew the cure. This time, he saved his son. After that, he spent more time with his family. He no longer cared about wealth. Instead, he cherished every moment with his loved ones. And he lived a happy life. The End. ----------------- The story was long, but it entered his mind in just seconds. Elara slowly opened his eyes. "Ohh¡­ so this is it!" he muttered. He turned to his subordinate, his expression deep in thought. "Even though I don¡¯t know if this story is true or false¡ªsince it talks about an unknown realm, Terra Divina, and it never explains how his will actually went back in time¡ªit still feels like a fantasy adventure," he said. "The hero faces struggles, overcomes them, and wins in the end." His voice lowered as his eyes gleamed with realization. "But¡­ what I do know for sure is that the substitute recipe still exists!" His green-robed subordinate¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" he asked eagerly. Elara nodded firmly. "Yes. The ancient crane is a Rank B time-type beast, and the giant leviathan is a Rank A space-type monster. Their wings and scales are extremely valuable materials." He paused, his lips curling into a knowing smile. "That means this story isn¡¯t just a tale¡ªit¡¯s a hidden message about the substitute recipe!" The green-robed man nodded in understanding. "Now that I think about it¡­ it does seem possible," he agreed. "But¡­" Elara hesitated. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "But?" the subordinate prompted. Elara frowned, his brows furrowing in deep thought. "But what does it mean by the last ingredient? The wolf-man¡­ or someone with a special affinity?" he mused. Silence fell between them. Both of them were lost in thought. No matter what, though, one thing was certain. They finally had the substitute recipe! Elara clenched his fists, excitement bubbling inside him. "I know that refining this essence stone will lead to a lot of bloodshed¡­" he admitted, his voice heavy. "But once I go back in time, I won¡¯t harm those people. I¡¯ll save my daughter. I¡¯ll save my wife. Nothing will be lost!" A smile formed on his lips. Then, a new thought crossed his mind. "Wait¡­ why stop at saving my family? I can also help the hero and Miss Lilith!" His heart pounded faster. "If I warn them in advance¡­ if I tell them about all the traps and information on the demon king¡­ they can actually kill him!" Excitement filled his chest. "Yes! This is it! I can save the entire world from the demon king!" A chuckle escaped his lips. His green-robed subordinate watched him silently, sensing the determination in his voice. Then, Elara¡¯s expression turned serious again. "As for the last material¡­" he muttered, tapping his fingers against the table. "I don¡¯t think it¡¯s actually a wolf-man." His eyes sharpened. "Although wolf-men are one of the rarest species, what connection do they have with a time-path essence stone?" His voice grew confident. "No¡­ it must be someone with a special affinity!" XX Days Ago Let''s do a recap of what actually happened in FLF Second Arc. Elara had already found almost everything he needed to refine his divine-rank essence stone, Ago. But there was still one crucial thing missing¡ªthe last material. A person with a special affinity. Without it, he couldn¡¯t complete the refinement. So, what did he do? Since he was a Rank S awakened with hundreds of years of experience, he came up with a dangerous plan. He created a clone of himself¡ªone that was also Rank S. This clone allowed him to act freely without anyone suspecting him. Even Lilith, one of the strongest beings in the academy, had no idea what he was doing. Then, he started kidnapping students. He took them one by one, choosing those with unique talents or unusual magic. Deep inside the academy¡¯s basement, he built a secret base where he gathered all the resources he needed. There, he experimented on the students. He wanted to see if any of them could serve as the missing ingredient for his essence stone. Each time he tried to refine the essence stone, something terrible happened. Since his actions broke the laws of nature, the world fought back. Every time he started refining, a monster horde attacked the academy. These weren¡¯t ordinary attacks. It was as if nature itself was punishing him. But strangely, while the monster hordes were large, they were never truly life-threatening. No powerful monsters appeared¡ªonly weaker ones. There were also small-scale natural disasters like sudden earthquakes or storms, but nothing the academy couldn¡¯t handle. It was almost as if nature was warning him rather than outright stopping him. And every single time, his refinement failed. The failure caused the monster hordes to disappear eventually, and the natural disasters stopped on their own. Each failure also injured Elara. But since he always failed in the early stages of refinement, the injuries were minor. He would recover in a few days and try again. The academy was unknowingly acting as his shield¡ªfighting off the disasters and monsters, while he remained hidden in the shadows, continuing his dark experiments. Elara wasn¡¯t just refining the essence stone¡ªhe was also experimenting with new ways to increase power. He was the mysterious person who created "Magic Power," an artificial substance that could increase a person¡¯s strength. And one of the people who received it was Corin. Corin, desperate to become stronger, took a large dose of Magic Power. Something unexpected happened. He underwent a second awakening¡ªsomething extremely rare. And in doing so, he transformed into a Wolf-man. Elara watched this with great interest. A Wolf-man¡­ After Corin transformed into a Wolf-man, chaos erupted in the academy. He lost control, going on a rampage and attacking students and teachers alike. The academy did everything to stop him. Eventually, after a long struggle, they managed to subdue him. (Or how you perceive it, Out of the three conclusion, Either Subdue, Captured Or Banished from the kingdom) The situation finally calmed down. But Elara wasn¡¯t done yet. He had one final plan. This time, he wouldn¡¯t fail. This time, he would pour everything into one last refinement attempt. And for that, he needed the perfect last material. He found it¡ªViolet. Yes! Violet had an affinity with the gravity element. Elara thought, "What if gravity is somehow connected to time?" "Maybe it can help stabilize the refinement." A slow smile spread across his face. This had to be the answer. So, he kidnapped Violet. Once again, he set everything into motion. He had already gathered all the other materials¡ªthe Red Dragon Queen¡¯s son, the Divine Flame Phoenix¡¯s egg, and many more rare treasures. And once again, the academy took the full brunt of nature¡¯s punishment. Monsters attacked. Disasters struck. But his clone, safely hidden in the basement, continued refining the essence stone. The academy was struggling to survive, but Elara didn''t care. Just like this time, he even managed to kill Lilith. But wait. If Lilith was dead and Lortell wasn¡¯t there at that time, then¡­ Who stopped him? There was only one answer. Ethan. Yes! Ethan was the one who saved everyone. While searching for Violet, he discovered Elara¡¯s secret. And just when Elara was about to use Violet as the last material¡ª Something unexpected happened. Pa! The purple vortex in front of him¡ªthe heart of the refinement process¡ªrejected Violet¡¯s body. Cracks spread across the vortex. The refinement had failed! Violet wasn¡¯t the crucial person after all. BAM! The backlash was immediate and brutal. Elara was already in the final stage of refinement, and the failure caused a powerful explosion of energy. His clone was destroyed instantly. And his real body¡ª It was badly injured. His strength fell drastically, from Rank S to Rank B. And at that moment, Ethan arrived. A fierce battle broke out between Ethan and Elara. Elara was still strong, but he was weakened. And Ethan¡ª Fueled by rage and determination, he fought with everything he had. The battle was intense. It pushed Ethan to his limits. But in the end¡ª After a long and grueling fight¡ª Ethan won. Elara was defeated. And that was the end of the second arc. Ethan became the hero of the academy. For his bravery, he was given the title of Marquess, instantly making him a noble. He also saved Violet¡¯s life, which was a great relief. But the victory wasn¡¯t without loss. Many students and teachers had died. And among them¡ª Was Lilith. --------------- In reality, things played out very differently from what happened in FLF. The reason? Esdeath. Not Maruti. Not Lortell. Not anyone else. The one who completely changed the flow of events was Esdeath¡ªEsdeath alone. Of course, Maruti made a mistake. And yes, Caramel fell in love with her. But that? That was a minor thing. Nothing too important. Nothing that could change the course of everything. But Esdeath? She was the true reason everything went off track. ------------ Elara was searching for the last and most crucial material for his refinement. The one person who could complete his divine-rank essence stone. And then¡ª His clone saw Esdeath for the first time. And in that moment, only one thought filled his mind¡ª "Perfect material." Yes! This time, his target wasn¡¯t Violet. It was Esdeath herself. Of course, it made sense. She was far more unique than Violet. She had black hair¡ªthe same color as the Demon King¡¯s. What if she had a special body? What if she carried a power unknown to the world? That¡¯s why¡ª His target was Esdeath. ----------- But capturing Esdeath? That was a different story. It wasn¡¯t going to be easy. He had to be careful. So, he planned to kidnap her in the dead of night. At 4 AM¡ªwhen everyone should be deep in sleep¡ª He moved. Silent. Hidden in the darkness. But when he arrived¡ª Esdeath was awake. He didn¡¯t know why. But he knew¡ª He had to retreat. Something wasn¡¯t right. Then, a few hours later¡ª He discovered something even stranger. Esdeath had disappeared. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She had run off with a student named Maruti, searching for her missing friend, Luna. That meant she was outside the academy. So, he waited. And after days¡ª Esdeath finally returned. This time, he was ready. He would make his move. But as he followed her¡ª He noticed something unusual. "Two hundred investigation-type essence stones?!" Who did this? Who knew his target was Esdeath? Who was watching her so closely? Lortell. It was her. She had placed all these essence stones on Esdeath to keep an eye on her. Tracking her every move. But who would tell him that? And because of that¡ª Kidnapping Esdeath became nearly impossible. First, he had to deal with all those essence stones. That meant removing them one by one without alerting their owner. A difficult task¡ª But not for someone like him. He was a master at this. A true expert. So, he prepared a powerful move¡ª A technique that could neutralize all the essence stones in one go without informing it''s owner. And just when he was about to use it¡ª Something unexpected happened. Something that shocked him to his core. In the middle of the forest¡ª He saw Corin, He was on his knees., begging Esdeath to spare him Elara froze. He couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing. That delicate-looking girl¡ª So cold. So ruthless. So¡­ cruel. She was toying with Corin. Humiliating him. And he realized¡ª She wasn¡¯t just some normal girl. She was dangerous. Smart. And obsessed. Obsessed with Lortell. But none of that really mattered to him. What truly mattered was the realization that struck him like lightning. An idea¡ª A possibility¡ª That changed everything. "I¡¯ve been searching for a person with special affinity this whole time¡­" "But what if¡ª" "The crucial person isn¡¯t someone with a special affinity at all?" "What if the crucial person¡­ is a Wolf-man?" His eyes widened. Yes! Wolf-men had a natural connection to the space element. It was in their blood. It wasn¡¯t just an affinity¡ª It was something deeper. Normal people with a space element affinity had to train hard to use space magic. But Wolf-men? They could instinctively use it. Space magic affects time. Wormholes. Teleportation. Closing distances in an instant¡ª All of it was related to time itself. And then¡ª Everything made sense. One after another, the missing pieces of the puzzle fit together. The story he read¡ª It was from nine hundred thousand years ago. Back then, affinities weren¡¯t fully understood. Wolf-men¡¯s natural talent for space magic wasn¡¯t even discovered yet. So, the writer of that story¡ª They must have described it as "a person with special affinity. But in truth¡ª It was always a Wolf-man. And what Esdeath did? Esdeath had left Corin behind, abandoning him to be devoured by that monstrous rat-bear. She didn¡¯t care. In her eyes, he was nothing more than a stepping stone, an insect beneath her feet. But fate had other plans. Elara¡¯s clone had been watching the entire time, hidden in the shadows. He had seen everything¡ªthe humiliation Corin suffered, the way he begged for his life, and how Esdeath had mercilessly walked away. But instead of letting Corin die, Elara made a different choice. He saved him. Not because he cared about Corin¡¯s life. No, he only did it because he needed him. And in doing so, he erased all traces of his own presence. Every footprint, every drop of evidence¡ªgone. But there was one unintended consequence. He also erased the proof that Esdeath had been there. To ensure no one suspected anything, he poured a ridiculous amount of blood over the scene, making it seem as if Corin had been torn apart and devoured. As far as anyone was concerned, Corin was dead. So while Esdeath and Maruti later argued about why Elara hadn''t kidnapped Violet, the truth was simple. He had already found his answer. Violet wasn¡¯t needed anymore. Esdeath figured it out too. She wasn¡¯t stupid. She realized Elara had identified the real crucial person and was about to succeed. She wanted to make a plan, to stop him before it was too late. But before she could even act¡ªsomething unexpected happened. Something no one could have foreseen. The real Esdeath woke up. And just like that¡ªeverything changed. All of Elara¡¯s careful planning, all his patience, all his efforts¡ªit all bear fruit. And now, here they were. Elara had completed his refinement. There was no backlash. No interruption. His plan had worked. And now, with the essence stone fully refined, there was only one question left. Who could stop him now? The essence stone floated in the air, radiating a soft, almost hypnotic glow. Its presence was overwhelming, filling the entire battlefield with an eerie silence. For a moment, no one moved. No one spoke. Every eye was locked onto it. Then¡ª A mad rush. Everyone bolted toward it, their bodies moving at full speed, desperate to reach it first. The world itself seemed to slow down. Time stretched impossibly thin. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. The rhythmic pulse of the essence stone echoed in the air, beating like a second heart. Just one touch. That was all it would take. Elara¡¯s clone reached out, his fingers trembling, mere inches away from claiming his ultimate victory. Then¡ª Pain. A sharp, searing pain tore through his arm. Bite! Something clamped down on his flesh, teeth sinking deep into his skin. His hand jerked back on instinct, eyes snapping downward in shock. Selene! That damn girl had bitten him! Her jaw was locked, her grip unyielding, her teeth embedded so deep that blood dripped freely from the wound. Elara¡¯s face twisted in rage, but before he could shake her off¡ª Another hand shot forward. Pale. Delicate. White as fresh snow, yet carrying an unnatural chill. Elara¡¯s clone felt his breath catch. His real body¡ªElara Alonso¡ªfelt an unbearable pressure crash down on him. It was too late. The moment that hand touched the essence stone, the battlefield fell into absolute silence. Fingers wrapped tightly around the glowing core. A chilling voice rang out, calm yet impossibly heavy. "XX days ago." Esdeath Crimsonnnnn…… Calista stood over Esdeath¡¯s unmoving body, her lips curling into a crazed smirk. "For so long¡­ day and night, I wondered¡ªhow did you know?" Her voice trembled slightly, not with fear, but with the excitement of victory. "I was constantly afraid¡­ What if you exposed us the very next moment?" She took a deep breath, the weight of that fear finally lifting from her chest. "But now¡­ none of it matters anymore." Her dark pink eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she took a step back. "You are dead." With those final words, Calista turned on her heel and walked away. She didn¡¯t hesitate. She didn¡¯t look back. But she should have. Because just as she took a few more steps forward, a soft sound filled the air¡ªthe faint shift of dust settling. And then¡ª A voice. Calm. Steady. Unshaken. "Ever heard of Thanos?" Calista¡¯s breath caught in her throat. Her body stiffened as pure disbelief shot through her veins. No¡­ She whipped around, her heart pounding. And there she was. Esdeath Crimson¡ªstanding tall, completely unscathed, not a single wound on her body. Her crimson-red eyes locked onto Calista, filled with amusement and something far more terrifying¡ªcontrol. A black death glow pulsed briefly around her body as a system notification rang in the air. <200 Mana Points Consumed> It cost her 200 mana, a significant amount. But when compared to the mere 18 MP she started with, it was proof of how far she had come. Esdeath clenched her fist. "You should have gone for the head." Her voice was cold, emotionless, as if she was merely stating a fact. In the next instant, her ZK-20 shimmered, twisting and reshaping itself. The once simple weapon expanded into a massive cannon-like firearm, futuristic symbols glowing along its surface. Three large openings lined the front, each pulsating with power. It was enormous. More than twice Esdeath¡¯s own size. Three times thicker than her body. A true monstrosity of destruction. She hoisted it onto her shoulder, her body bending slightly under its sheer weight. The very air crackled with the overwhelming energy gathering within it. This was no ordinary attack. It was a Killer Move¡ªa condensed, modified version of an S-rank killer move from the future. A technique once created by the Eldon Karanthis in future. Esdeath used several Essence stone to form this killer move, But core essence stones were Force breaker, Soulpiecrcer and Phantom Thrust essence stone. It was an attack that targeted both body and souls and it was also effective against something, Where physical atta ka are useless for ex; Ghost or Beheaded Man. Esdeath¡¯s fingers tightened on the trigger. "Killer Move¡ªOblivion Nova." For a brief moment¡ªsilence. Then¡ª Light. Blinding. Pure. Overwhelming. A massive white beam erupted from the cannon¡¯s barrels, illuminating the battlefield like a miniature sun. The force of the blast sent shockwaves rippling outward, forcing Esdeath to take several steps back. Calista barely had time to react. Her breath hitched, her pupils shrank, and in that fleeting second¡ªshe knew. Knew there was no blocking this. Knew there was no surviving this. A strangled gasp left her lips¡ª And then¡ª Splash¡­ Splash¡­ Splash¡­ The light consumed her. Her body. Disintegrated. Her soul broke into countless fragments disappearing in air. Not even a speck of dust remained. And the same fate awaited her Lightning Charm Wolf. The once proud beast didn¡¯t even get the chance to howl before it, too, vanished into nothingness. Esdeath lowered the cannon, watching as the last traces of her enemy faded from existence. Cold. Unmoved. She had no need for unnecessary words. Esdeath looked at the battlefield with a small smile on her lips. "Time-related skills are really useful," she thought to herself, feeling quite pleased. The battlefield was in complete chaos. Strong shockwaves rippled through the air, kicking up powerful winds. Her long black hair flowed behind her, making her look like a true warrior standing amidst the destruction. But no one paid attention to her. The reason? Lortell Mariette had arrived. She was locked in battle with Elara, and the force of their clash was shaking the entire area. Compared to that, the massive white beam Esdeath had unleashed earlier seemed like nothing. It had come and gone in an instant, vanishing without a trace. And now, another figure came running toward her. "Mother!" Selene called out, her voice urgent. "I identified the man! He¡¯s in that direction, about 600 meters from here!" She pointed into the distance, her expression serious. "Nice," Esdeath replied simply, nodding in approval. Without wasting any time, she manipulated her ZK-20, reshaping it once again. This time, she used a Rank D Iron Wheel Essence Stone and a Rank D Sharp Arrow Essence Stone to create something new¡ª A massive drill. "Come with me," Esdeath commanded. "We¡¯re going underground. We¡¯ll dig a tunnel and reach him from below." Selene nodded, following her orders without hesitation. To make sure they weren¡¯t detected, Esdeath activated Silent Magic, silencing all sounds coming from the drill. As the drill spun, tearing through the ground, she couldn¡¯t help but admire the efficiency of her weapon. "Using multiple Essence Stones at once is exhausting¡­ Normally, I¡¯d have to carefully control each one and split my focus, which would be a huge burden on my brain¡­" She glanced at her weapon, her grip tightening. "But thanks to ZK-20, everything is so much easier. It acts as a middleman, processing everything for me. All I need is a clear thought and enough mana, and I can use even multiple Rank C Essence Stones at once." This was exactly how she had managed to unleash Oblivion Nova earlier. And now, she was doing the same¡ªcontrolling several Rank D Essence Stones while using Silent Magic at the same time. ZK-20 was proving to be more useful than she had ever imagined. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Esdeath drilled forward, carving a tunnel through the ground. Selene followed closely behind, her footsteps light and silent. They were about thirty meters deep now, moving steadily forward. Then, after covering about five hundred meters, Esdeath suddenly stopped. Selene tilted her head. "Why did you stop?" "If we go any further, the enemies might notice us," Esdeath explained, lowering her voice slightly. "We need to wait for everyone to fully engage in battle first. The moment they¡¯re all distracted and focused on defeating him, that¡¯s when we¡¯ll make our move." Selene nodded in understanding. She didn¡¯t ask who he was. She didn¡¯t ask why he needed to be stopped. She simply followed Esdeath¡¯s command. Just like a daughter following the will of her mother. After a while, Selene glanced at Esdeath and asked, "What are we gonna do till then?" Esdeath rolled her eyes and let out a small sigh before sitting down on the dirt. She stretched out her hand, a playful smirk forming on her lips. "We¡¯re gonna play rock, paper, scissors," ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Above ground, chaos had reached its peak. Arthur Mariette¡¯s words had pushed everyone into a desperate fight. Weapons clashed, spells exploded, and killer moves lit up the battlefield. It was a brutal struggle where life and death hung by a thread. Elara and Lortell had vanished, trapped inside Time Prison for a brief moment, sealing lortell and himself away from the battle. Even Elara¡¯s clone, who had been in control of the situation all this time, was now feeling the pressure. No one knew that beneath them, hidden under the very ground they fought on, two figures were waiting. The final showdown was reaching its climax. And then¡ª Elara¡¯s clone poured the final material into the swirling purple vortex. Corin. The moment his body was absorbed, everything changed. The storm stopped. The lightning disappeared. The rain vanished. All the chaos came to a sudden, eerie silence. Only one sound remained¡ª Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As time itself seemed to count down to something inevitable, what were Esdeath and Selene doing? Still playing rock, paper, scissors. Their breaths had turned rough. Sweat covered their skin. Their hands were dirty from the soil. They had been underground for so long that the air was getting thin. Breathing was becoming difficult. But then¡ª Esdeath¡¯s ears caught something. The sudden silence above sent a chill down her spine. Her crimson eyes sharpened. "It¡¯s time. Let¡¯s go!" Without wasting another second, she gripped her drill and pushed it forward at full speed. The sharp metal spun violently, carving through the dirt like a beast breaking free from its cage. ¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª On the battlefield, everything was happening in slow motion. Elara was laughing like a maniac, his voice echoing in the stillness. "Too late¡­ Too late¡­!" he shouted, his eyes filled with madness. His clone¡¯s hand reached forward, just inches away from the Divine Rank Essence Stone. It was over. Or so he thought. Crack! The ground exploded as Esdeath broke through, bursting out from the earth like a phantom emerging from the underworld. her pale black-haired figure flowing from ground like river, just a few steps away from where Elara¡¯s clone was floating. Her red eyes locked onto the floating Essence Stone. She didn¡¯t hesitate. And then¡ª Push! With all her strength, she shoved Selene forward. "Go!" Selene shot through the slowed time like a bullet, her sharp fangs glinting under the eerie light. She opened her mouth and bit down on Elara¡¯s clone¡¯s hand. Hard. Her teeth sank deep into his flesh, piercing through skin and muscle until warm blood spilled into her mouth. Elara¡¯s clone¡¯s eyes went wide in shock. But it was too late. Before he could react¡ª Another hand reached forward. Pale. Delicate. Cold as ice. Esdeath¡¯s fingers wrapped around the Divine Rank Essence Stone. And then¡ª A chilling voice echoed through the battlefield. "XX days ago." Swish! A sudden surge of power erupted from the Essence Stone. The air trembled, cracks forming in space itself. The battlefield, once filled with noise and chaos, seemed to hold its breath. Reality itself wavered as if unsure whether to continue forward or rewind. Elara¡¯s clone froze, his eyes widening in horror. An unbearable pressure crushed down on him, forcing his mind into turmoil. He couldn''t think¡ªhe couldn''t breathe. In that very moment, far away, Elara¡¯s real body stiffened. A sharp pain stabbed through his chest, and before he could process what was happening, he coughed up blood in anger and shock. No. No. He looked up, and his eyes landed on the person standing amidst the swirling energy. The one who had stolen it. The one who had undone everything. A furious scream tore from his throat. It was raw, filled with rage, disbelief, and utter despair. "ESDEATH CRIMSONNNNNNNNN...!" As if those words carried a curse, Esdeath¡¯s body trembled. Her knees buckled, and she fell toward the ground. The Essence Stone in her grasp, the very thing that had changed the flow of fate¡ª Disintegrated. Vanishing into thin air. The battlefield was silent. All eyes turned toward her. Some were filled with shock. Others with jealousy. Some burned with anger. But Esdeath¡ª She smiled. A bright, clear smile. She raised her gaze to the sky, which was now cracking. Thin fractures spread across the heavens like shattered glass. Then¡ª She laughed. "Hehehe¡­ Hahahaha¡­ Hahahahahaha¡­!" A sound that carried no fear. No regret. Only exhilaration. And then¡ª Blink!... Her body broke apart. Like fragile glass shattering, pieces of her form crumbled away, dissolving into specks of light. The world trembled. The very fabric of existence began to fold inward. The sky twisted. The ground curled. Laws of reality bent and snapped, obeying no logic. And then¡ª Whoosh! With one final pull¡ª The world shattered. Let The Game Begin Esdeath stood still, her red eyes locked onto something in the distance. All around her, the air was filled with gasps and murmurs of shock. But before she could process anything¡ª A sharp pain struck her mind like a lightning bolt. "Argh¡­!" She let out a low groan, clutching her forehead as a wave of dizziness washed over her. But just as suddenly as it came, the pain vanished. Her vision cleared, her thoughts sharpened, and a strange sense of awareness settled in her mind. Then¡ª A grin spread across her face. She took a deep breath and looked around. She was standing inside the arena. The grandstands were packed with students and teachers, their eyes glued to the battlefield below. And in the center of it all¡ª Maruti, her body glowing faintly, was fighting against five Rank C teachers at once. Her movements were sharp and precise, her body flowing like water as she dodged attack after attack. The teachers, however, looked nothing short of humiliated. Their expressions were twisted with frustration, sweat dripping down their faces. They were seasoned warriors. Powerful instructors. And yet¡ª They couldn¡¯t land a single hit on a student. The audience was in a frenzy. Some cheered, others watched in stunned silence. One of the male teachers, his pride pushed to the edge, finally snapped. His face turned red with anger as he clenched his fists. "That¡¯s it! I¡¯m done holding back!" he growled. "If this goes on any longer, I¡¯ll lose my dignity completely!" Mana flared around his body, his essence stone was about to activate. He was about to unleash his true power. But before he could make a move¡ª THUD! A dull sound echoed across the arena. Maruti¡¯s body swayed. Then, like a puppet with its strings cut, she collapsed onto the ground¡ªcompletely unconscious. Silence. The teachers froze. The audience froze. Esdeath, standing above in the arena stands, stared down at the scene with a cold, unreadable gaze. Then, she let out a quiet chuckle. "I really got back in time¡­ just exactly where I wanted," she murmured to herself, a spark of excitement flashing in her eyes. ----------------------- A short break was announced after the last fight. During this time, Maruti slowly regained consciousness, groaning in pain. Meanwhile, the academy¡¯s healers tended to Sylvania¡¯s wounds, and Princess Ravenna¡¯s injuries were completely healed. Half an hour passed. The audience returned to their seats, their excitement at an all-time high. The air felt different now¡ªeveryone knew the second half of the tournament would be far more intense and dangerous. Maruti rubbed her temples, still feeling lightheaded. ¡°Ugh¡­ I feel like throwing up. What the hell even happened back there?¡± she grumbled to herself, scratching her head in frustration. She took her usual seat in the arena and looked around, trying to find Esdeath. But no matter where she looked, Esdeath was nowhere to be seen. Frowning, she scanned the crowd once more. And then¡ªher gaze moved upward. She froze. There, in a place she never expected¡ª Esdeath was sitting on Lortell¡¯s lap. Unlike last time, For some reason Lortell returned half an hour early this time. Not in the students¡¯ seats. Not among the teachers. In Lortell Mariette¡¯s lap. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lortell¡¯s arms were wrapped around Esdeath¡¯s waist, holding her close. Her head rested comfortably on Esdeath¡¯s shoulder, and her lips curled into a soft smile as she whispered something in her ear. Esdeath, on the other hand¡ª Her face was slightly red, clearly embarrassed, but she tried her best to keep her cool. From the way Lortell was leaning into her, speaking with that teasing smile, it was obvious¡ªLortell was boldly flirting with her. Maruti¡¯s jaw almost dropped. ¡°What the hell is she doing there?¡± she thought, her mind full of confusion. She wasn¡¯t the only one staring. All around the arena, students were glaring at the two with puzzled expressions. Whispered conversations spread like wildfire. It wouldn¡¯t take long for strange rumors about Esdeath and Lortell to start. But before the whispers could grow any louder¡ª The referee raised her hand and made an announcement. ¡°Next match¡ªEsdeath Crimson vs. Valeria Olyndra!¡± Lortell let out an annoyed sigh. ¡°Tch¡­ so soon!¡± she muttered under her breath. Reluctantly, she unwrapped her arms and let Esdeath go. Then, with a playful smile, she gave a thumbs-up. ¡°Best of luck. Don¡¯t push yourself too hard, or else I¡¯ll be the one feeling pain.¡± Esdeath smiled back, her confidence shining through. She pointed at herself with her thumb. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Just watch me.¡± The match began. And just like before, it ended in a single move. Esdeath defeated Valeria instantly, without breaking a sweat. She already knew exactly how the fight would go, and that made her even more confident. After the fight, Instead of going back to lortell, Esdeath returned to maruti''s side. She sat on the seat beside maruti with cold face. "Fable! Why didn''t you tell me all of this happened?" Maruti said casually yet hint of curiousness. Esdeath raised an eyebrow, unsure where this was going. "What are you talking about now?" she asked with a sigh. Maruti, her eyes wide with wonder, began explaining. "I heard that I went unconscious at the start of my match¡­ and then suddenly went berserk! I fought that cheeky princess and even some teachers, didn''t I?" she said, a mix of surprise and pride in her voice. Hearing this made Esdeath remeber last time when maruti asked the same question. She sighed in boredom but decided to tell everything again. "Let me Explain¨C" Esdeath explained everything. Hearing all the information maruti nodded excitement,"Ultra instict huh...Now that sounds like a proper cheat skill! I''m amazing!" Her energy never runs out. Esdeath gave her a flat look. "It''s a good thing you had that¡­ ''cheat skill,'' or else you''d have been defeated before you even got started. We need to be more cautious from now on. People with more power will always try their hardest to stay at the top. They won''t hesitate to crush others to win," she warned seriously. Maruti immediately waved her hand in denial, puffing out her chest proudly. "Hmph! It''s not like I won just because of that Ultra Instinct thing! I''m sure I would''ve gotten back up and given that princess a proper beating!" ------------ "Next match is between Violet from Class A and Claus Clandestine from Class A," the referee announced. The match started, but Esdeath watched with boredom. She already knew the result. And just like before¡ªViolet won. Esdeath yawned slightly, but then¡ª The real excitement began. The referee raised her hand again. "Next match is between Ethan Rothslayer and Corin Reynold from Class A!" A small smile appeared on Esdeath¡¯s face as she leaned forward, her interest finally piqued. Minutes passed as Ethan and Corin clashed fiercely in battle. Their weapons struck with force, sending sparks flying. The ground trembled under the weight of their attacks. But it was clear¡ªEthan had the upper hand. Corin¡¯s frustration grew with each passing second. His attacks were getting blocked, his movements were getting slower, and Ethan¡¯s confidence never wavered. "Not enough¡­ not enough¡­ not enough!" Corin raged in his mind. Then suddenly, a crazed smile stretched across his face. "If it¡¯s not enough, then I¡¯ll take everything at once!" Without hesitation, he took whole several magic-enhancing drug at once. A terrifying change took over his body. His veins bulged unnaturally, glowing with energy. His muscles tensed, and his entire body felt weightless yet overwhelmingly powerful. With a wild roar, he charged at Ethan at full speed. But even after pushing his body beyond its limits¡ª He was still at a disadvantage. "WHY?!" Corin suddenly screamed, his voice filled with pure rage and despair. His body trembled. His breathing was ragged. Then¡ªsomething changed. The arena fell silent. An eerie, heavy silence. A single whisper broke through the stillness. "His eyes¡­ they''ve turned red." Ethan¡¯s smirk faded. His sharp gaze locked onto Corin. His expression darkened. "Second Awakening¡­?" Corin''s eyes glowed a deep, unnatural red. His pupils shifted¡ªno longer round, but slitted, like a predator''s. His teeth sharpened into fangs, and his nails stretched into long, deadly claws. The transformation was terrifying to witness. Corin no longer looked human. A shiver ran through the crowd. Gasps echoed across the arena. And then¡ªit got worse. Golden fur began to sprout across Corin¡¯s body, covering him completely. His muscles swelled, his limbs stretched unnaturally, and the sound of bones snapping and reshaping filled the air. A monstrous, inhuman figure stood in the arena. People in the audience clutched their seats, their faces pale with fear. ¡°There¡¯s no doubt about it,¡± someone whispered, their voice trembling. ¡°He¡¯s had his second awakening¡­ and turned into a wolfman!¡± Panic spread like wildfire. The once-lively arena was now filled with fear and confusion. No one had expected this. No one was prepared. And Corin¡ªnow more beast than man¡ªlet out a low, menacing growl. Panic spread like wildfire. Screams filled the air as the audience scrambled to escape, pushing and shoving each other in blind fear. The once-organized arena turned into complete chaos. People tripped over seats, some fell to the ground, and others desperately ran toward the exit gates, their only thought being survival. The whole arena was in an uproar. But just like before¡ªbefore Ethan could even react¡ªLortell stepped in. Lortell sighed as if she found everything bothersome. Then, raising her hand, she spoke in an eerily calm voice. "Say goodbye to your life, boy." Without hesitation, she swung her hand down toward Corin¡ª A simple slap from her was enough to end his life. But then¡ªPlop! Just before Lortell¡¯s hand could reach him, Corin¡¯s body flickered. His eyes widened in sudden fear, and¡ªinstinctively¡ªhe vanished. He had teleported. ---------------- "Don''t panic! Leave in an orderly fashion! Everything is under control!" several teachers shouted, their voices booming across the arena. But their words fell on deaf ears. How could anyone believe them? They had just seen a student transform into a monster. A wolfman straight out of nightmares. They had witnessed something unnatural, something terrifying. People ignored the teachers and continued to rush out, fear clouding their minds. Meanwhile, amidst the chaos, Esdeath remained seated. She didn¡¯t move. She didn¡¯t flinch. Instead, she calmly observed the madness unfolding before her. Her eyes gleamed with amusement as she rested her chin on her hand. A small, knowing smile curved her lips. "Now, now¡­" she murmured to herself. "Let the game begin." Esdeath Saves Emma The chaos from Corin¡¯s awakening had left the entire academy shaken. It had happened in the evening, but now, as night settled over the academy, an eerie silence took over. The once-lively academy felt empty. The arena, where the shocking battle had taken place, was completely deserted. Only the teachers remained, patrolling the grounds, their eyes scanning every corner in search of Corin. Meanwhile, in one of the dorm rooms, eight students sat together, fear hanging heavy in the air. They huddled close, their faces pale, their breaths shaky. "Don¡¯t be afraid," a girl with trembling hands whispered. "We¡¯ve set up a magic formation around this room. No one can enter without breaking it. If anyone tries, the teachers will have enough time to come and save us." Her words brought a sliver of hope, but deep down, everyone knew she was just trying to comfort herself as much as the others. "Yes¡­ I think you¡¯re right¡ª" But before the boy could finish his sentence, a cold chill ran down their spines. Their eyes widened in horror. Corin was here. They didn¡¯t know how. They didn¡¯t know when. But he was here. "Aahh... Corin is here!" a girl screamed, her voice breaking into sheer terror. "How?! How did he get in without breaking the formation?!" the girl who had cast the spell shrieked, her face twisting in fear. But Corin didn¡¯t answer. His glowing red eyes locked onto one of the boys, and in an instant¡ªhe moved. With terrifying speed, he swung his massive claws, aiming straight for the boy¡¯s head. The force behind the attack was enough to rip his head clean off. But¡ª BAM! The wall behind them shattered into pieces, sending dust and debris flying everywhere. And before anyone could even process what had happened¡ª A powerful kick landed directly on Corin¡¯s face. The impact sent him crashing to the ground. Everyone¡¯s eyes widened in pure disbelief¡ª And then, in overwhelming relief. "It¡¯s Maruti!" the girl with brown hair gasped. BAM! BOOM! BAM! Maruti and Corin engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand battle. Their blows shook the room, cracking the floor beneath them. The other students could only watch, wide-eyed, their bodies frozen. This was a battle they couldn¡¯t interfere in. Right now, the most important thing was that they were saved. Minutes passed, and finally, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway. The teachers had arrived. They stopped at the dorm room door, their faces tense with urgency. But as they tried to enter¡ª They were blocked. The magic formation was still in place, stopping even them. "You fools!" the female teacher snapped, frustration clear in her voice. "He has an affinity with space! A normal formation can¡¯t stop him unless it¡¯s specifically made for space-path magic!" Without wasting another second, she raised her hand, her fingers glowing with a bright, powerful light. With a single motion, she shattered the formation. The magic barrier broke apart like fragile glass, disappearing into the air. The teachers entered the room and saw Maruti locked in a fierce battle with Corin. Their eyes quickly scanned the room, and a sigh of relief escaped them when they realized no one had died¡ªyet. But their relief was short-lived. Their gazes immediately locked onto Corin, their bodies tensing, ready to strike. Corin, however, sensed the danger. His instincts screamed at him, and before anyone could attack¡ª He vanished. "Tch," the female teacher bit her lip in frustration. The chubby teacher behind her let out a relieved sigh. "Well, at least we arrived on time!" He turned to Maruti, offering a nod of approval. "Student Maruti, right? You did a very brave and commendable job by saving¡ª" Before he could finish, Maruti dashed past him and bolted out of the room. "I don¡¯t have time for this!" she called over her shoulder as she ran. The teachers blinked in surprise. "Is she¡­ going after Corin?" the chubby teacher muttered in shock. "Such bravery!" Even the female teacher couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. ---- But this wasn¡¯t just bravery¡ªthis was all part of Esdeath¡¯s plan. She already knew where Corin would attack. After all, she had seen this all happen before. That¡¯s why she had told Maruti in advance and given her the job of interfering. But wait¡­ Didn¡¯t Esdeath want Corin to kill people? Didn¡¯t she want him to lose control and die in the end? Yes¡ªshe did. At least, she did last time, before she turned back time. But things were different now. She had already taken her revenge. There was no need to repeat the same path. This time, she wanted to play her cards more carefully. Corin wasn¡¯t just some wild beast to be discarded¡ªhe had value. Duke''s son. A best space path material. A powerful pawn. So, as Corin attacked different places, Maruti appeared¡ªagain and again¡ªinterrupting him every time. Neither Esdeath nor Maruti told the teachers or Ethan about their plan. If they did, it would raise too much suspicion. How could they possibly know where Corin would strike? And besides¡­ they didn¡¯t want Corin to get captured. Not yet. --- Half an hour passed. Corin had been teleporting again and again, trying to escape and attack. But now¡ª His energy was running out. His body was at its limit. Breathing heavily, his fur damp with sweat, Corin stumbled as he teleported one last time¡ª That''s right, he teleported in Emma''s dorm room. Corin teleported into Emma''s dorm room. His bloodshot eyes swept over the space, and in the far corner he saw a trembling figure¡ªa girl with a soft, gentle frame. To him, she looked like a female version of Ethan, with a similar face but a more alluring and curvier body. "Another Ethan?!" Corin growled, baring his teeth. His vision blurred, and the world still seemed to be washed in red. He stepped closer, ready to attack. Before he could strike, the girl spoke in a shaking yet familiar voice. "Corin, why are you doing this? Don''t you recognize me? It''s me, Emma... your friend!" Corin froze. Her words hit him like a sudden shock. "Emma?" he muttered, confusion flashing in his crimson-stained eyes. For a moment, the anger inside him faded, and small pieces of long-forgotten memories began to surface¡ªmemories of Emma. He had always admired her. More than just a friend, she was his first crush. Slowly, her image grew clear in his mind, breaking through the red haze of rage. The girl stepped forward carefully, tears glistening in her eyes. "Do you remember now? You used to say you wanted to be a hero¡ªto slay the Demon King and protect everyone. Why are you doing this, Corin? Why are you trying to hurt innocent people?" Her soft voice was filled with pain, each word striking him like a sharp blow. Then, memories of that painful time flooded his mind. He remembered the moment when she had chosen Ethan over him. He remembered how she had told Ethan she was single, even though he had confessed his love long ago. At that time, Emma had acted as if nothing had changed, and Corin had believed that meant she accepted him. But when she found someone he considered better¡ªsomeone like Ethan¡ªshe left him behind, as if he were nothing. Corin stood torn between the warm, happy memories and the bitter pain of rejection. His heart ached as he struggled with these conflicting feelings. And just as the battle between his memories reached a peak, a cold, chilling voice spoke from behind him. "She is right!" A female voice cut through the tense air, dripping with mockery and disdain. Both Corin and Emma turned toward the doorway. A girl leaned casually against the frame, a smirk playing on her lips as if she were watching an entertaining play. Her long black hair cascaded over her pale skin, and in the dim light, she looked almost ghostly¡ªlike a nightmare stepping into reality. "Esdeath?" Emma gasped, her voice trembling. Esdeath¡¯s smirk vanished in an instant. "Don''t say my name with your filthy mouth, you disgusting slut," she snapped, her tone sharp as a blade. She strode into the room with the confidence of a queen, completely unfazed by Corin¡¯s monstrous wolfman form. Where others would have trembled in fear, she looked at him with nothing but disdain. "Gulp!" Emma swallowed hard, her body stiff with fear. Esdeath was terrifying. Corin, too, felt his breath hitch as Esdeath¡¯s piercing gaze locked onto him. But then¡ªdisappointment flickered across her face. She sighed as if scolding a foolish child. "Corin, are you really letting your emotions weigh you down? She¡¯s a hindrance. If you want a bright future, let go of her. Forget about her. Leave your past behind. Only then will you be able to become a king." Esdeath¡¯s voice was smooth, calculated¡ªlike a snake whispering into his ear. Her words were manipulative. If she could make him kill Emma, she could also save Emma. "You still haven¡¯t killed anyone yet," she continued, stepping closer. "Surrender now, and you can survive. You can continue being a student. Your life doesn¡¯t have to end here." Corin hesitated. It was an unspoken rule¡ªanyone who awakened as a vampire, a wolfman, or any anomaly was meant to be executed. That was the law. That was what had happened to others before him. But Esdeath was right¡­.. he hadn¡¯t killed anyone yet. Seeing his hesitation, Esdeath leaned even closer. Her red eyes, with multiple moving rings in the pupils, locked onto his red wolf eyes. "Are you doubting me?" she whispered, her voice laced with something dangerous. "Do you know who I am, Right?" There was something in her tone¡ªsomething that made Corin shudder. It wasn¡¯t just a threat. It was a reminder. Reminder that she is an expert and can see future, If she says that Corin will survive,Then he''ll survive. Corin didn¡¯t hesitate anymore. He was exhausted, his body barely holding on. With one last deep breath, he fell to his knees. "Well then¡­ I¡¯m counting on you." The moment he surrendered, his body collapsed onto the floor. His eyes fluttered shut, and he fell unconscious. Esdeath¡¯s cold gaze flickered toward Emma. "Shoo..shoo¡­" she hushed her while waving her palm dismissively,"Leave. Now. Before I change my mind." Emma¡¯s heart pounded. She had so many questions¡ª How did Corin and Esdeath know each other? What did Esdeath mean when she said, "Do you know who I am?" And what about him being a king? But now wasn¡¯t the time for questions. With shaky breaths, Emma turned and bolted out of the room, her lungs burning as she ran. A few moments later, the teachers finally discovered Corin¡¯s location and rushed to the scene. As they stepped into the room, their eyes widened at the sight before them¡ªCorin lay unconscious on the ground, completely defeated. And standing right next to him was Esdeath, looking as calm and composed as ever. She gave them a small smile. "I captured him," she said casually, as if it had been the easiest thing in the world. The teachers exchanged shocked glances. She actually did it? They couldn¡¯t believe it. Corin had been teleporting all over the academy, dodging every attempt to stop him. Yet here he was, completely knocked out¡ªand Esdeath didn¡¯t even have a single scratch on her. Just how powerful was she? Their eyes filled with respect and curiosity. The leader of the teachers, a stern-looking woman, stepped forward. "Your contribution to the academy won¡¯t be forgotten. I¡¯ll make sure to arrange rewards for both you and Student Maruti." Esdeath simply tilted her head, looking amused. "As for now," the teacher continued, "leave him to us. According to Vice Principal Lilith¡¯s orders, we can¡¯t kill him yet." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Esdeath shrugged. "Do whatever you want," she said lightly. Then, without a care in the world, she turned and strolled out of the room. Humming a cheerful tune, she twirled around playfully, her steps light and carefree, as if she had just finished playing a fun game instead of capturing a dangerous enemy. Loyal Slave The first arc had finally ended. But unlike last time, nothing gruesome had happened. Corin was captured and taken for a full-body examination to find out what had caused his transformation. The teachers wanted to check if he had been manipulated by someone or if his awakening had happened naturally. Meanwhile, Esdeath repeated everything just like before. Especially the bath scene. But this time, it wasn¡¯t because she was afraid of causing a mistake in the timeline¡ªit was because she *wanted* Lortell to touch her body all over again. The more, the better. After that, when it was time for classes, Maruti was sitting at the last bench in the middle row, waiting for Esdeath. "Why isn¡¯t she making contact?" she thought in irritation, tapping her fingers on the desk. "She told me to save everyone, but why? Aren¡¯t we villains? We¡¯re supposed to kill people, not protect them. Has she really gone soft? Or¡­ is she just trying to impress Lortell?" Maruti narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Before she could think further, the teacher walked in. "Good morning, everyone," the teacher said with a warm smile. The students immediately stood up and greeted her. "I know yesterday was a shocking day for all of you," she continued. "But today, I have some good news!" She turned toward the classroom door with an expectant look. A moment later, a student walked in. It was a¡­ girl? No, not quite. The person was of average height, with a cute and charming face. But the most striking feature was the pair of golden animal ears on her head. And there was something else¡ªsomething that stood out even more than her non-human features. She wearing a male uniform. That¡¯s right. She was actually a he. The teacher turned back to the class and smiled. "Please welcome him. You might find this hard to believe, but this is your fellow classmate, Corin!" A wave of shock swept through the classroom. The same Corin who had rampaged through the academy just yesterday¡ªthe same Corin who had nearly killed several students¡ªwas now standing before them looking like a¡­ femboy?! "Wait, is that really Corin? How did he turn into a girl?" someone blurted out. "No, no! He¡¯s still a boy! His features just changed somehow!" Teacher replied. The entire class was in an uproar. Eyes widened. Jaws dropped. Some students rubbed their eyes as if they were hallucinating. Others whispered among themselves, trying to make sense of what they were seeing. Corin, however, stood there awkwardly, his face expressionless as if he wanted to disappear into thin air. The teacher smiled as she addressed the class. "Actually, after examining his body, we discovered that Corin was manipulated by a mysterious person. He was drugged, and unfortunately, that triggered his awakening as a Wolfman," she explained, pausing for a moment before continuing. "But don¡¯t worry! He has fully regained his senses. There¡¯s no mental damage, and the academy has confirmed that he is stable. If anything happens, the academy will take full responsibility!" She then glanced around the class, her voice firm yet gentle. "So please, treat him like any other student." There was a moment of silence before Corin stepped forward, his golden ears twitching slightly. He looked around the room, his expression unreadable. "I¡¯d like to forget the past and start fresh," he said in a soft voice. His voice had changed¡ªit was gentler now, smoother, and almost¡­ feminine. "I hope you all can support me," he added before bowing slightly. With that, he turned and walked to his seat. Every eye in the room followed him, but he ignored them, pretending not to notice the stares. Meanwhile, Maruti sat at the back, staring at Corin with a complicated expression. "Now I have to see a femboy every day?" she muttered under her breath, frowning. She couldn''t help but recall a memory from dozens of years ago¡ªa memory that was burned into her mind. For her, it was a nightmare. Something so painful that it had scarred her for life. Maruti quickly shook her head, forcing the thoughts away. "No! I need to stay at least ten meters away from the femboy at all times!" she decided, her face slightly pale. But before she could even catch her breath, another headache entered the room. Kaelith. She strode into the classroom with confidence, her piercing gaze scanning the room like a queen inspecting her kingdom. Corin, with his new appearance, clearly stood out. But Kaelith didn¡¯t even spare him a second glance. Instead, her sharp eyes landed directly on Maruti. Raising an eyebrow, Kaelith walked straight toward her. Without hesitation, she sat down beside Maruti, crossing her arms with a smug expression. "What a great day," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "That annoying Esdeath isn¡¯t here." Then, leaning slightly closer, she smirked. "Now do you understand who will always be by your side? A true friend!" She nodded, as if she had just given Maruti some great wisdom. Maruti, on the other hand, buried her head into the desk, her shoulders trembling. "Someone, please save me!" she internally cried. For the entire lecture, Kaelith stuck to her like glue. Every time Maruti tried to move even slightly, Kaelith would shift even closer, refusing to give her any space. At one point, Kaelith even placed a hand on Maruti¡¯s shoulder, gripping it lightly as if to say, You¡¯re not going anywhere. Maruti felt like her soul was slowly leaving her body. After classes finally ended, Maruti somehow managed to escape from Kaelith¡¯s clingy presence. As she walked down the hallway, she kicked the air in frustration, muttering to herself, "That Kaelith! Who does she think she is? Just because she¡¯s the Silver Dragon, she acts all high and mighty! Hmph! If she¡¯s the Silver Dragon, then I¡¯ll become a Golden Dragon and beat the crap out of her!" She had said the same thing last time too, but there was one difference¡ªback then, Esdeath was walking beside her. And instead of heading to the cafeteria like before, this time she was going straight to Esdeath¡¯s dorm room. She had too many questions to ask. As she reached the door, she didn¡¯t even hesitate to knock. Instead, she slammed the door open. "Yo! Fable, answer my questio¡ª" But before she could finish, her words got stuck in her throat. The scene inside the room completely shocked her. There should have been only two people in the room¡ªEsdeath and Selene. But there were three. And the third person was none other than Corin. Maruti¡¯s eyes widened. Corin was on all fours, like a chair. And Esdeath¡­ S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Esdeath was casually sitting on his back, sipping tea like some tyrant queen. Her outfit was different from usual too. She was wearing a neatly buttoned white shirt that covered her arms and chest, making her look professional. Unlike before, she wasn¡¯t showing even a hint of cleavage. Instead of her usual skirt, she wore tight black pants¡ªalmost like jeans¡ªthat hugged every curve of her body perfectly. Maruti was completely baffled. "What the hell is happening?" she blurted out. Esdeath paused mid-sip, then, without hesitation, she poured the rest of her tea onto Corin¡¯s head. The hot liquid soaked into his hair, but he didn¡¯t react at all. He just endured it. Finally, Esdeath turned to look at Maruti. "Great, isn¡¯t it?" she asked with a smirk. Maruti blinked. "What?" she responded instinctively. "My loyal slave, of course," Esdeath said proudly, patting Corin¡¯s head. Maruti stared at her in disbelief. "When did you make him your slave?" she asked as she stepped into the room. She didn¡¯t ask how¡ªbecause knowing Esdeath, she could definitely do something like this. She just wanted to know when. Before Esdeath could answer, a small voice interrupted. "Mother, I wanna play with him too!" Selene, who had been sitting beside Esdeath, tugged on her sleeve. Esdeath smiled and gently ran her fingers through Selene¡¯s hair. "Not now, dear," she said softly. "I¡¯ll let you play with him later." Maruti sighed and sat down on the bed behind Esdeath. "You still haven¡¯t answered me," she said, crossing her arms. Esdeath finally put her cup down. "Just a few minutes ago," she answered casually. Maruti narrowed her eyes. "A few minutes ago? How?" Esdeath chuckled. "Hehehe¡­ well, it¡¯s a short story," she said, leaning back. "The reason I saved Corin in the first place¡­ was because I wanted him as my slave." She then started explaining. When Corin had fainted, Esdeath hadn¡¯t tried to make him her slave right away. Because if she did, it would have caused a huge problem when the academy did a full-body inspection on him. But she had already predicted that Corin wouldn¡¯t mention her name during the investigation. And just like she expected, Corin had only talked about the mysterious person who manipulated him¡ªhe never said a word about Esdeath. After the full-body check-up, the academy found no abnormalities. And what had Esdeath been doing during that time? She had been preparing a killer move. In fact, she hadn¡¯t attended classes today because she had been finishing her plan. She had spent four months of her lifespan refining A Loyalty Essence Stone. Fused with a Slavery Essence Stone with Human Slavery and Wolfman slavery essence stone to creat a Wolfman slavery essence stone. It was also backed by a Falling Morale & Demotivation Essence Stone, along with several others. With all those combined¡­ She had finally created her killer move¡ª Loyal Slave. But Esdeath never had any slave path Essence stone, Specially rare ones like human slavery essence stone and Demotivation and Falling moral. So where did she get this? If I were to answer this in one word¨CThen it would be¨CLortell. Elite Shooter After Maruti went berserk in the battle arena, the match finally ended, and a half-hour break was announced. Most of the students left the arena to eat, take a walk, or just relax. But instead of doing any of that, Esdeath walked straight toward Lortell. She found Lortell sitting with her head maid, Lorraine, going through some documents. Esdeath hesitated for a moment¡ªshe didn¡¯t want to disturb her. But she had no choice. She knew Lortell would help her. Taking a deep breath, she started walking toward them. Before Esdeath could even get close, Lortell noticed her presence. Her face immediately brightened, and without a second thought, she set the documents aside. Esdeath didn¡¯t say anything right away. She simply stood there, looking hesitant. Her fingers fidgeted slightly as if she was struggling to find the right words. Lortell tilted her head. "Do you want to say something?" she asked. "Umm¡­ yeah," Esdeath mumbled. "But I don¡¯t know how to say it." She swallowed hard before finally speaking. "Actually¡­ I know you¡¯ve already given me a lot, but I need something¡ª" Before she could even finish her sentence, Lortell placed her hands firmly on Esdeath¡¯s shoulders. "You need something?" Lortell¡¯s voice was eager. "Why are you hesitating? Just tell me. Do you need money? Jewelry? A palace? Land or territory? Don¡¯t be shy! Whatever it is, just say it! You know that everything I have is yours, right?" Her words were strong and full of determination. This was the first time Esdeath had ever asked Lortell for anything. And if Esdeath had asked for something as extreme as Lortell¡¯s own heart, Lortell would have given it without a second thought. Esdeath quickly shook her head. "N-no! I just need a few essence stones," she explained. Lortell¡¯s excited expression suddenly turned into one of surprise. After a moment of silence, she raised an eyebrow. "That¡¯s it? You¡¯re not hesitating, right?" she asked, almost suspiciously. Esdeath nodded. "No, it¡¯s just that¡­ I know I can handle my next match, but I¡¯m not so sure about the future ones," she admitted. "So I want to enslave some wolf beasts and human-type monsters to fight for me in the arena." Lortell listened carefully as Esdeath continued. "That¡¯s why I need slavery-path essence stones¡ªhuman slavery and wolf slavery, specifically. And if possible, I¡¯d also like a Falling Morale and Demotivation Essence stone." Esdeath¡¯s plan made sense. Using slaves in battle wasn¡¯t considered cheating. However, there were strict rules. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There was a limit to how many slaves a person could use in a match. Also, the slaves couldn¡¯t be stronger than their master. And most importantly, the owner had to capture the slaves themselves. But of course, summoners didn¡¯t have to follow those rules. If someone was a summoner, there was no limit at all. Lortell immediately turned to her head maid, Lorraine, and ordered, "Give her at least a thousand of each!" Lorraine¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "But¡­ we don¡¯t have that many in storage," she hesitated. "Especially human slavery and demotivation essence stones¡­ They¡¯re mind-type and extremely rare. If we want a thousand of them, we¡¯ll have to buy them." Hearing this, Lortell¡¯s sharp eyes locked onto Lorraine. "Are you defying my order?" she asked coldly. Her voice sent a chill down Lorraine¡¯s spine. She felt her entire body freeze under Lortell¡¯s gaze. Just when Lorraine thought she was done for, Esdeath quickly interjected. "No need, no need! Just a dozen of them is fine!" Esdeath waved her hands in a hurry. Lorraine clenched her teeth. "A dozen is still too much, you greedy girl!" she screamed in her mind, but she didn¡¯t dare say it out loud. Instead, she lowered her head and replied, "I will prepare them as soon as possible." With that, she quickly turned and left. Meanwhile, Lortell turned to Esdeath, her expression lighting up with excitement. "Let¡¯s take a stroll around!" she said happily. Before Esdeath could even respond, Lortell grabbed her arm and started walking. They strolled around the academy grounds, chatting lightly. Lortell took the chance to talk about some of her past heroic deeds, obviously trying to impress Esdeath. She told stories of how she handled important matters, crushed her enemies, and outwitted countless nobles. Esdeath listened with interest, but she knew Lortell was just trying to look cool in front of her. After the break ended, Lortell led Esdeath to the upper-middle section of the arena. This area was reserved only for royals and high-ranking figures. The seats here were special, positioned close to the main figures of the academy. Lortell sat down gracefully and then patted her lap. "Here, sit on my lap," she said with a smirk. Esdeath¡¯s face turned slightly red. "Wh-what?!" Before she could refuse, Lortell grabbed her hand and pulled her down, making her sit right in her lap. Lortell¡¯s arms wrapped around Esdeath¡¯s waist, holding her close. "Don¡¯t be shy," she whispered in a sultry voice, her breath brushing against Esdeath¡¯s ear. "Who knows? You might have to experience this every day in the future." Esdeath shivered slightly at her words. Lortell continued to tease her, flirting shamelessly, whispering playful words in her ear, and holding her waist tightly. She didn¡¯t stop until Esdeath¡¯s match was finally announced. ---------- Now that Corin was fully enslaved, Esdeath had made sure that from the outside, no one would suspect he was under her control. She also chose to wear a non-revealing outfit today, remembering Lortell¡¯s words about dressing more properly. Maruti, on the other hand, looked at Corin with a complicated expression. "Whatever¡­ whatever! Just keep him away from me!" she huffed. But at that moment, a wicked smirk formed on Esdeath¡¯s lips as she stood up. "Oh? Is that so?" she teased. "I finally got a hold of your weakness¡­ hehehe." Maruti immediately tensed up. Her body went on full alert as she saw that playful yet dangerous look on Esdeath¡¯s face. "Hey¡­ hey¡­ hey! Don¡¯t do that! Don¡¯t you dare¡ª" "Corin, hear my order!" Esdeath suddenly commanded. "Jump on the girl in front of you and give her a big hug!" Corin instantly stood up, ready to obey. Maruti¡¯s face turned pale. "I¡¯ll remember this, Fableeee!" she screamed before bolting out of the room as fast as she could. Corin was about to chase after her, but Esdeath stopped him. She then checked the time. "Hmm¡­ I¡¯ve wasted enough time," she muttered. "Caramel might be with Ethan right now," she thought, a sly smile forming on her lips. Reflecting on everything she had done so far, she realized that she had already gained a lot of benefits. But the biggest benefit of all? Her SP points! "Status," she willed. Her system screen appeared before her, displaying her current SP balance. Yep! That was over twenty thousand more than what she previously had. Of course, she could have gained even more¡­ But the biggest reason for this increase was her interference in the main storyline. Saving Corin. In all three original endings, Corin either died, got banished, or never returned. But Esdeath had created a fourth ending where Corin was saved. And that had earned her less amount of SP points. Still, the number was ridiculously high. Without hesitation, Esdeath used a large portion of her SP to restore her previous stats from her past life. After spending a huge chunk, she still had a lot left over. "Hmm¡­ I can''t raise it any further or it''ll might be a problem except MP," she thought. That left only one exciting option¡­ "Sharpshooter!" she decided with a grin. Esdeath immediately used her SP points to upgrade her Sharpshooter skill. A system notification popped up. [Description: Time slows down for 12 seconds. Can be used once every 30 minutes.] [Additional Effect: Increases projectile speed by 20% and reduces recoil by 30%.] <20,000 SP deducted> Esdeath stared at the update and had mixed feelings. Her lips curved into a smile, but there was also a hint of frustration. "It skipped one rank but cost 20,000 SP... That¡¯s kinda expensive." She sighed, but then her smile widened. "Well, not bad! I¡¯ll approve it!" But she wasn¡¯t done yet. Her eyes glowed with determination. "I need more mana. Instead of wasting SP on stats, I should use it to improve my ability to consume mana potions." She had a lot of mana potions, but there was a problem¡ª She couldn¡¯t drink them all at once, and the amount of MP she gained from them was too small. She crossed her arms and smirked. "You know what I want, right? Just give it to me!" The system immediately responded. <7,000 SP deducted> [Description: Potion cooldown(digestion and absorption time) is reduced by 70%, and potions can now stack up to 3 times.] Esdeath couldn¡¯t stop herself from grinning. "This¡­ is perfect! 70% already? What will happen if it gets to Rank A or S" With this, she could drink more potions in a shorter time. Feeling satisfied, she turned to Corin and waved her hand. "You can leave now. Go wash your hair, and remember to behave exactly how I told you to!" Corin nodded and quickly left the room. Then, Esdeath turned her gaze to Selene. With a mischievous smile, she declared, "It¡¯s time for a potion party! Let¡¯s have a competition¡ªwho can drink more?" Selene blinked in surprise before smirking back. "Mother is going to loose!", ------------------- Meanwhile, in the academy corridors, Caramel had an irritated expression on her face. "Lick my feet and apologize! And don¡¯t go around crying, saying you love me or anything," she demanded, crossing her arms. The boy standing in front of her had blue hair and soft blue eyes. His face was filled with confusion. Yes, he was Ethan. "Huh? But I already said sorry for accidentally bumping into you... And why would I say I love you?" Ethan was completely puzzled. Caramel¡¯s expression darkened as she stared straight into his eyes. "Huh? What? You don¡¯t love me? Am I not beautiful?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief. Ethan felt extremely awkward. He let out a nervous laugh. "Yes, you are beautiful, but¡ª" "But? But what?" Caramel almost shouted, stepping closer. Ethan''s heart pounded. "Oh, crap. This girl is crazy! I need to get out of here as soon as possible!" he thought. Forcing a sudden look of realization, he slapped his forehead dramatically. "Oh! I just remembered something really important! I have to go! I¡¯ll meet you later!" Without waiting for a response, he turned around and rushed off. Caramel¡¯s eyes widened before she quickly ran after him. "Hey! Stop running! You¡¯re not getting away from me!" she shouted, chasing after him down the corridor. Date Again The night passed, and morning arrived. Just like before, everything happened the same way as last time. Esdeath and Maruti crossed paths again¡ªEsdeath was leaving while Maruti was heading toward the academy garden to attend the session. As Maruti walked through the corridors, she spotted Esdeath coming from the opposite direction. "Wait¡­ I think you forgot! The garden is this way!" Maruti called out, pointing behind her. Esdeath stopped and snorted. "Of course, I know that. I''m not attending today''s lecture. I have some work outside the academy, so I''ll be gone for a few hours." "Really? Should I come with you?" Maruti asked eagerly. "No need," Esdeath replied flatly, rejecting her without hesitation. Maruti sighed in disappointment but quickly perked up. "Then do me a favor. Buy me a set of academy clothes from the official shop, and grab some casual ones too." She paused for a moment, then turned slightly. "Come with me for a second. I''ll give you my measurements¡ªit¡¯ll only take a moment!" Esdeath glanced at Maruti¡¯s body from top to bottom, smirking playfully. "No need. I already have a pretty good idea of what size will fit you, fufufu..." she chuckled. A vein popped on Maruti¡¯s forehead as she clenched her fist. "For some reason, your words really make me want to slap you right now!" Esdeath laughed and casually walked past her. "Well then, see you later!" she said, waving her hand. And just like last time, during the session, something embarrassing happened again. Because of Maruti¡¯s curvy, seductive body and her big assets, the buttons on her shirt suddenly popped off, exposing her chest in front of everyone. The entire class froze, eyes widening in shock. Maruti''s face turned bright red as she quickly covered herself. "Ahhh! Not again!" she screamed before running out of the session. Because of this, she had to leave in the middle of the lecture. Teacher Kaya sighed and followed her out, taking off her own extra set of undergarments. The only difference this time was that Maruti didn¡¯t run into Caramel afterward. And how could she? This time, she didn¡¯t go to the cafeteria, and Caramel was busy chasing after Ethan instead. Honestly, that was a great thing for Maruti¡ªCaramel was way too irritating for her to deal with. --------------- Just like last time, Esdeath took Selene with her to the market to show her the outside world. They visited many fun places, played games, explored different shops, and even stopped by a restaurant to eat. Selene had a huge appetite¡ªfar bigger than Esdeath¡¯s. In just a short amount of time, Selene had already grown to almost 60% of Esdeath¡¯s height. While Esdeath ate like a regular human, Selene devoured plate after plate, stacking them high on the table. As Selene happily dug through her meals, her sharp eyes noticed something interesting. A couple was sitting at a nearby table, facing each other. The woman had a red face, and she was rubbing her thigh nervously, trembling slightly. Selene tilted her head in confusion. "Mother, is that girl in pain? Why is she shaking so much?" she asked. Esdeath followed her gaze and observed for a moment before smirking. "Well, I think it¡¯s natural. They seem to be a couple. The girl probably has a huge crush on him and really loves him. That¡¯s why she¡¯s listening so carefully to every word he says, and she can¡¯t even make eye contact because she¡¯s too embarrassed. Most women in love act like that when they¡¯re around their husband or boyfriend," Esdeath explained. Selene¡¯s lips curled into a playful smirk. "Does Mother act like that when she''s around Dad?" she asked innocently. Blush! Esdeath¡¯s face instantly turned red. She coughed and waved her hand dismissively, trying to act calm. But her mind was already filled with memories of her blushing in front of Lortell Mariette. "Cough¡­ cough¡­ I-I''m a tough person! You know that!" she said, lifting her head proudly. But Selene¡¯s smirk only widened. "Your face clearly says you¡¯re lying!" Of course, Selene knew exactly who her "Dad" was¡ªthe Dominator, Lortell Mariette. There was no way Esdeath could ever be more dominant than her! "Enough questions for now! Let¡¯s leave!" Esdeath quickly stood up, avoiding the topic altogether. ----------------- After leaving the restaurant, Selene eventually met the old woman again. And just like last time, yes! The old woman was completely shocked to see that a teenage girl like Esdeath was Selene¡¯s mother. Even though Esdeath had already heard it last time, the rage still bubbled up inside her. She scolded the old woman, not holding back her words, and then quickly left with Selene. They made their way back to the academy, but Esdeath couldn¡¯t just walk in openly with Selene. No one could find out about her. So, they waited for half an hour, carefully hidden, before sneaking inside unnoticed. After resting for a bit, Esdeath suddenly remembered something¡ªan errand she had almost forgotten. She had bought new clothes for Maruti and needed to deliver them. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed the package and headed to Maruti¡¯s dorm room. When she knocked on the door, it opened just a crack. Before Esdeath could say anything, a hand shot out, grabbed her wrist, and yanked her inside. "What the hell¡ª" Esdeath gasped, startled. "Shhh!" Maruti hissed, pressing a finger to her lips. Seeing Maruti¡¯s cautious expression, Esdeath was immediately reminded of last time when Caramel fell in love with her. Could it be happening again? Was Maruti also acting strange because of that? "Don''t tell me¡ª" Esdeath was about to jump to conclusions, but Maruti cut her off. "It''s that lizard Kaelith!" Maruti groaned. "She gives me no privacy! The only place she won¡¯t follow me is the washroom! And honestly, I wouldn''t be surprised if she showed up there too!" Esdeath smirked. "Pfft¡­ That¡¯s what happens when you make the wrong friends." Maruti looked a bit shocked. "Wait, how do you know?" Esdeath crossed her arms and looked away, pretending to be mysterious. "I have my ways," she said casually. Of course, she knew because in her past life, Kaelith herself had said that Maruti was her friend. "Hmph!" Maruti huffed. "She acts more like an owner than a friend! What does she think she is? A mighty silver dragon? Who cares!" Her frustration boiled over, and she stomped her foot. "If she¡¯s a silver dragon, then I¡¯ll become a golden dragon! Just you wait, lizard!" she declared. Hearing this, Esdeath sighed. "Golden dragons don¡¯t exist," she said flatly. "Wait, what?" Maruti¡¯s mouth hung open. Since Esdeath and Maruti never went to the cafeteria together yesterday, she never told Maruti about silver dragons. "I guess I¡¯ll have to explaining it again," Esdeath muttered, shaking her head. ------------ Esdeath repeated the same story again, explaining how the Silver Dragon came into existence. She spoke in detail, making sure Maruti understood everything. After finishing that, she also shared some important information about the second arc. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Maruti listened carefully, her eyes narrowing in thought. When Esdeath finally stopped talking, Maruti leaned back and crossed her arms. "Hmm... So, what do you think we are doing this time?" she asked. Hearing that question made Esdeath remember something¡ªMaruti had asked her this exact question before. Back then, she had confidently said they would avoid the second arc as much as possible. The reason? The second arc was too difficult. Strength alone wouldn¡¯t be enough to survive¡ªit also required a huge amount of luck. Recalling that moment, a wicked grin slowly spread across Esdeath¡¯s face. "Hehehe..." She chuckled, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "We are gonna rob the shit out of him!" --------------- After their conversation, Esdeath left Maruti¡¯s room and returned to her own. The night passed quickly, and morning arrived. Lortell woke up early, stretching lightly before slipping into her usual elegant clothes. She felt unusually energetic as she walked to her door, eager to greet Esdeath with a bright smile. But just as she opened the door¡ª "Good morning!" Esdeath was already standing outside, her innocent smile glowing like morning sunshine. Lortell¡¯s eyes sparkled with joy. Without thinking twice, she bent down slightly to match Esdeath¡¯s height and pulled her into a tight hug. "Seeing your face first thing in the morning¡­ how fortunate!" she murmured, her tone soft and full of affection. Esdeath¡¯s cheeks turned pink¡ªnot as badly as before, though. She had expected this reaction from Lortell, so she had woken up even earlier to prepare herself. When Lortell finally let go, she smiled cheerfully. "Let''s go for a bath!" Esdeath nodded, and they started walking toward the academy¡¯s bath area. As they strolled through the corridors, Lortell casually draped an arm over Esdeath¡¯s shoulder. The way they walked together made them look like two best friends heading out for a fun day. Then, just as they passed a quiet corner, Lortell suddenly leaned in close. Her lips hovered just inches away from Esdeath¡¯s ear. "Today''s the last day of your competition, right?" she whispered in a teasing voice. "So¡­ how about we go on a date tomorrow?" Her warm breath tickled Esdeath¡¯s skin, sending shivers down her spine. "D-D-Date?" Esdeath stuttered, her whole body freezing in place. Her face burned with embarrassment, turning as red as a ripe apple. Lortell chuckled at her reaction, clearly enjoying every bit of Esdeath¡¯s flustered state. "I was just teasing," she said playfully. "What I meant was, the weather will be nice tomorrow. Let¡¯s go out and have some fun. You must be bored staying in the academy all the time, right?" But what Lortell didn¡¯t know was that Esdeath was thinking about something else entirely¡ª She was remembering the real Esdeath. "Last time, she woke up and ruined everything. This time, I won¡¯t let that happen!" A huge smile spread across Esdeath¡¯s face. Her cheeks still red, she suddenly dashed forward, running toward the bath area ahead of Lortell. In her mind, one word echoed again and again like a song¡ª Date, date, date, date, date¡­ In Ethan''s dorm room, the first rays of morning light slipped through the curtains. He slowly opened his eyes, stretching his arms before rubbing his face. Even though it was still early, his expression was serious. He wasn¡¯t sleepy at all. He glanced down at his hand and noticed a slight tremble in his fingers. He clenched them into a fist, his jaw tightening. He knew exactly what this meant. "Today is the day Violet got kidnapped," he whispered, his voice filled with regret. "And back then¡­ I couldn¡¯t do anything. But this time¡­ this time, it will be different. I''ll protect Violet, no matter what!" Just as he made that promise to himself¡ª Bang! Bang! Bang! Loud knocking sounds suddenly echoed through the room, making him flinch. Knock¡­ knock¡­ knock¡­ The sound was loud and forceful. Ethan immediately walked to the door and peeked through the tiny hole. His eyes widened in shock. Outside stood Caramel. "Ethan, I know you''re there! Open the door!" her voice rang out. "I''m here to confess my love for you! I even prepared a love letter!" Ethan stared at her, frozen. "Has this girl lost her mind?" he thought. He quickly turned away from the door, leaning against it with a troubled expression. "Should I open it and tell her to go away?" he considered. But before he could decide¡ª Bang! A heavy punch landed on the door, leaving a dent. Bang! Bang! Bang! "Open the door! Open the door! Open the door!" Caramel repeated over and over. The strange spiral scar on her forehead started to widen, twisting unnaturally. Then she began laughing. It was a wild, crazy laugh, like she had completely lost her mind. Ethan slid down to the floor, his back still pressed against the door. "This girl is completely insane!" Cute As the day went on, it was time for an important meeting. A meeting where it would be decided¡ªwho won the match between Maruti and Princess Ravenna? Just like last time, during the meeting, Princess Ravenna confessed to her wrongdoing. It was all thanks to Esdeath¡¯s threat the night before. The difference this time was that Maruti didn¡¯t have to go after Ethan to distract him. Caramel, now completely in love with him, had already taken on that role. With her obsessive nature, she was fully distracting Ethan without anyone¡¯s help. Esdeath walked through the corridors, her face blank as she thought about everything that had happened. "I don¡¯t think Violet will get kidnapped today," she muttered to herself. "Or maybe¡­ she won¡¯t get kidnapped at all? Whatever happens, it will definitely be tomorrow!" Meanwhile, somewhere else... Kailith had a blank expression on her face, but her mind was filled with one thought. "She kissed someone!" Kaelith¡¯s eyes darkened slightly as she stared at Maruti, but she said nothing more. Maruti, standing in front of her, sighed again and crossed her arms. "Cough¡­ cough¡­ Whatever. Let¡¯s just go to the arena together now, okay?" But once again, Kaelith refused. She simply shook her head. "No. You go first. I¡¯ll come later." And with that, she turned and walked away. Maruti watched Kaelith leave, feeling a little confused. "She¡¯s acting weird today¡­ Oh well, I should just go!" she thought before heading toward the arena. At the Arena As the matches began, the first one was just as expected¡ªMaruti versus Kaelith. Maruti smirked, trying to provoke Kaelith like last time. And just as before, Kaelith responded confidently. "I¡¯ll let you use three moves on me first," Kaelith said calmly. "After that, I will make my move once. If you survive, you win." But Kaelith had no idea that Maruti was far smarter than she thought. Maruti made her three moves, attacking quickly. But when it was Kaelith¡¯s turn¡ª Instead of standing her ground, Maruti backed off. She smiled, raised her hands in surrender, and accepted defeat. The entire arena fell silent for a moment before whispers spread through the crowd. Maruti had lost on purpose. Kaelith¡¯s expression darkened instantly. Even though she had won, she wasn¡¯t happy at all. Her victory felt empty. Her rage bubbled inside her, and in frustration, she left the match entirely. She didn¡¯t even stay to fight in the finals. She stormed away from the arena, too angry to care. -------- The final match had arrived¡ªEthan versus Esdeath. Esdeath walked into the arena with a big smile. She was confident, and why wouldn¡¯t she be? She already knew what kind of moves Ethan was going to use. That made her chances of winning even higher. And just like she expected¡ªshe won. The fight was intense, both of them pushing their limits, but in the end, Esdeath stood victorious. The only difference this time was that she never revealed her Death Aura. Last time, she had to use it as her trump card to secure victory. But this time? There was no need. She had won without it. Of course, Ethan wasn¡¯t fighting at his full strength either. He only went all out when he had to kill someone. And while Esdeath had a bad attitude, she wasn¡¯t truly evil in his eyes. The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps. Even Lortell, who had been watching closely, was stunned. "To think she actually won!" Lortell murmured, her eyes wide with surprise. It hadn¡¯t even been six months since Esdeath awakened, yet here she was¡ªdefeating strong opponents and winning the entire competition. Back in the Dorm Room After receiving her reward, Esdeath returned to her dorm. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, glowing stone¡ªthe Warrior Spirit Essence Stone. She stared at it, deep in thought. "Last time, I used this and got a huge boost in my soul foundation¡­ But it also strengthened Esdeath¡¯s soul, which caused her to awaken." She didn¡¯t want that happening again. Carefully, she placed the stone inside her storage-type Essence Stone, deciding not to use it for now. "I don¡¯t need to strengthen my soul right now. I can do it after the second arc!" With that thought, she left her room and took a slow walk around the academy, her mind analyzing everything. After about an hour, she finally returned to her dorm. She lay on her bed, her thoughts drifting to the upcoming chaos. "Hmm¡­ unlike last time, Caramel hasn¡¯t gone berserk yet. She¡¯ll last until midnight, just like in FLF." There was a reason why things had changed. Last time, Maruti rejected Caramel again and again without hesitation. That had pushed Caramel over the edge, making her lose control earlier than expected. But this time, Ethan hadn¡¯t rejected her outright. He wasn¡¯t accepting her love either¡ªjust running and hiding from her. And that made all the difference. Caramel believed that if she kept trying, Ethan might eventually accept her. That¡¯s why she was holding back¡­ for now. But tomorrow night, everything would spiral into chaos. Esdeath knew it all. Still, as she lay on her bed, she smiled. "Whatever happens tomorrow¡­ the only thing that matters is my date with Lortell!" ------------- Esdeath woke up early, feeling both excited and a little nervous. Today was the day of her date with Lortell. She quickly took a bath, the warm water washing away any sleepiness. As she dried herself, she thought about what to wear. She wasn¡¯t sure what kind of outfit would be best, so she decided to ask Maruti for help. After getting dressed in something simple, she sent a message to Maruti, telling her to come to the dorm room later. And just as she had instructed, Maruti arrived. Both of them sat on the floor, facing each other with serious expressions. A pile of clothes and jewelry lay beside them, as if they were about to decide something of great importance¡ªlike the fate of the world. Maruti was the first to speak. "So, first question¡ªwhat kind of outfit do you want to wear?" she asked, tilting her head. Esdeath rolled her eyes and thought for a moment before answering. "Something cute!" she said confidently. Maruti blinked, surprised. "Cute? Why?" Esdeath smirked, crossing her arms. "Because people don¡¯t want something they already have." Maruti frowned. "What does that even mean?" "I mean, Lortell is the strongest in the academy. Since she¡¯s already strong, she might not be interested in a tomboyish girl who¡¯s full of confidence and power. Maybe she¡¯d like a cute, weak-looking Esdeath more," she explained. Maruti nodded slowly, considering her words. "That actually makes sense!" Without wasting time, Maruti started digging through the pile of clothes, pulling out different sets one by one. She made Esdeath sit in front of a large wall mirror and handed her outfit after outfit to try on. There were crop tops, shorts, off-shoulder dresses, and elegant frocks¡ªeach one designed to make Esdeath look like a delicate maiden in love. Some were soft and sweet, while others carried a hint of seduction. But there was a big problem. No matter how cute the clothes were, her tattoos stood out too much. The twin dragon tattoo on her back, the marks on her arms, and the heart-shaped one near her belly made her look too intimidating. Even in the cutest outfit, her fierce presence remained. Esdeath sighed. "Tops can¡¯t hide the tattoos on my belly and arms. I need something that can cover these¡­ and my legs too." Maruti hummed in thought, glancing at the pile again. After a moment, her eyes lit up. "Here! Wear this!" she said, holding up an outfit with excitement. Then, grabbing some hair tools and jewelry, she grinned. "And as for your makeup and hairstyle¡ªleave it to me!" Esdeath raised an eyebrow, doubtful. "Wait¡­ do you even know how to do this kind of stuff?" Maruti scoffed. "Of course I do! Just trust me!" As Maruti got to work, someone else in the room was watching them with amusement. Selene sat in the corner, pretending to read a book, but every now and then, she stole a glance at them with a mischievous smirk. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she thought to herself. "Mother is going on a date with Dad, and she thinks I wouldn¡¯t know? Hehehe¡­" ----------- After a while , Everything was done. In front of mirror, Esdeath sat gracefully, draped in an elegant, vintage-style white gown like frock that cascaded around her like liquid moonlight. The flowing fabric, adorned with delicate lace trims, enhanced the ethereal allure of her presence. The sleeves were long and billowy, cinched at the wrists with intricate embroidery, giving her an air of regal sophistication and also hiding her tattoos. A striking contrast to the purity of her dress was the deep crimson lace that framed her d¨¦colletage, weaving seductive patterns against her pale skin. The bodice, modest yet enticing, hinted at an old-world charm, its delicate fabric hugging her form while leaving much to the imagination. Around her waist, a corset-like black belt adorned with golden embellishments and metal clasps cinched tightly, accentuating her silhouette with a refined yet commanding presence. Her dark, cascading locks framed her porcelain face, complementing the opulence of her ensemble. The flickering window light cast soft shadows upon her, illuminating the gold jewelry that dangled from her ears¡ªdelicate chains that whispered secrets of aristocracy and intrigue. Of course that was not it, Maruti also did her job. She styled her hair. Esdeath''s long, raven-black hair cascaded down her back in soft, flowing waves, framing her delicate features with an air of elegance. A few strands gracefully curled around her face, enhancing her mysterious allure. Intricate gold hairpins adorned the sides, securing sections of her hair in an ornate yet effortless style. The contrast between her dark locks and pale skin made her look both ethereal and captivating. After everything was done, Esdeath stared at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes wide with astonishment. She slowly raised her hand, touching her cheek as if making sure the person in the mirror was really her. Her long, silky hair was neatly styled, with soft curls framing her face. Her usual fierce and sharp gaze was softened by the delicate makeup Maruti had applied. The outfit Maruti had chosen covered her tattoos perfectly, making her look less like a warrior and more like a refined, elegant young lady. For the first time in her life, Esdeath looked¡­ cute. "Wow, Predictor, how do you know all this so perfectly?" Esdeath asked, still amazed. Maruti grinned and rubbed her nose, clearly proud of herself. "I spent quite some time in the red-light district," she said, puffing out her chest. "After sleeping with dozens of girls, I even tried cosplaying. So many times, I was the one dressing them up to match exactly how I wanted. After a while, I just got really good at it!" Esdeath rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Well, at least you have one good skill," she snorted. She stood up and turned in a slow circle, checking her outfit from every angle. The dress flowed perfectly, the accessories sparkled just the right amount, and her overall appearance was nothing short of stunning. She smirked, satisfied. "Now, the only thing left is for me to act cute!" But the moment she thought about it, her smirk faded. Her fingers twitched slightly, and her face turned a little pale. She looked at herself in the mirror again, but this time, instead of admiration, doubt filled her eyes. Wait¡­ how does someone act cute?" ------------------- Here''s an reference image of Esdeath rn.... Spying On Date "Wait¡­ how does someone act cute?" Esdeath muttered under her breath, staring hard at her reflection in the mirror. Anxiety gnawed at her. Her fists clenched tightly as a nervous feeling settled in her chest. In her past life, she was a tall, muscular man with a broad chest and strong features. There was no way anyone would ever describe her as cute back then. In fact, if she had ever tried to act cute, she would have looked like a complete clown. That¡¯s why she never even bothered to try. But now¡­ things were different. She looked back at her reflection. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her hair delicately styled, and the outfit made her look like a delicate maiden. "Imaginations are scarier than reality¡­ I just need to face whatever happens!" Determined, she turned to Maruti, her face blank again. "Okay, your job here is done. Now get lost!" Maruti blinked in disbelief. "Huh?! You literally begged me for help a while ago, and now you''re¡ª" Before she could finish, Esdeath shoved her toward the door. "Yeah, yeah, whatever! Thanks for the help. Now disappear from my sight!" Bang! Esdeath kicked Maruti out and slammed the door shut behind her. --------- Fifteen minutes later, Esdeath was pacing back and forth in her room, her stomach filled with a mix of excitement and nerves. Finally, she shook her head and forced a confident smile. "It''s time!" Without wasting another moment, she dashed out of her room and made her way toward Lortell¡¯s dorm. Her heart pounded fast as she approached the door, but just as she was about to knock, the door swung open. Esdeath froze. Standing there was Lortell Mariette, the most feared and powerful figure in the academy ¡ª and yet, she looked absolutely stunned the moment her gaze fell on Esdeath. For a brief second, there was silence. Then¡ª A deep red blush exploded on Lortell¡¯s face. Her eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth slightly open, and sweat formed on her forehead. "S-soo cute¡­," Lortell stuttered, her voice trembling. Esdeath blinked. "H-huh?" Before she could react, Lortell''s excitement shot through the roof. Blood started dripping from her nose, and she quickly covered it with her palm. "She¡­ she got a nosebleed?" Esdeath''s face turned crimson. "A-ahem, y-you look very stunning too!" Esdeath quickly said, trying to keep her cool, but her voice cracked slightly. Lortell couldn¡¯t take it anymore. With a soft squeal, she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Esdeath, pulling her into a tight hug. "Awww! You''re so adorable, Esdeath!" Esdeath''s face flushed deep red as she froze in Lortell''s embrace, her heart racing like crazy. After a few seconds, Lortell finally released her but still couldn''t stop grinning. "Let''s go! I can''t wait for our date! I mean stroll" Lortell said excitedly, grabbing Esdeath''s hand. Esdeath gulped, her mind still struggling to process everything that just happened. "My chances of loosing my Virginity today increased again!", -------------- As Esdeath and Lortell stepped out of the academy, Esdeath''s eyes widened when she saw a luxurious vintage car parked in the area. Its sleek black body, polished to perfection, shone under the afternoon sun. It was the kind of car only the wealthiest could afford ¡ª something that screamed status and power. Lortell turned to Esdeath with a bright smile and casually grabbed her hand, leading her toward the car. "A car?" Esdeath blinked in surprise, her brows furrowing. Lortell chuckled softly, placing a gentle hand on Esdeath''s shoulder. "It''s yours," she said casually. "I bought it in your name." Esdeath froze on the spot. "What?! You didn''t have to do that! I mean, I have no use for a car either!" she blurted out, trying to push the idea away. The world of Free Life Fantasy was still in the steam engine age, and cars were something extremely rare. Owning one was like having a Bugatti in modern times ¡ª something only the rich could afford. And here Lortell was¡­ gifting it to her like it was a mere trinket. Lortell, however, simply patted Esdeath''s back, her expression unbothered. "Chill. It''s just a small thing," she smiled warmly. "Now come on, let''s get inside." Before Esdeath could protest any further, the driver quickly stepped out of the car and politely opened the door for them. Esdeath still felt conflicted, but seeing Lortell''s excited face made it impossible to refuse. With a deep breath, she finally got in, and Lortell quickly followed, sitting right beside her. The interior was nothing short of magnificent. The seats were made of smooth leather, and the detailed carvings on the wooden panels showed how much work had gone into crafting the car. Everything inside screamed luxury. Lortell just giggled. The car soon set off, driving smoothly toward the market area. -------------- After a short drive, they finally arrived at the bustling main market area. Only then did the two of them step out of the car. The moment they did, the attention of everyone around immediately shifted toward them. The vintage car alone was enough to turn heads, but seeing two beautiful girls ¡ª especially the infamous Lortell Mariette ¡ª stepping out of it made the crowd gasp. Whispers filled the air. "Isn''t that Lortell Mariette¡­?" "And who''s that girl with her? She''s kind of cute!" "A Black haired girl in black car? This doesn''t look good, I should get home and rest for today!" "Today''s day gonna be waste!" Lortell, however, didn''t care at all. In fact, she looked extremely pleased. With a radiant smile, she looked up at the sky. The afternoon sunlight kissed her face, making her silver hair shine like silk. "Good¡­ I have the whole day with her," she smiled inwardly, feeling a warm sense of happiness. Without wasting another second, she grabbed Esdeath''s hand ¡ª her fingers intertwining with hers ¡ª and pulled her toward the market. --------- Meanwhile, at the same time in the academy¡­ Inside the basketball court''s changing room, Kaelith sat on the wooden bench, her face completely buried in her hands. Her entire body radiated embarrassment. "Urrgh¡­ what have I done¡­? I actually let my lust take over me. My mind has been completely corrupted," she groaned, her cheeks burning bright red. Her bare legs shifted uncomfortably as she tried to calm herself down. Her entire body still had faint marks from everything she and Maruti had done¡­ not once, not twice¡­ but multiple times. Now that her mind was clear, guilt flooded her. "What the hell was I thinking¡­? Girls aren''t supposed to do¡­ stuff like that without marriage! Especially with another girl!" Kaelith cried out in frustration, gripping her own arms tightly. Maruti, who was casually putting on her uniform beside her, shot her an amused glance. "Why the fuss?" she asked lazily. "Weren''t you the one who got all touchy and started everything?" Kaelith''s blush deepened. "I-I know, but that was different! I-I didn''t think it would go that far! And¡ª and girls shouldn''t do stuff like that with each other! It''s a taboo!" she stammered. After a few more minutes of Maruti teasing her and Kaelith spiraling in shame, the two of them finally finished getting dressed. As maruti left, she couldn''t help but smirk to herself. "If I still had my thing, this would''ve been way more fun. It felt weird in a girl''s body¡­ but it was still pretty good. Guess I''ll let it slide," she thought as she disappeared down the hall. ------------- After a while, Maruti finally returned to her room. She let out a long sigh before throwing herself onto the bed, her body sinking into the soft mattress. She stared blankly at the ceiling, her mind still processing everything that had happened earlier. "Ouch¡­ ouch¡­ my chest¡­ my breasts¡­" Maruti whimpered as she hugged her own body, wincing slightly. "Damn it, she grabbed them way too much!" Even though she acted all dominant in front of Kaelith, the truth was far from that. There was a clear difference in strength and stamina between the two of them ¡ª and Maruti was definitely on the losing side. "Ugh¡­ and what was I even thinking?! I told her ''Call me whenever you feel horny''¡­ Oh my god, that was so cringe!" she groaned, covering her face with both hands. Her narcissistic personality now felt like a curse. "What if she actually starts demanding it every day now?" Maruti shivered, imagining Kaelith shamelessly clinging to her. "It''s a good thing she''s still inexperienced¡­ but what if she gets some experience later on?" Maruti''s body shuddered as a cold chill ran down her spine. The thought of a confident, experienced Kaelith pinning her down made her gulp nervously. "But no way¡­ I have dozen years of experience she''d never¡ª" THUD! Suddenly, something landed directly on her stomach, causing her to jolt. "What the¡ª!?" Maruti was about to jump up in shock, but then she saw what it was. Sitting comfortably on her belly was a small girl ¡ª no older than six ¡ª with long, silky hair that was half silver and half black. Her sharp silver eyes sparkled mischievously as she looked down at Maruti. "Selene?!" Maruti blinked in disbelief. "What are you doing here?" Selene, with her usual smug expression, slid back and comfortably settled herself on Maruti¡¯s thighs. "Aunt, let¡¯s not waste time," Selene said, folding her arms. "Today¡¯s the day my mom¡¯s going on a date with my dad, right?" Her smirk widened even more. Maruti froze. "What?!" she sat up immediately, placing Selene on the bed beside her. "How do you¡ªWait, no! Who told you about that?" Maruti demanded, looking flustered. Selene simply stood up on the bed, her small height now allowing her to stare directly into Maruti¡¯s eyes. Her smirk never once faded. "Don¡¯t play dumb with me, Aunt," Selene said confidently. "I already know my dad is Lortell Mariette, right?" For a brief moment, Maruti felt a jolt of shock. But then she quickly realized something ¡ª Selene was born from Kaelith¡¯s blood¡­ but Esdeath¡¯s blood was also mixed in her. And Esdeath¡¯s likes Lortell. "Hmm¡­ well technically you¡¯re right," Maruti finally admitted, her tone defeated. "So what do you want?" Selene didn¡¯t hesitate for a second. "What else? Let¡¯s go spy on them! I promise I won¡¯t get in the way at all!" she grinned mischievously. Maruti raised an eyebrow. "Spy on their date?" Selene¡¯s grin widened even more. "Yup. I wanna see how my mom tries to act all cool but ends up blushing like crazy." Maruti thought about it for a moment and then smirked. "Hmm¡­ you know what? I like your style, little demon. Yeah, let¡¯s do it!" She then stood up and stretched, a devilish grin plastered on her face. "I wanna see Fable ¡ª I mean, Esdeath ¡ª blushing too. Heh, maybe I¡¯ll even record it and use it as blackmail material later. Just like how she blackmailed me with that stupid femboy." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Maruti turned to her with a sly grin. "Alright then, let¡¯s go, little demon." Before Selene could react, Maruti suddenly grabbed the back of her small cloak and hurled her into the air. ---------------- Maruti and Selene walked through the corridors. Thankfully, no one was around, but as they reached the ground floor, Maruti chose the front way instead of sneaking from the back. Selene grew worried. "Aunt, aren¡¯t we supposed to be careful so no one sees us? Why are we going straight out instead of the back?" Maruti yawned. "Hiding isn¡¯t my style, and honestly, no one really cares about their surroundings like you think," she replied casually, leading Selene toward the exit. As they walked outside area of academy,Many students were going inside and outside. Some with a lots of paper works in their hands while some in group chatting and laughing. "I feel like everyone is staring at me," Selene muttered, clutching Maruti¡¯s hand tightly. "Is that so?" Maruti chuckled but didn¡¯t say anything further. Many people did look at them but then minded their own business. Just then, a female student noticed them and walked over, curiosity shining in her eyes. She bent slightly, her gaze fixed on Selene. "Aww¡­ who''s this little cutie?" the student asked with a smile. Maruti placed her hand on Selene''s head and grinned. "My niece. She came from my village to visit me. We''re just heading out for a stroll," she said, brushing off the student''s curiosity. The student blinked in confusion. "Niece¡­?" she mumbled, trying to figure out the connection. But after a brief moment, she simply let out a nervous laugh. "Ahaha¡­ I see! Well, have fun, you two. Bye!" she waved before walking off. As they resumed walking, Maruti smiled smugly. "See that? You were both right and wrong," she said. Selene tilted her head. "Huh?" Maruti chuckled. "You thought everyone would care about you. And yeah, some people did look. But no one really cared enough to bother us, right?" Selene thought about it and slowly nodded. "Yeah¡­ I guess so." Maruti sighed, glancing up at the sky. "Most people are too busy with their own problems. They barely care what others are doing. Even if you tripped and fell flat on your face, most people would just glance and move on," she explained with a carefree smile. "Many people don''t do anything thinking everyone is looking at them, Thinking bad about them but In reality no one really cares, The only thing matters is confidence, If you are doing something with confident then more than half of people think of that person is that confident, Then there wouldn''t be anything bad happening, It''s all about psychology!", By the time they reached the front gate, both of them walked out freely without any trouble. There were no teachers in sight, and everything went smoothly. After stepping outside, Maruti suddenly stopped and turned to Selene. "So? What are you feeling now?" she asked, smirking. Selene paused for a moment, then smiled brightly. "I feel¡­ free!" she said, her silver eyes shining with excitement. Maruti laughed and ruffled Selene¡¯s hair. "Good! Now, let''s go find your Dear mom and dad," she said mischievously. ------------- They walked through the market, stopping occasionally to grab snacks while looking around. Half an hour passed with no sign of Esdeath and Lortell. Selene started getting impatient. "Did we miss them?" Maruti shook her head. "Nah, couples always stand out." Just as she said that, her eyes landed on Esdeath and Lortell near a shop. "There they are!" Photoshoot "There she is!" Maruti exclaimed excitedly. Selene quickly turned her head and spotted Esdeath and Lortell standing in front of a couple photo booth. The booth had a large magic machine with glowing runes, acting like a camera. It captured the moment and engraved it on paper. This place was usually popular among couples. Selene¡¯s mouth fell open as she saw Lortell making Esdeath do different poses ¡ª ones that were clearly meant for very very very very.... romantic couples. First, Lortell scooped Esdeath into her arms like a princess and posed for the photo. Then she pressed Esdeath against the wall, resting one hand on her side like a dominant lover. Esdeath, despite being embarrassed, simply obeyed without complaint. Lortell, on the other hand, looked thrilled. As for why Esdeath said nothing because lortell gave a ridiculous reason. "Esdeath , I''m starting a new manufacturing company for guns, So I''ll using some intimate poses for banners, You gonna help me out okay?", She said. Of course Esdeath felt puzzled. "But what relationship between intimate poses and guns have?", But lortell didn''t let her question any further,"Leave that to me, You will not understand!", Essa felt more confused but without questioning further she nodded in agreement. "Okay! Now try this one!" Lortell grinned, pulling Esdeath close again. Their chests pressed against each other, making Esdeath¡¯s face flush even more. Lortell gently grabbed Esdeath¡¯s chin, lifting it. "Look me in the eyes," she said softly, her voice dripping with seduction. Before Esdeath could react, Lortell grabbed her thigh, lifted it in the air, and leaned her forehead against Esdeath¡¯s. Their faces were so close that their breaths mixed. Lortell flicked her fingers. CLICK! ...... The photo was taken, but Lortell still wasn¡¯t satisfied. "One more! One more!" she said excitedly and ran into the shop. The shop owner, who was sitting behind the counter, stared at nothingness in disbelief. "To think Lady Mariette would come to my shop¡­" he mumbled, his face full of shock. He glanced at the photos piling up. "Two photos cost one copper coin¡­ she¡¯s already taken over thirty! Today''s revenue is insane!" he muttered happily. Just then, Lortell pointed at the back of the shop where props like chairs, fake swords, wand, Hammer, and even a small bed were placed for special photoshoots. "How much is it to use that section?" she asked quickly. The shop owner hesitated. "Uh¡­ Th-three¡ª no, fi¡ª" he stammered, unsure what to charge the arch-duke''s daughter. Lortell didn¡¯t have time for his nonsense. Without a word, she pulled out a gold coin and threw it directly at his face like tossing charity. Thud! The shop owner flinched, feeling annoyed, but the moment he saw the gold coin on the ground, his eyes almost popped out. "A G-GOLD COIN!?" --- Lortell didn''t even care about the gold coin; she simply grabbed the first one that came out of her pocket and tossed it to the shopkeeper without a second glance. Her attention was entirely focused on Esdeath. Without wasting a second, she grabbed the wooden chair from the shop and dashed outside, quickly placing it behind Esdeath. "Here, sit on it!" Lortell said eagerly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. Esdeath hesitated for a moment, blinking in surprise. "Ah... okay," she muttered softly before slowly sitting down on the chair. Lortell, however, was not done. Without any warning, she approached Esdeath and lifted one of her long, slender legs before resting her foot on the seat of the chair. It was clear what she was about to do¡ªshe was going to sit on the chair as well. But instead of sitting beside Esdeath, she positioned herself to sit facing Esdeath directly, her gaze locking with Esdeath''s. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Low weight ma¡ª" Lortell began to chant, intending to use magic to reduce her weight since she was quite tall and naturally heavier. However, just as she was about to finish the spell, Esdeath quickly interrupted. "No! I-I mean... it''s fine... really," Esdeath stammered, her face already beginning to turn a deep shade of crimson. Her eerie, red eyes looked away, and her hands gripped the edge of the chair nervously. "I-I actually kind of... Want t-top.. feel your weight..." Lortell froze for a moment before a mischievous smirk crept onto her lips. "Is that so?" she murmured teasingly. Without hesitation, she slowly lowered herself onto Esdeath''s lap, her long, smooth legs wrapping around the back of the chair, more like around Esdeath''s waist. Her hands gently coiled around Esdeath''s neck, and her soft, silky silver hair cascaded over Esdeath''s shoulder, tickling her skin. The intimate position made Esdeath''s heart pound furiously. The heat from Lortell''s body pressed against her, and she could feel the weight of Lortell sinking into her lap. And just as all of Lortell''s weight settled on her, a soft, involuntary sound escaped Esdeath''s lips. "Nmhn~" Lortell''s ears perked up, and she leaned forward, her face now inches away from Esdeath''s. "Huh? Did you just... moan from that?" Lortell teased, a devilish grin spreading across her face. "N-No! I-I didn''t! It was just¡ª" Esdeath''s words got caught in her throat as her face burned brighter than ever. Flustered and embarrassed, she tried to stand up quickly to escape the situation. But in her haste¡ª Thud! They both lost their balance and came crashing down onto the ground in a tangled heap. However, the position they landed in was far from ordinary¡ªit was incredibly awkward and undeniably intimate. "A-Ahh~!" A seductive moan filled the air. Esdeath''s eyes widened in horror. "W-Wha¡ª!?" But to her shock, the sound didn''t come from her. It came from Lortell. She quickly realized her position. Esdeath was now straddling Lortell, her hands instinctively gripping Lortell''s large, soft breasts to steady herself. The moment she realized where her hands were, her mind short-circuited. Dum! Dum! She could feel Lortell''s heartbeat through her palms, and worse¡ªLortell''s breasts bounced slightly in her grasp. Completely dazed and overwhelmed, Esdeath unconsciously gave Lortell''s breasts a small squeeze. "So soft..." the words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop herself. "Ara, ara~," Lortell purred, her voice laced with amusement. "To think my good Esdeath is such a naughty girl... squeezing my breasts like that~" Esdeath''s face erupted like a volcano. "I-I didn''t mean to! It was an accident! I-I¡ª" Lortell, however, simply chuckled and stood up with an unreadable expression. As she did, Esdeath slid back onto Lortell''s thigh, her heart racing faster. "Forget it for now," Lortell said calmly, brushing the dust off her clothes. Then, with a mischievous smile, she added, "I''ll talk about this matter later. There''s still one pose left!" "W-What!?" Esdeath''s eyes widened. Before she could protest, Lortell gently picked her up from her thigh, placed her back on the chair, and stood up again. A sharp pang of guilt filled Esdeath''s heart. She quickly grabbed Lortell''s hand, her voice shaky like a lost puppy. "Y-You''re not angry, right? I-I swear I didn''t mean to do that... please don''t be mad..." Lortell turned her head slightly, flashing a sly grin. "Hmm... I wonder about that," she teased before casually strolling back inside the shop. Esdeath''s expression instantly darkened with panic. "OMG... OMG... Lortell is disappointed in me! I''m such an idiot! Today was supposed to be the perfect day to confess my feelings, and I ruined it!" she muttered frantically, gripping her hair and chewing her nails nervously. Her mind was spiraling into chaos. What if she never talks to me again? What if she hates me now? What if she felt offended?" But then... a sudden realization struck her like lightning. "Wait a minute... why am I worrying about confessing to her? She''s supposed to confess to me!" Esdeath quickly shook her head, her face still burning. "Ugh... This Esdeath personality is messing with me again! I''m the one who''s supposed to be chased, not the other way around!" Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself, though her heart still pounded like crazy. ------------ Meanwhile, not too far away, Selene and Maruti were peeking from behind a wall, watching the hilarious scene unfold. Selene''s face was bright red, her mouth slightly open in shock. "I-Is this what an adult date looks like?" she stuttered, her voice filled with embarrassment. "F-For some reason... I''m feeling so awkward just watching it!" Maruti, on the other hand, was grinning like a mischievous cat. "Hehehe... " ---------- Suddenly¡ª "Hyaa!!" Lortell came bursting out of the shop once again, but this time, she was dragging a small wooden bed behind her. However, in her hurry, she didn''t bother tilting the bed sideways to fit through the door. Instead, she forcefully shoved it through, completely shattering the wooden wall of the shop in the process. CRASH! "My wall!!" the shopkeeper screamed in horror, his jaw dropping to the floor. "Y-You just destroyed my shop wall!" But before he could complain any further¡ª "Shut up, old man!" Lortell barked, not even sparing him a glance as she casually threw a handful of gold coins directly into his face. The coins clattered on the ground, completely silencing the man. The shopkeeper''s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, but upon seeing the amount of money Lortell had thrown, he immediately shut his mouth and decided not to intervene. After all, he was still getting paid. Meanwhile, a small crowd had gathered around, curiously watching the wild scene between Lortell and Esdeath unfold. However, the shopkeeper quickly shooed them away. "Move along! Nothing to see here!" Lortell, without a care in the world, kicked the chair aside and placed the small wooden bed behind Esdeath. "This is the last one, I promise!" Lortell grinned as she gestured toward the bed. "Come on, sit here!" Esdeath, still confused and flustered, slowly stood up and walked toward the bed, sitting cautiously on the edge. "Lortell... I still don''t understand. How is this going to help your armor manufacturing company?" "Tch, tch, tch... no questions allowed!" Lortell shut her up immediately with a playful wag of her finger. However, little did Esdeath know, Lortell''s mind was working on something completely different. "Hehe... who''s gonna tell her that this isn''t for my company... but actually for my personal bedroom and pillow collection~" Lortell smirked deviously, already picturing Esdeath pinned beneath her later. As Esdeath sat nervously on the edge of the bed, Lortell smoothly slid beside her, their shoulders slightly touching. "Now, look at the camera," Lortell instructed casually, trying to sound composed, but her heart was already racing. Esdeath glanced at the camera as told, but the next thing she felt was Lortell''s warm hand resting on her shoulder. Before Esdeath could react, Lortell''s hand slowly slid down ¡ª from her shoulder to her upper chest ¡ª stopping dangerously close to her breast. Lortell, on the other hand, maintained a dominant aura as her face inched closer to Esdeath''s cheek. Her warm breath lightly brushed against Esdeath''s skin, making her shiver. Without hesitation, Lortell opened her mouth slightly, letting her tongue slip out as if she was about to lick Esdeath''s cheek. The scene looked incredibly intimate ¡ª almost possessive ¡ª as if Lortell was trying to silently convey to the camera, "She''s mine." But deep down, Lortell¡¯s real thoughts were elsewhere. "Perfect! With this photo, I can finally replace that old picture from ten years ago... and completely erase the memory of that dark night!" Just when the camera was about to capture the moment, Esdeath turned her head slightly, catching a glimpse of their position. Her heart pounded fast, but suddenly ¡ª "Aghh!!" A sharp, unbearable pain shot through Esdeath''s head like lightning. She instantly clutched her forehead, her body swaying before falling to the ground with a soft thud. "Ahhh..." she winced, her voice filled with pain. A few fragmented and unclear memories from ten years ago flashed through her mind ¡ª unfamiliar yet agonizing. But just as quickly as the pain came, it vanished completely. "Esdeath!!" Lortell''s voice cracked with panic as she immediately kneeled beside her. "What happened? Are you alright?" Esdeath''s mind cleared instantly ¡ª and a cunning plan sparked in her brain. "This... this is my chance!" Without wasting a second, Esdeath slowly looked up at Lortell with watery, adorable eyes. Her expression resembled that of a helpless, lost child ¡ª soft, fragile, and unbearably cute. She clutched her belly pitifully. "I-I didn''t eat anything since morning... I''m really hungry..." Esdeath mumbled in a soft, trembling voice, making her look even more vulnerable. Freeze! Lortell''s entire body froze, her face turning deep red, and her legs trembled. "So... So... C-Cuteeee...!" she stammered, a heavy nosebleed instantly gushing from her nose. Her mind almost blacked out from the sheer cuteness overload. "Damn it!" Lortell mentally cursed, clenching her fists tightly to resist her impulsive desire to smother Esdeath with kisses. "I-I can''t! I planned to confess my love after everything was over! If she keeps being this cute... I won''t last much longer!!" Swallowing her urge, Lortell exhaled deeply and composed herself, despite her rapidly beating heart. She immediately reached her hand out to Esdeath. "I-I''m so sorry... I should''ve asked you earlier! Let''s go to a restaurant and eat something, okay?" Esdeath looked up, pretending to be weak and pitiful. "R-Really?" "Of course! It''s my fault for not noticing sooner!" Lortell said sincerely, still flustered but determined to take care of Esdeath. Esdeath smiled softly and took Lortell¡¯s hand, standing up. "Let''s go then!" As they started walking side by side, silence hung in the air ¡ª but only for a moment. After walking a few meters, Lortell suddenly couldn''t control herself anymore. She gently pulled Esdeath close to her, causing Esdeath''s head to accidentally press against Lortell''s soft chest. Esdeath froze for a moment, feeling the softness of Lortell''s chest against her cheek. "Again...So soft..." But surprisingly, Lortell didn''t say anything nor did she let go. She just continued walking as if nothing happened, her arm protectively wrapped around Esdeath''s shoulder. Meanwhile, not far behind them, Selene and Maruti were witnessing everything. Selene¡¯s face was completely red, her hands clutching her cheeks. "I-i never thought dad would be this romantic!", Maruti, on the other hand, was grinning ear to ear. "Hehehe... Come on, my little demon, let''s follow them!" -------------------- Okay just a fan service questions, I''m thinking of making a scene of where Esdeath will let her breasts squeezed by lortell in exchange for accidentally groping Lortell''s breast. Umm yeah fan service so let me know..... Esdeath I Love You! The warm afternoon light slowly shifted into a golden hue, signaling the early evening. The sky was painted in soft orange and pink shades, giving the city a peaceful and dreamy atmosphere. Lortell and Esdeath arrived at a fancy restaurant, where everything looked luxurious and elegant. The moment they stepped inside, the waiters greeted them politely and led them to their reserved seats. Unlike a usual restaurant filled with customers, this one was completely empty. That was because Lortell had booked the entire restaurant just for them. She wanted to have some private time with Esdeath, without any disturbances. Their table was placed beside a large glass wall that was transparent, giving them a beautiful view of the city outside. The golden light of the setting sun reflected off the glass, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. Meanwhile... Not too far from the restaurant, behind a large tree, two familiar figures were hiding. Maruti and Selene stood there, spying on Lortell and Esdeath¡¯s date. Maruti let out a tired sigh. "Huh? Selene, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s getting a little boring?" Selene, who had been excited before, now looked disappointed too. She crossed her arms and pouted. "Yeah... Dad is just flirting as usual, but nothing really interesting is happening!" Maruti hummed in thought, her eyes narrowing mischievously. "Hmm... What if we do something?" Selene¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up as she turned toward Esdeath with a smug expression. "Ooooh! Me! Me! I have an idea!" Maruti¡¯s lips curled into a grin. "Go on..." Back Inside the Restaurant Lortell and Esdeath were sitting across from each other, enjoying their meal. The food was absolutely delicious, but the atmosphere had become a little... awkward. Neither of them knew what to say. So, instead of talking, they just kept chewing their food in silence. Esdeath secretly glanced at Lortell, hoping she would say something first. But when their eyes accidentally met, both quickly looked away, pretending to focus on their plates. The table was beautifully set, with silver plates, fancy cutlery, and two elegant silver glasses filled with water. A large silver jug was also placed on the table for refilling their drinks. However, it was on Lortell¡¯s side, making it slightly difficult for Esdeath to reach. After finishing a bite, Esdeath realized her glass was empty. She hesitated for a moment, then stood up and reached for the jug to pour herself some water. Her fingers were just about to grasp the handle... but it was a little too far. She stretched her arm further, her fingertips barely brushing against the jug. Lortell noticed her struggle and immediately spoke up. "Wait, I''ll do it¡ª" But before Lortell could pick up the jug or Esdeath could grab it¡ª Selene, from far away, smirked. "Trip!" she whispered playfully. At that very moment¡ª Esdeath¡¯s foot suddenly slipped! Her balance was completely thrown off, and her hand accidentally smacked against the silver jug. The jug tilted¡ª And in the blink of an eye, a stream of water splashed forward¡ª Right onto Lortell¡¯s chest! The cool water soaked through her clothes, creating a noticeable wet patch on the front of her outfit. Though it wasn¡¯t a lot, it was still enough to feel cold and uncomfortable. Lortell froze. Esdeath¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "Ahh! I¡ªI¡¯m sorry!!" she panicked, grabbing a napkin and quickly trying to help dry Lortell¡¯s chest. Outside, Selene and Maruti burst into silent laughter, covering their mouths to avoid getting caught. ------------ Esdeath hurried over to Lortell with a napkin, determined to clean up the mess she had made. She stretched out her hand to wipe Lortell¡¯s chest, but just as she got close¡ª A sudden memory flashed in her mind. The way she had squeezed Lortell¡¯s chest just a while ago. Her face immediately turned bright red. Her hands started trembling, and her heart pounded in her chest. But even with her embarrassment, she still moved forward, gently dabbing at the wet spot. However, because she was leaning in so close, the loose fabric of her dress slightly shifted¡ª And for just a second, a glimpse of her soft, smooth breast was exposed. Lortell, who had been trying to stay calm, completely froze. Her face turned red, and she quickly looked away. "No! Don¡¯t look! If I do, I¡¯ll instinctively squeeze them! she thought in panic." A small nosebleed trickled down her nose. But her eyes betrayed her. She had to take another glance. And the moment she did, she nearly lost her composure. "No. This had to stop before it got worse. " Lortell quickly grabbed Esdeath¡¯s hand and smiled, though her voice sounded a little stiff. "No need! I¡¯ll just go to the washroom and wash it there!" Esdeath panicked. "N-no, it¡¯s fine! I can do it! I¡¯m really sorry, I¡¯m really sorry!" Lortell gently patted Esdeath¡¯s head, making her freeze. "You don¡¯t need to say sorry so many times. I¡¯ll be back in a few minutes, okay?" With that, she turned and walked toward the washroom, leaving Esdeath standing there, her face pale with guilt. "Why am I tripping so much today? I¡¯m such an idiot! Lortell must be disappointed in me! I have to do something to make it up to her! she thought, clenching her fists. Inside the washroom, Lortell took a deep breath and activated a simple dry magic spell. A warm breeze surrounded her, and within seconds, her wet clothes were completely dry. She adjusted her outfit to make sure it looked the same as before. She sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. "Urgh... just a few more hours. I need to hold back for a few more hours!" After calming herself, she turned to leave the washroom. But the moment she stepped forward, she stopped. Standing right in front of her was Esdeath. Her face was red, and she was looking away, nervously playing with her fingers. Lortell narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing here?" Esdeath hesitated for a moment before finally speaking in a soft, serious voice. "I... I tried to calm myself, but I still can¡¯t forgive myself." She took a deep breath, then looked up at Lortell with a determined gaze. "Please, tell me anything I can do to make up for what I did! Anything!" Lortell raised an eyebrow. "Anything?" she repeated. There was a brief silence. Then, a mischievous smirk slowly appeared on Lortell¡¯s face. "Then let me do what you did," she said, stepping closer. Esdeath blinked in confusion. "Huh?" Lortell leaned in, lowering her voice. "Let me wet your chest and squeeze your breasts two times as payback." Silence. Esdeath¡¯s brain completely shut down. Her face turned even redder than before. "Wh-what?!" Of course lortell was just joking. "She¡¯s so easy to mess with," she thought with a smirk. She let out a playful chuckle. "Fufufu¡­ I was just jok¡ª" Before she could finish, Esdeath¡¯s voice cut through the air. "Okay!" Lortell¡¯s mouth fell open. "What?" "I said okay. You can squeeze as payback for me squeezing you." Esdeath even lifted her chest slightly, looking away with a faint blush. Lortell froze. Her brain struggled to process what she just heard. "Wait¡­ wait¡­ wait¡­ Am I dreaming?! Did she actually agree?!" But after a second, it made sense. "Right. From what I know, she barely has any experience with society¡­ Maybe that¡¯s why she doesn¡¯t fully understand things like modesty or chastity," Lortell thought. Her smirk grew wider as she stared at Esdeath. "Alright then," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Go sit on the toilet seat." Esdeath obeyed without hesitation. She opened one of the many stall doors, stepped inside, and sat down. Meanwhile, Lortell grabbed some water and poured it on Esdeath¡¯s chest. The cool water soaked through her clothes, making the fabric cling tightly to her skin. Lortell¡¯s eyes gleamed. "Hehe¡­ her uniform is thin! It¡¯s gonna turn see-through!" But¡ª Her excitement deflated a little when she noticed something. "Huh? She¡¯s wearing something underneath?" Lortell frowned. "Tch. That¡¯s disappointing." Still, she quickly regained her enthusiasm. "Whatever¡­ the main event is just about to start!" She leaned into the small stall, her face dangerously close to Esdeath¡¯s. Esdeath looked away, her cheeks red, and lightly puffed up her chest. Lortell could feel her own breath getting heavier, heat pooling in her chest. "Huff¡­ huff¡­" Her hands moved closer. And closer. Since Esdeath had squeezed her with both hands, it was only fair that Lortell did the same. And then¡ª Plop!... Plop! Lortell squeezed gently at first, then pressed deeper. Her fingers sank into the soft flesh, molding and folding them with ease. "Ahh~ Do it slowly!" Esdeath let out a small moan. Lortell¡¯s heart pounded. "One more left!" Squeeze! This time, she was rougher. Lortell was taller than Esdeath, and her hands were big too¡ªbig enough to grab all of Esdeath¡¯s softness in her palms. She squeezed again, rolling them like a soft, bouncy ball. And then she noticed it. Because of her touch, Esdeath¡¯s inverted nipples had hardened, poking through the damp fabric. Lortell¡¯s breath hitched. "Ahh¡­ I want to lick them so bad¡­" She swallowed hard, her mind spinning. "What should I do?" Lortell''s thought turned into lightning speed as she thought of an idea. "Hmm..what If I tell her that, The different between our status is too big, Squeezing a arch-duke''s dughter is a big crime and thus she have to pay with her body? And let her have sec with me? Not once, I can maybe do it dozens of times?", Lortell''s thought turned evil. But then¨CSmack! She slightly smacked her head, Clearing her thoughts. "I love her,not her body, My desires are only coming from my overwhelming love for her not because I have greed for her body!",lortell cleared her thoughts. "Something like that only be reserved if she rejects me and leave me no other choice!, and I know my good Esdeath will never reject me!",Lortell finally cleared her head and stood up tightly. Esdeath who was closing her eyes because of lortell finally opened her eyes. "Why did you sto¡ª, No I mean, Why are you in daze?", Lortell looked at Esdeath and sighed,"Nothing,The payment ends here, Let''s go back!", Esdeath nodded,"Okay, As lortell want!", Esdeath stood up happily. Her smile was brighter like some heavy weight lifted from her shoulders. ---------------- Lortell¡¯s thoughts raced at lightning speed, and a sly idea formed in her mind. "Hmm¡­ What if I tell her that the difference in our status is too big? Squeezing an arch-duke¡¯s daughter is a serious crime, and she has to pay with her body? And then¡­ I could have sex with her? Not just once¡ªI could do it dozens of times?" A wicked smile almost curled on her lips. But then¡ª Smack! She lightly smacked her forehead, shaking off those thoughts. "No¡­ I love her, not just her body. My greed, desires and Lust for her comes from my overwhelming love for her not because of body." She took a deep breath, calming herself. "Something like that¡­ should only happen if she ever rejects me, if she leaves me no other choice! But I know my good Esdeath would never reject me." With her thoughts finally clear, Lortell straightened up. Esdeath, who had been closing her eyes the whole time, slowly opened them. "Why did you sto¡ª" she paused, then quickly corrected herself, "No, I mean, why were you in a daze?" Lortell looked at her and sighed. "It¡¯s nothing. The payment ends here. Let¡¯s go back." Esdeath nodded with a bright smile. "Okay, as Lortell wants!" Her expression looked lighter, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders. --- The day had been nothing short of perfect. Esdeath and Lortell ate together, spent hours walking around, even went shopping, took photos, and played couple games. One of the games they played was a guessing game where one person had to find their partner among a crowd while blindfolded¡ªusing only their sense of touch. Amazingly, both Esdeath and Lortell won every round without a single mistake, shocking everyone around them. Just like that, the afternoon faded away, and evening arrived. The clock ticked closer to 5 PM. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- Before they knew it, the sky had darkened into a warm, golden hue. They found themselves under a small bridge, standing by a quiet river. It was a secluded spot, a place where no one usually passed by. The soft ripples of water reflected the sunset¡¯s glow, painting everything in peaceful light. Lortell stepped closer. Slowly, she pressed Esdeath against the cool stone wall, one hand resting beside Esdeath¡¯s head, trapping her in place. Their foreheads touched. The space between them grew smaller¡­ and smaller. "You know, Esdeath," Lortell murmured. "When someone confesses their love, they usually do it in a grand way¡ªlike proposing with a diamond ring, giving expensive jewelry, or planning a big event." Esdeath blinked, confused. "But for me," Lortell continued, "those things are too ordinary. I can give someone thousands of jewels every day if I love them. But words¡­ simple, honest words mean much more." She looked deep into Esdeath¡¯s eyes. The world around them fell silent. The only sound was the gentle flow of the river. Lortell leaned in even closer. She could feel Esdeath¡¯s breath against her lips. "You know what I¡¯m trying to say, right?" Lortell whispered. At this point, she knew Esdeath had already noticed her feelings. "And I can feel your feelings too," she admitted. "I was waiting for you to say it first, but¡­" Her breath grew warmer, heavier. Esdeath¡¯s breathing matched hers, deep and unsteady. "But I can¡¯t hold back any longer," Lortell whispered. "I¡¯m at my limit." Their lips brushed¡ªjust barely. And then¡ª "Esdeath," Lortell said, voice trembling with emotion. "I love you. Do you love me too?" 3 Days? 18+ "Without a doubt!" Esdeath didn¡¯t hesitate. She grabbed Lortell¡¯s face with both hands, her fingers trembling with excitement, and closed the tiny gap between them. Their lips met in a deep, passionate kiss. "I love...be...yu...sho...mush..." Esdeath¡¯s words were muffled, lost between the kisses as they melted into each other. Their tongues intertwined, curling together like snakes, as they tasted and explored each other. The heat between them only grew stronger. They could feel each other¡¯s breath, hear the soft, wet sounds of their lips moving together. It felt like an eternity before they finally pulled away. "Huff... huff..." Both of them panted heavily, their eyes filled with burning desire. "One more time!" Lortell couldn¡¯t hold back. She hugged Esdeath tightly, pressing their bodies together, and captured her lips once again in another fiery kiss. This one was even more intense than before. Their breaths mingled, their hearts pounded against each other¡¯s chests. Meanwhile, far away, a hidden figure blushed furiously. Selene¡¯s face turned bright red. "They kissed... They actually kissed!" She quickly covered her eyes with her hands, but curiosity got the best of her. She peeked through her fingers, watching every second of the scene unfold. Beside her, Maruti sighed in disappointment. "I guess the fun ends here," she muttered, stretching her arms and exhaling deeply. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Back under the bridge, Lortell was completely lost in the moment. Her hands moved on their own, slipping beneath Esdeath¡¯s clothes, her fingers brushing against bare skin. She was so focused on Esdeath that she forgot where they were. Even though this place was quiet and secluded, it was still too risky to do something so intimate in the open. Esdeath¡¯s mind snapped back to reality, and she quickly grabbed Lortell¡¯s wrist. "Let¡¯s go to a motel or somewhere else," she whispered, her cheeks flushed. Lortell froze, then slowly nodded. They straightened their clothes, trying to calm their racing hearts, and turned to leave. Lortell placed her hand on Esdeath¡¯s shoulder, guiding her forward. ¡ª ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª From their hiding spot, Selene¡¯s excitement returned. "Let¡¯s follow them!" she whispered, already preparing to run after them. But before she could move, Maruti grabbed the back of her collar and effortlessly lifted her into the air. "Nope. The spying ends here," Maruti said firmly, turning back toward the academy. "They¡¯re about to do private things." Selene dangled in the air, kicking her legs slightly. "Private things? What kind of private things?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion. Maruti thought for a moment, then smirked. "Probably making a sibling for you." Selene¡¯s eyes widened. "A sibling?!" She gasped. "Wait¡­ Kids are made by kissing?" A determined look crossed her face. "I think I need to learn more about this..." She stopped struggling and allowed Maruti to carry her away, deep in thought. And with that, they disappeared into the academy once more. ------------- Lortell booked a private room for her and Esdeath. As soon as Lortell closed the door behind them, she turned back to Esdeath with burning desire in her crimson eyes. Without hesitation, she grabbed Esdeath by the waist, pressing her against the door before capturing her lips in a deep, hungry kiss. Esdeath gasped, but she didn¡¯t resist. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Lortell¡¯s neck, pulling her closer. Their bodies pressed together as their lips moved in sync, the passion between them igniting like fire. Lortell¡¯s hands wandered, exploring Esdeath¡¯s curves. She trailed kisses down her neck, biting softly at her collarbone, making Esdeath let out a quiet moan. The heat between them grew stronger, their breaths heavy with anticipation. Lortell wasted no time. She swiftly removed her own clothes, tossing them aside until she was left in only her bra and panties. Then, her fingers moved to Esdeath¡ªfirst removing her accessories, then her wristbands. Finally, Lortell placed a finger on the zipper at the back of Esdeath¡¯s gown. With a slow pull, the fabric slid down, revealing Esdeath¡¯s flawless skin. But the moment Esdeath¡¯s dress fell, Lortell¡¯s crimson eyes widened in shock. "A... lingerie?" she muttered, staring at the black lace that hugged Esdeath¡¯s body perfectly. Esdeath¡¯s face turned scarlet, and she looked away, clearly embarrassed. Lortell smirked, a playful glint in her eyes. "So, my good Esdeath is actually a naughty girl in bed?" she teased. "You were expecting this moment didn''t you?",Lortell said. "I... umm... I just thought it would make you happy," Esdeath admitted shyly, still avoiding eye contact. "Pfft¡­" Lortell chuckled. "You¡¯re still so cute, even in such bold clothing." Without warning, she grabbed Esdeath¡¯s waist and squeezed tightly. "Ahn~!" Esdeath moaned softly, her body trembling at the sudden touch. Lortell¡¯s grip only tightened before she suddenly lifted Esdeath into her arms. "Let''s go to bed," she said with a mischievous grin, carrying Esdeath effortlessly. She tossed Esdeath onto the soft mattress, making her let out a small yelp. "You¡¯re so rough," Esdeath pouted, looking up at Lortell with flushed cheeks. "I just can¡¯t control myself tonight," Lortell admitted, climbing onto the bed, her tall figure looming over Esdeath. Her silver-white hair cascaded around them, framing her red eyes that burned with desire. Esdeath¡¯s breath hitched as Lortell leaned in, their lips just inches apart. Lortell opened her mouth and bit Esdeath''s lips. She then slid down and grabbed Esdeath''s breast and folded them tightly Making Esdeath groan in pleasure immediately. Esdeath''s inverted nipples opened and erected in pleasure. Lortell wasted no time in closing in and sucking Esdeath''s nipples like a toddler. Esdeath''s body tensed with intense sensation as lortell sucked like Vaccume, She withdrew for a moment , Esdeath''s nipples were bright pink because of erection and Lortell''s teasing. Lortell grinned wickedly as she bite them and streched them up. "Ahh~ don''t bite don''t bite!", Esdeath groaned. "I would listened to you and might have been more gentle if you were not provoked me by wearing such sexy thing!" Lortell said,"I''m so horny because of you and now you have to take care of it, Got it?" At this point Esdeath was in no position to listen anything, her legs wrapped around Lortell''s waist.l tightly. While Lortell''s fingers slipped through Esdeath''s pale smooth skin and it directly hit her intimate area. "My...my..to think you are overflowing here!",She teased. Esdeath''s eyes immediately widened as she moaned so hard that her voice started going outside of the room. "No!, Three fingers is too much!"Esdeath groaned but lortell didn''t stop. "Ohh, So you G-spot is here?,Does my finger feel good here?", lortell said as she digged deeper. Esdeath''s whole body curled and tensed and her leg grip around lortell tighted even more. "Kiss me...kiss me..", Esdeath begged as she kissed lortell and even bit Lortell''s neck and collarbone. While Lortell''s fingers traced through Esdeath''s intimate area not giving her a single break. "This is too much...I''m Cumming!.. I''m Cumming!..", Esdeath''s whole body tensed as she had a huge organism. The thick liquid overflowed and wet the bed and then her legs gave up, Falling down from lortell''s waist and her body trembled and gasped heavily. "Who said you can stop?, We are not done yet!" lortell''s sultry voice echoed as she sat on Esdeath''s belly. She held a small glass can like some medicine with pink glowing liquid inside it. "Open your mouth,It will raised your powers to Rank B for three days!"Lortell said as with her left hand, she poured it all on Esdeath mouth and some even dropped on her breast. Gulp!..Gulp!.. After drinking Esdeath questioned,"But why?", "Fufufu why?, Well..I booked the room for three days and three nights, being our first time like this, i should get to fuck you at least for three days, Isn''t that natural?", Lortell''s slutty smirk grew wider as she raised her right hand,It had thick liquid stuck on it. Yep! It was from Esdeath''s intimate area. She put the fingers inside her mouth and licked it like licking some candy. Esdeath only looked at lortell like a puppy as Lortell''s grin grew wider. "So my naughty Esdeath,You are not getting out of here till I fuck you brain out¡ª She was about to finish, but then, out of nowhere, something broke the window and crashed directly onto Lortell''s face. "Who the f¡ª" She was about to curse but immediately stopped. "A golden flying letter essence stone?" Lortell muttered, narrowing her eyes. The letter floated in the air before gently landing in her hand. Lortell''s eyes widened as she read through the contents. It said that her father, Arthur Mariette, was in bad condition and was taking his last breaths. For the last time, he wished to meet his daughter, Lortell. Smirk. Lortell smirked for a moment as she read it, but the next second, her face turned panicked. Now, she had two choices¡ªeither stay and have sex with Esdeath for three days or leave to meet her dying father. Esdeath slowly sat up, her body still trembling slightly. She took the letter from Lortell¡¯s hand and read through it. "I think you should go. We can do it anytime. Meeting your father is more important," Esdeath said in a low voice. But of course, Esdeath clearly knew the letter was fake. It was just a plan to make Lortell leave the academy. "But I want Lortell to go away from the academy for some time too, or else we will only be having sex, and all my plans will go down," Esdeath thought. Of course, she loved Lortell too. It was a hard choice. "I''m sorry¡­ I''m so sorry," Lortell said as she hugged Esdeath and gave her a kiss. Then, with a deep breath, she stood up and walked toward the door. But just as she reached it, she turned back and saw Esdeath still sitting on the bed, wearing only lingerie. So sexy. She couldn''t hold back. "One more time!" Lortell ran back toward Esdeath and gave her a passionate kiss. After she withdrew, she walked to the door again. But then, she looked back at Esdeath. "One¡­ one more time!" She muttered and ran toward Esdeath again. It became an infinite loop until Esdeath finally resisted, stopping Lortell from kissing her anymore and kicking her out of the room. After Lortell finally left, Esdeath sat up, her balance wavering as thick liquid was still flowing down her lower body. Her whole leg was trembling. She placed one hand against the nearby table for support, trying to steady herself. But then, a ringing sound echoed in the room. She willed her storage-type essence stone to activate, and a communication device flew out. She held it near her ear and spoke. "What happened, Predictor? I was just coming to the academy anyway." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But then, a voice came from the device. "What happened? You idiot! You said there would be monsters, but what are these disgusting creatures?" The Nightmare Begins (Re) Some Time Ago¡­ In the academy corridors, outside a random classroom, Ethan was chatting casually with Sylvania, Emma, and Violet. They were having a lighthearted conversation when Violet suddenly frowned, tilting her head as she looked at Ethan. "Ethan, why does your face look so heavy? Like you haven''t slept for days?" she asked, concern in her voice. "Yeah, I noticed it too!" Sylvania added, crossing her arms. Ethan hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Actually, there''s this girl who keeps stalking me. She won¡¯t let me rest at all. She¡¯s been a pain in the ass for the past few days." "A stalker?" Emma gasped. "You should have reported her long ago¡ª" Before she could finish, a chilling voice suddenly echoed through the hallway. "Ethan¡­!" The voice was feminine yet filled with anger and obsession. All four of them turned toward the source of the voice. There she was¡ªCaramel, Ethan¡¯s stalker. Her appearance was a mess. Her long hair was tangled and unkempt, her uniform was wrinkled, and there was a wild, desperate look in her wide eyes, as if she had completely lost her mind. She stared directly at Ethan, her expression twisted with rage. "What are you doing here with a bunch of girls? Are you cheating on me?" she demanded. The three girls exchanged glances, and in that brief moment, they all understood¡ª**this** was the stalker Ethan had been talking about. Emma, always the bold one, stepped forward without hesitation. "Hey, cut your crap! You¡¯re not his girlfriend or anything! It''s time to wake up to reality!" she snapped. Caramel''s expression darkened. Her hands clenched into fists, her body shaking with anger. "Shut¡­ up¡­ shut up! You don¡¯t know anything!" she shrieked. Then, without warning¡ª She lunged forward and swung her fist straight at Emma¡¯s face. Emma barely had time to react. She raised her arms to block the punch, but the sheer force behind it was overwhelming. **BAM!** The impact sent Emma flying backward. She tumbled across the floor, skidding nearly ten steps before slamming into the hard wall behind her. A sharp gasp left her lips as pain shot through her body. She coughed, and a small trickle of blood dripped from the corner of her mouth. "Such raw power¡­" Emma muttered, her hands shaking slightly as she wiped the blood off her lips. "This girl has lost her mind! Stop her!" Sylvania yelled, quickly turning to run. "I''ll inform the teachers!" Ethan clenched his fists, ready to step forward, but before he could move, Violet grabbed his arm. "No need, Ethan. I''ll handle her," Violet said, a confident smirk on her lips. "And me too!" Emma, despite the pain, pushed herself back up. She wiped her lips again, her eyes burning with determination. Bam! Boom! Slam! The sound of fists clashing, feet stomping, and mana colliding filled the hallway. Emma, Violet, and Caramel were locked in a fierce battle. Sparks of energy flashed in the air as Caramel unleashed her mana, forcing Emma and Violet to use theirs as well. Even though Caramel''s strength kept increasing, it still wasn¡¯t enough to defeat both Emma and Violet at the same time. Soon, she started losing ground, but she refused to back down. "All of you, attack them!" Caramel shouted. Suddenly, dozens of students appeared from nowhere, rushing toward them with deadly intent. "What? Why are these students with her?" Ethan gasped, his eyes widening in shock. Without hesitation, the students attacked, their eyes filled with an eerie, murderous look. It was as if they had lost control of themselves. Ethan clenched his fists. He had no choice but to join the fight. "Wait¡­ Serii too? She¡¯s my friend! Why is she with them?" Violet''s face turned pale as she recognized one of her classmates among the attackers. "Don''t tell me¡­ she can actually control people?" Emma muttered, her eyes narrowing as she dodged a punch from a chubby boy and countered with her own fist. Caramel grinned, her eyes gleaming with madness. "Not enough. Everyone, come out!" she yelled. A massive horde of students suddenly appeared, charging toward them like wild beasts. Ethan¡¯s heart pounded. "This is bad¡­ really bad," he thought. "We¡­ we can¡¯t fight all of them!" he shouted. "Let¡¯s retreat and wait for the teachers to come!" Without wasting time, he grabbed Emma¡¯s wrist and pulled her back. Violet followed as they ran down the corridor, trying to escape the overwhelming number of enemies. But no matter where they ran, the controlled students chased them relentlessly. Caramel, on the other hand, stood behind, watching everything with an unsettling smirk. In the middle of the chaos, the three of them got separated. Ethan ran through the hallways, his breath heavy. He had no idea where Emma or Violet had gone. But soon, he found himself in the academy gardens¡ªand there, he saw Sylvania. And next moment, Emma got there too. His heart pounded harder. Something was wrong. He rushed toward her. "Sylvania! Did you see Violet?" Sylvania¡¯s face showed concern. "Yeah, We met. She was with me a little while ago, but then she suddenly disappeared! I thought she went to you!" Ethan''s stomach dropped. "Shit¡­ shit¡­ shit¡­" His mind fell into chaos. "Don¡¯t tell me she got kidnapped¡­ even after all my efforts?!" He clenched his fists, feeling helpless and frustrated. "Calm down!" Sylvania snapped. "Panicking won¡¯t help!" She took a deep breath, then quickly came up with a plan. "What if she¡¯s still around somewhere? I¡¯ll check the academy dorms. Ethan, you search the garden, hallways, and backyard area. Emma, you go inside the academy building. And be careful of Caramel and her minions!" Ethan and Emma nodded without hesitation. Without wasting another second, they split up to find Violet. ------------- In the academy cafeteria, Maruti was enjoying her lunch with great satisfaction. Dozens of plates were already empty in front of her, showing just how big her appetite was. She ate as if she hadn¡¯t had a proper meal in years. The cafeteria was filled with students, all eating peacefully and chatting among themselves. "Hah... I should eat as much as I can before the horde of monsters comes!" Maruti thought as she stuffed more food into her mouth. But what she didn¡¯t know was that something very disturbing was happening right there in the cafeteria. A few tables away, a very thin boy with a body like a skeleton was also eating. His hollow cheeks and bony frame made him look weak, but the way he devoured his food was unnatural. "I''m hungry... not enough... not enough..." the boy muttered to himself as he kept eating. Even though he looked like he could barely stand, he was eating even more than Maruti. Plate after plate disappeared into his mouth, and strangely, his body started growing. But something was off¡ªonly his height was increasing. No matter how much he ate, he didn¡¯t gain any fat or muscle. Maruti blinked as she watched him. "Am I seeing things? Why does he look so weird?" Just as she was thinking that something was wrong, the boy suddenly slammed his hands on the table and screamed. "I SAID I''M HUNGRY!!!" His neck stretched unnaturally, like a giraffe. Then, his mouth opened wide¡ªwider than any human should be able to. Inside his mouth, his teeth were not normal. They were round, like the sharp rings of a worm¡¯s mouth. And then, in one horrifying moment, he lunged forward and swallowed the head of a nearby girl in a single bite. Blood splattered everywhere. The girl''s body slumped to the ground, lifeless. Screams filled the cafeteria. "Ahhhhhh!" Students panicked and started running in all directions, desperately trying to escape. "He... he just turned into a monster!" someone shouted in terror. Chairs were knocked over, food spilled onto the floor, and people pushed and shoved to get out. Amidst the chaos, one girl was trying to pull her friend along. "Hey, Zei! What are you doing? Get up and run, or we¡¯ll die here!" she pleaded, gripping her friend¡¯s wrist. But Zei didn¡¯t move. She sat there with her face buried in the table, her arms wrapped around herself. Her whole body trembled. "So shy... I¡¯m feeling so shy... Everyone is looking at me... Don¡¯t look... don¡¯t look!" Zei kept whispering to herself. "Zei! I know you¡¯re always shy, but this isn¡¯t the time for that! We have to run!" her friend begged, shaking her. Then, Zei suddenly lifted her head. Her friend gasped in horror. Zei¡¯s face was completely distorted. Her eyes were not where they should be¡ªthey were on her cheeks. Her nose was on her chin. And worst of all, her mouth was on her forehead. A terrible, twisted smile spread across her face as she stared at her friend. "I said... DON¡¯T LOOK AT ME!" In an instant, her friend felt the world flip upside down. No¡ªit wasn¡¯t the world. Her head had twisted 90 degrees, turning completely upside down. Thud! Her body collapsed onto the floor, lifeless. She was dead. There was no doubt about it. At this point, it was clear. Both the thin boy and Zei had turned into monsters. The thin boy had transformed into the terrifying Worm Headman. And Zei had awakened as The Shy Girl. Maruti didn¡¯t waste a single second¡ªshe turned around and ran straight out of the cafeteria. "What the hell just happened?" she thought, trying to process the horror she had just witnessed. Before she could think any further, a sharp, loud noise suddenly rang through the entire academy. Beep!¡­ Beep!¡­ Beep!¡­ The sirens echoed through the air, piercing through every hallway, every classroom, and even beyond the academy walls. It wasn¡¯t just the academy¡ªthis alarm was blaring across the entire city. Students who had been resting in their dorms rushed out in panic. Some had confusion written all over their faces, while others already had their weapons drawn, their instincts telling them that something terrible was happening. Then, a powerful voice echoed from the magical announcement system. "All students, listen carefully!" The voice belonged to Vice Principal Lilith Maranthia. "A massive tide of monsters is heading toward us. An S-rank level formation has appeared, covering a large portion of land. We can¡¯t run away. Our communication systems are down, which means there is definitely a traitor among us. Right now, we have no choice but to fight until we can restore communication and call for reinforcements!" The message ended, leaving behind an eerie silence. And then¡ªchaos erupted. Many students gasped in shock. Others clenched their fists, feeling adrenaline rush through their veins. "So... the monsters are finally here?" Maruti thought as she hurried through the academy¡¯s ground floor hallway. All around her, students were running, their faces pale and filled with fear. Then, her eyes landed on a fat student who was also trying to run. But¡­ he was just too slow. Of course, fat people weren¡¯t usually fast, but this guy was unbelievably slow. Even a toddler would be ten times faster than him. It was as if time itself was dragging him down. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sweat was pouring down his face, soaking his clothes so much that he looked like someone had dumped a bucket of water on him. A boy ran past him, laughing. "Run faster, fatty! Hahaha!" he said, kicking the fat student¡¯s back before running ahead. But then¡ªsomething strange happened. After just a few more steps, the boy¡¯s movements slowed down too. "What¡¯s¡­ happening? Why do I feel¡­ so slow?" he mumbled, his voice dragging as if his thoughts were slowing down too. "I-It¡¯s¡­ so¡­ sweaty¡­" he gasped. And then, he collapsed onto the ground. The fat student also fell at the same time. And right before everyone¡¯s eyes, their bodies started to change. Their backs became round. Their legs shrank and became smaller. And in just a few moments, they no longer looked human at all. They had turned into large, human-sized snails¡ªbut with their original faces still attached. Their skin turned into a slimy mix of blue and green, looking like wobbly jelly. A student nearby gasped in horror. "I¡¯ve heard of them! They¡¯re *Snailmen*! An anomaly class! They¡¯re painfully slow, but if you touch them, you¡¯ll turn into one too!" As soon as those words were spoken, everyone in the hallway bolted in the opposite direction, running as far away as possible. Maruti didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªshe ran too. But as she moved through the academy, she saw even more horrifying sights. A monster with an extremely long tongue and eyeballs that spun rapidly in their sockets. Another creature with multiple hands coming out of its mouth. She saw a girl whose entire body was covered in sharp teeth¡ªeven her tongue had turned into a massive tooth that took up her whole mouth. And a bald student who now had hair growing uncontrollably all over his body, so thick and long that he couldn¡¯t even see through it. Maruti felt no fear. But she was utterly disgusted. "What the hell are these things?" she muttered under her breath. Without stopping, she dashed up to the second floor, running through the corridors. Then, she pulled out a communication device and quickly connected to Esdeath. A voice came through. "What happened, Predictor? I was already on my way to the academy anyway." Maruti took a deep breath and shouted into the device. "What happened?! You idiot! You said there would be monsters, but what are these disgusting creatures?!" I’m Your Star Constellation In her past life, before Esdeath turned back time, the same chaos had happened. Back then, it was all because of Elara refining a divine-rank essence stone called Ago. But during that time, there was only one anomaly-class monster¡ªCaramel, the girl with the spiral head. So why were so many anomaly-class monsters appearing this time? Why was everything so different? The answer was simple¡ªCaramel herself. Just think about it. What time was it right now? It was the exact same moment when, in the previous timeline, Caramel had tried to force herself on Maruti. But that time, Kaelith had saved Maruti and killed Caramel right there. But what about this time? Caramel was still alive. And her powers were like a virus, spreading and infecting others. Even in FLF¡¯s main storyline, Caramel had lived until midnight. And because of that, many anomaly-class monsters had rampaged through the academy, killing countless students. What was happening right now was just the beginning. Soon, Caramel would attract even more anomaly-class monsters from the massive forest behind the academy. More of them would come, and the situation would get worse. Of course, Esdeath already knew all of this. But she decided not to tell Maruti. She knew that Maruti wasn¡¯t afraid of these creatures. But she also knew that Maruti found them extremely disgusting. When Maruti finally managed to contact Esdeath, Esdeath simply told her, "I''m on my way to the academy. Just stay where you are." Esdeath didn¡¯t take long to arrive. The academy¡¯s barrier was still up, preventing anyone from escaping. But there were no restrictions on who could enter. And that was exactly what Elara wanted. The more people inside, the more fighters he would have to deal with the monsters for him¡ªwhile he sat safely in one place, quietly refining his essence stone. -------- After arriving at the academy, Esdeath and Maruti met in the dimly lit corridor. The air was heavy with tension, and distant screams echoed through the halls. Maruti, impatient as ever, crossed her arms and asked, "What do you think? Should we go there now?" But Esdeath shook her head. "It''s too early. He just started refining the essence stone. We need to wait until the middle or later stage before interfering. More importantly, Elara will be around too. If he sees us now, he¡¯ll kill us in a single attack!" Maruti frowned. "Tsk, so annoying¡­" Esdeath was right. In the previous timeline, Elara had purposely dragged the battle around the academy. It wasn¡¯t just because he was waiting for Lilith to get injured¡ªit was also because he was guarding the academy¡¯s basement, where his clone was secretly refining the essence stone. Esdeath gazed out of a broken window, watching the chaos outside. Students were screaming, running for their lives as monstrous creatures hunted them down. Fires had already started in several places, casting eerie shadows against the walls. "We have a long way to go before we reach the basement," Esdeath said with a smirk. "And there¡¯s a lot of work to do while we¡¯re here." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a stack of papers. Each one had names and drawings of different students. "Here," she said, handing the papers to Maruti. "These are the students who will become stronger in the future and help Ethan a lot. Since we can¡¯t kill Ethan for now, we should at least weaken his influence as much as possible." Maruti took the papers and flipped through them. Some names seemed familiar, but others she had never heard before. Then, Esdeath pulled out another paper and held it up. "Especially this one. She¡¯s from Class B-3. Try your best to find her and kill her. She¡¯ll be a big problem later on." Maruti narrowed her eyes as she looked at the name written on the paper. Alice Arlecchino. Esdeath continued, "She has long hair that covers her eyes like max level shut in introvert, and she gives off a gloomy aura." Maruti raised an eyebrow. "Gloomy aura? Like Diana?" Esdeath nodded. "Yeah, exactly like Diana." Maruti let out a sigh and stuffed the papers into her pocket. "Alright, alright, I got it. But what about you? What are you gonna do now?" Esdeath grinned, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "There are too many obstacles in our way. If we want to reach Elara¡¯s clone, we need someone''s help". "Help?,Are you sure you can trust someone other than me?", Maruti snorted. "Hehehe...a bad person would always take help from a good person, Now go, We''ll meet later and only if we could or else I''ll do it all alone and don''t worry about shares, we''ll split equally later!" She turned on her heel and dashed toward the academy¡¯s entrance, heading straight for the battlefield where monsters were running wild. Meanwhile, Maruti took a deep breath and turned back inside the academy. Her mission was clear¡ªfind those students on the list and kill them before they could become a threat. ------------- The academy¡¯s backyard was in complete chaos. Ethan was surrounded by several students, their eyes vacant, their bodies moving unnaturally¡ªcontrolled by Caramel¡¯s power. They attacked him without hesitation, like puppets on strings. But Ethan didn¡¯t fight back with full force. He couldn¡¯t. He didn¡¯t use his sword. He didn¡¯t use any lethal moves. He only blocked their attacks with his hands, dodging when he could and pushing them away instead of hurting them. Because to him, they were still human. They were innocent. Even if their bodies moved against their will, it wasn¡¯t their fault. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to kill them. But there were too many of them. Their numbers kept growing, and with every second, Ethan¡¯s defense weakened. His arms felt heavy, his breathing grew rough, and exhaustion began to creep in. At that moment¡ª BANG! A gunshot rang through the air. BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! One by one, the controlled students collapsed to the ground, lifeless. Ethan¡¯s eyes widened in horror. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A girl had appeared beside him, holding a gun. Her cold red eyes glowed under the moonlight. Esdeath. She lowered her smoking gun and turned to him, completely unfazed. "What are you doing?!" Ethan shouted, his voice trembling with anger. "You killed them!" But Esdeath didn¡¯t care. BANG! She fired another shot. Another student fell. "Stop, you idiot! You¡¯re killing innocent people!" Ethan lunged at her, trying to grab her gun¡ªor at least hold her back. But Esdeath was faster. She dodged effortlessly, then shot again. One by one, she killed them all. Only when the last body hit the ground did she finally stop. Ethan stood frozen, staring at the lifeless students scattered across the yard. His hands clenched into fists, shaking. "You¡­ I need to talk to you," Esdeath said, her voice as cold as ever. Ethan¡¯s heart pounded with rage. He withdrew his sword, his grip tight with fury. "Shut up! You¡¯re a murderer!" Esdeath scoffed. "Murderer?" She tilted her head, a twisted grin forming on her lips. "I killed a few students who were already turning into monsters, and that makes me a murderer?" She stepped forward, closing the distance between them. "Stay back," Ethan warned, his sword raised. But Esdeath didn¡¯t stop. Her piercing red eyes locked onto his, so close he could see the reflection of the moon in them. She pointed at the fallen students. "Look at them," she said. "Their skin was already turning green. They were never going to turn back. If killing them makes me a murderer, then what does that make you?" Ethan¡¯s breath caught. "W-what are you saying?" Esdeath let out a chuckle¡ªdark, mocking. "Don¡¯t act so innocent now. You knew, didn¡¯t you?" Her voice was ice-cold, pressing into him like a dagger. She leaned in even closer, her gaze cutting straight through his soul. "Before your regression," she whispered, "all those monsters and demons you killed¡ªthey were human. Every single one." Ethan¡¯s body stiffened. "No¡­ no, that¡¯s not true! They weren¡¯t fully human!" he protested. But then¡ª It hit him. A realization crashed down like a bolt of lightning. "Wait¡­ h-how do you know that?" His voice trembled. His heart pounded so loudly he could hear it in his ears. Esdeath stepped back and covered her face, laughing softly. Then, she looked at him with a knowing smile. "Of course, I know." She lowered her hand, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Because, Ethan¡­ I¡¯m your Star Constellation." She grinned. "I¡¯m the one who made you regress." First And Last–Only Lortell Esdeath grinned, her red eyes glowing under the moonlight. "I''m the one who made you regress," she said in an icy cold voice. Then, without looking at Ethan, her gaze shifted slightly to his right. "Isn''t that right... Gareth?" Ethan''s heart nearly stopped. Gareth? But that was impossible. Gareth was just a soul¡ªsomething that normal people couldn¡¯t see and it was mighty gareth''s soul at that. Even Kaelith was still early to see him. Only someone like Elara or Lilith should have been able to notice him. But what they didn''t knew was Esdeath had spiritual eyes, she could see him as clearly as daylight. Floating in the air beside Ethan, Gareth flinched. His translucent form trembled as panic flashed across his face. "She¡­ she can see me?" he thought, his mind racing. "Lies!" Ethan shouted, his voice filled with denial. "You''re lying!" But deep down, something gnawed at him. If she was lying, how did she know about Gareth? How did she know about the past? Esdeath scoffed. "Do I really need to explain everything from the beginning?" She folded her arms, her tone dripping with amusement. "I planned this carefully. But I didn¡¯t just want to turn back time¡ªI needed someone who wouldn¡¯t give up, someone strong, someone who could help me." Her lips curled into a smirk. "And you, Ethan, were the perfect choice. The embodiment of hope. A man with a righteous aura." She spoke as if it was the absolute truth, as if she had chosen him like a piece in a grand game. But then¡ª A flicker of disappointment crossed her face. She sighed, shaking her head. "But from the way you''re acting right now¡­ it feels like I made a mistake." Her sharp gaze landed on Gareth, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. "What do you think, Gareth?" she asked playfully. "Wouldn¡¯t I have been a better choice? I could kill Kirmada for you¡ªeasy peasy." Gareth¡¯s soul shuddered. His voice was firm, without hesitation. "Never," he said coldly. "You reek of evil." Esdeath chuckled, unfazed by his rejection. "Fufufu¡­ well, that¡¯s true." She placed a hand on her hip, grinning. "But in the end, I¡¯m still doing a good thing, aren¡¯t I?" Ethan narrowed his eyes. His grip on his sword tightened. "Wait a minute," he said cautiously. "How do you know about our conversation about Kirmada?" Esdeath¡¯s smirk deepened. "Of course I would know," she said as if it were obvious. She raised a hand and tapped her temple. "I was the one who turned back time. A big shot. And as your constellation, I created the system for you." She let out a long sigh, stretching her arms as if tired. "I gave you everything I had left instead of keeping it for myself," she continued. "Do you have any idea how hard that was?" Ethan remained silent, his breath uneven. Esdeath''s expression softened for just a second. "I used to be a man, you know," she said, almost lazily. "Green hair, blue eyes. A gentle, righteous person." Then, she grinned again. "But as a sacrifice for this regression, my entire existence was erased. No one remembers me. Not even the world itself while keeping your existence fully." She tilted her head. "You should be thankful to me, Ethan." "You and righteous?" Gareth scoffed, shaking his head. "Don¡¯t make me laugh." But Ethan was too confused to argue. His thoughts were a mess. "Wait¡­ what? That system¡­ it came from you?" he asked, his voice rising. "Constellations create systems? What kind of god were you before?" He bombarded Esdeath with questions, struggling to make sense of everything. But before Esdeath could answer, Gareth turned to him, frowning. "You have a system, Ethan?" Ethan hesitated, then nodded. Gareth closed his eyes and stroked his beard, deep in thought. "Hmm¡­ Then she might be telling the truth," he muttered. "Constellations do create systems. It¡¯s a long story, and I¡¯ll explain later, but for now¡­ just accept what she says." Ethan clenched his fists but eventually lowered his sword. Not because he trusted Esdeath. But because he trusted Gareth. Esdeath smirked. "Good. We don¡¯t have much time. I need your help." Her eyes gleamed as she continued, "You recently got a Wolf Stealth Amplification skill, right?" Ethan stiffened. "How do you¡ª" "Of course, I¡¯d know," Esdeath interrupted smoothly. "It was mine to begin with." Ethan¡¯s body tensed. Every time she spoke, she revealed something even more shocking. Esdeath crossed her arms. "Now, listen. I know you¡¯re looking for Violet. And I also know exactly where she is right now." Ethan¡¯s eyes widened. Violet¡­ He almost lost his composure, but this time, he forced himself to stay calm. After everything Esdeath had already said, nothing surprised him anymore. Esdeath stepped closer, lowering her voice. "We can¡¯t get to her without your stealth skill. So, I want you to cast it on both of us, and we¡¯ll go together." Ethan didn''t hesitate. "Alright, I¡¯m using it now¡ª" But before he could activate the skill, Esdeath grabbed his wrist, stopping him. "Not yet," she said with a sly grin. Ethan frowned. "Why?" "There¡¯s still one more person who¡¯s joining us." She smirked knowingly. Ethan had a bad feeling. And then¡ª Esdeath turned around and ran. "Just stay here!" she called over her shoulder. "I¡¯ll be back soon. And don¡¯t you dare follow me!" Ethan watched her disappear into the distance, gripping his sword tightly. He didn¡¯t like this. Not one bit. ------------ Esdeath ran through the academy grounds, cutting down any monsters that got in her way. Even the low-level anomaly-class monsters were nothing but an annoyance to her. She was still feeling the effects of the potion Lortell had given her. It had temporarily boosted her strength to Rank B, making her feel unstoppable. "Tsk, these weaklings are wasting my time," she muttered in frustration, slashing through another monster without slowing down. After making her way through the academy gardens, she stopped and waited. She was supposed to meet someone. Maruti. But after waiting for fifteen minutes, there was still no sign of her. Esdeath frowned and tried to contact her, but got no response. "Tch¡­ Looks like she ran into trouble," she muttered, shaking her head. "I guess I''ll have to do this alone." She sighed, then left the garden, walking calmly as if the chaos around her was nothing more than the sound of birds chirping. But then¡ª She suddenly felt it. A powerful, bold aura. She stopped in her tracks, her sharp eyes scanning the area. And then she saw it. A massive wolf stood before her. Its body was covered in thick blue fur, and a single horn jutted out from its forehead, crackling with electricity. "A Lightning Charm Wolf?" Esdeath smirked, recognizing the creature immediately. It was a Rank B beast. Unlike the injured one Calista had fought before, this one was in perfect condition. But Esdeath felt no fear. Instead, her lips curled into a wild grin. "Alright, let''s see what you¡¯ve got," she challenged. The wolf howled, and lightning surged from its horn, crackling across the ground. Esdeath tensed, ready to face the attack head-on¡ª But before they could clash, a figure suddenly appeared between them. A bright green magic circle flared to life, blocking the lightning wave. Esdeath¡¯s eyes narrowed in surprise. "What the¡ª Who are you?" The young man turned his head slightly, his green eyes meeting hers. His green hair swayed in the wind, and despite the intense situation, he smirked. "Me?" he said casually. "I''m your ex-fianc¨¦." Silence. The world seemed to freeze. Esdeath¡¯s mind went blank as she stared at him, her red eyes wide in shock. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, the young man turned back to the wolf, his body tensed as he kept the magic barrier up. "Now¡¯s not the time to talk about this," he said, panting. "I¡¯ll block him¡ª You need to run¡ª" But before he could finish his sentence¡ª BANG! The sharp crack of a gunshot echoed through the battlefield. The young man¡¯s body jerked. A bullet had pierced straight through his forehead. His green eyes widened in shock as he stumbled, turning slightly¡ª And the last thing he saw was Esdeath, standing there, holding a gun. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thud! His body collapsed to the ground. Lifeless. Esdeath lowered her gun, her face cold and emotionless. "Ex?" she scoffed, stepping over his corpse. "There¡¯s no ex. My first and last is only Lortell." Penetrator "Now it''s your turn!" Esdeath said, her sharp eyes locking onto the Lightning Charm Wolf. Without hesitation, she raised her ZK-20 and activated its transformation. It shifted, its form expanding and reshaping into something massive¡ªa giant cannon-like weapon with three large barrels and glowing futuristic carvings. It was more than twice as big and three times as thick as Esdeath''s own body. One word could describe it¡ªGigantic. She lifted the heavy weapon onto her shoulder, her body bending slightly under its weight. Even with her enhanced strength, it was no easy task. She had used several Essence Stones to form this weapon, including several high-quality Rank C stones. This was her ultimate attack. "Killer Move¡ªOblivion Nova!" she declared. Then¡ª A blinding white light exploded from the barrels. It was everywhere. The entire battlefield lit up like a second sun. A massive beam of pure destruction surged forward, its power so overwhelming that Esdeath had to step back, struggling to keep her footing. The ground shook, and a deafening roar echoed through the air. The wolf didn¡¯t even have time to react. In a single instant, its entire body was erased¡ªcompletely obliterated by the attack. Silence followed. Esdeath took a deep breath, then casually manipulated the ZK-20 back into its liquid state, storing it away. She glanced up at the sky. "Hmm¡­ it''s already midnight," she muttered. "I should deal with Caramel first, or she''ll cause even more problems." Without wasting any more time, she turned and headed toward the academy backyard to meet Ethan. As she arrived, a powerful surge of green energy filled the air, spreading throughout the entire academy. She narrowed her eyes. "I told Ethan to stay in the backyard, but now it''s past midnight¡­ her powers are getting stronger, and if we don¡¯t stop her, she¡¯ll attract even more anomaly-class monsters." Her thoughts raced as she finally reached Ethan. "Hey! You can feel that energy, right? We''re going to deal with her first!" Esdeath said firmly. "But¡ª" Ethan hesitated. "What now?" Esdeath smirked, crossing her arms. "Aren''t you supposed to be a justice-bringer? Are you really going to let other students die just because you want to save your friend early?" Ethan clenched his fists. Esdeath turned away. "Let''s go, then!" she said, already walking forward. ----------------- Esdeath and Ethan entered the academy, searching for Caramel. But the inside was no different from a horror movie or game. Almost everyone inside had turned into monsters, or worse, monsters had already invaded the place. Both Ethan and Esdeath wasted no time cutting them down. The normal monsters were strong but easy to kill, while the anomaly-class ones were weaker but far more annoying to deal with. As they fought, Esdeath kept slamming into walls every time she tried to run too fast, trying to show her flexibility. Bam! She crashed into the wall again while dodging an attack from a humanoid monster. It had a long giraffe-like neck and a mouth filled with worm-like teeth. The wall cracked from the impact, but Esdeath didn''t have a single scratch on her body. "Tch... Rank B power is way stronger than Rank C. I can¡¯t fully control my speed yet," she muttered in frustration. It felt like her own strength was causing her more trouble than help. But then¡ª Clank! Ethan moved swiftly, slicing off the monster¡¯s long, slimy tongue with his sword. In one smooth motion, he spun and slashed again, beheading the creature completely. "Let¡¯s go inside!" Ethan said, offering his hand to Esdeath. Esdeath scoffed and stood up on her own. "Let¡¯s go!" she said, ignoring his hand. They ran through the dark corridors. The walls were covered in strange, green, jelly-like bubbles. It was disgusting. The deeper they went, the stronger the green aura became. Soon, they spotted a classroom at the end of the hall. The energy was overwhelming there. Esdeath and Ethan exchanged looks. It was obvious Caramel was inside. They slowed down, walking carefully toward the room. As they got closer, they noticed something disturbing. Words were written all over the walls, the ceiling, and even the floor. One word. Ethan. It was written everywhere. And it looked like someone had scratched it into the surface with their own nails. Ethan felt a shiver crawl down his spine. It was beyond creepy. But he still moved forward and reached for the door handle. Krrkkkrr¡­ Krrrkkkrrrr¡­ The door creaked as it slowly opened. Inside the room, Caramel was there. Her back was facing them. She sat on a bench, her nails scratching into the wood as she kept writing his name. Green blood dripped from her fingers. Her nails were broken, torn apart, but she didn¡¯t stop. "Ethan! Ethan... Ethan, Ethan... You''re finally here! Hahaha!" She laughed as she turned around. And when she did, her face was horrifying. Before, she had only a single spiral-shaped scar. But now, her nose, her eyes, her mouth¡ªeverything was gone. All that remained was a large, endless spiral where her entire face used to be. It spun and twisted inward, like a bottomless void. Her skin had turned green, and strange, unnatural mutations covered parts of her body. Ethan felt his whole body freeze for a moment. This was no longer the Caramel he once knew. But The moment Caramel saw Esdeath, her rage exploded like a storm. Her face twisted with fury as she screamed, "You are cheating on me with another woman again!" Her voice sent a powerful shockwave through the room, shattering every mirror in sight. Glass shards scattered everywhere, reflecting the chaos unfolding. Ethan, standing beside Esdeath, tightened his grip on his sword. "We should make the first move!" he shouted, wasting no time as he lunged forward. Esdeath, watching him charge in, bit her lip in frustration. "I can''t use my ZK-20 at full power while he''s here," she muttered to herself. There was no way she could reveal her trump card¡ªnot in front of Ethan. But there was no time to hesitate. She rushed in right behind him. Before Ethan could strike, Caramel''s body melted into the ground like liquid, vanishing in an instant. "You need to be punished!" Caramel¡¯s voice echoed ominously. Then, like a nightmare, she reappeared right behind Ethan. Her fist lashed out in a blur. BAM! The impact sent Ethan flying across the room, slamming him hard against the wall. Cracks spread like spiderwebs before the entire section of the wall nearly collapsed. BANG! BANG! BANG! Without wasting time, Esdeath fired her ZK-20, sending a barrage of bullets toward Caramel. But Caramel only smirked. Her face twisted unnaturally as it spiraled outward. With a sickening motion, her mouth opened wide and devoured the bullets whole. Esdeath clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Guns won¡¯t work¡­" she muttered. Her gaze flickered to Ethan, who was coughing as he struggled to get back on his feet. Even though he had taken a serious hit, he wasn¡¯t out of the fight just yet. "Nice," Esdeath smirked. She swiftly shifted her weapon, transforming the ZK-20 into a sleek sword. "I found a weapon too! Let''s fight!" She raised her voice so Ethan could hear. At that moment, Ethan¡¯s aura flared up. His hair turned pure white, and an immense wave of energy surged from his body. "Sword General!" he shouted. His speed exploded beyond human limits as he dashed toward Caramel, his sword slicing through the air at lightning speed. Clang! Shockingly, Caramel blocked the strike with her mutated hand, stopping Ethan¡¯s blade with ease. Ethan¡¯s eyes widened. "She¡¯s fast enough to keep up with me?!" Before he could react, Caramel twisted her body and sent a brutal kick straight into his chest. BAM! Ethan crashed into the wall again¡ªbut this time, it shattered completely. The impact sent him flying straight out of the third floor, the highest floor in the academy. Esdeath barely spared him a glance as she dashed forward, meeting Caramel head-on. Both threw their fists at the same time. BOOM! Their punches collided with a deafening shockwave, shaking the entire building. Even Esdeath was caught off guard. "She actually blocked my Rank B-level punch?" Esdeath thought, her eyes narrowing. She had been certain that she could break Caramel¡¯s arm with a single punch, but instead, they were evenly matched. Still, despite the surprise, a grin spread across Esdeath¡¯s face. "It doesn¡¯t matter," she thought. "She¡¯s running out of time. Just a few more minutes¡­ and she¡¯ll die on her own." --------- Esdeath quickly pulled back, retreating through the air as she transformed her ZK-20 into a floating skateboard. She soared effortlessly, gliding across the sky with her body nearly brushing against the ceiling. "Don''t you dare run!" Caramel shouted furiously. Her speed was unnatural¡ªalmost like she was teleporting. She dashed forward and leaped high, reaching out, nearly grabbing Esdeath¡¯s foot. But then¡ª Esdeath smirked. Raising her hand, she formed her fingers into the shape of a gun. Bang! A massive wave of black death energy exploded from her fingertips. The powerful blast hit Caramel directly, sending her crashing through several walls before she plummeted from the third floor. But Esdeath didn¡¯t stop there. She knew Caramel wouldn¡¯t die from just that. Without hesitation, she tilted her skateboard downward, chasing after Caramel as she fell. As soon as she was close enough, Esdeath leaped off the skateboard. She clenched both hands together, forming a single massive fist. "You¡¯re dead, you green shit!" she yelled. With all her strength, she slammed her fist straight into Caramel¡¯s stomach. Boom! Caramel¡¯s body shot downward like a cannonball, crashing into the ground with an earth-shattering impact. Meanwhile, Esdeath landed gracefully, as if she had barely exerted any effort at all. She dusted herself off and turned to see Ethan. Surprisingly, he looked only lightly injured. Of course. He must have used some magic. Most likely slime magic to soften his landing. "I was just about to come up there," he said with a small grin. But that grin didn¡¯t last long. As the dust settled, an ear-splitting roar filled the air. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ahhh... Ethannnn!" Caramel¡¯s furious scream echoed through the academy. And then¡ª A terrifying presence filled the area. Dozens of monstrous creatures surged toward them from all directions attracted from caramel''s roar. Many were students¡ªonce normal, now under Caramel¡¯s control. Even worse, several Rank C teachers and professors stepped forward, their eyes cold and their weapons drawn. They weren¡¯t just under Caramel¡¯s influence¡ªthey were ready to kill. In mere moments, Caramel had formed her own personal army. Esdeath exhaled, trying to keep calm. "Just two more minutes¡­ That¡¯s all I need," she reassured herself. But then¡ª Splash... splash... splash... A massive wave of green energy exploded through the air. The sheer force of it sent Esdeath to her knees. Ethan, who was standing, was slammed into the ground instantly. Even Caramel¡ªwho had just been roaring with rage¡ªfell onto her hands and knees, unable to move. Her minions weren¡¯t any better. In fact, some of them died on the spot, their bodies unable to withstand the overwhelming pressure. The energy stretched far beyond the academy walls. Even people outside could feel it. Esdeath¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "Did she¡­ attracted an even stronger anomaly-class monster?" Before she could fully process the thought¡ª Swishhh... A massive sword pierced straight through Caramel¡¯s back. The blade didn¡¯t just stab her¡ªit lifted her into the air, impaling her like a skewer. Caramel groaned in pain, struggling to break free, but she was powerless. Dark green, venomous energy oozed from the sword, seeping into her body like a deadly poison. With a small flick of his wrist, the attacker flung Caramel¡¯s body off his blade. Ethan, struggling against the pressure, clenched his fists. His golden aura flared around him as he used every ounce of strength just to push himself up onto his knees. Esdeath, unlike Ethan, could stand up freely. She had her own death aura that could resist the pressure. But she didn¡¯t move. Instead, she slowly lifted her head to see who had arrived. A tall, armored figure stood before them. A humanoid man, over seven feet tall, clad in shining knight armor. He held a long, imposing sword. But the most terrifying part¡ª He was beheaded. His head wasn¡¯t on his shoulders. Instead, he held it in his own hand. Even without seeing his face, Esdeath recognized him immediately. A cold chill ran down her spine. "A¡­ Beheaded Emperor?" she whispered, her mouth slightly open in shock. Ethan let out a bitter laugh, gripping his sword tightly. "Are you kidding me¡­? Now we have to fight a Rank A anomaly-class monster?" But even as he spoke, he didn¡¯t hesitate. Despite the odds, he forced himself to stand, unsheathing his sword again. Then¡ªsomething unexpected happened. The Beheaded Emperor didn¡¯t attack. Instead¡ª He calmly lifted his own severed head and placed it back onto his neck. With his face hidden beneath his knight¡¯s helmet, he looked as regal as ever. Then, he did something that should have been impossible. He spoke. His voice was deep, mechanical, and eerily calm. "E-s-dea-th... Crimson..." Esdeath¡¯s breath caught in her throat. "Did he just¡­ say my name?" The Beheaded Emperor continued, his words slow and deliberate. "Pe-net-trator... Me... Penetrator..." Then, with one final sentence, he turned his back to them. "Half... debt... has been repaid..." Without another word, he walked away. Esdeath and Ethan stood frozen, too stunned to speak. Alice Arlecchino Half an Hour Ago... In the dormitory corridors, chaos had taken over. Everywhere was filled with danger. It was obvious that moving alone was a death sentence, so most students had formed groups to survive. One such group ran through the dimly lit hallway, their footsteps echoing as they moved cautiously. Some students constantly looked back to check for threats, while others focused forward, making sure nothing ambushed them from ahead. In this group, there were four girls and three boys. Among them, the strongest was a boy with violet hair and a sturdy build. He wasn¡¯t particularly handsome, but his height and physique made him stand out. His name was Xavier. At this moment, he was undoubtedly the leader of the group. But just as they reached a turning point in the corridor¡ª Swish... A soft breeze passed. For a second, nothing seemed unusual. Then¡ª Thud. Xavier¡¯s head rolled onto the floor. His body followed right after, collapsing lifelessly onto the cold ground. The group froze in horror. Standing just a few steps away was a woman, holding a crimson-red katana in her hand. She had a tanned, toned body¡ªmuscular enough to show strength but not enough to take away from her curves. Her figure was striking, her chest full, and her posture confident. She looked seductive. Dangerous. It was none other than Maruti. A smile played on her lips as she casually wiped the blood off her katana. "Another one down!" she said cheerfully. "This is such a nice weapon. So sharp, so light¡­ I love it!" She had received many weapons from Trynne¡¯s treasure room, just like Esdeath, but until now, she had never used them. Now was the perfect time. While she admired her new sword, the rest of the students could only stare at her in horror. "Maruti?!" One of them finally spoke¡ªthe vice leader of the group. "Why did you kill him?!" The others immediately stepped back, their hands trembling as they gripped their weapons. They were on full alert. Maruti blinked, as if she had just realized what she had done. "Oops..." She rolled her eyes, trying to think of a quick excuse. Then, with the most innocent expression she could muster, she said¡ª "Umm¡­ actually, he was turning into a monster! Yeah! He was about to attack you guys, so I killed him before that happened!" It was the worst excuse possible. Even Maruti herself thought no one would believe it. She sighed internally, preparing to kill the rest of them. But then¡ª Their reaction shocked her. Maruti is a Class A student, an elite. If she says it, then it must be true!" a girl in the group said confidently. The others thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. "Thank you for saving us!" Maruti stood there, stunned. They actually bought it? Even she was surprised. Then, a smirk formed on her lips as she praised herself. "Alright, guys! I still have some other people to save, so goodbye!" She waved her hand and turned to leave. "Are you sure you want to go alone? We can help you!" a boy in the group offered. Maruti didn¡¯t even hesitate. "No need! I¡¯m more than enough on my own! Gonna save the world!" she said enthusiastically before disappearing into the chaos. As she moved swiftly through the academy, dodging fallen debris and passing by terrified students, one thought kept running through her mind. Alice Arlecchino¡­ Where the hell are you? At the outskirts of the academy, near the ground floor, there was a path leading to the academy gardens. Benches were placed along the walkway for students to sit and rest. But in the middle of this disaster, who had time to sit down and relax? Yet, despite all the chaos, one girl was sitting quietly on a bench. She had long, flowing purple hair that covered her forehead and eyes. A dark gloomy, eerie purple aura surrounded her. She looked human, but there was something different about her. Wrapped tightly around her waist, as if she were hugging herself in fear, was a small, cute purple tail. Her body was curvy and beautiful, and the way her academy uniform stretched over her chest made her figure stand out. She had a perfect body, but her gloomy aura completely overshadowed her beauty, making her look distant and unapproachable. What should I do? Where should I go? Should I call for help? Her thoughts were a mess. "But I''m not good at talking to people¡­ I don''t know how to cooperate¡­ I''m not even that strong¡­ I won¡¯t last in a team for long. They¡¯ll just kick me out like they always do!" She let out a quiet sigh, pulling her legs up onto the bench and hugging them. She had chosen this place because it was quiet. It seemed like no one thought coming here was a good idea. And because of that, this place had unintentionally become a safe zone. But her luck didn¡¯t last long. Suddenly¡ª A powerful gust of wind blew through the area, sending a shockwave in all directions. The force of the wind made her hair fly back, uncovering her face. Her fluffy, now slightly messy hair revealed a pair of striking purple eyes. And for the first time, her true beauty was fully visible. She looked breathtaking. Her face was enchanting¡ªmature, seductive, and elegant all at once. It was as if the wind had blown away all her gloominess, revealing the stunning woman hidden underneath. But before she could even appreciate the moment¡ª Her face turned pale. Because standing in front of her was the cause of that powerful gust of wind. A massive, towering beast. "A¡­ giant ape?" she whispered in shock. The creature was covered in thick fur, its eyes filled with wild, uncontrollable rage. It was a Rank C wind-type beast. But despite its rank, its strength was terrifying¡ªalmost comparable to a Rank B monster. Her entire body froze. She had nowhere to run. "No way! I won¡¯t even be able to block a single attack! " Panic filled her heart as she quickly got up, her only thought being to run away. But just as she took one step¡ª Thud! She tripped and fell to the ground. Her body froze as she looked up at the giant ape. The massive beast raised its hand, swirling with powerful winds. Its eyes glowed with wild rage, and it was ready to strike. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for death. But then¡ª "Divine Circle!" A powerful voice echoed through the air. BAM! A loud sound shook the ground. The girl flinched, but after a moment, she realized¡ªshe was still alive! Her eyes fluttered open, and she gasped in shock. A huge golden magic circle stood in front of her, blocking the giant ape¡¯s attack. And behind it, standing tall and strong, was a muscular girl. "Finally! I got to use light magic! Its defense is really good!" The girl smirked, completely unfazed by the battle. Who else could it be but Maruti? "She saved me!" The purple-haired girl stared at her savior with wide eyes, her heart racing. But then, her gaze shifted. She noticed something in Maruti¡¯s hand. "A piece of paper? A letter?" Before she could think too much, Maruti turned to face her. "Hey, pretty girl! Have you seen a gloomy, introverted girl with long hair covering her eyes? I need to find her as soon as possible!" Maruti asked. "Pretty girl?" The purple-haired girl¡¯s face turned bright red. "Haha¡­ no, no, I¡¯m not that pretty!" She shook her head so fast it looked like a blur. But then, something clicked in her mind. "Wait a minute¡­ Is that letter in her hand a love letter?" Her eyes widened slightly. "Is she¡­ going to confess to that girl? " Her cheeks turned pink at the thought. "It¡¯s not impossible¡­ With all this chaos around us, maybe she wants to confess before it¡¯s too late? So she won¡¯t have any regrets? " But then she shook her head aggressively. "I need to stop reading so many yuri romance novels! My mind is becoming more and more perverted!" As she spiraled into her own little world¡ª BAM! The giant ape struck the magic barrier again, causing another powerful shockwave. But Maruti held firm, her stance unwavering. "Hey, you! Stop shaking your head and answer me already! Do you know her or not?" "I-I don¡¯t know!" She quickly hugged her head, shrinking under Maruti¡¯s scolding voice. Maruti sighed, a hint of disappointment flashing across her face. "Is that so?" she muttered. But then, as if struck by an amusing thought, a smirk slowly crept onto her lips. At that moment, the purple-haired girl''s eyes widened in realization." A gloomy girl with her eyes covered by her hair? Wait a minute¡­ Isn''t that me? " She quickly turned towards Maruti, her mouth opening to speak. "I¡ª" But before she could utter another word, Maruti had already made her move. "Then I should finish him first!" She smirked, shifting her gaze back to the towering giant ape. She crouched slightly, tightening her grip, and gathered immense power in her right fist. At the same time, flames erupted around her knuckles, crackling like a roaring wildfire as she prepared to leap forward and strike. But then¡ª Crack¡ª Without warning, the ground beneath them shattered. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A deep, gaping hole opened up beneath Maruti¡¯s feet. Her expression flickered with momentary shock. Her balance broke. Her golden magic circle wavered and vanished. And in the next instant¡ª She fell. "No!" Without thinking, the purple-haired girl lunged forward. Her fingers stretched out desperately, and by sheer luck¡ª She caught Maruti¡¯s finger. Only one. A single, fragile connection. But for Maruti, it was enough. She immediately tried to channel her magic, her eyes narrowing in focus. But then¡ª Her expression twisted in confusion. "What¡­? Why isn¡¯t my magic working?! My essence stone¡ªit¡¯s not responding!" Panic flickered in her gaze for the first time. "Pull me up! Hurry!" she urged. The purple-haired girl gritted her teeth, her arms straining as she tried to lift Maruti with all her might. But her strength¡ªcompared to Ethan, Esdeath, or even Maruti herself¡ªwas insignificant. Her entire body trembled from the effort. Her vision blurred, overwhelmed by the weight of the moment. "I can''t pull you up¡­! I can¡¯t¡­!" Her voice quivered, her confidence crumbling. At that moment, dark memories of her past surfaced like a cruel whisper in the back of her mind. Just like before¡­ I¡¯m not strong enough. Just a coward, too weak to do anything right¡­ Her grip weakened. Her fingers slipped. And then¡ª Slurp¡ª They completely separated. "NOOOOOO!" Her scream tore through the air as Maruti plummeted into the abyss below. But even as she fell, Maruti showed no fear. Instead, she smirked, her voice carrying through the air. "I¡¯ll be back in no time! Find Alice Arlecchino for me by then! I need to ki¡ª" Before she could finish, the void swallowed her whole, and she disappeared into the darkness. A sharp, suffocating pain pierced through the purple-haired girl''s chest. Her entire body felt hollow. Tears streamed down her cheeks like an endless river. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "It¡¯s me¡­ Alice Arlecchino is me¡­" "You died because of me¡­ I let another person die because of me¡­ Sob¡­ sob¡­ If only I had the courage to join a team¡­ If only¡­" Her small sobs soon turned into uncontrollable weeping, her body shaking as regret drowned her. But then¡ª Grrrrr¡­ A deep, rumbling growl filled the air. The giant ape, now completely unbothered by the earlier commotion, pounded his massive fists against his chest and roared. His glowing, beastly eyes locked onto Alice. It was his turn to attack. "Stop growling," Alice muttered. The ape ignored her, letting out another deafening roar before charging straight at her, the ground quaking under his monstrous strength. Alice clenched her fists. Something inside her snapped. "I SAID STOP GROWLING!" Her voice echoed like thunder. Her eyes burned with a deep, luminous purple glow. In the blink of an eye, she lunged forward. BAM! Her fist connected. A ripple of condensed purple energy burst through the air, crackling like violent lightning. BOOM! The ape never even had the chance to react. His massive body was instantly reduced to nothing but ash. But the destruction didn¡¯t stop there. The residual force of Alice¡¯s attack expanded outward, a devastating purple shockwave obliterating everything within a thirty-meter radius. The once chaotic battlefield had turned into a wasteland of silence. Alice stood alone, panting heavily, her fists still trembling with leftover energy. Her gaze hardened. "Heheh...hahahahhaa ...",She started laughing like a maniac. Her personality took 180¡ã turn. "What a fucking weak monkey, Stronger...I need someone stronger.." The Honoured One—Xing Liang Near the academy, a fierce battle raged in the skies. The Dragon Queen was locked in combat against a swarm of red dragons, including their powerful queen. The roars of the mighty beasts echoed through the land, shaking the ground beneath them. The sky was painted red with fire, as flames clashed against each other in a chaotic dance of destruction. It was a battle she had fought once before(Before Turning Back Time). Back then, she had relied too much on her ability to hear thoughts, believing she could predict every move her enemies would make. But she had been deceived. The red dragons had tricked her, leading her into a trap that left her gravely wounded. But just like last time¡ª She would not fall so easily. A powerful energy surged within her, pushing her beyond her limits. She had activated her ultimate move¡ªDragon''s Last Stand! Gone was the small, childish form of a girl who looked no older than eight or nine. Now, in her place stood a towering woman, over eight feet tall, radiating overwhelming strength and authority. Her once petite figure had transformed into something breathtaking¡ªa body of pure power and allure. She was taller than even Lortell Mariette, a rare feat in itself. Her curves were dangerously enticing, her beauty undeniable. Her presence alone was enough to make the world stop and admire her, and yet, it was not just beauty that defined her¡ªit was the sheer, unshakable aura of dominance she exuded. Her silver eyes gleamed with confidence. Even though she knew the consequences of using Dragon''s Last Stand would be severe, she did not hesitate. There was no fear, no regret. Only excitement. Lilith spread her massive dragon wings and rose high into the sky. But then¡ª Srrrrr... Something fell from above. At first, it seemed like blood, thick and red, dripping down onto her skin. But when she touched it, she realized¡ª It wasn''t blood. It was water. A strange, crimson rain poured down from the dark clouds, soaking the battlefield in red. "What''s happening?!" students gasped, looking up in confusion. Before anyone could understand¡ª Thump... Thump... Thump Thunder roared across the battlefield. BOOM! Thick, golden lightning crashed down like giant pillars from the sky. Each bolt was massive, far larger than normal lightning, and wherever it struck¡ª BOOM! Bodies were turned to ash in an instant. RUMBLE! Then, the earth itself began to shake. Cracks spread across the battlefield. The ground split open, tilting and breaking apart. Buildings trembled, some even collapsing under the intense quake. Even Lilith, despite her strength, felt a chill run down her spine. Her silver eyes widened as realization struck her. "This... Don''t tell me!" she muttered, her heart pounding. She immediately withdrew her powerful aura and shouted with all her strength¡ª "EVERYONE WHO IS ALIVE, LISTEN TO ME! SOMEONE IS REFINING A DIVINE-RANK ESSENCE STONE!" Her voice echoed across the battlefield. A wave of shock spread among the survivors. "A Divine-Rank Essence Stone?! Here?! In the middle of this chaos?!" a Rank A teacher gasped. The students and teachers exchanged stunned looks. "Who would even dare to refine something so powerful in a battlefield?!" another person muttered in disbelief. Meanwhile, high above, the academy''s principal, Elara, narrowed his eyes. His face was grim as he thought deeply. "If all these natural disasters are happening, then¡ª" he turned towards Lilith. "THE ESSENCE STONE BEING REFINED MUST BE SOMETHING THAT DEFIES THE LAWS OF NATURE!" Elara shouted. His words sent another wave of panic across the battlefield. Lilith clenched her fists. "Principal Elara is right! FIND AND STOP THAT PERSON AT ALL COSTS!" she ordered. Then, she turned back toward the red dragons, her silver eyes burning with fury. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She bared her fangs. "It''s time for all of you to die!" she growled. But now that she had withdrawn her overwhelming aura, the dragons who had been pinned to the ground finally found their chance. One by one, their massive bodies lifted off the ground. Whoosh! With powerful flaps of their wings, they soared back into the sky, ready to fight once again. All the dragons transformed into their humanoid forms, knowing that their massive dragon bodies made them easy targets. They wouldn''t let themselves be hunted down like simple beasts ------------------- Maruti had no idea what just happened. One moment, she was about to finish off the giant ape, and the next, the ground beneath her feet had cracked open, swallowing her whole. She fell. For a brief moment, she thought it was over¡ªthat she was going to die just like that. But strangely enough, she was still breathing. Her eyes fluttered open. Darkness surrounded her. It was so silent that even her own breathing sounded loud. She moved her fingers¡ªno pain. Then, she tried moving her whole arm¡ªstill fine. ¡°Wait¡­ I¡¯m not dead?¡± she mumbled, rubbing her eyelids. But where was she? It was pitch black. There was no sky, no ground, nothing but endless darkness stretching in every direction. "Am I in hell?" she muttered under her breath. Then, taking a deep breath, she shouted, ¡°HELLO? ANYONE HERE? HELL DEMONS? GRIM REAPER? OR SOME OTHER POOR SOUL WHO GOT DRAGGED INTO HELL LIKE ME?¡± Her voice echoed, but there was no answer. Tsk. She stood up and started walking. The silence was eerie. Every step she took sounded louder than it should. It felt like she was walking in an endless void, where even time had lost its meaning. Then¡ª A faint glow. Far in the distance, she spotted a flickering orange-yellow light. Her eyes lit up. ¡°Fire?¡± Excitement surged in her chest. "If there¡¯s fire, that means there are people¡­ or demons camping!" Without hesitation, she sprinted toward the light. The closer she got, the clearer it became. The glow was coming from inside a cave¡ªa mid-sized cave, to be exact. Maruti slowed down, tilting her head. ¡°So the only thing in this whole dark void turns out to be a cave?¡± Weird. But whatever. ¡°Better than nothing,¡± she muttered, climbing over a few rocks to reach the cave¡¯s entrance. She stepped inside¡ª And froze. What she saw was not what she expected. A bonfire crackled in the middle of the cave, its flames casting dancing shadows on the walls. But what really caught her attention was the man standing beside it. No, not a man. Something else. He was ridiculously muscular. Broad shoulders, chiseled abs, arms thick with veins, and legs that looked like they could crush a boulder. But despite his extreme physique, he wasn¡¯t overly bulky¡ªhe was lean, sturdy, and built like a warrior. His upper body was completely bare, showing off every sculpted muscle, while his lower half was covered with nothing but a pair of boxing shorts. But what stood out the most¡ª Were the two beast-like ears on his head. And a long, swaying tail. Definitely not human. His back was facing her, but even from this angle, she could tell he was posing¡ªhis muscles flexed like a bodybuilder showing off on stage. And to make things worse¡ª He was smirking. As if he could see her reaction without even turning around. Maruti¡¯s face twitched. ¡°Eww¡­ What a weirdo.¡± Before she could say anything, the man finally spoke. ¡°Hehehe¡­ You must be wondering how you got here, why you¡¯re here, and how you can leave. And most importantly¡­¡± His voice was deep and masculine, matching his ridiculous appearance. ¡°¡­who I am, right?¡± His tone was way too enthusiastic, like a ten-year-old kid showing off his new toy. Maruti narrowed her eyes. This guy¡­ was seriously giving her second-hand embarrassment. Maruti slowly raised her hand, like she was giving her opinion in a boring class. "Umm¡­ no, I have no interest in you," she said casually. The moment those words left her mouth¡ª The man''s eyes widened in pure shock. His entire body stiffened like he had been struck by lightning. Then, with dramatic speed, he spun around to look at Maruti, his jaw dropping open. For a few seconds, he just stood there, frozen. The cave was still dimly lit, and Maruti was only halfway inside, so only her face and wild hair were visible. But that was enough. "A¡­ a woman?" His voice cracked in disbelief. His face lost all life. His eyes turned hollow, like someone who had just lost everything. "All these years¡­ All these years I spent waiting here¡­ preparing for this grand introduction¡­ and it''s for a woman?" His body trembled. "A womannnnn???" Then he dropped to his knees in despair. And before Maruti could react¡ª He started rolling on the ground like a baby throwing a tantrum. "Sob¡­ sob¡­ this is cheating! Cheating! What the hell am I supposed to do with a delicate, weak woman as my disciple?!" His loud wailing echoed through the cave. But then¡ª Bam! A foot slammed directly into his face. He crashed onto the ground, his legs twitching in the air. Of course, the kick came from Maruti. "Don''t you dare call me weak!" she snapped, cracking her knuckles. "And what¡¯s with this woman nonsense?! You¡¯re seriously sexist!" The man groaned, rubbing his cheek where the kick had landed. "Ow¡­ since when did females get this strong?" But as he looked up at Maruti¡ª He froze. His eyes sparkled like a man who had just discovered treasure. With shocking speed, he jumped to his feet and started inspecting her body. Maruti had no idea what was happening. "Oooohhh!" He let out an exaggerated gasp. "Such refined abs!" Before Maruti could react, his hand lightly poked her stomach. "Look at these arms! So daring!" His fingers prodded her biceps like a jeweler inspecting gold. Then his gaze lowered¡ª "Look at those thighs!" His voice rose in excitement. "You could choke even Rank C Awakeneds to death easily with these!" His long beast tail flapped behind him like an excited puppy. Maruti blinked. Then¡ª A smug grin slowly spread across her face. She crossed her arms, puffing out her chest, and let out a small hmph. "Hah! Don''t think I''ll melt just because you''re praising me!" She rubbed her nose with a proud smirk. "But what you said is definitely true, I¡¯ll give you that!" The man nodded rapidly, his face full of admiration. "I knew it! Using that was the right decision! Only barbarian women are real women!" His expression was filled with the excitement of a hardcore barbarian fanboy. Then, with an imposing aura, he straightened his back and towered over Maruti. The fire behind him flickered, casting long shadows. His presence felt massive, like some legendary warrior from an ancient tale. "Feel honored, little barbarian girl!" he declared, his voice booming. "From this moment forward, you shall be my first and last disciple!" For some reason, his body started glowing. Light surged around him dramatically, like he was about to ascend to godhood. Maruti squinted, stepping back and covering her eyes with her palm. Then, without hesitation, she casually said¡ª "Nope. Not interested. Now take me back." Silence. The glowing aura shattered into tiny imaginary pieces, like a glass window breaking in slow motion. The man¡¯s confident pose collapsed instantly. His face twisted in shock, his eyes shaking as if Maruti had just stabbed him in the heart. "But¡­ but why?" He gasped. "Do you even know who I am?! Even kids know about me! My name! My face! My physique! I was the role model for men in my generation!" Maruti¡¯s lips twitched. Oh great. This guy was an even bigger narcissist than she was. She let out a sigh, rolling her shoulders. "Alright, alright. Fine. Great man, tell me¡ªwho are you?" The man smirked to himself, cracking his knuckles like he had been waiting for this moment. "Now that is a good line!" He took a deep breath¡ª Then spread his arms wide. "Behold!" "The Great Heavenly Demon!" "The Martial God!" "The one who went to defeat the Demon King and fought toe-to-toe with the Hero as a reliable comrade!" He pointed dramatically at the sky¡ª "The Honored One!" "Xing Liang!" Divine Rank—Fate Maruti blinked. Wait a minute. She suddenly remembered something¡ª Esdeath had mentioned this guy before. And not just that, she and her even used his name as an excuse to get away from Lilith once. She narrowed her eyes. "Fable never told me there was a Xing Liang inheritance here," she muttered to herself. Then her gaze snapped back to the half-naked man standing proudly before her. "Hold on," she said, tilting her head. "Weren''t you dead? And why are you standing here half-naked like it¡¯s completely normal?" Xing Liang scoffed, crossing his thick arms over his chest. "First of all, I am *not* naked," he declared confidently. "I have my masculine body as a cover, and that¡¯s way better than any cloth!" To prove his point, he struck a series of dramatic poses, flexing his arms, turning to show off his back, and even doing a weirdly elegant twirl. Maruti just stared at him blankly. "¡­Right," she said. "And second," he continued, "of course I¡¯m dead! Or, well, my main body is dead. But this?" He spread his arms wide. "This is just my will, left behind as a legacy!" He grinned, gesturing around the cave. "This place was created by my real body," he explained. "It¡¯s an inheritance ground. Anyone who comes here will receive my legacy! And by that, I mean they become my disciple. Cool, right?" Then, with a smug look, he added, "Oh, and by the way, in this place, you can¡¯t even use your magic or your Essence Stone. Noticed that, right?" Maruti blinked and glanced down at herself. Now that he mentioned it¡­ Her magic really wasn¡¯t responding. Her Essence Stone, which she always relied on, felt completely useless here. She clenched her fist and relaxed it again, feeling a bit impressed. "Ohh¡­ yeah. That¡¯s pretty cool," she admitted. "How did you do it? Is this some kind of dark magic? A special Essence Stone?" Xing Liang laughed proudly, puffing out his chest. "Heheh¡­ of course not! There are so many things you don¡¯t know!" He waggled his finger like a teacher scolding a student. "But don¡¯t worry¡ªI¡¯ll tell you everything!" Then he smirked. "But only after you become my disciple!" Maruti tapped her chin in thought. "Hmm¡­" For a moment, she just stood there, considering. Then, with a shrug, she nodded. "Well, there¡¯s no harm in accepting it," she said. The moment the words left her mouth¡ª "YAYYYY!" Xing Liang jumped into the air, spinning around like a child who just got their favorite toy. His tail wagged furiously, and his whole body radiated pure excitement. But just as he was about to do another celebratory pose¡ª "Wait, wait, wait¡ªBUT!" Maruti held up a hand, stopping him in his tracks. Xing Liang blinked, frozen mid-jump. Maruti crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "Aren¡¯t you kinda stupid?" she asked bluntly. Maruti said flatly. "You said whoever comes here will become your disciple, right? Well, what if the wrong person came here? What if some complete lunatic or an enemy showed up instead?" Xing Liang was silent for a moment. Then¡ª He let out a low chuckle, raising a hand to his face. "Heh¡­" His shoulders shook slightly. Then he slowly dragged his palm down his face, revealing a smug smile. "Stupid?" he repeated. "My IQ is 245, you know?" Maruti¡¯s lips twitched. "It¡¯s only natural that a little barbarian girl wouldn¡¯t understand my supreme intellect," Xing Liang continued, lifting his chin arrogantly. "Can¡¯t you see this place?" He gestured around them. "This isn¡¯t just some random cave. It¡¯s a small world, completely separated from the real world yet connected by a single thread acting as a passageway." He spread his arms dramatically. "This is my personal domain!" But then he frowned. "But no one is invincible, Mistakes happen. And there are definitely people out there who can force their way into places like this." Xing Liang grinned. "That¡¯s why I used this!" With a proud flourish¡ª Xing Liang reached into his shorts and pulled something out. Maruti leaned in slightly, trying to get a better look. It was bright blue with white edges, like a piece of shattered glass. The shape was strange¡ªalmost like a broken star or some kind of crystal fractal. Xing Liang held it up proudly. "See? This is a piece of a Divine Rank Essence Stone¡ªFate," he announced. Maruti blinked. "Fate?" "Yeah!" Xing Liang nodded. "A million years ago, Fate shattered into many pieces, and my real body just happened to get one of them." He puffed up his chest, looking very proud of himself. But Maruti frowned, tilting her head. "Wait, hold on," she said. "Don¡¯t Essence Stones disappear when they break? And if Fate shattered, doesn¡¯t that mean it''s gone for good?" Xing Liang immediately waved his hand. "Of course not!" he scoffed. "Fate will always exist! The Fate Essence Stone and fate itself are two different things. It¡¯s like¡ª" He paused for a second, searching for an example. "Oh! It¡¯s like a Fireball Essence Stone!" he said suddenly. "That stone doesn¡¯t become fire. It just gives you the power to control and throw fireballs, right?" Maruti slowly nodded. "Yeah¡­?" "Same thing with all Essence Stones and magic," Xing Liang continued. "Fate Essence Stone doesn¡¯t create fate, but it lets you manipulate it¡ªat least to a certain extent!" He then grinned and leaned in slightly. "And Fate isn¡¯t just some random Essence Stone, you know. Some rare Essence Stones have special qualities of their own!" Maruti raised an eyebrow. "Like what?" Xing Liang held up a finger. "For example," he said, "the Wisdom Essence Stone can move and use its own powers even without an owner. It¡¯s got intelligence!" Maruti¡¯s eyes widened a little. "Huh. That¡¯s actually kinda cool." Xing Liang smirked. "Exactly! And then there¡¯s the Pure Love Essence Stone¡ªit can heal itself." He crossed his arms, nodding. "And the Obsessed Love Essence Stone? It¡¯s so strong that even some of the toughest materials in the world can¡¯t break it!" Maruti''s expression twisted slightly. "Wait, what? Obsessed Love?" Xing Liang ignored her reaction and continued proudly. "Just like those, the Fate Essence Stone doesn¡¯t just vanish when it breaks. It only disappears if it¡¯s shattered into countless tiny pieces!" Finally, he took a deep breath, finishing his explanation. Maruti crossed her arms. "Alright," she said, thinking it over. "So what now? Are we gonna do some crazy training? Like¡­ spending thousands of years here while only a few days pass outside?" A small spark of excitement lit up in her eyes. That would be so cool. But¡ª "Of course not!" Xing Liang shot her down immediately. Maruti¡¯s shoulders slumped. "Huh? No secret training arc?" she muttered. "I¡¯m not some god," Xing Liang said, rolling his eyes. "Just go outside for now. We¡¯ll meet again later." Maruti pouted a little. "That¡¯s boring¡­" But then¡ª Xing Liang pulled out a small, golden ring and held it up. "Here!" he said, tossing it to her. "Every time you pour your mana into this ring, you¡¯ll be teleported back here!" Maruti caught it and turned it over in her palm. A golden ring, huh? Her mind wandered for a second. "Ethan also got a golden ring¡­" she muttered. "Is this some kind of golden ring supremacy thing?" Xing Liang just stared at her. Maruti quickly shook her head and dismissed the thought. "Anyway!" she said, smirking. "I¡¯ve still got tons of questions, but I¡¯ll let them slide for now. I¡¯m running late as it is!" Xing Liang clapped his hands together. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Alright then! Stay still¡ªI¡¯m teleporting you out of here!" ------------------ Outside the academy, Esdeath and Ethan moved together. They had fought against Caramel outside the academy grounds, and now that Caramel was dead, they had also taken care of the remaining minions. But the aftermath of Caramel¡¯s death was far worse than they expected. Many teachers and students lost their minds¡ªsome took their own lives, while others went berserk, attacking anything in sight. Only a handful of people managed to survive. Ethan had quickly instructed them to hide in the hidden basement of the academy¡¯s garden for safety. Now, as Esdeath and Ethan made their way back to the academy, their breaths were heavy¡ªnot just from exhaustion after fighting so many teachers, students, and monsters, but also from what had just happened moments ago. Lilith had unleashed her overwhelming aura. It had been suffocating, forcing them to their knees, unable to move. But now, that pressure had disappeared, allowing them to move freely again. As they walked, their feet splashed into puddles, sending ripples through the red liquid covering the ground. It was raining¡ªbut this wasn¡¯t normal rain. The water was red, thick like blood, soaking their clothes. Esdeath was completely drenched. She was still wearing the same dress she had worn to her date with Lortell, but now, with blood-soaked fabric clinging to her skin, she looked even more terrifying¡ªlike a ghostly figure emerging from a battlefield. As she ran alongside Ethan, her thoughts drifted to her recent encounter with the Penetrator. "So, he wasn¡¯t just talking nonsense¡­ He was actually telling the truth," she thought. "I need to talk to Predictor about him in detail." She lifted a hand and wiped some of the red rain from her forehead with her fingers. Then, without hesitation, she brought them to her lips. The metallic taste spread across her tongue. "Hmm¡­ real blood tastes much better," Maruti’s Death? Inside the academy¡¯s basement, there were many sections¡ªan underground library, storage rooms, and even old prison cells. The prison area had been built long ago, back when crime rates were much higher than they were today. Now, most of it was abandoned, but some areas were still used for secret activities. Between the prison, storage rooms, and library, right in the center, Elara¡¯s clone floated in mid-air. His eyes were closed as he focused deeply on refining his essence stone. A sphere of pure purple energy slowly formed around him, pulsing with power. Finally, after what felt like forever, he opened his eyes. "Finally¡­ it¡¯s time for the middle stage," he muttered, feeling a sense of accomplishment. But the moment he opened his eyes¡ª "Yo!" Esdeath¡¯s face was right in front of his, her expression completely blank as she held up a victory sign with her fingers. Elara¡¯s clone was stunned. His focus almost shattered, nearly ruining his entire refinement process. "How did you get here?" he asked, his voice filled with anger. "I¡¯m not alone," Esdeath replied casually, pointing to Ethan, who stood a few steps behind her. Ethan¡¯s face twisted in rage. "To think you¡¯d do something so shameless¡­ Tell me, where is Violet?" His voice was cold and sharp, filled with barely contained fury. Elara¡¯s clone was still in the middle of refining his essence stone. He couldn¡¯t move, let alone attack. If he did, all his efforts would go to waste. Under normal circumstances, he would have killed these two without hesitation. But he had Violet. And as long as she was in his hands, Ethan wouldn¡¯t dare do anything reckless. The only real threat here was Esdeath. Esdeath folded her arms and smirked. "I know where she is. Go to the prison section and find her. My job is done here. Freeing her is up to you." Ethan didn¡¯t waste a second. Without hesitation, he turned and ran toward the prison section, his heart pounding with urgency. Meanwhile, Elara¡¯s clone kept his focus on his refinement, but his eyes stayed locked on Esdeath. "Now, why did you come here?" he asked, smirking. "You¡¯re not the hero type, are you?" Esdeath gave a sweet, polite smile, but her words were like poison. "Of course not. I¡¯m here to rob the hell out of you." Elara''s clone was silent for a moment before he chuckled. "You¡¯re talking big about robbing me when you don¡¯t even know if you¡¯ll make it out of here alive," he said with a smirk. Esdeath tilted her head slightly, looking amused. "Oh, but I do know. You¡¯ve already contacted your main body, and it¡¯ll be here any minute now," she said casually. Elara''s clone¡¯s confident expression stiffened. Esdeath started pacing in a small circle, scratching her head dramatically. "Oh no, oh no! I know that you can¡¯t store your most valuable resources inside your storage essence stone right now. It would drain too much of your mental energy, and you wouldn¡¯t want that while you¡¯re refining your essence stone, right?" she said, feigning panic. She was absolutely right. Storage-type essence stones could store almost anything, but the more powerful the object, the more mental energy it consumed also costs more mana when storing or taking out things. Right now, Elara¡¯s clone was already using a huge amount of his concentration to refine his essence stone. If he tried to store something too big, it would weaken his focus and possibly ruin everything. "But the basement is so big! By the time I find your stuff, your main body will be here. Then I¡¯ll be in trouble!" she said, pretending to be frustrated. Elara¡¯s clone smirked. He enjoyed seeing her looking so helpless. But then¡ª Esdeath suddenly stopped moving. Her expression changed, and a slow, wicked smirk spread across her lips. "Let me make a guess, What if The most valuable stuff would be in storage room number 14?" she said, her voice filled with certainty. "Huh?...but There are so many storage cabinets there, but what if the one I¡¯m looking for¡­ is the blue cupboard with a small eagle statue on top?" Elara¡¯s clone froze. His face paled instantly. Esdeath grinned. "Oh, what if you have places a strong barrier around it, That also acts as a password type lock?," she said, pacing back and forth. She tapped her chin again, pretending to think hard. "What could the password be¡­?" she mused out loud, then clapped her hands together. "Oh! Let me guess¡ªit¡¯s your daughter¡¯s birthday, isn¡¯t it? 1407?" Elara¡¯s clone¡¯s face drained of all color. His body stiffened as if he had been struck by lightning. "H-how¡­ how do you know that?" he stammered. Esdeath was absolutely right. Elara had stored his most valuable resources in that exact place. He had even placed a space-type barrier on it, which acted as both a lock and a transporter. This way, he could access his resources anytime without needing to store them in his storage essence stone, avoiding unnecessary mental strain. But for Esdeath to know not only where it was but also the exact password¡­ that was something he never expected. For a moment, Elara''s clone was completely stunned. But then, suddenly¡ª He started laughing. "Hah! Do you really think you can outsmart me?" he sneered. "I¡¯m the owner of that storage. I don¡¯t need to open it manually like some common thief. I can summon everything inside it with just a single thought!" "The pasword thing i only used so that if anyone else found it by chance, they shouldn''t open it and they''ll end up reporting me, The principal hahaha.." His eyes gleamed with confidence as he prepared to retrieve all of his treasures. But the moment he tried¡ª His expression changed. His confident smirk faded, replaced by confusion. His body stiffened slightly, and his fingers twitched as if trying to grasp something that wasn¡¯t there. Esdeath, who had been watching him closely, grinned. "What¡¯s wrong?" she teased, tilting her head. "You can¡¯t get them?" Her smirk deepened as she folded her arms across her chest. "You think this is some kind of movie where I¡¯ll reveal all my plans and then give you the chance to stop me?" Her voice was full of amusement. "Of course, I already took it all. I didn¡¯t even leave a speck of dust behind." ----------------- Outside the academy, Lilith stood victorious. The battlefield was covered in blood and dragon corpses. The once-mighty red dragons had all fallen. Only Vaelthara, the Dragon Queen, was still alive, but she was in no condition to fight anymore. Lilith, now back in her child form, was barely standing. Her body was covered in wounds, and exhaustion weighed down on her like a heavy chain. The only thing keeping her on her feet was her sword, which she used for support. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, memories flashing through her mind¡ª A promise. A promise she made to the hero before his death. "I will protect the peace of the kingdom," she had told him back then. But now, looking at the destruction around her, she sighed. "I couldn''t protect it this time¡­ but I hope that from now on, everything will finally be at peace." A tired smile formed on her lips. She exhaled a long, weary breath. "I can finally rest in peace." But then¡ª A voice whispered in her ear. "That''s right, Ms. Lilith¡­ rest in peace." Her body relaxed at the words, as if accepting them. But something was wrong. That voice¡ª Her eyes widened. It was Elara. And he was standing right behind her, his sword already swinging toward her back. "You!¡ª" Lilith tried to move, but she was too slow. The sword sliced through the air¡ª Swishhh¡ª Blood splattered. Lilith¡¯s eyes went wide, not in pain but in shock. Not because Elara had turned out to be a traitor. But because she wasn¡¯t the one who got stabbed. Someone else had stepped in front of her. It was a women but totally opposite of how she looked. Tall, muscular, mature looking with dark skin and short hair. Maruti. The sword had pierced her left side, just above her abdomen. She coughed violently, blood spilling from her lips. "That motherfucker teleported me here?¡­ to die?" She gritted her teeth, her voice filled with anger and disbelief. "Fuck you, Naked man!" Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground, clutching her wound. Not far away, Kaelith had seen everything. She had been rushing toward the battlefield to help her mother, but now¡ª Her feet froze. Her heart stopped. Her eyes widened, and tears spilled down her cheeks uncontrollably. "Maruti¡­" Her lips trembled, barely able to form words. Lilith, still struggling to stand, smiled bitterly. "You should have let me die¡­ I can¡¯t fight him in this condition." Maruti let out a weak, pained laugh, her voice slurred. "Fuck¡­ who wanted to save you¡­?" But her words were gibberish, no one understood what she said. Elara smirked, his expression filled with twisted amusement. "She¡¯s right," he said, his voice mocking. "Your actions don¡¯t change anything." But then, suddenly¡ª His expression shifted. His brows furrowed, and his eyes narrowed. "My clone is in danger?" A silent signal from his other self had reached him. "I need to hurry." He turned away from Lilith and Maruti. Instead of finishing them off, he set his sights on the strongest opponent here (At least right now)¡ª sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kaelith. Raising his hand, he pointed it at her. "Time Cutting Edge." Are You A Tsundere? Elara was about to cut Kaelith in two. His sword gleamed under the dim light, slicing through the air¡ª But before it could reach her, thick green vines burst from the ground, wrapping around his body like living chains. "What the¡ª?" He struggled, trying to move, but the plants tightened around him, growing thicker and stronger with each passing second. Elara gritted his teeth and forced himself free, tearing through the vines with sheer strength. But more kept growing, even faster this time, twisting around him like a wild beast refusing to let go. Realizing he was at a disadvantage, he clicked his tongue and retreated. And then¡ª A cheerful voice echoed through the battlefield. "No need to worry, Third Division is here!" It was a man¡¯s voice, full of confidence. Lilith, barely conscious, lifted her head. Through her blurry vision, she saw them¡ª The Third Division. Lortell¡¯s group. The one who had spoken was Verdes, a tall, broad-shouldered man with messy green hair and matching sharp eyes. His muscular build and delinquent-like face made him look intimidating, but the easygoing grin on his lips showed he was far from serious. Even in her weakened state, a faint smile appeared on Lilith¡¯s face before she finally lost consciousness, her body collapsing onto the ground. Verdes landed smoothly, followed by four more members of the Third Division. But among them, one stood out the most¡ª A woman dressed in a nun¡¯s robe, her body almost ghost-like, floating in the air. A blindfold covered her eyes, giving her an eerie presence. Meldia, the Dark Nun. She pressed her fingers together in a prayer, her soft voice carrying an unearthly chill. "Dark spirits¡­ heed my call." The ground beneath them cracked. From the shadows, eerie figures began to rise, their twisted forms resembling undead warriors. Each one radiated power, at least at a B-rank strength. But Meldia wasn¡¯t done. She slowly raised one hand, dark energy swirling around her palm. The energy grew denser, twisting and compressing into a massive, black sphere that pulsed like a hungry void. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Dark Vortex." With a flick of her wrist, she hurled the sphere straight at Elara. The dark mass roared through the air, expanding as it neared him, like a miniature black hole that could swallow everything in its path. But Elara was no ordinary opponent. His eyes sharpened. "Time Cutting Edge." He swung his sword. A rift in time and space rippled outward like a blade of pure distortion¡ª Swoosh! The Dark Vortex was sliced cleanly in half. The two halves of the sphere twisted and collapsed in on themselves before vanishing. But the attack didn¡¯t stop there. The same space-cutting wave surged forward, heading straight for Meldia. Her blindfolded eyes widened in shock. She barely had time to react¡ª Boom! A dark barrier formed in front of her at the last second. But the force of the attack was too great. The barrier shattered, and a sharp wave of energy grazed her cheek. A thin line of blood appeared. Silence followed. Meldia lifted a hand and touched the cut on her face. Then, she let out a small chuckle. "A S-rank¡­ is an S-rank after all." ------------- Elara was locked in a fierce battle against Verdes, Meldia, and two other male members of the Third Division. Their attacks clashed against his power, shaking the ground beneath them. Meanwhile, one woman stood back, not joining the fight. Her name was Mary¡ªa support-type mage. She wasn¡¯t skilled in direct combat, so she focused on watching over her allies. But Kaelith? She didn¡¯t care about the battle at all. Her mind was only on one person. "Maruti!" Tears still ran down her face as she rushed forward, catching Maruti just before she could collapse to the ground. Maruti¡¯s lips curled into a weak smirk. "Lizard¡­ cough¡­ cough¡­" Blood dripped from her mouth. Kaelith¡¯s breath hitched. "I guess this is the end," Maruti mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. "I still have regrets¡­ I wanted to try all those dishes at the restaurant¡ª" Her body stopped moving. Her eyes stopped blinking. She was dead. "MARUTI!!" Kaelith¡¯s scream echoed through the battlefield. Her hands trembled as she held Maruti¡¯s lifeless body. But then¡ª A small blink. "Huh?" Maruti¡¯s voice suddenly came out. "Why am I not dead?" Kaelith¡¯s tear-filled eyes widened in shock. She blinked rapidly, unable to process what just happened. "Hyaa!.."Maruti sat up and touched her stomach, feeling around her wound. "Ohhh¡­ the sword didn¡¯t pierce my vital organs!" she realized. "I avoided a fatal wound! I¡¯m alive!" She turned to Kaelith, expecting her to be relieved. But¡ª Kaelith was completely frozen, staring at her with wide eyes. Maruti scratched her cheek awkwardly. "Umm¡­ miracle¡­ miracle¡­ miracle.. I got resurrected?" She cheered. But before she could say another word¡ª Kaelith lunged forward, grabbed Maruti¡¯s face, and locked their lips together in a deep, passionate kiss. Maruti¡¯s eyes went round as Kaelith¡¯s warmth pressed against her. Kaelith didn¡¯t hold back, pouring all her emotions into the kiss. And when she finally pulled away, a thin string of saliva connected their lips. "Don¡¯t ever do something like that again!" Kaelith¡¯s voice trembled¡ªnot with anger, but with fear and relief. It was so unlike her usual confident, dominating tone. For a moment, they just stared at each other, frozen in place, lost in the intensity of the moment. Kaelith¡¯s silver eyes were filled with something undeniable¡ªlove. But then¡ª BAM! Maruti kicked Kaelith straight in the face. "What¡¯s with that dramatic line, huh, lizard?" she huffed. Kaelith, recovering from the hit, rubbed her face and scowled. "What? I was just worried about you!" Maruti¡¯s expression shifted. She suddenly looked away, her usual confident smile nowhere to be seen. Her face lowered slightly, her voice quieter. "Don¡¯t be concerned about me," she muttered. "We¡¯re not in any kind of relationship." Kaelith frowned, sensing something different in her tone. Maruti hugged her legs looking away at ground below "People get attached too easily," she continued, voice filled with something heavy. "And when they do¡­ it only hurts more later." A painful silence hung between them. Kaelith¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. Then¡ª "Are you a tsundere?" she asked with a blank face. Maruti¡¯s head snapped toward her. "You bastard¡ª!!" WHAM! She kicked Kaelith again. And just like that, the serious moment dissolved into a chaotic cat fight between the two. They rolled on the ground, throwing weak punches and kicks at each other like bickering children. Then¡ª A gentle green light washed over Maruti¡¯s body. Her wounds faded. Her pain vanished. "Alright, enough, lovebirds," Verdes¡¯ voice interrupted. Both girls stopped mid-fight, turning toward Verdes. He stood there with his arms crossed, but his eyes weren¡¯t on them. He was watching Elara carefully. "I healed you," he said casually. "Now take Ms. Lilith and get out of here." Kaelith frowned. "How come you all are here? Isn¡¯t communication blocked in this area?" Verdes blinked. "Huh? We got a letter from the captain." "A letter?" Kaelith¡¯s expression darkened. "Yeah," Verdes continued. "She said there was a secret mission and told us to come at this exact time. We were a few minutes late, though. Who cares, haha¡ª" He scratched the back of his head and laughed. But then¡ª He suddenly looked around, his confusion growing. "Wait¡­ where is the captain, anyway?" he asked. His carefree tone dropped slightly. "And this is the secret mission? I don¡¯t fully understand, but¡­ I think the principal is the villain here?" His words made the rest of the Third Division glance at each other uneasily. They had come here because their captain had summoned them. But now¡ª She wasn¡¯t even here. Something was wrong. And none of them had any idea what was really going on. Because the one who sent that letter¡­ Wasn¡¯t their captain. It was Esdeath. Yes. She had planned for this from the very beginning. She needed the Third Division to arrive at the perfect time. To keep Elara busy. So she could deal with her clone. But how? How did Esdeath make the Third Division follow her orders? It all started a long time ago. Back in the first arc¡ªbefore Esdeath turned back time¡ªLortell had given her many things. One of those things was Loyalty Essence, which she had used on her ZK-20 weapon. But that wasn¡¯t all. Lortell had also given her a Rank B Golden Flying Letter Essence Stone. But more importantly¡ª The letter had an official Third Division Commander¡¯s stamp. At the time, Esdeath thought Lortell had given it to her so they could communicate easily. She hadn¡¯t expected the academy to force students to live in dorms. Or that Lortell would end up in the next room to her. So, in the end, the letter had become useless. At that time, Esdeath had stared at it and grumbled¡ª "But honestly, is she an idiot?" She had held the letter up, annoyed. "If I sent this to someone with a message written on it, they''d think it came from Lortell herself. Why give me something so valuable if it can be used to stir up trouble?" Shaking her head, she had tossed it behind her like trash. She hadn¡¯t cared where it landed. But now? This time, she used it to its fullest. She wrote a letter to Verdes, Meldia, and the other three strongest members of the Third Division. Telling them to come. But not at the start. Because Esdeath wasn¡¯t some hero. She only wanted them to arrive at the perfect time¡ª When it would benefit her the most. And in the end¡ª Everything went according to her plan. (If you forgot, Just read chapter 147''s last parts, You''ll understand) Kailith’s Revenge…Or Something Like That Verdes ordered Kaelith and Maruti to take Lilith and leave. Maruti didn¡¯t want to stay either. Why would she even try to fight an S-rank? She quickly stood up, ready to leave. "Maruti, take Mother and go. I¡¯ll catch up in a while," Kaelith said. "Huh? Where are you going?" Maruti asked, frowning. "Nothing much. Just some payback. I¡¯ll be back soon," Kaelith replied. Maruti didn¡¯t question her any further. She simply lifted Lilith¡¯s unconscious body onto her back and rushed away. Kaelith let out a breath of relief as she watched Maruti head toward the academy. But then¡ª Her expression changed. Her face twisted in irritation and frustration. Her teeth clenched. Her fingers curled into a tight fist. Her whole body trembled with anger. "How dare someone touch her¡­ other than me?" she muttered under her breath. "You¡¯ll pay for this!" --- Meanwhile, Elara was locked in a fierce battle. He was up against four A-rank experts¡ªVerdes, Meldia, and two others from the Third Division. Yet, even against all four of them¡ª He was still winning. He had hundreds of years of experience and knowledge, after all. "You should just give up," Elara said as he swiftly moved backward. "You can¡¯t defeat an S-rank like me!" "I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re an S-rank or whatever!" Verdes shouted as he launched himself into the air. Then¡ª "Mary!" he called out. At once, Mary¡ªone of the Third Division members who hadn¡¯t fought until now¡ªnodded. She was a support-type fighter, not meant for direct combat. But this¡ª This was her moment to shine. "Holy Magic¡ªThousand Boost!" A pillar of golden light surged from her body. The light shot up into the sky before crashing down on Verdes. In an instant¡ª His whole body overflowed with strength. His muscles burned with power. His energy soared to its peak. A fiery determination filled his eyes. "Combined Killer Move¡ªWorld of Plants!" SWOOSH! Suddenly¡ª The battlefield transformed. Greenery spread everywhere. Flowers bloomed. The fresh scent of nature filled the air. The ground¡ªonce covered in blood, corpses, and the rotting stench of death¡ªbecame a breathtaking garden of colorful plants and beautiful blossoms. It no longer looked like a battlefield. It looked like a dream. Like a world untouched by violence. But just as Verdes prepared to attack¡ª A sly smile curled on Elara¡¯s lips. "Gotcha." He raised his fingers toward Verdes. "Time Prison!" And in the next moment¡ª Everything froze. --------- Before Esdeath turned back time, Elara had used this exact killer move against Lortell. But Lortell was far stronger. Even when he used his full power, he had to imprison himself along with her just to hold her back for a few moments. But right now? He was up against Rank A fighters. Strong, yes. But not even close to Lortell¡¯s level. Everything froze¡ªbut only for Verdes. Everyone else could still move. Because of this, Verdes¡¯ combined killer move broke halfway. The beautiful battlefield of plants and flowers disappeared in an instant. Mary suddenly collapsed to her knees, coughing up a mouthful of blood, but she quickly placed a glowing hand over her chest, forcing herself to recover. Even so, Verdes was still frozen in place. "It''s time for you¡ª" Elara started. But before he could finish¡ª A heavy punch crashed straight into his face, sending him flying across the battlefield. His body bounced off the ground multiple times, breaking stone and shattering debris as he tumbled away. But before he could even regain his balance¡ª A powerful kick slammed into his abdomen, launching him into the air. As he soared through the sky, he caught a glimpse of the one who attacked him. Long, flowing silver hair. Shining silver horns. Pale, flawless skin. A face filled with power and beauty. "Lilith¡­?" he gasped, his vision still blurry. But as he focused, he realized it wasn¡¯t Lilith. It was Kaelith. For a brief moment, her powerful aura and glowing silver energy had made him mistake her for Lilith in her prime. Elara¡¯s heart sank. His pupils shrank as he quickly pointed a trembling finger at her. "Time Pri¡ª" Nothing happened. She didn¡¯t freeze. She didn¡¯t even slow down. His breath hitched in his throat. Even though Kaelith wasn¡¯t as strong as Lortell, her body¡¯s resistance to restrictions was at Lortell¡¯s level. If he wanted to imprison her in time, he would have to physically touch her and imprison himself as well. Not an option. Kaelith smirked. "It¡¯s good that you dared to attack her now¡­" Her silver eyes gleamed dangerously. Then¡ª She vanished. No¡ªshe moved so fast it looked like teleportation. Before Elara could react¡ª Hundreds of punches rained down on his body in mere seconds. The sheer force of the blows sent shockwaves rippling through the air, shaking the battlefield. "If you had come a year later, I would have killed three generations of your family for this!" Kaelith roared, delivering another devastating punch to his gut. Elara coughed up blood, his body barely able to withstand the relentless assault. Meanwhile, Meldia and the others could only watch from the ground as Kaelith completely destroyed him. "This aura¡­ Is she already Rank A?" Mary gasped, her voice trembling with shock. "Not just that," Meldia murmured, her eyes narrowing. "She¡¯s far beyond an average Rank A." "At this rate, she¡¯s not far from reaching our level." She sighed. "I guess silver dragons really are built different¡­" At that moment, Verdes finally broke free from Time Prison. His body jolted awake, and he sucked in a sharp breath¡ª Then¡ª A mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips as he stumbled forward. "Shit¡­ I messed up," he groaned, clutching his ribs. ---------- With one final, powerful kick, Kaelith sent Elara crashing straight into the ground. She, on the other hand, landed gracefully, her silver hair flowing in the wind. A massive crater formed where Elara had slammed into the earth. Dust and debris filled the air, making it impossible to see what had happened to him. For a brief moment, everything was silent. Then¡ª A terrifying surge of energy erupted from the crater. A Rank S aura. It was overwhelming. Suffocating. Even the Rank A fighters nearby felt an immense pressure weighing down on them, though they managed to stay standing. But for the weaker students and the nearby monsters, it was a different story. Some collapsed instantly. Others, who were too close, perished within moments. Only one place remained untouched by this overwhelming power¡ªthe academy. Why? Because Elara didn¡¯t want his clone to be disturbed while refining the essence stone. Right now, the academy was the only place where his aura remained weak. "Now you''ve made me go all out!" Elara¡¯s deep, furious voice echoed across the battlefield as he stepped out of the crater. But then¡ª He saw Kaelith. Unlike the others, who were preparing to fight, she wasn¡¯t even looking at him. She was running. "My revenge is done! You guys take care of him!" she shouted, dashing in the direction Maruti had gone. "I just reached Rank A! I was pushing myself too hard to exert more power, I should get out of here before I end up dead!" She thought. And with that, she disappeared into the distance. --- Deep in the academy¡¯s basement, Ethan sprinted through the dark prison corridor, his heart pounding. He ran past rows of iron bars, his eyes scanning each cell, searching desperately. Then¡ª S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He found her. Violet. She was sitting in the corner of her cell, her head lowered, completely still. "Violet!" Ethan called out, his voice filled with urgency. At the sound of his voice, her eyes widened in shock. She quickly looked up, disbelief and hope flashing across her face. "Ethan?!" she gasped, scrambling to her feet and running to the bars. "How did you get here?!" "There¡¯s no time to explain!" Ethan said, unsheathing his sword. With a swift motion, he swung at the metal bars. CLANG! The impact sent a powerful shockwave through the air¡ª But then¡ª A shimmering barrier appeared, absorbing the attack completely. Violet let out a heavy sigh. "If breaking out was that easy, I would¡¯ve already escaped," she muttered, frustration in her voice. Ethan frowned. "Let me try something else." He placed his palm against the invisible barrier, his expression focused. "It¡¯s a password-type lock," he muttered. "We need to shape mana into the correct numbers to open it." Violet¡¯s heart sank. "A password?" she repeated. "How are we supposed to know what the right password is¡­?" Her hope faded as she lowered her head again, despair creeping back into her eyes. "If we don¡¯t know the password, then I¡¯ll just have to get it from him!" Ethan muttered to himself, determination flashing in his eyes. He turned around and sprinted back the way he had come. "No! Don¡¯t go!" Violet shouted, panic rising in her voice. "You can¡¯t defeat him!" But Ethan didn¡¯t stop. He acted like he hadn¡¯t heard her and rushed straight toward where Elara¡¯s clone was. --- A little distance away, Esdeath sat cross-legged in front of Elara¡¯s clone, completely relaxed¡ªlike she was waiting for food to be served. Her calm expression was in sharp contrast to the serious atmosphere. "So, what do you think?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "If you tell me where I can find more Time Path Essence Stones or any other resources, I might just help you out." Elara¡¯s clone immediately scoffed. "Greedy girl," he said, his voice filled with annoyance. "You already took too much, and you¡¯re still not satisfied?" Esdeath only smiled. "I¡¯m human, you know," she replied playfully. "Human wants are unlimited." Elara¡¯s clone narrowed his eyes. "Whatever the case, once I succeed, I will fix everything. No one will have to suffer anymore." He sneered. "Unlike you, who reeks of selfishness." But before Esdeath could reply¡ª WHOOSH! A powerful gust of wind rushed through the room as Ethan appeared at high speed. He didn¡¯t hesitate. Without warning¡ª He swung his sword directly at the swirling purple vortex in front of Elara¡¯s clone. CRACK! A sharp cracking sound echoed as the vortex split open. Elara¡¯s clone¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "No!" But it was too late. The entire chamber was filled with a blinding purple light. The refinement process¡ª Was completely destroyed.