"All right," Kael said, nodding with satisfaction. "I'll take that as your answer."
In the same instant, he raised his hand and sharply thrust his palm toward the boys. A bright magical circle flared to life on it—and a second later, a bolt of lightning tore out, ripping through the air with a sharp crack and striking straight toward Alex and Adam.
Adam reacted instantly, thrusting his hand forward. A magical circle lit up on his palm as well, and a transparent dome-like barrier rose around them, blue lightning crawling and skittering across its surface.
Kael's attack slammed into the protective dome. Sparks exploded outward, but the barrier held.
Kael twisted his face in contempt.
He raised his hand again, sending a second bolt flying toward them. Then a third. A fourth. A fifth. Each one detonated against the barrier with a deafening crack, making the air in the room vibrate.
Adam stood firm, never taking his eyes off the enemy, even as fresh sparks ran along his arm from the mana feedback.
"I know this is probably a bit… late to ask," he threw out through clenched teeth as he held the barrier, "but be honest…" His voice trembled slightly with the strain.
"After everything I've done… will there be consequences? For us? For our families?"
Alex looked at him, and despite the chaos around them, a faint, confident smile appeared on his face.
"If everything goes well—none," he replied calmly. "At least, not for us."
Then his gaze turned cold. "As for Kael, I can't say the same."
Adam let out a heavy breath, resolve flashing in his eyes.
"Glad to hear it," he whispered. "Then… there's no point holding back anymore."
A new magical circle flared to life on his other hand. Space shuddered—and dozens of radiant magical circles instantly appeared in the air around Kael, spinning as they gathered enormous charges of lightning.
"Adam…" Alex barely managed to breathe out—
And in the very next second, lightning erupted from every circle at once. A raging storm, all of it directed straight at Kael. The air exploded with light, but the man managed to evade it. His body flared with electric radiance as he accelerated himself with lightning magic, shifting sideways and escaping the strike. Adam's lightning tore past him, scorching the wall and floor and leaving behind thick plumes of smoke.
Kael reappeared several meters to the left—smiling, his eyes burning with the thrill of a predator who had finally found worthy prey.
Adam cast a quick, assessing glance in his direction, and new magical circles flared to life around the man. There were so many that they filled the air completely, layering over one another in multiple tiers, as if trying to block every possible avenue of escape.
The next instant, the entire web of circles detonated in blinding lightning. The strike was far more powerful than the last—a brilliant flash cleaved the room like daylight.
But Kael vanished again. He reappeared near the far corner, unharmed—and wearing a faint, almost mocking squint.
Adam didn't even flinch. His movements remained controlled and precise as he launched the attack again. And again. And again.
Each time, the magical circles multiplied, expanding their radius and consuming more and more of the space. And yet Kael emerged unscathed every time—appearing in a distant corner, then suddenly right behind the boys, then a breath away from the barrier Adam was still maintaining with his left hand.
His silhouette nearly smeared through the air from sheer speed. The room became a chaotic chessboard, Kael hopping from square to square, leaving behind nothing but the scent of ozone and a thin trail of mana.
After several minutes of nonstop attacks, Adam finally spoke—calmly, almost casually, as if lightning weren't tearing the air apart around them.
"Alex…" He tilted his head slightly, never taking his eyes off Kael. "Your help would be very welcome right about now."
Alex smiled smugly, almost slyly.
"I thought you could handle it on your own."
"I can," Adam replied just as evenly. "If he stays in one place for at least a second."
"Keep it up," Alex said, his eyes flickering faintly red. "As for holding him still… I'm already working on that."
Adam didn't ask any questions. He simply continued—every time Kael appeared, Adam instantly unleashed another attack.
And then, as Kael tried to evade yet another strike, he simply… froze. His body jerked forward, but his feet remained rooted to the floor. One second. Two.
Kael sharply dropped his gaze—and saw thin, dark-red tendrils of viscous blood wrapped around his ankles. They trembled as if alive, yet held the guildmaster tighter than steel.
"What the—" he barely managed to hiss.
At that exact moment, dozens of Adam's magical circles flared simultaneously. Every bolt of lightning tore free at once and, with a deafening thunderclap, struck the immobile target. Light ripped through the air. A shockwave swept across the room. The ground trembled. And a colossal wall of dust rose around Kael, completely swallowing his figure.
A faint, self-satisfied smile appeared on Adam's lips.
"This time I definitely hit him," he said confidently, dispersing the barrier around himself and Alex.
Alex didn't respond. His gaze was focused and tense, fixed on the dust cloud slowly settling in the center of the room.
Adam noticed that look. Without asking anything, he too turned his eyes to where Kael should have been.
The dust descended slowly, as if deliberately dragging out the moment. A few seconds passed—and suddenly, a brilliant light flared from within the cloud. The next instant, something burst out with incredible speed.
A sword.
Its blade was completely wrapped in lightning—arcs sliding along the steel, crackling and tearing into the air, leaving a luminous trail behind. The weapon flew straight at Adam, so fast the eye could barely follow its motion.
Adam instinctively raised his hand, trying to form a barrier, but he knew immediately—he wouldn't make it.
Alex reacted instantly.
He stepped sharply forward, shielding Adam with his body, and at the last moment coated his hand in blood. The sword slammed into his grip with a dull crack, sparks and lightning exploding outward.
Adam froze.
Alex grimaced as searing pain shot through him. The lightning charged into the blade tore through the unprotected part of his arm and body, coursing through him in violent arcs. His skin burned, his muscles spasmed, leaving dark scorch marks and the sharp smell of ozone.
The sword in his hand felt alive—trembling, jerking, trying to tear itself free.
Alex clenched his teeth.
The blood on his hand thickened, tightening its grip on the blade even more. He slowly lowered his arm, twisting the sword in his palm, turning the blade back toward the direction it had come from.
His gaze was cold and focused. A moment later, Alex hurled the sword back.
The weapon whistled across the entire room, carrying remnants of lightning and blood, and within a second reached its target somewhere deep inside the dust cloud.
An explosion thundered through the room.
A wave of air rolled through the room, kicking up dust with renewed force and once again hiding Kael behind a gray veil.
Alex lowered his gaze to his hand. It was far from being in good condition—the skin had blackened from burns, and residual sparks still crawled across it in places.
Adam stepped closer and stared at it in horror.
Alex noticed the fear in his eyes and tried to give a reassuring smile.
"I'm fine," he said calmly.
With his free hand, Alex pulled a small vial filled with bright green liquid from his inventory. Without hesitating for a second, he downed its contents in one gulp.
Almost immediately, the damaged hand began to heal. The burned skin regenerated, the traces of lightning faded, and muscles and tendons returned to normal. Within a few seconds, the hand looked as though nothing had happened to it at all.
Alex turned it in front of Adam's eyes. Only then did Adam finally let out a relieved breath.
Suddenly, loud laughter rang out from the pile of dust. The boys instantly turned their gazes toward it.
Kael stepped forward—completely unharmed. Not a single scratch marked his body. He theatrically spread his arms and, with a sly smile, said,
"Ohhh, this is exactly the kind of show I was really hoping for, though not at all expecting."
He pointed a finger at Adam.
"Your lightning attacks were incredible," the man said with admiration. "Even for me, dodging them wasn't easy. I had to accelerate myself far more than in fights against A-rank bosses. You have a talent your father never had—and never will. If it's refined just a little… it could become something truly magnificent."
Then his finger slowly shifted to Alex.
"And you…" His smile sharpened. "Blood tendrils. Very clever."
He shook his head.
"I didn't even notice how, throughout the entire fight between Adam and me, you scattered droplets of your blood across the floor."
Kael grabbed his head and grinned viciously.
"And your attempt to stop my final attack… it was meant to kill him."
He nodded toward Adam.
"At that moment, I was overwhelmed by such rage that I couldn't think of anything else. The spilled blood of a Wolfengard would have been a perfect ending to the evening."
Kael lowered his hands and chuckled quietly. Then he looked up at Alex and unexpectedly gave a light bow.
"Thank you. For stopping my attack and saving him from death."
He straightened up.
"I underestimated you. I thought you were weak. Yet you stopped one of my strongest attacks… and even sent it back."
Kael exhaled in delight.
"That's astonishing. Simply astonishing."
He clapped his hands.
"I'm ready to give you another chance. Truly the last one."
Kael spread his arms.
"Talents like yours belong in my guild." His gaze slid to Adam. "Only I know how to properly develop your lightning magic." Then he shifted it to Alex. "And for you, I'll find the best blood magic instructor on the entire continent."
He looked back at Adam.
"Your decision?"
"It hasn't changed," Adam replied coldly.
Kael slowly turned his gaze to Alex.
"And yours?"
"You're a naive fool," Alex said evenly. "If you really think that after all this I'd accept your offer."
Kael snorted.
"I see."
The smile vanished from his face. Along with it went the excitement. His magical aura grew heavy and dense, filling the space and pressing down on the boys.
Without any emotion, he said,
"Since you've decided to refuse…"
At that very moment, a sword appeared in his right hand, its blade completely covered in lightning.
"…then next time your families will see you in wooden boxes."
And in the same instant, Kael lunged at them.
A blood-forged sword formed in Alex's hand at the last moment. Kael's lightning-wreathed blade came crashing down from above. Alex barely managed to raise his weapon in time.
The collision exploded in sparks.
The force of the blow knocked Alex half a step back, his arms going numb for a moment. Lightning raced along the blood sword, making it shudder as if it were alive.
Kael gave him no pause. He vanished—and an instant later appeared at the side, a piercing thrust aimed at the neck. Alex deflected it, but Kael's blade slid on, instantly flowing into a second lunge. Then a third.
Fast. Too fast.
Kael moved in bursts, accelerating himself with lightning magic. He appeared from blind spots, from behind the shoulder, from the edge of vision, changing trajectory at the last moment. His strikes were short and economical, aimed not at force but at lethal precision.
Alex spun in place, deflecting blow after blow.
The ringing of blades merged with the crackle of lightning. Drops of blood tore free from his sword and scattered through the air along with the sparks.
But he couldn't keep up.
One strike slipped through—the blade grazed his ribs, tearing cloth and skin. Blood splashed onto the floor.
The second—across the shoulder. Sharp pain made him clench his teeth.
The third—across the thigh, making his leg buckle for a moment.
Kael smiled. He felt his advantage.
Alex breathed evenly, not retreating. Even when strikes landed, even when his body reacted with pain, his gaze remained cold and focused.
He wasn't trying to match the speed. He began searching for rhythm. The movement of the shoulders before a dash. The barely noticeable thickening of lightning around the legs. The instant—just before acceleration.
Kael appeared behind him again. A strike—Alex blocked it, but this time the blades met not by chance. He guessed the angle.
The next strike—another block. Cleaner. Fewer wasted movements.
Kael narrowed his eyes. The tempo of the fight hadn't slowed, but something had changed. Alex was starting to keep up with Kael's pace.
Not always—sometimes Kael's blade still reached its target, leaving new cuts. But now every exchange wasn't just defense. It was learning in real time.
And for the first time, Alex countered. The blood sword lunged forward—a sharp, straight thrust.
Kael dodged, but this time he did so half a step farther than before. He appeared at Alex's side at once and counterattacked—Alex blocked.
Another strike. Another block. More sparks. The fight turned into a whirlwind of lightning and blood.
Adam stood off to the side, surrounded by a barrier, his eyes never leaving the clash. Excitement tightened his chest, but along with it grew anxiety—he could see how many blows Alex had already taken.
Kael appeared almost point-blank in front of Alex. Lightning flared around his body, and the next lunge was faster than all the previous ones—sharp, straight, aimed precisely at the heart.
Alex felt it before he saw it. He didn't raise his sword; instead, he simply stepped aside.
For a moment, the world seemed to slow. The lightning-wreathed blade passed just centimeters from his chest, tearing the air with a crack.
In that same instant, their gazes met. Kael's eyes—cold and confident—faltered for a fraction of a second. Something appeared in them that hadn't been there before.
Confusion.
He had expected a block. Expected resistance. He had grown so accustomed to the pace of the fight he himself dictated, to Alex's familiar responses, that it never occurred to him that the boy would simply dodge the strike—a strike that, just a few seconds earlier, would have hit its mark without fail.
Alex saw it. And answered with his own calm, focused, confident gaze.
Darkness had already gathered in his fist—dense, heavy, compressed to the limit. At last, Alex had his chance to attack.
A blow.
Alex's fist slammed straight into Kael's chest. The impact was dull, as if something cracked from the inside. The darkness exploded after contact, tearing through Kael's body in a wave of destructive force.
Kael felt the air ripped from his lungs. His ribcage seemed to be crushed by a vise. Pain—sharp, concentrated—cut through him, spreading from the point of impact in all directions.
The world swam before his eyes for a moment. The lightning around his body flared chaotically, losing its form.
The next instant, Kael was hurled backward.
His body flew across the entire room and crashed into a fountain with a statue. Stone cracked. The statue's head broke off and fell into the water, sending up a spray.
A moment later, Kael himself fell in after it.
Water splashed across the floor, and fragments of stone scattered in all directions.
Only then did the pain in his chest hit him in full.
Alex didn't waste a single second. He lunged forward, gripping the blood sword with both hands, pouring everything into the strike—speed, strength, intent. This was meant to be the end.
But the strike never landed.
"Wait!"
The shout came from the direction of the entrance. A dense, solid wall of water surged up from the floor right in front of Alex. The blade slammed into it and got stuck, cutting through the flow but failing to reach Kael, who lay several meters beyond.
Alex snapped his head around. Derek stood by the door, a brightly glowing magic circle on his palm.
Alex looked at him for a few seconds, then gave a short nod. The blood sword lost its shape, and the blood flowed back into Alex's wrist.
"Thank you," Derek said quietly, lowering his hand.
The water wall also lost its form and streamed down around Alex's feet.
Alex cast a brief glance at Kael, who was still lying in the fountain, then shifted his gaze to Adam. Adam had already dropped the barrier but stood tense, his arm extended. A magic ring glowed, his palm aimed straight at Derek.
"You can lower your hand," Alex said calmly.
Adam looked at him in confusion.
"But he just protected Kael…"
"It's fine."
Adam let out a heavy sigh but complied. He lowered his hand and stepped closer to Alex.
Meanwhile, Alex examined his own body. The cuts, burns, and lightning marks still ached. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. A soft green light enveloped his wounds. Flesh knit together, the pain receded, and within moments there wasn't a single trace of the fight left on his body—only torn clothing where Kael's strikes had landed.
"Are you okay?" Adam asked.
Alex smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
"Nothing to worry about."
Both of them turned their gaze to Derek.
He still stood rooted to the spot, staring at Kael lying in the water. There was neither triumph nor pity in his eyes—only tense anticipation.
At last, Derek tore his gaze away from his father and looked at the boys.
"Which of you put him in this state?"
"We both did," Alex replied. "But the last blow was mine. Don't worry—it wasn't meant to kill him. Just knock him out."
Derek grimaced.
"Believe me," he said coldly, "I'm certainly not worried about his condition. But I couldn't let you finish him off. There are questions I've been waiting far too long to have answered."
He looked Alex straight in the eyes.
"After that, you can finish the job."
"I don't mind waiting," Alex replied calmly.
Suddenly, quiet laughter came from the fountain.
All three of them instantly turned their gazes there.
Kael was already sitting in the water. There was no trace of the blow on him at all. He ran a palm over his face and smiled.
"Thank you, my son," he said. "For not letting them finish me off… and for buying me some time with all this talking."
Kael lifted his gaze to the boys.
"We can continue."
He tried to stand—and immediately collapsed back into the water with a splash.
Kael frowned, tried again… and failed once more.
His smile vanished. He glanced around angrily—and only then noticed that his wrists and lower legs were bound by water shackles, dense and cold, holding him firmly against the fountain.
Kael jerked his head up and shot Derek a furious, almost predatory glare.
"What is this supposed to mean?" he hissed, rage ringing in his voice.
A blue magic circle glowed once more on Derek's palm.
"You'd better sit still," he replied coldly. "Unless, of course, you want those shackles to tighten around your arms and legs and put you through hellish pain."
Kael looked down at the water shackles. He tugged at them once. Then again. Useless.
He slowly lowered his head…
And suddenly burst out laughing.
The laughter was loud, sharp, almost hysterical. It echoed through the room for several seconds, until Kael finally calmed down and lifted his gaze to the ceiling—now wearing a delighted, twisted smile.
"You probably think you've cornered me," he said cheerfully. "I can't use lightning magic. Even if I break free, you have the numerical advantage."
He shifted his gaze to Derek.
"And somewhere deep down, you're probably incredibly pleased."
Kael nodded toward Alex and Adam.
"They did all the hard work for you. And you came in when everything was already done… and at the very end, you simply slapped these shackles on me."
He looked Derek straight in the eyes again.
"The moment you've been waiting for since the day you were born. Am I right?"
Derek didn't look away.
"You are."
Kael's smile widened.
"Looks like I turned out to be a lousy father. Only the worst father on the continent could raise such a completely useless son."
He sighed with feigned pity.
"All that time… all the resources I invested…"
"Don't even try," Derek cut him off. "I've long since gotten used to your condescension, so you won't get a rise out of me."
Kael scoffed disdainfully.
"I see."
He slowly lifted his head.
"I thought my words would make you lose control. If that had happened, I'd have broken free of the shackles… and slaughtered everyone here with my own hands."
The smile on his face grew thin and dangerous.
"But it seems I'll have to go with plan B."
A magic circle flared on Kael's palm.
The air around him shuddered. A moment later, a wild, violent hurricane began to spiral around Kael's body.
The boys tensed. A magic circle ignited on Adam's palm. A blood sword began to form in Alex's hand.
And in that same instant, the hurricane exploded.
A torrent of wind tore through the room with devastating force. Derek and Adam were hurled into the walls like dolls.
Alex dropped to one knee but didn't move from his spot—he had managed to drive his sword into the floor, holding himself steady against the gale.
When everything finally settled, he lifted his head. Kael was already standing some distance from the fountain. Dry. Unharmed.
He looked at the boys with a satisfied smile.
"Did you really think," he said calmly, "that the guildmaster of the strongest guild commands only a single element?"
Alex straightened up. Adam and Derek were already back on their feet.
Kael swept his gaze over all of them.
"It's time for round two," he said with genuine delight. "However…"
At that very moment, Alex with his blood sword, Adam with his lightning-wreathed hand, and Derek rushed at him from three different sides.
"…we should even the odds."
When they were as close as possible, a massive magic circle flared into existence between them.
The world folded in on itself.
And in the next instant, the room vanished.
They appeared on a vast arena. It was enormous—many times larger than the one where the Academy entrance exam had once taken place. Deep night reigned overhead, but magical lanterns floating in midair, along with lights along the arena's perimeter, flooded the space with an even, cold glow, leaving not a single dark corner.
When Alex fully came to his senses, the first thing he did was look at Adam and Derek standing beside him. Adam looked disoriented, as if still trying to process the abrupt change of location, while restrained but unmistakable anger showed on Derek's face.
A cheerful, almost carefree voice sounded from behind them.
"Boys, please turn around."
All three of them did.
Kael stood several dozen meters away. Behind him stood eight more people—six men and two women. Their appearance was striking at once: no unnecessary luxury, only pure functionality. Light but durable armor reinforced with magical inlays; practical cloaks or short mantles; weapons tailored to their owners—swords, a spear, paired blades, combat staves. Even the women looked no less dangerous: one with a short bow over her shoulder and knives at her thighs, the other with a slender staff along which faint sparks of mana ran.
Alex heard Derek curse softly behind him.
Kael spoke, spreading his hands.
"A fight of one against three doesn't seem entirely fair, does it? I'm willing to take Adam's and Alex's combat abilities into account. As for you, Derek…" He smiled slyly. "Let's assume you're on their level."
His smile grew wider.
"Although I could deal with you on my own, for safety's sake I'll make use of the best squad the 'Blue Raven' guild has to offer."
Alex smiled faintly.
"Nine against three still doesn't look fair. Are you only a hero in words, hiding behind your subordinates in reality? Or did my last strike shake you that badly?"
Kael's face twisted.
"Don't get cocky," he hissed. "You only hit because I allowed you to."
That was when Alex couldn't hold back. He burst out laughing. The laughter was sharp, almost insolent. Adam and Derek glanced at him in surprise, but Alex was already speaking, not bothering to hide his mockery.
"The excuses some aristocrats come up with just to avoid admitting their own weakness. 'I let you hit me.' Seriously?"
He deliberately emphasized the words.
"Tell me, please, where can I find the book you all learn to talk from? Same script. Same pathos."
A worried voice sounded in Alex's mind—Sirena.
"My Lord… are you all right?"
He didn't take his eyes off Kael, who was angrily shouting something back, though Alex didn't even try to make out the words.
"I'm fine," he replied calmly in his thoughts. "What made you think something was wrong?"
"You remember," Sirena answered softly. "I can feel your emotions. Your laughter… it wasn't arrogant. There was too much fatigue in it. And irritation. And… disappointment."
Alex fell silent for a moment.
"It's all right, really. I even feel a bit lighter now. I'm afraid this isn't the best time for an honest conversation, but when everything is over, I'll answer all your questions. I promise."
He felt her brief, silent acceptance.
"And it looks like," Alex added mentally, "Kael has finished hurling curses and is waiting for a response."
At that moment, Derek stepped forward.
"Enough of this empty talk."
Magic circles flared on his palms. Water gathered around his hands, taking the shape of long water whips that swayed smoothly through the air.
Derek took a combat stance, staring straight into Kael's eyes, but addressing Alex and Adam.
"I'll handle Kael. You take on the 'Blue Raven' group. If you managed to hold out against him, you can handle this too. At least… I hope so."
Adam stepped forward.
"No. I'll take Kael. You stay with Alex."
Derek had already opened his mouth to object, but Alex spoke first.
"You'll take Kael together," he said calmly. "I'll handle the raid group."
Derek looked at him in surprise.
"You won't manage them alone. I haven't seen any of them fight, but I've heard enough. Individually, they're dangerous. Together, you won't even be able to injure anyone."
Alex gave a brief smile.
"Just trust me. And focus on your opponent."
Derek shifted his gaze to Adam. Adam answered with the same short, confident smile.
"Alex definitely won't lose. He's… not exactly an ordinary Academy student."
Derek's eyes flicked between them a few more times. Finally, he let out a heavy breath.
"Do as you see fit."
"By the way," Alex suddenly added, "I have one question."
"What is it?" Derek asked warily.
"How badly can they be injured?" Alex nodded toward the raid group.
Derek didn't hesitate.
"They're the same kind of monsters as Kael. I have dirt on every one of them—enough to destroy their comfortable lives. So if you happen to kill someone—though I don't believe you will—no one will mourn them."
Alex smiled in satisfaction.
"That's exactly what I wanted to hear."
A blood sword began to form in his hand.
One of the men standing closest to Kael turned toward him with a light, almost cheerful smile.
"Let me get this straight," he asked in a casual tone. "You ordered us to assemble urgently in the middle of the night… to fight three students?"
Kael clenched his teeth. His gaze remained fixed forward, but his voice was cold, devoid of even a hint of humor.
"There's only one problem here. The one standing in the center."
The man shifted his gaze to Alex. He lingered for a moment on the blood sword in Alex's hand, then snorted.
"So big a problem," he asked with a grin, "that you had to drag the whole team out at such a late hour?"
"You'll get the chance to find out firsthand," Kael snapped.
The man sighed heavily, as if accepting the inevitable.
"Fine, then let me clarify. How badly can I maim him?"
"As long as he survives," Kael replied calmly.
A satisfied smile appeared on the man's face.
"Understood. I'll try not to kill the kid."
Kael merely clicked his tongue in irritation and pulled a new sword from his inventory. Thin arcs of lightning immediately crawled over the blade.
He turned his gaze back to the boys and, in his familiar mocking tone, said,
"Well then. Time to begin the long-awaited second round."
The next instant, Kael sprang sharply to the right—several dozen meters away—leaving a flash of lightning behind him.
Adam and Derek exchanged a glance. Without a word, perfectly in sync, they rushed after him.
Alex was left alone.
Against the entire 'Blue Raven' raid group.