"The... the fourth level? Did the heir of the Sano Family really reach the fourth level?!!"
The crowd looked at Glass Sano with astonishment and shock.
He stood in the arena with his white hair, snow-like skin, and cold blue eyes.
Aura flowed from his blue sword, and ice blades floated around him, waiting for his command.
This was proof that he had reached the Weapon Aura and Mage's Mind, officially stepping into the fourth level.
While everyone watched him with awe, admiration, and pride, Kin Light was in a terrible state.
The air around him had frozen, making it impossible for him to breathe in Glass's presence.
He tried to use his techniques again, but a burst of blood came out of his mouth, and his body collapsed onto the ground.
Unable to move his limbs, he looked toward Glass, who said,
"You are an amazing opponent and a good friend, Kin. But you need to withdraw now before you melt yourself. I will wait for you to reach the fourth level."
Kin tried to stand again but Lily told him to stop.
"You hurt yourself so much! You don't have to push yourself! If you don't stop, I will leave you!"
"... ..... Sorry.... Lily..."
With those words, Kin closed his eyes from exhaustion.
Finally, the announcement was made:
"The winner of this match is the Winter King, Glass Sano! Tomorrow, he will face the Apex Star, Shion Lan!"
Despite the announcer's attempts to raise the excitement, he was met with indifferent reactions.
"So after Glass defeats him tomorrow, what will we do?"
"I will prepare gifts for the Sano Family to congratulate them."
"Why don't we just hold the final match now? It is not as if Shion can surpass Glass in a single day."
Murmurs spread throughout the battle arena.
Shion's siblings became angry.
Rita Lan felt worried.
She also noticed that many women who had previously wanted to approach her no longer looked at her.
She thought,
'Although I hate attention... the feeling that Shion is inferior to someone else annoys me!'
However, the only calm person was Forite.
She used her prediction magic, and after a while, she thought,
'Everything related to Shion cannot be predicted. Even Glass, the heir of the Sano Family, I can predict his actions. But when it comes to the final match, I cannot see anything.'
She smiled.
'Even so... I believe Shion will win.'
...
As soon as Glass left, he saw Shion, who had changed his clothes and was waiting for him.
"Congratulations on advancing."
Glass replied,
"I think we will have a good match tomorrow."
Shion asked,
"Should we visit Kin, or do you have something else to do?"
He pointed at the noble students who came from distance but Glass said,
"I don't think I need to deal with those fools."
"Alright. Tell me about how you feel after reaching this new level."
They moved toward the changing room.
Glass said,
"As for my mind, I feel that it has become lighter. I can think about many things now."
He produced an ice blade without any word.
"I believe I can cast first and second-level spells without chanting, and third and fourth-level spells will only require a few hand signs."
While Glass was changing his clothes, Shion noticed his muscles and felt something strange.
He asked,
"Did the aura affect your body?"
Glass answered,
"It is not something that happens instantly, but I feel as if my body has gained a new bloodstream."
"Is that all you feel?"
Glass thought for a while and said,
"Something else... something that provides it with life and strength.
The aura now carries the power of my techniques and reforges my body as if it were ice."
Shion lowered his head, thinking about it.
Glass finished changing his clothes.
The noble appearance on his face became even clearer, and the cold feeling radiating from him only increased his charm.
As they went to see Kin, many nobles and spectators noticed them leaving the battle arena.
"Are those...are those Glass and Shion?! What makes them walk together when they are rivals?!"
"Could it be that Shion is asking him for forgiveness?"
"Looks like it. Now he is more like a..."
Before the words could continue, Glass turned a cold gaze toward the people, threatening to kill them.
But Shion said,
"Ignore them. Those who speak have nothing but their tongues. I will prove them wrong tomorrow."
He walked forward, giving a look of disdain toward the people.
They instinctively turned away and did not dare meet his gaze.
When Glass saw that, he heard the voice of his inheritance guardian spirit, Yossi Sano,
"This boy... as I believed before, he is stronger than Kin. He also possesses something inside him that I cannot see."
However, Glass did not care.
He saw Shion as a friend.
He smiled as he walked beside him.
They talked about various things until they reached the hospital.
Kin was sitting there, wrapped in bandages.
Shion asked,
"Where did these injuries come from? I don't think the Ice Blades caused all of these wounds."
Kin smiled awkwardly.
"It was because of me. I could not control the two moons.
I was injured by the excessive energy from Blue Moon combined with Crimson Moon."
He continued,
"And with the (Thousand Radiant Swords) technique, I could not control everything."
Glass said,
"But that is strange. I cannot feel your guardian spirit."
Kin smiled helplessly.
"She is angry with me because I ignored her and became completely absorbed in the battle, so she does not want to respond to me."
Shion joked,
"You need to care more. Girls like those who pay attention to them."
Glass looked at him meaningfully.
"Like you and Solan Neumann?"
"Yes. She is the only spirit I know."
Ken looked at him silently, remembering certain events.
"Indeed... your inheritance guardian spirit almost killed you."
Glass's expression darkened as well.
He said,
"Shion, you should not feel anything because your guardian spirit was evil.
Instead, be proud that you defeated such an evil existence.
You should not allow that matter to affect your life."
Shion replied with annoyance,
"Don't tell me you pity me because I love Solan because she is a spirit."
Kin and Glass looked at him silently, as if comforting him.
"..."
Shion found nothing to say.
He turned to leave.
"I will go check on the boys."
Kin apologized,
"I am sorry for Baro in advance."
Shion nodded before leaving.
Glass shook his head.
"His romantic life is in danger, man."
Kin said,
"What do you think about finding him a girl?"
Glass smiled.
"Honestly, I am thinking about bringing him into the Sano Family."
Kin mocked,
"Didn't you hear that the head of the Jura Family has already set his eyes on him? Besides, we do not know what Shion is thinking anyway."
Glass remembered what happened at the beginning of the academic year when he first sat beside Shion because of a request from a royal family member who was following Jayden at the time.
When he approached Shion, Yossi Sano himself warned him,
"He is extremely dangerous! Stay away from him!"
Glass was honestly surprised.
Instead of moving away, he became curious and wanted to get closer.
And Shion had indeed proven how dangerous and talented he was.
From entering deadly battles...
To using an unknown art capable of resisting powerful heritages...
To becoming the head of a noble family that everyone paid attention to despite being considered the weakest family currently...
To his calm personality filled with royal dignity, as if he were a ruler whom even his followers could not approach without permission...
Simply put, Glass enjoyed every moment related to him.
He thought about his childhood.
His birth had shattered the statue of the family ancestor, Yossi Sano, who decided to grant him the heritage.
Every time he learned techniques, he mastered them with miraculous speed, as if they were techniques he had created himself.
As he grew older, his beautiful features developed, making him a target for many women.
But what everyone said the most was that he resembled his ancestor, Yossi, and possessed the same calmness described in the stories.
To the point that everyone forgot who he truly was.
'I am Glass Sano, not Yossi Sano!'
Glass thought this as he left the hospital.
"Heritages... they can be either a blessing or a curse depending on the guardian spirit.
They either help you receive the heritage smoothly, or they try to control your body."
He thought of Yossi.
"As for Yusei, he is a mixture of both.
He wants me to become like him, completely identical to him, so that he can control my body without any effort."
He sneered,
"Unfortunately, the contract he placed on me since childhood...
Whenever I try to act according to my own desires, I feel a coldness that freezes my bones.
I feel his presence controlling my body, causing intense pain that digs into my bones."
He remembered his family.
"And whenever I complain about his cruelty, my father tells me that I must follow the commands of the family ancestor and never disobey him.
Breaking my will...
It seems the only person who sympathized with me was my sister."
Glass's eyes became sharper as he exhaled cold air.
"But I never surrendered to the idea of turning my personality into something else.
And I discovered the only way to escape that person's control..."
He took a deep breath and said,
"To be defeated by someone more talented than him."
As he moved, he whispered,
"Shion Lan... I hope you defeat me tomorrow."
...
Meanwhile, Shion was with Baro Ferrer and Fiore Tai, who had delivered an impressive performance today.
He said,
"Despite your injuries, I have to admit that your skills have reached an amazing level.
Wait until you reach the third level, and I will teach you new techniques!"
The two were amazed by his offer.
However, Baro spoke with concern,
"But Master, don't you have a match against Lord Sano?"
Fiore's expression became serious.
"Yes. He is currently at the fourth level, making him the most outstanding talent in the academy.
And well... compared to that..."
He could not finish his words.
He sighed.
"I have heard everyone saying that you had an easy and lucky path.
Although I know your strength, but..."
Shion interrupted him with calm eyes.
"He is a talented fourth-level user, isn't he?"
Both nodded cautiously.
Shion said,
"I do not believe he has reached a level of genius that makes him immune to my attacks.
So I will be fine."
"Is that so?"
A female voice entered Shion's ears.
He turned around and looked at Pearl Jewel.
"I suppose there is a reason you are worried after all.
And if you did not sponsor me because of obtaining first place, then why?"
Pearl lowered her head, searching for an appropriate answer.
Meanwhile, the two boys were breathing with difficulty in her presence.
They hoped she would not complain to Shion.
After a few moments, Pearl asked,
"Can you face someone at the fourth level?"
Shion nodded.
"I have faced many fourth-level fighters and mages.
I possess enough confidence and experience to deal with them."
Pearl sighed.
"Let me change the question.
Do you have the confidence to defeat a talented fourth-level user?"
Shion replied with annoyance,
"If you do not place your trust in me, then you can simply cancel your sponsorship."
Pearl shook her head.
"No.
I wanted to ask whether there are resources that could help you, such as potions or elixirs.
Despite everyone's expectations about a match that has not happened yet, I want an answer to my question.
If I provide you with enough potions... do you have a chance of defeating Glass at the fourth level?"
Without saying a word, Shion stared at her with dissatisfied eyes.
Pearl trembled for a moment.
Then Shion spoke,
"I own some shares in your guild.
Sell them.
And bet on my victory.
Because this will be an opportunity for me."