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POV: Caspian Coralia
Two Months Before the Academy
I continued my journey across the continent of Tsukinori, but nothing there truly caught my interest.
One full year spent wandering… and today, I decided to leave it behind without the slightest regret.
When I arrived at the spatial teleportation gate… something felt off.
Security was far stricter than usual.
More guards, awakened individuals of the Small King rank, and even new scanners I had never seen before.
I asked myself silently:
What's going on?
Did the Abyss infiltrate somewhere again?
Of course, I had been traveling in disguise the whole time, avoiding unnecessary trouble. I may be strong… but nowhere near invincible.
If the Abyss sent someone of King rank or higher… I'd die before I could blink.
Unless luck blessed me… and Valeria intervened.
After a long series of procedures, my identity was finally revealed to a King-rank awakener, who let me pass through a private express route.
I sighed and muttered with a faint smile:
"Just one of the perks of being an imperial prince… not that I care."
I always preferred the common life over noble life.
The palace was suffocating—constant fear of assassination attempts, conspiracies, kidnappings… or even a single bad piece of news.
When I was young, I couldn't even step outside the palace, let alone the capital.
Sometimes, guilt pricked my heart for leaving my sister behind—she was always bored, always lonely.
I was the only one who comforted her… or annoyed her.
Even though she kicked me out of her room most of the time… she was still my precious, spoiled, stubborn little sister.
I murmured confidently to myself:
"No… I'm a great brother. I do anything she asks."
Valeria's sarcastic voice echoed in my head:
[And when you get caught, you immediately confess and say she forced you.]
I replied coolly:
"That's different! If it's something trivial, I never confess.
But if they catch me sneaking dolls or dresses into her room? Of course I'll confess—makes perfect sense."
[I'm talking about food… and video games.
The poor girl got punished sometimes because your mother assumed her son would never do such things.]
My eyebrow twitched slowly.
Then I whispered:
"…Now I feel guilty."
[Good. I'm happy.]
---
Meanwhile, in Coralia…
Cordelia—my beloved sister—was calmly selling all my old toys.
Part of her "revenge" for leaving her alone. (Or so she thought.)
With the money she earned, she bought a shape-shifting ring, allowing her to slip into the city to play, shop, and read.
She even wished I wouldn't return anytime soon… since I would definitely tell our parents what she was doing.
Ah… my little sister is truly a disguised demon.
---
Back to Caspian… who was doing something "important"…
I stood proudly in front of the transport halls and said:
"Valeria, did you see how those girls looked at me?
They were mesmerized by my handsome charm!"
She replied with cold venom:
[No. They were disgusted by you.
What sane man makes a woman trip, catches her, and then tries to kiss her?!]
My eyes widened defensively:
"It's in romance novels and games! I was just copying them!"
[Hopeless. Absolutely hopeless.
I signed a contract with a man who doesn't even understand what romance means… or what normal looks mean.]
I opened my mouth to answer—
but the staff member interrupted:
"Sir, are you going in or not?"
"Ah—yes. Sorry."
---
The moment I stepped out of the teleportation gate, the fresh scent of the forest filled my lungs.
Veridian… the continent of elves, children of nature.
I clenched my fist with excitement, grinning arrogantly:
"Alright! Let's see if this place has any real competition!"
Valeria replied dryly:
[Yes yes… I'm very happy for you.]
I narrowed my eyes mentally:
"Was that sarcasm?"
[Pure sarcasm.]
"Fine! I admit I made a mistake.
But I apologized sincerely."
[Your apology was: 'Ah, sorry milady… I mistook you for someone beautiful and didn't realize it was you.'
A perfect way to earn a slap strong enough to calm the rage of every woman alive.]
I coughed awkwardly:
"It was… a tiny miscalculation."
---
Searching for the Strongest Fighters
According to my intel, my targets were two:
Leandro — son of the world's second-strongest guild.
Astraea — his half-sister, a notoriously powerful fighter.
After renting several cars and getting lost in the endless forest paths, I finally reached the guild headquarters.
I asked a tired guard:
"Is Leandro here?"
He exhaled bitterly:
"Left two days ago for the continent of Loraice.
Said he was sick of having no competition."
I frowned.
"Why didn't he go to Tsukinori? It's closer."
He chuckled weakly:
"He said it's empty. Even the strong ones left to prepare for the academy."
Before I could leave, he added:
"Astraea is still here. She leaves tomorrow."
A proud smirk curved my lips.
"Excellent. Could you tell her I have a challen—"
"No need."
A voice came from behind me.
I turned.
And froze.
She was an elf—but her hair burned red like fire, and her eyes were green as a deep forest.
Her figure was slender, her steps graceful, and her beauty… dangerous.
But those hills…
I whispered in awe:
"Man… if only—"
Valeria snapped sharply inside my head:
[You're disgusting.]
Before I could defend myself, Astraea caught my stare.
Her expression shifted instantly to pure disgust.
"Where are you looking, you shameless creep? Have you no shame?"
I coughed hard, trying to recover, then said with practiced arrogance:
"My apologies, milady.
Your beauty stunned me—I couldn't help myself."
[You're terrible at this.]
Astraea twitched irritably and gestured for the guards to throw me out.
But I revealed my true identity instantly.
The entire room fell silent.
Everyone bowed deeply… except Astraea.
Her disgust only grew.
She spoke with a cutting, icy tone:
"So you use your authority… in a continent that isn't even yours?
Prince of Coralia… what a pathetic man."
Even I was stunned.
I'm not someone you can insult lightly—I could literally start a war right now and no one could stop me.
But I wasn't stupid enough to act like a third-rate villain.
I cleared my throat and said:
"My apologies, Lady Astraea.
I revealed my identity only to formalize a proper duel.
My earlier behavior was… an act to avoid suspicion."
Valeria groaned in my mind:
[Avoid suspicion? Who would believe that nonsense?]
Strangely… everyone did.
"Yes, makes sense!"
"Smart choice, Prince Caspian!"
Valeria fell silent.
[.......]
Astraea, however, said coldly:
"Go back. I'm not in the mood for a fight."
I raised an eyebrow and provoked her:
"Is the daughter of the strongest guild afraid of a formal duel?
How embarrassing…"
She walked away without a glance.
But I didn't stop.
"You're truly a coward."
Valeria screamed:
[Caspian!!! Are you insane?!
Not only did you stare at her like a pervert, now you're insulting her too?!]
Astraea spun around suddenly.
Her eyes ignited with hatred—her aura bursting like an enraged forest.
She spoke with a cold, dangerously gentle voice:
"If you want me to send you crawling back to your mother in tears… come."
I swallowed hard.
But followed her silently into the virtual combat chamber.
---
Inside the Virtual Simulator
The doors closed with a heavy metallic sound.
Silence swallowed the room.
Astraea stood before me, posture perfect, chin raised, confidence radiating from her like an icy storm.
While I struggled—desperately—to not stare at her elegant figure.
[Please… focus.]
Valeria begged inside my mind.
I lifted my long spear, its single-edged blade gleaming under the artificial lights.
Mana stirred around me—crackling arcs of blue lightning dancing between my fingers.
Astraea unsheathed her thin, elegant sword—flames flickering at its edges while roots of natural mana sprouted beneath her feet.
She looked at me with pure disdain.
"Try not to cry right away."
I smirked arrogantly.
"Let's hope you don't collapse too soon, Princess of Plants."
She twitched, took one step—
And the countdown began.
3…
2…
1…
---
Clash
Astraea vanished instantly.
The earth itself pushed her forward.
I raised my spear, lightning exploding around me:
"Lightning Veil!"
Her sword struck the electric barrier, and she was pushed back half a step—
Half a step!
"Fast… but not fast enough."
She murmured, circling me like a green storm.
I summoned water with my left hand:
"Aqua Lance!"
Spears of water shot toward her.
A massive root erupted from the ground:
"Nature Pulse!"
My attacks shattered against it.
Astraea flipped over the root and landed behind me.
Her sword brushed past my neck—leaving a burning spark on my shoulder.
"You could've avoided that… if you stopped thinking about irrelevant things."
Valeria screamed:
[I KNEW you weren't focused!!]
---
Counterattack
I spun around, spear glowing with lightning.
"Thunder Step!"
I vanished and reappeared in front of her.
My spear swung upward—
She blocked effortlessly, her sword flaring with fire:
"Blazing Edge!"
Fire and lightning collided, shaking the entire chamber.
Smoke rose.
We exchanged dozens of blows—
Her sword traced elegant lines in the air, each followed by wind, roots, or flame.
I merged lightning and water, moving in flashes and leaving electric trails behind me.
I soon realized something—
She relied heavily on close-range techniques.
But I… had a longer reach.
I grinned.
Summoned water:
"Tide Crash!"
A massive wave surged across the room.
Astraea leaped back—but the wave chased her.
I merged lightning with water:
"Storm Javelin!"
A spear of pure storm tore through the wave—rushing toward her.
Her eyes widened—
She slammed her sword to the ground:
"Earth Shatter!"
A giant stone wall rose.
My attack shattered half of it—but couldn't break through.
Dust filled the air.
I smiled.
"Finally getting serious, I see."
---
Astraea Gets Serious
Suddenly, the wall crumbled.
She stood behind it.
Fire and nature spiraled around her sword—
A terrifying blend.
Her voice was low:
"Flame—Gaia—Bloom."
Then—
"Verdant Inferno!"
A tornado of green fire roared toward me.
Heat. Speed. Killing intent.
I inhaled sharply.
This wasn't a joke.
I raised my spear:
"Lightning Armor!"
Lightning swallowed my body and I charged forward.
But the fire wasn't just flame—
It was burning vines, thorns, branches.
They slammed into me, scorching and tearing.
"Tch—!"
I overloaded my lightning:
"Overcharge!"
A massive electric shockwave exploded outward.
The flames burst apart.
But my body was trembling from the strain.
Through the smoke, she emerged—eyes glowing red with focus.
"If you have something stronger… use it now."
I smirked.
"I didn't want to use this so early."
I stabbed my spear into the ground.
Water swirled from air and earth—
Lightning mixing within it, forming a spiraling core.
"Maelstrom Core."
Astraea bit her lip.
Stepped back.
She was… uneasy.
"This is bad."
---
I roared:
"Maelstrom Spear!"
She answered:
"Infernal Bloom — Awakening!!"
Two massive techniques collided in the center of the arena—
BOOOOOOOM!!!
A blinding white explosion filled the chamber.
The ground shook.
Walls cracked.
A massive shockwave threw both of us backward.
I fell to one knee.
Astraea was panting hard.
Our weapons trembled from the sheer force.
The smoke cleared.
Our eyes met.
We were… equal.
No winner.
No loser.
After a long silence, she said:
"You're not bad, Prince of Coralia."
I slowly raised my head, smirking arrogantly:
"And you… definitely deserve second place."
Her eyes ignited with fury again.
Valeria screamed:
[WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?!]
And I… simply laughed.
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