Rion took heavy, measured steps into the teachers' lounge. The walls, lined with books and draped in absolute silence, suggested a false serenity that masked a brewing storm of questions. Instructor Manata sat behind her desk, buried in the pages of an ancient tome. However, the moment she sensed his presence, she looked up, a faint smile—tinged with lingering disbelief—touching her lips.
"There you are at last... sit, Rion. The Headmistress is expected momentarily."
She paused for a second, then added in a voice so low it was almost a whisper to herself:
"Even now, my mind can barely grasp that you were capable of performing such a miracle..."
Rion sat down, exhaustion still clinging to his features. He asked, his voice thick with confusion:
"What are you talking about, Instructor? What miracle?"
Manata closed her book with a resounding thud that echoed through the room, staring directly into his eyes:
"You unleashed a technique I never expected to see outside of legends... yet it seems you, remarkably, don't realize the magnitude of what you've done."
Before Rion could press further, the door swung open with an overwhelming presence. Headmistress Dalia entered, followed by a man whose mere arrival altered the very air pressure in the room. He was tall, with a lithe, graceful build that suggested both power and agility—broad shoulders and a narrow waist forming a perfect V-taper.
He wore a dark coat lined in crimson red, a black vest over a crisp white shirt, and a perfectly knotted tie. A black top hat sat atop his pale lavender hair, while his orange eyes gleamed with a sharp, undeniable cunning. He held an elegant cane, leaning on it with a confidence that reflected his high standing.
Dalia took her seat, while the man settled into the chair directly opposite Rion. The Headmistress began in a formal tone:
"Rion... despite the tragedy caused by the monster, your intervention ended the disaster before it could annihilate everyone. The Council viewed the incident as an existential threat, and strict resolutions were issued, but I have managed to temporarily calm the situation."
She then gestured to the man beside her:
"Allow me to introduce Mr. Pier Hasbon, one of the Academy's senior instructors and a prominent member of the High Council."
Pier offered a calm smile, though it didn't reach his cold eyes:
"A pleasure to meet you, the boy who tipped the scales... Rion Grein."
Rion replied cautiously:
"An honor, sir." He then turned toward Dalia: "Why am I here? And what does Mr. Pier have to do with me?"
Dalia answered with clinical seriousness:
"Because Mr. Pier represents the Council, and he wishes to see, with his own eyes, the truth of the power you displayed."
Pier chuckled softly, the tip of his cane tapping the floor in a rhythmic cadence:
"As Lady Dalia said... I truly hope my duel with you proves to be both entertaining and enlightening."
Rion's eyes widened in shock:
"A duel?! Why must I fight again when I am in this state?"
Dalia sighed deeply:
"Because you utilized a technique that even the greatest mana-users of this age struggle to even grasp the essence of."
Rion lowered his head, a chill running through his body. He whispered bitterly: "So... that's it. Everyone knows now that I am just a savage beast who doesn't belong among you."
Suddenly, a sharp crack echoed as a hand slammed against the table. Instructor Manata stood up with unprecedented fervor, her voice shaking the room:
"This isn't about you being a monster! Stop saying that!"
A stunned silence followed. The gazes of Dalia, Pier, and Rion froze upon her. Manata's breathing was ragged before she realized the extent of her outburst in front of the Headmistress and a Council member. She sat down slowly, adjusting her clothes with embarrassment:
"My apologies, Madam... I overstepped my bounds."
Dalia replied with icy composure:
"It is fine."
Pier stood up, adjusting his cloak and hat with dignity. He said with a confident smile:
"I shall see you in the arena, Rion. Do not be late." He then exited the room with steady strides, leaving a halo of anticipation in his wake.
Dalia turned toward Rion, her voice dropping to a warmer yet cautionary tone:
"Rion, the reason for Manata's outburst is fear and awe. You unleashed what is known as 'Null Energy.' That sphere, glowing with a mixture of blue and yellow, is not mana—it is energy that erases existence. A technique mastered only by those who have reached the highest peak of combat consciousness... or those who possess a great non-human origin."
Rion was stunned, trying to replay the events in his mind:
"I... I don't remember doing that."
Dalia offered a cryptic smile as she stood:
"You will remember once your body is placed under pressure again. Now... prepare yourself well. Face Pier with everything you have. He will not show you mercy, and I do not want you to hold back against him... Do you understand?"
Rion nodded slowly, his mind buzzing with questions, but he stood with a newfound resolve:
"Yes... Madam. I will."
In the Academy's bustling cafeteria, where the smell of food mingled with the excited chatter of students, Alex sat in her usual corner. She sipped her strawberry juice with a coldness that belied the anxiety burning in her distant eyes. Her peace was broken by Amani's arrival, looking elegant yet simple in a dark blouse under a long beige cardigan and blue jeans.
Amani set down her orange juice and sat opposite Alex with a friendly smile:
"Hello, Alex. How are you today?"
Alex replied without turning her gaze from the window:
"Fine... mostly."
Amani raised an eyebrow knowingly:
"You look troubled. Is Rion still on your mind?"
Alex sighed deeply, her voice barely a whisper:
"I didn't expect Rion to be... that 'monster' I saw."
Amani interrupted, setting her cup down firmly:
"What truly shocked me was my utter failure. I used my full strength, and my spear 'Viin' didn't leave a single scratch on him."
Atsuri joined them, setting his food tray down quietly:
"Me too. Facing a being of that strength makes us re-evaluate our definition of 'power' here."
Alex took a final sip, jealousy mixing with concern in her voice:
"The truly annoying part... is admitting that Rion is stronger than I am."
At that moment, Yuya burst into the scene with confident strides, his athletic build highlighted by an open black sweatshirt. He placed his plate—piled high with fats and sugars—on the table with a wide grin:
"Hey guys! Why the long faces?"
Alex looked at him mockingly:
"I don't understand how you maintain those muscles with all that contaminated food."
Yuya laughed, flexing his arms:
"Muscles come to me on their own, darling. They love me."
Amani muttered coldly:
"A body without a mind."
Yuya wagged a finger warningly:
"I heard that, Amani! Even your beauty won't save you from me."
Amani laughed dismissively:
"And who said I cared in the first place?"
They all burst out laughing, but Alex remained silent, thinking:
(What does fate have in store for Rion?)
Inside the Grand Arena, under the piercing gaze of three Council members, Rion stood opposite Pier Hasbon. Pier looked like a portrait of luxury and cunning; with his top hat, violet hair, and gleaming orange eyes, he leaned on his cane as if at a reception rather than a deadly duel.
Dalia announced sternly:
"Begin the duel!"
Rion lunged like an arrow, but suddenly froze mid-way. His hand was stuck in the air as if it had hit a web of invisible steel. He tried to break free, but the transparent threads tightened their grip.
Pier smiled with cold confidence:
"Welcome to my web. I distributed mana orbs across the arena before you took your first step. The game was over before it began."
Pier raised his cane, and Rion rose, suspended in the air like a puppet. Pier approached him leisurely:
"What do you think now? Winning is easier than I imagined."
Rion closed his eyes as a conflict raged within:
(Why did Dalia ask for full power? Wouldn't losing be better to reassure them?)
Pier laughed wickedly, circling him:
"I could tear you apart right now... but I am no butcher."
Rion opened his eyes; he had made his decision. Energy erupted from his pores, his aura igniting with a violent silver light, and his gleaming claws emerged. With one strike, he shredded the web and dropped to the ground, then lunged at Pier with supernatural speed.
Pier recoiled in shock, summoning a charcoal-colored mana shield with violet veins, his eyes glowing behind a purple flare. He launched mana orbs sharp as blades, but Rion "erased" them with his hands as if they were nothingness.
The clash continued, sparks flying and mana pressure shaking the arena, until Pier suddenly declared:
"Enough... that is sufficient!"
Rion stopped, panting heavily, while Dalia left the hall with cold strides, leaving everyone in a state of silent amazement.
Rion returned to his room exhausted, only to find his "little army" waiting for him. Mira threw herself into his arms, weeping:
"Brother! Are you okay?"
Rion smiled with effort:
"I'm fine... I won't die that easily."
Mira cried out passionately:
"Don't say that, you idiot!"
To break the tension, Kairen suggested:
"Why don't we play 'Shadow of the Cards'?"
Rion explained the rules to Mira with a burgeoning enthusiasm:
"It's a game based on four moves, four fighters (Witch, Warrior, Defender, Assassin), and four magical weapons. You have to build a balanced team, but the challenge is that you don't know what's in your own hand—hence the name 'Shadow'."
They played for hours. Misaki kept losing and blushing, while Mira learned with incredible speed, even winning the second round. As night approached, Kairen fell asleep, while Misaki stood up to leave, saying in a quiet tone:
"You know, Rion... I was afraid of you because you're a 'male,' but now... I don't feel you're bad like the others. Goodnight."
Rion was left alone with the two sleeping girls. He spread his blanket on the floor with a slight smile:
"Well... back to the floor for me. Goodnight."
The next morning, Chris Adrian Wite, the Council Chairman, sat with Dalia, dressed in his strict official uniform.
"Very well, Dalia. Pier's report is reassuring. We will overlook the matter of Rion for now."
Dalia breathed a sigh of relief:
"Thank you, Mr. Chris."
But the peace was short-lived. A guard burst into the room, gasping for air, terror filling his eyes:
"Sir! A disaster! There is a report of a monster appearing... at Nevara Beach!"
The room froze. Chris and Dalia exchanged a single look, filled with both astonishment and dread.
"Impossible... again? This soon?!"