ã€ŠExtra Of The Magus Academyã€‹


 Chapter 1: Selection Ceremony

    Chapter 1: Selection CeremonyLife is not fair.
    There are people born with talent, possessing the most superior bloodline while tasting nothing but the sweet nectar of privilege their whole lives.
    And then, there are the unlucky ones who possess none of these benefits.
    As the Apprentice Students of the Akashic Magus Academy lined up in two rows, the truth of reality could not be any clearer.
    Within the massive hall, painted in pure white and decorated with gold linings that glimmered with radiant light akin to the brilliance of the sun, about a hundred students stood and shifted impatiently¡ªtheir gaze resting on the Supervising Instructor before them.
    On one end, there were twenty-five students, all of whom seemed to be perfectly calm.
    They had confident smiles on their faces, their eyes glimmering with anticipation and hope, a sharp contrast to the seventy-five who appeared nervous.
    "It's finally time..." One of them whispered, his voice shaky.
    "I wonder what kind of Familiar I will end up with." Another murmured.
    "Please let it be a Medium Grade, at least!" Yet one more whimpered, clasping his hands in prayer.
    These three students¡ªand the many more who muttered similar things¡ªhad one thing in common.
    They belonged to the group of seventy-five.
    In essence, Beta Students.
    The Alpha Students, albeit fewer in number, had an air of certainty as they stood a small but meaningful distance away from the Betas. None of them were lacking in confidence, and the reason for that was simple.
    They were the best!
    Obtaining High Grade Familiars, at the very least, was a given, so why would they worry?
    And so, they all waited patiently¡ªas well as impatiently¡ªfor the Supervisor to officially begin the Selection Ceremony.
    "Apprentices of the Akashic Magus Academy..." The man began, his deep voice instantly filling up the massive hall.
    All the students immediately ceased their words as soon as they heard him.
    "... Welcome to the Selection Ceremony, where you will end up bonding with a Familiar that will most likely accompany you for the rest of your journey as a Mage."
    Every student nodded, and some gulped.
    They all understood the implications of the man's words.
    The Akashic Magus Academy was a place where students with potential entered with the hopes of becoming Mages and serving the Desgarron Empire.
    To become a Mage, one had to contract with a Spirit and make it a Familiar. That was what the Selection Ceremony was all about, which would explain why a lot of the students were impatient and anxious about it.
    Unfortunately... things weren't as simple as just that.
    "As you all know, Spirits are divided into Grades: Lesser, Low, Medium, High, Higher, and Supreme. The higher the Grade, the rarer and more unlikely it is to see¡ªnot to mention contract with¡ªsuch a Spirit." The Instructor continued. "Most Mages have Medium Grade Spirits, and that is the standard for graduation from this Academy."
    Anything less, and students could either choose to save themselves time and drop out, or go through the rigorous and nearly impossible process of evolving their Familiar into a higher Grade.
    Either way, it was obvious the kind of Spirit most students were hoping to contract.
    "You have all been students in this Academy for six months, which means you must have learned the basics at this point. So, why doesn't one of you tell me what it takes for a Spirit to agree to become a Familiar."
    "...."
    Many students glanced at each other in silence.
    It wasn't because they didn't know the answer, but because they were too nervous to speak.
    However, even among the nervous ones, there were a few who raised their hands to answer the Instructor's questions.
    Obviously, they were all from Alpha Class.
    "Yes, Elma... tell me." The Instructor pointed at the only girl among the four who raised their hands.
    "Spirits look at the Souls of those who desire to contract with them. The Soul reflects a Mage's potential, and it also serves as the home of the Spirit who becomes a Familiar. Spirits, just as any living entity, seek the best accommodation and security to dwell in. This is why¡ªdepending on the Grade of Spirits¡ªthey are very picky about choosing a Soul that will most likely be their permanent residence."
    "Correct." The Instructor nodded. "Does anyone want to add anything else?"
    At this point, even the hands that were previously raised fell.
    And a new one slowly rose up.
    Everyone instantly looked in the direction of the person whose hands had ascended above everyone's, and their eyes reflected a myriad of emotion¡ªthe most common one being absolute respect.
    The student who raised his hand was regarded by nearly everyone as the one with the most potential out of every student present; and for good reason.
    With raven black hair and ocean blue eyes, his handsome face reflected nobility in its purest form. His impeccably ironed school uniform¡ªa long dark coat with golden linings, a white shirt and black trousers, with a dark blue tie¡ªcould not hide the perfectly toned body that lay underneath.
    He was the epitome of perfection, and when he raised his hand to speak, everyone wanted to listen.
    "Yes, Master Seth? Tell us what you have to add." S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The student¡ªSeth Zephyr¡ªsmiled as his eyes met the Instructor and the spotlight fell on him.
    "Spirits are also concerned about the affinity of the potential Host's Soul. Which is why powerful Spirits go for powerful Souls, since lower-quality Souls won't be able to contain them. Likewise, weaker Spirits do not go for powerful Souls, since the Soul's energy would overwhelm them."
    "Correct!"
    "Also, elemental affinity is also taken into consideration. Fire Spirits tend to go for Souls that have their affinity, and so on. The most important thing when it comes to Bonding is the compatibility between a Host's Soul and a Spirit... which is why we spent six months in the Academy learning about all the basics¡ªincluding our Soul's affinity¡ªbefore this Selection Ceremony."
    "That is also correct!" At this point, the Supervising Instructor¡ªa man who hardly ever smiled¡ªwas beaming.
    "That is all I have to say..."
    Seth Zephyr humbly bowed his head and fell silent afterward.
    "You've said plenty, Master Seth!" The Instructor responded, and everyone in the hall had to agree with him.
    With the explanations out of the way, and the atmosphere now having a more energetic ambiance thanks to Seth's presentation, the time finally came for the Selection Ceremony.
    "We shall now begin..."
    VWUUSH!
    A bright light appeared behind the Supervising Instructor, almost akin to a tear in the very fabric of space itself. The inside of the light seemed distorted, like multiple ripples of energy were interweaving and clashing with one another.
    "This is the [GATE]. It leads to 'The Garden,' where the Spirits dwell. One by one, you students will pass through the light and contract with your Spirit. Once you successfully have a Familiar, you will exit the space and the next student will do the same."
    Everyone nodded in understanding.
    "Now, as tradition demands... we will start with the Alpha Class."
    Everyone in Alpha Class lined up instantly, with Seth Zephyr taking the forefront. There were no objections made, though one or two Alpha Class students clearly seemed dissatisfied with the arrangement.
    "Go in."
    In response to the words of the Instructor, Seth entered into the light.
    A few seconds later, he came out.
    "W-WHOOOOAAHHH!!!"
    Gasps filled the air the moment he appeared, with many even trembling as their knees nearly gave out.
    Time flows differently in The Garden, so no one was surprised that he came out rather quickly.
    No... they were stunned by what was perched on his shoulder.
    "T-that is... isn't that¡ª?!"
    "It is! There's no other explanation!"
    "T-that is a... a D-Dragon!"
    And it wasn't just any Dragon. The Head Instructor could see beyond what mere students were capable of noticing, and he could tell...
    'That is a Grand Dragon... one of a kind!'
    That meant Seth Zephyr had managed to contract not just a High or a Higher Grade Familiar, but the one that stood above all else.
    ¡ªThe Supreme Grade!
    "Just as expected, he got Storm Dragon Argo." A certain student whispered as he watched the event take place.
    Both of his hands were in his pocket as he coolly observed the situation with his crimson eyes. He had ashen white hair, and his pale skin made him appear a little sickly. Most noticeably, he bore an uncanny resemblance to Seth Zephyr¡ªthe superstar of the Academy.
    Despite this, he stood alone, and no one even bothered to look at him.
    All eyes were on Seth instead, despite the fact that they were twin brothers that came from the same Noble Household.
    'This is good.' Ash thought to himself with a silent nod. 'It looks like everything is right on track.'
    He didn't care that no one paid him any attention.
    In fact, he preferred it this way.
    The main character of this event¡ªand the rest of the events that would happen in this academy¡ªwas none other than his twin brother, Seth.
    He was simply an Extra who had to make sure that remained the case.
    'One down, several more to go!'
    Ashfelt Zephyr stood amidst the crowd, silently congratulating the main character of the bestseller novel "Legend of the Lost Prince," on his achievement while maintaining a stoic expression on his pale face.
    Why?
    Because that was his role as the minor supporting character of this story.
    "Don't worry, Seth..." Ash smiled.
    'I will use all of my knowledge of this world to the fullest... and make sure you fulfill your destiny. No matter what!'

 Chapter 2: The Garden

    Chapter 2: The GardenIt didn't take very long for all the Alpha Class Students to be done with their Selection.
    As one would expect, there were many impressive results among the students. Most of them got their hands on High Grade Spirits, with a few even securing Higher Grade ones.
    However, no matter how impressive their achievements seemed, they were all overshadowed by Seth Zephyr's Dragon. No one could stop talking about it, and despite the powerful Familiars that showed up afterward, nothing was as fascinating as Seth's results.
    Once a student was done with the Selection, they would be directed to the Interview Chamber, where another Instructor was waiting to document the experience of the students and officially input the Familiar they received in the school records.
    Afterward, they would be dismissed for the day.
    And so, once the Alpha Students were done with their Selection Ceremony, only the seventy-five Beta Students remained in the hall. With more room now available to them, many students spread out rather than huddling together in one straight line.
    The reason for that was pretty obvious.
    'They're nervous.' Ash thought as he looked around him. 'No one wants to go first.'
    Despite the results being inevitable for every student, they seemed to be under some sort of illusion of choice. In their minds, they could prevent or postpone certain bad results by delaying the outcome.
    'They should be rushing forward, considering how Spirits are finite, and the advantage belongs to the earliest person.'
    Despite thinking like this, Ash couldn't blame his fellow Beta Class Students.
    'Alpha Class has probably taken all the good ones, and the remaining probably won't want to contract with the majority of Beta Class Students for obvious reasons.' He sighed. 'Still, there could be a few useful Medium Grade available or even High Grade Spirits who are desperate and won't mind bonding with a Beta Student.'
    Even with all of these possibilities, he knew that there was no need for him to rely on probability.
    After all... he already knew the conclusion.
    'No one here will obtain a High Grade Spirit, and over half will drop out after obtaining either Low or Lesser Spirits.'
    That was the plot of the Novel he was now living in.
    "So no one is stepping forward, eh? Guess I'll pick you out myself!" The Supervisor growled, his glare deepening on the terrified students.
    Ash expected this as well, including what would happen next.
    "Master Ashfelt Zephyr, step forward!"
    He sighed, taking measured steps as he left the obscure position he previously occupied and walked to the front of his classmates, only stopping once he was a few inches from the angry Supervisor.
    "As a Noble, shouldn't you lead by example and be the first to venture in?"
    "I apologize." He replied calmly.
    "You should rush at this opportunity! If you're lucky, you can obtain a High Grade Familiar and manage to return to Alpha Class by the end of the Year!"
    Ash made a sad smile as soon as he heard this.
    'A few weeks before this Selection Ceremony, I was still a student of the Alpha Class. However, due to my terrible grades and average performance, I was selected to participate in the Promotional Exams and face someone from the Beta Class who wanted to rise to Alpha Class.'
    Normally, the skill-level of Alpha Class Students and those in the Beta Class are so wide apart that even weak Alpha Students would still trump strong Betas.
    However, he was the exception in this case.
    'I was beaten and demoted to Beta Class, while the person who defeated me got promoted to Alpha Class...' Ash sighed internally. 'It's no surprise, though, since I only got to Alpha Class due to my Noble heritage.'
    Being a Noble¡ªespecially one of the Four Great Households¡ªautomatically made him an Alpha Student upon enrollment into the Academy. The reason for this was due to the backing and prior education he enjoyed, a privilege only available to Noble Families.
    However, entering Alpha Class and staying in Alpha Class were two separate things.
    'Those with exceptional results in Beta Class get to challenge those with low results in Alpha Class, and if an Alpha Student loses... they become a Beta. Conversely, if a Beta wins, they join Alpha Class.'
    This made the system of the Academy fair¡ªat least functionally speaking¡ªsince it was possible for the overall status quo to change.
    'The Promotional Exams happen every six months¡ªhence, twice a year.'
    That meant he could return to Alpha Class if he excelled well enough in the Beta Class¡ªa process that began with obtaining a decent Familiar.
    'A High Grade Familiar would definitely put me on the map...' Ash thought.
    "Do you understand, Master Ashfelt?"
    Upon hearing the Instructor's words, Ash nodded and allowed his gaze to be filled with nothing but determination.
    "I understand!"
    "Good!" The man nodded. "Now step in."
    Ash obeyed, still taking measured steps until he found himself bathing in the ethereal light of the [GATE]. In a single moment, he felt his body falling into what seemed like an ocean of still water.
    The sensation lasted only for a second, and the next thing he felt was the soft, sensational breeze of The Garden.
    "Ahh..." He whispered, eyes practically everywhere at once.
    The tiny blades of grass tickled Ash's feet, as the numerous trees surrounding him had multiple flows of energy radiating around them. A mix of various colored lights decorated the sky, and the flowers seemed to be cut from the most precious gems.
    The scent that wafted in the air was overwhelmingly enchanting, and everything seemed to be painted in moving and pulsating colors
    Overall, the surreal atmosphere of the garden felt unreal.
    And that was because it was.
    'The Garden exists in the Spirit World, which is why we need a portal to get in. The Academy has a contract with the Garden, allowing us students to come in and contract with Spirits.'
    It was something of a symbiotic relationship.
    'Now then...' Ash sat on the field, feeling the soft warmth of the grass on his backside. '... I should begin.'
    Just like everyone else, he entered a meditative pose and waited patiently for the Spirits to gather around him so he could make a selection. For the talented Alpha Students, this would take a very long process since they would have to sort through so many Spirits in order to pick the best one for them.
    However, Beta Students like him didn't need to take very long.
    'Only about two, maybe a maximum of five will gather around someone with my level of talent.'
    As Ash closed his eyes and waited for a Spirit, none showed up.
    None except one.
    "Hmm... this is a problem."
    He tried his best to ignore the Spirit before him, but it stubbornly remained, hovering around him in order to get his attention.
    It wasn't because the Spirit was weak.
    No... far from it.
    "Judging from its golden color, this is a Supreme Grade Spirit." Ash sighed. "Damnit... I did my best to suppress my energy, yet this is the only one that's coming."
    If he had to guess, the Spirit before him had most likely warded off other Spirits which prevented them from showing up. That meant the Lesser Wind Spirit that he was meant to end up with was also absent.
    'It's just this one.'
    Ash finally opened his eyes and looked at the fluttering golden Spirit before him.
    It had the form of a small ball of light, with particles of energy dancing round it as it hovered all over him like a creature in heat.
    The human eyes couldn't see a Spirit in its true Spiritual Form, which is why they often appeared this way to potential Hosts. As such, Ash couldn't see the true form of the entity that obstinately clung to him.
    Still, he had a pretty good idea who it was.
    "So it's you... Golden Phoenix, Nyx."
    The Spirit stopped hovering and leaped towards Ash, touching him with its shimmering skin.
    Instantly, a brilliant light covered the entire Garden.
    ~Indeed I am, human!~
    The voice echoed deep in Ash's Soul, a soft and melodious tone that he couldn't ignore.
    "Great Spirit... I would like to humbly ask you..."
    ~Yes, go on...~
    "... To please leave my presence and let the other Spirits come to me."
    ~W-what?!~ S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Naturally, the Supreme Grade Spirit was shocked.
    No human would dare refuse the offer of a Higher Grade Spirit, not to mention a Supreme Grade one¡ªespecially a Spirit of the Golden Phoenix's caliber.
    And yet... this human was uttering such absurd words.
    "I need to contract with a Lesser Spirit, and you're disrupting that process. So please..."
    ~Are you being serious right now?~
    "Yes."
    ~B-but I'm better than a Lesser Spirit!~
    "It doesn't matter." Ash sighed, shaking his head slowly. "I want a Lesser Spirit."
    ~H-hold on... don't you know that the quality of your Soul is too high for a Lesser Spirit? I have never seen one like it before... it's almost like it's not of this world!~
    Ash's smile widened upon hearing those words.
    "I know."

 Chapter 3: Grand Objective

    Chapter 3: Grand Objective"You're being a nuisance..."
    Ash did not hold back in the harshness of his words and the tone he used to utter them.
    He paid no regard to the magnificent entity that stood before him, instead maintaining a deadpan expression as his white hair danced with the wind. His crimson eyes, narrow in their gaze, trapped the reflection of the golden entity as he regarded it with no reverence.
    This puzzled the Golden Phoenix greatly.
    ~I will grant you power beyond what¡ª
    "It doesn't matter what you can grant me." Ash removed his eyes from the Golden Phoenix and looked into the forest around him.
    He was sure the other Spirits were hiding around.
    "I can find a Lesser Spirit if I look around, so please stop disturbing me." Ash muttered, slowly rising to his feet.
    'In the Novel, Ashfelt contracts with a Lesser Wind Spirit and ends up dropping out of the Academy. That makes him an Extra who was only slightly relevant for a brief period in the novel¡ªonly appearing later during the Succession Event.'
    If he wanted to adhere to the plot of the novel, Ash had to follow the path of the story.
    He needed a Lesser Spirit for that.
    ~You're making a big mistake! I'm being frank with you here!~
    Ash shrugged nonchalantly and left the Golden Phoenix as he walked towards the cluster of trees that were closest to him.
    ~C-come back here right this instant!~
    He kept walking forward.
    ~I won't make this offer again!~
    Finally reaching the edge of the forest, he found the Spirits¡ªfrom Lesser to Higher¡ªall hiding in flowers, or various parts of the lush green and multicolored layer of trees.
    With the quality of his Soul¡ªthe one that came from Earth¡ªhe could have any of them.
    But he desired only one.
    "You." He called for a tiny green dot among the many others that lay suspended in the air.
    "Come here."
    The Spirit obeyed, shivering as it approached Ash.
    For a moment, it glanced in the direction of the Golden Spirit that was clearly watching the whole thing in disapproval, but Ash urged the nervous Spirit.
    "Don't mind that one... you're dealing with me." He called the Spirit closer. "No Spirit can hurt you once we leave this place... not even that jerk."
    ~ME? JERK? HEYYYY!!!~
    Ash invited the small green Spirit into the palm of his hand, and was about to begin the binding ritual when the golden Spirit reached the limits of its patience.
    WHOOOSH!!!
    It rushed towards Ash, its bright light creating a trail of shockwaves that echoed throughout the space around them. The green Spirit scampered off in fright, completely overwhelmed by the presence of its superior.
    ~Fine! You win! Tell me whatever your conditions are!~
    "Hm?"
    ~I'll accept whatever condition you make! As long as I become your Familiar, I don't care!~
    Ash paused for a moment.
    He calmly looked at the Phoenix and gave a discontent sigh.
    "I guess it can't be helped..." With an annoyed tone, he laid out his conditions. "Enter an Unbreakable and Submissive Contract with me."
    ~Oh? You want to be my Submissive? You should have said that from the star¡ª
    "No. You'll be the Submissive, and I'll be your Master."
    ~....~
    "Do you accept it or not?"
    The look on Ash's face told the golden Spirit that he was serious, and the topic of discussion was certainly not something to joke about.
    A normal contract made the Spirit and Host equal partners.
    The contract was also voidable, as long as both parties agreed to the dissolution.
    However, an Unbreakable Contract made it so that the Host and Familiar could never contract with another entity and would always be bound to each other. Adding a Submissive element to the contract meant one of the two parties would be the subordinate of the other.
    In essence, a Master-Servant relationship.
    These weren't unprecedented Contracts, as they had occurred in the past before. However, in the case of Supreme Grade Spirits, they were usually the ones to enforce the Contract and would often make their Hosts subordinates.
    But¡ª
    ~Do you realize what you're asking of me? You're telling me to become your Slave?!~
    "Yes."
    Ash did not bother sugarcoating his words.
    His requirement for cooperation was impossible enough as it was, so there was no need trying to explain any further. Both parties knew exactly what the terms involved, and since it was Unbreakable, there was no room for re-negotiation in the eventual future.
    This was the Status Quo that would exist until either or both of them perished.
    "Do you accept it?" Ash asked.
    In the Novel "Legend of the Lost Prince", Ashfelt Zephyr ended up contracting with a Lesser Spirit.
    The difficulty of his conditions was guaranteed to chase off the Familiar before him and let him follow the original route set before him.
    However...
    ~I-I accept.~
    ... Ash had no intention of following the original storyline.
    He never did.
    'Success!' He beamed internally. 'It looks like my pretense paid off.'
    By pretending to be disinterested in the Supreme Grade Spirit, showing more interest in the Lesser Grade¡ªhowever absurd it was¡ªAsh ended up fueling the desperation of the Golden Phoenix and obtaining it as his Subordinate Familiar.
    'I was surprised to see the Phoenix, but this makes it even more perfect!'
    His original plan involved reeling in a Higher Grade Familiar, but he could never have expected his Otherworldly Soul to be so valuable to the Spirits.
    'With this, I'll be able to achieve my ultimate objective.'
    With a smile on his face, he stretched out his hand and reached for the Golden Spirit who reached for his hand as well.
    As they touched, a brilliant burst of energy covered the entire space.
    FSHUUUU
    Once the explosive power dissipated, replaced by the soft hissing of smoke and dust, Ash was standing on his feet, with the Golden Phoenix¡ªa Supreme Grade Spirit¡ªas his Familiar.
    "Now then..." He turned his attention towards the cluster of trees, once again spotting the green Spirit that was clearly drowning in the regret of running away.
    Rather than ignoring it and leaving The Garden, Ash called for it to get closer.
    ~H-hey, what are you doing?!~
    "...."
    He said nothing and brought the green Spirit closer to his hand.
    ~We had a deal, didn't we?!~
    "Be quiet, Nyx." Ash finally spoke, revealing something that was hidden within him all of this time.
    ~W-what? This is... how? Impossible!!!~
    Hidden within his body¡ªright next to the Otherworldly Soul that Nyx resided in¡ªwas another Soul.
    "Contract with me, Lesser Wind Spirit."
    The green Spirit instantly obliged, causing a small spark of energy to radiate within The Garden.
    Once the light faded, the Spirit was gone.
    It was now a resident of his unimpressive Soul¡ªthe Soul belonging to the original owner of the body that a 21st Century man from Earth occupied.
    'And with that, I've accomplished my secondary objective.' Ash grinned widely, much to the exasperation of the Supreme Grade Familiar within him.
    ~You... what exactly are you?~ S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    A silent chuckle escaped from his lips the moment he heard the question.
    "Just someone who wants to change the original storyline of this world... starting from this point."
    How exactly he would do that remained unclear¡ªeven to him. However, Ash could not ignore the message that was embedded in his mind ever since he arrived in the Novel that brought him his greatest joy and worst regret when he was on Earth.
    [Want to Return Home? Change The World And Reach The Perfect Ending!]
    'To do that, I need to gather as much power and resources as I can while using my knowledge of the original storyline.'
    The problem was that in order to use his knowledge, he had to have a minimal effect on the storyline, since that would alter what he already knew¡ªmaking his task more difficult than he needed it to be.
    In essence, Ash needed to be strong enough to influence the story, while only influencing it at critical junctures in order to arrive at the perfect ending.
    'So far... so good.'
    And now, it was time for his final objective here.
    "Listen carefully, Nyx, I'll need you to hide your presence once we leave this place. The Academy should only be aware of my Lesser Grade Spirit."
    ~Okay... whatever.~
    "Also, I need you to do something else for me."
    ~What's that?~
    Ash smirked at the question.
    "You'll see..."

 Chapter 4: Joint Training Session

    Chapter 4: Joint Training SessionFSHUUU
    Ash stepped out of the portal of light, both hands in his pocket as he coolly took measured steps forward.
    The moment he returned to the hall, all eyes were on him¡ªas expected¡ªbut their reaction to his arrival was the direct opposite of that of his twin brother. Rather than exclamations of utter shock and approval, what he got were looks of scorn.
    The Beta Students were definitely shocked; shocked that he could sink so low.
    Of course, none of them dared to say it out loud or to his face¡ªnot even in a small whisper¡ªdue to how influential his family was. As such, Ash was only greeted with looks of contempt as a Lesser Wind Spirit floated on his shoulder.
    The Spirit had the form of a butterfly and it was covered in green energy. Sparks danced around it, but its small size and simplistic form gave its Grade away the moment anyone laid eyes on it.
    "Master Ashfelt... this is disappointing." The Supervisor whispered, shaking his head. "I wish you the best in your future endeavors."
    He said nothing more, but Ash understood the underlying meaning of his words.
    'He thinks it's best if I drop out.'
    Normally, he would have agreed with his dear Instructor, but things weren't going to be the same as in the original storyline.
    'I'll be staying in the Magus Academy this time...' He smiled to himself. 'That's the first major change I'll be making to the story.'
    Many would argue that contracting with a Supreme Grade Spirit was the first major change, but Ash didn't think that to be the case. After all, if he didn't reveal the contract to anyone, there was no way it would affect the story in any meaningful way.
    At least, not anytime soon.
    'My staying here, however, will affect many things.'
    An image of Seth Zephyr appeared in his mind, causing Ash to nearly sigh. His stay in Akashic Magus Academy would definitely affect his twin brother, but the way he saw it... there was no other way to achieve his goals.
    'Don't worry, Seth... I'm doing all of this for your sake.'
    ***********
    [One Week Later]
    WHOOSH!
    Two students were locked in a battle simulation¡ªalso known as Combat Training¡ªwith a full house watching them as the audience.
    The auditorium, where the fight was taking place, had two sets of seats located at the east and west sides of the room. The north and south featured the exit and entry doors, making the place akin to a sports court than anything else.
    The chairs were positioned in elevated positions, which allowed the students to look down at the stage as they observed the two fighters exchange strikes with their respective weapons.
    One wielded a wooden longsword while the other had a long staff.
    And, as for the quality of the battle¡ªif one could even call it that¡ªit was completely predictable due to the kind of lineup present.
    Elma, an Alpha Class Student... versus Ashfelt Zephyr, the Beta Class weakling.
    It was obvious who would win.
    WHAM!
    As their weapons clashed with each other, wood slapping on wood, many students impatiently waited for it to end.
    Ashfelt clearly looked like he was struggling to keep up, but he stubbornly clung to his blade and continued swinging despite none of his attacks even reaching his adversary.
    It looked pathetic to the audience, but¡ªonce again¡ªno one could say anything.
    At least, not in the Beta Class.
    "This Joint Training Session is a waste of time." One of the Alpha Students sighed while shaking his head as he looked at the match before him.
    "Yeah." Another spoke in agreement. "Why do we have to do this kind of stuff every week?"
    "They're incomparable to us. It'll only hold us back..."
    The Alpha Students were seated at the western side of the hall, while the Betas were at the eastern area. The Joint Training Session featured Instructors bringing in the students from their respective buildings into one neutral place¡ªthe Joint Center¡ªin order to have them compete with each other.
    Or, as they called it... 'Exchange Moves.' sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Unfortunately, due to the nature of the Beta Class Students and how far apart in talent and skill they were compared to their counterparts, this Joint Training was viewed by many as an utter waste of time.
    It always turned into a one-sided massacre.
    Still, since this was the Akashic Academy Policy, no one could refute or change it. As a result, the students had to begrudgingly accept the wasted hours they would spend once a week with the other Class.
    "Let this end already..."
    ***********
    Ash kept up his struggling facade as he watched the next strike approach him.
    SWISH
    Just as planned, he barely evaded the attack. However, this caused him to stumble in the process.
    "A-ah!" He yelped, struggling to hold onto his dummy weapon as he noticed his opponent taking advantage of the window of opportunity to attack him.
    'As expected... you take advantage of every opening, Elma.'
    The reason she chose the staff as her primary weapon of use was due to her tendency to poke at the weakness of her enemies and create openings for a single decisive hit. She took no big risks until it was time for the finishing strike.
    'Thanks to the reach of her weapon, as well as her keen observation and intellect, she's considered a Combat Prodigy.'
    There was probably no one more skilled than her in the Alpha and Beta Class combined.
    'So what am I doing fighting someone like this?' He sighed. 'Well... you tell me.'
    Ever since the Selection Ceremony, a lot of the Beta Class Students dropped out, leaving only 35 of them left. Of the 35, none of them desired to fight with the Alpha Class Students, who were miles ahead of them.
    As a result, attention fell on him¡ªsince he was a Noble and it was his responsibility to lead by example.
    'The Instructor intentionally singled me out to fight.'
    It was annoying, but not unexpected.
    As long as he did his best to struggle a little, so as to appear half decent, and then lose afterwards, he could end the Joint Combat Training for the day and focus on the more productive aspects of his life.
    'Many people don't consider Combat Training to be very important, especially since we could simply use Spirit Arts as Mages, but very few people like Elma here take it very seriously. It would only make things worse if I lost too easily.'
    That was why he painstakingly took his time to create this perfect opening for her.
    'So... take it!'
    As expected, the girl lunged forward with her staff, aiming right for his stomach.
    'Here it comes...' With widened eyes, he anticipated her strike.
    But¡ª
    "H-huh¡ª?" Elma suddenly slipped from her position as well, her face heading straight to the ground as a result of her lost equilibrium.
    Her eyes exhibited shock, same as Ash's, as she collapsed to the ground and hit her head very hard on the solid ground as a result of the immense power she poured into the strike which drastically increased her momentum.
    The result?
    THUD!
    "The winner of this Joint Training Session is Master Ashfelt Zephyr!"

 Chapter 5: The First Incident

    Chapter 5: The First Incident'Damnit...'
    Ash kept up his surprise smile as he looked at the fallen student who was meant to defeat him in their fight.
    'She slipped on the sweat that had gathered on the ground, which allowed her to lose her balance.' He analyzed internally. 'Normally, she would have stopped, but due to the propelling force and lack of balance, she ended up in her current predicament.' sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Fortunately, she wasn't hurt in any meaningful way.
    However, the rules were that the first person to surrender or fall flat on the ground would lose.
    Hence, it was her loss.
    'And my victory.' Ash did his best to hide his disappointment, and it was successful.
    Many Beta Students roared in pleasant surprise, their excitement beyond palpable. As for the Alpha Students, they were stunned beyond words. Many clung to disbelief and silently opined that Ash must have cheated somehow.
    Still, the results were glaring for anyone with eyes.
    For the first time in so long... the Beta Class had triumphed over the Alpha Class.
    But¡ª
    "And now, since the Beta Class won this match, the Alpha Class has the chance to regain their title of current champion." The Instructor announced, causing the hall to fall back into sheer silence.
    Everyone sat as tension wafted in the air.
    'As expected, it isn't over...' Ash grit his teeth. 'This is why I didn't bother trying to win.'
    It was why most Beta Students didn't bother.
    Even if they managed to win, the Alpha Class had the right to challenge them to a match in order to regain their title as reigning champions.
    "Alpha Class... send out your champion!"
    Once those words burst into the air, all eyes fell on one single person in the room.
    The only obvious choice.
    Ash kept his stoic demeanor as he looked at the same person, tightly clinging to his wooden blade to show both nervousness and determination.
    Even as the boy rose to his feet, Ash did not back down.
    "I see you've made your choice!" The Instructor smiled. "Master Seth Zephyr, please come to the stage."
    As the boy with raven black hair and pure blue eyes walked to the stage, Elma rose to her feet and shamefully walked away. Before leaving, she cast a silent glance at Ash, displaying a menacing glare before leaving.
    'What was that all about?' He wondered, but chose to focus on the task before him.
    ¡ªHis twin brother.
    Ash took his stance, while Seth simply took the first blade he could find in the rack of weapons right beside the stage. Once he was done, he climbed the stage and stood a few meters from his brother.
    A calm, noble expression was plastered on his face.
    "You chose a longsword... why?" Ash asked, his eyes narrowing on his brother. "So you can fight on equal terms with me?"
    "Yes. It wouldn't be fair otherwise."
    'Typical.'
    Ash already knew that Seth's primary weapon was the spear, though it didn't matter what kind of weapon he ended up with.
    He was a master of all!
    "The Rematch between Beta Class and Alpha Class shall commence... NOW!"
    The moment the match began, Ash tried to march forward and let out the first strike, but a soundless gust of wind suddenly flowed around him, and he suddenly found that Seth had already disappeared from his position.
    "Sorry, brother."
    As those words whispered slowly in Ash's ears, he felt a powerful presence behind him.
    "... It's my victory."
    WHUUUM!
    The strike was immediate¡ªa single stroke of mercy that sliced through his back and sent a wave that shattered the winds.
    Ash instantly fell to the ground, feeling the sharp and quick pangs of pain that instantly coursed through his whole body at once. He couldn't even scream due to its sheer intensity, but the horrid sensation was brief.
    Within a second, the pain vanished, and Ash found himself laid flat on the stage.
    Just like that... he had lost.
    "The winner of this Joint Training Rematch is Master Seth Zephyr!"
    The Alpha Students instantly gave a standing ovation, once again proudly enjoying their position at the top while the Betas sighed in annoyance and disappointment.
    While this was happening, Seth lowered his hand as he stood above his brother's body.
    "Here... take my hand."
    'As expected, he's that kind of person.' Ash smiled to himself. 'He can be unforgiving in a fight, but he's a kind person at heart.'
    Despite knowing that, however, Ash shoved the hand away and rose to his feet with his own strength. Once he did so, he took a few steps towards Seth, until they stood side by side so their similar and contrasting features were laid bare for everyone to see.
    "I don't... need your pity."
    As soon as he said this, Ash walked away¡ªlimping and grunting.
    "Brother..."
    He could hear Seth's voice drift into the air¡ªa melancholic mix of disappointment and sadness¡ªbut he ignored all of it.
    'Ash has always had some kind of inferiority towards Seth due to their difference in ability. I can't suddenly change that.' He told himself as he climbed the east side of the hall and returned to his seat.
    "I hope this was a very educational Exchange for you all!"
    Once again, the Instructor loudly declared his thoughts to everyone, though not many agreed with his sentiment. All of the students couldn't wait to leave the auditorium, and much to their relief, he released them soon after his announcements.
    "See you all next week!"
    ************
    [Moments Later]
    Ash managed to escape the mob of Beta Students who swarmed him after his little accident in the auditorium and was currently on his way to his dorms, feeling the fresh breeze and the sweet smell of flowers that decorated the campus grounds.
    Despite his several attempts to explain what actually happened to them, they chose to believe that it was all some part of his masterplan and they wanted to know how he managed to pull it off.
    'Haa... give it a few days and they'll forget about it.'
    No, it probably wouldn't even take a few days before they completely forget everything that happened in the Joint Combat Training.
    'After all, the first incident is about to begin...'
    ***********
    [Later That Night]
    "Tch! I wonder if we'll ever stop this annoying Joint Training Session..."
    "Yeah, it's so stupid."
    Two Alpha Students were walking side by side, both of them holding a bottle of juice that they got from the campus cafeteria that exclusively belonged to the Alpha Class. They were just returning from the library after a rigorous study session, so having a cool drink was their way of relaxing as they headed back to their dorms.
    With their school uniforms still on, they discussed the annoyance that was the Joint Training Session.
    Unsurprisingly, they felt it had to be done away with.
    "I mean, until the Beta Students reach our level, isn't it as unhelpful to us as it is to them?" One of them said with a sigh.
    "I know, right?" The other responded, slurping on his drink. "I doubt they enjoy being pummeled every week."
    ZZTZZZ!
    "Hmm?? Did you hear that?"
    The two students paused and looked around them, then at each other.
    They could have sworn that they had just heard a buzzing sound, but with no one present around them¡ªsave for the lights and perhaps guard patrols that would constantly survey the area¡ªthey didn't know what to think.
    "Let's just head back quickly."
    "Y-yea¡ª!"
    BZZZTTZZ!!
    At this point, the students were freaked out, yelping as they dropped their bottles of juice and began to run away.
    However...
    WHOOOOOSHH!!!
    ... They didn't get very far when they noticed something surreal lurking around them.
    It was like a blot in the night.
    Like a transparent glassy silhouette that had a subtle white luster about it. It appeared humanoid, but also like an echo that seemed to be incorporeal and made of energy¡ªmore akin to a spirit than a person.
    Before they took another step, the silhouette appeared in front of them.
    Then¡ª
    ZZBBBZZZZTTTZZZZ!!!
    ¡ªThe buzzing sounds came again, this time stronger and longer than before.
    "W-who are you?!" One of the students asked, his voice trembling as he quickly got into combat position.
    Using Spirit Arts on Campus Grounds outside of Lectures or other special circumstances was forbidden. However, there were exceptions to the rule.
    For example, when a Student's life is in reasonable danger, and no other alternative exists.
    "S-stay back, or we will attack!" The other student declared.
    The transparent-white silhouette cocked its head, almost as if it was confused. It stood still for a moment, not moving a single muscle.
    At this point, the students sighed in relief.
    This thing¡ªwhatever it was¡ªresponded well to threats, which meant it wouldn't make any weird moves.
    ... Or so they thought...
    THUD!
    In an instant, one of the students fell to the ground, his whole body¡ªfrom his head, neck, arms, torso, legs... everything¡ªtwisting violently as every ounce of blood was wrung out of his body.
    "ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
    His fellow student screamed in horror and bolted, not caring to fight the white nightmare anymore.
    Whatever this thing was... it was beyond human.
    It was death.

 Chapter 6: White Death

    Chapter 6: White DeathNews about the Incident spread like wildfire.
    It didn't take long for the death of one Alpha Class Student to reach the ears of everyone seemingly overnight. Before long, it was all everyone could talk about.
    As such, it was only inevitable that a General Assembly would be called to address the breach of security on the Academy Campus, as well as the unfortunate demise of a certain Achibald Leonald¡ªone of the brightest and hardworking minds of the Alpha Class.
    "Greetings, Students..." A slim and bald man took to the stage in the auditorium that every student in the Academy's Apprentice Wing had gathered in.
    Students of higher Grades¡ªthe Intermediate and Experts¡ªwere naturally absent.
    Per the Akashic Magus Academy policy, the three Grades of the Academy had to be divided by Wings, which is why only the Apprentices¡ªboth Alpha and Beta Class Students¡ªwere in attendance.
    "My name is Dahmer Weinstain." He continued. "You may not know me, but I am an alumni of this Academy, and I have been personally requested by the heads of this Academy to investigate the recent demise of one of its students."
    The bald man looked like a skeleton¡ªwith gaping wide eyes that struck fear in the minds of the students, bleached white skin, as well as a lanky and skinny physique that made it appear as though he hadn't eaten for days.
    He was clad in a long black trench coat, wearing gloves to cover his hands, as well as dirty black boots.
    His belt had a certain lustre about it, but it was also black.
    His shirt and trousers too.
    This man¡ªSpecial Investigator Dahmer¡ªwas like a creepy creature of darkness disguised as a human. It creeped the students out, to the point that many gulped and shivered.
    All of a sudden, the deaths of one of their own didn't seem as scary as the being standing before them.
    "The Southeastern Wing of this Academy has been sealed off from the other Wings due to this incident, so whoever this killer is... he has nowhere to go."
    As Dahmer smiled, it seemed as though the devil himself was grinning.
    It frightened everyone who watched.
    "That is all I have to say. Please rest assured... I will find whoever is responsible for this tragedy and make them pay." He bowed slightly, before wearing his black hat.
    "I swear on my entire career."
    ************
    'So that's what the Special Investigator looks like in person, huh?'
    Ash calmly observed Dahmer Weinstain as he left the stage, both hands in his pockets as he carefully analyzed the man and everything he had on.
    'He has a badge hidden in his breast pocket, a Magia Pistol in a holster on his left leg, a bunch of Daggers hidden in special pockets in his trenchcoat. He also possesses several other special items¡ªall of which are Enchanted in some way¡ªon his person.' Ash smiled.
    The reason he knew all of these details was because of the Novel that he had rigorously studied before arriving in this world.
    'Dahmer was called, just as in the original story...' His smile broadened. 'Looks like I haven't changed too many things.'
    This was good.
    As long as there weren't a lot of changes, he would have predictive power on his side.
    'I have no idea how long that will last, but as long as I make my changes minimal and only when necessary, I can gently steer this world to the future I desire. I can also monitor the specific changes I make as well as manage them so they don't spiral out of control.'
    That was his current plan.
    As for what to do regarding the Special Investigator, the best thing to do was nothing.
    'Any suspicious activity would only gain his attention, and that's the last thing I want.' Ash sighed, slowly taking his leave from the assembly grounds after the students were dismissed.
    Before leaving, he stole one final glance at the dark coated man.
    'It is said that once the Special Investigator takes up a case, he never fails to solve it.'
    That was why the Academy was prompt to bring him in on this case.
    "Good luck, Detective."
    ************
    In a dark room, with the only source of light being the ultradim candles that burned quietly in a corner, Dahmer Weinstain was busy with the numerous notes he had taken.
    It was only his first day on campus, and he had already taken note of so many things.
    'A lot is going on... so much is going on...' His thoughts were a mess as his gaping eyes rummaged through the pages and his thin hands flipped through the papers. 'This Wing... this Campus... this Academy...'
    Something was definitely fishy about the whole incident.
    'I was called here because there was seemingly no breach in the Academy's Security. The patrol officers never skipped their shifts, and the Magia-Sensitive Alarms never went off. Nothing was out of the ordinary that night, so the Academy never picked up the energy signature of the killer once appeared and killed one of the students.'
    Dahmer looked at his notes, rubbing his fingers on the name of the boy who was murdered.
    'Achibald Leonald... he was a cheeky kid, but he was also very hard working.' He noted to himself. 'He always went to the library to study, and from the interviews I conducted with his friends, it seems like he wanted to be an Archmage like his uncle¡ªone of his heroes.'
    Why would a student like that be targeted?
    Why now?
    So many questions ran through the Special Investigator's question as he rose to his feet and went to the chart he had already created in his newly-fitted office that the Academy gave him for his stay on the Campus Grounds.
    'Based on the twists, this had to be a crime of passion... or could it just be an adverse effect of a Spell? No... the Alarms never went off, which means the culprit didn't use any Spell on the spot.'
    But was that even possible?
    Based on the testimony of the surviving student, it seemed like the white silhouette had strangled the body of the deceased from a distance.
    How could that have been done without utilizing a single Spell?
    'Or... could the alarms have been shut down? That would mean someone in the Academy's staff was complicit in the killing.'
    Still, Investigator Dahmer had already thought of this and asked if the Alarms were ever inactive at a particular point in the night, but the records showed that they were constantly activated throughout the night.
    'So how did this happen? Did the culprit forge the records, or was no Spell actually used in the scene of the crime?'
    The more Dahmer pondered on the issue, the more confused he became.
    Until...
    "Wait a moment! What if¡ª?"
    BZZZZZZZZT
    All of a sudden, a loud buzzing noise echoed in the blackened room, and as soon as Dahmer turned to the entity that occupied his auxiliary vision, he noticed something standing in a dark corner. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    It was transparent white, like a shimmering glass that warbled with energy.
    "It's... you."
    ZZZZTTTTZZZZZZZZ
    The buzzing sounds grew louder, almost to the point where Dahmer wanted to sew his ears tight, but he refused the temptation. Instead, he reached for the pistol in his holster, ready to activate his Spirit Art and attack.
    But¡ª
    "H-huh...?"
    He suddenly found his arms twisting and turning, as if into spirals.
    "GAHHHHHHH!!!" He screamed, feeling his two legs twist as well.
    In a heavy thud, he fell to the ground.
    "Y-you... you are¡ª!"
    Before he met his end, Dahmer crawled to his board like the pathetic worm that he was. On the board was a map, and his bloodied body slowly tried to reach for it.
    Unfortunately, his torso began to twist before he got to the target.
    "ARRRGHHHHH!" Screaming from the pain, the Special Investigator swiftly used his bloody tongue to write something on the ground.
    Then... his neck snapped as it twisted as well.
    Right in that dark room, devoid of anyone and anything else, the Special Investigator perished.
    However, what he inscribed on the ground lived on.
    It wrote¡ª
    "Beware the White Death."

 Chapter 7: New Change

    Chapter 7: New ChangeThe next day came, and no one saw Special Investigator Dahmer.
    It wasn't until a few days later that an announcement was made regarding his demise and the message he left behind in his office before he perished.
    "Beware the White Death."
    Many students were freaked out at this point, and rightfully so. The Akashic Academy was regarded as one of the safest places in the entire Desgarron Empire, due to the caliber of Mages that taught in it, as well as its numerous facilities.
    However, with the Academy Head being absent as a result of a particular convention in the Empire, as well as most of the more powerful staff being relegated to the other Wings, or acting as the backup force against the Barbarians of the North, the Academy was in a vulnerable position.
    Perhaps that was why this entity, now known as the White Death had chosen to strike now.
    Who or what this thing was remained unknown.
    There was tight security around the premises of the Special Investigator's office, yet not one of them noticed anything was off. They didn't see the White Death enter or leave the office, and they didn't even hear the man's screams.
    It wasn't until the next day, when they entered his office, that their eyes witnessed the gory image of his mutilated corpse.
    The White Death had killed him without leaving a trace of its presence.
    This scared everyone¡ªStudent and Instructor alike.
    However, there was one person who was most shaken by this news, and it was none other than Ashfelt Zephyr.
    His eyes were wide with genuine shock when he heard the news about the Special Investigator, and he couldn't contain the sheer unease that coursed through his body once he recognized the awful truth.
    'This... the storyline has changed.'
    ***********
    Classes ended very early for the day, and every student was made to head straight to their dorms.
    A curfew was also implemented on the Campus, so students weren't allowed to leave their Dorms once it got dark. Security around the dorms were also doubled¡ªnot that it would help much against the kind of enemy they were up against. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Instructors also began to take rounds patrolling the Academy grounds¡ªeach of them moving in pairs. Despite understanding nothing about this new threat, they did their best to contain their anxieties and act for the benefit of the student.
    No one had ever bypassed the Academy's security, so this was all very new.
    ... And very scary.
    How was it possible that an enemy infiltrated the impenetrable walls of the Academy, and even used Spells that would have been detected by the Alarms? How could they slip past multiple security veterans, and how could they kill¡ªnot just a student¡ªbut an alumni of the Akashic Magus Academy.
    It was an unprecedented disaster, and the worst part¡ªsomething that lived rent free in the mind of everyone who was cursed with the knowledge of the incidents¡ªwas the fear that this could only be the beginning.
    The White Death, whatever it was, had only just begun its work.
    ************
    "Okay... let's think about this very carefully."
    Ash was in his dorm room¡ªthe unimpressive residence meant for Beta Students. The whole dorm was a three-storey building, with a total of thirty rooms on each floor. Each room had only the most basic furnishings, with a small wardrobe and bathing facilities.
    Due to the mass dropout of students in the Beta Class, there were many empty rooms in the dorms. However, no one even cared about that due to the current situation that now plagued the Academy like a curse.
    "The first incident of the White Death was exactly as the novel described." He began. "It happened a week after the Selection Ceremony, and it also features the demise of an Alpha Student by the name of Archibald Leonald.'
    The Academy, due to being short-staffed, and not wanting to resort to overly drastic measures, invited a private but specialized Investigator to look into the murder.
    'Dahmer is very competent in his field, with a considerable list of track records that backs him up. It's no surprise he was called for the investigation, and even though he would eventually fall at the hands of the White Death... it would take a very long time.'
    To be precise, it would take nearly two months.
    'In those two months, we would have begun to learn more about the practical applications of Spirit Arts, as well as a host of abilities.' Ash sighed. 'So it would also make sense for the culprit to be more adept at killing someone like Dahmer.'
    However, now that things had gotten to this point, Ash realized a terrible truth.
    'The original timeline has changed.'
    In the original story, the White Death was none other than a Beta Student who used the help of a very powerful Spirit to orchestrate the deaths of Alpha Students as an act of revenge for the way the students treated Beta Students.
    The important element of the whole incident wasn't the nameless Beta Student, but the Spirit in question.
    It was a unique Medium Grade Spirit.
    'The Medium Grade Spirit made the Beta Student its Subordinate... the same way I made Nyx mine, and was controlling the Student's actions.'
    In the end, the main villain was the Spirit... not the student.
    'I know the name of the Beta Student, and there's no way someone of his current caliber can take on the Special Investigator¡ªat least, not at his current level.'
    So what changed?
    'Could it be¡ª?!' Ash's eyes widened as he jumped from his bed. 'What if the White Death is someone else?'
    All this time, Ash had taken it easy thinking he could apprehend the White Death at any moment due to his current knowledge. However, not only was the Beta Student in question not depicting any signs of being the White Death, but the recent occurrence made it highly unlikely that he was the culprit.
    'Looks like the future has changed, which means I have to change with it.'
    To do that, Ash had to start from the very scratch.
    'I have to figure out who the real White Death is... and I have to do it fast.'
    At least, before the next Incident.
    ***********
    [Later That Night]
    BBBBZZZZTTZZZ
    The loud buzzing in the night attracted the attention of the two Instructors who were patrolling the area close to the spot where the first incident took place. Once they heard the sound, they rushed to the site instantly.
    "See anything?" One asked, frantically looking around for any sign of their enemy.
    "Not yet!" The other responded.
    Despite the anxiety they both felt, and the strong tension wafting in the air, these two were determined to complete their tasks as proud Instructors of the Akashic Magus Academy.
    Not even the terror of the White Death could deter their sworn dedication.
    "There!"
    A glassy white silhouette stood at the spot where the Instructor pointed at, creating even more buzzing sounds as it remained still.
    "Attack!"
    The moment they spotted the white blot, the two Instructors took immediate action.
    First, they activated their respective Spirit Arts.
    VWUUUSH!
    Incredible amounts of energy surged from their bodies¡ªcrimson and azure respectively.
    One of the Instructors was coated in crimson flames, with a blazing beastly creature standing right in front of him like a hunting dog. The beast resembled a lion, but it was made of crimson flames, with bright orange eyes.
    The other Instructor had an azure bird floating right above his head, with the claps of lightning dancing around it.
    This was [Externalization], a technique Mages used to externally project their Familiars so they could deal even more devastating attacks.
    As their powers swelled, the alarms around them began to ring very loudly.
    "This is the end of the line for you!" They screamed, instantly sending their most devastating blasts forward in the form of a Joint Destructive Spell.
    "[Fiery Lightning Descent]!"
    Their shouts were dimmed by the explosive noise of the attack, one so powerful that it easily created a considerably large crater on the ground and caused the very air to crackle with immense energy.
    The alarms rang even louder, acclimating to the devastating noise of the Spell's effect.
    Within seconds, this area would be swarming with backup guards and other patrolling Instructors.
    Needless to say, this was the end of the line for the White Death.
    ... Or was it.
    "U-UWAAAGHHHHH!!!" One of the Instructors screamed as he felt his entire body twist around despite the fiery cloak of energy that he wrapped around his body.
    "H-help! Help me!"
    He tried to shout, but before he could make another sound, his neck snapped, and the rest of his body followed... replaced by nothing more than a loud thud as his lifeless dropped to the ground, splashing on the pool of blood that had formed beneath him.
    "F-Fernand¡ª!" The other Instructor was stunned by this, but swiftly leaped to the air as he tried his best to retreat.
    Suddenly, he heard the buzzing sound from above him and found the white silhouette in the sky.
    "Kyaaahhhh!"
    With a loud scream, he sent a crackling surge of electricity to the sky, swiftly descending to the ground where he was bound to find safety.
    BZZZZTTTTTZZZZ!!!
    Unfortunately for him, nothing but death awaited him upon landing.
    "G-gahhhhh!!! Uwaaaahhhhh!!! GUAAAARRGHHH!!!"
    More screams echoed into the night as his whole body twisted and the White Death watched from its position in the air.
    It stood still... completely unharmed, still buzzing in the night sky.
    Then, almost like it was never there, it vanished.
    Before completely disappearing, though, a silent voice wafted where its remains evaporated.
    "Haha... haaa..." The soft whisper was silenced by the alarms, as well as the numerous voices of the backup guards and Instructors that were approaching the area.
    "This world... is so much fun."

 Chapter 8: Commencing Investigation

    Chapter 8: Commencing Investigation[A Few Days Later]
    Once again, it was time for the Joint Combat Training, and both the Alpha Students and Beta Students gathered in the same auditorium.
    There were a few uncomfortable and begrudging glances from both sides, but neither said anything to the other. Instead, they remained in their respective east and west lanes, opting to watch the match playing out before them.
    As all of this happened, Ash sat calmly and pretended to watch the match while thinking about something else.
    'There's been a rumor floating around that the killer is most likely a Beta Class Student, since the first victims were Alpha Class students, and Betas aren't noble, so they're more susceptible to dishonorable violence...' A wry smile formed on his face. 'However, not even a majority of the Alpha Students believe this, since doing so would mean they acknowledge the power and potential of Beta Class.'
    In the mind of the Alphas, there was no way a Beta Class Student could be the White Death, because an entity like that¡ªone that eluded the authorities and caused so much fear and death¡ªwas far too powerful to be a Beta.
    Still, the rumor had successfully driven a bigger wedge between the Alpha and Beta students.
    'If this keeps up, things will only escalate and the barely surviving relationship between both classes will deteriorate.'
    Ash knew what the consequences would be if that was allowed to happen.
    This was because he had read all about future incidents, and with the storyline changing, things were escalating far faster than he initially expected.
    'I can no longer be idle...' He sighed to himself, rising to his feet. 'It's time to make my move.'
    ************
    The Joint Combat Training ended the same way it always did¡ªwith the victory of Alpha Class¡ªand once the students were dispersed, much to their relief, they made their way to the dorms or the library.
    Some even went to the Training Facilities to get even more attuned to their abilities.
    Ash watched all of this happen, and instead of walking alone¡ªas he always did¡ªhe approached a group of students.
    They weren't his usual crowd, the Beta Class.
    No, these were Alpha Students.
    "Hey, guys... how's it going?" He asked, trying his best to make a friendly smile.
    "It's you?"
    "What do you want, Ashfelt?"
    "Shouldn't you be hanging out with your Beta Class friends?"
    The students chuckled as they stopped their walk and looked at him, their eyes filled with condescension, no doubt. Most students wouldn't dare to even make fun of him, but Alpha Class students were somewhat exceptions.
    Since they were mostly from Noble Households, and they also held huge prospects for the Empire, they were largely untouchable.
    Still... that didn't mean they were invincible.
    "Haha! Very funny, guys." Ash joined them in chuckling. "I think Seth would like to hear what you jerks are saying about me."
    Everyone's face turned pale instantly.
    "Maybe I should bring him into this conversation and see what he has to¡ª"
    "Okay! Okay! You've made your point."
    "Just tell us what you want... we're listening."
    "As long as you don't bring him into this... we can talk like Noble men..."
    Ash smiled and nodded at their words, happy they understood the situation and were happy to comply. As always, using his brother as a scare tactic was more effective than relying on convoluted manipulation.
    'Back when Ashfelt was demoted from Alpha Class, these jerks made fun of him and nearly bullied him, but Seth stood in the way of that and put the fear of God in them with a threat.'
    "If you ever trouble my brother again... I'll destroy you!"
    That was what he said, and those words worked wonders! This was because Seth wasn't just a Noble, but he was also at the top of Alpha Class in terms of both potential and current ability.
    No one could stand up to him, which meant Ash could ride on his coattails and use him as a source of authority.
    'I should avoid using this too much, though... since that would attract Seth's attention.'
    And that was the last thing he wanted at the moment.
    "I don't need all of you idiots." He shoved the students aside and walked towards only one of them.
    "Just you."
    The person he spoke to was none other than the only witness of the White Death's first appearance¡ªJustin Timberdrake.
    **************
    "... A-and, that's when Achibald fell to the ground, and his arms began to twist! It was horrifying... the scariest moment I've had till date."
    As Ash listened to the boy's stories, he kept a calm face and internally processed everything he was listening to. For starters, he was now certain that the Beta Student that was the initial suspect was no longer the White Death.
    Not only did he have an alibi for the nights when the Alpha Students and the Special Investigator were attacked, but his alibi actually checked out and was supported by one or more people. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    'I also got closer to him¡ªthe Beta Student¡ªso I could keep a close eye on him all this while, and so far he hasn't exhibited any suspicious traits.'
    Last but not least, Ash was well aware of the student's whereabouts and actions during the night of the recent murders¡ªthe death of two Academy Instructors. The reason he was so certain about this was that he was in the boy's room and discussing with him when the killing happened.
    In essence... he really wasn't the White Death.
    'But if he isn't... who is?'
    "U-um, Ashfelt... I was wondering... shouldn't the Academy cancel the rest of the Academic Session so we can return home... you know, to our families?" Justin whimpered as he looked at Ash.
    His visage showed just how shaken he was, and even his trembling tone and stuttering voice was enough to give away his fright. All this time, he had been holding it all in, but the reality was that he wanted to leave the Academy.
    "Unfortunately, it's not that simple..." Ash sighed.
    "It seems pretty simple to me, though!" Justin barked desperately. "Students are dying! Shouldn't they inform our parents or something... shouldn't they take an action that fully guarantees our safety?"
    Yet another sigh escaped Ash's lips.
    To think that the Akashic Magus Academy, or any other Academy in the Empire, could release its students at the slightest inconvenience or the most disastrous circumstances was a very naive way of thinking.
    It simply couldn't be done.
    "Do you know why we're here, Justin?" Ash asked with a sad smile. "I mean... why we're really here¡ªbeyond learning about Spirit Arts and growing as Mages."
    "U-um... to serve the Empire with our gifts and abilities?"
    "Precisely!"
    However, this service wasn't merely a flippant decision that could be opted out of at any time. It was the very essence... the sole purpose of the Academy.
    "As students, we are being groomed to be the soldiers who will fight the wars of the Empire, so don't think of this as a normal school." Ash tapped the boy's shoulder. "This is more akin to a military academy... or a training camp."
    It wasn't a place one could leave voluntarily, not even on the grounds of a strong apprehension of death.
    "B-but our lives are in danger! Our families would never allow¡ª!"
    "Before we were enrolled here, our parents already signed an agreement with the Academy, which waives the liability of the Academy in the event of the death or permanent injuries on any of the students." Ash revealed. "They all understand the situation, and none of them are going to rush in here to rescue us, even if they are told the news."
    In fact, Ash believed some of their parents already knew the truth, since they were well-connected with the Academy.
    Despite their knowledge, they weren't making any moves for the obvious reasons.
    'We are all adults by the Academy standards, and so even if we die¡ªas long as it is within the Academy Walls¡ªit is simply regarded as a contribution to the glory of the Empire.'
    Nothing more... nothing less.
    "But... that's just plain cruel."
    "Well..." Ash chuckled and tapped the boy's shoulder before walking away. "Welcome to the Magus Academy, Justin."
    He had gotten all the information he needed from the student, and while he felt bad about the boy's growing fears¡ªone that would undoubtedly lead to despair at some point¡ªAsh knew he couldn't do anything for him.
    All he could do was try his best to unearth the true identity of the White Death.
    'The only real clue I haven't really explored would be the Special Investigator's last words.' He thought to himself.
    Even in the novel, those words were never fully explained..
    'But, that is my only shot right now... and if I want to crack it, I'll need the assistance of another student.'
    Someone who had an incredibly bright mind and would also become one of the best Mages in the entire continent¡ªeven growing to be the Protagonist's biggest supporting character in the Novel.
    'She's also the one who beat me in the Promotional Exams and rose to Alpha Class.'
    Of course, he was referring to none other than Elma.

 Chapter 9: Challenge

    Chapter 9: ChallengeElma made herself comfortable in the Alpha-exclusive cafe.
    The taste of coffee, and especially the hot chocolate in this place was far superior to anything that was served in the other Cafes. At first, she didn't like the idea of tasting luxury while her other peers got nothing but scraps, but the privilege had grown on her.
    Ultimately, she arrived at this point due to her ability and nothing else.
    Hence, she deserved this.
    As she sipped her hot chocolate and read the book she borrowed from the library, she couldn't help but reminisce on how things could change so quickly. Beta Students weren't allowed to borrow books from the library, and they also weren't allowed into some Alpha Exclusive locations, so she had to suffer that discrimination for six months.
    ... Even when she knew she wasn't inferior to any Alpha Student in terms of ability.
    However, her status in the Academy changed overnight when the entitled idiot known as Ashfelt Zephyr fought against her and suffered a most humiliating defeat.
    Elma still remembered that moment like it was yesterday, and it always made her smile.
    'It's so annoying that he actually beat me in the Joint Training, though...' She grit her teeth in mild irritation. Even though she knew he didn't actually 'beat' her, she couldn't get that moment out of her head.
    'Why did I make such a silly mistake? Haaa...' S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    After sighing and ruminating on her defeat a little longer, she finished her hot chocolate and no longer felt the desire to continue studying in the cafe.
    'I should just go to my dorm and continue there...' She told herself, rising to her feet and ignoring the many stares she got from the other Alpha Students in the room. 'I can never get used to this.'
    It wasn't easy being the only commoner in the room¡ªno, in the entire Alpha Class.
    Despite quite a few students participating in the Promotional Exams, she was the only one who made it to the other side. There were times when she felt guilty about this, but she always comforted herself with facts.
    'It's all about ability. If they had what it takes... they would already be here.'
    Ignoring their scathing gazes, she left the cafe and allowed herself to breathe in the fresh air and embrace the warm rays of the late afternoon sun.
    Unfortunately¡ª
    "Hey, Elma... that's your name, right?"
    ¡ªThat moment was rudely interrupted by the student she held with the least regard.
    "Ashfelt Zephyr." She turned to look at the smiling, pale faced loser beside her. "What do you want?"
    "I've been waiting for a while now... for you to come out, so we could talk."
    Since he was no longer an Alpha Student, he couldn't access the cafe even if he wanted. The irony was not lost to Elma, and so she leaked out a cocky grin while placing a hand on her waist.
    "Talk? About what?"
    In her mind, she could already picture a million things he could say¡ªand they all ended with him asking her for a favor.
    'It's probably something stupid... like helping him get a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, or whatever beverage he likes from the Cafe.' She sighed internally. 'Or maybe he wants me to tutor him... or maybe... could it be... he wants me to date him? Urgh... no way!'
    The reason she thought about these was because Ashfelt wasn't the first Noble to ask her out, or request for her help in tutoring. Most Alpha students were entitled and prideful people, but they couldn't ignore her excellence.
    As such, she had been approached by quite a few people.
    And, just as she told the others, it would have to be a "No" for scum like Ashfelt Zephyr.
    "I was wondering if we could have a rematch."
    "No... wait, what?"
    "A rematch!" He said with a confident and emphatic smile. "You beat me in the Promotional Exams, and I beat you in the Joint Combat Training..."
    "You didn't beat me! I tripped and fell! There's a difference between¡ª"
    "Stop making excuses for your loss." Ashfelt answered with a devastatingly blunt tone.
    The audacity he displayed shocked Elma, even to the point where her heart skipped a beat. After his loss in the Promotional Exams, he had always acted timidly around her. Now that he was regaining his nerve, it was obvious that his lucky win in the Joint Combat Training had made him a lot more confident in her presence.
    'I don't like it!' She glared at him. 'I don't like it one bit!'
    "Our score right now is 1-1."
    His grin grew wider as he took one more step towards her. "Why don't we have a definitive match to decide who is better between us... once and for all?"
    "Fine. When?"
    "Why not now? I'm sure we could book a sparring room at this hour... unless you're having cold feet, in which case I would understa¡ª"
    "No!" Elma marched forward, her destination now changed. "Let's do it now."
    Ash watched all of this from behind her, both hands in his pocket as he nodded subtly, his lips curling even further upward.
    "Good."
    ************
    "What kind of fight should we engage in?" Elma said, slowly walking around the sparring arena that they secured for their little contest.
    It was 50 ft in length and 50 ft in width, making it an evenly proportioned box¡ªperfect for two students who wanted to duke it out. There were luminous lights, security alarms, just in case the Magia Levels in the room exceeded the acceptable level¡ªand other security measures in place.
    All of this was to ensure the students engaged in a sparring session and nothing more.
    "During the Promotional Exams, we had to fight with basic Spells, and in the Joint Training, it was Combat." Ash smiled, his hands still in his pockets. "So I think this time it should be something a lot more... interesting."
    "What are you suggesting?"
    "Let's fight with Spirit Arts." He proposed, one hand stretched out
    "What?" Elma's eyes widened slightly. "You're kidding, right?"
    It was very obvious why he had to be joking, and why it was stupid in all regards for him to seriously consider competing with her when it came to Spirit Arts.
    Basic Spells could be performed by a Potential Mage, who didn't have a Familiar yet. As long as their Soul could store Magia, and they had an affinity for the Spell's Attribute, it was possible to cast the Spell.
    However, Basic Spells weren't that powerful, and while the effects would vary depending on the power of the Caster, it was still a considerably balanced way to compete.
    Combat was completely different, since it relied on physical ability and skill when it came to handling weapons and controlling one's body. An average male was stronger than an average female, so the natural advantage was with the males.
    However, one could overcome that gap with skill¡ªwhich was something Elma did.
    In conclusion, both Combat and Basic Spell contests were a lot more advantageous to Ashfelt than what he was suggesting.
    "You do realize my Familiar is a High Grade Spirit, right? Yours is a Lesser Spirit, from what I've heard."
    They were practically three Grades apart.
    That was suicide for any Mage!
    "Are you worried?" Ash smiled. "Worried I'm going to win?"
    "Nope! Just that you might start complaining once I'm done kicking your ass!" Elma responded with fiery rage displayed in her eyes.
    Ash chuckled and nodded, cracking his neck as he prepared for the fight.
    "Don't worry... that won't be happening."

 Chapter 10: How An Extra Fights

    Chapter 10: How An Extra FightsThe first and most important factor for any Mage when it comes to a fight is the Familiar¡ªor rather, its Grade.
    Spirits are graded according to their Magia Quality and overall power.
    Lesser
    Low
    Medium
    High
    Greater
    Supreme
    The difference between a single Grade and one above it is immense¡ªand this difference only gets wider the higher up the Grade is. Hence, the difference between Lesser and Low is incomparable to the difference between High and Greater.
    As for Greater and Supreme... the gap is considered inconceivable.
    When fighting a Mage with similar Grade Familiar, what matters most is the skill of the Mage.
    However, this all changes when going up against higher forces.
    Facing off against someone with a Familiar that is one Grade higher is the limit for most Mages, and even then... victory is not assured.
    This is why various Mage Squads are created¡ªso that, depending on the level of the threat, a particular caliber of Mages can be sent to extinguish the problem.
    Using this rationale, it is easy to see why Elma would be increasingly puzzled by the suggestion of her Beta counterpart¡ªAshfelt Zephyr.
    His proposal made absolutely no sense.
    Still, she wasn't planning on arguing with him about it.
    'I already know I'm stronger than him, and I also have more potential than he does.' The Selection Ceremony already proved that. 'So there really is no point in trying to compete fairly with him.'
    They belonged to different worlds, after all.
    'I'll simply use this opportunity to crush him once and for all, so he won't be able to approach me next time!'
    Elma grinned widely as she had this thought, preparing herself for the fight.
    "Let us begin."
    VWUUUSH!
    The moment the match started, both sides used their respective Spirit Arts to summon the power of their Familiars.
    A powerful storm of blazing heat encircled Elma in an instant, the inferno scorching the ground with not even a single cinder burning her skin. As her skin reflected the glow of the flames, she smiled and kept her gaze on the boy before her.
    Unlike her, the effects of his Familiar's power was barely visible.
    A small gust of wind encircled him, causing his white hair to dance in the air as his crimson eyes turned bright green¡ªa sign that one was using the power of their Familiar.
    Even her violet eyes became crimson due to her use of Spirit Arts.
    "I hope you're ready, Ash!" She yelled out, her voice barely echoing out due to the roars of her powerful flames. "I won't hold back!"
    "Fine by me!" He said back, both hands in his pockets.
    'Tch! You...!'
    Spirit Arts were the primary weapon of Mages, since it featured using the power of their Familiars and commanding them with Spells. Basic Spells were typically obsolete in the presence of Spirit Arts, so Mages hardly resorted to them.
    There were also other facets of Spirit Arts such as [Externalization] and [Fusion], but since they were merely Apprentices who recently got a hold of their Familiars, neither Alpha or Beta students could use such an advanced form of power.
    Well, most of them couldn't...
    "[Salamander's Breath]!" Elma yelled out, both hands in front of her.
    Instantly, a blazing inferno gathered at her fingertips and swirled around to create a blast of pure flames¡ªsimilar to the breath of a fiery beast. The flames created a torrent that danced and rushed to the target with frightening speed.
    Despite this, the boy kept both hands in his pockets.
    Then, the flames made contact.
    "Dodge, idiot!"
    VWUUUUM!!!
    In what appeared to Elma as a fraction of a moment, the fiery explosion consumed Ashfelt, casting nothing but a dark silhouette amidst the crimson orange flames as it burned bright and surrounded his immediate vicinity.
    It didn't even take a minute, and the fight was already over.
    'Why was I so worked up?' She had to ask herself. 'Oh well, he had it comi¡ª'
    Before she could conclude her thoughts, Ashfelt appeared from within the burning inferno perfectly unscathed.
    His hands were still in his pocket as he coolly stepped forward, allowing his white hair to dance even more as the blazing flames behind him began to sizzle out into nothing.
    "An impressive Spelll... what a good way to start the fight." He muttered, speaking in a nearly patronizing tone.
    Just hearing his voice annoyed Elma to no end. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    She didn't even bother questioning how he managed to tank such a hit and come out unscathed.
    Instead, she let her irritation take control and move on to the next Spell she would use¡ªthis time, destroying Ash for good.
    "[Roar Of The Salamander]!"
    VWUUUUUSSSHHHHH!!!
    This time, flames rushed from all sides of the room and surrounded Ash in an instant.
    "Burn!"
    The fiery storm converged around Ash, nearly drowning him in its immense wave of unbridled heat.
    Then¡ª
    "Haa... I've seen enough."
    WUUUM!
    In one single wave from him, the roaring tempest sizzled out.
    "E-eh...?" Elma's eyes widened as soon as she witnessed this. 'What just happened?'
    She couldn't believe her eyes.
    Her brain tried its best to process the occurrence, but it couldn't come up with an answer to the impossible sight that had just occurred.
    "My turn."
    DUUUUUUM!
    A sudden burst of wind rushed from Ash, creating a crater on the ground that he stood upon.
    It was as if a powerful pressure was pummeling the floor, causing a violent quake and an ever-widening crater beneath him.
    Then... he began to move forward.
    RUMBLE!
    The entire room began to tremble as he took another step towards the shaking girl.
    'T-this... what is happening right now?!'
    Her body was vibrating despite her best attempts to make it stop, and she didn't fully understand why. The ground was shaking, the very air was trembling, and her body naturally followed suit... all according to the whim of one person.
    One Beta Student.
    "Just what did you do..." Elma growled, her glare intensifying. "... Ashfelt Zephyr!!!"
    VWUUUUUUUUUUM!!!
    A blazing torrent rose all around her, as she screamed, sending an exploding noise to erupt all around the hall.
    "Silence." Ash snapped.
    Instantly, the torrents sizzled into smoke, and they vanished entirely.
    "W-what...?" By the time Elma realized what happened, sweat forming all over her face, the boy she wanted to destroy was standing right in front of her.
    "A-ahh... haaa....ahhh..."
    Elma couldn't move, neither could she say any word to him.
    She couldn't even look at his face.
    Her head was facing the ground as she watched it quake in his presence. She felt her body tremble even more as he raised his hand and dropped it on her shoulder.
    "Keuk!"
    Instantly, she went to her knees, feeling the crushing effect of a pressure unlike anything she had ever experienced before.
    It was an absolute dominating effect that she stood no chance against.
    ¡ªAn invincible power!
    "[Spiri¡ª]"
    "I surrender..." Elma whispered, her body still trembling.
    A mix of tears and sweat descended from her face as she faced the ground in utter shame and humiliation. Before Ash could even resort to a single assault Spell, she had surrendered.
    It was a disgraceful, complete defeat.
    "It's... my loss."
    Once she said those words, Ash removed his hand from her shoulder and ceased his overwhelming pressure. He was silent as he stared at her, not speaking a single word as he listened to her heavy breathing.
    Surely, this much had broken her to the appropriate point that he needed.
    Still, he was impressed.
    'We just started learning about Spirit Arts, yet she's gotten such a good hang of it.' Ash smiled to himself as he watched her groan in silence.
    'What a monster.'

 Chapter 11: Grim Suspicion

    Chapter 11: Grim Suspicion"Hey... are you okay?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Ash offered his hand of assistance to the kneeling girl, allowing himself to express concern for her since she was yet to rise on her feet.
    Despite her incredible ability and the high potential she had, she was still a teenager in his eyes. In this world, that meant she was an adult, but since he was from Earth, his sensibilities made the whole situation appear to him as bullying.
    He didn't allow that to stop him from doing what was necessary, but there was no doubt about the shitty feeling that engrossed him afterwards.
    'I may have shattered her confidence alrea¡ª'
    "H-how... did you do it?" Elma whispered, her voice still shaking. "How did you defeat me, perfectly unscathed?"
    Ash smiled to himself.
    He wasn't surprised that she was asking how he managed to pull off such an impossible feat, and he was also impressed that she could humble herself to curiosity and attempt to learn from her defeat.
    'I used my Wind Magic to deprive the air around me of any oxygen, so her flames would lose intensity and go out. I also shielded myself with Wind Magic, so the remnant heat wouldn't reach me before the fires went out.'
    As for how he was able to cause the entire area to vibrate, he simply supplemented the power of his Lesser Wind Spirit with his incredibly large pool of Magia. It was technically cheating, since he was only supposed to use the Familiar's power for Spirit Arts of their current level, but it wasn't like Elma would ever notice.
    All in all, he had perfectly dominated the battle with his power and wits¡ªsomething he had planned on from the very start.
    Of course, he wasn't going to tell her any of this.
    At least, not yet.
    "If you help me out with something, I'll answer that question." He calmly responded. "Until then, you'll just have to satisfy your curiosity with the fact that I'm simply stronger than you gave me credit for."
    "...."
    Elma finally raised her head and looked at Ash with a conflicted expression.
    "Does that mean... back then, when I beat you in the Promotional Exams... you let me win?" She whispered. "Why?"
    "I won't answer that either." He stated.
    "Why are you hiding your strength if you're so powerful? I don't understand you, Ashfelt!"
    At this point, Ash sighed and retracted his helping hand.
    "You keep asking questions that you aren't going to get any answers to." With a cold gaze, he responded to her questions bluntly.
    There was only one way he would even consider taking her queries seriously.
    And that was if she helped him.
    'If I consider her trustworthy and resourceful enough, I'll throw her a bone and keep her close to my side so I can use her for future endeavors...' He thought to himself. 'Still, I have to make her integration as organic as possible.'
    That meant she had to agree to his terms and assist him in this situation.
    "I understand."
    Elma finally spoke up, grunting as she rose to her feet. "You did this to humble me, didn't you? To show me that you could easily climb to Alpha Class if you want, but you have your reasons for not doing so..."
    Ash remained silent and let her arrive at whatever conclusion she wanted.
    "I totally misjudged you¡ªno, I misjudged myself too." She smiled sadly. "I thought I reached Alpha Class based on my merits, but I was wrong."
    He still remained quiet.
    "Fine!" Her eyes gleamed as she looked him straight in the eyes. "I'll help you with whatever you want."
    'Good!' Ash nodded to himself in relief.
    "In exchange, you'll tell me everything I want to know about today... and your true power."
    "I'll answer all your questions." Ash smiled. "Deal?"
    His outstretched hand slowly moved towards Elma, and she swiftly grabbed it with hers.
    The two of them smiled at each other, both with their respective agendas and motivations behind this uncanny alliance.
    "Deal!"
    *************
    [Later That Night]
    Ash lay peacefully in the comfort of his bed, his eyes shut as he went over the events of the day and his path forward.
    'I've told Elma what I need her assistance for, and just as I expected... she had already started looking into the White Death murders and had even secured some clues of her own.'
    Based on her estimations, there were two likely instances when it came to the methodology of the White Death's killings.
    First was that the culprit activated their Spell at a completely different location than the site of the murders, which was why the Alarms didn't go off. If no Spell was activated at the location, and was instead activated in one of the few places without Alarms, then it would explain how someone was able to cast a Spell and there were no triggers to one of the Academy's most flawless security systems.
    'The Dorms¡ªor more specifically, a student's room¡ªdoesn't have that Alarm, so it's possible that the student could activate the Spell from his room.'
    In fact, it wasn't just a possibility in Ash's mind.
    'That was the methodology of the White Death in the novel.' He thought to himself. 'It's probably the same methodology here, but with a different individual.'
    He just had to determine who it was.
    "The second likely instance is that the White Death isn't real, but rather an illusion somewhat conjured by a remotely activated Spell. If it is an illusion, it would explain how it leaves no trace and how it can seemingly appear anywhere without triggering any system alerts."
    It would also explain how it hadn't been defeated yet, even with two Academy Instructors fighting against it with considerably powerful Spells.
    Of course, this didn't surprise Ash as well.
    'In the novel, this is exactly what the White Death did.' He sighed. 'In essence, the true instance combines the first likely and second likely scenario into one.'
    The Beta Student remotely cast a Spell that projected a ghost-like entity and made it wander around campus.
    This entity was known as The White Death.
    However, all of these explanations didn't explain the killings that occurred, and how they happened to take place.
    'Death by the violent twistings of someone's body... an intense and brutal death.'
    In the Novel, the deaths only occurred when the targets touched the projection of the White Death. That allowed the Spirit whose power projected the ghostly figure to activate its unique ability and interfere with the Magia flow of the target.
    This would cause the body to act in strange ways¡ªoften taking the form of the irregularity that was being wrought to one's Magia.
    If it ended up being tangled up, that would mean... the bodies would end up tangled and warped.
    That explained the twists of every victim's body.
    "Unfortunately, there's one thing that doesn't add up." Ash sat upright, scratching his chin. "My interview with Justin tells me something different from the events of the novel. It seems the first victim didn't touch the White Death before his body twisted, which means this White Death can cause death without touching its victims.'
    But how? How was that even possible? Ash could think of a few ways, but it didn't make any sense to him.
    'It's either the White Death is now stronger in the body of its new host and can display abilities not seen in the novel, or this is a completely different Spirit with completely different abilities that are similar but superior to that of the White Death.'
    If the latter was the case, why would the culprit go through all the trouble of disguising as the White Death and utilizing very similar methodologies to the novel when they could easily kill their targets in some other way?
    The whole thing was suspicious to Ash, almost to the point that he began to get paranoid.
    'What if... I'm not the only one in this world with knowledge of the Novel?' His eyes widened as soon as he had the thought.
    It wasn't an impossible proposition, was it?
    'There could be another transmigrator in this world!'

 Chapter 12: Wild Goose Chase

    Chapter 12: Wild Goose Chase'There could be another transmigrator in this world!'
    Pandora's box opened wide the moment Ash had that thought. If this was true, then there were now so many variables he had to work with, and just thinking about all of them made his brain hurt.
    'Hold on, I can't be too certain about this... not without sufficient proof.'
    All he had was that the original storyline had been changed and the modus operandi of the White Death had been altered from what he remembered. Of course, this could mean that another transmigrator was messing with the novel, but it could also mean a few other things.
    For example, a butterfly effect of his slight alteration to the timeline.
    'I got the Golden Pheonix, Nyx, and I also took considerably longer than I normally would in The Garden. I remained in the Academy, and I won the Joint Combat Training against Elma...'
    These were all changes to the original narrative.
    'I don't see how it could have caused such a drastic change to the White Death, but it is still a worthwhile explanation.' He sighed. 'Besides, isn't this how the Butterfly Effect works?'
    Now trapped between two equally plausible explanations, Ash had to consider which one to choose.
    He couldn't possibly pursue both¡ªespecially not with Elma¡ªwhich meant he had to focus his attention on one, and if it didn't hold any water, he would jump to the other equally strong possibility.
    'I should go to bed now. Work begins tomorrow!'
    ********** Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "So... who can tell me the highest form of power that can exist between a Mage and their Familiar?"
    The voice of the Instructor echoed within the Beta Classroom, with some students paying rapt attention, while others not particularly giving any mind to the words of their teacher¡ªinstead choosing to get lost in conversation or their own imaginary worlds.
    Ash noticed all of these things and shrugged them aside.
    The Akashic Magus Academy had many distinct features that made it different from the schools he knew back on Earth, but it was... at its core... an Academy.
    That meant it would have many kinds of students who enrolled into its four walls.
    'Some will be studious, some will be delinquents, and some will be... completely average.' He smiled. 'I strive to be the average kind.'
    "Why don't you help us out, Master Ashfelt?"
    The Instructor's words cut through his thoughts like a knife, forcing him to sigh and shudder as he looked around the class and rose to his feet so he could answer the very straightforward question that was posed to the class.
    "It's... [Fusion], right?" He responded, itching his head. "The mixing of the essences of both the Mage and the Familiar to create a more powerful form and utilize even greater abilities than norma¡ª"
    "Wrong." The Instructor said with a slightly exasperated sigh. "Anyone else want to try?"
    Ash fell back to his seat, his expression slightly downcast¡ªjust the way he wanted it to appear for the audience who kept staring in his direction.
    'The key to not standing out is to be wrong sometimes.' That was his policy.
    "U-um... can I try?" A hand shot up, finally removing the eyes that were seemingly fixed on Ash as they cast their attention somewhere else.
    The student who spoke up was rather lanky in appearance, with a slim¡ªalmost emaciated build¡ªand heavy bags under his eyes.
    His name was Dustan... the original White Death in the novel.
    "Sure, Dustan! Speak."
    "O-okay!" He smiled as he went on to say exactly what the Instructor wanted to hear. "The highest form of Spirit Arts is known as [Ultima], also referred to as a Core Spirit Art. Not every Spirit has this, and even among High or Greater Grade Spirits, there's about a 10 Percent and 30 Percent chance respectively that they possess an [Ultima]."
    "Good, Dustan." The Instructor beamed. "And what about Supreme Grade Spirits."
    "The probability is a 100 Percent! All Supreme Grade Spirits possess an [Ultima], however this power can only be harnessed by an experienced Mage, so it's very difficult for most Mages to reach this level... even if their Familiars possess an [Ultima]."
    "Precisely! Which is why the highest form of power for most Mages is [Fusion]. I suppose that's where you got your misconceptions from, Master Ashfelt." The Instructor said, glancing back in Ash's direction.
    To quickly dispel the attention, he nodded in defeat.
    This allowed the Instructor to proceed with the lecture, while leaving him alone to think about how he was going to go about solving the case of the White Death.
    'Hm?' Ash noticed Dustan glancing in his direction, offering an apologetic smile. This caused him to shrug and smile back; showing how his humiliation was no big deal to him.
    'What a nice kid...'
    Dustan was the brightest student in Beta Class after Elma left, and he had also participated in the Promotional Exams, but failed due to 'extenuating circumstances.'
    In actuality, he was cheated out of his well-deserved placement into Alpha Class.
    'Most people think the Academy's system is fair, allowing the best Betas to challenge the weakest Alphas, which enables them to climb up the ranks and change the status quo, but it isn't that simple.'
    While the technical aspect of the System was fair, it wasn't the case in practice.
    'Once the Promotional Exams begin to near, some Alpha Students intentionally lower their performance so they get chosen to face the Beta Students. This gives them the thrill of stomping on the weaker students while ensuring they never reach Alpha Class.'
    As a result of this practice, hardly anyone in Beta Class had ever reached Alpha Class in the history of the Academy.
    'Elma was just lucky that she faced Ashfelt Zephyr, who was too incompetent to win against her, or pretty much any of the brighter Beta Students.' If only Dustan had been the one to face Ashfelt, he would have been the one to ascend to Alpha Class.
    'It's because of this very rationale that he became the White Death in the original storyline.'
    Dustan was so mad at the Academy's unfair system, especially the fact that he wasn't acknowledged for his intelligence and power, that he allowed himself to be manipulated by his Familiar and ended up killing the Alpha Class Students.
    As a very intelligent student, he was able to come up with the perfect way to commit murder and get away with it.
    'If not for the fact that I still don't fully trust him, and I don't know as much about him as I know about Elma, I would have approached him, and not her, to help me with this White Death murder mystery.' Ash admitted to himself.
    That was just how brilliant Dustan was.
    'I've gotten close to him to the point where we can be considered friends. Maybe it's time I started exploiting that a little more.'
    If there was indeed an otherworlder or a different White Death, then they would still be in the Beta Class due to the kind of Spirit that the White Death was.
    'Unless...' Ash's smile intensified. '... They are in neither.'
    Everything was slowly making sense to him at this point, and he could see just why the case had been driving him crazy all this time.
    No more! The wild goose chase was over.
    'I've got you!'

 Chapter 13: True Identity

    Chapter 13: True Identity[Later That Day]
    "So... have you decoded anything from the Special Investigator's last words?"
    Ash was seated beside Elma, both of them in one of the few parks that the Academy's campus had. The cool breeze brushed against their skin and the enchanting smell of flowers and scented plants tickled their nostrils.
    Overall, the relaxing atmosphere put them at ease as they discussed the rather grim topic of a series of murders that was plaguing the Academy.
    "Nothing much." Elma responded. "I ran it through many simulations, but I got nothing... except one small reference."
    "What reference?"
    "It's about the history of this world. There was a certain plague that afflicted the land centuries ago. It was also called the White Death, and it claimed millions of lives in the Continent."
    "Ahh... I see."
    Ash smiled, recollecting how this history mirrored the one of Earth¡ªmore specifically, the Black Death that terrorized Europe in the Middle Ages.
    'Well, when it was finally treated... it was discovered that the Plague came from the East¡ªmore specifically, the deserted region that people thought lacked any resource. Apparently, it was filled with a disease no one knew about, and it spread rapidly, causing the lives of¡ª"
    "How does this relate to the case?"
    "I'm not sure." Elma sighed, her face depicting intense frustration. "That's why this is so annoying.'
    'I'm sure of what it means, though...' Ash thought to himself.
    The Special Investigator must have also arrived at the same conclusion as him¡ªthat the culprit was most likely never in the scene of the crime, and was actually in a place least suspected by many people.
    The Apprentice Wing was in the Southeast of the Akashic Magus Academy, but was at the East of the Wing itself?
    "The Beta Students Dorm?" Elma guessed. "It's East, right?"
    "No... not the furthest East."
    "Um... the exit of the Apprentice Wing? It's also Eastward, right?"
    "Precisely! East of this Wing is the location of the exit... where the students who dropped out of the Academy after the Selection Ceremony would have gone."
    "But, since they dropped out, wouldn't they have been sent back home?" Elma was confused.
    "No." Ash shook his head. "That's not what happens when you drop out."
    "Really?"
    "Yes! Since they enjoyed the resources of the Empire¡ªif only for a limited amount of time¡ªthe students who drop out are supposed to serve the Empire for a few years before finally retiring to their homes."
    Elma's face depicted genuine shock. "Really? I never knew that!"
    "Of course you didn't..."
    This was something that was done discreetly by the Empire, but it wasn't a secret by any means. If someone wanted to find it out, they could.
    'The Desgarron Empire uses all of its resources as efficiently as possible.' A wry smile appeared on Ash's face. 'In times of great emergency, everyone who drops out can also be recalled to serve the Empire, and they're usually utilized as fodder on the battlefield.'
    That was how brutal this world could be.
    "Some of the students will be stationed in the Academy and serve as cleaners and a bunch of other odd jobs."
    "But how come we haven't seen them yet?" Elma asked. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Because they're most likely responsible for the Staff Quarters." Ash answered. "The Staff Quarters exists at the center of the entire Academy, and since it's on a completely different block... it's possible you'll never see them."
    "Oh...? But how did the Special Investigator know they'd be there? How did he even deduce this much?"
    "Because he has been to the Staff Quarters and has seen them. He must have also gotten the list of all the students of the Academy, including the ones who dropped out and what kind of Familiar they got." Ash replied.
    In essence, he had probably deduced the identity of the culprit before his demise.
    "Oh wow..." Elma was dazed as soon as she processed everything he said. "So the culprit is not in either Beta or Alpha Class... but in the staff quarters?"
    "And if they are a worker there, it makes sense that they would be able to somehow access the room that the Special Investigator was in."
    "You think they physically went there?"
    "No, the White Death didn't go there." Ash smiled. "But their accomplices definitely did."
    "What are you saying?!"
    'I've been thinking about it over and over again... how the White Death could commit those murders without coming in contact with the enemy, and I think I've figured it out.'
    Ash kept his hand on Elma's shoulder and spoke. "The White Death has accomplices. They're the ones who twist the corpses, while the White Death grabs the attention of the enemy."
    "What?!" Elma was beyond puzzled at this point. "How would they even pull that off?"
    "Think about it." Ash said. "How else would a mere projection be able to hurt, not to mention kill its targets? There had to be some sort of physical interaction¡ªespecially since none of the Alarms were triggered.'
    In essence, this was the work of a team.
    "Why were they never spotted, though? Justin didn't see any..." Moments after Elma began her query, she paused and her eyes widened in realization.
    Ash noticed this and smiled wider, impressed that she could see what he saw.
    "They used the [Vanish] Spell, didn't they?"
    "Yes!"
    "But the [Vanish] Spell only makes you invisible if you don't make any sudden movements, and since it leaves distortions in the space around it, it becomes very inconspicuous in the day and is only effective at night..."
    "Which explains why the White Death only attacks at night or in the darkness. As for the invisibility part, the White Death gathers the attention of the victims, allowing its accomplices to get closer to them and kill them by catching them off-guard."
    "But... [Vanish] doesn't erase sounds, so even the sound of their footsteps and breathing would be enough to alert any¡ª"
    "That's what the buzzing sounds are for! They overlap the other sounds, making it impossible for the victims to hear the sound of the White Death's accomplices until it's too late and they die."
    It also explained why the death was always almost instantaneous, and why the White Death only killed one enemy at a time. It was simply a ploy created by a very intelligent person who wanted to paint an image of invincibility on the White Death.
    "Special Investigator Dahmer must have seen the faces of the students when he was being twisted and strangled to death, since they were moving at that point and he could see very clearly in the dark."
    "Really? He could do that?"
    'A-ah! I accidentally spilled information that's only mentioned in the novel.' Ash though, silently chastising himself for the carelessness he just displayed.
    Since Elma was surprised by this revelation, it meant she didn't know about the novel, which meant she wasn't a transmigrator.
    'That, or she could just be pretending...'
    However, given how swift her response was, and her other behaviors that didn't deviate from her novel counterpart, he had to admit that she was most likely not a transmigrator and was instead the real Elma.
    'I can't be so certain about the White Death, though.' Ash sighed. 'Were they also aware of the fact that Special Investigator Dahmer would never attack kids, which is why they were so confident in their murder attempt of a considerably powerful Mage?'
    Ash had no idea.
    All he knew for the given moment was that he had somewhat narrowed the scope of suspects, which meant he now had to go further and identify the true mastermind behind the killings.
    'And I know just where to start.'

 Chapter 14: Dropping Out

    Chapter 14: Dropping OutThe face of Mr. Leywin, Beta Class' Head Instructor, turned pale from shock.
    Right in front of him was one of his most valued students, albeit one who showed very little promise, saying the most unexpected thing.
    "A-are you sure about this?" He asked, his eyes focused on Ashfelt Zephyr.
    "After giving it much consideration... I have decided this is the right course of action to take."
    "Once you take this step, there's no going back."
    It might have been slightly superficial, but the Instructor still cared about Ashfelt's career as a mage. Taking such a drastic step could ruin all of his potential going forward.
    Still, the boy didn't seem to care.
    He had already made up his mind, and no one could stop him.
    "Yes. I still want to drop out."
    ************
    News of Ashfelt Zephyr dropping out of the Academy spread like wildfire. It started with someone noticing him going to the Head Instructor's office, and then speculations regarding why he was called.
    Then, he stopped attending classes, and then the announcement was made to confirm what everyone was already suspecting.
    Before long, even the Alpha Class Students got to know of his decisions.
    Even though he wasn't a very important student in the Academy, he was still the son of one of the four Great Noble Households that served as the pillars of the Empire. His absence wouldn't go unnoticed.
    Still, there were mixed reactions about this.
    "He probably doesn't mean it." Some speculated. "There's a three-day window before you are fully processed out of the Academy. I'm sure he'll rescind this decision, just watch!"
    Others were not so forgiving.
    "It's about time he dropped out, honestly... and I'm saying this for his own good."
    "Yeah. He really doesn't have what it takes to be a Mage¡ªboth in talent and intellect..."
    "He's good at fighting a little, but that's about it... so yeah, this is the best decision he could have made."
    In the end, his dropping out was either met with indifference or relief.
    Most didn't even want him to stay.
    It just went to show the kind of existence that Ashfelt Zephyr was in this Academy¡ªa spoilt brat whose days were always numbered.
    "Just as I wanted..." Ash smiled as he got to hear all the rumors from his pal, Dustan, who visited him in his room after hearing the news and listening to the many horrible things people were saying about him.
    It was good to have insider information, however it seemed Dustan had another goal for visiting him.
    "You're not seriously dropping out, are you?" The boy asked.
    "I am."
    "R-really? Why? If it's about your grades, I can help tutor you... and if it's about your Familiar, there are ways to improve its Grade... especially when we get to the Intermediate Stage¡ªor so I've heard."
    "...."
    "And if it's your overall talent, you can supplement it with effort!" Dustan clenched his fist in encouragement as he stared Ash dead in the eyes with some unknown kind of determination, almost like he was possessed.
    "You can't just give up because your brother is a hotshot! You have to¡ª"
    "This has nothing to do with my brother." Ash sighed, rising to his feet. "I simply don't know if being a Mage is what I want for myself..."
    "B-but the Empire¡ª"
    "I don't care."
    He went straight for the door, opening it wide as a way to signal Dustan that it was time for him to leave.
    "Look, Ash... I just think it's best to give this another shot rather than returning to your family and trying your hand in its Succession Wars and¡ª"
    "That's enough."
    "O-okay..." Dustan sighed, mumbling to himself as he walked towards the door. "You can always reapply anyway... though I doubt you'd get in anymore."
    Ash caught his murmurs, his eyes narrowed slightly on the Beta Class Commoner before him.
    He wanted to react on the spot, but chose not to.
    "I appreciate your concern, but I'll be fine. Even without being a Mage, I can live a pretty comfortable life that could last generations... something a commoner like you couldn't even dream of."
    "I guess..."
    Dustan left the room after saying these vague words, his tone and actions clearly lacking any deference or respect towards Ash.
    'What a guy.' Ash smiled to himself. 'I guess he's given me some things to mull over.'
    For now, he had to think of something else.
    If everyone in Beta and Alpha Class were now aware of his dropping out, that meant his plans were going about smoothly. However, it also meant a certain twin brother of his would have heard the news and would become a bother.
    'Thankfully, I'll be leaving the Campus tomorrow, so I won't have to suffer his suffocating concerns for too long.'
    *************
    The next day arrived, and Ash was already carrying his luggage¡ªor more like dragging it on the ground¡ªas he walked towards the East Gate with one guard in front of him and another right behind him.
    'Nice escort...' He smiled.
    However, he heard a voice that soon caused his smile to dissipate into nothingness.
    "BROTHER!"
    In what seemed like a flash, Seth Zephyr appeared right in front of his path, stopping any further movement outside the Academy's grand walls.
    "You... what do you want?" Ash responded in typical fashion.
    "You can't drop out!" Seth began, his tone defiantly stubborn. "There's still hope for you to improve the Grade of your Familiar if you work hard, and there will be many chances for you to improve your individual ability if you don't take the easy way out and call it quits now."
    "Oh? You're mimicking the words of a certain student..."
    Ash smirked. "Sure you didn't put him up to this?"
    "I don't know what you're talking about."
    "Sure you don't." He shrugged. "And what brings you here at such a late hour? You surely took your time before you came forward to stop me."
    "I was trying to get them to rescind your request to drop out since I knew you wouldn't want to listen to me, brother. But, they said it is your choice to make, which is why I have come to appeal to you right now. It's not too late!"
    "It is for me..."
    "No, it's not!" Seth stepped forward, which caused the guards to get defensive. Once he noticed this, he took a step back and raised his hands.
    'Always the rule follower...'
    Ash smiled as he noticed his brother's actions.
    "I'm done with being a Beta Student in this place, Seth." Ash smiled, shrugging his brother's worry aside as he walked forward.
    He glanced back for a moment and noticed quite a crowd of students had formed behind him¡ªElma being one of them. They shared eye contact for a moment, before she finally shook her head and walked off. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    One by one, the students followed her lead and left.
    "Goodbye..." Ash said as he walked past the seemingly paralyzed Seth. "Next time we meet, we will surely be in competition."
    Seth's eyes widened as soon as he heard this.
    The thought of the Succession Wars came to his mind, and a lot of thought ran through his head at that precise moment¡ªthoughts Ash could predict.
    "I won't lose to you then."
    After making his statement, he walked away from the Apprentice Wing¡ªfrom the Academy¡ªand had a taste of fresh air beyond the Campus Grounds.
    However, he knew none of this was going to last.
    'Now, they're going to take me to the person in charge of student transfer and my options will be presented to me...' Ash could already see the carriage that would take him to the Staff Quarters waiting for him just a few steps away.
    Once he got there, he would be made to choose a way to be of service to the Empire.
    'My goal from the very start.'
    After all, the best way to achieve his objective of catching the White Death was being as close to the target as possible.
    In essence... he was also going to work in the Staff Quarters.

 Chapter 15: A Big Problem

    Chapter 15: A Big Problem"Welcome, Ashfelt Zephyr."
    The man who spoke to him in a luxuriously designed room befitting of a higher-up in the Academy who also doubled as a Noble, was none other than Sir Gerald Lockwood.
    He was a man in his late thirties and had a slightly tanned face, with smooth brown hair that complemented his brown eyes which seemed to gleam with a slightly wine hue. He wore an exquisite suit, one befitting a man of his caliber, and it hugged his well-built body.
    He, just like Ash, was a member of one of the Great Noble Households.
    'Which is why he can address me so casually.'
    Normally, even within the Academy walls, staff and students alike were forced to address Nobles with a certain honorific¡ªusually 'Master' or 'Lady'. It wasn't particularly enforced as a law, but it was more or less an unwritten rule that could have disastrous effects if not adhered to.
    This was the reason why instructors still treated Ash with respect and showed concern for him despite his behavior and lack of talent.
    'If I were to file a complaint of disrespect or disregard against an Instructor or Student, it will be seen as an affront to my family... which could lead to bad things happening to such a Student or Instructor.'
    That was the kind of power his name possessed.
    'Most Nobles can't resort to this, though... only the Four Great Households, but some Students and Instructors don't take their chances, so they address all Nobles with honorifics unless explicitly permitted to do otherwise.'
    That was the general rule.
    However, this was the first time in a while since he met a staff of the Akashic Academy who didn't treat him with such regard, and it made sense why.
    The Lockwood Household had as much influence in the Empire as the Zephyrs.
    "My name is Gerald Lockwood, and I am the Head of Student Affairs here in the Akashic Academy." He said with a smile. "I am trying very hard to understand why someone like you would drop out."
    "Someone like me? You mean an untalented student with a weak Familiar and little to no prospects of being a proper Mage?"
    "Hmm..."
    "I figured it was better to pull the plug rather than waste my time any further in the Academy."
    "An astute decision... I guess." The man replied calmly. "But why make the decision now? It's been over two weeks since your Selection Ceremony, right?"
    "Yeah, I figured I could stay in the Academy for a while longer, but after this whole thing with the White Death started, I figured it was not worth the risk."
    "So you decided to bail... even though the Empire has spent quite some resources on you."
    "Resources I'm willing to pay back."
    "That's not how it works."
    "I know I'm supposed to render some service to the Empire, and I'm not shying away from that fact." Ash responded with unexpected confidence, causing Sir Gerald to rest back in surprise.
    "Really? That's good."
    "I want to know my options..." He added.
    "Options?"
    "Yes." Ash sighed. "There must be many ways to serve the Empire, so I would like to know which one I¡ª"
    "I believe you're misunderstanding something here..."
    As soon as Gerald Lockwood said this, Ash could feel something tense tighten within his heart. It was an unpleasant feeling that he couldn't get rid of, and he instantly knew where it was coming from the moment he noticed the crooked smile of the man before him.
    "The final decision of your placement is up to me. Letting Students choose where they want to serve is only a formality... a kind of courtesy given by yours truly."
    'This guy...' Ash could feel a frown forming on his face. 'Is he threatening me?'
    No, this seemed like more than a mere threat.
    "So you already have a place in mind for me... is that what you're saying?" As soon as he said this, the man nodded and widened his smile.
    "As a matter of fact, I do!" Jumping to his feet, Gerald Lockwood approached a map of the Empire that was pasted on the wall. "It's over here in the North... territory of your Zephyr Family, if I'm not mistaken."
    "You mean the territory of the Barbarian Tribe..."
    "Well, your family is tasked with keeping them in check, and it seems like they've been getting out of control lately, so the Empire has to supplement the forces that your family has in order to assist with the suppression."
    "So you want me to be fodder on the battlefield?"
    "That isn't guaranteed. You could serve as a cleaner or cook, or whatever" Gerald's smile widened. "Besides, shouldn't you be rejoicing that you'll get to see some of your family again... though it will be in a war-ridden outpost."
    Ash knew exactly what Gerald was trying to do here, but he wasn't going to let it stand.
    In order to stop his power trip, he decided to use his last ammunition¡ªone that usually worked for anyone who tried to threaten him in such a manner.
    "You think my family will¡ª"
    "Your family can't do shit to me!" The man barked back, exhibiting a ferocity that caused even Ash's heart to jump a little.
    "I am a Lockwood, and I'm also a very key staff member of Magus Academy, known as the best in the entire Empire. What do you think the Zephyrs will do, huh? Lodge a complaint? I can guarantee that their efforts will be meaningless."
    Ash clenched his fists as he listened to the man before him speak.
    "Besides, judging by the way you are worried about going to the North¡ªthe stronghold of your family¡ªI can already tell that the Zephyrs won't cause as much trouble because of you as you're trying to make me believe."
    'What a sharp guy...' Ash sighed internally. 'He already saw through my bravado and knows my real standing with the Zephyr Family.'
    In the Empire, ability was what mattered most, and since Ashfelt was talentless and completely useless as a Mage, he had little to no value to the Zephyr Household. The family hardly regarded him, and he was brushed to the side while Seth was given all of the attention.
    This was what caused Ash to slowly develop a strong sense of hatred and jealousy towards his twin brother, and that eventually led to his downfall.
    'I feel no such hatred, but this situation isn't looking good...' Ash sighed. 'I can't go to the North¡ªnot right now.'
    If he did, he would definitely be forced into the battlefield, and he was going to lose his life against the Barbarians. That, or he would be forced to display the power he had been hiding all this time... which would also land him in serious trouble.
    'My actions can be interpreted as treason, which is punishable by death in the Empire.'
    Either way, he couldn't afford the situation he was being thrust into.
    'Unfortunately... I have no ammunition to fire his way.' Ash allowed his hands to release the tension they had been hoarding. 'There's nothing I can say or do right now that will be able to change his mind.'
    The man was clearly acting out of malice, and so he wouldn't be able to listen to reason.
    He was also in a position of higher authority, and the Empire respected hierarchy above all else... hence the system would take Gerald Lockwood's side and not his.
    His family wouldn't be able to help him either. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    In all sense of the word, he was stranded with no feasible way out¡ªexcept for one.
    "How long do I have until I am shipped away?" Ash calmly asked, making sure his frustration with the whole situation was not obvious.
    "Haha! Look at you!" Gerald chuckled. "You're accepting your fate rather quickly."
    "...."
    "You'll be drafted in about ten days. Until then, you'll be staying in one of our staff rooms and be treated with courtesy befitting a proud Noble such as yourself."
    "I see."
    "Be warned, though... if you try to escape or do anything to resist this transfer, your actions will be taken as treasonous, and you will be locked up in the cell below until it's time to be taken to the battlefront."
    "Understood. Anything else?"
    "None, actually." Gerald Lockwood grinned, showing his slightly brownish teeth. "You can leave now; the guards will escort you to your room."
    "Thank you."
    Ash rose to his feet, politely bowing his head slightly before walking out.
    A myriad of things were going on in his head as neurons fired constantly, but everything boiled down to one simple fact¡ªhe didn't have a lot of time.
    'I have to find the White Death and solve this case before these 10 days are over.'

 Chapter 16: Accomplice

    Chapter 16: Accomplice'Okay... let's think about all of this calmly...'
    Once Ash got to his room¡ªa much larger place than even the place Alpha Class Students enjoyed in their dorms¡ªhe began to analyze the situation he found himself in.
    As he paced around the living room, he ignored the fine furnishings that surrounded him, including the expensive carpets, the vast space, and the surreal smell of luxury around him. Perhaps this was because he understood that all of these things were temporary.
    If he didn't solve the case, he would be stripped of all of this luxury and be forced to sleep on hardened ground in the barracks before being sent to his death in a war that was way older than him.
    So yes, while the living room and bedroom were both exquisite to dwell in, he had bigger things on his mind.
    ¡ªMuch bigger things.
    'The advantage of this arrangement is that I won't be restricted by work, unlike with the original plan... which means I have a lot of autonomy for these ten days that I will be spending here.' He sighed in mild relief.
    However, he couldn't allow himself to relax.
    'That asshole told me it would take about ten days for me to be drafted, which means I should probably omit a few days since I can't trust an estimation given by him.
    For the sake of safety, Ash decided to give himself seven days.
    That would still be cutting it close, but without any real proof as to who the White Death really was, it was the least time he needed to figure everything out and piece it all together.
    It was infuriating that he was pushed to the corner like this, but looking at the bright side of things, this would definitely motivate him to act a lot faster and solve the case before more victims died.
    None of this meant he forgot about the wrong done to him, though.
    'Gerald Lockwood... I won't forget this.'
    Because of this single man in a position of authority, he would have to rigorously adjust his plans and rush things that would have normally taken more time. His biggest worry now was making mistakes due to his limited time frame and the kind of pressure that kind of hurry would put on his mind.
    'Which is why I have to remain calm and do things properly.'
    After pacing around for a bit longer, he finally sat on his soft sofa, placing both hands on the armrest as his back sank into the sofa's soft warmth.
    "Haaa..." He exhaled gently, closing his eyes so he could enjoy the moment.
    Also, so he could think.
    'The White Death themselves are a mystery, but at least one of their accomplices is one of the Beta students who left the Academy... which is why Special Investigator Dahmer left that hint before he died.'
    However, if he considered the kind of Spirit that the White Death was using, it also made sense that the culprit was also a student.
    'The Garden is filled with numerous Spirits, but only a chosen few of each category participate in the Selection Ceremony.' He began. 'It's the same reasoning behind the Academy conducting entrance exams and Promotional Exams... the Spirits also have their way of doing things.'
    As such, the chances of the Medium Grade Spirit being selected beyond our Selection Ceremony is extremely low. Also, since the killings began a week after we got our Familiars, it only makes sense that the culprit is a student. Killing Alpha Students points the finger of blame at the Beta Class, but if I'm dealing with a transmigrator, all of that could be a ruse.'
    Which meant every student was suspicious at this point.
    'That leaves a lot of suspects, though... and I don't have the time to canvass each and every one of them right now.'
    In fact, he never had the intention, which was why he chose to drop out in the first place.
    'My true aim is to find the accomplices.'
    Or, at the very least, one of them.
    'If I can catch one of the accomplices, I can figure out how the White Death communicates with them, and I could also catch them in the act of killing another victim.'
    That would lead him straight to the White Death!
    'The problem, however, is finding the accomplices... though I already have a few places to start from.'
    The White Death killed one student on Campus Grounds, and also two Instructors. These, unlike the death of Special Investigator Dahmer, took place in the Apprentice Wing of the Academy.
    'Which means the White Death's accomplices had to leave the staff quarters at some point and travel to the Campus Grounds.'
    If he could find any proof that any of the students stationed in the staff quarters had left its walls at any of the times of those deaths¡ªas well as any future deaths¡ªhe would ultimately be able to prove nab the accomplices.
    'But, how exactly am I supposed to do that?'
    His initial plan was to use his position as one of the Staff Quarter's workers to get close and comfortable with his fellow former Beta Students, using that as an avenue to spy on them and conduct a thorough investigation.
    However, if he did anything of the sort now, it would seem too out of place.
    'If I act too suspicious, I may end up tipping off the enemy, which could make them aware of my motives and force them to be more careful... or even worse, to cease their actions.' Ash sighed.
    He couldn't let that happen.
    That would be bad for him for numerous reasons¡ªthe one most concerning being that he would run out of time before getting any real clues or solving the case.
    'Well, I suppose this simply means I'll have to be extra careful with my actions and find another way to investigate all of them as soon as possible.'
    The first step would be to identify the students as soon as possible.
    DING!
    A sound echoed from his front door, which made Ash sigh in relief as he rose to his feet and approached the entrance to his living room. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    'Finally... I've been waiting.' He smiled, opening the door for the rather young-looking girl that stood in front of the door. 'My first suspect.'
    She looked very timid and disheveled, having freckles on her face as well as dark green eyes to contrast with her dirty blond hair. She was also incredibly short, but underneath her rather loose and oversized wear, Ash could see some impressive muscles.
    'Not uncommon with peasants... and I recognize this girl.'
    She was a Beta Student of the Academy, just like him, and she was also particularly good in physical activities... but nothing else.
    'The perfect prey for manipulation by the White Death.'
    "I-I was asked to come and tidy your room for you... M-Master Ashfelt Zephyr." The girl Britta muttered in a rather subservient tone as she spoke.
    "Ah, yes... come in."
    She obediently entered the room, her head lowered as he watched her with a smile.
    'I was the one who told the guards that I would prefer former classmates of mine to be the ones to attend to me during my stay here.'
    It seemed they really listened and brought him his first suspect.
    'I'm going to skim through them one after the other until I find the guilty one, or ones... depending on how many accomplices the White Death has that were my classmates.' Ash shut the door behind him.
    'Though, I'm a little surprised that she's the only one who came... considering the fact that I specifically mentioned a host of tasks that I need done.'
    Those tasks were too many for a single servant to perform.
    "Where are your colleagues?" Ash asked. "You won't be enough to do the tasks I want done."
    "A-ah... my apologies, Master Ashfelt Zephyr¡ª"
    "Just call me Ash."
    "B-but¡ª!"
    "Do it."
    "O-okay, Master A-Ash... well... the thing is, I was told that only I would be doing all of these tasks, but I will try my best to do it to the best of my abilities."
    "Only you?"
    Ash frowned the moment he heard this.
    'Why would they send only her? Is she being bullied by the guards? Or is this their way of disrespecting me... knowing I can't do anything about it?' Just thinking about the situation he was in annoyed him even further.
    "Why would they pick just you?" He growled.
    "B-because they said you specifically requested for your classmates who work here, and... well..." Britta said with her tiny voice. "... I'm the only one among the dropouts who works here."
    Ash's eyes widened the moment he watched those unexpected words flow from the girl's cracked lips. They meant only one thing
    'She... Britta is the only suspect I have to work with?!'
    That meant¡ªwithout the shadow of a doubt¡ªshe was the accomplice of the White Death.

 Chapter 17: Visit From The White Death

    Chapter 17: Visit From The White Death'Haa... what now?'
    Ash sat on his bed, unable to sleep as he pondered on the issue that lay before him.
    What would have been a sequence of investigations had been cut short due to only one person in the entire Staff Quarters which fit into the model that he was searching for. Not only that, but the individual also fit the profile.
    At least, to an extent.
    'There are no other suspects to compare Britta, so based on my model... she's the accomplice.'
    Ash had done his due diligence to make sure this was truly the case. He had asked Britta if there were any of their classmates who worked in the Staff Quarters for some time before they were transferred to a new location.
    However, her response was in the negative.
    She was the only former student who was chosen to work in the Staff Quarters.
    'I correlated her response with the guards and other workers here, and what she's saying seems legit.' Ash thought deeply. 'That means I can no longer doubt her being the suspect, right?'
    The only problem was that it felt too easy.
    Still, perhaps this was the universe congratulating him for his hard work. This time, it seemed he was very lucky to solve the case rather quickly¡ªfar quicker than he ever anticipated.
    That was good news!
    Right?
    'Britta, huh?' His thoughts drifted. 'I've been here for one and a half days, and she seems very kind and hardworking¡ªdefinitely not the type that would do this.'
    There was always the chance that she was pretending, but that honestly didn't seem to be the case. She truly was very nice.
    'Perhaps the White Death offered some kind of incentive to reel her in. If I find out what that is... maybe I can get her to cooperate.'
    After all, what use was his deduction if he didn't have proof?
    His goal wasn't simply the accomplice, but the White Death themselves¡ªwhoever they were.
    'For now, I should rest up.' He crashed on his soft bed, still remembering how surreal of an experience his first night was.
    This was truly a reception befitting a Noble like himself.
    'Too bad it ends soon¡ªwhether I act or not.' He smiled. 'I can't stay here forever.'
    He would begin proactive work the following day, ensuring to gather as much incriminating evidence on Britta, while using that to blackmail her so she would have no choice but to sell out her comrades and give up the White Death.
    'I'm definitely not going to enjoy doing that... but it's all necessary.'
    Ash shut his eyes and let sleep claim him.
    ********
    Hours into his sleep, Ash suddenly felt something that startled him from his enjoyable time on his bed.
    BBBBZZZTTTZZZ!
    It was a loud buzzing sound, one that permeated the entire room.
    He woke up to the sound, swiftly prompting himself awake as he frantically glanced around him as quickly as he could. This was it¡ªthe experience he had read so much about in the novel, as well as what he had heard of from Justin, the student who lived.
    It was far more eerie than he gave it credit for¡ªenough to make his body shiver very slightly.
    However, it didn't take very long for him to get full composure and also get rid of every former ounce of drowsiness that fogged his mind so he would remain extremely alert.
    'The distracting sound to distract me from the sounds being made...' He glanced at the door to his room and found it to be ajar.
    Someone had unlocked and opened it.
    'As expected... the accomplices had access to the rooms in the Staff Quarters, which meant they were staff.'
    Well, only one of them needed to have it.
    'So, Brutta... you really are the culprit.' For some reason, a sad smile played on his face as he raised his hand and cast a simple Spell.
    "[Bright]."
    In an instant, a flash of light burst from his palm, rising up to the ceiling to ignite a spark in the luminous crystals above.
    Within a moment, the room was filled with illumination.
    'Ahh... good!'
    With this, he would be able to see the spatial distortions around him, which meant he would also be able to spot the approaching accomplices who were supposed to strangle him and twist his body.
    There was only one thing missing.
    'Where is the White Dea¡ª?'
    BBBZZZZTTTZZ!
    Before he could complete his words, the buzzing sound appeared again, and a glassy white silhouette appeared right behind him.
    "Ah!" He swiftly jumped away, leaving his bed as he hurried towards his door.
    However, he stopped not too long after he approached it.
    'They're here! All four of them...' Ash could see the distortions in space, subtle but present... even as the invisible accomplices tried their best not to move.
    'What should I do?'
    He couldn't help but wonder as he considered his options.
    'First things first, I can't touch the White Death since it could use its power to strangle me by messing up my Magia Flow.' He told himself. 'I also can't afford to be stationary for too long, and if I do notice the accomplices and react to them... it means I will have to stop them.'
    However, this would mean nothing if he failed to capture the White Death.
    'What makes sense for me to do, which will be most consistent with my character, is to run away.'
    And how exactly was he going to do that?
    Simple!
    "HEEEEEELLLLLPPPP!!!" Ash screamed as he dashed out of his room in a hurry, coating himself in Magia as he did so.
    Just as expected, the group parted the way for him to escape.
    'If I had touched them, I could have undone their disguise right there and there...' He mused, also finding the situation to be a little odd. 'Their disguise being revealed won't mean anything if I'm dead, though... so why?'
    Why were they not simply going for the kill?
    Did they have other intentions in coming to his room? Perhaps the White Death noticed his investigations and wanted to scare him into stopping.
    'Welp! I'm not doing that!' S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Ash ran out of his living room and down the hallway, finding the White Death and its accomplices to be chasing him.
    'Good... keep coming!' He smiled. 'The accomplices are using the darkness of the hallway to hide themselves while the glare and buzzing sound of the White Death makes it so my focus is on it.'
    It really wasn't a bad strategy.
    'But... I'm not falling for that!' Ash kept screaming as he charged towards the room at the furthest part of the hall.
    It was none other than the Workers Residence.
    BAM!
    Not hesitating for even a second, he broke the door down and dashed into the room.
    Once he entered, he knew exactly what to find.
    'Britta should be missing... which will undoubtedly provide proof that she's with the White Death.'
    Any other person missing would also be under the same kind of scrutiny.
    'Regular Workers are not meant to step out of their rooms once it's curfew, which means that Britta would be unable to explain what she was doing outside! I can use this to my benefit, telling her to quietly point out her remaining colleagues while keeping a low profile and slowly working my way up the ladder.'
    The reason he didn't opt for a more straightforward approach¡ªthat is, beating up the accomplices and revealing their identities right there and then¡ªwas simply because of the fact that he didn't know who they were.
    'Since only one is a former Beta Student, the others could be much stronger than I am currently supposed to be.'
    How would he be able to explain killing someone very powerful if an individual of such a caliber happened to be among the group? Besides, catching the accomplices in such a direct manner would cause the true culprit of the White Death persona to slip out of their fingers.
    Ash had thought about it for a while, and honestly... he doubted any of the accomplices knew who the White Death was.
    'If I was the one, I wouldn't let the underlings know my true identity... and the White Death is quite smart. If the person is an Otherworlder, then it also makes sense that they would keep their identity hidden.'
    All in all... this was a very risky gamble for him, but it made a lot more sense that he ran away scared and ended up in the Workers Room than fighting and killing four people.
    And he was about to see the result of his gamble as he stumbled into the sleeping quarters of the Female Workers.
    There... he found a sight that startled him to the point of bewilderment.
    "W-wha¡ª?!"

 Chapter 18: End Of The Rope

    Chapter 18: End Of The Rope'W-what?!'
    Ash's eyes widened considerably as he noticed precisely what he stumbled upon.
    The women in the room were laughing and giggling with each other as they were having something resembling a sleepover. They all had skimpy attires, with some wearing very loose clothes that it was as if they were still naked.
    However, even though he had stumbled upon lots of exposed feminine skin, Ash wasn't the type to panic from something like that.
    He would have kept his cool and thought of his next logical step.
    What shocked him most was the face of one of the students who was amid the other women, giggling and talking alongside them¡ªseemingly in her element.
    It was none other than Britta.
    'Britta... is here? And she has an Alibi?' His eyes bulged even further. 'She wasn't an accomplice?'
    Before he could fully process the sight before him, and even before the women could completely comprehend the presence of their Master Ashfelt Zephyr, a loud noise permeated the room.
    It came from beyond the room... within the hallway that Ash narrowly escaped from.
    It was the sound of a scream!
    "UAARRRRRGHHHHHHHHHH!!!" The gruesome bellow of someone being killed.
    In an instant, the voice stopped.
    Ash's eyes widened as he processed all of this, instantly realizing that someone must have been killed in his stead¡ªmost likely a guard who came to investigate his room or the hallway after all the ruckus he threw.
    "U-uh... I have to go... sorry!" Ash was about to leave when he noticed the frightened expressions of the women in the room.
    Britta alone seemed like she was about to cry, as they all shivered in fear and shock.
    'Damn...'
    Not only had he barged in unannounced, ruining their perfect evening, but due to his mistake of luring the White Death and its accomplices towards the area, and calling for guards... someone had just met a gruesome end.
    "I'm sorry, ladies!" He apologized frantically, allowing his honesty to show. "I have to go. Stay indoors and cry for help if anything happens."
    In a flash, he left the room and dashed to the hallway in order to spot the corpse.
    Once he arrived, he could already see quite a few guards gathered around the twisted corpse, using a tarp to cover its bloodied form. The dark pool of red had formed beneath the limp body, and even from a distance... he could see how grotesque the murder was.
    "Master Ashfelt!" One of the guards spotted him and swiftly ran over. "You're safe, thank goodness."
    "W-what happened...?" He asked, his voice heavy due to what he had just witnessed.
    Because of his actions, a man had been killed.
    "I'm not fully sure myself, since I just arrived, but we heard screams that sounded like your voice so my colleagues and I hurried here."
    "I-I see..." Ash muttered. "Did you see anything?"
    "No, I didn't! But some of my colleagues came here from the other side, and they witnessed something grotesque. I believe it is called the White Ghost... sorry... the White Death."
    "They saw it killing?"
    "Yes... those three over there." The guard pointed at the men who seemed to be the most shaken up by the bloodshed.
    It made sense that they would be, particularly after witnessing such a horrid sight.
    "I see..."
    "Are you fine, though, Master Ashfelt?" The guard touched his shoulder, but quickly hesitated and removed his hand.
    "I... am not."
    Ash walked away and looked at the bloodied scene¡ªeven to the objection of the guards around who offered to escort him away from the vicinity. He made sure to absorb every detail of the event, breathing in and out very quickly.
    As his eyes took note of the gory details, his heart stopped racing very rapidly and he sighed.
    'To think you'd go this far...'
    He walked away, his eyes diverted from the corpse covered in its tarp, and went to the guards who mourned the demise of their comrade.
    "I'm sorry... about this." He whispered, hand on their shoulders each. "It seemed like he was a good man."
    "He really was..."
    "He went ahead of us... as soon as he heard your voice."
    "Curse that White Death... curse you!"
    "...."
    Ash sighed once again and took his leave, telling the guards that he was going to be retiring to his room. One of the three that he comforted offered to help him switch rooms, since his residence could be compromised, and the other guards agreed after hearing it.
    "Let us fix up another room for you." The first guard to approach him said in concern. "I'm sure Lord Gerard Lockwood would agree."
    "No, don't worry... I'll be fine."
    "Really¡ª?"
    "Just tell me one thing... the name of the man who died."
    The guards all looked at each other with a sad sigh before revealing the identity of their fallen comrade.
    "I see... so his name was James." Ash sniffed slightly. "James was a good man." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Then, without wasting any further time, he walked into his room and shut the door behind him.
    The last time he was inside, the White Death and its accomplices were present, but now it all seemed like a lie. They never touched anything, and since they already had access to the room, it almost seemed like Ash had simply cried wolf.
    If not for the guard who had been killed, some could have said Ash made the whole thing up.
    "You didn't have to go out of your way to confirm my story..." He muttered to himself. "I almost feel relieved that the guard died and witnesses were there to see it was the work of the White Death, because if that didn't happen... that fool, Gerard could use it as an excuse to throw me into a cell and restrain me for the rest of my days here.'
    Did that mean Ash was grateful for the White Death's actions?
    His thoughts were still mixed on that.
    One thing was for sure, though, and his mind was only made resolute after his recent experience and confrontation with the horrifying existence that was The White Death.
    "This all ends tomorrow night."

 Chapter 19: The Unveiling [Pt 1]

    Chapter 19: The Unveiling [Pt 1]Ash did not have any sleep for the whole night.
    The next morning, he was also very busy¡ªtalking to all manner of people in order to offer his condolences and make small talk with them... seemingly as a way to apologize for his fault in the death of a very good man.
    If there was anything he learned from his conversation with everyone, it was that James¡ªthe guard who perished¡ªwas someone who was well-liked by those who knew him. He was a hardworking commoner who managed to get to such a position in the Academy after working his ass off for years.
    He was a paragon for many younger guards to follow, and even the Workers that Ash spoke to¡ªboth male and female¡ªhad good things to say about him.
    Even Britta!
    "I-I didn't know him for very long... but he took care of me and looked out for me."
    Those were her words, and it seemed everyone who heard them were in agreement. Finally, the three guards who found him dead¡ªseemingly his closest friends since they belonged to the same patrol unit¡ªhad the most to say about him.
    Needless to say, he was going to be very missed.
    It didn't take long for Ash to be called into Gerard Lockwood's office for his statement regarding the White Death, and he was honest about what went down.
    He woke up to a buzzing sound.
    Frantically, he cast a light Spell so he could see, and that was when he noticed the White Death.
    Out of fright, he ran out of the room and called for help, rushing to the Workers Residence, since it was the only room closest to him that had competent employees that could protect him if need be.
    As for why he went into the female and not male room, he was simply very confused and it was also considerably dark.
    Everything added up quite nicely, and he was dismissed before long.
    He spent the rest of his day doing mundane activities, like talking to Britta, taking a walk around the Staff Quarters, and having a short power nap in his room¡ªa very uneventful day for him, relatively speaking.
    Then... evening arrived, and darkness began to creep in.
    Shadows manifested like elongated tendrils, seeping into everything it touched. Dark clouds hovered over the entire Academy, and the moon's dim light was obscured by the thick layers of the fluffy mist that danced high in the sky.
    A prime night for the White Death to strike.
    Ash lay on his bed, his eyes wide open as he gazed up at the ceiling, his face perfectly unreadable.
    After staying like this for a while, he took note of the hour.
    Then he nodded.
    "It's time."
    ************
    BBBBZZZZTTTZZ!
    A certain Alpha Class Student was walking home from the library slightly after curfew, her slightly long hair dancing in the air as she ran back to her dorms.
    The book she borrowed from the library hung very tightly to her chest as she dashed past the school fields and took a shortcut through a rather covert spot in order to reach her residence on time.
    "Damn... just how much trouble am I going to get into for this?" She wondered.
    A bead of sweat formed on her face as she gasped for breath, taking one more step before completely stopping at the sight of something right in front of her.
    It was transparent white, with a soft glow that seemed to be made up of pure energy.
    BBBBZZZTZZZ
    Slowly, the moon's dim glow shone on the student, revealing some of her features as she looked at the horrifying existence that hovered in front of her.
    She had dark brown hair, with violet eyes that seemed to gleam in the dark. Her school uniform was prim and proper, and she held a tag on the right side of her shoulder that showed her status in the Academy.
    ¡ªAlpha Class.
    "Y-you are...!" She mumbled, eyes wide as she gazed upon the majestic form of the mysterious being before her.
    The White Death moved closer, its buzzing increasing as it neared her.
    Most students would freeze in fear, or attempt to run if they ever encountered such a threat.
    However, this one was different.
    "Who do you think I am?!" She yelled, instantly engulfing herself in flames as she leaped into the air with her firepower.
    "I rose from Beta Class to Alpha Class... my name is Elma, and I will defeat you, White Death!"
    Her words dripped with hubris, but the rising tide of her flames did more than enough to back up her declaration of war.
    She was truly determined to win.
    The sudden burst of power caused the Alarms around her to ring, but since she was in a rather obscure location, it would take time for even the nearest patrol guard to reach. In essence, she would have to hold her own for a while.
    "Eat this!"
    VWUUUUSH!
    "[Salamander's Breath]." She shot a concentrated burst of flames towards the enemy, creating a bright spark that painted the dark sky in a beautiful hue of burning colors.
    Unfortunately for her, this did her no good against the incorporeal foe.
    The White Death passed through the flames and charged towards her, scaring her to the ground.
    However, Elma switched gears and used her flames to propel her higher into the air and send another streak of flames down at the enemy. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The flames rained down with ferocity, but the White Death was unbothered about them.
    It didn't even bother dodging and simply charged at the girl.
    That very instant, she erased the flames that pushed her up, suddenly descending into freefall¡ªcompletely evading the White Death yet again.
    With one final spurt of energy, right as she reached the ground, she perfectly landed on the ground.
    At this point, the White Death waited in the air as it looked down at the girl.
    "What? You're not attacking anymore?"
    The White Death didn't respond.
    It simply remained high in the sky, looking down on the girl as it began the countdown to her gory demise.
    However¡ª
    "I wouldn't expect her to twist her body and fall anytime soon if I were you."
    ¡ªA voice suddenly erupted from seemingly out of nowhere.
    Instantly, the White Death turned in the direction of a particular individual that appeared out of the shadows, undoing the invisibility that was cloaking him.
    "I've incapacitated your allies... all five of them."
    With a snap of his fingers, the four accomplices of the White Death appeared on the ground, groaning and grunting in pain as they slithered on the ground.
    It was obvious that they wouldn't be getting up anytime soon.
    "It's just a simple paralyzing Spell... no big deal." He shrugged, tossing the last accomplice that he held with his hand forward, hearing another groan after a loud thud.
    "Four accomplices for killing, while one for lookout... a very smart move, Miss White Death."
    Yes, that's right.
    Not only had this boy captured the accomplices of the White Death, but he had also figured out precisely who this enigmatic serial killer was.
    As he stepped forward, the dim light of the moon shone upon him, revealing his ashen white hair, pale face, and the glowing crimson eyes that had an additional gleam of deadly danger as it looked up at the cornered White Death.
    "Why don't you get down from your height so we can have a little talk... Britta?"

 Chapter 20: The Unveiling [Pt 2]

    Chapter 20: The Unveiling [Pt 2]The plan started the day before Ash left the Academy.
    He had already told Elma about his intentions to drop out before even starting the procedure, but he was yet to reveal the full scope of his plan. He needed to sort out a few things first, and that included making up his mind on whether or not to trust Elma or rule her out of his plan altogether.
    However, after going through a lot of simulations and thoroughly considering a lot of things, he realized it would be very arduous to complete his plan without her.
    Hence, he told her everything before leaving.
    "I will need you to go out after curfew." He began. "Do it for only one night¡ªthe third night after I leave the Academy."
    After this, if the White Death didn't rear its head, she would have to do the same thing five nights after.
    The goal was to lure the thing out while using an Alpha Student as bait.
    "But isn't this thing most likely with a grudge against Nobles? You said so yourself... so wouldn't it be better to use an actual noble as bait."
    Of course, Ash had thought of that.
    In fact, it was one of the reasons he hesitated to bring her in, to begin with. However, after considering a few things, he surmised that it was probably okay to do things this way.
    "The darkness cloaks the enemy's allies, but it also serves as a benefit for us. It's not like it would be easy to tell who you are if you hurriedly leave the Library and make sure to stick to dark and obscure locations."
    An emphasis was placed on the location being obscure.
    "To best improve our chances of the White Death showing up, we have to choose a place where it is confident of winning... so you will choose a location that is a little distance away from any help."
    "I think I have the perfect place in mind." Elma had responded. "I could take it as a pretext for returning to my dorm early, so it makes sense logically."
    "Perfect!"
    With Elma's identity not being obvious until it was probably too late, the White Death would have two choices¡ªretreat or attack.
    However, Ash already had a very good idea of the choice the person would make.
    'Attack!'
    Whether the White Death was a transmigrator or not, it clearly wasn't intent on following the original storyline. And, the only reason the White Death strictly killed Nobles was due to the insecurity and hidden frustration that Dustan felt towards the privileged students of Alpha Class and the system who allowed the unfairness to continue festering.
    'In fact, the first student that Dustan killed in the original storyline was actually the one who defeated him in the Promotional Exams, which is one of the clues that was eventually used to point to Dustan as the killer.'
    However, since the White Death was different this time around, their motivations for killing were completely different. The fact that their killings¡ªfrom students, to Investigator, to Instructors¡ªthus far were random proved that. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    'In the novel, Dustan only killed the Special Investigator because he got too close and figured out his identity. However, Dustan learned the man wouldn't harm kids due to the death of his family and the trauma he suffered... so he approached the Special Investigator with the pretext of surrendering and killed him after wrestling with himself for so long.'
    Even his killing of a few Instructors was either by accident or out of sheer necessity.
    However, this new enemy intentionally went after these targets as if it was an unstoppable predator seeking the fresh taste of prey while enjoying the thrill of the hunt.
    As a result of this reasoning, Ash was certain that the White Death was going to attack Elma.
    They then agreed on the time this would take place, and that Elma would use flashy moves in order to signal her exact position and condition throughout her confrontation with the White Death.
    "Remember not to stay too close to the ground." Ash had to warn her. "The accomplices will grab you and kill you if you do that."
    "I could burn them all with my flames."
    "You think the Instructors didn't coat themselves with their Elemental Attributes for defense? What good did that do? They must have some kind of Magia-Blocking outfit on, which also explains why they couldn't be tracked after every killing."
    It wasn't easy getting access to such an outfit, but the wear was useful in some lines of work... which was why Ash was even more certain that the accomplices were being harbored by the Academy's Staff Quarters.
    Guards had access to such outfits since they weren't Mages and had to protect themselves from attacks from enemies.
    Ultimately, he was determined to uncover the identity of the accomplices, which would be further confirmed on the night of Elma's attack by the White Death, and after defeating them while keeping his identity hidden, he would continue his investigation secretly.
    If the accomplices knew the identity of the White Death, that would be good.
    However, if they didn't... that would cause him no big problems.
    Because he was planning to smoke them out using another method¡ªthough it was risky.
    It was the same method Seth Zephyr used to smoke out the White Death during the last act of the serial killer's sage.
    Ash would need a lot of time to perfectly prepare for it, however, which is why he abandoned the plan once he got the 10 day notice and decided to play it safer than ever¡ªchoosing to covertly uncover the White Death's tracks using its accomplices.
    All of that planning led to this current moment.
    The moment where Ash stood beside Elma, staring at the White Death while having all of its accomplices sprawled on the ground.
    "You know... you're pretty smart." Ash chuckled. "To think you'd use the guards to do your bidding while hiding in plain sight."
    He would not have noticed at all if he didn't pay rapt attention to everything and keep his exercise of due diligence.
    'I was almost fooled by that little stunt with the guards, but once I calmed down a little, I was able to piece things together and act appropriately.' He smiled.
    What kickstarted his suspicion was the bloodshed.
    'The way the blood was spread about in the murder scene doesn't follow the description of the novels, and it certainly doesn't follow the killings that have been taking place.' He had thought.
    That meant there was something suspicious about the death.
    There was also the fact that the corpse was covered with a tarp, hiding its face. He tried to get close to the tarp, but he could already see the body language of some guards and he realized they would have stopped him before he opened it and realized the truth.
    That the corpse was a fake.
    No guard by the name of James died that night.
    In fact... no guard died at all.
    It was all staged to throw Ash off the scent, while giving an alibi to all the guilty parties present.
    "Your four accomplices... and the fifth one, the lookout, were all at the scene of the crime, but at different periods." Ash began. "You started with the four who would have killed me in my room, and then the fifth was the lookout, watching out for the other guards who would have been patrolling."
    It was all clear to him now.
    "After my yells, the lookout stalled the other guards and made sure they delayed in arriving at the scene, which gave the four enough time to stage the death. James screamed and fled the scene, and you used a lookalike doll that had already been prepared for that moment... along with some blood you got from god knows where... to set up the crime scene."
    Finally, the real White Death¡ªwho had been in front of Ash while all of this was happening¡ªalso stalled him by playing the victim and spreading fear to the other Workers.
    This caused him to waste precious moments and also shake him up emotionally.
    "This created the illusion of a murder taking place while everyone had an alibi." He smiled as he reached the conclusion.
    "Did I get it right?"

 Chapter 21: Ten Steps Ahead

    Chapter 21: Ten Steps AheadThe White Death was quiet as it watched Ash smile at it.
    "You're probably wondering how I was able to piece together your identity just from all of this, but that's because I did my due diligence for the whole of today."
    While it seemed like he was goofing off doing nothing, Ash was actually solving the case.
    "I spoke to your roommates, under the pretext of concern and apology, but I used that as an avenue to ask about you and your actions before I arrived in your room."
    Apparently, Britta spent a while in the bathroom before finally getting out for the vigil. It was also her idea for them to host it that night, rather than the usual weekends that it was usually done.
    That solidified his suspicion of her as The White Death.
    "Of course, none of this would have happened if your accomplices didn't slip up and give me some things to latch onto in suspicion."
    The first guard who approached him in concern was the lookout.
    The three who were shaken up were the accomplices to the murder, and the last of them¡ªJames¡ªhad mysteriously died to the White Death. He had initially suspected that they actually killed one of their own to hide their tracks, but the blood splatter didn't make any sense, and they also didn't have enough time to do so.
    Also, and most importantly, there was no need to.
    "You probably didn't know that I had already spotted four distortions in space and that I knew some details about your accomplices, and even if you did... you couldn't pass it across to your goons."
    That was the disadvantage of being an anonymous boss.
    "Your henchmen reacted when I wanted to enter my room, saying it wasn't secure when I hadn't given them any reason to think otherwise. There was no sign of struggle or anything, and the murder took place in the hallway, so how exactly did they know I was invaded in my room?"
    It was something that could be deduced, but not by someone overcome by grief and in such a brief span of time.
    Instead, it was the work of someone slipping up.
    And, just like clockwork, every single accomplice backed up that logic and offered help. That helped him to identify all of them and also deduce how they operated.
    "Of course, it would be easy to commit organized crime as a unit, and having someone in order unit as your lookout and cover is good too." Ash grinned. "Bottom line, you're well connected and also a very good planner."
    Stll, he was able to win¡ªand right in the nick of time too.
    Why?
    "Because, unlike you, I'm ten steps ahead."
    Even now, as he was talking to the White Death, wasting time so the guards would come and spot them conversing to the phantom creature, the time could be cross-referenced with something else that was happening simultaneously.
    "Right now, Gerard Lockwood and his men have surrounded your room and they are most likely by your bedside, watching you sleep and utilize your Familiar for your nightly activities." He calmly retorted, both hands in his pockets.
    "They would have also noticed that some soldiers are missing, and the corpse you tried getting rid of is a fake. The reason they know all of this is because I told them, right before I headed in this direction."
    It was the perfect way to trap the White Death in a two-way headlock that couldn't be escaped.
    "When you open your eyes... your actual eyes... you will be caught."
    At this point, the White Death began to descend, very slowly and calmly. It seemed like it fully understood the situation and was about to surrender.
    Then¡ª
    WHOOOOSH!
    ¡ªIt charged towards Elma, paws wide as if it was going to take the life of the girl who had managed to conspire against it and also draw out time for so many things to fall in place against the White Death's favor.
    Anyone would consider it a last attempt at destruction¡ªa strike for revenge.
    Elma ducked, using her flames to ascend high into the sky as Ash used his Magic to encircle himself and float into the sky as well.
    He watched as the White Death chased after Elma, probably considering him to be too dangerous for its final struggle.
    Elma was much faster than the projection, however, so she was able to dodge its strikes and finally reunited with Ash as the both of them floated in the sky and stared down at the rapidly approaching White Death.
    "How do we stop it?" She asked with a sigh. "It's incorporeal, so none of our Spells will work against it."
    "True."
    "And? What's your plan now?"
    "...."
    Ash said nothing, simply watching as the white silhouette gained on them with rapid ferocity.
    "Ashfelt, say something! You shouldn't have come here in the first place, arghhh! This wasn't the plan you told me about, and you even had to aggravate her."
    "Mhm..."
    "You bastard!" She shrieked, rushing off again as the white silhouette chased her.
    After another second of this, all the patrol guards finally arrived and shouted at the top of their lungs the moment they saw the White Death. In an instant, they brandished their Magia Rifles at the horrid creature, taking aim instantly.
    The night was painted in a myriad of bright colors, but none of them affected the White Death.
    It was ultimately a projection.
    They couldn't attack it... but it could attack them!
    The White Death danced in the air for a few more seconds before charging in the direction of the guards who shot at it.
    In an instant, it passed through a few of them, causing horrifying results.
    "UUARRRRGHHHHHH!!!" S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Many screamed as their Magia Flow was instantly destabilized, causing their bodies to twist and turn uncontrollably until their blood was wrung dry and they collapsed to the ground as nothing but lifeless corpses.
    "Ashfelt! Do something!" Elma yelled out in concern as she watched the guards. "They're dying!"
    Ash watched all of this happen and sighed.
    "I can't do anything, Elma."
    All they could do was wait for Familiar's power to run out, or for the Head of Staff, Gerard Lockwood, to take action and wake the girl. Either way, it was all out of his hands¡ªthough one of the two was bound to happen at any moment.
    "Like... right now."
    BZZZTTTTTZZZZZZTTTTZZZZZZZ!!!
    Just like clockwork, the White Death began to shriek, its incorporeal body fritzing as it faded away in the terrible night.
    Just like that, the terror of the White Death ceased.
    Everyone was saved.

 Chapter 22: Aftermath

    Chapter 22: AftermathWithin a matter of days, news of the entire event had spread.
    The White Death had been captured, and it turned out to be a former Beta Class Student, which further caused the rift that existed in both classes to widen. The Joint Combat Training Session was on the verge of collapsing as a result.
    Since the Culprit had been captured, with enough incriminating evidence to prove her guilt¡ªas well as the corroborating testimonies of her partners¡ªthe curfew was lifted and some semblance of normalcy was returned to the Academy.
    Students could safely roam the Campus Grounds without fear or worry, and the entire Academy would experience safety and security once more.
    There was only one thing missing in all of these subsequent events.
    ¡ªAshfelt Zephyr's return.
    ***********
    "Per our deal, I'll cancel your transfer to the North and accept your re-application into the Akashic Magus Academy."
    Gerard Lockwood rested his chin on his intertwined fingers as he sat on his exquisite chair within his luxurious office. Seated opposite him, separated by a classy desk, was Ashfelt, who had a calm smile on his face.
    "That's a relief." He replied. "I feared you might want to go back on your word."
    Their agreement involved giving Gerard all the glory when it came to solving the case of the White Death, which meant he would be recognized for solving such an unsettling case in the Academy.
    This was important because it would further improve his image as a competent Head of Student Affairs and one of the administrators in the Academy. If the accolades had gone to two students¡ªparticularly a Beta Student¡ªit would have badly injured the image of a lot of staff in the Academy, himself included.
    "And why would I do that?" Gerard chuckled.
    "I'm not sure. Why would you send me to the North? Because you can... right?"
    "Hm. Good point."
    'Well, I'm relieved he followed through with his promise.' Ash sighed internally. 'If he didn't, I would have had to do something I don't want to resort to.'
    Since everything had been resolved so neatly, it was about time for him to resume his identity as a student. This had always been the plan, and since Gerard had agreed to support the re-application, he had sidestepped a lot of the legwork involved in the process.
    Of course, that didn't mean he was completely out of the woods.
    'I still have to pass the Re-Application Exams and reach a satisfactory score for me to advance with my goals.'
    "By the way, I would like to see Britta before I leave." Ash asked Gerard with a soft smile. "That is possible, right?"
    "No... it's not." The man sighed.
    Ash instantly frowned, feeling the urge to incentivize Gerard, just in case he forgot the kind of position he was in. Before he could say anything, though, an explained flowed from the older man's lips.
    "You can't see her because she's already dead."
    "What? Really?!"
    "Yes." Gerard sighed. "The higher-ups wanted her dead as soon as possible to reduce the risk of the White Death reappearing, or worse... her escaping."
    "You didn't even interrogate her?"
    "We did." Gerard sighed. "We got to correspond her activities with the nights of the murders, identified all of her allies, and we extracted the truth regarding her identity as the White Death from her."
    "...."
    "Don't worry... you got the right person, if that's what you're worried about."
    "I know I did." Ash responded with a sigh.
    "So what's the problem? You didn't think she would actually be spared, did you?"
    'Of course not!' He shook his head internally. 'She killed a Noble's child, murdered an Academy alumni, and two Instructors.'
    All while expertly blending into an environment that gave her access to even more victims.
    Her fate was sealed the moment she was caught.
    "I just wanted to speak to her a little before she was executed... that's all." He murmured, rising to his feet.
    "Thank you once again for your audience, Head of Student Affairs."
    Ash walked towards the door, one hand in his pocket as he calmly cast one final glance at the man who was still seated so comfortably on his chair even as he mentioned the demise of one of the students he was supposed to care for.
    'Things wouldn't have escalated so much if he had done his job effectively.'
    The strife and ever-growing frustration that burned within the Beta Class Students would only continue to rise¡ªespecially now that one of their own was identified as the White Death¡ªbut men like Gerard were doing nothing to curb the impending storm.
    They were incompetent men who simply occupied positions due to nepotism and a tinge of merit. There was no doubt that Gerard Lockwood was strong, but he was also too malignant and short-sighted to be a leader.
    Especially one of such a scale.
    'Head of Student Affairs is an important position for the growth and overall welfare of students... yet I doubt he does anything but sit in his office and delegate tasks to everyone else.'
    That was why he was never relevant to the novel's original storyline.
    'Doesn't that mean I can eliminate him and the timeline wouldn't change that much? No... who am I kidding? Of course it would.'
    Certain individuals had more relevance in death than when they were alive.
    Besides, since he was publicly recognized as the one that solved the White Death Case, his death would raise a lot of eyebrows and suspicion.
    Then, just as he investigated and caught the White Death... someone could do the same to him.
    'He isn't worth it.'
    Ash had not forgotten the actions of Gerard Lockwood during their first encounter, and he had no intentions to let it go. However, for the present moment, it was best to postpone his punishment until an appropriate opportunity reared its head.
    'Right now, I have to prepare for my re-entry into the Akashic Magus Academy.'
    In essence, he would have to take a new Entrance Exam¡ªthis time, far crueler than the one that regular applicants had received.
    He also couldn't get a free pass due to his title as a Noble.
    This time, he had to work hard for it.
    'And I'm fine with that... as long as the exam is standard and the judging process is fair.'
    But, what were the chances of those being the case? Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 23: Re-Entrance Exams

    Chapter 23: Re-Entrance Exams[A Few Days Later]
    "Master Ashfelt Zephyr, please step forward."
    Ash did as he was told, stepping into the center of the stage, enjoying the brilliant shower of light that descended upon him as he did so. He was currently standing in front of a panel within a hall slightly larger than the one he and Elma used for sparring.
    The panel consisted of three judges¡ªall of them in the Department of Student Affairs.
    In essence, subordinates of Gerard Lockwood.
    'Knowing the personality of that man, he probably told them ahead of time to fail me.' Ash sighed to himself.
    Why did he keep getting into messes like this?
    'I'm sure he thought that refusing my re-application into the Academy back then would have caused me to react angrily and possibly reveal the deal we made to everyone while desperately trying to retake the credit for myself, which is why he went ahead with the deal.'
    However, since about a week had passed since the White Death was caught and he had solidified his position as the one who did the catching, any testimony Ash made to the contrary would not be taken seriously. In fact, his inability to pass his Re-Entrance Exam would probably be brought up, and many would think he was simply lashing out and fabricating stories just so he could get back at the system that failed him.
    He could already see how Gerard Lockwood's thought process was, and how he must have envisioned this moment in his mind.
    'Maybe I should have eliminated him back then...' Ash considered, but swiftly shook his head
    No, he made the right call.
    However, with this scheme that the Head of Student Affairs placed in his way, Ash had yet another reason to orchestrate the man's downfall. He would have to do it in a meticulous way that wouldn't show his involvement in the slightest.
    'Just you wait, Gerard... but first, I have to get through this.'
    He had already spent the last day allotted to him in his residence within the Staff Quarters, which meant that his failure here would mean an immediate drafting to the North or somewhere else.
    'I still think Gerard never canceled my transfer to the Northern Battlefield...' Ash cracked his neck and his fingers. '... And that armored carriage I saw parked outside his office early this morning must be my ride to the North.'
    Everyone in the room was probably rooting for his downfall, which meant the exam itself would be difficult and the judging process would also be biased.
    To have a chance at passing, he had to do something he wouldn't normally want to do.
    'I have to stand out.'
    "Master Ashfelt, due to the abrupt nature of your leaving the Academy and returning, we have decided to be a little harsher on you for your Exam." One of the three judges began, elbows on the desk as his chin rested on his interlocked fingers.
    The man's piercing gaze offered condescension¡ªa look that Ash had gotten used to due to his poor talent, but something he still couldn't tolerate.
    He returned this attitude with a glare, both hands in his pockets as he shrugged.
    "Sure, whatever."
    "Your Exams will have three stages¡ªall of which will take place in this very room."
    'Okay...'
    "First is the theoretical exams, where you will have a limited time to answer the questions we ask you based on what you have already been taught. Failure to score acceptably in this portion means you are unfit for returning to the Academy, since you do not even know the basics, and your re-application will be rejected."
    'Normally, it's supposed to be a written exam, which involves a set of pretty straightforward questions that try to see if you have been paying attention to classes.' Ash narrowed his eyes in mild annoyance. 'By making it an oral exam, with limited time attributed to each question, the chances of making mistakes increases exponentially.'
    It was also possible that they would pick questions that existed in advanced curriculums... just to mess with him.
    'I doubt they would go that far, though.' He reasoned calmly. 'After all, they must already have my file, so they know I'm somewhat average, or even below average when it comes to the theoretical aspects of the Academy.'
    As a result, the judges would probably think that they didn't even need to try very hard to ensure that he failed.
    Normally, they would be right.
    'But, I can't afford to fail at this point... which means I'm pretty desperate.'
    That meant only one thing.
    The judges were in for a rude awakening.
    *************
    [Moments Later]
    "W-well done, Master Ashfelt... you've passed the Writte¡ªI mean, Theoretical Part of your Exam." One of the Judges said, clearly stuttering due to his surprise.
    His colleagues also had the same look on their faces.
    They were all shocked that someone who was clearly nothing more than an average student could answer nearly all of their questions correctly. He didn't get a perfect score, no, but he scored enough to place him in the elite category.
    This was especially surprising, given the difficulty of the questions asked and the time limit placed on each answer. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Yet... he managed to excel, even with these challenges.
    None of them had any idea how this could have happened, but they weren't too worried.
    After all, the next phase of the Exam was something that was far more challenging than mere theoretical problems.
    "Next is the practical phase, where you have to demonstrate your ability to efficiently apply your Spell and Combat potential in a fight."
    'Oh? So this one is next...' Ash thought to himself with a smile. 'I was thinking they would be even more unreasonable, but it seems they really underestimate me.'
    Ashfelt Zephyr was very infamous for being mediocre at nearly everything¡ªespecially his Spells. He was pretty decent in Combat, but that would be considered average by most people, especially since he couldn't supplement it with effective Spells.
    Making this portion about combining both in a fight was a sure-fire way of making him fail.
    "Let's bring in your examiner."
    A shirtless man came to the stage, having an oily body that perfectly exemplified his well-toned muscles and imposing presence. He was at least a foot taller than Ash, and a mere look at the man was enough to show that he was in a different weight class from him.
    So why were they being paired together?
    'I see...' Ash sighed. 'Another way to ensure I fail, huh?'
    The man's oily body made it difficult to apply grapple techniques, or effective counters or restraining methods, since he would be able to easily wiggle out of them, and Ash also couldn't overpower him due to their difference in strength.
    Which meant he would have to rely on Spells if he wanted to win.
    'But, they think I am very awful at casting Spells, and my opponent must also be someone who is competent at using Spells.'
    In essence, this was designed to be an impossible fight.
    However...
    "You may begin."
    ... Ash did not believe in such a concept.
    "[Flash]."
    In an instant, Ash activated his first Spell, contrary to what they expected him to do¡ªwhich would be to charge at his enemy or run.
    A bright light suddenly exploded from his palm, stunning his opponent with its blinding ray.
    After this, Ash cast another Spell on the ground and took a step back.
    Once the effects of his Spell faded, his opponent charged towards him, aiming to restrain him as swiftly as possible¡ªwith the best way to do that being a physical tackle.
    However, the moment he neared Ash, he slipped on the ground and uncontrollably rolled in the air.
    'As expected... he didn't notice my [Grease].'
    Now that the man had lost his balance, Ash moved in closer for the kill, coating his arm with another Spell known as '[Armament]' which covered the skin in a hardened material made up of Magia.
    The strength of this coating heavily depended on the quality and quantity of the Magia applied.
    And for Ash... that was a ton!
    BAM!
    The heavy sound of impact radiated in the hall, forcing the bulky opponent's body to shiver as he received a blow directly on his stomach.
    "Guark!" He spat out saliva mixed with blood, his massive body hurled far away from Ash as he crashed into the wall.
    In what appeared to be an instant, but was actually about thirty seconds, Ash had easily overcome the second obstacle set against him.
    He turned towards the Judges, his armament fading as he wiped off the tiny droplets of blood that stained his face. They all shook slightly as soon as they met his cold and merciless gaze, unable to utter a word for the few seconds that he watched them in silence.
    After a few seconds, one was finally able to part his lips.
    "Y-you pass the second phase..."
    'Good.' Ash nodded. 'They also won't be able to deny the validity of my victory later due to how badly I injured that man.'
    His cruel and methodological method of defeating an opponent was precisely what the Empire sought after in their Mages, which meant he was more than qualified to re-enter the Magus Academy.
    No... he was definitely overqualified.

 Chapter 24: Flawless

    Chapter 24: FlawlessWith two parts of the exams passed, Ash patiently waited for the last one.
    Both hands were in his pockets as he casually maintained his intense gaze on the judges, all of whom were already panicking.
    Against all odds, he, Ashfelt Zephyr, had displayed fantastic results¡ªnot only in one, but the two phases of the Exam. The men who sat before him were already beginning to see that their previous estimation of the boy was flawed.
    He wasn't the loser they all thought he was, and he had proven it.
    Unfortunately for them, it was too late to change the content of the Exam, and making things even more difficult than they were would be against Academy Policy.
    They could end up in deep trouble, perhaps even lose their jobs as a result, and the man who put them up to this¡ªGerard Lockwood¡ªwas not going to be able to save them.
    Even if he could, none of them believed he would.
    That was how cruel he was.
    "Excuse me, may I ask what the last portion of my Exam is?" Ash finally broke through the silence with his words.
    This caused the skin of the judges to jump as they finally stopped their nervous conversations and looked in his direction.
    They were shook the moment they stared into his eyes.
    It was a glowing abyss of crimson danger. It felt like they were being sucked into a blizzard of roaring flames, but the cold smile he had on his cruelly pale face was the perfect opposite of his blazing stare.
    All of a sudden, it was now Ashfelt Zephyr that offered them a gaze of condescension.
    The judges were in a position of authority over him¡ªable to decide the path he would be able to take for his future¡ªbut it didn't seem that way to them.
    It almost felt like the opposite; that he was the one in total control.
    Like they were nothing to him.
    "W-well... the last portion of your exam has to do with Spirit Arts!"
    "Y-yes!"
    "You need to activate your Spirit Arts... use only the strength of your Familiar and show us how powerful you are as a Mage."
    Ash's cold smile slowly vanished as they said this.
    Once it did, the judges felt a wave of relief wash over them, and little by little... they began to regain portions of their confidence. After all, even though he passed the theoretical and practical portions of his Exam, none of it would matter if he didn't excel in this part.
    'Spirit Arts are ultimately what make up a Mage of the Desgarron Empire.' They thought to themselves. 'A Mage is only as good as his Familiar, and Ashfelt Zephyr has a Lesser Grade Familiar... the worst Grade possible.'
    It didn't matter how smart he was, or how physically gifted he was, if his potential as a Mage was this low, he didn't belong in the Akashic Magus Academy. He would be better off as a staff or a soldier on the battlefield, not a student of the most esteemed Magus Academy in the Empire.
    This was their line of reasoning, and it was obvious to the boy who watched them.
    'Underestimating me again because of my Familiar, huh? Well, I really can't blame them for thinking that way.' He smirked.
    A Lesser Grade Familiar wasn't impressive in the slightest, and since Spirit Arts usually depended on the power of one's Familiar¡ªat least at the basic level¡ªit was nigh impossible for him to depict anything impressive with the card he had been dealt with.
    If he displayed the power of his Pheonix, he would undoubtedly be able to pass the Exams, but that would only put him in deeper trouble since he lied about his Familiar.
    Plus, Apprentice Students could only take one Familiar from The Garden during the Selection Ceremony, and a Pheonix would never share a Soul with another Familiar, so many would be curious about how he could house both the Phoenix and the Lesser Wind Spirit at the same time.
    This would undoubtedly reveal the fact that he had two Souls, further causing him to enter even more trouble¡ªone that could cost him his life or worse.
    A mere Exam wasn't worth going through all that, so he had no choice but to use his Lesser Wind Spirit.
    How was he supposed to pass with just that?
    For Ash, the answer to that question was extremely simple.
    "[Fusion]."
    The Judges couldn't believe their ears when they heard him utter the word, and they didn't take his statement seriously.
    Surely, he was grasping at straws at this point.
    .... Right?
    WRONG!
    VWUUUUUM!!!
    A sudden torrent of energy coursed through Ash's body, manifesting itself as a swirling storm of wind around him. Bright green colors radiated from his body, and his eyes glowed with the same bright hue.
    A portion of his hands took on a whitish green complexion, almost like neon lights.
    His feet also transformed into the same.
    Winds formed behind him and created two wings, allowing him to ascend in the air¡ªall of this happening as powerful blades of wind danced around him, slicing through the air as he continued his rise to the ceiling.
    From his elevated height, he could see the judges gawking at his transformation.
    "A-A Fusion? He skipped [Externalization] and went straight to [Fusion]... I-IMPOSSIBLE!"
    Ash silently chuckled as he watched the judges unknowingly leak out their thoughts, unable to contain their shock and fear.
    'Idiots... this isn't even full [Fusion], but [Partial Fusion].'
    Achieving even [Partial Fusion] was still impressive for his age and level, since [Fusion] was usually the limit for most Mages, and a lot of them never even reached that level in their entire lifetime.
    Usually, only those at the Expert Stage could comfortably achieve [Partial Fusion], with very few prodigies capable of reaching complete [Fusion].
    As for [Externalization], that was the main focus of the Intermediate Stage.
    'By natural order, you would have passed [Externalization] before reaching [Fusion], but I bypassed the former and was able to achieve a partial version of the latter...'
    The reason Ash took such a shortcut, despite its several flaws, was because he was running out of time and he needed something to undoubtedly prove his worth as a potential student of the Akashic Magus Academy.
    'I knew Gerard would try to pull something like this, so I concentrated my efforts on [Partial Fusion]... adding a little bit of flair to it, so it would seem like a complete one.'
    Thankfully, it worked!
    He was able to perfectly fool three fully-fledged Mages, ensuring they couldn't fail him even if they wanted to.
    "Huuu..." He leaked out heavy breaths. 'Looks like this is my limit.'
    He slowly descended to the ground, deactivating his [Partial Fusion] while keeping a calm facade on his face¡ªnow much paler than it was before.
    "Is this enough for you?" Ash asked with a low tone. "Are you entertained?"
    His body felt stiff, and he could already feel a wave of nausea hit him, but he maintained his stance as he looked at the judges with a slightly murderous glare.
    They were all silent as they watched him¡ªone even gulping loudly, unable to move.
    Both sides kept up this staring contest... until the judges finally blinked. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Y-you pass the third phase, Master Ashfelt Zephyr... and as such, you have passed the Re-Entrance Exam to enter into this prestigious Academy."
    Ash leaked out a soft smile.
    'I did it!'
    "Welcome back to the Akashic Magus Academy."

 Chapter 25: Welcome Back

    Chapter 25: Welcome BackThe classroom was dead silent as a particular student stepped inside.
    Everyone's eyes were wide with shock as they took in the image of the ashen haired boy with pale skin and crimson eyes. As his uniform clung loosely to his slim and tall body, he appeared like a ghost to the students.
    They had thought they wouldn't see him as an Akashic student¡ªor, at the very least, not a member of their Class.
    However, here he was... standing with a cold look.
    "Welcome the newest addition to Alpha Class... Master Ashfelt Zephyr!" The Instructor declared, and a lackadaisical round of applause echoed in the classroom.
    A lot of students were too stunned to render a proper applause, but most were actually buried in their thoughts... wondering how it was possible for a student who flunked out of Beta Class nearly two weeks ago could be back now.
    'Did he use his connections? But would the Academy even allow that to happen?' One student thought to himself as he stared at the calm Ashfelt.
    'I didn't know we could reapply, though.' Another reasoned. 'Is that also one of the Academy's hidden rules?'
    'How can he just reapply and enter Alpha Class again? That makes no sense!' Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Many Alpha Students were internally upset by the fact that Ashfelt managed to rejoin their ranks despite his shortcomings in talent. They didn't know about the results of his Re-Entrance Exam, so they simply thought nepotism was at play.
    The Akashic Magus Academy claimed to be a neutral ground for learning, but observant students could tell that there were hints of bias present.
    As a result, it wasn't too surprising¡ªthough it remained downright unfair¡ªthat Ash managed to escape his place in Beta Class and return to a place he didn't deserve. Despite all of their dissatisfactions, however, they had to keep their negative comments to themselves.
    Well, most of them...
    "Instructor, I have a question." One of the students jumped on his feet. "Why has Ashfelt returned to our Class despite failing the Promotional Exams, which sent him to Beta Class, and then getting a Lower Grade Spirit as a Familiar, and then dropping out?"
    The bespectacled boy who spoke shifted his glasses after raising his query, a serious expression clouding his otherwise cute face.
    Many students nodded in support, but made sure their silent agreements were inconspicuous.
    None of them wanted to get into any trouble later.
    "What are you talking about, Master Arius Inkwell?" The Instructor slowly replied with a nervous sigh.
    "I mean, he clearly doesn't belong here!"
    The students¡ªwith a few exceptions¡ªcouldn't help but silently nod in agreement.
    Arius Inkwell, also one of the Great Noble Households, was speaking exactly what they had in their minds, and for that they were most grateful.
    "All I can say is that Master Ashfelt passed the Re-Entrance Exam with flying colors, and after careful assessment by the judges, he has been deemed qualified enough to enter Alpha Class."
    "Bullshit! I don't know anything about a Re-Entrance Exam, and he must have done something to bribe or compromise those so-called judges."
    None of these students¡ªArius included¡ªknew that the judges that scored Ash all had plans to fail him before he turned the tables on them and displayed undeniable potential as a Mage. As a result, all they could do was rely on speculative suspicion.
    "Young Master Arius, that's enough." The Instructor became a lot bolder. "You are not allowed to talk about the staff of this great Academy that way. If you have a complaint, you can take it up with the¡ª"
    "Complaint? This has passed the level of a mere complaint!"
    Arius interrupted the Instructor and pointed his hand at Ash, his eyes suddenly glowing a bright blue color. "That guy shouldn't be here! He's a blight on the prestige of the Alpha Class, and I'm sure pretty much everyone agrees to that... it's a fact!"
    In truth, most Alpha students felt the same as Arius, even those who didn't have a grudge against Ashfelt. However, they all fell silent because they didn't dare speak negatively about a son of the Zephyr Household.
    Only Arius could contend with him in their class because he also belonged to the Great Noble Household of Inkwell.
    "Don't act like you speak for everyone, Arius." Seth's voice suddenly echoed in the classroom, causing nearly every student to shudder.
    Even Arius felt the hair on his skin stand as soon as the boy spoke.
    "You certainly don't speak for me." He continued. "My brother's worth must have been determined by the Academy to be worthy of Alpha Class, which is why he was transferred here."
    "Hmph! Do you really believe tha¡ª?!"
    "Stop talking as if you didn't transfer straight to Alpha Class due to the same preferential treatment that you're complaining about now!" Elma also put her hat in the ring, smirking as she playfully directed her spiteful remark towards Arius.
    "You..."
    "Am I not wrong? Or is it alright for you to keep quiet about something when it benefits you, but bitch about it once you don't like the results... just like you couldn't handle my rejection after you asked me out."
    Many students gawked in shock, and a few silently snickered.
    This caused Arius' face to redden as he glared at Elma in unbridled fury. "You'll regret this... I swear you will."
    "Yeah, yeah." Elma shrugged fearlessly. "Keep talking like that to a former Beta Class Student and see what will happen... maybe the White Death is listening."
    "Tch! The White Death has been caught... and you're shameless for using that, and the death of our classmate as some kind of threat."
    "The same way you're shameless for complaining about your fellow Noble getting into the same class as you." Elma retorted.
    At this point, silence reigned supreme in the classroom, and the piercing gaze of the Instructor, Elma, and Seth... coupled with the numerous eyes that were upon him... began to overwhelm the bespectacled young man.
    His throat suddenly felt dry and itchy, and as he removed his attention from everyone and tried to stabilize his breathing, he found his gaze resting on the very student he was criticizing.
    ¡ªAshfelt Zephyr.
    Ash was smiling coldly at him, perfectly silent as he watched him with his lazy crimson eyes.
    That stare pissed him off, but before he could say more¡ª
    "Sit down, Arius."
    ¡ªHe was completely shut down by Seth's words.
    "Now."
    "Or... what?" Seth slowly rose to his feet, his bright blue eyes flaring with energy as he glared at the trembling boy.
    "I'll make you... and not in the way that you would like."
    This cold statement from Seth carried so much weight that Arius didn't even know when his body obeyed and he felt the warm embrace of his chair's flat surface on his buttocks.
    What had started out as an act of bravado, supported by everyone, had suddenly become an attack on his own reputation.
    A reputation that was now in the gutters thanks to the combined efforts of a few people.
    'I won't forget this...' Arius growled silently as he cast a glance at Elma, then at Seth, and finally... on Ash, who was now re-introducing himself to everyone present.
    'Just you wait! I'll make you all pay!'

 Chapter 26: Alpha Class

    Chapter 26: Alpha Class"I look forward to learning with you all again."
    A round of applause followed Ash's introduction, and while he maintained a harmless smile on his face, he was coldly analyzing the response of the class to his return.
    'As expected... many of them are dissatisfied.'
    Ash never expected a warm welcome, and so he wasn't particularly shaken by the pushback he received and the numerous annoyed glares that the students suppressed for the sake of their survival within and outside the Academy.
    He also wasn't surprised by the support he received from two of his classmates¡ªSeth and Elma.
    'Seth would have spoken much earlier, but he knows that Ashfelt doesn't like it when he intervenes in his business, which is why he kept quiet for as long as he could.' Ash grinned to himself.
    It was only because Ash never said anything in his defense, and Arius kept sending attacks his way that Seth finally spoke up and defended his brother.
    'As for Elma, if she was the first to speak up against Arius, the consequences could be dire... which is why she waited for Seth to say something before she talked.'
    Her words were far harsher than Seth's, but she could always hide behind him if things ever escalated beyond its current level. This could be done through various methods, but the best way was through a certain bond that couldn't be so quickly dismissed.
    'I wonder if they've already started dating already...' Ash wondered to himself as he looked at Elma and Seth.
    In the original storyline, the two of them had a strictly contractual dating relationship in the Academy. This was done to protect Elma, who often got into trouble for fighting against the hypocrisy of her Noble classmates¡ªall of which caught Seth's attention. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    By dating her, he shielded her under his Zephyr name, and so... anytime she said something negative to a Noble, it was like she was speaking on his behalf.
    'Of course, Seth also benefited from this by gaining access to the Beta Class Students, using Elma as the bridge that connected him and them.'
    After the White Death Incident was resolved, a lot of resentment was unearthed and the relationship between both Classes worsened. It was Seth who bridged the gap and kept the peace, eventually leading the entire Apprentice Stage into the path of peaceful coexistence.
    'But... all of that is supposed to happen several months from now.' Ash sighed. 'Thanks to the changed timeline, a lot of things have been hurried, and I wonder if their relationship has also been affected as a result.'
    He didn't know, but considering how she could speak with so much gusto, she had to have his backing already.
    Or, at least, some other backing.
    'Don't tell me...' Ash quickly shook his head and instantly dismissed the thought that popped into his head.
    "You may have your seat, Master Ashfelt."
    "Thank you, Instructor." Ash smiled, nodding at the man beside him. 'You really are going through a lot.'
    He felt a tinge of pity for the Instructor since the poor man was responsible for coordinating entitled teenagers who held more power in the Academy than he did.
    Any wrong move, and he could lose his job.
    Maybe even his life.
    'It's why he couldn't easily come to my defense, and chose to be a neutral party once Seth and Arius began their exchange.' Ash reasoned, walking past his classmates so he could reach his seat.
    It was at the last row of the class, thankfully close to the window so he could peacefully reminisce while staring at the distant clouds that floated in the sky.
    After finally settling into the class, the Instructor made a few announcements¡ªwhich included the suspension of the Joint Training between Alpha and Beta Class Students.
    This caused the sour mood of the class to vanish¡ªat least for the time being¡ªas many students celebrated this news.
    Finally, they wouldn't have to waste their time fighting the weak Betas.
    As for Ash, he had an indifferent attitude towards the news.
    'I already expected this, which is why I aimed for Alpha Class during my Re-Entrance Exam.'
    He didn't have to show as much as he did in the Exam, but the reason he went above and beyond was because he wanted to prove that he was undoubtedly Alpha Class material, and one reason for that¡ªdespite his intentions of not standing out¡ªwas due to this piece of news.
    'If the Joint Training Sessions are suspended, I won't be able to observe Seth as much as I want to... and right now, I need to stay close to him.'
    So many things had changed from the original story, but if he remained in close proximity with the protagonist of the novel and did a bit of damage control, he could salvage the situation and ensure some things were back on track.
    He couldn't effectively do that if he was in Beta Class.
    **********
    Lectures in Alpha Class were much different from what he experienced in Beta Class, since the Instructors were far more sophisticated, and they were a lot more technical in their presentations of certain ideas.
    Alpha Class was way ahead of Beta Class in the curriculum, and it wasn't even close.
    This wasn't very surprising, though.
    After all, unlike Beta Class Students, Alpha Class consisted of Nobles who had already recieved prior education in several topics, giving them a head start. As a result, they were able to learn and progress faster than even the best Beta Class Student.
    Elma, who was fortunate enough to make it into Alpha Class, had to work extra hard in order to keep up with the fast pace of the classes and also read for longer hours so she could catch up to everything she missed while she was in Beta Class.
    Unlike other Beta Class Students, she had also received a prior education¡ªalbeit informal¡ªfrom her town's librarian.
    That gave her an edge and allowed her to compete where most wouldn't be able to step into.
    The world is filled with many unfair advantages, and unless a person possess at least one of them... they are doomed to a life of mediocrity forever. Unfortunately, these unfair advantages are usually borne out of luck and nothing more.
    They can be refined through hard work and effort, but the foundation is still luck.
    After all, no one works hard to be born rich or talented.
    That is just life.
    After classes ended for the day, Ash left the Alpha Block of the Apprentice Wing and walked towards the Beta area.
    He had already spoken a little to Elma, and they agreed to hang out later. Seth also tried speaking to him, but he blew the boy off¡ªas usual. He avoided Arius throughout the day, and he also didn't speak to any other Alpha Class Students since they were staying away from him in an attempt not to get caught in the crossfire between the Zephyr and Inkwood feud.
    As a result, Ash ended up a loner... walking alone as he headed to his destination.
    'Just the way I like it...' He smiled, inhaling the fragrant breeze.
    Not long after he entered the Beta Area, he noticed a particular student hurriedly walking towards the Library.
    It was the student he was looking for.

 Chapter 27: Moonlit Revelation

    Chapter 27: Moonlit Revelation"Dustan."
    Ash approached the lanky student who still had heavy bags under his eyes¡ªalmost like he had been sleep-deprived for days.
    As soon as Dustan heard his name, he paused and turned to look at the one who called him.
    "A-ah... Master Ashfelt Zephyr, how may I help you?"
    He bowed his head slightly in respect, keeping his gaze low and hidden so Ash couldn't see the contempt, disgust, or whatever emotion he was keeping hidden from him. As a Beta Class nobody, this was the only safety mechanism he could employ.
    Especially now that a lot of scrutiny had fallen on them for the White Death saga.
    "Dustan..." Ash sighed, coming closer to the boy. "Can we talk?"
    The last time they spoke, things didn't go too well. Ash said some harsh things to push Dustan away, and that would have clearly given the guy a bad impression of him. In actuality, Ash was simply playing his part as a character, but he could see how that could be interpreted by those he interacted with.
    For example, he didn't despise Seth at all.
    In fact, he admired him.
    However, all of their interactsions showed Ash having clear animosity towards his twin brother.
    All of it was for the sake of playing a character.
    'The original Dustan already bore resentment towards the nobles of the Alpha Class. Having one of them befriend him, and then toss him aside despite his good intentions would only reinforce those negative emotions within him.'
    In order to ensure that an incident like the White Death, or something even worse, didn't happen again, it was best for Ash to make reparations.
    There was also an additional objective, but he wasn't willing to explore that at the moment.
    "I wanted to apologize for my actions, and the words I said to you back then." He said, placing his hand on the shorter boy's shoulder. "You were only looking out for me, and I appreciate your help."
    "D-don't mention it... it's fine."
    "No, it's not!" Ash raised his voice slightly. "I made a stupiid decision that had unforeseen consequences, and it's a miracle I'm back here, honestly."
    "W-well... it's good to have you back."
    "I couldn't have done it without your help, Dustan. You were the one who planted the idea of reapplying in my head."
    "I-I did?"
    "Yes. You mentioned it before leaving my room, remember? I didn't even know we could do that."
    "Really? I don't remember saying that, though."
    "Well, it doesn't matter." Ash beamed. "What matters is that I'm back, and I would like to be friends with you again."
    Just as Seth had Elma as his bridge, Ash planned on Dustan to be his connecting link to the Beta Class Students. That way, he could ensure things didn't go out of control and he could keep controlling things from the shadows.
    "Really? You want to be friends with me? Why?" Dustan asked a little suspiciously. "You're already back in Alpha Class, right? Shouldn't you have friends there."
    "Well... most of them aren't too happy about my return."
    "For real?"
    "Yes." Ash nodded, making sure his expression was as sad as he could make it. "They all think the Academy was preferential or something, which is why I returned there."
    "That can't be the case... I mean, I don't think it is the case."
    "Right? I worked hard on the Re-Entrance!"
    "I'm sure you did." Dustan smiled broadly. "Don't mind those Alpha Class jerks..."
    "Thank you!"
    The two of them laughed, and before long the unease that permeated the air vanished, replaced by lightheartedness and the blossoming wave of friendship.
    It didn't take very long for both students to look at each other and nod in unison.
    They had become friends once again.
    "We should meet later tonight... you know, to celebrate!" Ash recommended. "I know just the place."
    Dustan reluctantly agreed with a smile.
    He would normally be in the library at that time, but friendship sometimes demanded compromise, and he was willing to sacrifice some of his study time for his only friend, Ashfelt Zephyr.
    "You should call me Ash from now on too! Friends don't need honorifics."
    "Okay!"
    With the agreement finalized between the two of them, Ash and Dustan shook hands and parted ways,
    **********
    It was late in the night, and two students¡ªa boy and a girl¡ªwalked carefreely, their bodies close to each other as they spoke.
    In the few weeks that the terror of the White Death reigned, no student would dare to be out this late, not to mention discussing and laughing so casually. However, with the culprit already captured and executed, and the curfew now removed, many students had resumed their late night activities¡ªmost of which was spent in the Library or the Training Hall.
    These two students were no different, as they were returning from the library after studying together.
    "I have to admit, Ashfelt, I was pleasantly surprised in the library today."
    "Hmph!" Ash smiled as he glanced at the girl, Elma. "You mean you were surprised that I could read a book for over an hour without saying anything?"
    "Yeah!" She chuckled. "But then again, I shouldn't have expected anything less from the man who solved the case of the White Death."
    "Shh... don't let anyone hear you say that."
    "Why? It's not like they're going to believe any of it¡ªAshfelt Zephyr... going out of his way to solve the killings happening on Campus, and actually succeeding where many failed."
    "I can tell you're being sarcastic, but I don't know wheteher to be proud of that fact or hurt."
    "Both maybe?" Elma giggled even more. "Honestly, I would have taken all the glory for myself if I were you."
    "Really?"
    "Yup!" She nodded. "Much better than letting some smug old aristocrat steal my thunder."
    "Fair enough..."
    They kept walking until they arrived at a park, somewhere calm and serene.
    A bench conveniently waited for them at that location, and they sat there after exchanging a mutual glance of agreement.
    For a moment, the two of them were silent. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    They simply enjoyed the quiet atmosphere of the night, and the cool breeze that brushed past both of their skin.
    After a while, Elma rested her head on Ash's shoulder and smiled.
    "This is nice..."
    Ash looked at her for a moment, before removing his shoulder from her head, almost causing her to lose balance.
    "H-hey!"
    "Don't look at me that way." Ash chuckled. "I don't want to get into any trouble for offering my shoulder to my brother's girl."
    "What's that supposed to mean?"
    He offered her a knowing look, his smilr broadening as he parted his lips.
    "You and Seth..."
    "What? No! We're not together, if that's what you're insinuating."
    "Really?"
    At this point, Elma grabbed his hand and dragged him closer to her, resting her head on his shoulder once again.
    "Yup!" She tapped his forehead with her finger. "But I actually wouldn't mind being together with you..."
    "I see." Ash's smile vanished a little. "So you were after me all along, not my brother..."
    "What are you talking about?"
    "The protection of our family name." Ash shrugged. "Seth would have been the more secure choice, so I'm surprised you'd choose me."
    Elma scoffed immediately, pulling away from Ash. "You think that's what this is about?"
    "It isn't?"
    "No, idiot!" She groaned. "I actually like you a lot, Ash... and I thought you liked me too, with everything that's happened aleady."
    Ash maintained his deadpan expression.
    He had definitely given off that impression, and him studying together with her and even inviting her on this late night walk was part of that.
    But¡ª
    "You should be with Seth."
    "Why? Why would you say that?" She sighed. "You don't even see how amazing you are, do you?"
    "I'm... amazing?"
    "Yes! I mean, solving the mystery of the White Death is something noteworthy. You also managed to defeat me, and even returned to Alpha Class... all with your own efforts."
    "Well..."
    "Don't forget that you owe me an explanation regarding how you were able to beat me so easily, and why you have been hiding your strength and intelligence all this time."
    Ash looked at Elma with a strange smile, falling silent for a moment.
    Then, he spoke.
    "I am someone who suddenly transmigrated into this world, a novel that I rigorously read on Earth, which explains my vast knowledge. My incredible power can be attributed to the nature of my Soul and the preparations I made based on my knowledge of this world."
    Elma's eyes widened as she heard all this.
    Confusion, mixed with surprise, was plainly displayed on her beautiful face.
    "W-what are you saying? I'm confu¡ª"
    "The reason I said you should be with Seth is because it follows the original storyline... but you're not interested in following that, are you?"
    "I don't under¡ª"
    "That's why you chose to use Britta as the White Death and completely messed up the first act of the novel's storyline." Ash sighed, looking at Elma dead in the eye. "It's also why you've chosen to remain close to me under the pretext of romance, and why you continue to act oblivious, even now."
    At this point, Elma ceased her surprised expression.
    Instead, she returned Ash's cold and calculating gaze, her violet eyes reflecting his face as his crimson one reflected hers.
    Finally, afteer the tense dance of silence, she opened her mouth to ask:
    "How did you find out?"

 Chapter 28: Second Transmigrator

    Chapter 28: Second Transmigrator"From the very beginning... or so I would have liked to say."
    Ash and Elma remained on the bench, both of them staring at each other as they sat and enjoyed the night breeze. The silence between them created a thick layer of tension so visceral that it would cause many to shiver.
    However, the two remained perfectly calm as they stared at each other.
    "The truth is, I still wasn't a hundred percent sure until you asked how I figured it out, which has now solidified my suspicion into a fact." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "I see..." Elma muttered. "So I slipped up."
    "You could say that."
    Even if she hadn't at this moment, she would have at some other point. Ash already had his eyes on her, and so it was only a matter of time before she would fall.
    "Even then, how... did you even begin to suspect me? I was sure I kept the perfect facade."
    These words caused Ash's eyes to glint a little and even made his smile grow broader.
    Elma wasn't wrong.
    "Yes... you did." Ash nodded. "To the point where I thought that I was the one being paranoid and grasping at straws."
    It was a frustrating thing to do¡ªfiguring out exactly what kind of person Elma truly was. But, when Ash pieced every little shard of the puzzle together, he arrived at a plausible enough explanation for her guilt.
    'The most obvious one is the fact that Britta isn't a transmigrator.'
    If she was a Transmigrator, she would have two Souls, and if she had two Souls... she would have far stronger abilities than she displayed. She would be able to break out of her confines by utilizing her other Familiar¡ªsomething no one would expect.
    She would also be able to do a lot more than mere projection, especially with the intelligence and resourcefulness that the White Death had been displaying throughout its killings.
    That led to his second reason for suspicion.
    'She was not particularly intelligent or resourceful...' Ash thought to himself. 'For someone who was the White Death, orchestrating all those killings and gathering accomplices, there was almost nothing special about her.'
    She was ordinary in every sense of the word¡ªa true Beta Class Student.
    Normally, this would have fit the perfect profile for the White Death, but considering the kind of intelligence that the White Death had displayed thus far, Britta's abilities seemed a little too mundane.
    Even Dustan had a much better kit of both intelligence and skill.
    Britta, on the other hand, relied so much on the fact that she was The White Death and nothing more.
    That raised suspicion that she was probably not working alone... and that there was perhaps another mastermind¡ªthis time, most likely a transmigrator, pulling the strings.
    But who could it be?
    At first, Ash suspected Dustan, but the boy had almost no relevance to the current case, which brought his attention to the only person who had such close proximity and control to the case.
    'Elma herself...' Ash sighed internally. 'Once I realized that, I began to backpedal and look at things with the benefit of hindsight.'
    After studying all of his past conversations with the girl and re-observing her behavior, he discovered a rather interesting thing.
    Elma wanted to blame the Beta Students, and that fact was displayed in their earliest discussions about the White Death and the hint left behind by the Instructor.
    'Elma specifically pointed to the Beta Students Dorm being in the East, which would construe that they are the suspects.'
    Elma was once a Beta Student, and in the novels, while she didn't associate a lot with the Beta Class after her elevation¡ªat least, not until Seth fully entered the picture¡ªshe still defended them vehemently, usually against the Alpha Class Students.
    It was why Seth was so intrigued by her and drawn towards the prospect of having them be together in the first place.
    'As such, it's odd that her first instinct would be the Beta Students Dorm.'
    Of course, all of this could be dismissed by the fact that rumors were already spreading that the culprit was from Beta Class, but... Ash didn't think that would be enough to fully emancipate Elma from his suspecting gaze.
    For one, she wasn't the type to blindly follow rumors¡ªespecially one spun by the entitled Alpha Class students. Secondly, it was suspicious how the rumor started, to begin with, since only one Alpha Student was killed in the entire incident.
    It was very likely that the whole thing was engineered by someone; possibly Elma.
    'In fact, it's also very likely that she's the one who planted the [Beware The White Death] words after orchestrating Dahmer's death, since that would give her sufficient justifications to point to the Beta Class Dorms after her help was sought out by Seth.'
    Indeed, Seth was the one who solved the original White Death murders, but it took several months for him to catch the killer, and it wasn't until a friend of his was killed by the serial killer.
    'Elma probably expected Seth to bump into her in the cafe or something, and they would solve the White Death murders together. In fact, it'S due to this specific fact in the novel that I knew I would find her in the cafe.'
    A lot of orchestrations had been put in place by her to ensure that she would be guiltless, while steering the hands of whoever approached her..
    'I'm sure she even began to suspect me as a Transmigrator after I approached her, defeated her, and displayed charisma and intellect that far surpassed anything Ashfelt displayed in the novel.'
    She wanted to observe him some more, so she agreed to their relationship and pulled her weight, making some intentional lapses so that he would fill in the blanks and show the extent of his intelligence.
    Her tactic was incredibly smart¡ªnearly flawless too.
    In fact, she would have gotten away with practically all of her crimes too.
    After all, Ash only had a few cherry-picked moments that fueled his suspicion, and he also had a motive to suspect another player which could have influenced his bias.
    Ultimately, he had no definitive proof... until she slipped up in the most glaring way possible.
    'She fled from the White Death despite knowing that it was merely a projection.' Ash smiled internally. 'Only those who have read the novels should be able to know the special ability of the White Death's projection.'
    In essence, in that single moment¡ªa scenario orchestrated by Ash¡ªshe revealed herself to be the culprit.
    "I always found it suspicious how you were readily on board with the plan, showing almost no sign of hesitation or bias after I defeated you. It was almost like a polar switch that I couldn't fully understand." Ash chuckled as his eyes narrowed on the girl.
    "Hmm... but you still haven't told me how I slipped up." Elma pouted rather cutely. "What did I do specifically? Was it my little joke in the classroom today? Or did you already suspect me at that point?"
    Ash shook his head internally and laughed even more.
    'She intentionally made that joke and glanced at me once she did because she wanted to see what kind of face I would make.'
    Why?
    Because Elma wanted to be sure that Ash felt certain that he had caught the White Death and there were no additional conspirators. With the intelligence that he had displayed, Elma was still unsure if he was on the lookout for any additional suspects.
    However, Ash already noticed this and behaved in a manner that brought her relief. He also spoke about the White Death in the past tense and used conclusive words whenever they discussed it, so she thought it was well behind him.
    Hence, this confrontation must have come as a real shock to her.
    "When fighting the White Death, you loudly declared your name, and you also made sure to state out your intentions to fight against it, despite the projection not making any advances or malicious moves towards you." Ash spoke softly. "I found that a little suspicious."
    He had no intention of letting her know all of his other thoughts and the other reasons he suspected her as the true mastermind.
    This was all he was willing to say on the matter.
    "Ahh... I see." Elma's smile grew even broader. "So you suspected me because Britta didn't attack me on sight?"
    "Perhaps. It looked to me as if the White Death wanted to talk."
    That added validity to his theory that the White Death and Elma were co-conspirators, with the former being an average Beta Class Dropout, and latter being the Transmigrator.
    'Also, during my few moments talking with Britta... I got to know about how she looked up to Elma and how she had hoped to reach Alpha Class one day.'
    It was why he specifically revealed his plans which involved him and Elma plotting, aggravating her to the point where she had to attack as a last stand.
    And, sure enough, she attacked Elma¡ªnot him.
    'It shows that Britta felt really betrayed by Elma working with me to catch her¡ªusing her as a scapegoat to evade suspicion herself.'
    As for why Britta never gave up Elma during the interrogation, Ash remained unsure.
    'It's why I wanted to see her one last time.' He sighed. 'Unfortunately, they killed her.'
    Even without being certain, Ash could think of a few ways that Britta could be forced to remain silent: the most obvious one being a Soul Contract.
    'It would be physically impossible for Britta to even reveal Elma's true identity, even if she wanted to.' Ash sighed. 'And the higher-ups held no suspicion regarding Britta working with another person because they were simply relieved that the White Death had been caught and Elma made sure to tie all loose ends so nothing concrete pointed in her direction.'
    In essence, it was a perfectly clean case.
    "You do know you have no concrete evidence that I'm who you're looking for, right?"
    That was true: it was his word against hers.
    'It's the second reason I decided to aim for Alpha Class... so I won't be in a disadvantageous position when dealing with her.'
    Ultimately, though, he needed hard facts and logic to hand her over to the authorities.
    But¡ª
    "Who said I ever had the intention of reporting you?"

 Chapter 29: Conversation

    Chapter 29: ConversationSilence washed into the space as both parties continued their staring contest.
    "You have no intention of reporting me to the authorities?" Elma scoffed, breaking the perfect decorum surrounding them. "So what's your plan? You want to kill me yourself? You want to kidnap me, and¡ª?"
    "How about we have a conversation?"
    "A... Conversation...?" S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Elma's face displayed genuine shock the moment she heard those words from him.
    "Yes, a conversation." Ash sighed. "For a long time, I thought I was the only Transmigrator in this world, but knowing there are others¡ªeven if it's just one more¡ªopens the door to a bunch of questions."
    Elma's confusion slowly vanished as she crossed her legs and leaned in, her face on her palm as she stared very amusedly at Ash.
    "Interesting... so you would like to have a talk with a killer, just because she's a transmigrator?"
    "Well, I don't have a lot of options, do I?"
    Ash smirked, leaning away while also shrugging. "Besides, it's not like you killed them, right? You made Britta do it... because you don't like getting involved in the messy bits."
    "Pfft! Is that your roundabout way of trying to justify my actions?"
    "How would you justify them, then?"
    This question caused Elma to smile ruefully. "Who says I want to justify them?"
    "...."
    Ash remained quiet as he stared at her.
    "Maybe I'm just a psychopathic killer who enjoys the thrill of chaos and death. Maybe I'm not even a girl, but I'm actually a man who reincarnated into this very beautiful body."
    Instantly, Ash's face squeezed in disgust.
    "Please tell me that isn't the case."
    "Pfft! I guess you'll never know." Elma winked, even blowing him a cute kiss.
    For some reason, her action¡ªsomething that would be regarded as cute by unsuspecting men¡ªsuddenly felt wrong to him.
    Perhaps it was because Elma was possibly a man, or maybe because she was a psychopath.
    Either way, her presence was slowly becoming unsettling.
    "I was hoping we could rub minds together, and¡ª"
    "You mean you're hoping you can glean as much information from me about my transmigration and knowledge of this world before you kill me." Elma interrupted him with a cruel smile.
    Ash maintained an innocent expression.
    "Don't play coy with me, boy!" She chuckled. "If you don't kill me, I'm going to kill you... and I'm pretty sure you already know that."
    ".... Did you receive any message when you came into this world? For example, changing the future and reaching its ultimate ending? Is that why you're changing the timeline and¡ª"
    "Blah! Blah! Blah!"
    Elma jumped to her feet, a crazy smile slowly forming on her face as she shot Ash a very intense glare.
    "Are we going to fight or what?!"
    Ash sighed instantly.
    'Looks like it's no use, huh? She doesn't want to cooperate, which means she probably doesn't have a lot of useful information that she can use to bargain with.'
    It was that, or she was indeed a crazy person who wanted to fight and kill impassionately.
    'Considering how scheming she has been, I doubt she's merely being crazy.' He eyed her suspiciously.
    Elma was after something, even now.
    But what?
    "Now that you've figured out my identity, there's no place for me in this Academy anymore. I'd be better off just dropping out and escaping somewhere." Elma began. "That means I can show the power hidden in my second Soul... something you can't do, right?"
    Ash remained quiet, looking at her intently.
    "That means I have the advantage in this fight, which is why you'd rather we don't fight or stall for time until you activate whatever trap you have in mind. Well... I'm not stupid enough to fall for it."
    At this point, the boy had no choice but to sigh very loudly.
    'Looks like she isn't after anything but survival. She recognizes the kind of threat I pose to her, which is why her instincts are telling her to get rid of me.'
    He shook his head in frustration.
    "Believe it or not, I genuinely just want to talk to you. If I wanted to set you up or silence you, trust me... you'd already be dead."
    "Oh? Is that a fact?"
    "Yes, it is." He groaned. "I already revealed my identity to you, and I even told you how I figured out you were the killer. You already know how resourceful I am, so you should also know that I would have already thought about this very thoroughly before approaching you with this."
    He wasn't a fool.
    Of course, he knew she would have the advantage if her identity as the true mastermind was exposed. Not only would she have less to lose, which would allow her to use her full power, but since he had already exposed his identity as a Transmigrator, she could use such information to her advantage.
    "You can be rest assured that I won't report you to the authorities, since you already know of my identity as a Transmigrator and can tell them about my multiple Souls." He added.
    With the Empire's latest technology, they could detect his second Soul if they had a reason to look for it.
    If they did, they would undoubtedly find his second Familiar as well.
    "Once that happens, things would naturally get very bad for me." Ash confessed. "Why would I ever want that?"
    "So what? You could be interested in merely killing me!"
    "How?"
    He was at the disadvantage even if they were to fight at the current moment, since she could use her full arsenal without as many repercussions as he could.
    'I have no idea what her second Familiar is, though I doubt it is stronger than mine. Even if it isn't, if she uses its power, I will have no choice but to use the Phoenix' power, or I'll surely die.'
    The problem was, even if he used the power of his second Familiar, he would be exposed and this would put him in a pit of troubles.
    "Can't you see that I've made myself vulnerable on purpose? I want you to trust me."
    "...." For a moment, Elma stared at him in silence.
    He stood up, raising both of his hands and stretching them sideways, revealing he had no harmful intentions.
    "We can also enter into Soul Contracts, to ensure I don't harm you and you don't reveal my secrets at any point."
    Elma was still quiet, but it was obvious that her guard had been lowered.
    This caused Ash to smile, returning to sit on the bench, while tapping on the space beside him.
    "Come... sit." He nudged at her, his crimson eyes gleaming with pure intentions.
    "I genuinely want to talk."

 Chapter 30: Soul Contract

    Chapter 30: Soul ContractThat night, Ash and Elma had a very lengthy conversation.
    They talked about their lives on Earth, how they were both big fans of the novel "Legend of the Lost Prince" and how they had both suddenly transmigrated into this world with only one message embedded in their minds.
    [Want To Return Home? Change The World And Reach The Perfect Ending!]
    This meant different things to the both of them.
    While Ash's decision was to remain an Extra and expertly manipulate key moments so that he achieved the ending he envisioned, his counterpart thought she would drastically alter the scenarios so they would have different outcomes and ramifications.
    For example: what would happen if the White Death was never caught?
    This would drastically change the storyline. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    All of these alterations would chaotically reshape what the world previously was into a brand new tale¡ªa story unrecognizable from its initial state.
    As for how she was able to easily orchestrate those murders, especially as someone with Earth's modern sensibilities, the answer was simple: Elma did not view the people of this world as actual human beings.
    Everything here existed in the novel, which meant none of it was real.
    It was similar to the way people engaged in incredible violence in games¡ªeven hyper-realistic ones¡ªand how anyone could do whatever they wanted in their dreams without any real-life ramifications.
    To her, this was like a dream¡ªone she would wake up from if she completed the objective. It all made sense to Ash, and he perfectly understood her motives and the action guiding them.
    Whether it was Britta, or Seth, or anyone else in this world or in the Empire... they were all characters in a story they read.
    They weren't real¡ªat least, not in the way that the two of them were.
    "There could be other Transmigrators in this world." Ash revealed to Elma. "What do you think of that?"
    "Yeah... I can see that now." She responded.
    Just like him, she previously thought she was the only Transmigrator. As a result, a lot of her actions and plans centered around herself and tilted towards the more brutal aspects of nature¡ªnot particularly minding the moral consequence of her actions.
    After all, it was 'her' dream.
    However, with the introduction of new players, things had gotten a little more complicated.
    "Not everyone will be as understanding as you. " Elma sighed. "Many will frown at my actions, even though it was all for reaching the objective."
    "That's why we have to keep it a secret."
    Ash had previously recommended a Soul Contract, and he brought it up again.
    "Let's enter an agreement." He began. "I'll promise not to try and kill you or tell anyone about your involvement in the White Death incident or the fact that you're a Transmigrator with multiple Souls and a second Familiar. I would have promised not to harm you as well, but we could be involved in competitions in the future, and we might have to fight each other at that point... so you have to understand why I can't agree to that."
    Elma nodded in perfect understanding.
    She wasn't stupid, and since she had read the novel, she knew about the competitions and many other incidents that would require students to face each other in combat or other ways. Besides 'harm' could be interpreted in many ways, so a Contract completely eliminating that would be too severe.
    "In exchange, you'll promise not to tell anyone about my secrets¡ªme being a Transmigrator, having two Souls, and having a second Familiar."
    Surely, that was an acceptable deal¡ªall things considered.
    "So, I can try and kill you?"
    "I mean, you won't be able to, and you honestly have no reason to... but sure, if that's what will give you the assurance that you can trust me... then okay."
    Elma made a smug smile at him upon hearing that. "You really want me to trust you, huh?"
    "Yes." He nodded. "Two Transmigrators are better than one."
    Having a partner who understood the novel would really help him in completing the main objective. He could rub minds with the person, and they could execute whatever plans they eventually developed with much better efficiency.
    A subordinate was preferable, but a partner wasn't a bad idea as well.
    "So... what do you say?"
    ************
    Ash found himself walking by himself after escorting Elma to her dorm.
    They had successfully concluded the Soul Contract, which meant they were officially partners at this point. Of course, Elma used this chance to pitch the idea of them dating, but he instantly shot her down.
    He wasn't planning on being tied down yet, plus she was still Seth's interest at the moment.
    It wasn't wise to change that... at least, not without a good reason.
    'It's been a very stressful night, but it looks like I'm finally done with that big headache.'
    In all honesty, he had no idea what to expect when he confronted Elma. This was because he didn't at all know what the person behind the mask was actually like. He had a good idea now, though, which gave him some measure of relief.
    Still... he could tell that she didn't fully trust him.
    'It's normal.' He shrugged. 'I can't actually hurt her in any meaningful way, and she can kill me at any time... that should cause her to lower her defenses in time.'
    All in all, it was a productive night¡ªone that was about to get even longer.
    "Sorry I'm late." Ash said as soon as he arrived at the diner at the edge of the Beta Area in the Apprentice Wing.
    He was speaking to a lanky boy seated not too far from the entrance.
    "A-Ah, it's no problem." Dustan responded with a beaming smile. "I arrived not too long ago."
    This response made Ash laugh silently, glad to see the very cliche excuse being used in such a manner. Regardless, he could see that Dustan was taking their friendship very serious, and the fact that he was happy to see Ash despite the latter arriving considerably later than their agreed time-frame, showed his commitment to their relationship.
    'This is good... very good.'
    Ash sat directly opposite Dustan, elbows on his desk as his face rested on the back of his flattened hands.
    "Once again... congratulations on being promoted to Alpha Class." Dustan re-ignited the conversation after moments of silence.
    "Thank you, Dustan." Ash grinned nicely. "About that... I have a proposition, but it hinges on a question."
    "What question?"
    Ash leaned closer, his smile widening as he parted his lips.
    "Do you still want to get into Alpha Class?"

 Chapter 31: Falling Out

    Chapter 31: Falling OutDustan was silent¡ªunderstandably so.
    He had just been asked a rather peculiar question; one he hadn't thought he would ever be asked by the likes of Ashfelt Zephyr.
    "Do you still want to get into Alpha Class?"
    The answer to that was pretty obvious: Yes.
    However, Dustan couldn't help but feel like he was being trapped at the moment. Depending on his answer, Ashfelt could interact with him differently.
    'Despite being friendly with me, he is still a Noble. If I say I'm interested in Alpha Class, he might want to get in my way... especially since he probably befriended me to have connections in Beta Class...'
    These were Dustan's thoughts, but before he could open his lips to say anything that could count as a response, Ash's voice echoed into his ears.
    "To be honest, I need your help for something... and it's something that will benefit the both of us."
    "Really?" Dustan asked. "What's that?"
    In his mind, he already had an idea of what Ashfelt would ask of him: something along the lines of keeping control¡ªor maybe even watch¡ªover Beta Class through him.
    Either way, he was already expecting¡ª
    "I want to kill someone... and I need your assistance."
    "E-eh?"
    At this point, Dustan was shocked.
    Who wouldn't be?
    Ashfelt Zephyr, a Noble and student of Alpha Class, barely an adult, wanted to kill someone and needed the help of a Beta Class Student like him...
    The whole thing was a surprising mess.
    However, the situation was still salvageable.
    "You... want me to do your dirty work for you?" At this point, Dustan rose to his feet, smashing both hands on the table as he glared at Ash.
    "Yes."
    "Classic Alpha Class Student move! You think we Beta Class Students are nothing but pawns for you, right? Just because we are being oppressed as commoners, and this White Death Incident has made us susceptible to even more prejudice, you think you can use us as pawns? You think you can use me as a pawn to keep an eye on everyone and also drag me into your mess? No way!"
    Surely, Ashfelt should have known the kind of thing he was asking Dustan to do.
    The consequence could be mitigated for a Noble like Ashfelt, but if a Beta Class Commoner was ever caught in the act of murder, it meant certain death for them.
    Britta was a good example of that fact.
    "Go do your dirty work yourself... I'm out!" As soon as Dustan said this, he left the table and walked out the door.
    Ash was calm as he witnessed all of this happen.
    Then, he smiled.
    'Is this arrogance or foolishness? Speaking so boldly against a Noble of my calibre, in public for that matter...' His smile grew even more intense. 'No, this is something else.'
    Not long after, Ash was served his hot coffee brew, and he drank it with a glint of amusement in his eyes as his lips curled up in excitement.
    "What an interesting guy...'
    ******
    The next couple of days were uneventful, to say the least.
    The unrest between Beta and Alpha Class only seemed to worsen, and the Joint Training remained suspended. Lectures were kept at the normal pace, and the students advanced in their curriculum as they ought to.
    Life in the Academy was normally like this¡ªboring school life, learning the theoretical and practical facets of being a Mage.
    After all, it is only with understanding that manifesting can occur.
    And so... as naturally as the sun rises and falls, so also did the chaos of the White Death experience a decline in relevance.
    Eventually, hardly anyone spoke about it.
    Not Alpha... and not Beta.
    "Sigh..." Dustan left the library and proceeded to his dormitory.
    He was exhausted from another day of lectures and studying. At this point, he wanted nothing more than to lay down on his bed and let the sweet warmth of sleep take him into dreamland.
    If only he didn't have to wake up so early for classes the next day, his joy would have been even greater.
    Still... he couldn't complain about this.
    He chose this path.
    "Haa... finally." He whispered as he opened his door and entered his Beta Dorm room.
    He didn't know what the Alpha Class rooms looked like, so he had nothing to compare his considerably average abode to.
    Still, it was a decent facility.
    As a result, he had no complaints.
    Besides, he was too occupied by exhaustion to think of anything else at this point. All he wanted to do was close his eyes and rest.
    Perhaps that was why he didn't notice the silhouette that crept up from behind him.
    "Dustan..."
    "Eeeeek!" Instantly jumping due to the shock, he practically fell over backwards, his face depicting a mix of fright and then anger.
    The reason behind his fright was the suddeness of the sound, followed by the presence that was next to him. As for his rage, it appeared because he instantly recognized the voice.
    It was so familiar that he couldn't forget it even if he wanted to.
    And now... the owner of the voice maferialized in front of him, a smile on his face as he stretched out his hand to help him get up.
    "Sorry about that. I didn't mean¡ª"
    "What are you doing here, Ashfelt? Breaking into another student's room is an offence punishable by¡ª!"
    "I know, I know all about that... so save it." He retracted his hand and walked past Dustan, who was still on the ground.
    His eyes burned with anger, also confusion.
    Why was Ashfelt here? How did he get into his room? Did he follow him from the Library, or did he break in on his own?
    The answer eluded him.
    "Come... sit." Ash sat on the chair right beside his bed and patted the plump mattress with his right hand.
    "You must be tired. I under¡ª"
    "What are you doing in my room, Ashfelt? You still haven't answered my questio¡ª!" Before Dustan could complete his statement, a sudden pressure enveloped the room.
    It caused all the hair on his skin to stand instantly.
    "That's Master Ashfelt Zephyr to you..." Ash began, his cold gaze resting on the trembling Dustan.
    "You already said we're no longer friends, so I don't think it's such a good idea for you to address me so casually."
    "Tch..."
    Dustan knew fully well the rules, but wasn't Ashfelt being a hypocrite? He had broken into another student's dorm, yet here he was correcting Dustan regarding another regulation.
    'Still... I can't call him out on that or do anything, not right now.'
    After all, not only was Ashfelt a member of the Four Great Noble Households, he was also an Alpha Student.
    It was obvuous who would get into the most trouble if they broke the rules.
    "I-I apologize, Master Ash¡ª"
    "Pfft! I was just teasing you, Dustan." Ash grinned. "Who would have thought you'd bend over so quickly? Where's that fire you had when you flared up in the cafe?"
    "That was an ignorant mistake, Master Ashfelt. Please forgive my transgressions and show me mercy this one time."
    Dustan bowed his hesd as he made this apology.
    He didn't mean it, of course.
    However, this was how this society worked. All he could do was hope Ash wasn't going to be petty about things and escalate the matter.
    If he did... Then Dustan would have no choice but to¡ª
    "Doesn't it get hard sometimes?"
    All of a sudden, Ashfelt's voice echoed in the room.
    It was soft and thoughtful.
    Almost like a gentle whisper of the wind.
    'H-huh?' Dustan raised his head as soon as he heard this, staring straight into Ashfelt's eyes
    "Be honest with me... doesn't it get hard? The pretense..."
    "A-ah! I am truly sorry, Master Ashfelt! That isn't a pretense! It was my mistake, and it won't happen again. I am but an ignorant Beta Peasant, one who holds on candle to you and your Noble Family. Please just¡ª"
    "I'm not talking about a Beta Class Student, or being a Commoner, or even this fake applogy you're rendering to me now..." Ashfelt's lips slowly curled up until it formed a cruel smile.
    "I'm talking about pretending to be from this world, Dustan... or should I call you by your real name?"
    As he heard this, Dustan's eyes widened¡ªnearly turning bloodshot¡ªand Ash patted the bed beside him once more. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Have your seat, Jack... we have much to discuss."
    *
    *
    *
    [A/N]
    Apologies for not uploading for some days now. I've been occupied with a lot of things, and I hope to be consistent from this point on.
    This book recently got contracted, so please support with your Golden Tickets, Power Stones, and Gifts.
    A castle would be good too... hehe!
    Thanks a lot! That would really help motivate me a lot.

 Chapter 32: Uncanny Alliance

    Chapter 32: Uncanny Alliance'U-unbelievable...'
    Dustan¡ªor rather, Jack... his real name on Earth¡ªsat dumbfounded on his bed as he stared at Ashfelt in shock. He already figured the man before him was conniving and more intelligent than he let on, but not to this extent.
    This person was a monster!
    'To think he started suspecting me after I told him he could reapply to join the Academy¡ªinformation that shouldn't have been available to a student like myself at the time...' Jack thought to himself with a shiver.
    Back then, Ash acted completely naturally, as if he hadn't noticed anything off.
    'But, he took note of what I said, holding on to that slip-up as he kept observing me as I made even more slip-ups.' He shuddered. 'All this time, he has been observing me, and now...'
    Jack's eyes rested on Ash¡ªor rather, what he had in his grasp.
    A journal.
    'He found my journal, which is how he knows my name... and probably every other secret I have about my life in this world.'
    Even if he wanted to deny it, there was no longer a point at the moment.
    He had already lost.
    "Do you know why I waited this long before confronting you? Even though I already figured you were a Transmigrator for a while, I patiently waited until now... want to guess why?"
    As Ash's voice echoed in the tense room, Jack remained silent.
    "...."
    "It's because I wanted to be a hundred percent certain, or at least... as close to a hundred percent as I could get. To do that, I needed proof."
    "So you broke in here."
    "Yep! And I found this journal..." Ash waved the book, an amused smile on his face. "With this, things become a lot easier... as I was hoping they would be."
    He wouldn't be able to deny his true identity, and he would be forced to talk to Ash.
    "So what?" Jack mumbled in response.
    His tone was trembling, but his hands were tightened stubbornly. He shot Ash a glare that told him that he wouldn't give in easily.
    "You broke into my room, which is an offen¡ª"
    "You raised your voice on me in an open place and addressed me casually too... which is an offense that can be punished very severely depending on the circumstances." Ash smiled. "And you did that before I broke into this place."
    For a second, Jake froze.
    "You know what that means, right? Someone who has committed an offense can not be regarded as a normal student who is protected by the rules. In essence, my breaking into your room at this hour can not be considered an offense if we bring up your own crime." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    That was how the laws of the Empire¡ªand even the Academy¡ªfunctioned.
    The Law was only meant to protect the law-abiders.
    Any person who broke such laws was also forfeiting the protection that the law offered, and was vulnerable to threats from all angles. Of course, there was a reasonability test to things, so the scales weren't absurdly skewed.
    For example, if someone stole... they could also be robbed.
    If someone killed, they could be killed¡ªand the killer would not be punished by the Law, since the first offender already forfeited his right to life as a result of his crimes.
    However, someone who stole could not be killed without consequence.
    Hence, the reasonability test.
    "You besmirched my family name by raising your voice at me and addressing me casually." Ash shrugged. "And I broke into your room, not stealing anything or harming you... so I feel like the scales balance out."
    "Tch... did you plan this from the start?"
    Ash shrugged, his face still a mask of amusement. "Perhaps... perhaps not."
    Hearing all of this information only left Jack more confused. After all, if Ash's actions already balanced the scales, then he had lost his actual blackmail material.
    'He can no longer take this matter up with the authorities, since he has performed an action that cancels out my own.' Jack thought to himself. 'So, I don't need to apologize any longer or be at his mercy.'
    The only other blackmail content that Ash could use was the journal, but that would also expose Ash himself as a Transmigrator, so there was no way he would do that.
    After analyzing all of these things, Jack became confounded.
    "Why are you here, then? You have no ammunition left to use against me from how I see things..." He clenched his teeth and made sure to maintain a confident facade.
    "Hm? Ammunition to use against you? What are you taking about?"
    "E-eh...?"
    Jack became even more confused.
    He always assumed that Ashfelt wanted to blackmail him into doing his bidding, but it seemed that was not the case.
    "The only reason I brought up the blackmail and all was to bring the both of us to this moment... so we can have a conversation." Ash stretched out his hand, returning the journal in his possession to Jack.
    "Just... a conversation?"
    "Yes." Ash sighed. "I understand that you don't trust me, but you're going to have to if you want to survive in this Academy... especially with me knowing what I know."
    "W-what's that supposed to mean?"
    "The White Death isn't dead... I mean, the real White Death."
    "W-what? H-how do you¡ª?!"
    "Because I was the one who caught the White Death." Ash groaned a little, adjusting his position on the seat.
    "Just relax and let me explain..."
    ************
    [Moments Later]
    It didn't take too long for Jack to get a full grasp on everything that was happening.
    "So... the Head of Student Affairs was actually the White Death all along? He decided to set someone else up and take credit in order to suppress your actions and also bury the matter... unbelievable!"
    It was a stunning discovery¡ªone that even he could not have expected.
    "Indeed." Ash sighed. "The trail has gotten cold as a result, but that maniac is still out there... and I want to kill him before he resumes his depraved actions."
    "Ah..."
    "Gerald Lockwood belongs to one of the Four Households, so it's practically impossible for powerless students like us to take him down. However, I have a plan that could help us out with that... which is why I need your help."
    "I-I understand what you're saying now..." Jack muttered. "Now that you've explained the whole thing to me, it seems a lot more reasonable."
    Ash nodded silently.
    "I'm sorry... I thought you wanted to kill someone purely out of a personal vendetta and you simply wanted to use me to that effect." Jack mumbled, his face breaking into a genuinely apologetic one.
    As a modern individual from Earth, having all the empathy and consideration for others ingrained in his mind, he couldn't help but feel bad for his own actions and warped perspective.
    'Unlike me, who decided to simply remain silent and hide in my corner after the White Death started killing people, Ash did his best to stop the killer...' His thoughts flowed. 'Everything he has been doing has been to that effect... even now, it's the same.'
    That was admirable¡ªno, beyond admirable.
    "Okay! I'll help you, Ash."
    Jack's smile broadened as his face showed clear determination. "When do we start?"
    In response to this, Ash jumped to his feet, shrugging casually, though his face couldn't hide the excitement and relief he felt regarding Jack's answer.
    "Tonight!"
    "E-eh?" At this point, Jack's smile froze as he looked at his ally in confusion. "Y-you don't mean...?"
    "Yup! We're doing everything tonight."

 Chapter 33: Resolute Declaration

    Chapter 33: Resolute Declaration"Haaa..."
    Gerald Lockwood exhaled deeply as he rested his back on his magnificent chair, his closed eyes facing the ceiling as he enjoyed the quiet solitude of his pristine office.
    The space was large, decorated with only the finest materials, and it had served as his workplace for years. Anyone who entered this office was bound to be impressed by at least one thing there, and to many, there was certainly nothing better than this.
    However... for Gerald, this was only the beginning.
    'Thanks to me taking credit for resolving the White Death Incident, I've gotten in favor with all the concerned staff, and the Academy is in my debt.' His grin intensified. 'As a result, making moves has never been easier, and I finally have a promotion coming.'
    From being a mere Head of Student Affairs, he would finally be able to rise to the level of Academy Board Member.
    'Once I become a Board Member, I'll be able to have a direct say in how the Academy is run.'
    He would be able to shape certain things into his image.
    'Most of the members of the Board are nothing more than rich and powerful Nobles¡ªold fogeys who have no idea how to properly run an Academy. I'll show them all how it's done...'
    Since he was the one who solved the White Death Incident and held the position of Head of Student Affairs for quite a while, he already had quite the portfolio on his side.
    Quite a few members of the Academy Board were already in his pockets as well, so even after recommending him to be a member, they would support his suggestions as long as they were reasonable and none of the members on his side encountered losses from them.
    'I could use this in many ways... one of which will have to be in getting rid of that brat¡ªAshfelt Zephyr.'
    He was too much of a wild card.
    The kid was exceptional according to his observation¡ªespecially when it came to his intellect and maturity.
    'His examination officers also testified regarding his incredible potential as a Mage.'
    In essence, he was clearly going places.
    'I can't allow that!' Gerald told himself. 'If he gains sufficient power and recognition, he could expose his involvement in the White Death Incident and find a way to nullify every merit I am sure to gain from the current status quo.'
    Of course, due to the time that had passed and a few other factors, it would be difficult¡ªif not downright impossible¡ªto prove that Gerald wasn't the one who figured out the White Death's true identity.
    But¡ª
    'If anyone can pull it off, it should be him!'
    After all, the White Death Incident was impossible to resolve before Ashfelt entered into the picture. Every single day, Gerald had asked himself if he would have been able to solve the case as Ashfelt, and the answer remained the same.
    NO!
    No ordinary student¡ªor even genius¡ªcould have possibly achieved what Ashfelt did.
    'Which means it isn't out of possibility that the brat could screw me over after gaining sufficient recognition and growing bigger than he is now.'
    Knowing Ashfelt Zephyr's intelligence and immense battle potential, that moment could approach much sooner than even he could project... which meant he had to take action as quickly as possible once he became a member of the Board.
    "Whatever it takes, I must make sure Ashfelt is expelled..."
    "Just as I suspected." A sudden voice echoed in the room, forcing Gerald to sharply open up his eyes and look in the direction of the sound. "You just won't let this go..."
    "Y-you...?"
    His eyes broadened the moment he watched the silhouette before him take form.
    "Even if I let you be, you won't stop being an annoyance to me, and overall the story... Gerald Lockwood." Ashfelt Zephyr stood a small distance from his desk, both hands in his pockets as he coolly looked at him with a grave expression.
    The mere Apprentice student was looking so serious¡ªalmost like he was a full-grown adult.
    "Ashfelt Zephyr...what are you doing here?" Gerald Lockwood calmly asked, composure returning to him after his initial moment of shock.
    Ash was silent.
    "It's late at night, and this is after-hours... so it is illegal for you to be here." Gerald continued. "If you want to see me, you have to make an appointment, and it is up to me to decide whether or not to accept it... except in special circu¡ª"
    "Shut up."
    "W-wha¡ª?!" Gerald was shocked, to say the least, by the words that he heard. "What did you just say to me?"
    "There's no need to start reciting the rules about this Academy and its procedures. I know them all, but none of them apply in this instance."
    "What?"
    "You and I have business to settle, Gerald..."
    "Business?" Gerald Lockwood raised his brow. "What business could that be? I have no business with a mere Apprentice of the Academy... Alpha Student or not."
    "Is that so? So you're not planning to have me expelled from this Academy, no matter what?"
    "...."
    For a moment, Gerald Lockwood remained silent as he keenly watched Ashfelt.
    "I've been here for some time... watching you and listening to your words." Ash smiled. "I had to do it... to make sure I ingrained in my head just how much of a scummy bastard you really are." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "I have no idea what you're talking about."
    "You know, Elma... she doesn't really consider you all as real people. She prefers to see you all like NPCs... figments of imagination that aren't as real as we are." As if he was speaking to himself, Ash continued his mumble. "It's different for me, though."
    "...."
    "Even back on Earth, you were all so real to me. This world... the characters... the story..."
    "What are you¡ª?"
    "Perhaps that's why, even now, a part of me hesitates at the action I am about to take... even though I have sufficiently convinced myself of the reasons it has to be done."
    "The hell are you talking abou¡ª?"
    "Right now, however, I have had an epiphany... a reminder of what it means to live in this story."
    There was sheer silence after Ash said those words.
    "Those in Rome have to live like Romans, and so those in the continent of T'erah... under the mighty Desgarron Empire... have to live¡ªsurvive¡ªas such."
    This was a dog-eat-dog world... one where only the strongest and most brutal survived.
    There was no room for the weakness of consideration.
    "Which is why, starting from this moment, I have to forfeit all of the restraints I brought with me from Earth and do what is necessary to preserve the story and survive."
    Energy began to rise from Ash as he uttered those words.
    Gerald Lockwood's eyes widened as he witnessed this, watching as powerful winds danced around Ash and energy crackled around him like lightning.
    The storm only seemed to intensity as Ash glared at his enemy with glowing green eyes and made his resolute declaration.
    "I have to kill you."

 Chapter 34: Rank 6 Mage

    "Haha¡­ haaa¡­?"Gerald Lockwood grinned as if he was the devil, his cracked lips curling upwards so his face resembled the manifestation of malevolence. His eyes began to bulge with something akin to excitement as he slowly rose from his seat.
    "Kill me¡­ huh?" Once he fully rose from his chair, both of his hands flatly touched the smooth surface of his desk and his wide eyes remained fixed on Ash.
    "Why don¡¯t you try?"
    In his mind, while he was still plenty confused about Ash¡¯s intentions and a lot of what the brat had just said, he couldn¡¯t deny the kind of opportunity he had been presented with.
    ¡¯If he attempts to kill me, that gives me the perfect excuse to kill him, thus eliminating him from the board altogether!¡¯
    He had thought Ashfelt Zephyr was a very intelligent man, but this had to be one of the most stupid choices anyone could make. A mere Apprentice Student, no matter how skilled they were, could not stand a chance against a fully-fledged Mage.
    And not just any kind of Mage.
    ¡¯I am a Rank 6 Mage, brat!¡¯ Gerald grinned widely. ¡¯Just make one single attack, and that will give me the perfect window to strike you down!¡¯
    VWUUUSH!
    All of a sudden, the energy around Ash changed.
    The storm of wind was suddenly engulfed in bright crimson flames, creating a whirlwind of fire that covered him like a tornado. The flames licked the ground and began to swell in power¡ªalmost as if they were being fed bountifully till they grew robust to the point of eruption.
    Ash remained calm in the torrent of fire, but Gerald had the opposite expression on his face.
    ¡¯What? Wasn¡¯t his Familiar a Lesser Wind Spiri¡ª?¡¯
    VWUUUM!
    Before Gerald could complete his thoughts, the blast of fiery explosions rushed at him, destroying all the pristine decor in his office within a moment.
    "YOU¡ª!"
    In a single breath, the man activated his Spirit Arts and went even further to utilize [Externalization], manifesting a physical form for his Familiar.
    FSHUUUU!
    The storm of flames baptized his body in its ever-growing wave, but it was soon extinguished by a single gust of powerful wind caused by Gerald swinging his now-transformed hand.
    RUMBLE
    RUMBLE
    RUMBLE
    The entire office began to shake as the fires immediately vanished, revealing a man in pure silver-like armor that glistened like the genuine mineral.
    He almost seemed like a medieval knight, shrouded from head to toe in ironwork, save for the visor on his firm helmet that revealed glowing silver eyes underneath the darkness.
    "Haa¡­" Visible breaths escaped from the tiny holes in Gerald¡¯s helmet as he stood upright. "You surprised me for a moment there."
    However, there was no use.
    He was completely unscathed within his perfect protective armor, and most importantly, his Familiar stood right behind him as an even larger sentry of sheer destruction.
    The creature, appearing to be at least three meters tall, was akin to a hulking statue made of silver-colored clay, having even bulkier armor than the one Gerald had on. Both of its hands rested on an incredibly massive blade as it stood upright¡ªlike a perfect guardian¡ªand cast a heavy shadow all over the room.
    "I don¡¯t know how you managed to cast a Fire Spell of such magnitude while having a Wind Spirit as your Familiar, but it doesn¡¯t matter to me. You attacked me with intent to kill, so I¡¯ll have to repay your actions in kind."
    Since the two sides belonged to the Four Noble Households, there was no need for considerations or politics.
    One side had clearly erred, and rules were rules.
    ¡¯The security footage in my office will attest to the fact that he attacked me first, and while there will be a few people who would wonder why I didn¡¯t spare him since he was merely a child, everyone will unanimously be in my favor.¡¯
    It would have been different if this person was Seth Zephyr, the rising star of the Zephyr Household, but the boy before him was none other than Ashfelt.
    Sure, he was intelligent and had incredible potential¡­ but so what? His family didn¡¯t consider him to be nearly as valuable as his brother.
    If he perished as a result of his own foolishness, who would seriously blame Gerald?
    "This is the end¡­"
    Folding both of his hands as he enjoyed the perfect safety that his armor provided, he gave a command to his Familiar.
    "[Bladed Assault]."
    WHUUM!
    Instantly, the gigantic silver-colored blade of the colossus behind him was thrust towards Ash.
    "Hup!" Ash leaped backwards in order to create more distance between himself and the incoming attack.
    Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t enough. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The sword suddenly grew longer, almost like it was made of rubber, and easily overcame the limited distance that was supposed to restrict it.
    In a flash, it reached Ashfelt.
    CLANG!
    An invisible barrier pushed the blade away, and a sudden cracking sound¡ªlike that of shattering glass¡ªechoed in the air.
    "A protection Spell, huh? Impressive that it was able to deflect my attack¡­ but it seemed it broke from a single strike." Gerald grinned malevolently. "How will you be able to handle this next?"
    The blade charged at him again, this time being a lot more fluid and less predictable.
    Like a snake, it coiled around the space, closely following Ash despite his attempts to evade the attack. After a few seconds of playing tag, the blade had gained on him to the point where he could no longer afford to retreat.
    Then¡ª
    BWUUUUSH!
    After being pushed into a corner, Ash¡¯s next step was to envelop his entire area in flames as a way to serve as a smokescreen and also to possibly damage the sword that was after his life.
    Unfortunately for him, the latter was impossible.
    "My Spirit¡¯s Attribute is Silver-Clay." Gerald took a step forward, not minding the growing heat before him. "It is extremely resistant to flames, so none of your tricks will put a dent in its defenses¡­ or offensive maneuvers."
    Due to its Clay features, his Familiar offered a range of flexible attacks, granting him a diverse kit of abilities. The Silver element made it incredibly sturdy for an additional layer of defense, allowing him to enjoy both an offensive and defensive advantage in battle.
    It was why he was not the least bit concerned about Ash¡¯s pathetic resistance.
    Whether it was wind or fire¡ªor even both¡ªhis Spirit Arts could completely tank them without any problems.
    "But can yours do the same?"
    "[Silver Arrows]."
    In an instant, several projectiles shot out of the body of the hulking Familiar, almost as quills shot off the back of a porcupine.
    PEW!
    The air hissed as the dozens of arrows¡ªeach moving as fast as bullets¡ªcharged at the wall of flames. Since the arrows shared the nature of his Familiar, they wouldn¡¯t be affected by the fire and at least a few would hit the target.
    ¡¯Plus, that defense trick he used before won¡¯t help him this time¡­¡¯
    Why?
    Because it took time to create an effective barrier. The more powerful a barrier or shield was, the more time it would take to erect.
    ¡¯The kind of barrier that could deflect the attack of a Rank 6 Mage like myself must have taken him all day. He probably walked in here with it, thinking of it as some sort of failsafe, only for it to break with my first attack.¡¯ Gerald chuckled to himself.
    Either way, it didn¡¯t matter to him.
    ¡¯Right now¡­ it¡¯s the end for you, brat!¡¯

 Chapter 35: Canvas Of Death

    FSHUUUUThe smoke and flames soon died out, just as Gerald Lockwood expected, revealing the fallen state of his adversary.
    His body had been struck with several quills, most of which had pierced through his flesh and bones, creating a pool of blood beneath him as he gasped and struggled for even the smallest gulps of air.
    Gerald smiled and shook his head, slowly walking forward as he looked at the boy¡¯s pathetic state.
    "It still confuses me as to why someone like you would start a fight with someone like me¡­"
    An Apprentice Mage was even weaker than a Rank One Mage, and a Rank 6 Mage was even far higher than that.
    Instructors of the Academy were in the range Rank 3 to 5, and even they were impossible walls for most students to overcome. Once a Student graduated from the Academy, they would be given a Rank from 1 to 3, depending on their performance, and they would have to grow even higher based on merit.
    That was the Empire¡¯s ranking System.
    Mages from Rank 1 to 3 had to have the ability to use [Externalization], and Rank 3 especially had to be able to use [Partial Fusion] at least.
    Rank 4 and 5 had to be capable of truly using [Fusion], and their mastery over Spells had to be impeccable as well.
    From Rank 6 and above, though, it mostly depended on the Grade of one¡¯s Familiar and how much power the Mage could display as a result.
    ¡¯My Silver-Clay Knight is just a High Grade Spirit, which means I¡¯ll probably never pass Rank 6.¡¯ Gerald thought to himself as he neared Ashfelt. ¡¯That¡¯s the reason I decided to settle for a boring job in the Academy.¡¯
    As a staff here, he could advance using many other factors beyond raw strength.
    ¡¯But, even with my lacking talent as a member of the Lockwood Family, I am still leagues above someone like you, Ashfelt. You should have known your place and stayed there¡­¡¯
    Slowly, Gerald raised his hand.
    A blade suddenly formed within his grasp, glimmering like silver while morphing like soft clay.
    Within a moment, though, the weapon hardened, revealing a sharp glint at its edges.
    There were a lot more things Gerald wanted to say to Ashfelt, including a lot of gloating and taunting, but none of those were necessary.
    It was best to nip the boy in the bud as quickly as possible.
    "Well¡­ farewell."
    In one swift motion, he caused the blade to descend, easily slicing off the head of the boy beneath him.
    There was no struggle¡­ no scream.
    Just the violent spurting of blood as the swift stroke of the sharp blade decapitated the youth¡¯s tender flesh. It was an odd feeling, the lack of resistance that the neck gave the blade, but Gerald gave it no thought.
    After all, the deed had been done.
    "Ashfelt Zephyr¡­ I have finally removed a thorn from my side." He mumbled to himself, casting a forlorn gaze at the corpse for a moment before walking past it.
    He deactivated his armor and [Externalization], allowing the remnant Magia to dissipate into the air as he preserved the rest of his energy.
    ¡¯I¡¯m sure many guards should have felt the tremors coming from my office already, but the fact that none of them came to my aid means they were either knocked out or distracted by the brat¡­¡¯ Once again Gerald had to marvel at the boy¡¯s resourcefulness. ¡¯Maybe he even used some sort of Spell or trick to get them away from here¡­ I have no idea.¡¯
    Still, the first thing he had to do after killing Ashfelt was to get the guards to clean up his corpse and take care of his damaged office.
    He cast one final look at the place, finding it in obvious shambles.
    This was a place he had stayed in for years, no doubt investing tons of resources to make it as pristine as possible¡ªonly for everything to go down the drain in an unexpected fight.
    The burned carpet now had the horrible stench of blood on it. The walls were charred beyond recognition, and his expensive pieces of furniture only held onto half of the value that they once had. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    It was a sight for sore eyes, but Gerald was not too shaken.
    ¡¯I¡¯ll be moving to a bigger office once I become a member of the board anyway¡­¡¯
    He exhaled as he twisted the doorknob and attempted to exit the ruins that once served as his office, hoping to get a few guards to assist with the unexpected mess of the night.
    However, what he witnessed once the door opened was enough to make him take a few steps back in utter shock.
    "A-ahh¡­?" His lips quivered as beads of sweat appeared on his face. "What is this?"
    Right beyond the door, in the messy place that could no longer be called a hallway, was a corpse party¡ªone that exhibited burnt and dismembered body parts of the guards he was about to call for.
    The overpowering smell emanating from their charred flesh was so repulsive that Gerald felt he would vomit, and the sheer horror of the sight added extra weight to his disgust.
    Before he realized it, Gerald held his mouth, swallowing what was about to escape his throat.
    ¡¯This is¡­ terrible!¡¯
    His bulging eyes lost focus for a moment, turning bloodshot as he took in the horror of burned flesh and dried blood that now stood before him like a canvas of death.
    Unfortunately for him, he wasn¡¯t even allowed to fully process this despicable sight.
    SQUELCH!
    A large blade suddenly pierced his chest from behind, instantly ripping through his heart and several other internal organs as it eased through his body with its flaming hot surface.
    "Puack!"
    Blood spurted out of Gerald¡¯s lips, mixing very finely with his vomit so they rushed out of his mouth like a repulsive fountain.
    The weight of the weapon, and the severity of his injuries forced Gerald to his knees in an instant. His bloodshot eyes leaked out tears as the overwhelming pain coursed through his body as his brain still struggled to overcome the confusion that clouded his thoughts.
    What was happening to him?
    ¡¯D-did I just get stabbed from behind? Is this¡­ my blood?¡¯ He pondered deeply, staring at the gaping wound in his chest and the pool of red liquid that was forming beneath him.
    How?
    Why?
    Who¡­ who did this?
    "Farewell, Gerald."
    As soon as he heard the oddly familiar voice that called out his name, Gerald¡¯s eyes widened even further.
    ¡¯Where¡­ where have I heard that voice from?¡¯
    He struggled to remember, but he had lost too much blood and his brain was overloaded with so much stimuli¡ªmostly pain¡ªthat he could not remember.
    All he could do was endure the agony for a few more seconds until he finally lost all the strength left in his body and collapsed in the pool of his blood and vomit.
    After a few more seconds, he breathed his last and finally died¡ªcompletely unaware of the boy that stood behind his pathetic corpse.
    The boy was neither smiling or frowning.
    He merely gave a stoic expression as he kept both hands in his pocket and let his eyes glow with a crimson hue.
    "And now¡­ one final order of business before I call it a night."

 Chapter 36: The Scheme

    "[Heatwave Illusion]."That was the Spell that Ash used to turn the tide of the entire battle to his favor.
    This was, of course, a high-level Spell that followed the same principle as the illusions or mirages caused by an actual Heat Wave.
    In cases of severe heat, it is possible for images to be distorted through the bending of light which then creates a blurred effect. However, this is only a small part of the illusion, as it relies on too many external factors and can only produce very simple illusions.
    The second and most effective aspect of the illusion is caused by inducing the target itself with such severe heat that it affects their brains, hence their perception of reality through their optical lenses.
    In essence¡­ completely fooling their senses through the power of severe heat.
    ¡¯My initial Spell¡­ the torrent of fire¡­ was done to create that condition.¡¯ Ash thought to himself as he let go of his fiery blade causing it to dissipate in the air.
    ¡¯Gerald thought he extinguished the fires, but Phoenix Flames can not be put out that easily.¡¯
    In actuality, Ash merely reduced the flames to the point where it seemed like they were put out. The fires were actually still burning all around Gerald, but their effects were greatly diminished, so they couldn¡¯t be detected.
    ¡¯Once he put on that armor and encased the flames within himself, I slowly increased the temperature and activated both stages of the Illusion.¡¯
    As such, to Gerald, it seemed like he was perfectly fine¡­ but his defenses could not protect him from both stages of the [Heatwave Illusion].
    ¡¯It¡¯s a good thing I started with that, since it completely controlled the direction of the battle. If he had used his armor before I could encase him in the flames, things could have gone south for me¡­¡¯ Ash sighed slowly. ¡¯It would have gone bad if he had used [Fusion] too, or any high-level Spells that caused severe Area Of Effect Damage.¡¯
    This was one of the reasons Ash chose to fight Gerald in his office, since that would place some subconscious restraints on the Rank 6 Mage, forcing him to limit his strength in order to preserve some parts of his office.
    ¡¯Looks like it worked to an extent. I was still in the room, behind his desk, and I was safe from all of the attacks he was throwing at my illusion.¡¯
    It was only after Gerald killed the false Ash and opened the door that he chose to make his move.
    ¡¯By seeing the corpses of all the guards, he was bound to be put in a state of shock¡ªsomething I could exploit to finish the task and finish him off.¡¯
    The reason he was so cautious was because Gerald¡ªeven if he was holding back quite a lot¡ªwas still a Rank 6 Mage.
    His senses of Magia, even if they were distorted, were still on an incredibly high level.
    If Ash made any sudden and careless moves without properly considering the consequences, things could end up going sideways¡ªcompletely jeopardizing his plans.
    ¡¯But¡­ it looks like I don¡¯t have to worry about that any longer.¡¯
    Not only was Gerald dead, but his Familiar also died with him¡ªper the nature of their Contract.
    Ash knelt down to confirm this, and he found it to be true.
    ¡¯With his Soul being extinguished by my flames, his Familiar was also consumed and died within the collapsing Soul.¡¯ Ash smiled to himself. ¡¯No matter how powerful a Familiar is, they are incredibly vulnerable in the Soul.¡¯
    With this, there would be no witnesses to his crime and everything would lead to a dead end.
    ¡¯Of course, the only loose end I had to worry about was the footage recording that was bound to exist in his office and the hallway, but¡­ Dustan is taking care of that for me.¡¯
    Once Dustan destroyed the mainframe that held the footage of the entire building, no one would be able to trace the entire act to him.
    That wasn¡¯t all¡­ but Ash didn¡¯t want to go any further in his thoughts.
    He simply wanted to leave.
    Slowly rising to his feet, he lifted his eyes to the hallway, allowing himself to take in the gory sight of the corpses that were spread around the area.
    Unfortunately, they were no illusion.
    Each and every one of them had been killed brutally by him, all for the goal he could no longer ignore. Ash sighed, shaking his head as he began to walk through the hallway, ignoring the grotesque landscape of his creation.
    ¡¯There¡¯s one more thing I have to take care of¡­ and after that, I can finally rest in my room.¡¯
    It was a school night, after all.
    ************* S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    [The Next Day]
    As usual, the Lectures in Alpha Class were intense and filled with a lot of information to sort through. The Instructors took their jobs very seriously, and they ensured to impart their students with as much information as possible to ensure they had a bright future as Mages.
    "That concludes my lecture for today¡­ any questions?"
    A few hands were raised once the lecturer threw the floor to the class, causing the middle-aged man to smile and nod in satisfaction.
    Students having questions showed a certain level of interest in the class.
    That would give any instructor joy.
    As the classes were in the midst of the Q and A session, Ash watched in stoic silence, hiding his slight impatience. They had already been through a few lectures for the day, and only one more remained once this class was concluded.
    He had expected news of Gerald¡¯s demise, and the natural consequence to follow, to have already reached their class.
    However, there was nothing thus far.
    It made him slightly on edge, though he refused to show anything of the sort.
    Instead, he remained as stoic as an oaf, ignoring the occasional stares from Elma and his twin brother Seth¡ªthe only two people who paid him any modicum of attention.
    There was also Arius Inkwell, the Alpha Student who was humiliated by Elma and Seth when Ashfelt returned to Alpha Class after his Re-Entrance, but the boy was very dedicated to his studies so he usually allowed no distractions in lectures.
    Hence, even though he also paid some attention to Ash, he never glanced at him during classes.
    ¡¯Will nothing really happen today?¡¯ Ash wondered to himself as he let his cheek rest on his palm, supporting the weight of his head by placing his elbow on the table.
    Almost as soon as he thought this, though, a sudden noise rippled through the hallway and not too long after, the door of the classroom flung wide open.
    The moment this happened, Ash¡¯s eyes glimmered with relief, though he made sure to hide it.
    "W-what is going on here? What¡¯s the meaning of this?!"
    The lecturer was flustered by the sudden appearance of several men in black cloaks¡ªall of them making way for a man with long ashen hair and an eyepatch that covered one of his eyes.
    He was dressed in a dark cloak, having silver designs all around his elegant attire.
    As soon as the man walked into the Alpha Classroom, the Instructor froze.
    His face instantly paled once he recognized the person who had just stepped into the class¡ªa legendary figure who only appeared once a matter of utmost urgency that affected the security of the Academy arose.
    "S-Special Head Of Security¡­ Sir Raven Nightshade!"
    Ash maintained an expression of shock, the same as all the other students, but he was happy to see the man before him.
    It showed that the Academy¡¯s Board Members were taking the incident as seriously as he wanted them to.
    The mysterious man¡ªRaven Nightshade¡ªignored the words of the Instructor.
    Instead, he took a step forward and scanned the Alpha Students, most of whom were stupefied by the presence of an entity popularly referred to as a myth.
    Raven Nightshade and the Order Of Shadows were usually thought to be an urban legend of the Akashic Magus Academy, considering how very little was known about them. It is said that they only made a move when the core safety of the Academy was threatened, but since such events hardly ever happened, most students had never seen them.
    In fact, this was the first time they had surfaced in over a decade.
    The Order Of Shadows didn¡¯t even make a move during the White Death Incident, which showed just how selective they were when it came to the cases they took up.
    "I have come here because the Head Of Student Affairs is dead, alongside over a hundred guards stationed all over the Staff Quarters who valiantly risked their lives to protect him."
    Silence¡­ absolute dreadful silence permeated the audience.
    "Despite their best attempt to cover their tracks and hide the evidence, we have already identified the culprit¡­ and it is a student of this class."
    Raven Nightshade¡¯s gaze rested on a single student, whose face depicted just as much shock as it showed confusion.
    "Elma¡­ you are to come with us for the murder of Master Gerald Lockwood."

 Chapter 37: Betrayal

    ¡¯What?¡¯Elma was stunned¡ªand naturally so¡ªonce she heard the words of Raven Nightshade.
    The whole thing, from the death of the Head of Student Affairs, to the slaughter of the guards, were a big surprise to her. She had no idea any of it would be happening, and she definitely had nothing to do with them.
    So¡­ what in the world was happening here?
    "I won¡¯t repeat myself, Elma." Raven¡¯s deep voice cut through the silence as he glared at her with his stoic gaze.
    She immediately felt the pressure that accompanied his words.
    "I¡ªI am confused¡­ what is¡ª?"
    "No need to play dumb, student." The man dismissed her defenses like they meant nothing. "You did a good job erasing the footages and also covering your tracks so we couldn¡¯t trace you back, but you were sloppy with your mode of execution."
    "W-what are you even¡ª?"
    "I¡¯m talking about your flames." Raven pointed at her, his brows raised in mild annoyance.
    "My¡­ flames?"
    "Precisely. All of the victims were burned to a crisp by a fire-type Spirit Art, and¡ª"
    "But I¡¯m not the only one with a fire-type Familiar! Why are you picking me? Because I¡¯m a girl? Because I¡¯m a commoner? I¡¯m just a scapegoat for you to choose and¡ª"
    "Do not insult my intelligence or the thorough process we go through in terms of investigation¡­" Raven cut her words short, his piercing gaze boring through her stubborn front.
    "I¡¯m not insulting anything! I didn¡¯t do¡ª!"
    "Then why did we find your Magia Signature in the flames? It perfectly matched the wavelength of your recorded signature¡­ or rather, the signature of your Familiar."
    "W-what¡­?"
    "What do you have to say about that? Is there another student here that possesses the same Familiar as you? Even if they do, will they have the same signature as yours? The answer is, as you know, no."
    "I¡­ what¡­?"
    "We have many ways to investigate and trace Mages, and one of them is Magia Signature. Thankfully, you left such a big mess that it was easy to pull out enough remnant Magia to draw up an accurate signature."
    Elma¡¯s widened eyes began to lose focus as she struggled to listen to Raven¡¯s words.
    She was damned.
    Magia Signatures were like fingerprints¡ªunique to an individual and difficult, if not downright impossible, to replicate. As such, having a person¡¯s Magia Signature in a particular place was as good as admittance that they were there and did what they were accused of.
    How exactly could she defend herself against something like this?
    ¡¯I¡¯ve clearly been set up, since I still haven¡¯t gone to the Staff Quarters since I became a student here¡­¡¯ She thought to herself. ¡¯And while it¡¯s popular knowledge that you can¡¯t forge Magia Signatures, it isn¡¯t impossible to do so.¡¯
    As an avid reader of the Original Novel, Elma knew the loopholes of this world¡¯s system, and that included a way to forge Magia Signatures.
    ¡¯But, not many people know about that method now¡­ and those who do should have no business killing the Head of Student Affairs and framing me for it.¡¯ As she had that thought, a sudden spark burst in her head.
    Her eyes bulged as she slowly began to tilt her head to look behind her.
    But¡ª
    "Where were you last night? Do you have an Alibi?"
    "I¡­ erm¡­?"
    "Were you in your dorms? The library? The cafe? Anywhere we can feasibly place you during the period of the crime?" Raven asked, offering her one last lifeline that could help prove her innocence.
    However, Elma knew the reason she did not immediately jump at this as her defence.
    "I¡­ took a walk."
    She was supposed to meet up with Ashfelt, per his recommendation, so they could discuss matters regarding the novel and their plans moving forward. He gave her a time and place, somewhere secluded, with no recording footage so they could have a secure conversation.
    Who would have thought that going there would come back to bite her in such a way?
    Perhaps someone did.
    ¡¯H-hold on¡­¡¯ Her eyes widened even more. ¡¯Ash bailed on me and didn¡¯t show up for the meeting¡ªa meeting he suggested himself¡ªand now I¡¯m being accused of this?¡¯
    Not only that, but the sophistication of the crime and how it all led to her was not something that could be enacted by just anyone.
    For one, even though she had quite a few enemies, none were capable of this.
    The only one who could do something like this was Ashfelt, and that was because of one prime reason.
    ¡¯He¡¯s like me¡­ a Transmigrator!¡¯
    He knew the method of Magia Signature, and he could fulfill all the conditions necessary to pull it off.
    Finally, he had two Souls as well, so he could definitely have a fire-type Familiar.
    ¡¯I have to say something! I have to tell them that it isn¡¯t me, but him!¡¯ Elma thought desperately to herself, not caring to consider why Ash would betray her even after all the assurances he gave her regarding his loyalty.
    Perhaps he considered her too wild a card.
    Maybe he wanted to do things alone and didn¡¯t want her help.
    Maybe he felt threatened by her existence and figured she would eventually stab him in the back.
    All of these were reasonable fears to have, and it wasn¡¯t like Elma hadn¡¯t thought about them herself, so she wasn¡¯t particularly concerned with the reason behind his actions¡ªat least, not at the moment.
    Her major concern was survival.
    "I didn¡¯t do it! It was¡­ was¡­ w-was¡­!" Her eyes bulged as soon as she realized a damning truth.
    ¡¯I can¡¯t say it¡¯s him! Why can¡¯t I say it¡¯s him?!¡¯
    The answer dawned on her the moment she turned to her back and faced the mastermind himself.
    ¡¯Ashfelt¡­ you bastard!¡¯
    All she saw on his face was shock¡ªas if he was truly surprised to see her being accused of such a gory offense. However, Elma knew better than to take his innocent expression at face value.
    That was nothing more than a mask meant to hide his true feelings: a sly mockery of her compromised position and his utter victory.
    "You¡­ YOU¡­!!!"
    Elma already realized it: she couldn¡¯t say or do anything to prove that Ash was the one who committed the crime because it would reveal his secret as a Transmigrator.
    All thanks to the effects of the Soul Contract.
    As her eyes met his, she could see a glint sparkle in his eyes¡­ almost like he was taunting her.
    Despite putting her in such a trap, she could not turn the tables.
    She could not do anything.
    ¡¯WRONG!¡¯ Elma thought as she gritted her teeth. ¡¯If I can¡¯t prove my innocence, you think I¡¯m just going to let you walk?!¡¯
    WHOOOOSH!
    In a flash, Elma discarded her previous position and charged at Ash, activating the power hidden within her true Soul.
    Space instantly distorted and¡ªalmost as if she teleported¡ªshe appeared right in front of him.
    ¡¯I¡¯ll kill you!¡¯
    Even if she didn¡¯t succeed, she would be able to prove that he was hiding his true strength¡ªa crime punishable by death in the Empire. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡¯Your Wind Spirit won¡¯t be enough to stop me, Ash!¡¯ Her eyes turned bloodshot. ¡¯You¡¯ll have no choice but to display that Fire Familiar that you used to frame me, won¡¯t you?!¡¯
    Thankfully, the Soul Contract did not restrict her from attacking him.
    This way, she could prove her innocence¡­ and even if she couldn¡¯t, she would simply have to go down knowing that she killed the man who screwed her over.
    But¡ª
    "Idiot¡­" She heard a fleeting voice say to her.
    WHAM!
    In an even faster flash, coupled with the sound of a thunderclap, Elma felt her body crashing into the ground by an overwhelmingly powerful force.
    The hand that grabbed the back of her head was strong and powerful, impossible to resist.
    It forcefully planted her face on the ground and perfectly restrained her¡ªall within the blink of an eye.
    ¡¯D-damnit¡­!¡¯ Her vision blurred immediately and she could feel the pull of unconsciousness slowly take her away.
    Before everything went blank, though, she was able to see the face of her aggressor.
    "Stay away from my brother¡­"
    It was Seth Zephyr.
    "... You murderer."
    ************
    Ash heaved a sigh of relief as he watched Elma lose consciousness thanks to Seth¡¯s swift actions.
    ¡¯As expected¡­ I can always count on you bro!¡¯ His thoughts echoed. ¡¯I was beginning to get worried for a moment there.¡¯
    In any case, his plan had come full circle¡ªwell, almost.
    Elma was being charged for the murders he committed, just as he wanted.
    ¡¯Since I can¡¯t link the White Death murders to you, this was the next best thing¡­ create an entirely new case for you to take the fall for.¡¯
    It was ironic in a sense.
    ¡¯You frame someone for being the White Death, only for you to also be framed.¡¯ Ash chuckled within himself, watching Elma¡¯s unconscious body for a second longer.
    ¡¯I¡¯m sorry for betraying you¡­.¡¯

 Chapter 38: A Monster

    News of Elma¡¯s actions quickly spread over Campus.Before long, every single student was talking about what happened, and it soon became the talk of the Campus: a commoner like Elma having the gall to kill a member of the Four Noble Households, as well as a hundred guards.
    This was far bigger news than The White Death.
    And a far graver crime.
    It was precisely due to this reason that Raven Nightshade had made an appearance, taking the unconscious Elma into custody as he and his hooded subordinates disappeared into the shadows once again.
    Needless to say, this big reveal had some negative effects on the Academy as a whole.
    The members of Alpha Class solidified their prejudice regarding commoners, particularly the ones in Beta Class.
    "We let one of them among our ranks and look what happens!"
    "No Commoner should be allowed in Alpha Class, period! This is insane!"
    "Why do we even let them learn Spirit Arts?!"
    The rift between both sides became a lot more pronounced, and everyone could feel tension brewing beneath the surface¡ªwaiting for the perfect moment to erupt in everyone¡¯s faces in a devastating manner. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Through all of this, however, Ash remained calm.
    ¡¯I already expected all of this to happen, and while it¡¯s a big step away from the direction of the story, it was necessary.¡¯
    He had to eliminate Elma, and the sooner he did so¡­ the better.
    ¡¯I have no idea what is happening to her now, but it¡¯s no doubt something horrible like torture, since those Shadows will do everything in their power to extract all the information they can from her.¡¯
    A good example¡­ was ¡¯Motive¡¯
    ¡¯I¡¯m sure they¡¯re going to be curious about why she would do something like that¡­ and how.¡¯
    Unfortunately for them, they wouldn¡¯t be able to trace the whole thing back to him¡ªat least, not definitively. Even if they suspected that she was under some kind of Soul Contract and couldn¡¯t reveal the full scope of her plan or accomplice, the investigators still wouldn¡¯t be able to link anything to him.
    ¡¯That¡¯s why I decided to make the Contract with her otherworldly Soul¡­ a Soul that wouldn¡¯t be found unless they were looking for it specifically.¡¯
    However, Elma would never be able to reveal her second Soul, or anything about being a Transmigrator, to the authorities, so he was safe in that regard.
    There was a little feeling of uncertainty that weighed down on his mind, though.
    Despite doing his due diligence and covering his tracks in the utmost manner, he couldn¡¯t help but worry about any loose ends he perhaps didn¡¯t consider. Considering how Elma was now in a secure facility, far from his reach, it was impossible to control her or what would happen to her from this point on.
    ¡¯Such a pain¡­¡¯ Ash sighed.
    He would have really preferred it if she died.
    ¡¯It¡¯s too bad the current Seth is a pacifist who won¡¯t resort to killing unless pushed to the very brink¡­¡¯ He shook his head. ¡¯Everything would have been so much easier if he struck her down right there and there.¡¯
    By sparing Elma¡¯s life, he had prolonged the matter, causing his brother distress.
    ¡¯Oh well¡­¡¯
    Ash kept both hands in his pockets as he inhaled deeply and enjoyed the fresh breeze that blew against his face as he took his nice, peaceful wal¡ª
    "Ashfelt, you bas¡­ you¡­!" A sudden loud voice caused him to slowly come to a halt as he felt a presence approaching him from behind.
    A small smile crept up on his face, but he quickly hid it.
    "You¡­ you¡­ I¡¯ve been looking everywhere for you¡­" Amidst heavy breathing and a muffled tone, the voice continued.
    Ash turned to face the boy that had approached him, his face perfectly stoic.
    "Oh, hey¡­ it¡¯s been a while, Dustan."
    "A while?" Dustan wiped away the beads of sweat that formed on his face and took a few steps closer to Ash. "What the hell are you talking about? You know what? Forget that! Why don¡¯t you give me an explanation on what is happening?!"
    "Ah¡­ you mean Elma¡¯s the murder of Gerald Lawcroft?"
    "Yes¡­ I mean, no! She didn¡¯t do that¡­ and you know it¡­ so why? What¡¯s going on?"
    "...."
    "Say something!" Dustan screamed. "You didn¡¯t tell me things would end up like this¡­ that an innocent person would get involved in this¡­ and¡ª"
    "Okay, slow down." Ash raised both hands to calm the boy down.
    Then, he placed his hands on his shoulders.
    "You¡¯re literally making no sense right now." He sighed. "Why don¡¯t we go somewhere more relaxing to talk? I would have offered my room, but¡­ Alpha Students aren¡¯t particularly feeling considerate towards Beta Students right now."
    "Let¡¯s go to my room, then!" Dustan shrugged Ash¡¯s hands away from his shoulders. "You have some explaining to do¡­"
    "Explaining? I¡¯m not sure¡­ but I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll have a productive conversation."
    "What¡¯s that supposed to mean?"
    Ash maintained a light smile as they both walked to the Beta Student Dorms.
    There were many students surprised to see him, but as expected, none dared to speak a word against him¡ªnot even a small whisper. Right now, the commoners were in a precarious position, and it would serve them well to maintain decorum.
    The whole campus was looking for even more scapegoats, so no one dared mess up.
    "Okay¡­ start spilling." As soon as the two of them arrived in Dustan¡¯s room, the boy closed the door and spoke.
    His sour expression was enough to show how serious he was.
    He wanted¡ªneeded¡ªanswers.
    "Why is Elma being charged for the murders you committed? Why is the Academy¡¯s Special Security getting involved? You didn¡¯t tell me you were going to kill so many guards¡­ all those people¡­ they¡¯re people too! You only said you wanted to kill Gerald Lockwood because he was the true White Death, so why all the casualties? I have so many more questions, but I think you should answer the ones I already have."
    Ash sat on the bed, watching Dustan keenly as the boy looked at him squarely.
    "Tell me the truth! What¡¯s happening right now?"
    "The truth is that Gerald was never the White Death, and I just told you that so you would help me kill all those people and frame Elma for their murder."
    "W-wha¡­t?"
    Dustan¡¯s eyes widened the moment he heard those words.
    He had already suspected something similar, but this was far worse than what his imagination fed him. The horrid news caused him to take a few steps backwards.
    "I¡¯m sure a lot is going through your head already, and¡ª"
    "You¡­ you¡¯re a monster!" Dustan yelled, pointing at Ash. "You used me for murder, and now an innocent girl is going to die for it!"
    "Hmm¡­ I wouldn¡¯t call her innocent."
    "What?"
    "Forget about it¡­ but more importantly, what are you going to do about it?" Ash remained stoic as he looked Dustan in the eye.
    "I¡­ I will¡­"
    "You can¡¯t tell them the truth, else that would make you an accessory to murder. You also can¡¯t involve me, since we already made a Soul Contract that helps protect both of our interests and secrets."
    "I¡­"
    "Face it, Dustan¡­" Ash rose to his feet and approached the trembling boy, placing one hand on his shoulder in order to pat him.
    "... You¡¯re not going to do anything."
    *
    *
    *
    [A/N]
    I am curious about your perception of Ashfelt at this point in the story.
    Do you despise him? Has he grown unlikeable? Please share your thoughts with me in the comments¡­ thank you.

 Chapter 39: Black Ball

    "There¡¯s more, Dustan."Ash spoke softly as he brought something out of his coat pocket.
    It was a small device, having the lens of a camera, but appearing so dark and inconspicuous that it could be mistaken for a black ball.
    "Do you know what this is?"
    Dustan squinted as he looked at the object, clearly not recognizing it. However, due to his influx of emotions, and the very aggravated state that had now consumed him, he didn¡¯t care about any of that.
    Instead, he glared at Ash and spoke.
    "Don¡¯t change the topic! You ruined lives and used me to do it¡­ that¡¯s despica¡ª"
    "I¡¯m not changing the topic, Dustan¡­" Ash smiled, returning to the bed as he caressed the ball in his hand.
    Once his butt plopped on the slightly hardened mattress, he raised the ball up high.
    "You might want to sit down for what I¡¯m about to show you¡­"
    Suddenly, a small buzzing sound echoed in the room¡ªa phenomenon caused by Ash injecting some of his Magia into the black ball.
    All of a sudden, a large screen was projected on the walls of Dustan¡¯s room.
    It suddenly had the form of a movie theater, with the wall displaying the projected contents of a certain recording.
    The recording of a particularly fortified room.
    "W-what¡­ in the world?" Dustan muttered to himself. "I¡­ I know that place."
    "Of course you do."
    Ash smiled as he turned to Dustan, his eyes narrowing on the confused boy. "That¡¯s the storage room for the recordings¡­ the room you sabotaged."
    "N-no¡­"
    "You¡¯re going to want to watch this part, Dustan."
    Ash returned his gaze to the projection, where something interesting was happening in the stationary image of the room. A ghost-like figure passed through the walls, completely bypassing all the obstacles that prevented him from reaching the room.
    Once inside, the transparent aura around him disappeared, revealing the intruder to be none other than Dustan.
    "You successfully used the power of your High Grade Familiar to break into the room." Ash commented. "This reveals two crimes already: that you hid a special power you possess from the Academy and that you broke into the Academy¡¯s secure facility¡ªboth of which attract a heavy punishment, especially for a commoner such as yourself."
    Beads of sweat began to form on Dustan¡¯s face.
    "But, you know¡­ that isn¡¯t the most interesting part about all of this."
    More sweat poured out.
    Dustan knew Ash was correct.
    The true crime was what happened after this.
    BOOOM!!!
    Despite the absence of sound in the recording, the impact of Dustan¡¯s explosions could be felt from beyond the screen as he destroyed all the storage units within the room that held all the recordings of the whole building.
    These storage units appeared like glowing stones, having a greenish black hue about them.
    They were connected to the recording systems in all the prime locations of the Staff Room¡ªboth for security and regulatory functions. Ever since the White Death Incident, more emphasis had been placed on the room in order to guarantee security to the entire Staff Quarters.
    The Student Wings also had a special room like this in their respective Campus Grounds, but as one would expect, their location was hidden.
    "As you can clearly see in this recording, you destroyed school property worth a lot of money, which puts you in severe debt¡­ and not only that, your actions could be construed to collaborate with Elma¡¯s murder of those guards and poor Gerald Lockwood."
    "Y-you¡­" Dustan could only muster a lifeless stutter. "You told me that there was no recording device in that room."
    "Yes, and you believed me¡­ just as you believed that Gerald was the White Death."
    "...."
    Ash sighed, ceasing the projection by withdrawing his Magia.
    A small buzz echoed and the images vanished.
    "You know¡­ if you were an avid reader of the novels, you would have known about that hidden camera. But, I already figured you weren¡¯t based on some of your actions and the stuff you wrote down in your journal."
    "...."
    "What arc did you stop at in the novel?" Ash asked him.
    "I¡­ how is that even relevant right no¡ª?"
    "Answer my question."
    "I stopped¡­ halfway through the Succession Wars Arc, and¡­"
    "And?"
    "I skipped to the end¡­ and read everything else as an abridged summary."
    Ash nodded, but still sighed.
    ¡¯Elma would have been far more useful than this guy¡­¡¯ He let his thoughts flow. ¡¯She¡¯s smarter, has thoroughly consumed the content of the novels, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to win.¡¯
    That made her far more capable than Dustan.
    But, there was a reason he chose to keep the boy and eliminate her.
    ¡¯Having a partner isn¡¯t bad¡­ but what I require at the moment is a subordinate.¡¯
    Elma would always be an unpredictable wild card who would eventually turn against him if their interests didn¡¯t align. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Ash didn¡¯t want that at all.
    ¡¯I want someone whose interests will be whatever mine is¡­ and that means having a subordinate.¡¯ He let out a small smile. ¡¯I guess Elma was just out of luck that I found someone who suited my tastes more.¡¯
    If Dustan wasn¡¯t a Transmigrator, he would have settled for her.
    "Your gap in knowledge doesn¡¯t matter much to me, Dustan. I already know enough about this story that I don¡¯t need another well-read reader." Ash revealed to the still-shaken boy.
    "W-what are you talking about?"
    "We are still going to keep working together, Dustan. I can¡¯t just throw you away after we¡¯ve come so far already¡­ so unless you screw up or you give me a reason to, I¡¯ll keep this recording under lock and ensure no one sees it."
    "...."
    "I¡¯m sure you already know what will happen to you if this recording gets out¡­ so I suggest you behave and do exactly what I want you to."
    Dustan felt a myriad of emotions, but none of those mattered at the moment.
    All he could do was nod.

 Chapter 40: Preparation For The Inevitable

    "Do we have an understanding? I want you to say it."Ash¡¯s pale face was calm¡ªa mask of no emotions¡ªand he stared at Dustan patiently, waiting for the boy to admit complete defeat.
    To surrender entirely.
    "I-I understand¡­" He swallowed hard as he uttered those words.
    Despite how enraged he was at Ashfelt for using him and jeopardizing the lives of innocent people, Dustan still valued his life above all else. He knew just how cruel this world could be¡ªespecially towards commoners.
    He would be tortured immensely before getting killed in the most brutal manner.
    There was also no guarantee that he would return to the normal world after death, so he couldn¡¯t take that chance.
    As such, all he could do was behave according to Ash¡¯s commands.
    The boy literally held his life in his hands.
    "There¡¯s no need to look so nervous, Dustan." Ash heaved lightly and jumped to his feet. "This deal brings a lot of benefits to you as well."
    "B-benefits?"
    "Though you won¡¯t be able to see some of them quite yet, the most obvious one is a clear route to Alpha Class."
    "What?"
    "I¡¯ll make sure of it, Dustan¡­ you¡¯re getting into Alpha Class." Ash revealed. "That¡¯s the first order of business."
    "B-but why¡­?"
    "I¡¯m sure you already have an idea, but the situation between Alpha and Beta Class is really bad right now, and to protect my asset against what comes next, it¡¯s best I have you as close to me as possible."
    The initial plan was to use Dustan as a bridge between Alpha and Beta Class, but there was no need for that anymore.
    No bridge would be necessary in what was coming next.
    ¡¯It¡¯s only a matter of time before the tension breaks out and the next storm appears in the Academy¡­¡¯ Ash sighed internally. ¡¯It¡¯s happening a little earlier than expected, but I should be able to keep things stable until the start of the second arc.¡¯
    Once it got to that point, everything would explode in the most disastrous way.
    "From this point on, Dustan¡­ we focus solely on training and improvement."
    Ash walked towards him and patted him on the shoulder. "Make sure to be ready for me every weekday by 5 AM in the morning, and by 3 AM on weekends."
    "W-wha¡ª?!"
    "We¡¯re going to train and study very hard¡­ absurdly hard¡­ to make sure you¡¯re more than strong enough for Alpha Class."
    "But wouldn¡¯t that cause even more chaos? The last commoner that came to Alpha Class was Elma, and look what she¡¯s been charged with¡­ so wouldn¡¯t everyone be very suspicious of me if I make it there?"
    With a broad smile on his face, Ash nodded.
    "The Promotional Exams are still months away, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about."
    Besides, after the next Promotional Exams, the rift between Alpha and Beta Class would be irreparable whether or not Dustan made it into the former.
    ¡¯If I miss this window, it¡¯s likely that Dustan will never be able to reach Alpha Class ever again.¡¯
    That was why they had to train so hard and leave no room for error.
    ¡¯We can¡¯t rely on the Familiars in our Transmigrator Souls, which means I have to improve my Lesser Wind Spirit and Dustan¡­ especially Dustan¡­ also has to improve his.¡¯
    The Magia Signature of Dustan¡¯s other Familiar was in the Recording Storage room, which meant he could get implicated in the murders if he so much as leaked that power out. In order to compete with the big dogs in Alpha Class, he had to make do with his limited sets of options.
    ¡¯It will be difficult to bring him up to standard, but it¡¯s not impossible.¡¯
    There were also other concerns on Ash¡¯s mind, but the most important one had to do with Elma.
    ¡¯She revealed the power of her second Familiar right when she attacked me, which will be sure to raise questions.¡¯ He sighed. ¡¯If this was any other investigator, I could have some level of assurance, but Raven Nightshade is very thorough and it¡¯s only a matter of time before he gets to the bottom of things.¡¯
    Ash was curious about a lot of things, and in a certain twisted way, this was his way of probing at things.
    ¡¯What will he do once he can¡¯t find the second Familiar in what is supposed to be Elma¡¯s only Soul? An explanation could be made that she used the Spell without a Familiar¡¯s assistance, but that kind of Spell shouldn¡¯t be possible for any Mage without the aid of a Familiar.¡¯
    He could already see how interesting, as well as bothersome, the investigation would be.
    ¡¯But¡­ it could yield positive results.¡¯
    At the moment, there was no way to tell¡ªhe could only wait.
    Wait and prepare.
    ¡¯The Exchange Incident will be here in no time¡­ and I have to succeed!¡¯
    **********
    [Weeks Later¡­]
    Raven Nightshade sat opposite a certain cell, watching the prisoner before him groan and moan as her naked body dripped with blood and she begged for mercy.
    His empty eyes were like a spiraling abyss¡­ deep and dark without end.
    Even as he witnessed her pathetic state and listened to her desperate sobs, he was not moved in the slightest. Instead, his mind was on a rollercoaster of thoughts as he struggled to comprehend the dilemma he faced.
    ¡¯The higher-ups want me to execute this girl as soon as possible, and it seems her mind and body are already their limits¡­ but I¡¯m not even close to uncovering a satisfactory conclusion based on the premises that are available to me.¡¯
    For one, they still had no idea who thrashed the Record Storage Room.
    The Magia Signature there was foreign¡ªnot in any records belonging to either student or staff¡ªso it was most likely an outside source.
    That meant there could be a breach in the Academy¡¯s overall security.
    ¡¯But did that mean they conspired with the girl? Were they partners or did they use her? If that¡¯s the case, why isn¡¯t she ratting them out? Even Blackmail or threats on her family would not be sufficient motivation to keep her mouth closed after all the torture she has gone through already.¡¯
    That left a Soul Contract as the only reasonable option.
    ¡¯But there¡¯s no sign of a Soul Contract embedded in her Soul, and on that topic¡­ there¡¯s also no other Familiar accounted for besides her Fiery Salamander.¡¯ A bigger sigh escaped his lips.
    ¡¯How weird.¡¯
    Something was clearly going on, but he didn¡¯t have sufficient information to uncover it.
    ¡¯However, if we are to go through the process of elimination and search for a common denominator, there¡¯s a certain clue I am yet to explore¡­ something¡ªor rather, someone¡ªconnected to all of these events.¡¯
    This person was involved in the White Death Incident, ended up dropping out of the Academy as a failure and went through the rare process of Re-Entrance only to get transferred to Alpha Class where his relationship with the criminal Elma seemed to deepen.
    A lot of students had already attested to their special relationship that seemed clearly beyond friendship, and after she was caught, she clearly had malicious intent towards this same student.
    ¡¯I let her run loose to see if she would lead me to a clue before I stopped her, but it seems the rising star of the Apprentice Stage intervened before I could.¡¯ Raven Nightshade thought to himself.
    Still, her actions already showed him enough¡­ it pointed him to a person of interest.
    ¡¯Ashfelt Zephyr¡­ I¡¯ll need to look into him.¡¯
    *
    *
    *
    [End Of Arc 1: The White Death]
    I hope you enjoyed this brief arc and the introduction to this series. If you did, please write a review for me and leave a positive comment so I know.
    Thank you all very much, and I hope to see you all in the next Volume. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Prepare for Arc 2: The Academy Exchange Incident.

 Chapter 41: A New Challenge

    Silence.The General Assembly Hall was riddled with silence as a woman walked on stage, carrying with her an aura of grace and power.
    She had long, raven black hair along with piercing eyes that seemed to warble with every step she took. As her dark emerald eyes scanned the audience that stood before her¡ªall Apprentice Stage students of the Akashic Magus Academy¡ªshe finally came to a halt at the center of the stage that she stood on.
    After waiting a few more seconds, the woman finally parted her lips and spoke.
    "My name is Beatrice Lampshade, and I will be your new Head Of Student Affairs."
    The words she uttered carried a heavy weight among those who listened¡ªboth with the students and the staff who were present.
    It had only been a few months since the untimely demise of the previous Head Of Student Affairs, Gerald Lockwood, and now he was being replaced with this woman.
    Most students couldn¡¯t remember what Gerald even looked like, since he only appeared once during their Induction into the Academy and never showed his face for any event again; opting instead to send representatives while he remained in his office.
    It was yet to be determined if this woman would follow her predecessor¡¯s footsteps, but she certainly left a more lasting impression than him.
    Despite the intensity of her gaze, there seemed to be a certain care in them.
    "I assure you that I will take my duties seriously, and on that note I would like to remind you all of the important event coming up next week." She began, choosing to be curt rather than dwell on the superfluous.
    "The Promotional Exams, as you all know, will be held next week, which means both Alpha and Beta Students need to be especially mindful of their performance in this final week¡¯s tests and exams, as it can elevate or demote you."
    The Promotional Exams happened twice in a year, and it was only through this that the disadvantaged Beta Student could hope to stand on equal footing as the Alpha Class. Due to the growing rift between the two classes, and the rising level of oppression that the Beta Students were beginning to suffer, this was the news they needed more than ever.
    Of course, none of the Alpha Students looked happy to see this.
    As for the new Head Of Student Affairs, she seemed perfectly neutral; not showing a bias for either Alpha or Beta Class.
    "The best students will excel and the less desirable will be left behind¡­ that is simply the nature of the Desgarron Empire." She stepped away. "If you don¡¯t want to get left behind, then do your best."
    Once she finished, Beatrice Lampshade walked away from the stage, leaving behind a strange feeling of tension amongst students.
    Those few minutes she spent addressing the students had stayed with them.
    **********
    ¡¯What an interesting woman¡­ Beatrice Lampshade.¡¯
    Ash smiled as he slowly followed the lead of his fellow students and walked away from the hall.
    After the lady¡¯s announcement, the General Assembly was disbanded and the students were set to attend their respective classes. As such, everyone was on their way to their classrooms, with Ash being no exception.
    A smile was plastered on his pale face as he kept both hands in his pockets. His ashen white hair danced in the air as his crimson eyes glistened with amusement.
    Whoever this woman was, she clearly held some kind of significance to him.
    **********
    Lectures in the Alpha Class remained practically the same for the day.
    Ash remained lowkey, opting to remain a silent member of the class who maintained his backbencher status. The most interesting occurrence in the classroom was Arius trying very hard¡ªbut ultimately failing¡ªto compete with Seth.
    ¡¯As always, Seth remains the star of Alpha Class¡­¡¯ Ash nodded to himself in satisfaction.
    The absence of Elma was a glaring subtraction from the classroom, but a few months without her had caused many to get used to it.
    Everyone except Ash himself.
    Once classes ended, Ash met up with Dustan¡ªper their pre-established arrangement¡ªand they began to walk together while discussing.
    "It¡¯s almost time¡­ the Promotional Exams." Dustan appeared slightly nervous as he spoke about the inevitable future that everyone was marching to.
    His slim and lanky appearance, coupled with his rough auburn hair, and the tired dark circles that formed beneath his eyes, added flavor to his nervousness. His moist green eyes seemed hesitant about the future as he spoke, and they sought some measure of security once he rested his gaze on Ash.
    "Yup!" Rather than be careful with his words, Ash spoke nonchalantly. "Things will be very difficult this time around too¡­ especially with how so many talented Alpha Students have been intentionally lowering their performances lately so they can partake in the Promotional Exams."
    "Haa¡­ I feared that would be the case."
    Indeed! The best way for Alpha Students to ensure none of the Beta Students ever had a chance at reaching their prestigious class was to fake a poor performance in order to qualify for the Promotional Exams, only to act as gatekeepers during the event.
    It was a foolproof method that had been working for Alpha Class for years now, and the Noble students were especially more motivated than ever to ensure no Beta Class Commoner made it to their ranks.
    After all, the last one who did ended up being a mass murderer.
    "There¡¯s no need to be nervous, though." Ash smiled, placing a hand on Dustan¡¯s shoulder. "You just need to remember your¡ª"
    "Oh? Look who it is¡­ if it isn¡¯t Ashfelt Zephyr."
    A sudden voice echoed in the air, forcing Ash and Dustan to pause their conversation, slow down their walk, and turn in the direction of the incoming footsteps nearing them.
    They belonged to none other than Arius Inkwell and two other Nobles who walked slightly behind him¡ªhis posse, no doubt.
    "I expect no less from the shame of the Zephyr Family¡­ hanging out with a lowlife commoner. I guess it¡¯s because no Noble around wants to be your friend." Arius chuckled as he walked closer.
    Naturally, the boys in his posse laughed with him.
    Since they were affiliated with a member of the Four Noble Households, they were guaranteed protection even if they partook in the mockery of another member of the Four. As long as they laughed to Arius¡¯ comments, in his presence, they were safe from the wrath of the Zephyr Household.
    And yes¡­ the two boys used this privilege to the utmost.
    "What do you want, Arius?" Ash sighed as he looked at the bespectacled boy. "Did you get tired of trying to get my brother¡¯s attention that you decided to settle for me? I gotta say, man¡­ that¡¯s some new low you¡¯ve fallen to¡­"
    "Tch! You¡¯ve got a smart tongue, huh?"
    Arius, with his dark blue hair packed together to form a long ponytail, and a slightly oversized uniform that made his small physique seem considerably larger, moved forward with contempt written all over his face.
    "Want to know what I think? Seeing you with all of these commoners just proves how you must be complicit in their affairs!" He yelled. "You were close with Elma, who ended up being the culprit behind the death of Lord Gerald and so many innocent guards. You also had interactions with Britta after dropping out, right? I heard she was your attending maid when you stayed in the Staff Quarters¡­"
    The insinuations being made were far from subtle, and Arius decided to spell them out even more with the next words that flowed from his lips.
    "Didn¡¯t they say it¡¯s likely Elma had a collaborator? And what of the White Death? Isn¡¯t it likely she had a Traitor Noble assisting her? Feeding her intel about his fellow Nobles¡­ like where they would be and what they would be doing."
    "What exactly are you implying, Arius?" At this point, Ash stepped forward as well.
    "You know what I¡¯m implying, Asphalt¡­" He did not back down. "Maybe, just maybe, you were involved in all of those murders. And who knows, you could be planning something¡­ something awful with Dustan next."
    "Hmm¡­" Ash smiled as he heard those words.
    A part of him wanted to bring up the fact that this very Dustan had tried but failed to woo Elma before her conviction as a killer, and that he¡ªAshfelt Zephyr¡ªwas attacked and nearly killed by the White Death.
    However, he figured such words would do no good with someone like Arius.
    Instead, he chose to make a rueful smile and step even closer to the mucky depths that Arius was dragging him into.
    "Hehe! You got me, Arius¡­ I am planning something awful with my friend Dustan here." Ash¡¯s eyes leaked bloodlust as he grinned evilly at Arius.
    "And you know what? You¡¯re my first target¡­ so prepare yourself."
    "W-what?" Arius began to tremble under Ash¡¯s intense stare, slowly taking steps back. "What kind of a sicko are you?" sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    It didn¡¯t take long before Arius gathered his boys, who had long stopped thinking the confrontation was funny, and they all walked off.
    "Pfft! Spineless idiots¡­"
    Ash laughed, almost aloud, as he watched the trio hurriedly walk off.
    "I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea to anger someone like Arius, Ash." Dustan sighed, mumbling barely audibly. "You know the kind of person he is, don¡¯t you? The kind of person he¡¯ll become¡­"
    "Meh! That doesn¡¯t really matter" Ash shrugged nonchalantly. "Come on, let¡¯s go."
    Dustan sighed once again and followed Ash closely beside him as the two of them walked off to the Training Hall for their daily ritual.
    Unknown to them, however, a certain silhouette¡ªone that had been still for the entire time¡ªslowly began to move as soon as the two of them walked off.
    Within seconds, the shadow rose and took on a humanoid form.
    Then, features began to appear¡ªlike hands, ears, and eyes.
    Then, it parted its lips and spoke.
    "Ashfelt Zephyr¡­ narcissistic and sadistic to his enemies while incredibly negligent and irresponsible with his friends." The deep dark tone echoed as it faded off into the silence.
    "How interesting¡­"
    *
    *
    *
    [Welcome To Arc 2: The Academy Exchange Incident]
    I promise you¡­ this Arc has way more action and twists than the first Arc, and it will also be considerably longer.
    You¡¯re definitely in for a good time.

 Chapter 42: Promotional Exams Begin!

    The week passed in a blur, and every single student spent it the same way.¡ªExams.
    The End of the Year Exams was the same for every student of the Academy¡ªboth Alpha and Beta¡ªin the fact that it was brutal.
    However, with adversity came opportunity.
    If the Beta students did extremely well in this Exam, they would be considered for elevation and would be eligible for the Promotional Exams. In the opposite vein, those who did very poorly in Alpha Class would face demotion if they didn¡¯t prove themselves in the Exams.
    Ashfelt Zephyr was an example of what would happen to an Alpha Student if they failed, as he was demoted to Beta Class¡ªeven if only for a short while¡ªafter losing a round against a Beta student during the Exams.
    This alone was enough motivation for students hoping to climb to the top, and a warning for the ones who wanted to remain there.
    The clock ticked and ticked, until the inevitable arrival of the promised day.
    "Welcome, students¡­ to the Promotional Exams."
    The one who spoke was none other than the Head of Student Affairs, Beatrice Lampshade. She had made an appearance at the Exams, marking her second appearance before the students in her care.
    With only this, she had surpassed Gerald Lockwood¡¯s record.
    "You all know why you are gathered here, and that¡¯s to see if there will be a shift¡­ a change¡­ today." She began, both hands behind her as her eyes traveled through the crowd. "Each and every one of the ten students from Beta Class have the potential to rise to Alpha Class, just as the students from Alpha Class have the potential to fall to Beta."
    The Desgarron Empire was a meritocracy, after all.
    While Noble Status and Titles meant a great deal, what mattered most within its borders was ¡¯Ability,¡¯ and the Akashic Academy also reflected that ideal. The best would advance forward and the dregs would get left behind.
    Such was the rule of conduct within the school¡¯s four walls.
    The Law of Survival!
    And now¡­ it was time for the brutal, but effective method, to be put on full display.
    "I will be judging all ten matches today, and there are Instructors on standby in every area of the Academy in case of any emergency¡­" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The stage that Beatrice stood on would serve as the battlefield for all the competing students. As for where she would be seated during the matches, there was an elevated platform that she would float to and judge from once the fights began.
    The students all had spread-out seats that surrounded the stage¡ªalmost like an auditorium or a small gladiator ring. As always, the Alpha and Beta Students sat in opposite areas, the glares on their faces evidently displaying their distaste for the other side.
    The contestants sat at the forefront of each side, their much bigger seats differing from the spectators behind them. Despite the superior comfort their chairs provided, though, they shifted uncomfortably while watching Beatrice deliver the final keynotes of her speech.
    "The rules are simple: make your opponent surrender, or knock him off the stage. Of course, you may use any Spell at your disposal, but any intentionally fatal attack will be a cause for disqualification." She added. "We are here to compete¡­ not kill each other."
    In essence, even if students wanted to use powerful Spells, they had to utilize them in creative ways that wouldn¡¯t endanger the lives of their opponent. Of course, injuries could be sustained in the fight, but they simply couldn¡¯t be fatal.
    "If your opponent surrenders and you still attack him, that is also grounds for disqualification. The Instructors stationed around will immediately intervene and stop any match that breaks the rules." She smiled wryly. "And please note one final thing¡­ disqualification on your part as a student means that the other side wins."
    This was a serious deterrent for the more powerful Alpha Class students.
    After all, what would they gain if they completely trashed their Beta counterparts, only for them to be disqualified and be sent to the very place they despised? And, to add salt to injury, the weaklings they beat would get elevated to Alpha Class.
    That was unacceptable!
    "Now that we¡¯ve established the rules of the matches¡­ it¡¯s time to officially begin!"
    Tension replaced the excitement that previously wafted in the air, as the student fully understood the scope of the event. Everything was on the line at this point.
    Would they be able to see another miracle like Elma?
    Or¡­ was there no chance at all?
    **********
    [One Day Earlier]
    "The Roster has been announced, by the way."
    Ash spoke nonchalantly as he walked alongside Dustan.
    Despite the slight paleness he noticed on the boy¡¯s face, he continued speaking as if everything was perfectly fine.
    "They¡¯ve chosen ten from each sides¡­ that¡¯s double of last time." He mused. "I guess Beta Students really tried their best to meet up to standard¡ªor maybe a lot of Alpha Students ended up with poor grades."
    "...."
    "Which do you think it is?" Ash turned to ask Dustan, who was too busy worrying to think of an answer on the spot.
    "Who was I matched up against?"
    The sudden question from the lanky boy was inevitable, with his curiosity already driving him mad.
    Ash sighed.
    "It¡¯s Arius Inkwell¡­ he¡¯s your opponent."
    Dustan¡¯s jaw dropped instantly, his shoulders drooping and back slowly following as if he was an ape. His bulging eyes could not contain the shock from the news.
    "A-Arius?! But how? Why?"
    "Somehow he managed to flunk¡­ obviously intentionally." Ash shrugged. "He must really want to crush the Beta Class himself. I guess he¡¯s not as spineless as I thought."
    "B-but how did he get matched up with me? The selection process is random, right?"
    "I guess¡­ but it¡¯s not impossible for him to pull some strings within the Academy and have him matched against you."
    "Arghhhhh!!! This is insane!"
    Dustan was really freaking out, nearly pulling out his hair as he felt his body tremble.
    Arius Inkwell was one of the Top 5 Apprentices of the Academy, and he often competed with the likes of Seth Zephyr when it came to Academics. What would the likes of Dustan be able to do against someone like that?
    "Don¡¯t worry too much about it." Ash¡¯s voice echoed in the air as he placed both hands on the boy¡¯s shoulders.
    "A-Ash¡­"
    "You¡¯ve trained hard for this moment." He added. "Have confidence in your abilities¡­ you can do it!"
    "Y-you really think I can win against Arius¡­?"
    Upon hearing the question, Ash made a broader smile, his eyes closed as he let his thoughts answer it.
    ¡¯Frankly¡­ the chances are slim.¡¯
    Since this was in his mind, Dustan could not hear Ash¡¯s true thoughts.
    ¡¯Both of their affinities are water-based, and Arius has the superior Familiar.¡¯ He continued. ¡¯It¡¯s a bad matchup from the very start.¡¯
    Dustan¡¯s Familiar was only in the Medium Grade, while Arius¡¯ was a Greater Grade.
    The difference was immense.
    ¡¯But Grades aren¡¯t always everything.¡¯ Ash remembered how he beat Elma even though he had a far weaker Familiar. ¡¯As long as you have the right strategy, it¡¯s possible to turn things around.¡¯
    What currently mattered the most to students was skill, not overall power and potential.
    ¡¯Since we are yet to reach the ceiling of power that allows those with better Grades to advance ahead and leave the rest behind, it¡¯s still possible to win.¡¯
    Ash only had to show Dustan how.

 Chapter 43: Creeping Despair

    "Philius Louvrehard wins the first match!"The echoes of victory rushed through the auditorium, instantly stifling the stench of defeat that the Beta Class Students felt once the first match concluded.
    Perhaps it was due to the suspension of Joint Training, but the Beta Class Students seemed to have forgotten just how frightening it was to go up against their Alpha Counterparts.
    With the swift and brutal fight¡ªno, one-sided beatdown¡ªthat was the first match, they were once again reminded of their inferiority when compared to true talent and the endless potential of their Alpha counterparts.
    Despair quickly seeped into their hearts, setting the mood for the rest of the event.
    "Congratulations, Philius, you get to remain in Alpha Class." Beatrice Lampshade spoke to the only student who remained standing on stage.
    The boy had barely broken a sweat.
    "Whew! That¡¯s a relief¡­" He responded with a bow, his bright smile and sarcastic tone not going unnoticed by the Head of Student Affairs.
    ¡¯I see¡­ so that¡¯s what they are doing.¡¯ She thought to herself. ¡¯I found it strange that such powerful students would flunk their classes and be here.¡¯
    As a Rank 9 Mage, she was able to tell how strong most individuals were from a single glance.
    With this ability, it was obvious to her that the Alpha Class Students were incredibly powerful, even when compared to the others in their own class.
    So why would they be facing potential demotion?
    Beatrice finally found her answer.
    ¡¯They¡¯re intentionally flunking so they can crush the Beta Class, giving them no hope of ever advancing¡­¡¯
    Her eyes narrowed in disapproval.
    She did her best to hide her frown, but her clenched fists could not contain the burning rage that she felt.
    ¡¯This is supposed to be a fair system, and yet¡­ these guys¡­¡¯ She wanted to stop the Promotional Exams on the spot, but she already knew that couldn¡¯t work.
    ¡¯I can only stop the Exams for probable cause, and there¡¯s no rule against what they¡¯ve done¡­¡¯
    In essence, she was powerless.
    ¡¯Beta Class Students, I¡¯m so sorry¡­ I sold you all a false dream.¡¯
    There was no way any of them had the potential to rise to Alpha Class at this point.
    They were all doomed.
    *************
    "Jane Deckhart wins the second match! Congratulations, Jane, you get to remain in Alpha Class"
    "William Lawson wins the third match! Congratulations, William, you get to remain in Alpha Class"
    "Philip Kurtinham wins the fourth match! Congratulations, Philip, you get to remain in Alpha Class"
    "Justin Timberdrake wins the fifth match! Congratulations, Justin, you get to remain in Alpha Class"
    The words just kept flowing from the lips of the Head Of Student Affairs, each declaration only having an interval of a minute or two before the next one.
    If it wasn¡¯t evident before, it was now. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The Beta Students stood no chance at all¡ªnot against the giants that were Alpha Class.
    As Dustan sat on his chair, shifting uncomfortably in the large and comfy seat, he found beads of sweat trickling down his face. He had worked extremely hard to reach this point, waking up at unreasonably early hours and training to his limits every single day.
    He had done everything Ash asked of him, and even more, just to prepare for this moment.
    And now¡­ even with all of his efforts¡­ he wasn¡¯t certain of victory.
    ¡¯Ash told me that if I can¡¯t get in this time, I won¡¯t be able to do so any longer¡­¡¯ His thoughts flowed in worry. ¡¯I still don¡¯t know the reason why, but it seems like this is really my last shot.¡¯
    Moments like this made him wish he had read the ¡¯Legend of the Lost Prince¡¯ Novel more seriously, but it was too late for regrets at this point. Besides, he had followed the very words of Ash, who knew practically everything about the story and its world, so wasn¡¯t he supposed to have confidence that this would work?
    ¡¯Y-yeah¡­ I can do it! I can wi¡ª"
    "Fabian Bigweaner wins the sixth match! Congratulations, Fabian, you get to remain in Alpha Class"
    The sudden declaration made by the Head of Student Affairs, coupled by the echoes of victory that rushed from Alpha Class disoriented Dustan, shattering the confidence that he had been trying to build up for so long.
    ¡¯Ash¡­¡¯ He slowly shifted forward, trying to find where Ash was seated with his troubled eyes.
    Alpha Class Students only numbered 24, and 10 of them were contestants in the Exchange, so it wasn¡¯t difficult locating where he was beyond the ring.
    And¡ª
    ¡¯What¡¯s that? Is he having a snack right now?¡¯
    Ash seemed to be holding something akin to a large bucket of popcorn, and he was stuffing his face with the stuff as he watched the match. He had amusement written all over his face, with a broad smile plastered on his pale face.
    It could have simply been his imagination, but Dustan saw a glint of joy in Ash¡¯s crimson eyes as the groans of the Beta Student drowned in the constant cheers of the Alpha Class cheers.
    ¡¯I-Is he not worried about me?¡¯ Dustan wondered. ¡¯Is he even on my side?¡¯
    Before he could answer that question, however, the next words he heard caused him to jump on his feet¡ªalmost instinctively.
    "Next match is between Dustan from Beta Class and Arius Inkwell from Alpha Class."
    On the opposite side of the stage, Arius slowly rose to his feet, an arrogant smirk playing on his bespectacled face.
    "Both contestants, please come to the stage."
    Dustan felt his body move, but he had no control over it. His palms were sweaty as he climbed the slightly elevated stage, feeling every ounce of pressure from the gazes that fell on him from both sides of the hall.
    The pressure intensified once he felt the attention of Beatrice Lampshade on him.
    "Both contestants take positions and prepare. If you have anything to say to each other, do so now." She spoke.
    Dustan gulped as he heard this, fighting very hard to even look at Arius¡¯ smug face.
    "Not feeling so smug without Ashfelt by your side, huh?" He sneered. "Hehe¡­ once I¡¯m done annihilating you, whatever plot you and that traitor are cooking up will be foiled for sure."
    "Eeep¡­"
    "Struggle as hard as you can, runt." Arius cracked his neck and adjusted his glasses, his greenish blue eyes warbling with sadistic intent.
    "This should be fun!"

 Chapter 44: Water Fight

    "Okay¡­ you may begin!"As soon as Beatrice¡¯s words echoed in the air, wafting into the ears of both students, they took instant action.
    VWUUSH!
    Arius Inkwell¡¯s first priority was to utilize his Familiar¡¯s powers to summon a large body of water. With this water, he could simply drown his target or draw from its huge pool of liquid to initiate multiple attacks.
    By doing so, he would reduce the time necessary to go on full Spellcasting.
    However, as the Magia within him bubbled forth, rapidly forming the huge bubble of water above his head, Dustan charged forward with zero hesitation.
    His narrowed eyes leaked out bright blue color, trailing like lights as he became a blur.
    "W-what are you¡ª?!"
    Before Arius could complete his sentence, and his mass of water, Dustan reached his position and thrust a clenched fist towards his face.
    WHAM!
    The blow connected, and thanks to the force exerted from Dustan¡ªas a result of reinforcing his punch with Magia¡ªthe shocked and hurting teenager who was struck found his body hurtling backwards.
    ¡­ Towards the edge of the stage.
    "YOU¡ª!" Arius swiftly took action, utilizing the body of water that he had summoned as a cushion to stop his descent off the stage.
    Thankfully it worked.
    Unfortunately for him, Dustan was already marching forward again, his eyes displaying a relentless spirit as he prepared his fist for another powerful shot.
    "Stay back!"
    With a shriek, Arius sent a burst of liquid from the remnants of his water bubble.
    Thankfully, it worked.
    Like a geyser, the powerful pressure of the water sent Dustan¡¯s body skidding backwards, even as the boy blocked a direct impact to his face.
    Using this as a way to buy time, Arius began to summon the body of water once again.
    This time, he wasn¡¯t so nonchalant about it.
    After receiving the first strike from Dustan, he was feeling very annoyed and extremely impatient. He simply couldn¡¯t believe that a Beta Student¡ªespecially one of Dustan¡¯s low commoner status¡ªcould land a hit on him.
    ¡¯He didn¡¯t even use Spirit Arts to do it!¡¯ Arius gritted his teeth. ¡¯I¡¯ll make him pay for humiliating me!¡¯
    More water bubbled up above Arius as Dustan remained occupied with the burst of water hurtling towards him. However, the rushing water soon got exhausted, granting him freedom once again.
    "[Whiplash]!" He chanted, directing his Mana towards the water that connected Arius and him.
    Instantly, the liquid rose up and formed a whip¡ªone that could be controlled by Dustan.
    "Hup!"
    He stretched out his hand and controlled the single whip to wrap around Arius¡¯ hand, dragging him towards himself.
    "Y-you bastaaaaaaaard!"
    Arius felt his body get pulled towards Dustan, once again failing to complete the huge body of water that was still gathering above his head.
    BAM!
    Yet another strike from Dustan connected to Arius, this time sinking directly into his stomach.
    "Guh!" The boy¡¯s eyes nearly whitened as soon as he received the blow.
    However, Dustan wasn¡¯t done.
    Another strike to his right cheek sent Arius¡¯ body plummeting to the floor.
    "Ack!"
    Arius felt the back of his head hit the reinforced stage, already tasting blood in his mouth. His body bounced up a little, and Dustan seemed to be taking advantage of the inertia, readying another blow for good measure.
    ¡¯D-don¡¯t think you can hit me again!¡¯ Arius growled, controlling the large body of water that still hovered above his previous position using the tether of Magia that he still had with it.
    ¡¯[Water Bullets]!¡¯
    Small droplets of water instantly shot from the water bubble, moving at speeds beyond what a normal human could react to.
    Due to their small size, the [Water Bullet] Spell was easy to cast, which meant Arius could deploy them before Dustan got even close enough to hit him again.
    ¡¯Hehe! Just like that!¡¯ Arius grinned to himself. ¡¯You¡¯ll be shot by all those bullets from behind!¡¯
    Shockingly, his expectations weren¡¯t met.
    In a sudden twist of motion, Dustan leaped away from Arius, his body glistening with a Reinforcement Spell.
    ¡¯W-what?!¡¯
    Arius was too stunned by the sudden action of the boy that he failed to recognize what that would mean for him.
    After all, if the bullets couldn¡¯t hit Dustan¡­ there was only one place they could go.
    RAHTAHTAHTAH!!!
    Arius found himself assailed by a barrage of water bullets, causing his skin to turn red as his muscles instantly grew sore from all the damage.
    Even with Reinforcement, he could not eliminate all of the damage done to him.
    ¡¯Damn¡­ it hurts! It hurts a lot!¡¯ Arius growled as his body remained still on the ground. ¡¯How is he doing this? How is he reacting to all my moves with precision? It¡¯s almost like he can see what I can do next?¡¯
    Arius called for the bubble of liquid, allowing it to hover above him once again¡ªlike a cloud.
    "[Droplets Of Restoration]." He whispered.
    Instantly, the water began to glow with a bright blue hue as it began to rain on Arius, releasing restorative water that eased his pain and slowly healed his wounds.
    This wasn¡¯t an all-powerful Healing Spell, though. It could only treat very surface injuries and was especially useful for pain relief.
    However, for someone like Arius, it was akin to a miracle.
    "And¡­ I haven¡¯t forgotten about you!" Arius huffed, glaring at Dustan who now stood in a distance, chanting a Spell.
    "You think I¡¯ll let you finish?!"
    Moved by sheer rage and the pain he felt at that moment, Arius ceased his current Spell cast another one, directing all of its power at Dustan.
    "[Rainstorm]!"
    Instantly, the bubble of water rumbled like a thundercloud and released long and sharp projectiles. Forget the small droplets that made up the [Water Bullets], these looked more like spears.
    They were even faster than the bullets, and their sheer numbers made them increasingly deadly.
    Since they also covered a wide range, Dustan could not run away or escape the impending disaster.
    However, it didn¡¯t seem like he was going to run.
    No¡­ this looked like something else.
    "[Externalization]!"
    S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 45: Externalization

    There are two main abilities a Mage be able to use: S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.[Externalization] and [Fusion].
    Any competent Mage must be able to utilize these two; at least, to some degree.
    However, that doesn¡¯t mean it comes easy. After all, even in the Akashic Magus Academy, it takes an entire Stage¡ªthe Intermediate Stage¡ªfor students to be able to achieve [Externalization].
    The Expert Stage also focuses on [Fusion], yet not every student is capable of achieving the full thing, hence the reason for the passing criteria being Partial Fusion.
    Still, it isn¡¯t unheard of for students to possess these powers prematurely.
    Apprentice Stage Students could reach [Externalization], and Intermediate Stage Students could attain [Fusion]. However, such achievements are usually reserved for special individuals known as geniuses.
    And geniuses undisputedly emerge from Alpha Class.
    So¡­
    ¡­ How in the world was a Beta Student using [Externalization]?!
    **********
    ¡¯Hehe¡­ this is good!¡¯
    Ash smiled to himself as he watched the sudden switch in the air once Dustan activated his [Externalization].
    His eyes glistened with pride, almost as if he was a doting father. He could feel his heart racing despite his best attempts to suppress his excitement. To keep himself occupied, he stuffed his face with even more popcorn and took a huge gulp from his massive soda.
    These were all snacks he prepared beforehand, so he didn¡¯t hold back in his consumption.
    Even with his excitement, however, a hint of caution remained.
    ¡¯You can only use [Externalization] for a minute, Dustan, so make every second count¡­¡¯
    The reason he taught him the move was so it could act as a trump card¡ªa big finishing move.
    ¡¯It takes too long to activate, so if he had used it from the start, Arius would already be done with his bubble, and it would have ended badly for him.¡¯
    That was why Dustan only started his preparation after leaping away from Arius, using the time that Arius took to get bombarded by his [Water Bullets], heal with the [Droplets Of Restoration], and cast his [Rainstorm] Spell, to reach within and summon the manifest a physical form for his Familiar.
    In essence¡­ [Externalization].
    ¡¯You can do it, Dustan¡­¡¯ Ash grinned widely. ¡¯You can win!¡¯
    ********
    ¡¯I can do this!¡¯
    Dustan¡¯s eyes glowed bright blue as his body became shrouded with bright energy. Floating atop his head like a hat was a squid-like creature. It had eight arms dancing in the air, with its two noticeably longer tentacles wiggled down like noodles.
    In total, ten watery limbs.
    Its eyes glowed white as the rest of its body was bright blue, having bubbles within its translucent body. Its torso was twice as large as Dustan¡¯s head, giving the Mollusc Spirit an especially imposing presence.
    "Protect me!" Dustan yelled, referring to the several spear-like liquids that approached him at terrifying speed.
    In response, the squid-like Spirit spun its two tentacles around like turbines, creating a shield that easily blocked every attack that came his way.
    Not a single watery spear went through, and Dustan remained unharmed.
    "W-what?!" Arius was stunned as he slowly stood up, staggering a little once he regained his foothold. "H-how¡­ how can you use [Externalization] already?"
    It wasn¡¯t just Arius who was stunned.
    Every single member of the audience was equally shocked to see Dustan¡¯s hidden card.
    The Alpha Students couldn¡¯t believe their eyes.
    Most of them hadn¡¯t even come close to achieving [Externalization], yet a Beta brat was able to beat them to it? How did that even make sense?
    Well, it didn¡¯t need to make sense to be happening.
    "Attack!"
    Dustan commanded his Familiar, and the Mollusc Spirit responded without an ounce of hesitation.
    It sent all eight of its arms, preserving its two tentacles for defense.
    WHOOOSH!
    The eight arms of the Familiar stretched out like jelly, reaching out for the trembling Arius.
    "[W-Water Shield]!" Arius used the last remnants of his bubble to create a wall of protection in front of him.
    However, it was completely ineffective.
    Half of the Familiar¡¯s limbs hit the watery wall, bursting the latter instantly, while the other half of its limbs circled around the paltry attempt at defense and caught Arius by all his limbs¡ªfour arms wrapping around both hands and legs.
    "S-stop!" Arius growled, struggling against the iron grip of the Familiar¡¯s arms. "This is so disgusting! Stop!"
    However, Dustan did not stop.
    Instead, he squeezed Arius¡¯ arms a little tighter, forcing the boy to scream out like a whimpering child.
    "Who¡¯s annihilating who now?" Dustin chuckled, flinging Arius away so the boy slid towards the edge of the stage.
    "N-no¡­"
    A little more and he would be off the platform.
    He would lose.
    "N-no¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t lose!" Arius struggled to hold onto the wet stage but couldn¡¯t find a hold on the ground.
    His body was now covered in the same slimy liquid as Dustin¡¯s Familiar, which caused him to constantly fall even when he attempted to stand. He also couldn¡¯t maintain his position as his body kept sliding towards the floor.
    "Unlike you, I don¡¯t want to see my opponents struggle¡­" Dustan muttered, walking even closer to Arius. "I¡¯ll end it now."
    He nudged his Familiar to attack.
    Even a mere tap would be enough to secure his victory at that point.
    WHUUUSH!
    The limbs of the Familiar charged forth, ready to bash into Arius and secure a perfect victory for its host. However, at the last minute, the incoming limbs turned rubbery and dissolved into bubbly liquid.
    A few moments later, the squid-like creature itself vanished, leaving Dustan¡¯s head.
    "What? Time¡¯s up already?!" The boy mumbled in surprise. "I thought I still had time."
    Before he could fully process his Familiar¡¯s departure, or figure out what his next move would be now that he was in a weakened and vulnerable state, a sinister chuckle echoed in the air.
    "Hehe¡­"
    Arius slowly rose to his feet, now free from the Grease-like effect of the Familiar¡¯s fluid.
    "It seems you can¡¯t maintain [Externalization] for long¡­ figures!" Arius¡¯ eyes burned bright as he gave a sadistic grin.
    "Now¡­ it¡¯s my turn to¡ª!"
    Before he could finish gloating, Dustan closed the distance between them and sent a straight thrust at his bruised face.
    The result¡­?
    BAM!
    Arius felt his nose being squished with the rest of his face as the lens of his glasses shattered and his body powerlessly flew towards the ground.
    And no, not the stage ground.
    He fell off the platform, leaving behind a trail of blood, some broken teeth, shattered pieces of his glasses, and a few droplets of tears.
    "Dustan wins the seventh match! Congratulations, Dustan, you will now advance to Alpha Class"

 Chapter 46: Winds Of Change

    "Dustan wins the seventh match!"As Arius lay on the ground, his body recoiling from the pain as he groaned softly, he heard those words.
    ¡¯No¡­ no¡­ did I lose?¡¯
    "Congratulations, Dustan, you will now advance to Alpha Class"
    His eyes bulged and his heart tightened as soon as those words trickled into his ears. He clutched his chest as he felt the weight of shame descend upon him.
    Shame¡­ and something else.
    ¡ªDread.
    ¡¯No¡­ if I lost, then that means¡­¡¯
    "Arius Inkwell¡­ you will be demoted to Beta Class. Work hard and you just might be able to rise back to Alpha Class."
    ¡¯... I¡¯m now a Beta?¡¯
    He couldn¡¯t believe his ears.
    He, one of the Top 3 Apprentices in the whole Academy, was going to be a Beta Student?
    How?
    Why? It didn¡¯t make any sense!
    ¡¯It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s a ploy, I¡¯m sure of it¡­¡¯ Arius recollected the words that Ashfelt said to him. ¡¯They were planning this from the very start¡­ this awful plan.¡¯
    A plan to humiliate him¡ªa member of the 4 Great Noble Households¡ªbefore everyone.
    That was why he lost. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    That was the only reason why he lost.
    ¡¯I won¡¯t¡­ I won¡¯t forget this¡­¡¯ At this point, Arius was already losing consciousness.
    He had taken far more damage than he had bargained for¡ªmore than he had suffered in a very long time.
    Within a few more seconds, he completely passed out.
    **********
    ¡¯Impressive.¡¯
    Beatrice Lampshade found her eyes sparkling with surprise as she watched the scene play out before her.
    ¡¯What a surprising turn of events.¡¯ She marveled. ¡¯Even I couldn¡¯t have predicted this.¡¯
    Who would have thought that a Beta Student could utilize Externalization?
    ¡¯The Grade of his Familiar is Medium, so it would be easier for a Familiar like that to be Externalized than one of a higher Grade, but since the Grade of Familiars usually reflect the talent of a Student, it all balances out.¡¯
    In essence, even though someone with a Low Grade Familiar could use [Externalizaton] far quicker than someone with a High Grade Familiar due to the difference in power between both Spirits, talent also played a huge part.
    Those with less talent had weaker Familiars and those with more talent had stronger Familiars. Hence, their growth rate balanced out considerably, with a few exceptons sprouting out.
    But, what would happen when someone with a high level of talent got a weak Familiar?
    ¡¯They¡¯d be able to achieve Externalization¡­ and even Fusion much faster than every other person.¡¯
    But, what kind of talented person would pick a weak Familiar?
    It made no sense.
    Mages were respected, not based on their own individual ability, but the Grade of their Familiar and how well they could use the power within said Familiar.
    ¡¯No matter how skilled a Mage is, they can never go beyond Rank 5 without a High Grade Familiar or above.¡¯
    That was how cruel the system was.
    ¡¯And so, while it is with great joy that I see such a young sprout overcome the winds of adversity and rise to prominence¡­ it still pains my heart to see that he won¡¯t be able to keep advancing beyond the student he defeated.¡¯
    Arius Inkwell had a Greater Grade Spirit as a Familiar.
    It was only a matter of time before Dustan reached his limits and Arius surpassed him.
    ¡¯Until then, celebrate, young man.¡¯ Beatrice smiled and rendered Dustan a round of applause.
    The boy had proven not just her, but everyone else wrong.
    He won.
    ***************
    Arius was taken away for immediate medical care, and the Promotional Exams continued.
    The contestants for the next match were called out, just like in the other rounds, and two students rose to the stage.
    However, unlike before, where there was an overwhelming sense of superiority on one side and unfathomable despair on the other, the atmosphere in the hall was completely different.
    The Beta Students had a completely different vibe, with many of them spreading hopeful smiles and encouraging their fellow Beta who was now on stage. While the boy wasn¡¯t as strong or smart as Dustan, he scored the second highest in the End of Year Exams.
    In terms of potential, he was right after Dustan.
    Compared to him, the Alpha Student he was facing¡ªwhile still superior to him in every category¡ªlooked like a flunkie who wasn¡¯t as strong as his colleagues.
    Many Beta Students believed he stood a chance.
    ¡¯I can do this¡­ I can win this!¡¯ Even the Beta Student started to believe it. ¡¯If Dustan can make it, then me too¡­¡¯
    For so long, Alpha Class had maintained an aura of unwavering dominance.
    However, all of that was about to change.
    The winds of change were already blowing, and the unease on the faces of every Alpha Student made it clear that they weren¡¯t so invincible after all.
    ¡¯Starting now¡­¡¯ As the Beta Student was drowned in his thought, he noticed one Alpha Student whose expression was different from that of his other colleagues.
    It was Ashfelt Zephyr.
    He had a somewhat sad and distant expression on his face.
    One would expect him to happy, since his friend, Dustan, had made it to Alpha Class, but he seemed slightly distraught. He seemed to be looking right at the boy as he sighed and shook his head.
    ¡¯Well, whatever¡­ I¡¯ll just focus on my match!¡¯
    The voice of the Head of Student Affairs rang out, signalling the commencement of the match.
    WHOOSH!
    The Beta Student leaped forward, choosing to the more confident approach rather than shrinking back in fear like the rest of his colleagues had done. One thing he learned from Dustan was attacking the Alpha Class students head on.
    ¡¯Bfore he can cast any big Spell, I¡¯ll disorient him with¡ª!¡¯
    "[Ironclad Severance]."
    SWISH!
    WHISH!
    KWISH!
    It all happened in an instant, like a blur of blood and death.
    Several bladed atacks struk at once, slicing nearly every part of the Beta Student¡¯s body in an instant.
    The once-optimistic boy was now drowning in a pool of blood, coughing out thick red liquid as his entire body¡ªor rather, what was left of it¡ªshivered in severe agony.
    This was a fatal wound¡­ he was dying.
    "You plebians think you can make it to Alpha Class? You think you can challenge us?" The Alpha Class Student approached him, casting a dark shadow on his frail body.
    "I¡¯ll kill you right now and end that stupid dream!"

 Chapter 47: Dark Shadow

    "Stop the match!"What started off as a more hopeful turn for the Beta Students soon became a horrific sight of blood and despair.
    "Stop the match right now!"
    The Instructors intervened and stopped the Alpha Class Student before he could make any further actions, but the damage had already been done. The Beta Student had lost several fingers, having his right arm and left leg barely hanging together.
    One eye had been seemingly gouged out, and his face¡ªno, his entire body¡ªwas like a canvas of scars. Even with Healing Spells, it would take a very long time for the boy to recover.
    Physically¡­ and Mentally.
    "Dexter Morgause¡­ you are hereby disqualified for your undignifying behavior¡ªbreaking the rules and assaulting your fellow classmate to near death."
    "No offence, Miss Lampshade¡­" The boy responded almost instantly, his smile rueful and his gaze disconcerting. "... But he¡¯s not my classmate."
    In Dexter¡¯s mind, there was a difference between Alpha and Beta Class.
    Calling both sides the same class was ridiculous.
    "You¡¯re right¡­ you¡¯re not classmates."
    He smiled.
    "Since you¡¯ve been disqualified, that simply means Liam won by default. He¡¯ll be promoted to Alpha Class while you will be demoted to Beta Class."
    Within minutes, his smile evaporated.
    "You knew the rules before attacking¡­ so you brought it on yourself."
    Despite her calm demeanor, Beatrice was incredibly vexed by the situation. After all, as Head Of Student Affairs, she wasn¡¯t just catering to Alpha Class, but the Beta Students were also her priority.
    ¡¯Just when they were regaining their confidence, he had to do this¡­¡¯ She frowned. ¡¯Dexter Morgause¡­ he has a history of violence, and I have heard many rumors about how his family is especially brutish in their training.¡¯
    Perhaps she should have expected this outcome to a degree.
    ¡¯Still, I thought the fear of disqualification would keep any overly violent Alpha Class student in line. After all, they value pride above all else.¡¯
    She was wrong, though.
    And the worst part about everything was that the Exams had to continue.
    "Get off the stage for the next participants." She commanded the disoriented Dexter, who begrudgingly obeyed, both hands in his pockets as he grumbled under his breath.
    As for his victim, Liam, he had already been placed on a gurney and sent to an Emergency Sick Bay for treatment. Healing Potions would be applied to serve as emergency treatment, and afterward a systematic Healing Process would be used to help his body return to its previous state.
    This would undoubtedly take time, and there would be many arguments as to whether or not a Beta Student was worth all of the effort¡ªespecially since he would be so far behind the other students once he was finally discharged.
    Even with all of these considerations, Beatrice Lampshade did not care.
    ¡¯All of them are my students! I refuse to give up on any single one of them.¡¯
    ********
    The rest of the matches ended as one would expect.
    Alpha Class students won by a landslide¡ªhaving zero to no resistance from their Beta counterparts. The difference in power was too obvious, and since none of the Betas wanted to end up like Liam, they figured it was time to stop resisting.
    Dustan¡¯s victory was only a fluke.
    And so, it was with this atmosphere of despair that the Promotional Exams came to a close and the Students were asked to leave the hall.
    "Congratulations on your victory. I knew you could do it." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Ash¡¯s words echoed in the air as both he and Dustan walked side by side, departing from the direction that most students were headed.
    After experiencing the battles in the Promotional Exams, students were most likely to visit three places: their rooms, the training hall, or the library. This would be either out of exhaustion or the willingness to grow stronger.
    However, Dustan was an odd duck since he¡ªa Beta Student¡ªhad managed to defeat an Alpha.
    "This calls for celebration." Ash added. "We get a day off training and study¡­ let¡¯s have something grand to eat."
    "Hehe! Now that I¡¯m an Alpha Class student, we can both go to the same cafe or restaurant."
    "Damn straight!"
    Both boys chuckled, walking down the path that led to the prime restaurant they wanted to visit.
    However, not long after they started walking there, they stopped.
    Or rather, they were stopped.
    "T-that is¡­" Dustan¡¯s eyes widened as he looked at a certain individual who stood a few feet from them after appearing seemingly out of nowhere.
    He had ashen hair, with an eyepatch covering one eye. With a pure black outfit that perfectly complemented the hardened look on his face, he kept both gloved hands in his trenchcoat pockets and stared at the two boys.
    Everyone on campus knew who this was at this point.
    Raven Nightshade¡ªthe man who arrested Elma, and who was still conducting investigations regarding certain loose ends that the latter had left behind.
    "...."
    Ash remained quiet as he looked at the man.
    After a few seconds of silence, Raven Nightshade approached them, letting his imposing presence press against them as he maintained a stoic expression of deadly calm.
    "Greetings, students."
    Upon hearing his greeting, Dustan fumbled with his words before finally reciprocating in the most nervous way possible.
    "I¡ªerm¡­ good day¡­ I mean, greetings Sir Raven Nigtshade!"
    "Greetings." Ash simply said, his face perfectly calm.
    The older man smiled.
    "I watched your match in the Promotional Exams. Congratulations on your promotion to Alpha Class."
    "T-thank you¡­" Once again, Dustan was flustered.
    What was Raven Nightshade doing here? Did Ash already rat him out with the footage he had in his possession? Or, did the Special Head Of Security figure everything out on his own?
    Whatever the case was, it didn¡¯t make sense that he would appear alone and depict such friendliness.
    "If you don¡¯t mind¡­ Master Ashfelt Zephyr, I would like to have a word with you."
    ¡¯So¡­ you¡¯re finally making your move.¡¯ As soon as Ash heard this, he smiled to himself. ¡¯I have noticed someone tailing me for weeks now¡­¡¯
    Ash, of course, knew that this was a ¡¯shadow¡¯, one of Raven Nightshade¡¯s specialties.
    He often wondered if the man had been the one tailing him, and with him finally making an appearance, the possibility seemed even higher.
    But, Ash was doubtful that his stalker was Raven.
    ¡¯It¡¯s probably one of his minions¡­ the Order of Shadows.¡¯ He reasoned. ¡¯There¡¯s no way Raven is that sloppy.¡¯
    Unless, of course, Raven was being intentionally sloppy just to bait Ash.
    He also had to consider that.
    ¡¯It¡¯s something that he¡¯s capable of, considering how he¡¯s one of the craftiest, most obsessive characters in the novel.¡¯
    Fortunately, even though Ash noticed that he was being followed and watched by silhouettes, he never once gave his knowledge of them away.
    He maintained no reaction, hiding everything in a perfect facade.

 Chapter 48: Ravenéˆ¥æªš Theory

    "Oh? What could it be that you want to discuss with me?"Ash asked with innocence dripping from his every word. "I hope all is well."
    "It is." Raven Nightshade added. "I¡¯m just interviewing people who were close to the murder suspect¡­ or rather, convict."
    ¡¯Convict, huh? So they¡¯re already sure she¡¯s the one who did it¡­¡¯
    Ash smiled to himself.
    This was good. It meant he made everything convincing enough that even Raven Nightshade did not doubt that Elma was the killer¡ªor maybe he did doubt and was merely putting up a false front.
    ¡¯Either way, it seems Elma is damned.¡¯ He sighed. ¡¯So why hasn¡¯t she been killed yet?¡¯
    Due to the effects of the Soul Contract he made with her, he could tell that she was alive. After all, if she was dead, their Contract would be terminated and he would be able to act beyond the confines of their agreement.
    However, given that those limitations were still present, it meant Elma was still alive.
    ¡¯She¡¯s probably clinging to life after being brutally tortured by this sick bastard.¡¯ He smiled at Raven. ¡¯I almost feel bad for her.¡¯
    More importantly, though, he had to deal with the person before him.
    "I see¡­ alright. Let¡¯s talk."
    Ash was already wondering how close Raven Nightshade had gotten to the truth, so he figured this would be the perfect time to find out.
    "Why don¡¯t you go on ahead, Dustan?" He told the clearly nervous boy. "I¡¯ll catch up."
    "O-okay!"
    With Dustan out of the way, and only two of them standing opposite each other, the tension between them both only seemed to escalate.
    "So¡­ ask me anything you¡¯d like, Mister Raven."
    **********
    [Moments Later]
    ¡¯This kid¡­¡¯ Raven Nightshade narrowed his eyes as he looked at Ashfelt¡¯s perfect facade.
    After speaking to him for nearly an hour, he expected to have gotten some valuable information and arrived at least one step closer to filling the gaps in his current premises, but that was far from the case.
    ¡¯I haven¡¯t gotten a single valuable information from him.¡¯ He marveled. ¡¯I don¡¯t know how he¡¯s doing it, but he keeps skirting around many issues, and very expertly at that.¡¯
    More than that, he also never answered in excess or deficit.
    He gave no room for further interrogation with his curt answers: not saying more than he had to in every single instance.
    ¡¯He¡¯s sharp! Too sharp!¡¯ His brows furrowed in suspicion. ¡¯I had no idea the Zephyr Household was raising a snake¡­¡¯
    Not many knew about Ashfelt Zephyr, including Raven himself. That was because the boy was considered unremarkable in many ways. He wasn¡¯t good at Spirit Arts, his Familiar was immensely unimpressive, and there were several rumors that he only got to Alpha Class through some underhanded methods.
    ¡¯However, after doing my due research on him¡­ I found a few interesting things.¡¯
    One was a direct link between Ashfelt Zephyr and Gerald Lockwood.
    ¡¯It seems Gerald was going to send him off to the Northern Borders after he dropped out, but after the sudden apprehension of the White Death, he suddenly canceled that arrangement and even recommended Ashfelt for Re-Entrance.¡¯
    On the surface, this seemed like Gerald Lockwood had taken a liking to Ashfelt, but that wasn¡¯t at all the case.
    ¡¯After all, he told the judges to fail Ashfelt¡­ but the brat did way higher than expectations.¡¯
    As a result, they couldn¡¯t fail him even if they wanted to.
    ¡¯I learned a lot of these and more, including how Ashfelt visited Gerald and then was on the Campus Grounds during the night that the White Death was apprehended. Considering the suspicious nature of him dropping out, and then returning to the Academy, it¡¯s clear to me that he did all of that intentionally¡­ to catch the White Death.¡¯
    This assertion was corroborated by Justin Timberdrake, an Alpha Class student that Ashfelt interrogated regarding the White Death mere days before he decided to drop out. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡¯My theory is that Ashfelt actually solved the White Death case, but chose to let Gerald take the credit in exchange for calling off the transfer and recommending him for Re-Entrnace.¡¯ Raven thought to himself. ¡¯To prevent the truth from getting out, Gerald wanted to clip off Ashfelt¡¯s wings.¡¯
    If all of this was true, then it gave Ashfelt a motive to go after Gerald.
    ¡¯Normally, I¡¯d say it¡¯s a far stretch, but if he was the one who caught the White Death, that shows just how intelligent and resourceful he is.¡¯
    Plus, was it really a coincidence that Ashfelt and the killer happened to be close?
    No! It couldn¡¯t be!
    "Are we done here, Mister Raven?" The boy interrupted his thoughts, raising an eyebrow as if he was making an innocent inquiry. "My friend is waiting for me, you know? We have to celebrate his victory."
    "Ahh¡­ I see. Apologies for keeping you for so long."
    Despite his slight chuckle, even going ahead to bow his head slightly to Ashfelt, Raven felt a completely different way in his thoughts.
    ¡¯I don¡¯t trust you, Ashfelt¡­¡¯ His thoughts echoed. ¡¯I¡¯m certain that you¡¯re involved in the murder of Gerald and those guards somehow, and I¡¯m going to prove it.¡¯
    No matter what!
    **********
    [Later That Night¡­]
    ¡¯Ahh¡­¡¯
    Liam lay in his bed, a feeling of self pity and powerlessness coursing through his body as he faced the ceiling.
    The overwhelming pain that previously assailed his body had been numbed, and he was now stable. Despite his lack of sensations throughout his body, Liam couldn¡¯t help the distress that he felt.
    ¡¯... My life as a Mage is over, isn¡¯t it?¡¯
    No one outrightly told him that, but Liam could tell.
    ¡¯Even if I get promoted to Alpha Class, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d be able to keep up with everyone after spending months here¡­¡¯ He sighed. ¡¯Should I just drop out? There¡¯s no hope for me.¡¯
    As he had that thought, he heard a sudden movement in the dark.
    ¡¯H-huh? What¡¯s that?¡¯
    The only source of light in his room was the moonlight that filtered into his room, staining his bedside with dim light. If he turned slightly, he could look beyond the confines of his depressing room and see the open fields¡­ the drifting clouds in the night sky¡­ and¡ª
    FSHUUU
    ¡ªA certain silhouette standing right next to him.
    ¡¯W-what?!¡¯
    Fear immediately took over as Liam became reasonably shocked by the sudden appearance of a stranger in his room. The figure blocked the natural light that entered the room, allowing the dim glow to dance on his body instead.
    At first, Liam could not recognize the silhouette.
    Then¡­ he did.
    "Y-you? What are you doing here?" He asked with a trembling voice. "How did you get in here?!"
    "Because of you¡­ I was humiliated¡­"
    The voice was ominous, almost as unpleasant as metal grating metal.
    "W-wait¡­ h-hold on! I had nothing to do with it! It was¡ª"
    SQUELCH!
    Liam¡¯s paralyzed body was impaled by a translucent blade before he could offer any form of resistance.
    "Arrghh¡ª!"
    Before he could even finish his scream, the silhouette raised his blade and struck again, piercing another part of the poor boy¡¯s stomach.
    "Die!"
    He gutted Liam like an animal, stabbing and piercing and tearing through flesh as blood spurted out without restraints.
    "Die! Die, plebian! Die!!!"

 Chapter 49: The Academy Board

    [A Few Days Later]In a well-lit room, saturated to the very extreme with luxurious design and a lot of unnecessary space, twelve people sat at a round table.
    They were majorly old men, with a sprinkle of a few old women amidst the group.
    Still, everyone seated was old.
    Their chairs screamed luxury, and the quality of furniture that they enjoyed was pristine, to say the least. They all sat before a table, their wrinkled faces grim from the numerous things that had to be addressed in their midst.
    This was the Academy¡¯s Board¡ªa council filled with old fogeys who had a vested interest in the Academy due to the contributions they had made to the school over the years. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    And by contribution, it was mostly financial.
    Most of the Board Members inherited their positions from their parents, who previously held the position. Their families had contributed, and were still contributing a great deal of resources to the Academy, so they enjoyed the privileges that came with it.
    Of course, there were other ways to become a Board Member.
    The most efficient way was by sucking up to the elders and acting in accordance to the wish of the most influential faction. If two-third of the Board Members agreed, they could appoint a new Board Member.
    This was the route Gerald Lockwood was going to take before his life was cut short.
    "So¡­ before we go ahead with the main cause for today¡¯s meeting, shall we discuss the murder of the Beta Student and the actions being taken by our Academy regarding the punishment of the prime suspect?"
    The man who seemed like the oldest spoke first, his eyes on the thirteenth person in the room.
    Unlike the seated elders, this one was standing with both hands behind her.
    She had long black hair, with dark emerald eyes and a strict expression on her beautiful face.
    While she was clearly in her late thirties, compared to the old men and women in the room, she seemed like a mere child.
    This was the Head of Student Affairs¡ªBeatrice Lampshade.
    "Regarding the unfortunate incident of Liam¡¯s death, we plan to hold a small ceremony here in the Academy to honor him. That would¡ª"
    "Honor him?" A member of the Board interrupted with a raised brow. "Why would we go that far for a commoner?"
    "Well¡­ it was only for a brief moment, but he was a member of Alpha Class, which means he¡ª"
    "Didn¡¯t he become a member by default, though?" Another Board Member asked.
    "Exactly! It¡¯s not like he earned the position¡­"
    "Indeed¡­ so why would we go so far as to host a ceremony to honor him? He isn¡¯t even a Noble or anything like that¡­"
    "It¡¯s just a small ceremony that¡­" Beatrice paused, sighing as soon as she saw the expression of disapproval on the faces of the Board Members. "I suppose this means the plans for the ceremony should be canceled."
    "We are glad you understand." The oldest said to her.
    Beatrice, of course, did not understand. When she took this position, she told herself that she would do her best to remain fair and uninfluenced by politics. However, such things were unavoidable in the Academy.
    The Board Members held the highest authority in the Academy, second only to the Academy Head and Vice Head.
    They could strip her of her position if she resisted their agenda too much, putting another puppet like Gerald Lockwood who had no concern for the actual wellbeing of the students.
    ¡¯I just have to endure this for now¡­¡¯ Beatrice clenched her fists. ¡¯For now¡­¡¯
    "And what of the murder suspect? Dexter Morgause."
    "He has a solid alibi, so it¡¯s very likely that he isn¡¯t the one who committed the murder." Beatrice responded. "However, due to the nature of his violent actions, which indirectly led to Liam being killed in the Sick Bay, we are considering expulsion."
    "What?! Expulsion??!" The Board Members flared up. "Why?"
    "Because he intentionally broke the rules, just as he had been intentionally breaking rules before the incident. He is well regarded as a problem child by his Instructors and has displayed sociopathic tendencies based on reports from his classmates. We believe that it will be in the best interests of the students in this Academy, as well as his own best interest, if he leaves the Academy and gets the kind of help he needs."
    "You mean¡­ you¡¯re willing to throw away such a valuable student with such high potential away because of such a paltry reason?"
    "Paltry?" Beatrice gasped. "It¡¯s not¡ª!"
    "Mages are the weapons of the Empire! They are meant to be violent! You just have to steer the especially troublesome ones in the right direction."
    "It¡¯s not as simple as¡ª"
    "Stop making excuses! Besides, if you expel him, he¡¯ll just be transferred to another Academy, one that will undoubtedly use his talents the right way."
    "But¡ª"
    "Wouldn¡¯t that be a loss for the Academy? Sure his actions were reckless and someone died, but if we expel him, isn¡¯t that just¡­ double jeopardy? The Academy would be losing two students that way."
    Beatrice sighed.
    Once again, it seemed like the Academy Board Members were not willing to budge on the topic.
    ¡¯The Morgause Family probably reached out to the Board and made some pleas¡­¡¯ She reasoned, though not knowing the exact details.
    Still, it must have been some Tribute Money or a service that was rendered to them.
    That explained why they were protecting him so much.
    "Fine." Beatrice sighed. "But he will still be demoted to Beta Class per the rules of the Promotional Exams."
    "Why, though?" The oldest in the room asked. "The Beta Student who won by default is dead, which should make the results null and void, right?"
    "That¡¯s not how it works, Sir Graham¡­ it¡¯s actually¡ª"
    "It¡¯s exactly as I said." Old Man Graham insisted. "Give him some community service or detention or whatever, but he remains in Alpha Class."
    "You can¡¯t be serious."
    "Oh? But I am!" He spoke, his expression giving a tone of finality.
    The other Board Members nodded in agreement, all seemingly arriving at the same unanimous decision.
    ¡¯These old bastards!¡¯ Beatrice could smell foul play, and it caused the rage in her heart to blossom.
    She felt tempted to blow them all away with a single Spell.
    ¡¯They¡¯re nothing but useless piles of dry flesh and bones! I could just kill all of them right now and make the Academy better for it.¡¯
    As a Rank 9 Mage, none of these people were her match in the slightest.
    But¡ª
    ¡¯Calm down, Beatrice¡­ calm down.¡¯
    ¡ªDespite her overwhelming superiority in power, they still had a hold on her due to their superior political positions and status.
    That wasn¡¯t something she could deny or ignore.
    ¡¯I promised myself to obtain enough political power to change this Academy¡­ no, the entire Empire.¡¯ She reminded herself. ¡¯Now is not the time to act rashly.¡¯
    And so, despite her grievances, Beatrice bowed her head in subservience and agreement.
    "Understood. I¡¯ll do just that."
    "Perfect! Old man Graham laughed, rendering applause to her, which was then followed by a round of applause by everyone else in the room.
    It was patronizing and completely vexing, but she held it in.
    "With that out of the way, it¡¯s time for the main topic of the day¡­" Once this was said, the whole room fell quiet.
    Everyone regained their serious expressions and looked at Graham.
    "... The Academy Exchange is nearly upon us."

 Chapter 50: New Policy

    The Academy Exchange.It was an annual event¡ªmost definitely the biggest one that took place in the Akashic Magus Academy every year, and this was for one simple reason.
    It involved the participation of other Academies.
    The Empire had four Academies in total, representing the four cardinal points. The Akashic Magus Academy was positioned in the south and was still regarded by all as the best of the four Academies.
    The prime reason for this¡ªother than their output of fine Mages, and the reputation they had garnered over the years¡ªwas the Academy Exchange.
    "This event will feature the participation of students from all our rival Academies, which means our students¡­ our entire Academy needs to be in prime condition to take on this challenge."
    Beatrice spoke with concern written all over her face.
    This elicited frowns from the older people that surrounded her, but she had no choice but to let them know the severity of the situation.
    "I recommend postponing the Exchange due to the current unstable state of the Academy."
    For a moment, there was silence.
    It seemed¡ªeven if for only a moment¡ªthat they would take her counsel seriously.
    But they did not.
    "Nonsense!" Old man Graham said. "We need to make a show of strength at times like this, you know?"
    The other Board Members nodded, much to Beatrice¡¯s exasperation.
    "All eyes are on us, Head of Student Affairs¡­ we can¡¯t afford to show any form of weakness to our rivals and to the public."
    "Indeed. We have to remain the strong image we¡¯ve built all these years." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "We¡¯ve won the prize so many years in a row¡­ this one won¡¯t be any different, and we have to let everyone know that."
    Beatrice wanted to argue with the stubborn and extremely myopic perspectives of the Board Members, but once again she realized there was no point in doing so.
    They didn¡¯t want dissent.
    The old fools simply wanted agreement.
    "Understood." She sighed. "We¡¯ll begin to make all the appropriate preparations."
    Smiles rained down on her.
    "You make a point about the unstable state of the Academy, though¡­" Old Man Graham said with a big grin.
    As soon as she heard his tone, Beatrice could already sense something odd.
    ¡¯I have a bad feeling about this!¡¯
    "This time, for the Academy Exchange, why don¡¯t we make sure only Alpha Class students will be able to participate this time around?"
    "What?!" She instantly yelled.
    "Just think about it¡­ this way, any further interactions with the Alpha and Beta Class will be diminished. No injuries, or anything of the sort before the main event¡­ that¡¯s bound to reduce the current tension in the air right now."
    Beatrice couldn¡¯t believe her ears.
    ¡¯To think they¡¯d go this far¡­ how disgraceful!¡¯ She growled internally. ¡¯I can¡¯t back down here!¡¯
    After all, one of main principles of the Akashic Academy was fairness.
    It encouraged competition between Alpha and Beta Class, giving the students in each classes the chance to rise and fall.
    ¡¯Before the actual Academy Exchange, there is supposed to be an in-house selection event, where the students who will represent the Academy are chosen.¡¯
    Of course, just as with the Promotional Exams, the floor was open to both Alpha and Beta Students. It was simply a way to determine who was fit enough to represent the Akashic Academy against the other schools.
    ¡¯Alpha Students always win these matches, but who knows? We could get surprised¡­ just as I was surprised during the Promotional Exams.¡¯
    To not give the Beta Class a chance at all was cruel.
    "It goes against the very ethos of the Academy¡ªFairness." Bearice argued. "We can¡¯t¡ª"
    Before she could conclude her sentence, a barrage of interruptions echoed in the air.
    "I agree with Sir Graham¡­ this action will also be for the good of Beta Class."
    "Indeed¡­ indeed."
    "This is how we should have always done it in the first place. Other Academies don¡¯t even have Alpha and Beta Classes."
    Beatrice gritted her teeth as she watched the old men and women chuckle among themselves¡ªcompletely ignorant about the true nature of the Akashic Academy¡¯s system and how it had made it the Number 1 Academy in the Empire.
    ¡¯If this keeps up, they will be the ruin of this prestigious school¡­¡¯ She sighed.
    Unfortunately, at the moment, there was nothing she could do.
    Except, of course, to agree.
    "With the recent killings of the White Death, who was revealed to be a Beta Student, and then the murder of Gerald Lockwood, done by another peasant originally from Beta Class, it¡¯s best we tone down the attention we place on them."
    "Agreed."
    "For now, at the very least."
    Beatrice knew they were lying through their teeth.
    ¡¯Things will progessively get worse.¡¯ She thought. ¡¯What next? They¡¯ll suspend the Promotional Exams and ensure no Beta Class Student can ever reach Alpha Class?¡¯
    She could already see that happening.
    ¡¯In the end, they¡¯re only using everything that has happened thus far to fuel their agenda.¡¯
    It was absolutely disgusting!
    "That Inkwell brat is in Beta Class, though." One of the Board Members said. "He won¡¯t be able to participate if we implement this policy.
    By Inkwell Brat, they were referring to Arius Inkwell.
    His humiliating defeat at the hand of a Beta Class peasant was no secret to the Academy Board Members, and they clearly expressed their displeasure towards such an occurence.
    "It¡¯s unfortunate, but he can always try his luck next year¡­" Old man Graham shrugged.
    "His family will surely protet against this new policy change for the sake of their son, though."
    "So? Their influence is limited in the North. They can only do so much, and the Academy is supposed to be an impartial bastion of power for the Emperor."
    "Exactly! Besides, I¡¯m sure they will understand our rationale once we provide our reasons."
    Beatrice listened to their constant ramblings and clenched her fist in determination.
    She had grown even more determined to change the current system.
    ¡¯No matter what!¡¯
    *
    *
    *
    [A/N]
    The current chapters have adopted a slow pace lately, but do not fear.
    It¡¯s about to get very fast very soon!

 Chapter 51: Humiliation

    [One Week Later¡­]Every Apprentice gathered on the Assembly Grounds for the new announcement.
    Ash was one of them.
    Both hands were in his pockets as he calmly raised his gaze to the elevated platform where their Head Of Student Affairs stood. The entire atmosphere was buzzing with curiosity, but Ash felt no such thing.
    He already knew what the woman was going to say.
    "Do you have any idea what she¡¯s going to announce?" Dustan snuck up behind him to ask, a question that Ash shrugged aside the same way he shoved the boy¡¯s face away from himself.
    "Just be patient and listen."
    Sometimes, Ash had to wonder if Dustan really read the original novel at all.
    "Greetings, students." Beatrice Lampshade began, and in the same curt manner that she displayed in the past, she cut right through the pleasantries and got to the central issue.
    "I am here to inform you about the Academy Exchange, an event that will be taking place in a month. Students who are interested will need to register and an In-House Selection Event will be held to thin out participants so that only ten from each Stage will be able to compete."
    In essence¡­
    "Only ten out of all of you will be representing the Akashic Academy against the other schools."
    The students were stunned to hear this, but none of them were particularly surprised.
    The Akashic Magus Academy had always been about hardcore competition, and so it was no surprise that only a few would be chosen among over fifty students.
    Her next statement, however, would deal a shocking blow to the entire audience.
    "Due to a new policy change, Beta Class will be excluded from participating in this year¡¯s Academy Exchange, and¡ª" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Just as expected, the audience went into an uproar.
    Alpha Class Students were practically jumping in excitement, glad to see that the Academy was finally coming to their senses and preventing the weak dregs of Beta Class from competing on the same level as them.
    However, for the Beta Class Students, they had bitter frowns and frustration oozing from their varied expressions.
    They weren¡¯t as loud and obnoxious about the news, but it was clear that they hated it.
    ¡¯Looks like some things never change¡­¡¯ Ash smiled as he observed all of this. ¡¯Glad to see that I can always count on the Academy Board Members to keep on being douchebags.¡¯
    He cast a sideways glance to a particular student in Beta Class who seemed the most annoyed.
    It was none other than Arius Inkwell.
    Unlike the others who bottled their rage and tried to hide their frustrations, he got very vocal about both.
    "Excuse me, Head of Student Affairs, but this isn¡¯t fair!" Arius yelled, his eyes burning with pure anger. "This goes against the ethos of fairness that the Akashic Academy was built on."
    As he said this, Arius cringed a little.
    He never once thought that he would find himself in a situation where he would have to defend Beta Students and their inclusion in such activities.
    He knew for a matter of fact that he wouldn¡¯t bother if he had remained in Alpha Class.
    ¡¯But what choice do I have? If I let them do this, that means¡­ that means I won¡¯t be able to participate in the Academy Exchange!¡¯
    He went on, his gaze fixed on the Head Of Student Affairs as he laid his complaints bare.
    Several Alpha Class Students glared at him for his articulate expression of many solid rebuttals against the new policy, and the Beta Students¡ªmany of which detested Arius Inkwell¡ªfound themselves in awe of his actions.
    Even if it was for his self-interests, he was standing up for all of them.
    Before they knew it, they were raising hands in support of his assertions, backing him up with their cries and combined declarations.
    "Let us be included! Let us be included! Let us be¡ª"
    "No."
    VWUUUUM!
    Beatrice Lampshade released a sudden pressure that caused every single protester to tremble, instantly quelling the little rebellion they had begun to make. The students felt crushed in their Souls, and even though the pressure only lasted a few seconds, they felt its effects long after.
    "Haa¡­ haa¡­?" Arius, in particular, was sweating buckets as he slowly raised his head after feeling the intensity of Beatrice¡¯s suppression.
    "You¡¯ve offered a lot of reasoning, but it doesn¡¯t do anything to change the primary reason why you were not even considered for the event¡¯s roster."
    "A-and¡­ and why is that?"
    "Because students in the Beta Class are too weak."
    Arius felt his eyes widen as soon as he heard those words from Beatrice¡¯s lips.
    Weak? Him?
    "We need our very strongest to represent us in the Exchange, which is why Beta Class has been excluded." She added. "I encourage you all to take this in learning stride and train harder so you can participate next year."
    As one would expect, this enraged Arius.
    However, seeing as his protests would do him no good but attract further embarrassment, he said nothing more on the Assembly ground.
    Ash watched him keenly from the sidelines and sighed.
    ¡¯Once this event is over, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be happy you never participated in it¡­ so be grateful, Arius.¡¯
    Unfortunately for Arius Inkwell, he did not have the benefit of hindsight.
    *********
    [Later That Night]
    "Those bastards¡­ that bitch!"
    Arius fumbled around in his small Beta Class room, pulling out several junk from his drawer in order to retrieve a small box hidden underneath them.
    The box was completely black, like ink, and had an oily sheen that served as a blurry mirror.
    Within it was a gem¡ªbluish green in color¡ªand upon opening the item, Arius grinned.
    ¡¯Those fools¡­ they think I¡¯ll just let this slide? No way!¡¯
    If no one in this Academy would give him the justice he deserved, then he had no choice but to reach out to the only people who could.
    ¡¯My family!¡¯ His eyes gleamed brightly as he stared at the gem.
    Normally, communication to anyone¡ªincluding family¡ªoutside the Academy was prohibited, so students had to go through the Academy¡¯s process and get their message approved by the school before they could send a message to anyone in the outside world.
    But this process was too restrictive, and there was no privacy involved.
    ¡¯Once they know the nature of my message and who I want to send it to, they¡¯ll most likely try to stop me from reaching my family¡­ which means I have no choice but to use this!¡¯
    In his hands was a contraband device by the Akashic Academy Standards.
    It was a Secret Communication Device!
    BZZTTZZ!
    The device buzzed the moment Arius injected an ounce of Magia into it.
    Then¡ª
    "Arius¡­ is that you?"
    ¡ªA voice emerged from the warbling gem, as it filled the room with a bright green hue.
    "Dad! Yes¡­ yes it¡¯s me!" He yelled. "I¡¯ve called you for something of grave urgency, and I¡¯m hoping you can assist me with it."
    If there was anyone who could get him out of his current mess, it was his father.
    "What is it, son?"
    Arius promptly explained every single event that happened ever since he got demoted to Beta Class, intentionally excluding the humiliating defeat he suffered at Dustan¡¯s hands. Once he was done explaining, his voice turned squeaky as tears streamed down his eyes.
    "Can you help me¡­ daddy?"

 Chapter 52: Evident Dissatisfaction

    Ash heaved a heavy sigh as he exited the Training Hall.It was late at night already, and his body was incredibly sore¡ªnothing unusual about that.
    This was already a normal occurrence for him, as he always pushed his body to its limits during every training session. He also ensured to read vastly about the world, consuming information on the world that not even the novel exposed.
    For example, certain cultural aspects of the world, or even theories regarding Spells and Spirit Arts, as well as many others.
    Just because he knew the novel inside and out didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t learn more.
    ¡¯It might eventually get to a point where my knowledge becomes obsolete, which means I have to keep with the times and supplement what I already know¡­¡¯
    Everything that had already happened was a mix of the original story and altered events.
    That meant future events would follow the same trend.
    ¡¯I can already see a few things that will be changed¡­ one of them being Arius Inkwell.¡¯
    In the original storyline, he remained in Alpha Class, and the only one to get demoted was Dexter Morgause. However, in a strange twist of reality, Dexter was still in Alpha Class in this reality and Arius was now a Beta Student.
    ¡¯Which means one of two things will happen¡­¡¯ Ash reasoned. ¡¯It¡¯s either the subplot regarding Dexter happens to Arius instead, or he gets to scale through this entire event without any repercussions.¡¯
    The former was highly unlikely to happen, while the latter was more preferable to Ash, as he would need Arius for future events.
    However, he couldn¡¯t control everything.
    ¡¯A lot is on my plate at the moment, so while I hope for the best, I have to consider the worst as well¡­¡¯ He sighed.
    ¡¯Take care of yourself, Arius.¡¯
    **********
    [Meanwhile¡­]
    "Can you help me¡­ daddy?"
    There was a brief moment of silence after Arius said this, almost as if his father was processing all the information and seeking the best way to remedy his son¡¯s plight.
    After a few more seconds of silence, he finally spoke.
    "Unfortunately, our family doesn¡¯t have much pull in the Northern Territories, so we can¡¯t do much about the activities in the Akashic Academy."
    "A-ahh¡­" Arius¡¯ heart sank as soon as he heard those words.
    "Still, I¡¯m disappointed that they would do this." The deep, mature voice continued. "We enrolled you there, rather than our territory in the East because we wanted you to have the best."
    "Well, if they¡¯re the best, they wouldn¡¯t do this to someone like me!"
    "Agreed." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Please, daddy¡­ there has to be something you can do! If you don¡¯t do anything, I¡¯ll be stuck in this disgusting Beta Class and I won¡¯t participate in the Exchange."
    A sigh escaped his father¡¯s lips.
    Then, he spoke.
    "You have to be patient, Arius. I¡¯ll make sure to personally deal with this and find a way to help you, so just wait for the news, okay?"
    "R-really? You¡¯ll help me?"
    "Of course! But you have to keep this to yourself¡­ understood?"
    "Yes! Yes, of course!"
    "Alright then. Also, make sure not to use that device again until I¡¯m done with all the preparations."
    "But¡­ how will I know when you¡¯re done."
    "Trust me, you¡¯ll know."
    Arius chuckled as he heard the smug voice of his father.
    "I trust you, dad! I¡¯ll wait for you." He nodded, a bright grin taking over the despairing expression he previously had.
    "That¡¯s my boy!"
    Now that his father was personally taking action, all he had to do was bide his time until he could have his ultimate revenge.
    "Hehehe¡­ hehehehehehe¡­ hahahahaha!!!"
    **********
    [The Next Day]
    "Bright and early, huh? I like that!" A big smile was plastered all over Ash¡¯s face as he looked at Dustan, who was already standing in front of his dorm room once it was the designated time of 3AM.
    It was a weekend, which meant their training began that early in the morning.
    "Of course! If we¡¯re going to participate in the Exchange, we¡¯re going to need all the training we can get."
    "Dustan¡­" Ash began with a sigh.
    "I mean, we only have a month to prepare, so we better start giving it our all."
    "Dustan, look¡­"
    "Come on, what¡¯s the holdup? Let¡¯s begin alrea¡ª!"
    "You¡¯re not going to participate in the Exchange." Ash had to raise his voice to interrupt him, causing Dustan¡¯s excited expression to instantly turn sullen.
    This quickly evolved to surprise.
    "Wait¡­ why not?"
    Ash shook his head and sighed, then he began to jog away from him.
    "Come¡­ jog with me."
    Dustan showed some hesitation at first, but the two soon began jogging side by side and Ash explained everything to him.
    "The Exchange is very cutthroat, Dustan¡­ and I am not confident that you¡¯re up for the challenge in your current state."
    "I can handle it!"
    "No, you can¡¯t. Trust me on that." Ash shook his head and sighed. "Besides, I¡¯ll be needing you to operate in the background and run some errands for me while I¡¯m stuck with the Exchange."
    Upon hearing this, Dustan clenched his fist and frowned.
    He stopped jogging and chose to stand still, glaring deeply at Ash, who promptly came to a halt as well.
    "Anything you¡¯re dissatisfied with?"
    "You¡­" Dustan pointed at Ash. "Right now my Familiar is stronger than yours, and after all that grueling training for months, I¡¯ve become as strong as you¡­ if not stronger."
    "Is that really what you think?" Ash scoffed at this declaration.
    "O-of course, if we¡¯re not factoring our¡­ ahem, other Familiars¡­ then yeah!"
    Ash shook his head, slapping his hand on his face.
    "It seems I¡¯ve been taking it too easy on you¡­" He muttered. "For you to think, not only that you can challenge my authority, but that I am weaker than you are."
    This meant only one thing.
    "You need some re-education."
    "What¡¯s that supposed to mea¡ª?" Ash raised his finger, stopping Dustan before he could say another word.
    "To the Training Hall¡­ now."
    Ash suppressed his demonic smile, already having malevolent intentions buried in his mind.
    ¡¯By the time I¡¯m done with you¡­ you won¡¯t be able to raise a single complaint against me ever again!¡¯

 Chapter 53: Asserting Dominance

    "We begin on the count of three."Dustan listened to Ashfelt make the declaration, already preparing himself for what would come next. He already had his strategy mastered, and he knew precisely how to move that would surprise someone like Ashfelt the most.
    ¡¯A straightforward assault between the two of us will ultimately lead to my victory since I have the superior Spirit.¡¯
    Plus, Ashfelt had also taught him all his tricks regarding simple Spells like Enhancements, so he wasn¡¯t going to be caught off-guard by any of those.
    "One¡­ two¡­"
    ¡¯I¡¯ll be the victor of this round, Ashfelt, and you will have no choice but to treat me with respect!¡¯
    "... Three!"
    WHOOOSH!
    Dustan charged forward, quickly using an Enhancement Spell to boost his speed and physical strength. Charging at his opponent with such an elevated velocity, especially with additional strength stacked on top, would add considerable weight to the projected damage.
    That was his goa¡ª
    "Wooooaaahhh¡­!" As soon as he got halfway between his initial position and Ashfelt, he felt a slippery jolt that caused him to lose complete control of his movements.
    "You¡¯re an idiot." He could hear Ashfelt¡¯s voice dance in his ears. "Why would you attack me in a straight line? Did you think there¡¯d be no trap or something? Do you think I¡¯m an idiot like Arius or something?"
    While Arius was still struggling to find his hearing, his eyes were suddenly attacked by a bright flash of light.
    "[Grease] and [Flash]... two basic Spells you should have anticipated before making your move."
    The blind Dustan nearly screamed in frustration, as his body still flailed out of control. He was confused¡­ no, perplexed.
    ¡¯H-how did he cast Spells so quickly?!¡¯
    Dustan already knew about those Spells, and he had developed counters for them, but he thought he would be able to detect Ashfelt casting them before he would need to deploy his countermeasures.
    However, he was gravely mistaken.
    "You¡¯re right that your Familiar is stronger than mine, but that hardly means anything when your basics are crap."
    "Uooooarrghh¡­!"
    BAM!
    Dustan crashed into the wall of the training room, finally halting his movements.
    "If I had not prepped you for your match with Arius, simulating his exact moves so you could counter them when the time came, you would have lost miserably."
    "...."
    "You make too many assumptions; you¡¯re impulsive and arrogant." Ashfelt¡¯s voice echoed even deeper in the room. "You fight like a child."
    Dustan gritted his teeth, slowly rising to his feet as he recovered from the effects of the temporary blindness. He made sure to cast [Shade] on his eyes and strengthened his body¡¯s momentum with [Friction] enabled.
    He clenched his fists and let his heart burn with determination, finally opening his eyes to attack his enemy once and for all.
    However, the moment he did so¡ª
    "Let me show you how to fight like a man."
    ¡ªAshfelt stood right in front of him, his fist already nearing his face like a falling meteor.
    WHAM!
    Dustan felt searing pain as his body was knocked back by the blow.
    It bounced on the wall and surged back at Ash, who already prepared a kick, sending it straight into the boy¡¯s guts.
    "Guhh!" Saliva poured out of Dustan¡¯s mouth as he let out an agonized gasp.
    Then, right as he recoiled from the attack, his throat was suddenly assaulted by a tight grip¡ªone that pressed tightly against his skin¡ªthreatening to never let go.
    "G-guhh¡­ urgh¡­!"
    Dustan watched powerlessly as Ashfelt raised his body high into the air.
    ¡¯Let go!¡¯ Trying very hard, but failing to break free from his hold, Dustan realized his Enhancement Spell was nothing compared to the physical might that Ashfelt displayed at that moment.
    ¡¯Let go, you bastaaarrrrrd!¡¯
    WHAM!
    Ashfelt sent his body crashing into the ground, pressing on him with even more ferociousness.
    Feeling his back forcefully impact the hardened surface of the ground sent Dustan crying out in pain, but his opponent showed no mercy.
    His crimson eyes revealed no empathy¡­ no consideration.
    "Y-you¡­ I¡¯ll just use¡­!"
    FSHUUUUUU!!!
    Right as Dustan considered using [Externalization], a powerful surge of energy enveloped Ash¡¯s body, causing green bursts of energy to decorate his body as a portion of it was altered.
    His eyes turned bright green, and wings appeared behind him.
    Certain markings decorated his body, and sheer greenish white light coated some parts of his arms and legs in their energy. Despite how disoriented the pain had made him, and how incredibly stunned he was by the sight, there was no way Dustan would not be able to recognize such a majestic sight.
    This had long passed the realm of [Externalization].
    It was¡­ it had to be¡­
    ¡¯... [Fusion]?!¡¯
    "Partial Fusion." Ashfelt corrected him. "I¡¯m yet to master the main thing, but this is enough to beat you."
    ¡¯T-this is Partial Fusion¡­?!¡¯
    Dustan was confused.
    Even though he didn¡¯t know as much about ¡¯Legend Of The Lost Prince¡¯ as Ashfelt did, he had seen tons of fanart and even official art covering many things in the Novel¡­ including [Fusion].
    ¡¯He resembles someone who has achieved full [Fusion], though, especially since his Familiar is a Lesser Grade Wind Spirit.¡¯
    The changes to a Mage¡¯s body reflected just what kind of Fusion was taking place.
    If up to half of their bodies were covered with the qualities of their Familiar, that meant they had achieved complete [Fusion].
    Partial Fusion occurred with anything less.
    "This is why you¡¯re an idiot, Dustan." Ashfelt sighed. "Your thinking is so predictable that I can read your thoughts."
    "W-what¡­?"
    "You¡¯re wondering why I called this a Partial Fusion even though the energy of my Familiar already covers over half of my body, right? It¡¯s because I chose to coat my body with the energy, not transform it."
    "E-eh?" Dustan was even more confused. "There¡¯s a difference?"
    "Yes. Yes, there is." A deeper sigh echoed in the room.
    "Normally, the energy and qualities of a familiar replaces the part of the body that they appear in, but mine is just a hollow shell that wraps around my body rather than fully consuming it. As such, while it appears as a perfect [Fusion], it¡¯s not."
    "B-but¡­ you just said it appears like [Fusion]. How was I supposed to know the difference?"
    "You would know if you paid attention to the novel."
    "...."
    "In any case, do you still want to proceed with the duel?" Ashfelt asked, raising his fist as his other hand pressed against Dustan¡¯s helpless body.
    "I have a punch waiting for you if you insist on continuing. All you have to do is say the word."
    "No¡­ no, I think I¡¯m done."
    "You think?"
    "Okay! Fine! I¡¯m done¡­ you win!" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Dustan sighed, finally accepting his defeat as Ashfelt slowly released him from the chokehold and rose to his feet.
    ¡¯I didn¡¯t know he was this strong with his regular Familiar¡­¡¯ He thought. ¡¯And he just pointed out how weak I actually am.¡¯
    If it wasn¡¯t for Ashfelt¡¯s assistance, he would have lost against Arius.
    No, he probably wouldn¡¯t have even been able to confidently compete in the Promotional Exams.
    ¡¯I should listen to him more¡­¡¯
    "It¡¯s my loss." Dustan stood up and shrugged. "Per our agreement, I¡¯ll forfeit the Exchange."
    "Don¡¯t be mistaken, Dustan¡­ you would have forfeited anyway." Ash smiled, walking away from him, deactivating his Partial Fusion at that moment.
    "H-huh?"
    "You seem to have forgotten your position as my subordinate. We may act as friends when we interact on campus, but make no mistake about it¡­ I still control you and you will do whatever it is I need of you."
    "...." At this point, Dustan fell silent.
    "I should also remind you that I recently had a conversation with Raven Nightshade, and he seemed very interested in fighting the co-conspirator behind the murders that Elma committed. Perhaps I ought to point him in the right direction¡­"
    "What? No¡­"
    "Maybe I should even show him some evidence¡­ for good measure."
    "I get it, I get it already!" Dustan cried out. "I understand my place, so please¡­ stop."
    ¡¯Malleable and humble¡­ just how I want him.¡¯ Ash smiled and nodded as soon as he saw how scared Dustan had become.
    "And don¡¯t you ever forget it."
    *
    *
    *
    [A/N]
    Happy New Year, everyone!!!
    I hope you enjoy your day as much as you enjoy these chapters!
    Haha!

 Chapter 54: The Selection Event

    In the following weeks leading up to the Academy Exchange, registrations for the In-House Selection Event came pouring in.Practically every single Alpha Class student registered for it.
    The reason behind such enthusiasm was due to the benefits that came from the Exchange¡ªor rather, distinguishing oneself in it. There had been several cases of Mages being revered right after graduation due to their participation and performance in Academy Exchange events.
    If one won an Academy Exchange, they were recognized as undisputed powerhouses with immense potential.
    Which student would want to say no to that?
    *********
    [Day Of The In-House Selection Event]
    "Okay, the rules are simple¡­ last the longest on the platform in this battle royale. The last ten people remaining on stage will be the winners of the Selection Event and will represent the Akashic Academy in its Apprentice category."
    Once again, Beatrice Lampshade was present as the judge, and after sharing the rules with everyone, she looked at one student in particular¡ªDexter Morgause.
    "Haha! There¡¯s no need to worry about me. I won¡¯t do anything crazy this time¡­ promise."
    Ever since the incident where he brutalized the Beta Class Student, a lot of people could see Dexter for the kind of unhinged individual he is. To ensure he remained stable in the Academy, there were mandated therapy sessions he had to take.
    And¡­ surprisingly, he was making decent progress in them.
    Many students remained skeptical of him, though, and they made sure their reservations were evident by just how much distance they put between him and them. There was only one student who broke this rule¡ªand it was simply because he didn¡¯t care.
    That was Seth Zephyr.
    With jet black hair and shiny blue eyes, the young man simply stood where there was most room as they all listened to the words of the Head of Student Affairs.
    "The platform is large, so it might take some time before you get off the stage. In order to motivate you all more, a Time Limit will be set. Once time is up, if there are still more than 10 people remaining on the platform, we¡¯ll calculate the winners based on their contributions in the Battle Royale." A lot of students expressed discomfort with the rules, but Beatrice¡¯s firm expression remained unchanged. "I believe that is fair."
    There were a total of 24 contestants in the Battle Royale, and this was because practically everyone from Alpha Class was present. Even Dustan was on stage, though he planned to throw away the match almost as soon as it started.
    "You may begin!"
    BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
    The hall rang with explosive power as the incredibly large stage for battle was instantly plunged into commotion.
    Students utilized their most powerful defensive attacks to ensure they remained on stage, while others took more risky methods of attacking first, surprising their enemies with an unexpected attack, or breaking through their defenses even if they were expecting an assault.
    "Dustan out! Please move away from the platform and head to a point of safety." After Beatrice said this, she looked at the forlorn boy and squinted her eyes in mild disappointment.
    ¡¯I thought he¡¯d surprise me, but¡­ did I expect too much from him?¡¯
    Perhaps she did.
    After all, Dustan had barely been an Alpha Student for a month. He could barely hold his own in a battle royale against students who had been there for longer. Also, since he was formerly a Beta Class nobody, and he was a commoner, he was naturally the target of a lot of people.
    This, inevitably, led to his swift downfall.
    ¡¯Take this as a learning experience and use this to grow, young one.¡¯ Beatrice smiled as she focused on the match before her. "Natalie Anderson out! Philius Louvrehard out! Please move away from the platform and head to a point of safety."
    **********
    [6 Minutes Later]
    "Looks like there¡¯s only ten of you left¡­ and with a lot of time to spare too."
    Beatrice stepped forward as she addressed the winning students.
    Standing among them, she saw the expected ones¡ªSeth Zephyr, Justin TImberdrake, Lyla Nagant, and Jane Deckhart. These were considered the Alpha Class students with the most promise¡­ at least according to her assessment.
    Then, there were certain outliers that she didn¡¯t want to win¡­ namely, Dexter Morgause.
    And then, there was the surprising one.
    ¡¯Ashfelt Zephyr¡­ he won by method of elimination¡­ a nice stroke of luck.¡¯ Beatrice noted as she looked at him. ¡¯I wasn¡¯t paying much attention to him, since I was keeping my eyes on Dexter, and I was also captivated by the performances of the other students, but from what I could see¡­ he didn¡¯t contribute to anything."
    He was just a slippery person who managed to avoid getting hit or struck out.
    ¡¯If they exceeded the Time Limit, I would have probably had to eliminate him first based on lack of contribution.¡¯
    Still, since there were only ten on stage, she didn¡¯t have to do that.
    ¡¯He won according to the rules¡­¡¯
    A part of her didn¡¯t like it, and she could already feel a strong dislike for the student, even though they were yet to have a proper interaction.
    ¡¯What a lucky guy¡­ he¡¯s made it this far without having to do anything.¡¯
    **********
    [Meanwhile]
    ¡¯What a brilliant guy¡­¡¯
    A certain man in all-black who stood in the shadows remarked to himself as he watched the conclusion of the In-House selection from his own obscure corner.
    Raven Nightshade only had one exposed eye, but even that was enough to tell him about the match he just won¡ªand the person who caught his eye the most among all the competitors.
    ¡¯Ashfelt Zephyr¡­ he truly is as sly as I predicted.¡¯
    And not only was he extremely intelligent, but he was also very powerful¡­ yet no one seemed to be aware of this fact.
    ¡¯He¡¯s definitely hiding his true abilities, but to what end?¡¯
    The biggest reason that Raven came up with as a theory was that Ashfelt was Elma¡¯s accomplice, and was choosing to remain lowkey to keep that fact hidden. This would explain a lot of things, including why Elma tried to kill him.
    ¡¯That still runs inconsistent to the nature of their relationship that I am aware of.¡¯
    Of course, that relationship could be manufactured.
    In essence, not real.
    ¡¯Should I try interrogating him again? No, he¡¯ll wiggle his way out of it¡­¡¯ Raven sighed to himself. ¡¯And even after asking specific questions relating to Ashfelt, the murder culprit is also not budging or giving me any valuable information.¡¯
    This still confused him. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡¯Why would she keep protecting him? Even now¡­¡¯
    Raven had a sneaking suspicion that the two of them had to be under some kind of Soul Contract, but the reason this remained in the realm of speculation was that he could find no trace of a Contract in Elma¡¯s Soul.
    That discovery¡ªor lack thereof¡ªthrew him in for a loop, and he was yet to recover.
    ¡¯I¡¯m so close, though¡­¡¯ He clenched his fists. ¡¯So close.¡¯
    All he needed was one more piece of the puzzle, and he would finally be able to piece everything together.
    ¡¯And it¡¯s only a matter of time before I find what I¡¯m looking for.¡¯

 Chapter 55: Arrival Of The Rival Academies

    [One Week Later¡­]The time had finally come.
    With the Academy Exchange just a few days away, the representatives from other schools began to make their way to the Akashic Magus Academy. Thanks to their correlative calendars and the numerous times they had done this Exchange, each Academy knew how to time their arrival perfectly so that they came at nearly the same time.
    The higher-ups of the Academy stood at the Northern Gate of the Academy to welcome their esteemed guests, using the especially fancy path specifically reserved for their most honored visitors.
    Despite it being in the Northern Wing of the Academy, not even the Expert Stage Students had access to this path.
    And so, as the Leader of the Academy Board, accompanied by a few Board Members, and then the Head Of Staff, alongside several Instructors and guards, stood a considerable distance from the entrance, they began to feel the shift in the air that signalled the arrival of their three rival Academies
    The Asura Spirit Academy
    The Orion Sage Academy
    The Nirvana Gate Academy
    Each of these schools had their distinct uniforms and overall aesthetics, and they had a considerable crowd lined up with them. About 25 students lined up behind each Academy¡¯s older representative, clearly acting as some kind of supervisor or chaperone.
    Then, there were a few Instructors with them¡ªmost likely to serve as guards. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Overall, nearly a hundred people entered the Akashic Academy gates, stepping into the hallowed grounds of the Number 1 Academy in the world. For the Supervisors and Instructors, this was not their first time stepping into the Akashic Academy, so they kept a semblance of calm even when greeted with its wonderful architecture and overwhelmingly serene environment.
    Most of the students had also been here before, as a lot of them¡ªthe current Intermediate and Expert Stages¡ªcompeted in the previous year.
    As such, rather than looking around in awe, a certain tinge of envy and determination sparked in their eyes. In their minds, they were not moved by the fanciness of their battleground, but by the purpose with which they had come.
    They wanted to correct their past failures and achieve victory.
    As for the Apprentices, most of them were just seeing the Akashic Magus Academy for the first time, so they still had innocence locked in their eyes as they excitedly took in everything they could lay their sights on.
    Excitement bubbled within them, and for obvious reasons.
    "Welcome, esteemed guests from far away." Old Man Graham smiled as he addressed the visitors from afar.
    They had all come from their respective cardinal positions, traveling thousands of miles just to participate in this event. It was an admirable action worth respecting, but the smirk that played on the face of the old man told a more condescending story.
    He was clearly enjoying the fact that they all had to travel and convene at the Akashic Academy.
    "It is an honor to be here again this year." The three Supervisors¡ªtwo of whom looked slightly elderly, while the last one had a youthful experience¡ªbowed slightly in greeting.
    As they bowed, the old man¡¯s smile grew wider.
    He was really enjoying this.
    Beatrice noticed this and groaned internally. She could also see that the foreign students had taken note of Graham¡¯s shameful behavior, which would reflect poorly on the whole Academy. If she didn¡¯t do something quick, it would forever mar their image.
    "You must be tired after your long journey." Swiftly stepping forward, Beatrice bowed her head slightly and smiled at the guests, much to the displeasure of the Board Members.
    "Please come with us, and we¡¯ll show you where you will be residing."
    Relief spread across the faces of the Supervisors, and they looked back to signal the students and Instructors to advance forward so they could finally settle in. The expression of relief on the faces of most students showed just how tired they were.
    However, even among the young competitors, there were a few faces that stood out.
    Even Beatrice shuddered slightly when she saw them.
    ¡¯These students¡­¡¯ A bead of sweat fell from her face as she forced a smile. ¡¯They mean business this time around.¡¯
    This was not to be expected.
    After all, the Akashic Magus Academy was Number 1, and so it was easy for any rival who entered their territory to have what they currently possessed.
    In essence, crush the best school and become the new Number 1.
    ***********
    [The Asura Spirit Academy Lodging]
    "Ahh¡­ I¡¯m so beat!"
    A certain student with long red hair, despite being a well-built young man yelled loudly as he collapsed on his bed. His hair was very rough, and his face rougher as he kept his eyes wide open to reveal the crimson irises that glowed within.
    He was certainly handsome, but since he resembled a barbarian in both appearance and demeanor, he did not get along with girls at all.
    This was made even clearer when everyone convened in the single, extremely vast room that contained a total of thirty beds divided into two opposite ends. Every single female chose the beds furthest away from him, leaving him stuck with the sweaty males of the group¡ªnot that he minded at all.
    "Alright, everyone!" The Supervisor¡¯s voice echoed in the room. "Listen up closely. I know you¡¯re all tired, and I¡¯ll let you all rest for a bit¡­ shower even. But first, we need to cite our mantra for coming here."
    Every student in the Asura Spirit Academy instantly stopped what they were doing and made the declaration:
    "To crush the Akashic Magus Academy this time around and become Number 1!"
    The Supervisor smiled and nodded.
    "That¡¯s right¡­ no more being stuck at Number 2. This will be the year we finally move forward in the rankings."
    Everyone nodded fiercely, especially the boy with the bushy hair.
    "Don¡¯t worry, Instructor!" He jumped from his bed and pointed at himself with so much self confidence that it came off as narcissism. "I will make sure to win us first place for the Apprentice Rounds. Just watch and¡ª"
    "Shut up, Kellion."
    "Yeah, you¡¯re interrupting the Instructor."
    "Instead of trying to show off, it¡¯s best you try staying out of trouble."
    He was instantly shut down by his fellow schoolmates¡ªespecially the girls. All of them were his seniors, of course, so he couldn¡¯t do anything about it.
    As for his fellows, none of them dared to speak against him.
    Except one.
    "Focus on training instead of running your mouth, Kellion." A certain girl with pitch black hair muttered, staring disconcertedly at him.
    "Tch! No one asked for your opinion, Leera!"
    Leera rolled her crimson eyes and scoffed at Kellion, forcing the boy to his feet the instant he saw that.
    "Come say it to my face, then!"
    "The both of you should stop it¡­ now!" The moment the Supervisor spoke, a strong pressure dominated the room.
    What appeared to be an overwhelming crimson aura enveloped the entire room, forcing everyone to fall dead silent. After a few seconds, this energy dissipated into the air and the Supervisor leaked out a sigh.
    He had faded crimson hair, some of which were already turning grey with old age. With a cleanly shaved chin and an even bigger build than Kellion¡ªas well as the rest of the students present¡ªhe had an overwhelmingly imposing aura.
    None of the students dared to defy him, and they also had no reason to.
    "Have a shower, have some rest, and afterward¡­ we¡¯ll have dinner." He instructed, with nearly all the students nodding and instantly obeying his words.
    Except one¡­ of course.
    "Sir! Is it possible for me to skip shower and rest, so I can have dinner now instead of¡ª"
    "Shut up and go take a shower, Kellion."
    "Yes sir!"
    Kellion ran off, rushing to one of the doors on the male end of the room that led to a simple but effective bathhouse. His fellow guys were already settling in, so he simply joined them.
    "Haaa¡­ this kid." The Supervisor sighed, crunching his nose to maintain control. "If he wasn¡¯t so talented, I would have beaten him to a pulp a long time ago."
    The Asura Spirit Academy was a violence-driven Academy, focusing solely on combat potential above all else, rather than the overall utility of a Mage. As a result, someone as rough and powerful as Kellion was regarded as a golden egg in their school.
    ¡¯Let¡¯s hope we have enough golden eggs to win this time.¡¯ He thought to himself. ¡¯Our chances are better than ever thanks to the troubles that the Akashic Academy has been facing recently.¡¯
    Talks of the strange and disturbing incidents they had experienced in the past year had reached the ears of the rival Academies, so naturally the Asura Spirit Academy knew everything about them already.
    ¡¯All of these students have trained especially hard for this moment. The Apprentices are a bit cocky, but that¡¯s because of just how many talents we have this year. Plus, those in the Intermediate and Expert Stages have tasted defeat last year, and that motivated them to train extra hard for this Exchange.¡¯
    Needless to say, they were bringing their A-Game to the competition.
    ¡¯I wonder if the other Academies are up to the challenge¡­¡¯

 Chapter 56: Allure Of The Top

    [The Orion Sage Academy Lodging]"They made my lodging exactly according to specifications¡­ how considerate."
    An old man, having a bald head and a slightly long white beard¡ªan appearance akin to that of a monk¡ªsaid calmly as he looked around the vast plain room where he would be spending the night.
    Other than a sleeping mat at the corner of his room, the place was virtually empty. Of course, he had brought a few things with him, but everything was inside a small box, and it was also placed beside his sleeping mat.
    As a minimalist, he was more than satisfied with the state of his room.
    "What about all of you?" The Supervisor Monk sat on his mat and cast his gaze on the seated twenty-five students that sat opposite him. "Were your rooms according to specifications?"
    They all had serene expressions on their faces as they nodded with prestige and elegance.
    "That¡¯s good. How generous¡­"
    This was the Orion Sage Academy, ranked 4th among all 4 Academies in the Empire.
    Unlike the Akashic Academy, which explored all applications of Spirit Arts as well as Spells, or the Asura Spirit Academy, whose entire ethos was founded on the principle of power, the Orion Sage Academy embodied self control and oneness with nature.
    They stripped themselves of superficial things and pursued the path of a Mage to better understand their Souls and deepen their connection and understanding of nature.
    As such, they were at the forefront when it came to the theoretical breakthroughs in the Mage Society as well as new discoveries regarding Spirits. However, due to their policies, the further advancements and applications of their discoveries were often utilized by other Academies, making them score extremely low in the rankings.
    Still, for those who desired more scholarly roles as Mages, or for Professional Mages who wanted to deepen their bond with their Familiars and their overall understanding of the power they possessed, it is preferable to spend time in the Orion Sage Academy.
    "Now, I know you all have to rest, but I desire to give all of you some words of admonition before you rest up." The Monk started calmly. "Do not be overwhelmed by your surroundings. I noticed how a lot of you, particularly the Apprentices, gawked at the extravagant environments that you saw upon arriving here."
    A lot of faces turned red in embarrassment.
    "There¡¯s no need to feel ashamed, however it¡¯s also important to know that these are all superficial things. Our true goal is to deepen our understanding of ourselves and connect even more with the Familiars we host in our Souls."
    The seniors nodded, but some Apprentices appeared uncomfortable with this logic.
    "It seems you have conflicting ideas." The monk noticed the discomfort of the students and smiled softly. "Please¡­ let your thoughts be heard."
    At that instant, a student raised his hand and declared very brazenly.
    "Is this not the right opportunity to rise from our low rank? The Akashic Academy is facing some issues, so this would be the perfect¡ª"
    "And why would we need to do that?"
    Another student raised her hand and spoke. "A lot of people look down on us because we are Rank 4! If we rank a lot higher, we can prove that we aren¡¯t weaklings at all! We can also bring in new people to the Academy."
    The wise monk shook his head, broadening his serene smile.
    "There is no need to worry about the thoughts of others. Merely let their gazes wash over you as water would a fortified stone." He said. "And we already have more than enough students. If more come, we will embrace them, but if more do not¡­ then we will simply be content with what we have."
    Unlike other Academies that teemed with many capable students, the combat-oriented students of the Orion Sage Academy were very few. In fact, among the 25 students who were present, many of them weren¡¯t combat-oriented and simply came along to fill a head count.
    This was due to the public perception of the Academy as merely a scholarly ground and nothing more. The seniors and even the Supervisor seemed perfectly content with this, but the Apprentices were obviously bothered.
    Perhaps it was due to their impulsive age or lack of experience, but they craved something more.
    They wanted to win!
    "We have Finn and Fey this time!" One of the students excitedly pointed to two identical twins¡ªa boy and a girl. "Plus, the Akashic Academy is unstable right now. It¡¯s the perfect time to rise."
    The other Apprentices nodded and smiled.
    Some of the seniors even felt moved by the considerations of their juniors and nodded in support.
    As for the identical siblings, both of whom had white hair and flower petal-like eyes, they had distinct reactions to express their determination. The boy clenched his fist and hardened his face in full support of his comrades¡¯ rhetoric.
    However, the girl¡¯s face was perfectly still.
    She was pale as ice, with calm violet eyes that remained still even after hearing the cheers of her comrades.
    With a small nod, she showed her alignment with them.
    Everyone was in high spirits, as they were fully confident in the genius twins, known as the hidden gems of the Orion Sage Academy.
    Sure, they were still blossoming flowers, but they had exceeded most of their seniors when it came to pure ability. This showed just how immense their talent was, and the limitless potential hidden within them.
    "We won¡¯t let you all down! The hopes you have placed in us will be rewarded!" Finn bowed his head as he made this declaration. "Right, sis?"
    The pale beauty nodded, keeping her emotionless demeanor on.
    That meant she was excited.
    "Yeaahhh!!! Let¡¯s do it!" Everyone yelled in excitement, filling the room with cheerful noise¡ªthe kind that a family would have.
    Their Supervisor watched this and simply smiled softly.
    ¡¯I won¡¯t try to stop you. Being of free spirit and choosing your own path is also the road to self discovery and deep enlightenment.¡¯
    Closing his eyes, he remembered the simple but peaceful compound of their humble Academy.
    The Orion Sage Academy was slowly diminishing as a result of their philosophies causing their overall military strength to diminish. This made them less valuable to the Empire, which desired results above all else.
    If they continued down this path, it could perhaps lead to obscurity.
    ¡¯Who are we to fight against fate, though?¡¯ The Monk thought. ¡¯If these young ones are to succeed, perhaps a wind of change will visit our lands once more and we shall experience a new dawn.¡¯
    However, he did not want to burden them with expectations. Even if they failed, they could learn from their failings and improve as individuals.
    ¡¯I only hope you all see it that way¡­¡¯
    ***********
    [The Nirvana Gate Academy Lodging]
    It was a mess.
    After cleaning up, the students all went for dinner, all of them chugging down as much water and juice as they stuffed their mouths with as much food as possible. As they ate their meals mannerlessly and noisily, the students engaged in conversations
    "Hehe! I can¡¯t wait to knock these Akashic Academy guys off their high horse."
    "Right? Did you see how that stupid elder was looking at us? Like we were dirt of some kind¡­ tch!"
    "They can all eat shit!"
    "I can¡¯t wait to see that old man¡¯s face when we came out as Number 1!"
    "Yeah, we need to get back at him for looking down on us. Since our dear Supervisor won¡¯t stand up for us, we have to do it ourselves!"
    All eyes fell on the youthful Supervisor who was drinking tea in a corner, almost as if he was exiled from sitting amongst members of his own Academy. Upon hearing them reference him, he shuddered slightly and groaned.
    "I-I already t-told y-y-you guys¡­ it¡¯s not that s-simple!" He adjusted his glasses as he spoke, frustration etched on his face.
    "Yeah, yeah¡­ whatever you say."
    "B-but¡ª!" He grew even more frustrated. "T-that wa-was an Elder from the A-Academy B-B-Boar¡ª"
    "S-shut up!" The students mimicked his stutter and laughed at him.
    Everyone joined in on the laughter, showing him pure contempt, and for obvious reasons.
    They didn¡¯t respect him.
    "Did you see the Supervisors of the other Academies? They looked strong and capable¡­ but look who we¡¯re stuck with!"
    "Yeah! A freaking noob¡­ no wonder they looked down on us!"
    "Why did our normal Supervisor have to die and leave us with his incompetent assistant? Tch!"
    The Supervisor opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something in his defense, or perhaps chastise the young ones for treating their superior in such a way, but he figured saying anything would only make matters worse.
    As a result, he kept his mouth open like an idiot.
    Of course, someone pointed that out and even more laughter echoed within the room. If not for the fact that the wall was reinforced with Spells, their noisy laughter would have leaked outside.
    "Well, whatever!" The young man who appeared to be their ringleader grinned.
    He was an Expert Stage Student, and his dark brown hair and his dark amber eyes depicted immense malice buried deep within him.
    "What matters now is getting first place this time around¡­ no matter what we have to do to get it!" The way he said it made it sound like even underhanded means were acceptable. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Since the Nirvana Gate Academy was in Rank 3, they had two hurdles to cross.
    Perhaps underhanded means were necessary.
    "The Akashic Magus Academy has been going through some issues, so the main enemies will most likely be those muscleheads from the Asura Spirit Academy, and they are going down as well."
    Everyone cheered in response to his words.
    The Supervisor wanted to say something, but he sighed, adjusting his glasses as he watched all of them revel in their determination to win.
    "Of course, I plan to win first place in the Expert Rounds, and my younger brother is definitely taking the victory for the Apprentice Rounds." For a brief moment, everyone looked at his brother.
    They shared a clear resemblance, but the younger boy had a more immature look and donned a shorter haircut.
    "Everyone in Intermediate just needs to try their best! Even if you don¡¯t win¡­ as long as we can score two victories out of three, we will be regarded as the victors."
    "YEAAHHHH!!!"
    Everyone was excited, ready to crush their obvious competition.
    However, somewhere in the borders of the Akashic Magus Academy, a certain student named Ashfelt Zephyr was having a different train of thought.
    Something no other student was considering.

 Chapter 57: Formalities

    Ash sat on his bed with a grim expression on his face.All the playfulness he displayed around campus, or the nonchalance he showed to Dustan were no longer present. This was his real face.
    ¡¯I¡¯ve finally made it this far.¡¯ He thought to himself. ¡¯But now, things will get exponentially more difficult.¡¯
    He thought about the Incident that would happen during the Exchange, and how it would forever shape the life of the students present.
    ¡¯The students of the other Academies should have arrived already. If the timeline remains consistent with them, I should be seeing some very familiar faces and names. That means I can predict them, to an extent, but that also means they¡¯ll be difficult to handle.¡¯
    It was for this central reason that he decided to inject himself into the Exchange.
    ¡¯I have to manage any unnecessary events, plus¡­ with the main storyline in shambles, I have to ignore the main continuity and act in my best interests and the best interests of the protagonist.¡¯
    As for his other responsibilities in the Apprentice Wing, he could have Dustan handle them.
    ¡¯In the next few days, all Akashic Academy participants of the Exchange will be transferred to a special dorm in the Expert Wing.¡¯ He sighed. ¡¯It means I¡¯ll be disconnected from Dustan, but it also means Raven won¡¯t be able to monitor me as closely as he has been.¡¯
    After weighing all the pros and cons, a feeling began to swell up inside Ash. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡¯If only I had one more person¡­ maybe Elma.¡¯
    He had been feeling it a lot lately, but those emotions had not been as evident as they were in this moment.
    ¡¯It was only for a short while, but I miss her already.¡¯ He smiled softly. ¡¯We were such an efficient team when dealing with The White Death, and I can tell she¡¯d be a lot useful in this incident.¡¯
    Ash began to wonder if he made a mistake by confronting her.
    ¡¯Should I have left our relationship as it was? No¡­ I¡¯m sure she was also suspecting me, so it¡¯s better that I took the initiative.¡¯
    Did that mean he had to sell her out, though?
    ¡¯I may have been too impatient in my decision there. I wanted to get rid of Gerald, and I saw it as a perfect opportunity to rope in Dustan and also get rid of the potential threat known as Elma¡­¡¯
    There was no use wallowing in regret, though.
    "Haa¡­ What¡¯s done is done." He clenched his fists and steeled himself for the hurdles that lay ahead.
    ¡¯I just have to improvise.¡¯
    ******
    [The Next Day]
    It was a very busy, but organized day in the Central Dining Hall.
    The various Academies had their own large tables dedicated to them, capable of containing several of their own people. As such, the six tables in the room were divided equally amongst the three Academies present.
    Delicious food and sweet drinks were presented elegantly on the tables, but no one was eating.
    Instead, they kept their vision trapped on the small platform that served as a stage at the end of the room. It was where a certain man stood, alongside two individuals who served as his entourage.
    "Greetings, everyone. My name is Charles Zellium, and I am the Vice Head of this prestigious Academy." The man began, his two hands placed behind him as he spoke with a friendly smile plastered on his youthful face.
    He seemed to be in his late thirties, absurdly young for a Vice Head.
    With long brown hair, and regular brown eyes, he seemed extremely ordinary¡ªtoo ordinary to be considered an influential leader within the Academy. A monocle stood at the edge of his face, covering one of his eyes, but that did very little to add to his overall presence.
    Fortunately, he had the Head of Student Affairs¡ªBeatrice Lampshade¡ªand the Special Head of Security¡ªRaven Nightshade¡ªas his entourage, so every single member of the audience had to pay rapt attention to his words.
    "I apologize for not coming to welcome you yesterday, as I was otherwise occupied." He continued rather gently. "And, I also apologize for the absence of our Esteemed Head of this Academy. She is yet to return from her most recent assignment from the Emperor himself."
    It was no secret that the Head of the Akashic Academy had been assigned to the North to support the Zephyr Household¡¯s forces in their escalating fight against the Barbarian forces in the Northern Borders.
    As such, everyone nodded in understanding.
    "In her place, I welcome you all instead." Vice Head, Charles Zellium declared.
    Not everyone knew about this man, but for those who did, they weren¡¯t surprised by his lack of domineering presence. After all, Charles was strictly an academic and was not an active Mage.
    He was, at most, a Rank 5 Mage, but many believed him to be less.
    Still, with the Head of Student Affairs and Special Head of Security¡ªboth of whom were Rank 9 Mages¡ªstanding right behind him, no one dared to disrespect him, or the Akashic Academy by extension.
    "I would like to ask everyone how well they are settling in. Are your accommodations and meals to your liking?"
    He first turned to the Orion Sage Academy.
    "You have been most generous in receiving us. Accommodations and meals are exquisite and per specifications¡­ thank you."
    Charles Zellium nodded, clearly pleased by this.
    "How about for you all?" He turned to the Asura Spirit Academy.
    "We feel welcomed by your generous efforts to receive us, but this also makes us all the more excited for the Exchange itself. Our fiery spirits burn brighter than ever, right everyone?"
    "YEAHHHHHHHH!!!"
    As one would expect from the Asura Spirit Academy, they let out a loud howl of excitement. Even their Supervisor was hot-blooded.
    Of course, this still pleased Charles Zellium as he turned to face the final, most problematic school: The Nirvana Gate Academy
    "I-It was very nice¡­ t-thank y-you f-for¡ª"
    "It was smaller than I expected, but we can¡¯t complain too much¡­ since our Nirvana Gate Academy is several times better than this place." The senior with long dark hair rose to his feet, interrupting the Supervisor.
    He was clearly the strongest among his peers, and his presence was enough to suppress the older man who was meant to act as his chaperone.
    "Well¡­ it is good for your Academy that you think that way." Charles strained a smile. "I¡¯m hoping you can show us some of this superiority in the Exchange."
    "You bet we will!" The senior grinned wider.
    "Very well. Now, it is to my understanding that some of you still wish to train during your stay here before the Exchange begins. A Training Hall has been created specifically for you all, and it is adjacent to your dorms. You can ask any of our several staff positioned in this Hall for directions."
    Many students sighed with relief, clearly desiring not to miss their training schedule¡ªwhether due to the fear of getting rusty, or several other motivations.
    "I am sure you have all been informed of the specifics, but the entirety of this week shall be dedicated to settling into the Academy as well as touring our grounds. Then, the next week will officially kickstart the Exchange."
    Once again, excitement could be seen on the faces of everyone who listened.
    "I deeply apologize that I have to leave now due to the work I have at hand, but my brief moment here has been enjoyable." Charles cited the usual words so he maintained an air of politeness. "You should all enjoy your meals."
    He turned to leave, with Beatrice and Raven trailing after him.

 Chapter 58: Brewing Problems

    "Pardon me, but I have to take my leave now."Raven Nightshade¡¯s deep voice echoed deeply among the three who walked together. They were surrounded by even more guards, but Beatrice, Charles, and Raven walked very closely together per their earlier arrangement.
    "Standing in for the regular Head of Security has eaten into my schedule." Raven added. "I have a lot of work piled up for me to handle." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Charles Zellium nodded in understanding the instance he heard this.
    "I get it. Apologies for taking your time, but as you know¡­ it couldn¡¯t be helped." He added, a small smile forced on his youthful face.
    "Yes, of course." Raven nodded.
    It wasn¡¯t just the Head of Academy that was assigned to the Northern Border. A lot of important staff and powerful Instructors were dispatched as well. The Head of Security was one of those people, and with him being absent, Raven Nightshade had to take on his ceremonial duties.
    "You may leave."
    "Thank you, sir." With a small nod, dark shadows covered his entire body.
    And with a small hiss¡­ he vanished
    There was silence after Raven Nightshade vanished, however it was soon broken by the Vice Head.
    "I have to ask you something, Beatrice." He turned to the Head of Student Affairs, revealing a grim expression on his face.
    "What is it, Vice Head?" She asked with raised brow.
    "Pfft! Just call me Charles, as you normally would."
    "But, we¡¯re in a public¡ª"
    "I don¡¯t mind." Charles dismissed. "It¡¯s just guards here, and they¡¯ve been ordered to turn off their auditory functions so they can¡¯t listen to our conversation."
    "Hmmm, alright Charles." Beatrice gave in, smiling. "What¡¯s bothering you?"
    As alumni of the Akashic Magus Academy, as well as former classmates, these two had a special bond that very few individuals possessed among staff in the Academy.
    They were friends.
    "What do you think about this Exchange?"
    The question from Charles was simple, but Beatrice scrunched her brows and frowned upon hearing it. His troubled face resonated well with hers.
    "This one will be different from all the other years, that I am sure of." She said. "We could even lose our Number 1 Position this time."
    It wasn¡¯t a possibility she desired, but that was simply how she felt about it.
    "It seems your thoughts run parallel to mine¡­" Charles smiled sadly.
    "Really?"
    "Did you see their eyes? They were like vultures out there¡­ so hungry to get what¡¯s ours."
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    "Pfft! Well, you¡¯re not wrong."
    The two laughed together for quite a while before Charles placed a hand on Beatrice¡¯s shoulder.
    "You have to make sure that doesn¡¯t happen." His voice trembled. "They can¡¯t be allowed to beat us."
    She placed her hand on his and nodded gently.
    "I¡¯ll do my best."
    *******
    "WHOAH!"
    Ash watched as a few students let out surprised expressions as they took in the magnificence of the single massive building that stood before them.
    Both students from the Apprentice and Intermediate Stages were presently in the Expert Wing¡ªor, more specifically, the place dedicated for the Academy Exchange Participants that happened to be in the Expert Wing.
    It was in the North of the Academy, just some blocks away from the main campus of the Expert Stage. On their way to this place, their transportation allowed them catch a glimpse of the Expert Stage campus grounds, and it was far more impressive than what existed in the Apprentice and Intermediate Wings.
    For Ash, however, he wasn¡¯t particularly moved.
    ¡¯Everything is just as described in the novel¡­¡¯ He shrugged slightly. ¡¯This place is our provisional dorm, having three main floors that will occupy everyone from Apprentice to Expert.¡¯
    Currently, only Apprentice and Intermediate Students were around, but just as they were told upon arrival, the Expert Stage students would be joining them later.
    Until then, they could simply make themselves comfortable.
    ¡¯I wonder what the other students of the other Academies are doing¡­?¡¯ Ash cast his gaze to the side, catching a small glimpse of the other three buildings in a separate compound.
    That was where their competitors were living.
    ¡¯Oh well¡­ no need to be impatient. I¡¯ll be able to see them eventually.¡¯
    The students were shown to their rooms by the appropriate staff, and as expected, Apprentice Students took the lower floors while the Intermediates would stay in the middle one. Once every student was shown their room, they were told to settle in, and the staff promptly left them to their devices.
    ¡¯Well, it¡¯s time to¡ª¡¯
    "Hey, brother¡­ can we talk?" A sudden voice interrupted Ash from behind him right as he opened the door to his room.
    He had feared this would happen, which was why he wanted to lodge in quickly.
    However, it seemed he couldn¡¯t avoid his tenacious twin brother.
    "Yes?" Ash didn¡¯t even turn back, instead stepping inside his dorm room. "What¡¯s there to talk about?"
    "It¡¯s about you and your¡ª"
    "I¡¯m too tired to talk right now. You heard the staff¡­ we¡¯re supposed to settle in."
    "But¡ª"
    "Goodbye, Seth." Ash coldly slammed the door in his brother¡¯s face and entered his clean and cozy accommodation.
    It was a near perfect mimic of the Alpha Students¡¯ residence.
    ¡¯Even though we¡¯ll only be spending a little over a week here, I guess they didn¡¯t want to make any student uncomfortable.¡¯
    Unfortunately for him, even though he was exposed to luxury once again, Ash wasn¡¯t comfortable. In fact, there were a lot of thoughts running through his mind that increasingly bothered him.
    The most glaring issue was his current strength.
    ¡¯Right now, I¡¯m extremely weak¡­¡¯ He sighed. ¡¯I¡¯m sure that¡¯s what Seth wanted to point out to me as well¡­ what a nice guy.¡¯
    He had to figure out his next course of action, but all of that started with a way to improve.
    ¡¯My Familiar is a Lesser Grade Wind Spirit and I still haven¡¯t found a way to raise its Grade.¡¯
    He had managed to make it this far, even with such a very big handicap, using various methods like strategy and incredible skill, but that could only serve him for so long. Without real power, he wouldn¡¯t be able to stack up against truly formidable opponents.
    In essence, he wouldn¡¯t be able to hold a candle to everyone else in the Exchange.
    ¡¯I considered gathering the ingredients to improve it, but some of the materials are quite rare, and with the constant eyes of the Shadow Inquisitor on me, I couldn¡¯t act freely.¡¯ He sighed. ¡¯It¡¯s too late to rely on that method now.¡¯
    What he needed at the current moment were Spirit Stones.
    ¡¯I was going to make them using the ingredients I gathered, but it¡¯s such a complicated process that takes too much time¡­ something I cannot afford now.¡¯
    As such, he needed the complete product.
    ¡¯In a sense, this Exchange is an opportunity for me because it puts me in close proximity with a method to get the Stones¡­ but the problem is how soon can I obtain them?¡¯
    Right as Ash was about to make another sigh, he felt a quake within his room and heard a crashing sound echo from outside it.
    ¡¯That sound¡­¡¯ His eyes narrowed. ¡¯Something, no¡­ someone just crashed into the compound.¡¯
    Curiosity instantly took a hold of him as he rushed towards the window and slightly slid the blinds so he could see the source of the commotion.
    That was when Ash saw him.
    A rough-looking boy with long and shaggy red hair who was dressed like a barbarian.
    ¡¯Kellion¡­?¡¯ His eyes widened as he instantly recognized the hot-blooded student from the Asura Spirit Academy.
    Instantly, the grim expression on his face morphed into a wide grin.
    ¡¯This is perfect!¡¯

 Chapter 59: Instigation

    Kellion stood at the center of a small pothole, no doubt caused by him jumping over the tall fence around their compound and literally crashing inside.His long red hair was unruly, almost spiky as he looked around him, his crimson gaze focusing on the rooms on the ground floor. A large smile formed on his rough, yet handsome face as he folded his arms and raised his voice.
    "My name is Kellion! I seek the one famed to be the rising star of the Akashic Magus Academy¡­"
    Ash, who still peeked from behind his blinds, heard this and whispered to himself just as Kellion declared the name of the one he sought.
    "... Seth Zephyr!"
    Upon hearing this, Ash felt a mix of emotions.
    On one hand, he felt overjoyed since Kellion was his perfect way of obtaining the resource he desired most at the moment: Spirit Stones. However, on the other hand, he was concerned. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡¯This never happened in the novel¡­¡¯ His thoughts trailed. ¡¯Kellion and Seth aren¡¯t supposed to meet each other until tomorrow.¡¯
    The fact that Kellion was present, despite very little to show that the timeline would have affected this moment, raised a lot of red flags in Ash¡¯s mind. In his experience, whenever something like this happened, there was one central cause.
    ¡¯A Transmigrator.¡¯ His mind echoed. ¡¯But who? Kellion? Someone in the Asura Spirit Academy? Or am I overthinking things?¡¯
    He had no idea.
    ¡¯I should just watch for now. Will Seth answer his challenge and come out?¡¯
    Ash already knew the answer to that question.
    "I¡¯m here."
    Seth¡¯s voice echoed in the air as he stepped out of his room and walked towards Kellion with a serious expression written all over his handsome face. Once the Asura student saw him, his eyes glowed even brighter and his grin broadened to a monstrous degree.
    "You¡¯re Seth Zephyr? You¡¯re skinnier than I expected."
    "And you¡¯re everything I¡¯ve heard¡­ ill mannered and rough, like an untamed animal."
    "Hehe! Thanks for the compliment."
    "That wasn¡¯t a compliment. Now state what you want, you¡¯re bothering us."
    "Ah¡­ right, right!"
    "Yes¡­?"
    "Don¡¯t rush me, okay? Hahaha!"
    The tension between the two of them rose to an unimaginable degree, and many students began to mimic Ash¡ªopening their blinds just so they could see what was going on. Even a few Intermediate Stage students gave in to their curiosity and peeped.
    ¡¯What an interesting sight¡­¡¯ Ash smiled, though that wasn¡¯t his motivation for observing the interaction between the two.
    ¡¯The Asura Spirit Academy is rich in Spirit Stones since they have a natural Spirit Spring that literally produces the stuff for them. Spirit Springs are rare, so I thought I¡¯d just use the method later discovered in the novel to recreate the processes that occur in a Spirit Spring and create my Spirit Stones, but¡­ a lot has happened since then.¡¯
    For one, the storyline had deviated so far from its original that Ash was no longer motivated to remain obscure in the shadows and quietly gather his strength.
    ¡¯If I used the method I was initially going for, it would take a very long time, but I would be able to raise the Grade of my Familiar very quietly.¡¯ He reasoned. ¡¯In a few years, I would finally end up with a High Grade Familiar¡­ a satisfactory Grade to have before graduation.¡¯
    But, things were too different now.
    ¡¯I currently have no reservations joining the Academy Exchange and gaining access to Spirit Stones, which will drastically shorten the time I¡¯ll need to achieve the same results.¡¯
    Ash had initially thought he would have to instigate something in order to create an opportunity to obtain the Spirit Stones, but what a strange turn of events!
    Kellion had brought an opportunity to his doorstep.
    "Fight me, Seth Zephyr!"
    Pointing right towards the standing Noble, Kellion made a bloodthirsty grin.
    Most people who fell under such a raw, primal gaze would tremble in fear. Some weak-minded ones would even soil themselves from the intensity. However, Seth experienced none of these symptoms.
    He remained calm as he glared at Kellion.
    "And why would I do that?"
    "Because I¡¯m the strongest talent among the Apprentices of the Asura Spirit Academy!" He openly stated. "I¡¯m curious about how I would fare against the strongest talent of this Academy¡­ that¡¯s all."
    Seth remained silent. Read exclusive adventures at NovelFire.C?m
    "Come on, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re not curious as well¡­ about how you¡¯d fare against me."
    News traveled far.
    Just the same way the Asura Spirit Academy and all the other schools knew of certain happenings in the Akashic Magus Academy, the latter also received information about their competitors.
    As such, Seth already knew about Kellion even before they met.
    He was the real deal.
    "Or¡­ don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re scared." Kellion taunted. "If that¡¯s the case, then¡ª"
    "Fine."
    Seth¡¯s calm tone cut through the Asura boy¡¯s words like a flaming blade¡ªswift and precise.
    "Hehe! That¡¯s the spirit!" Kellion took a step closer to Seth, and the latter took a step towards the former as well.
    Neither of them were backing down.
    Then¡ª
    "Hold it!" Ash suddenly entered the fray.
    He stood at their middle, halting them right as they were to begin their fight. Beads of sweat formed on his face as he alternated glances between the two, swiftly returning his slightly anxious expression to a calmer one.
    "Per the rules of the Academy, students are not allowed to engage in violent activities on otherwise safe grounds. This is to discourage spontaneous battles, bullying, and any other harmful activities that will negatively impact the growth of students, and¡­" Ash went on to narrate an entire paragraph of the Academy¡¯s rules.
    This stunned both Seth and Kellion¡ªwho lost track of what was being said after the first sentence.
    "Bottom line is that you can¡¯t fight here! It¡¯s not allowed."
    The moment he heard this, Seth felt a tinge of disappointment, but quickly withdrew his fighting spirit and sighed.
    "Is that really the case, brother?"
    "Yeah."
    "How unfortunate¡­" Seth sighed once more. "I really wanted to fight him."
    "So? We can still battle! Come on¡­ right here and now, let¡¯s do it! Don¡¯t mind what the nerd says¡­ even if he¡¯s your brother!" Kellion hardly gave Ash any attention and kept his focus on Seth.
    "I won¡¯t break the rules¡­"
    "C¡¯mon!"
    Ash smiled as he saw this back and forth, choosing once again to step in uninvited.
    "You can still fight, actually¡­ but it has to be turned into a duel."
    "A Duel?" Seth and Kellion asked at the same time.
    "Yes! And a Duel requires stakes." Ash¡¯s smile broadened. "So, how about it? Create conditions for each other upon victory or loss."
    The two boys stared at each other, slowly realizing what they were getting into was growing more serious than they expected. However, they couldn¡¯t back down now.
    In fact, Ash wouldn¡¯t let them back down now.
    "Kellion¡­ if you lose, you should offer 5 Spirit Stones as compensation. I believe it¡¯s similar to how Duels are done in your Academy."
    "W-well, yes, but¡ª"
    "And Seth¡­ if you lose, you have to bow down to Kellion and call him the strongest."
    "W-what? But¡ª"
    "I mean¡­ you¡¯re confident that you can win, right? What¡¯s there to fear?"
    Upon hearing this, Seth steeled himself and retracted his hesitation. However, strangely enough, Kellion was showing even more hesitation with the terms now spelled out.
    "We may trade with Spirit Stones in the Asura Spirit Academy, but we students aren¡¯t allowed to give our Spirit Stones to outsiders¡­ so¡­"
    "You¡¯ll only give out the stones if you lose." Ash said. "If you¡¯re so worried, does that mean you already know you¡¯ll lose? I guess you really know that Seth is stronger than you are."
    "W-what? Stronger than me? No way!"
    "Then¡­ take the deal or walk away." Ash¡¯s smile vanished and he spoke in a sterner tone. "It¡¯s that simple."
    This instantly put Kellion on the spot where he had to make a choice.
    And he had to make it fast.
    ¡¯If he could think about things a little more, he¡¯d realize that he could just offer something else rather than Spirit Stones for the duel, but due to the pressure I¡¯ve put on him, and his own sensibilities already accustomed to Spirit Stones being used for Duels, he isn¡¯t able to see through the illusion I¡¯ve created.¡¯ Ash smiled internally.
    It wasn¡¯t just Kellion he was manipulating like this.
    Seth was also in his trap.
    ¡¯Due to his need to get my attention and prove himself to me, Seth won¡¯t back down from this fight. Plus, he¡¯s indeed confident in his abilities, so it was easier having him on board."
    Both sides were being played by Ash, someone with no stakes in this fight at all.
    "F-fine! Let¡¯s do it!" Kellion shouted. "I¡¯ll be the winner anyway.
    "Not if I have anything to say about that."
    Seth took a combative stance, and so did Kellion. Ash saw this as his cue to leave, swiftly creating distance between himself and the two boys.
    He took his place in the shadows and watch the battle unfold with a dark smile on his face.
    ¡¯And let the fight begin¡­¡¯

 Chapter 60: Kellion Vs Seth

    BOOOOOM!!Destruction tore through the air the moment the fight commenced.
    Kellion¡¯s body crackled with crimson energy, causing his unruly hair to spike up and glow with a certain red lustre. The whites in his eyes turned black and his crimson irises glowed even brighter than ever.
    All of this power was too much for the ground he stood on, causing the crater around him to widen.
    "Hahaha! Show me something interesting, Seth!" He charged towards his calm adversary with breakneck speed.
    Seth remained in his position, slowly building up incredibly dense blue energy.
    The moment Kellion got close and sent his fist flying towards him, the azure Magia around him crackled, and his glowing eyes turned in the direction of the attack. Your journey continues with NovelFire.C?m
    WHUUM!
    In what seemed like a split second, Seth evaded the strike, which ended up causing shockwaves all around him. Many who watched this brief exchange gasped, shocked to see just how much power Kellion was packing in his punch.
    However, Seth hardly showed any form of emotion.
    His eyes simply analyzed his opponent¡¯s moves, and once he dodged, he prepared his own counterattack.
    VWUUUM!!
    Moving much faster than Kellion had charged towards him, Seth summoned a crystal-like blade from the energy that danced around him. The sword formed in less than a moment, and he positioned himself at the perfect flank before striking. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Within the same second, the blade descended
    But¡ª
    CLANG!
    "Did you really think I¡¯d make it that easy? Did you that was my top speed?"
    Kellion had stopped Seth¡¯s blade with a single hand protected by his crimson energy. Not only was he perfectly unharmed by the blow, but Seth¡¯s sword shattered a moment after it came into contact with his fist.
    "I am pure destruction." Kellion scoffed. "Your sophistications won¡¯t do you any good."
    At this point, he planted both of his legs on the ground, causing the area to rumble once again.
    Then, he took a fighting stance.
    "Roar: Hollow Fist!" He yelled, sending a punch into the air.
    Seth already knew he wasn¡¯t in Kellion¡¯s reach, but he leaped back just to be safe. However, once the fist failed to connect with him, he let down his guard.
    That was when a blow landed on his chest.
    "Guh!" Seth slid back, feeling the impact of an attack he wasn¡¯t expecting. "What the hell?"
    His calm facade was broken for the first time throughout the fight, and once he looked at the grinning Kellion, he felt even more of his stoic facade slipping away.
    "Hahaha! That was just a greeting!"
    Kellion launched even more blows into the air, causing Seth to grow even more wary as he tried to evade or even defend against the blows. He was able to avoid some of them, but without knowing the trajectory of the attack and their real speed, he couldn¡¯t properly prepare against them.
    As a result, he was hit twice again.
    ¡¯Tch!¡¯
    Sliding back once more, he brushed off the pain and kept his eyes fixed on his enemy.
    ¡¯He¡¯s strong¡­¡¯
    It wasn¡¯t only Seth who had this opinion.
    Everyone who watched was easily won over by just how impressive Kellion was. He had already landed three hits on his opponent, while the latter was yet to land a single one.
    A particular spectator seemed more concerned than the rest, though.
    ¡¯Oh damn¡­ is Seth really going to lose?¡¯ Ash could feel a bit of fear clawing its way into his very hardened heart.
    The whole reason he stepped out and made the two of them bet something was due to his confidence in Seth¡¯s overpowered abilities as the protagonist. However, seeing the way Seth was struggling against Kellion, he couldn¡¯t help but worry.
    ¡¯Since he never solved the White Death situation, he didn¡¯t grow from that experience, so facing Kellion now is a bit¡­ Now that I think of it, he might not win.¡¯
    After all, Kellion was currently relying on his Hollow Fists, a series of destructive attacks that distorted space and sent its ripples launching at a target. It was a difficult technique to master, but once perfected, it could badly damage¡ªor even kill¡ªunsuspecting individuals.
    ¡¯Anyone can learn it too, but you need to have incredibly destructive abilities like Kellion here in order to affect space to such a degree.¡¯
    If Seth had been the one to defeat the White Death, he would have learned a lot about tricky abilities like this and how to handle them.
    Unfortunately, he just wasn¡¯t at that level yet.
    BOOOOM!
    Seth¡¯s entire surroundings screamed with destruction as power crackled around him. Purplish lightning danced all over his fingertips as he pointed them at Kellion, who was preparing to launch another Hollow Fist.
    Once Ash saw this happen, his eyes widened.
    ¡¯No¡­ don¡¯t tell me¡­¡¯ His jaws slacked as he witnessed the sight. ¡¯... He can use it already¡­!¡¯
    BZZZTZZ!
    The incessant crackling of energy danced all over his body, all pulsating towards his right fist where he was getting ready to flick his finger. His left fist was supporting the right one from underneath, and his now purple eyes flashed with concentration.
    There was a moment of silence.
    Then¡ª
    "Take this!" Kellion yelled, launching his most powerful attack yet, a blow that sent tremors into the air itself as his destructive fist tore into another layer of space itself.
    In response, Seth¡­ flicked his finger.
    Silence.
    And then¡­ there was a loud explosion in the middle.
    BOOOOOOMMM!!!
    Caused by the collision of two incredibly powerful ripples into the same fabric of space, the powerful roar of invisible force would have sent both sides flying away.
    However, they both stood their ground.
    Kellion still recoiled from his previous attack, squinting his eyes as he tried to spot his enemy so he could launch another strike to finish him for good.
    Unfortunately for him, Seth already had that idea.
    "Hey¡­" Seth¡¯s voice echoed right behind Kellion, causing a shiver to run down the boy¡¯s spine.
    As he swiftly turned back, he already noticed Seth flicking his finger.
    It was too late.
    "... You¡¯re pretty good."
    BAM!
    The force hit him straight on his forehead, uprooting his feet from the ground as his body found its way to the ground.
    Before Kellion realized it, he had crashed into his defeat.

 Chapter 61: Untamed Desperation

    ¡¯I knew it! I knew you wouldn¡¯t let me down!¡¯Ash was practically jumping with joy as he watched the fight conclude with Seth¡¯s victory.
    Per basic rules of a duel, the first to fall to the ground or leave a designated area, or surrender, would be considered the loser. Since there were no specific rules to the contrary, it was clear to everyone who had won the fight.
    ¡¯It started out pretty rough, but I should have trusted you, Seth.¡¯ Ash walked forward. ¡¯You really proved to everyone why you¡¯re the protagonist.¡¯
    Once he reached the area of the fight¡ªa place now partially destroyed mostly due to Kellion¡¯s reckless bursts of energy¡ªhe stood a step behind Seth and hid his proud smile.
    "Seth wins according to Basic Duel Rules."
    He declared, looking at the disoriented Kellion who was now rising to his feet.
    Just from looking at the Asura boy¡¯s expression, he could not believe¡ªor even accept¡ªhis defeat. He appeared shaken by the fact that he lost, and once he stood completely upright, he sent a glare towards Seth.
    "Do you disagree with your defeat?" Seth asked, his eyes narrowing. "Are you going to argue?"
    Tense silence filled the area for a moment.
    Kellion took a few steps forward until he was only a few inches away from Seth.
    "No¡­"
    With a small whisper, he replied. "No, you won¡­ fair and square."
    Seth smiled as soon as he heard this, and his impression of Kellion was bumped up to a considerable degree. Most people would try to wiggle their way out of a blatant defeat, especially when rules of defeat weren¡¯t clearly stated earlier, at the start of the Duel.
    However, despite how hot-blooded he was, it seemed he was willing to let go and accept his loss.
    "So¡­ based on the pre-established rules of this Duel, since you already lost¡­ it¡¯s time to pay the price." Ash stepped in, reminding everyone of what was truly important. "Bring out the 5 Spirit Stones."
    Kellion sighed, a guilty expression forming on his face at that moment.
    The second Ash noticed this, he could already feel the bad news coming and he braced himself for the disappointment that he would feel.
    "I¡­ don¡¯t have them on me." Kellion began with his excuses. "It¡¯s not like I thought I¡¯d be needing Spirit Stones when I left our dorms."
    ¡¯Damnit! This useless idiot! Why did I waste my time here if he was just going to do this?¡¯ Ash could feel his blood boiling.
    He already knew that Kellion¡¯s line of reasoning was valid, and he also knew that he was being genuine in his words. However, Ash couldn¡¯t help but feel upset at the boy¡­ and at himself.
    ¡¯I should have asked to see the Stones first, but that could have disrupted the flow I was trying to establish back then, so I decided against it.¡¯ Ash sighed. ¡¯It¡¯s the same reason I didn¡¯t recommend that they fight in the Training Hall as well.¡¯
    The longer he had dragged that conversation, the more opportunities he would have given his prey to see his true intentions and figure out a better way to get what they wanted.
    He had to nab them quickly, and he did.
    ¡¯But¡­ here comes the next challenge.¡¯ Ash felt his frown deepen as he looked at Kellion.
    "I promise I¡¯ll get it for you. In fact, I could even pay you double, no¡­ triple¡­ if you agree to a rematch and I lose." Kellion said with a broad smile. "Of course, I¡¯ll admit it if I lose, but if I win, you will have to forfeit your 5 Spirit Stones."
    ¡¯Haa¡­ if it only it was as simple as that.¡¯
    Ash had also considered that, but the reason he was so pessimistic about Kellion returning with the Spirit Stones wasn¡¯t because he doubted Kellion¡¯s ability to stick to his word, but because he feared the interference of his seniors and peers.
    ¡¯Impulsively giving out 5 Spirit Stones is one thing when they¡¯re with you, but returning with them, or even triple after losing a fight isn¡¯t something I can put too much confidence in.¡¯
    Ash sighed, unable to help his pessimism, though there seemed to be a silver lining in this dark cloud.
    ¡¯Kellion is still desperate for another fight.¡¯ He reasoned. ¡¯That means he will still be willing to deliver the Spirit Stones for another match¡­ though the problem is how he¡¯ll get that many Spirit Stones away from the joint room.¡¯
    Find your next read at NovelFire.C?m
    Unlike in other dormitories, students of the Asura Spirit Academy shared a single room.
    This was designed according to their specifications, and even in their Academy, this was how the students lived. It was meant to boster a spirit of camaraderie and filial connection, but most importantly¡­ competition.
    Those who were the strongest could control all the other students in the room, giving them the intoxicating taste of political power after achieving the physical one.
    ¡¯He¡¯ll be staying with his seniors too, which will make it harder for him to sneak stuff out.¡¯
    This was Ash¡¯s worry.
    Unfortunately, there was another thing to be concerned about.
    "Sorry, but I¡¯m not interested." Seth said, turning away from Kellion as he walked in the direction of his room.
    After fighting Kellion, Seth had gotten a good grasp of the boy¡¯s power.
    He already knew he was stronger.
    There was no longer any sense of intrigue or mystery left for him to explore, so he simply wasn¡¯t interested in a rematch. If Kellion had won, he would have also probably felt the same way and walked off.
    "W-wait! I¡¯m really serious! 20 Spirit Stones for you if you win!" sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Not interested."
    "Come on!"
    "Nope."
    Ash watched as Kellion begged desperately, but Seth didn¡¯t even bother turning back to see him.
    ¡¯I know why Kellion wants Seth to have a rematch with him so badly.¡¯ His thoughts trailed. ¡¯But, he won¡¯t be able to get our dear protagonist¡¯s attention that way.¡¯
    In the original storyline, Kellion and Seth fought the next day, a fight which Seth absolutely destroyed Kellion in. It humbled the boy and helped him find enlightenment, forcing him to grow beyond his stagnating level of strength.
    And so, when they fought again in the Apprentice Round of the Academy Exchange, Kellion had grown considerably stronger and gave Seth quite the challenge before the latter inevitably won.
    ¡¯Unlike that moment, this fight wasn¡¯t nearly as intense.¡¯ Ash reasoned. ¡¯Plus, Seth didn¡¯t demolish Kellion as he did in the novel, which means he didn¡¯t get the enlightenment he is currently craving.¡¯
    Kellion probably came close to it, which was why he was itching so much for a rematch.
    ¡¯But Seth doesn¡¯t have an interest in the fight any longer, and unless I see Spirit Stones, I don¡¯t have the motivation to convince him otherwise.¡¯
    In essence, Kellion was on his own.
    Unless¡ª
    "HEY¡­ DON¡¯T IGNORE ME!"
    BWUUUUSH!
    In a fiery fit of rage, Kellion caused a bright burst of energy to envelop him, once again creating a small crater around him as he glared at Seth.
    Like a wild animal, he growled with untamed desire.
    "FIGHT ME!"
    Ash watched in silence as the savage was ready to pounce on his twin brother.
    However, he knew it wouldn¡¯t happen.
    After all¡­
    ¡¯They¡¯re here.¡¯

 Chapter 62: Aftermath

    "Hold it right there."The voice of a much older boy echoed in the air.
    However, Kellion completely ignored it. The energy crackling around him was too loud, and the allure of his prey was too overpowering for him to resist.
    He simply desired to fight¡­ and to win.
    WHOOOSH!
    Becoming a crimson blur, he charged towards Seth¡ªwho was stunned by the voice that suddenly pierced the air, as well as the incredible speed at which Kellion was moving.
    It was way faster than before, and the unarmed Seth could not react in time.
    But¡ª
    BAM!
    ¡ªHe didn¡¯t have to.
    Before Kellion could even reach Seth, a faster blur appeared and slammed the boy on the ground.
    The earth beneath them shattered, and the stubborn Kellion was instantly subdued, knocked unconscious by a single act of suppression.
    It all happened so fast that Seth couldn¡¯t tell the gap of time between when it started and ended.
    All he witnessed was the final result.
    An older-looking boy had a foot above the unconscious Kellion, both of his hands in his pockets as he calmly stared in Seth¡¯s direction. He had golden hair, with eyes that sparkled like diamonds.
    A strange sense of familiarity and enmity instantly swelled up from Seth as he looked at the boy.
    "Are you alright?"
    Seth felt annoyed when he heard the question, almost like it was condescending.
    Perhaps his pride was hurt since he was saved by someone else so effortlessly. However, this person was clearly his senior, and he spoke out of clear concern.
    "He¡¯s clearly not alright." Someone else spoke before Seth could answer, appearing seemingly out of nowhere as well.
    "Yeah¡­ he was nearly attacked by a bloodthirsty hound from that Asura Academy."
    "Do they raise all their students like wild animals?"
    "Maybe¡­ but this one seems especially feral." One of the girls said, staring at Seth. "But don¡¯t worry, boy, your seniors are here to take care of this mess."
    Indeed, the five people that now gathered in the ruined courtyard were seniors of the Akashic Magus Academy¡ªall of them in the Expert Stage.
    "Ahh¡­"
    Seth felt slightly overwhelmed by their presence but quickly composed himself.
    "Thank you for your assistance." With a slight bow, he rendered his thanks.
    "No need for thanks, junior." The senior who easily dispatched Kellion said. "We¡¯re all students of this Academy. It¡¯s only natural."
    "Yeah, I suppose¡­"
    "Where¡¯s the other kid? I could have sworn that I noticed someone else a moment ago." The golden senior muttered.
    ¡¯Brother? That¡¯s true¡­ where is he?¡¯
    Ashfelt had vanished, almost as if he was never in the courtyard. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    With Kellion now unconscious and Ash nowhere to be found, all eyes fell on Seth to explain what was happening.
    *******
    ¡¯Sorry about that, Seth¡­ but I¡¯m sure you can handle this tedious task.¡¯
    Ash sighed as he sank into a sofa.
    He was still upset that he couldn¡¯t get the Spirit Stones immediately, and with the seniors now involved, their transaction would be exposed to more parties.
    That wasn¡¯t good.
    ¡¯Should I just give up on it? I mean, it¡¯s not even certain that Kellion will deliver on his promise due to how unpredictable the whole situation is.¡¯
    It was a headache just thinking about it.
    However, before he could think any further, Ash heard more commotion outside and he went to peek from behind his blinds again. Upon doing so, he noticed there were more people in the courtyard.
    ¡¯Looks like they are seniors as well¡­ from the Asura Spirit Academy.¡¯
    It was no mystery why they had come to the courtyard of the Akashic Magus Academy participants.
    ¡¯They¡¯ve come to retrieve Kellion, huh?¡¯
    Ash saw how a simple conversation between both sides slowly devolved into something else. Due to the existing friction and unending rivalry between the Akashic Magus Academy and Asura Spirit Academy, it was impossible to avoid.
    ¡¯These seniors have been fighting each other since they were Apprentices, so it makes sense that they don¡¯t get along at all.¡¯
    Getting them to see eye to eye on this matter was nigh impossible.
    ¡¯But, if I let it escalate any further, this could become a big issue.¡¯ Ash thought. ¡¯I can¡¯t allow any future dealings I may have with Kellion be jeopardized by this one event.¡¯
    For this very reason, he considered interfering.
    Thankfully, he didn¡¯t have to.
    "Alright, everyone¡­ that¡¯s enough!" Beatrice Lampshade arrived on the scene and ordered everyone to disperse.
    Kellion was taken by his seniors, who woke him up with a slap on his right cheek. By the time he came to, they were already leaving.
    "This¡­ this isn¡¯t over, Seth!" Was all he could scream out. "I will have my rema¡ª"
    He was promptly silenced by his seniors who knocked him out with another slap, dragging him back to their dorm.
    Ash watched all of this from the solace of his room and sighed. Find more to read on NovelFire.C?m
    ¡¯What a mess.¡¯
    ********
    "You were too reckless, Seth Zephyr!"
    The Head of Student Affairs spoke harshly, raising her voice as she looked at the boy before her.
    Seth, who was a little overwhelmed by the commotion around him, merely nodded and silently apologized for his indiscretion. He was asked for the details of the fight, but he somehow managed to skim through it and left out all the important details.
    According to him:
    "Kellion wanted a fight, and I was curious about his strength¡­ so I fought with him."
    It wasn¡¯t as if he intentionally lied either.
    To Seth, the entire exchange was as simple as that. Everything that Ash did was simply a mere distraction that didn¡¯t serve his main motivation for the fight, which was why he no longer had any interest after he won.
    Beatrice listened to all of this, and after seeing that Seth was indeed apologetic, she decided not to ask any further questions.
    Instead, she thanked the seniors for stepping in.
    As expected, they remained modest about their involvement in the whole thing, and Beatrice believed them. After all, it was obvious that they also wanted to fight against the seniors of the Asura Spirit Academy.
    ¡¯Kids these days are too eager¡­¡¯ She thought to herself before leaving the premises.
    From that point on, she was determined to station appropriate guards and patrol officers around every single dorm. That way, nothing of the sort would happen again.
    After she left, Seth began to walk towards his room.
    But¡ª
    "Hey, junior¡­ some things don¡¯t quite add up here. Do you mind if I ask some more questions?"
    The same senior who saved him stopped him for another series of conversation. However, after having more than enough talk for a single day, and the fact that he still felt uncomfortable around that particular senior, Seth did not respond positively.
    In fact, his tone was dismissive and his words were curt.
    "I¡¯m quite tired, so¡­ I actually do mind."
    Before waiting for the response of the senior, he simply walked away; not even bothering to look at the senior whose request he just rejected.
    The other seniors watched this in shock, alternating glances between Seth and the boy with the golden hair. Absolute silence reigned in the courtyard, and it continued to be so until Seth entered his room and shut the door.
    "I believe we ought to settle into our rooms as well." The boy with golden hair smiled, turning to face the rest of his comrades.
    They all nodded immediately.
    Even though they were still recoiling from surprise, they weren¡¯t going to make the same mistake the ignorant junior just did. Unlike him, they understood the kind of person their colleague was.
    Nero Desgarron¡­ the strongest student in the Academy.

 Chapter 63: The Creeping Darkness

    ¡¯How interesting¡­¡¯Raven Nightshade muttered to himself as he watched the series of events unfold from afar.
    He considered himself very fortunate for being able to experience what happened, as it was mere coincidence that he decided to drop in to check on the Akashic Academy and how they were settling in.
    In all honesty, he wanted to observe Ashfelt Zephyr for a little longer, but he never expected to be able to get such a deep insight into his character as he was able to get this very night.
    ¡¯Look at how expertly the boy added himself to the equation, then he expertly removed himself, added himself, and removed himself once again.¡¯ Raven thought, impressed. ¡¯I had some doubts about the lengths of his capabilities, but now¡­ those doubts have diminished.¡¯
    Asphalt Zephyr was a very intelligent and manipulative boy.
    That meant there was a lot more to him than what he revealed to his classmates, to the Shadow Inquisitor, and ultimately to the Academy.
    ¡¯I¡¯m onto you now, kid¡­¡¯
    **********
    [Meanwhile¡­]
    Arius Inkwell walked past his Beta Class Dorm gate and located his room with a permanent scowl on his face.
    "Tch¡­ this is very annoying!" He muttered with suppressed rage.
    He was just returning from the library, and even there he was treated to an inferior experience due to his new status as a Beta Student. To say he was growing increasingly frustrated by the second would be an understatement of magnanimous proportions.
    Arius was very pissed off.
    ¡¯Not only is my room very uncomfortable, but I won¡¯t be participating in the Exchange¡­ this is bullshit!¡¯ His thoughts flowed. ¡¯Everyone participating has already been moved to the Northern Wing of the Academy, yet I¡¯m stuck here.¡¯
    Why?
    Why was life so unfair?
    ¡¯Damnit!¡¯ A part of him had thought that his father would sort something out before the Exchange, but it seemed that wasn¡¯t going to happen.
    He was going to be a loser like this for what seemed like an eternity.
    CREAK
    He opened the door to his small and ugly room, his teeth grating against each other as he stepped inside. However, this disgust with his new abode was quickly replaced by something else.
    It started with a feeling.
    Subtle.
    Something whispering to his head, causing the hair on his skin to rise as he looked ahead.
    ¡¯Huh? Someone¡¯s here?¡¯
    As he thought that, the door behind him closed with a loud noise.
    ¡¯W-what?!¡¯ Arius jumped, feeling his heart racing faster.
    ¡¯[Spark]!¡¯ Continue reading on NovelFire.C?m
    He quickly cast a Spell, creating light at his fingertips so he could locate the light switch in his room. However, as he was about to go there, he caught something in his peripheral vision.
    It resembled¡­ a person.
    "Who¡¯s there?!" He shouted, turning in the location of the shadowy figure.
    He saw no one.
    All he felt was the howl of winds as fresh breeze began seeping into his room from his bedside.
    ¡¯What the hell?¡¯
    Arius swiftly proceeded to switch on the light switch, finally casting light to his surroundings.
    That was when he noticed that his window was open, causing the breeze to filter in. That wasn¡¯t all he saw in his single room apartment, however.
    There was something on his bed.
    It gleamed with a certain lustre that seemed both hopeful and malevolent¡­ a temptation to draw closer and see what it really was.
    Arius obeyed his curiosity and walked closer to the object on his bed.
    "An envelope? A letter?" He whispered.
    He wasted no time in taking the envelope and unsealing it. He felt something else in the envelope, but the first item that he brought out was a letter.
    And¡­ it came from his father.
    "Daddy!" Arius sighed in relief as he quickly unscrunched the fine paper and fed the content of the letter to his eyes.
    ~Dear son, I hope you are well.
    I will get straight to the point with this letter, and I hope you can also act quickly to walk on the path that I have laid out for you. After thinking of numerous ways to help you, I have come up with the most optimal solution.
    It involves the Nirvana Gate Academy. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The Nirvana Gate Academy is to the East, where our influence is strongest. I have connections in the Academy, which means they¡¯ll never be unfair to you, and you¡¯ll be treated with the utmost respect there.
    Most importantly, the Nirvana Gate Academy is bound to win in this Exchange, which means you will be an influential student in the new top Academy of the Empire if you end up transferring there. That seems better than remaining a Beta Student in a failing Academy.
    I love you son, and I want the best for you¡­ but there¡¯s something you have to do as well.
    Check the envelope, and you¡¯ll see a gem¡­~
    Naturally, Arius poured out the content of the envelope on his bed.
    That was when he saw it¡­ a greenish black gem.
    It seemed to warble slightly, having a creepy and completely disturbing vibe. It filled Arius with both curiosity and dread, so the boy took his eyes off it and returned his eyes to the letter.
    ~... It is a secret item that I procured just for you. Use it to prove yourself to the Nirvana Gate Academy.
    It isn¡¯t a very difficult process too.
    Just absorb the energy in the gem so you can grow stronger and rapidly overcome the current limits of your power. You can even use the power to have revenge on those who did you wrong in the Akashic Academy before you leave for your new school.
    Remember to keep it a secret and also destroy this letter once you¡¯re done reading it.
    Take care, son.~
    A broad smile formed on Arius¡¯ face as he took another glance at the gem.
    It still appeared creepy to him, but the allure of power somehow blinded him to the disturbing whispers that the object leaked out.
    "You¡¯ve really helped me out, dad¡­ I can¡¯t let you down now."
    He reached out to it, feeling an electrifying sensation the closer he got to the object.
    Then¡ª
    FSHUUUUUU!
    ¡ªIt felt something was infused into him.
    As he held the gem tightly in his palm, he could feel it¡ªpower was getting pumped into his veins. He felt the Magia within him rising and his Soul getting filled to the brim with the energy that existed in the gem.
    And something else too.
    ¡¯REVENGE! LET¡¯S HAVE REVENGE!¡¯
    Arius felt darkness surface in his mind, and his thoughts became invaded with all of his negative thoughts¡ªthe ones he buried and the ones that kept surfacing every now and then.
    ¡¯KILLING ONE BETA STUDENT ISN¡¯T ENOUGH! WE NEED MORE!¡¯
    He shivered slightly.
    Arius remembered the gory act he committed that night.
    Even though he tried very hard to suppress his memories of that event, the power of the gem brought it to the light.
    "H-he was going to join Alpha Class¡­ for doing absolutely nothing! I couldn¡¯t allow it! I couldn¡¯t allow any more plebeian scum to join our Class!"
    ¡¯TRUE! YOU DID THE RIGHT THING!¡¯
    Yes¡­ yes he did the right thing.
    "And now¡­ with this power, I can keep doing the right thing!"
    ¡¯EXACTLY!¡¯
    "I can rise above everyone else and show them precisely why they shouldn¡¯t have messed with me¡­ why they shouldn¡¯t have abandoned me in this filthy Beta Class."
    ¡¯INDEED!¡¯
    "And, to celebrate my transfer to my new life¡­ I suppose it won¡¯t be a bad idea to ruin the old."
    His thoughts chuckled evilly before responding in the most delighted manner.
    ¡¯PERFECT!¡¯

 Chapter 64: Bright Idea

    Every participant stood at the central courtyard the next day.Standing right in front of them was the grand hall where they would be competing, but they weren¡¯t allowed to venture in until the Exchange, which was now a few days away.
    There were a total of 100 students participating; 25 from each Academy.
    "Both Apprentice and Intermediate Stages have 10 participants each, while Expert Stages have only 5, making a total of 25 from each of the 4 Academies, a total of 100 Students." Beatrice Lampshade repeated what many students had already observed.
    However, it was only protocol for her to do so.
    "I will now reveal the schedule for this year¡¯s Academy Exchange." She began. "The contest will last a whole week, with each day contributing to the grand finale that will occur on the last day."
    Once she was done explaining, the schedule was basically thus:
    Day 1: Prelims for Apprentice Stage Find adventures at NovelFire.C?m
    Day 2: Prelims for Intermediate Stage
    Day 3: Prelims for Expert Stage
    Day 4: Part 1 of the Main Tournament for all the Stages (Round 1)
    Day 5: Part 2 of the Main Tournament for all the Stages. (Round 2 and 3) sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Day 6: Rest Day.
    Day 7: Final Matches for all the Stages (Apprentice, Intermediate, and Expert) and the announcement of results.
    Some details, such as the nature of the Prelims, and who the students would be facing, were kept a secret, but none of the students were confused as to what they had to do in these matches.
    They simply had to be the strongest person on the stage.
    "The training grounds are always open for those willing to train seriously. You are all advised to use your remaining time to hone your skills and prepare for the Exchange, instead of goofing off and starting fights." Beatrice added.
    This caused quite a few students to wince.
    "That is all. Have a pleasant day."
    *********
    ¡¯She really hit the nail on the head, huh?¡¯ Ash thought to himself as he glanced to his side.
    Unsurprisingly, he saw a rather interesting sight.
    Kellion, while being as inconspicuous as he could about it, was trying very hard to gain Seth¡¯s attention¡ªall to no avail. Seth simply had no interest in Kellion, so he paid the rough boy no mind.
    ¡¯Looks like Kellion is still desperate for that rematch.¡¯ Ash smiled. ¡¯Then there¡¯s him¡­¡¯
    He glanced at another person whose attention was on Seth.
    ¡¯Nero Desgarron too, huh? It was only a matter of time before the strongest student began to notice his successor.¡¯
    Taking his attention away from Seth and just looking around, Ash could recognize a lot of people. Since he read the Academy Exchange Arc quite a few times in the original story, he knew a lot about these characters.
    It was very exciting seeing all of them come to life like this, but he kept his cool.
    ¡¯This will be an interesting event for sure.¡¯
    *********
    [Later That Evening]
    "That arrogant prick¡­ why won¡¯t he fight me?"
    Kellion was walking by himself after managing to escape the watchful gazes of his seniors. He couldn¡¯t help but feel the pang of annoyance after getting his ego bruised multiple times by Seth, who repeatedly ignored him.
    It was frustrating to see someone his age ignore him to such an extent.
    ¡¯No one ignored me in the Asura Spirit Academy¡­¡¯ He sighed. ¡¯Just because he beat me once, he thinks he¡¯s better than me or what?¡¯
    He always got what he wanted due to his incredible strength, so not being able to get his desired rematch with Seth made him restless.
    "Damnit¡­ damn!"
    As he kept grunting and muttering to himself, he felt a shadow creep up on him.
    "You¡ª!" He took a fighting stance as soon as he sensed the presence and caught a glance of the person. However, the moment he gave the person his full attention, he sighed and shrugged off the encounter.
    "Oh. It¡¯s just you¡­"
    It was nothing but a pale, harmless shadow.
    "You thought I was my brother?" The calm voice of Ashfelt Zephyr floated in the air as he smiled in amusement.
    Kellion did not respond with a smile, or with any kind of friendliness.
    He simply glared at Ashfelt, almost in a threatening manner, and walked away not too long after.
    Clearly, he didn¡¯t think the loser twin was worth his time.
    "Come on, don¡¯t go yet." Ashfelt¡¯s voice echoed as the distance between them grew wider. "You haven¡¯t even heard me out yet."
    "What do you want?" Kellion grunted.
    "I want to make a deal with you."
    "Not interested."
    "Really? It could benefit you, though."
    "I highly doubt it."
    "Well, you¡¯re really missing out on¡ª"
    "Look!" Kellion stopped walking and turned to the smiling Ashfelt. "I don¡¯t care about you or whatever you¡¯re sellin¡¯. The only one I want to talk to is your brother, so maybe let him approach me with this deal of yours."
    Ash sighed.
    His approach was clearly not working.
    "Maybe if you give me the Spirit Stones you owe him, I could convince him to talk to you¡­ maybe even consider that fight you¡¯ve been egging him about."
    "Pfft! You? Somehow, I doubt that."
    Kellion might have been a musclebrain, but he was no fool.
    He knew Ash was just bluffing, looking for any way to get his attention and perhaps reap some sweet rewards. However, he was no sucker.
    He wasn¡¯t going to give some loser weakling what he wanted.
    "You should still hold up your end of the Duel, though. That means handing over the¡ª"
    "Seth won that fight, so I would gladly hand those Spirit Stones over to him if he came to ask for them himself." Kellion stated bluntly. "So stay out of this, runt."
    Once again, the ruffian began to walk away.
    ¡¯Damn¡­ I really can¡¯t reason with him in any normal way.¡¯ Ash sighed once more. ¡¯I could also try gaining his respect and attention by fighting with him, but I¡¯m not confident in beating him with the current powers at my disposal.¡¯
    Unlike people like Arius and Dustan, Kellion was the real deal.
    Not only did he have raw strength, but his battle instincts made him a nightmare to deal with in battle. Sure, he was lacking in the skill department, but when the gap between two fighters was too large, brute force would always emerge victorious.
    It was a tall task to ask for, so Ash figured he was better off retreating for the moment.
    ¡¯I really need those Stones, though. Time is running out¡­¡¯
    "Hey!"
    Kellion¡¯s voice suddenly echoed out, clealry calling for Ash¡¯s attention.
    "Hm?" Ash raised his eyes to look at the boy. ¡¯He¡¯s grinning broadly, and that tone he used¡­ don¡¯t tell me¡­¡¯
    He was beginning to get a bad feeling about this.
    "You¡¯re close to your brother, right? Doesn¡¯t that mean¡­ Seth will come to fight with me if I roughen you up a little?"
    ¡¯Ah, fuck! I knew it!¡¯ Ash¡¯s eyes widened in terror. ¡¯This maniac!"
    "I¡¯ll take that as a YES!"
    "No, it¡¯s not a yes. It¡¯s a very bad idea, and you won¡¯t get what you want if you do that."
    "Hehe¡­ somehow I doubt that."

 Chapter 65: Growing Need

    ¡¯This idiot!¡¯ Ash groaned in exasperation.He knew what kind of person Seth was, and what he would do to anyone who dared hurt his twin brother. That was precisely the reason why he didn¡¯t want to fight Kellion.
    ¡¯I also can¡¯t properly defend myself since I have no idea if Raven Nightshade is watching me, so I have to hold back no matter what.¡¯
    All in all, if he was to fight Kellion here, it would only end in one way.
    ¡¯I¡¯ll get beat up!¡¯
    "Here I come, runt! Make sure you send the message to your brother!"
    ¡¯Damn! He¡¯s giving me no choice in the matter, huh?¡¯ Ash gritted his teeth. ¡¯Do I really have no choice but to fight?¡¯
    No!
    The lack of options was always an illusion.
    ¡¯There¡¯s always another choice, and right now¡­ it¡¯s to flee!¡¯
    Ash swiftly cast as many enhancement Spells as he could on his body, and then instantly used Spirit Arts.
    Compared to most peple his age, he could summon his Spirit¡¯s powers very quickly.
    Thanks to that, he had a head start.
    WHOOOSH!
    In a blur of motion, Ash vanished from his previous position, quickly hurrying towards his dormitory.
    "Where do you think you¡¯re going?"
    BWUUUM!
    Kellion¡¯s body was instantly filled with power as crimson energy coursed through it.
    He set his eyes on Ash and licked his lips, his glowing crimson eyes locked on the fleeing boy the same way a predator would look at prey.
    BOOM!
    A single leap shattered the ground that he was on, propelling him towards the swift escapee.
    Within a single moment, he caught up to him.
    "Hahaha! You thought you could escape me?!" Kellion grinned immensely, staring at the shocked face of his prey.
    He took great pleasure in the despair that the boy showed him.
    ¡¯This is the gap of power between me and you. It¡¯s why I can never consider you to be anything but a rat.¡¯
    And no one made deals with rat.
    WHOOOSH!
    He sent his fist flying at Ash, clearly intending to halt him in motion and also give him a bruised face in the process. If he managed to block the attack, the force he put in his fist would be enough to knock him down, which would also create mutliple bruises due to the current speed they were both operating at.
    However, a strange thing happened once the blow connected.
    Fshuuuuu!
    There was no impact! It was almost as if the person he hit wasn¡¯t actually there, but was instead a reflection of light¡­ perhaps some kind of smokeshow.
    "W-what is happening here?!" Kellion gasped as he halted his movements and looked around him.
    This was when he realized something.
    ¡¯I¡¯ve been running in the opposite direction from his dorms¡­ why? Why would he run further from his dorm¡­ unless he never did.¡¯
    Kellion was still confused about its exact mechanics, but he understood what the trick did.
    ¡¯It made me chase a phantom while he made his way to his dorm¡­ But how did he do it?¡¯
    That was something he couldn¡¯t quite figure out.
    Perhaps he never would.
    ¡¯I guess I was wrong about you.¡¯ His grin widened. ¡¯You¡¯re not a rat¡­ but a snake.¡¯
    No longer having the confidence to catch up to Ash, nor the motivation to go through with the plan anymore, Kellion decided to return to his dorm.
    ********
    "Haaa¡­ whew!"
    Ash collapsed in his room as he managed to reach it right before his muscles nearly collapsed in exhaustion. Explore more adventures at NovelFire.C?m
    His Magia had practically run empty and his body was screaming in pain.
    It hurt him immensely, but he kept it all in and did his best to endure the agony that he was going through. This was the consequence of him pushing himself to the very limits, and he had to do this much so he could escape from Kellion.
    ¡¯Right as I activated my Spirit Art, I used [Vanish] to hide my presence and used [Mirage] to create a duplicate and commanded it to run off.¡¯
    The reason he was able to fool Kellion was simply due to the nature of the situation and how excited the boy was. Not only did Kellion have a very low attention span, but he tended to overlook a lot of details whenever he got excited or agitated. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡¯I was also able to distract him with how flashy my illusion was. All I had to do was stand still and let him chase after my mirage¡­ for as long as possible.¡¯
    There were two reasons why this was a last-ditch option that Ash would not be able to use in any normal situation.
    ¡¯One, the [Mirage] Spell drains a lot of Magia and mental energy. In fact, it¡¯s usually taught to students in the Intermediate and Advanced Stage due to how difficult it is to cast and maintain.¡¯
    In fact, in Academies like the Asura Spirit Academy, which focused on raw power, the Mirage Spell was usually never taught due to how much it deviated from their method of training.
    Plus, due to the Magia it consumed, many would consider it inefficient¡ªespecially with its many flaws that could be easily recognizable if one paid enough attention.
    ¡¯I only got away with it because Kellion is an idiot.¡¯
    Once Kellion chased after his mirage, he also had to enhance himself and run as far as possible to his dorm in order to ensure Kellion never chased after him once the mirage¡¯s effects wore off, or Kellion attacked the mirage and saw it for what it was.
    A part of him figured Kellion would just give up at that point, but he couldn¡¯t take any chances.
    ¡¯The riskiest part of everything is that Raven could have been watching me.¡¯ Ash sighed. ¡¯But this does nothing to prove his case, as he must already know that I can use [Fusion], so it shouldn¡¯t be too surprising that I can also use an advanced Spell like [Mirage].¡¯
    Plus, if he used Mirage to somehow help Elma and was her conspirator, then surely his Magia Signature would be on the crime scene.
    But since it was not¡­ Ash knew Raven would never make the connection.
    ¡¯More importantly, I need to consider my current situation.¡¯ He sighed. ¡¯I¡¯m too weak to compete in the Exchange like this, and I really need those Spirit Stones.¡¯
    He had tried the reasonable method, but that had clearly backfired on him.
    ¡¯The Exchange begins in just a few days, which means I no longer have time to dawdle.¡¯
    If there was any risky or unsavory plan at his disposal, this was the time to use it¡ªeven if it meant swallowing his pride.
    If it ensured his ultimate victory, Ash was willing to do it.
    ¡¯I¡¯ll have to stoop to conquer.¡¯
    ***********
    [The Next Day]
    Kellion and his seniors walked side by side as they went on a walk.
    This was clearly done to keep a closer eye on the unruly boy, especially after he snuck out the previous night. It was clear that Kellion felt miserable in the group, however, this was the only way he would be allowed to leave his dorm for a walk.
    As he cursed under his breath, doing his best to keep his emotions under control, he noticed someone from the corner of his eye. The boy stood a small distance from him, both hands in his pockets as they both stared at each other.
    "H-huh¡­?"
    He blinked once. Then twice. Then thrice.
    Kellion even had to pinch himself just to make sure he wasn¡¯t dreaming.
    "Seth¡­ Zephyr?"

 Chapter 66: Deal

    Continue your adventure with NovelFire.C?mA lot of thoughts were going through Kellion¡¯s mind the moment he saw Seth.
    ¡¯Why is he here? What happened? Did his brother tell him what I did to him? Is he mad?¡¯ He tried to keep his thoughts under control, but so many questions kept popping inside his head that he couldn¡¯t help it.
    The visible shock on his face was complemented with the overwhelming flow of thoughts in his mind.
    "Can we talk?"
    Seth¡¯s voice interrupted Kellion¡¯s inner thoughts, causing him to jerk up in surprise.
    "O-of course!" He said, swiftly looking at his seniors for permission.
    The seniors of the Asura Spirit Academy were there to make sure Kellion wasn¡¯t up to anything stupid. However, socializing wasn¡¯t particularly stupid, so they allowed it¡­ even though they didn¡¯t particularly like Seth¡¯s approach.
    ¡¯He didn¡¯t even greet us or pay us any kind of reverence in the conversation.¡¯ They all thought to themselves.
    Still, these petty thoughts wouldn¡¯t make the seniors deprive their beloved junior of something he seemed so excited for. Why punish the innocent Kellion when it was Seth who committed the offence? S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Kellion and Seth walked a short distance from the seniors: enough that they could see the two, but also far enough for them to have a considerably private conversation.
    Then¡­
    "Why are you here, Seth? You¡ª"
    "It¡¯s simple." Seth interrupted him with a calm monotone. "I thought about it a little and have decided to take you up on your rematch offer."
    "O-ohh! Really?"
    Kellion¡¯s eyes widened in surprise and his lips curled up due to his sheer excitement.
    "Yeah. So prepare the Spirit Stones you owe me, and the ones you promised in exchange for the rematch."
    "H-huh¡­?"
    "Have you forgotten that you owe me 5 Spirit Stones? You also promised me triple if I agreed to the rematch." Seth raised a brow. "Or are you going to go back on that now?"
    "N-no, it¡¯s not like that¡­ but¡­"
    Kellion leaned closer to Seth and spoke in harsh whispers, hoping his Seniors didn¡¯t get a whiff of his conversation with Seth. Logically speaking, this was useless, since Seth was speaking normally and they could easily pick out what he was saying if they were truly eavesdropping.
    Still, the boy was nervous, hence the emergence of his overly cautious nature.
    "Ever since¡­ well, the incident, my seniors are always watching me. You know we¡¯re not allowed to give Spirit Stones to outsiders, right? Smuggling so many Stones will be very difficult, and¡ª"
    "If you want a rematch, bring the Spirit Stones." Seth re-emphasized. "I will get the stones before we begin our fight, and don¡¯t you think you can waste my time in any way."
    "But¡ª"
    "You know what? Nevermind¡­ forget the rematch."
    Seth shrugged the whole thing aside, clearly not caring if he fought Kellion or not.
    After all, he had already won, so it wasn¡¯t like he felt the sting of defeat or the propelling force of desperation. He didn¡¯t need the rematch as much as Kellion, hence his nonchalant attitude to the more distressed boy.
    "Fine! Fine, I¡¯ll do it!" Kellion finally declared, still trying to keep his voice hushed. "I¡¯ll find a way to get the Stones out of there."
    Seth nodded the moment he heard that. "Good."
    "So when and where are we meeting?"
    "If we want to fight uninterrupted, unlike last time, we need to do it right and use the Training Hall. Meet me there tomorrow night at exactly 8:10 PM¡­ and don¡¯t be late."
    "Yes¡­ Yes, I understand."
    "We¡¯ll have a fair and square match, and if I lose, I¡¯ll return the Spirit Stones you gave me."
    Kellion sighed and nodded.
    He understood what Seth was saying and why he was saying it.
    ¡¯Last time, I didn¡¯t give the Spirit Stones out because they weren¡¯t in my possession. He¡¯s trying to ensure that I can¡¯t wiggle out of the deal this time by taking possession of the stones, which means he¡¯ll be able to simply keep it if he wins, and he¡¯ll return it if he loses.¡¯
    Somehow, that realization put Kellion at ease.
    ¡¯All I have to do is win, and the Spirit Stones are mine once again.¡¯ He heaved in relief. ¡¯And since it¡¯s an official duel in the Training Hall, he won¡¯t be able to back out of it.¡¯
    "Deal?" Kellion stretched out his hand, wanting to shake in order to consolidate their agreement.
    Seth didn¡¯t seem to mind as shook the boy¡¯s hand.
    "Deal."
    ***********
    [Later That Night¡­]
    The moon hung heavy in the night sky, filling the plain fields that surrounded the Training Hall, as well as the nearby Dorms, with a pale¡ªnearly invisible glow of moonlight.
    It was late already, but the moon¡¯s gleam was nearly invisible.
    This was most likely due to it being a half moon, covered by darkened clouds that made the entire area entirely reliant on the luminous stones that were positioned all over the Academy Grounds.
    This darkness was perfect for the two figures who now stood some distance from the Training Hall.
    "Where were you? You¡¯re late." Kellion muttered as he glared at Seth. "I¡¯ve been waiting¡­"
    Seth smiled as he stepped forward.
    He was dressed rather lightly despite the cool evening breeze and the match he was about to engage in. With a casual shirt and shorts, as well as boots, it almost seemed like he was going for a late night jog rather than a fight.
    "I had a bit of interference from my brother. He said there was something he wanted to tell me about you, but I told him I¡¯d hear him out once I returned."
    "O-ohh! Is that so?"
    Kellion was surprised by this news.
    ¡¯I thought he was close to his brother, and that he finally accepted my rematch proposal because of what I tried to do to his brother, but I guess I was wrong.¡¯ He reasoned.
    Seth and Ashfelt were not as close as he imagined despite being twin brothers.
    "Where are the Stones?"
    "Wait¡­ you want them right now? Outside? Why don¡¯t we get into the Training Hall first?"
    "Are you stupid?" Seth raised a brow. "The Training Hall has Security Recordings installed, so they would be able to see our transaction take place if we did it here."
    "O-ohh¡­"
    "You¡¯re the one who said students from your Academy aren¡¯t allowed to give out Spirit Stones to others. I¡¯m only looking out for you while making sure you have no cause to go back on your deal."
    ¡¯That makes sense¡­¡¯
    Kellion sighed, his face depicting a painful expression as he brought out a sack filled with twenty glowing rocks. Once he handed it over to Seth, the boy looked into the sack, as if trying to verify the quality and quantity of the stones inside.
    Once he did, he closed the sack and nodded.
    "They¡¯re legit."
    "Did you think I¡¯d scam you or anything?" Kellion snorted. "I just want a fair fight."
    "And you¡¯ll get it."
    As soon as Seth said this, his smile broadened, both eyes displaying a mischievous glint within them.
    "You¡¯ll get it in the Student Exchange¡­ your fair fight, that is."
    "H-huh?!"
    "I¡¯ll hold on to this till then." Seth raised the sack and broadened his smile, causing further confusion to mix in with Kellion¡¯s growing rage.
    "WHAT?!"

 Chapter 67: Night Chase

    ¡¯What the hell?!¡¯Kellion was genuinely puzzled at this point.
    Out of nowhere, Seth had approached him regarding the rematch, and now that they were about to have it, he was withdrawing. If that was simply the case, Kellion might have let it go, but Seth also wanted to keep the twenty Spirit Stones that the former had painstakingly smuggled out of the dorm.
    "Are you insane?" Kellion stepped forward, fists clenched. "Or is this some kind of joke?"
    Seth¡¯s face remained stoic, as if he wasn¡¯t even listening.
    Instead, he brought out a rope and attached it to the sack, swinging it over his shoulders so he could carry it like a backpack.
    Kellion watched all of this with borderline confusion.
    "Well¡­ goodbye, Kellion. Good luck with your¡ª"
    WHOOOSH!
    Without any warning, Kellion launched himself at Seth, energy bursting from his body the more he neared the lone boy.
    Surprisingly, Seth remained calm even as the blow neared.
    Then¡ª
    WIUNWIUNWIUNWIUN
    ¡ªA loud, whirring sound blared from all around the two, causing Kellion to get disoriented for a moment. This caused him to slow down, granting Seth enough time to dash away and evade his assault.
    BOOM!
    The ground beneath shattered, but the noise was nothing compared to the growing noise of the siren.
    ¡¯What¡¯s happening? Why is that sound so¡ª?¡¯
    "Hold it right there! Who¡¯s that?!" A loud masculine voice called from within the Training Hall, his tone clearly indicating hostility.
    ¡¯What?!¡¯
    It took Kellion a few moments to realize it, but he quickly discovered the problem the moment he recovered from his initial state of shock and his mind when to work.
    ¡¯There are alarms on the Academy Grounds for when Magia is used¡­ which causes the sirens to blare.¡¯ His eyes widened. ¡¯Our security system in the Asura Spirit Academy is different from this, but I¡¯ve heard of this before.¡¯
    The moment he chose to attack Seth with a reinforced body, he had triggered the security system of the Akashic Magus Academy.
    Right now, the closest security officers were inside the Training Hall, which was he heard why the security personnel from inside. Within a few more seconds, the man would emerge from the building with probably a few more guards. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    That wasn¡¯t all, though.
    Patrol officers from around would be alerted to the sound and gather around as well.
    ¡¯If they find me and figure out what was happening here¡­ with the Spirit Stones and everything¡­ I¡¯ll be in very big trouble.¡¯ Kellion¡¯s mind processed his situation extremely quickly.
    Slowly, everything leading up to this moment made perfect sense to him.
    "Seth Zephyr, you bastard! You set me u¡ª!"
    The boy he was talking to was not in front of him any longer, and he didn¡¯t seem to be in the immediate vicinity either.
    ¡¯H-huh? He ran away already?!¡¯ Kellion¡¯s rage-filled eyes narrowed as he concentrated his vision and looked through the darkness. He quickly spotted Seth, and indeed he was running with the sack firmly strapped behind him like a backpack.
    ¡¯So that¡¯s why he was dressed like that¡­ It was to facilitate his escape!¡¯
    Kellion shook in fury.
    ¡¯I didn¡¯t expect you to be so shameless, Seth! I thought you were upright and respectable¡­ a worthy rival.¡¯ He gritted his teeth. ¡¯Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll let you get away with this!¡¯
    Whooosh!
    Kellion swiftly ran from his position, his eyes fixed on Seth as he made chase.
    ¡¯Even without using a Reinforcement Spell, I¡¯m still faster than you!¡¯ His thoughts echoed as he increased his pace.
    The Curriculum of the Asura Spirit Academy was squarely fixed on combat.
    As an example, while other Academies spent time teaching the profound and deep theories of Spells and Spirit Arts, those in the Asura Spirit Academy were training themselves to the absolute limit.
    As a result, comparing the physical states of Apprentices in the Asura Spirit Academy to those of other Academies was foolhardy.
    Their bodies were all perfectly toned due to the harsh physical training they had to endure.
    Their affinity towards violence was unmatched.
    SWISH!
    Kellion ignored the winds that brushed past his face and focused solely on the target in front of him. He was already gaining on him, and even though the Participant Dorms were already in view, he was confident that he could reach Seth before the lad had the chance to cross over to safety. Your next read awaits at NovelFire.C?m
    ¡¯I¡¯ll make sure I get that backpack and also break at least one limb of yours!¡¯
    The chase continued, and just as expected, Seth was trying his best to jump over the fence of his Dorm and retreat to his room.
    ¡¯Not on my watch!¡¯ Kellion increased his speed once again, his arm outstretched as he tried to grab a hold of Seth.
    His first instinct was to get a hold of the backpack, but Seth seemed to have noticed this and quickly turned the backpack so the sack now rested on his chest while he ran. This slowed down his speed a little, but it also meant Kellion couldn¡¯t get a hold of the sack directly.
    ¡¯Then¡ª¡¯ His eyes settled on one more thing he could hold onto.
    Something that would undoubtedly cause Seth to halt in his tracks and sent him into a world of pain while Kellion retrieved the sack and delivered the appropriate punishment to him.
    "Get over here!" Kellion screamed, grabbing Seth by his flowing black hair.
    Once he got a hold of it, he grinned and slowed down a little.
    ¡¯I¡¯ve got you!¡¯
    However, much to his surprise, the hair simply slipped off the running boy, almost like it wasn¡¯t a part of his body at all.
    No¡­ it really wasn¡¯t a part of his body.
    ¡¯A wig?!¡¯ Kellion raised his brow as he stared at the wig and back at the student who had now increased his pace.
    ¡¯He¡­ he isn¡¯t Seth Zephyr!¡¯
    The white hair that gleamed softly under the moonlight made it abundantly clear who the fleeing snake of a boy was.
    "Ashfelt Zephyr!!!"
    That instant, Ashfelt leaped into the air, allowing the winds to carry him as he dove into his dormitory¡­ completely safe from the stupefied Kellion.
    "Haa¡­ haaa¡­ I¡­ I was deceived.¡¯
    Even though Kellion was vigilant enough to make sure he wasn¡¯t chasing some phantom, and was also confident that he could catch up to his opponent, he was tricked again.
    ¡¯Just as he hid his identity¡­ he was hiding his true speed¡­ until the last minute.¡¯
    For a moment, Kellion simply stood in front of the dorm, his face down as he clenched his fists in total helplessness.
    Twice now¡­ it had been twice now that he was bested by Ashfelt Zephyr.
    ¡¯That bastard¡­ I swear I will¡ª¡¯
    "Hey! You there! Why are you standing over there?!" The voice of a patrol officer shook Kellion to his bones and he quickly fled from the premises.
    He didn¡¯t realize that this ¡¯officer¡¯ was simply a janitor stationed to clean up the dorms, and was just starting his night shift. Due to the adrenaline still rushing through his body, and the plenty of trouble he was already in, Kellion couldn¡¯t take his chances.
    Instead, he ran to his dormitory and hid in his room throughout the night.

 Chapter 68: Grade Advancement

    "Whew!"Ash nearly collapsed as soon as he entered his room and shut his door.
    ¡¯That was too close!¡¯ Beads of sweat formed on his face. ¡¯I can¡¯t believe I actually pulled that off.¡¯
    This was the same Ash who had caught the White Death, killed the former Head of Student Affairs, murdered over a hundred people, and even betrayed an ally of his while blackmailing another¡­ and yet he was trembling nervously.
    The reason for his nearly crippling nervousness was rather simple.
    He lacked sufficient preparations.
    Due to the lack of time on his hands, and his growing desperation for the Spirit Stones, Ash had to bend the rules a little and resort to a half-baked plan.
    ¡¯I utilized makeup to hide my pale skin and a wig to hide my hair, while mimicking Seth¡¯s mannerisms¡­ all in order to pretend like I was him.¡¯
    Fortunately, this was enough to fool Kellion, which was his intention.
    ¡¯The time I chose, and the intentional delay on my part was to ensure I didn¡¯t miss my window of opportunity.¡¯ He sighed. ¡¯If I chose a later time, there was a chance Kellion could be tardy, so I made him come earlier and made myself tardy instead.¡¯
    His true intention was to make sure they met up at around 8:25, and since the chase lasted for about five minutes, they would be able to get to the dormitory by exactly 8:30. This was why he intentionally slowed down at times, not using his full speed to completely overtake the boy behind him.
    ¡¯By 8:30, the Janitor begins his shift, which would have thrown Kellion off and warded him away from the dormitory the moment he saw him.¡¯
    As such, Kellion would not even have gotten too close to the dormitory, and most importantly, he would not have removed his wig and uncovered his identity as Ashfelt.
    ¡¯Damnit¡­ that wasn¡¯t the plan.¡¯ He groaned, covering his face in disappointment. ¡¯Now, I¡¯ve been exposed.¡¯
    He didn¡¯t like that one bit.
    After all, this meant he now had a target on his back from Kellion¡ªsomething he didn¡¯t want to happen, ever. It was why he didn¡¯t take any drastic methods directly in his negotiations and simply opted to be a harmless little fly that could bargain.
    ¡¯But now the jig is up¡­ I have to live with it.¡¯
    A part of Ash wondered if he should have just used his full speed from the start and blitzed Kellion, however, Ash knew why he opted not to use that method.
    ¡¯For one, Kellion could have gotten very desperate and used enhanced his body so he could catch up to me. Also, I needed him to believe he had a chance so he would leave the alarm scene and not implicate the both of us.¡¯
    However, there was one final reason¡ªperhaps the most important reason of all.
    ¡¯I wanted him to have a very close shave with Seth, which would possibly awaken him and give him the enlightenment he has been chasing¡­¡¯ He sighed. ¡¯That would have made up for the missed opportunity that came about due to his premature fight with Seth.¡¯
    Ash didn¡¯t have the time to see what happened with Kellion, but it didn¡¯t seem like he succeeded on that front either. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡¯The only thing I succeeded in is getting these.¡¯ He unstrapped the sack from his body and dropped it on the ground.
    The stones inside made a soft chinking sound as they rubbed off on each other in the sack.
    ¡¯At the very least, even though Kellion is undoubtedly very angry at me, he won¡¯t tell anyone about what happened since he will get into serious trouble for smuggling Spirit Stones despite his Academy¡¯s rules.¡¯ Stay tuned to NovelFire.C?m
    It was also possible that the Academy prohibited him from having a rematch with Seth, which would give him another reason to be quiet about things. Ash wasn¡¯t sure about this, though, so he didn¡¯t put much weight in it.
    Still, the first line of reasoning was more than enough to silence Kellion.
    ¡¯In any case¡­ I got what I wanted.¡¯
    Ash smiled as he poured out the contents of the sack and looked at his haul: 20 Spirit Stones.
    The Spirit Stones looked like round, smooth rocks, almost like an egg but flat. They gave off a bright white glow, which was the pure energy of Magia that had coalesced to form a solid shape.
    ¡¯And then, of course¡­ the Asura Spirit Academy insignia.¡¯
    The symbol of the Academy rested on both smooth surfaces of the stone, revealing where they came from. Hence, anyone who desired to sell or purchase these Stones would know where they were from and could get in trouble for having possession of them.
    ¡¯The Asura Spirit Academy does sell Spirit Stones, but it¡¯s directly to the Empire or the Four Great Noble Households. Plus, the ones they sell don¡¯t have their insignia, so they wouldn¡¯t look like this.¡¯
    Hence, Ash could get in serious trouble just for having these Stones.
    ¡¯But, Kellion isn¡¯t going to rat me out¡­ plus, I don¡¯t plan to sell them, so there¡¯s no way for it to get out.¡¯
    In the very unlikely scenario that his secret was exposed¡ªperhaps by Raven Nightshade, or some other unknown variable¡ªhe could always play dumb and blame it all on Kellion and his insistence on the rematch.
    Of course, he would still get into trouble, but it wasn¡¯t like there were rules regarding the specific scenario he concocted. At most, he would get to face a disciplinary committee and go under some investigations. He would also be forced to reimburse the Academy for the Spirit Stones, but his Zephyr Household would definitely take care of that.
    Even if they didn¡¯t care for Ashfelt, they would be forced to pay if they wanted to maintain their reputable image.
    ¡¯I won¡¯t be expelled and I¡¯ll still participate in the Exchange either way, so the risks aren¡¯t too severe¡­¡¯ He smiled, his eyes gleaming brightly as he eyed the stones.
    His original goal was 5 Stones, but it was amazing how fate operated.
    ¡¯With these, I can advance my Familiar from a Lesser Grade Wind Spirit to a Medium Grade.¡¯
    That would guarantee his stay in the Akashic Magus Academy and also ensure that he performed considerably better in the Academy Exchange. Considering how his benchmark was to reach ¡¯Low Grade¡¯, this was a huge step up.
    ¡¯Let¡¯s not waste any more time¡­¡¯
    Ash arranged the stones around himself, forming a circle with the 20 Spirit Stones while he stayed at the center. He inhaled and exhaled softly, feeling the resonance between his Soul and the Spirit Stones around him.
    ¡¯Spirits like to dwell in the Soul because of the purity of Magia that exists within it. Spirit Stones have similarly pure Magia, and by feeding this energy directly to the Spirit that is my Familiar, it can undergo rapid development and even break through its initial rank.¡¯
    The lower the Grade of a Spirit, the easier it was for it to advance.
    Hence, 5 Spirit Stones would be sufficient to advance his Lesser Grade Wind Spirit to a Low Grade one. However, Ash wasn¡¯t even certain that 20 Spirit Stones would be able to raise it to Medium Grade.
    He could only hope that would be the case.
    ¡¯After that, it could take over 50¡­ no, perhaps even a hundred Spirit Stones to reach a High Grade, and that¡¯s not even guaranteed.¡¯
    Certain Spirits had their growth limits, and trying to force a growth on them would simply lead to a total waste. The Lesser Wind Spirit that Ash chose most likely couldn¡¯t grow beyond a Medium Grade.
    In fact, it would be a surprise if it could.
    ¡¯I don¡¯t think I¡¯m special enough to get that kind of luck, so I¡¯ll just settle for Medium Grade and be satisfied with that¡­ at least, for now.¡¯
    Closing his eyes, Ash let the energy from the Spirit Stones begin to flow, injecting the pure Magia into his Soul, and then into the body of his very nervous, but submissive Familiar. It felt strange at first, similar to how a sudden cold shower felt on the skin.
    However, he quickly acclimated to it and kept injecting more energy.
    It was a painstakingly slow process.
    ¡¯Too much, and I¡¯ll waste the limited energy in the Stones, so I have to take it slow and steady.¡¯
    Based on his estimation, this whole thing could take up to twelve hours.
    In essence, the whole night.
    ¡¯A small price to pay for what comes next, I suppose¡­¡¯ He sighed. ¡¯This is going to be so draining.¡¯
    And so, shutting off all distracting thoughts and simply focusing on the flow of Magia, the state of his Soul, and the growth of his Familiar, Ash stayed up all night to advance the Grade of his Familiar.
    After a total of 20 hours, 23 minutes, and 57 seconds¡­ he finally opened his eyes and leaked out misty breath.
    "Haa¡­ success! Middle Grade at last."

 Chapter 69: A Brotheréˆ¥æªš Concern

    "Did you notice?""Yeah¡­ apparently, he hasn¡¯t left his room all day. The Exchange is in just a few days¡­"
    "Is he even taking it seriously?"
    A few students had just returned from the Training Hall, returning to their Dorms for a quick shower and a lunch break when they glanced in a certain direction: the room of the Shame of the Zephyr Household.
    There was sheer silence emanating from the room, but if one moved closer and placed their ears on the door, loud snores could be perceived from within.
    Ashfelt Zephyr, the one residing in the room, was yet to come out despite it being late afternoon, and practically everyone who passed by his room knew he was sleeping. Not only was that incredibly lazy for a student to do, but with the Exchange around the corner, it was an irresponsible act for a participant.
    "If our Academy gets affected because he is slacking off, then¡ª" The student who muttered this suddenly kept quiet almost as soon as he started sharing his thoughts with his friends.
    The reason was simple.
    Seth Zephyr appeared seemingly out of nowhere and walked past the group.
    All three students bowed their heads to show their respects, but also did so to hide thor faces in shame and fear for the things they had said about a member of the Four Great Noble Households.
    If Seth wanted to be petty, he could have furthered the matter with them.
    Thankfully, he didn¡¯t.
    Instead, he walked towards the room of his twin brother, giving the three students the perfect opportunity to scurry away in relief.
    "Brother¡­ it¡¯s me, Seth."
    Seth knocked on Ash¡¯s front door, his azure eyes carrying an unknown mix of emotions.
    No response.
    Seth¡¯s presence, which often caused students to tremble in fear or awe¡ªsometimes both¡ªwas completely ignored. The boy stood in front of the door for a few seconds, both dazed and slightly embarrassed.
    However, he didn¡¯t let that stop him from knocking again while raising his voice.
    "Brother, it¡¯s me¡ª"
    "Shoo! Go away¡­" Ash¡¯s voice slurred as he spoke, almost like he was still stirring from a deep sleep and wanted to return to his land of dreams.
    Upon hearing this, Seth¡¯s eyes scrunched and he felt a pang of annoyance course through him.
    All the negative emotions that he had been holding back for so long began bubbling to the surface and with clenched fists, he raised his voice and doubled down in a far more intense manner.
    "Open the door, brother! You have humiliated yourself and our family for long enough!"
    "...."
    Ash¡¯s lack of response caused Seth to believe the boy had fallen back to sleep.
    Perhaps he was simply ignoring him.
    Either way, Ash¡¯s actions were extremely rude, especially when considering the nature of the person speaking to him.
    "You won¡¯t even dignify my presence by opening the door for me and looking me in the eye when you chase me off." Seth fumed. "You are being too much, brother, and everyone has taken note of it at this point."
    If it was only Apprentices, it would have been a different matter.
    But the Intermediate and Expert Stage students were also noticing Ashfelt¡¯s terrible attitude towards the Exchange, and even now¡­ it was obvious that some students were peeking at Seth or listening in on his conversation with his brother.
    Even so, Ash refused to behave properly¡ªin a way befitting of the Zephyr Noble Household.
    "This is very disappointing, brother."
    Seth gritted his teeth, annoyed at both his brother¡¯s refusal to see him and his silence throughout all of his rants.
    What he didn¡¯t know, however, was that it wasn¡¯t Ash¡¯s fault.
    Even if Ash wanted to see Seth, he couldn¡¯t due to the stress that had been placed on his entire body and Soul due to the Grade Advancement ritual he conducted.
    He was beyond exhausted.
    Ash could barely even move his body, not to mention stand and address Seth who stood several feet away from him. Rather than bother with it, Ash simply considered it a more prudent option to save his strength and limit even his words so he could regain his energy faster.
    However, since Seth didn¡¯t know all of this, he was upset.
    "I was glad when you returned to Alpha Class, brother. I thought you were changing for the better, and when you even applied and successfully got selected as a participant for the Exchange, I was happy that you were making improvements with your life. But¡­"
    Seth¡¯s expression was conflicted. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    He clearly didn¡¯t want to hurt his brother¡¯s feelings or sound scathing, but he saw no other option at this point.
    "... But, I can see why people call you a slacker and they suspect that you used underhanded means to pass the Re-Entrance Exams. Even making it to the selected list of participants for the Exchange is seen as luck, or you simply riding on my coattails." Seth said, clenching both of his fists.
    He didn¡¯t want to be accusatory towards his brother, but this was necessary.
    "The actual Exchange will be a lot different from everything you¡¯ve faced thus far." He began after taking a deep breath. "There will be no room for underhanded tactics or some shameless behavior that will place you on top." Stay tuned with NovelFire.C?m
    Silence.
    "It¡¯s far more brutal than you think, brother¡­ and if this is how you¡¯ll behave even days before the Exchange starts, it¡¯s best you drop out before you get hurt."
    Still silence.
    "I¡¯m saying this for your own good, brother." Seth sighed and shook his head.
    Since everything he said thus far was not dignified with any kind of response, he felt it unnecessary to say any more while standing in front of his brother¡¯s room.
    "Goodbye¡­"
    Seth left the room and jogged to the training hall, leaving the dead silent abode of the deadbeat Noble.
    ¡¯Haa¡­ this sucks.¡¯ Ash groaned internally. ¡¯But, I have to conserve my energy as much as possible so I can regain my lost strength.¡¯
    Even if it cost his barely existent relationship with his brother, so be it.

 Chapter 70: Recovery

    [A Few Hours Later¡­]"Haa¡­"
    Ash felt more strength return to his weakened body as he slowly rose from his dormant position and took a meditative pose.
    ¡¯Now that my body has recovered to an extent, all that¡¯s left is my Soul.¡¯
    Just as he had feared, 20 Spirit Stones was not enough to get his Familiar to the Medium Grade. In order to make up for this deficiency, Ash had to use some of the pure Magia in his Soul, which ended up causing a big depletion in his Soul Energy.
    ¡¯That¡¯s the main reason I was so exhausted once it was over¡­¡¯ He sighed. ¡¯And now that my body has recovered, I need to find a way to siphon energy to my Soul to replenish that core energy.¡¯
    There were, of course, two main ways to go about this.
    One was to wait for the Soul to naturally replenish its lost energy. Since Mages used the Magia in the Soul often for basic Spells, without the aid of the Familiars, it wasn¡¯t a strange thing for the energy in the Soul to reduce.
    With sufficient time and rest, the Magia within would restore itself.
    ¡¯But that will take too much time, since the energy I lost is too big. Plus, with my Familiar now being a Medium Grade, it requires a certain level of Magia quantity and quality in my Soul to maintain, which means waiting isn¡¯t an option¡­¡¯
    Even if it was an option, Ash still wouldn¡¯t opt for that.
    Why?
    Because the Exchange was in just a few days, and he couldn¡¯t afford to wait around for his Soul to replenish its energy.
    ¡¯The second main method is Spirit Stones, but I doubt I can get my hands on more anytime soon¡­¡¯ Ash sighed.
    Did this mean he was stranded? Did he regret his decision?
    The answer to both questions was NO. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡¯I haven¡¯t read about this particular method in the novel, but considering how something similar happened, and the fact that it should be possible in theory, I think I can invent a third method.¡¯
    And what was that?
    ¡¯I can transfer some of the energy in my main Soul to Ashfelt¡¯s Soul, which should balance things out considerably¡­¡¯ He smiled. ¡¯My main Soul has a lot more pure Magia, and I can also take as much time restoring it passively, so there¡¯s no problem.¡¯
    As for how he was going to achieve this transfer, it wasn¡¯t as complicated as one would expect.
    ¡¯My consciousness is linked to both Souls, which means there is a link to them. All I have to do is transfer energy from one to another¡­ though it will definitely require a lot of concentration.¡¯
    In the future, if he got a hang of it enough, he could even use it for other reasons.
    ¡¯It will especially be useful in combat, since I would be able to constantly transfer energy from one Soul to another.¡¯
    Unfortunately, he was nowhere near that level yet.
    ¡¯So, for now¡­ I¡¯ll have to exercise the utmost concentration and do this.¡¯
    Ash closed his eyes and emptied his thoughts, simply focusing on the task he had embarked on.
    Everything was pitch black, until he saw one cluster of light.
    Then two clusters of light.
    His Souls.
    One of the Clusters was evidently bigger than the other¡ªat least five times bigger¡ªand it glowed far brighter than the first Cluster. Like Neurons firing, the energies that made up the Clusters danced around and sparkled with power.
    The larger Cluster looked energetic and bright, but the smaller one had a pale glow about it, not very energetic and also warbling rather weakly.
    This showed just how weakened it was.
    ¡¯The damage is more severe than I expected.¡¯ Ash sighed. ¡¯Fortunately, there is a connection, just as I expected.¡¯
    The same way the body had nerves connecting one part to another, these two Souls had a bunch of pathways that resembled tiny pipes and strands of wires that connected the two of them. They also had a larger pipe¡ªlike the windpipe connecting the lungs¡ªleading to a place high above that Ash couldn¡¯t observe.
    It seemed like a dark place, a blot in his body that he couldn¡¯t comprehend.
    Ash was tempted to wonder about it, and perhaps investigate, but he couldn¡¯t afford to break his concentration. Rather than dwelling on what he didn¡¯t know, he focused on the task at hand and began the transfer of energy from the bigger Soul to the smaller one.
    Within the two white Clusters, there were varying colors within them, representing the Spirits that inhabited the Souls.
    One was bright green, representing the Medium Grade Wind Spirit.
    As for the other, it glowed bright golden within the larger Cluster, majestically spreading its influence within its confines.
    This was, of course, the Golden Phoenix Nyx.
    As soon as Ash began the transfer, it alerted both Familiars, and while the Wind Spirit remained submissive and silent, the Phoenix stirred and its voice entered Ash¡¯s consciousness.
    "It¡¯s been a while, Master."
    Ash sighed.
    He was really trying to concentrate, yet this Familiar was interrupting a very delicate process.
    He couldn¡¯t really blame Nyx, though.
    After all, Hosts and Familiars shared a particular bond that made them communicate constantly with each other¡ªof course, depending on the kind of contract they employed. Many Mages referred to their Familiars as their best friends and closest allies due to the nature of this relationship.
    However, for Ash, he hardly ever spoke to his Familiars.
    The former Lesser Grade Wind Spirit had very low intelligence, and it behaved more instinctively, so it wasn¡¯t really a problem for it. However, Nyx was different.
    Even though she was childish¡ªclearly revealing her relatively young age compared to much older Spirits¡ªshe was very intelligent and could hold proper conversations with him. This component of hers made her desire said conversations, which were not reciprocated by Ash, the Host.
    Normally, it wouldn¡¯t matter what Ash wanted, but since he was the Master in their relationship, Nyx had to do his bidding.
    And so, if silence was what he wanted, that was what he got.
    For this reason, Nyx never spoke to him until he wanted her to¡ªwhich was very rarely.
    ¡¯Why are you talking to me now?¡¯

 Chapter 71: The Exchange Begins

    "I thought you wanted to speak. Your consciousness woke me from a nap, so I assumed it was you trying to¡ª"¡¯That¡¯s not what is happening here¡­¡¯ Ash rolled his eyes. ¡¯What do you want?¡¯
    He didn¡¯t want to drag out the conversation for too long, but he also recognized that he had to appease Nyx at moments like this since he had used her help in the past and would definitely need more of it later.
    ¡¯A satisfied slave works harder than one with a grudge.¡¯
    "I heard that!" Nyx screamed. "Are you calling me a slave?"
    ¡¯What do you want?¡¯
    Since they were in his subconscious, even his thoughts could be heard by Nyx. As a result, there was no use hiding them from her or making excuses. Still, since she was his Familiar, there was nothing she could do about it.
    Even if he called her¡ªa Golden Phoenix¡ªa slave, she had to swallow it.
    "I was simply wondering why you haven¡¯t relied on me for some time now. I¡¯m very strong, you know? Yet you don¡¯t use the power I possess¡­ maybe it¡¯s because you¡¯re not skilled enough to wield it yet, I understand¡­"
    Ash rolled his eyes once again.
    He knew what she was trying to do, but such feeble attempts at manipulation wouldn¡¯t work on him. There was no need to prove his level of skill to his Familiar, and with his lack of any form of impatience, there was no rush in his mind.
    Once the time came, he would utilize Nyx to her fullest potential¡ªeven to the point that she could complain and beg for a break.
    ¡¯Just sit tight and pretty in my Soul for now.¡¯ He smiled for a moment. ¡¯I don¡¯t plan to use you for a very long time.¡¯
    Even though he said this, he was still passively using her. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡¯Nyx¡¯s presence alone is strengthening my Soul, improving the quality and quantity of energy within it. She is also soaking up the very potent and pure otherworldly energy within my Soul as well, which benefits her growth.¡¯
    In essence, their powers were in a codependent relationship which would benefit them in the long run. For now, however, she was useless to him.
    ¡¯So be quiet and let me finish my task.¡¯
    "O-okay¡­"
    Nyx shrunk back into his Soul and returned to her pretend nap while he finished the transfer of Magia. Just as he expected¡­ it was a success!
    ¡¯With my Soul restored, and the Lesser Grade Wind Spirit now advanced to Medium Grade, I can begin the next step.¡¯ He reasoned, ignoring Nyx in his main Soul and focusing on the smaller one.
    ¡¯Wake up, sleepyhead.¡¯
    The ¡¯sleepyhead¡¯ he was referring to was none other than his Wind Spirit Familiar.
    After the Advancement process, in contrast to how depleted Ash felt, the Spirit was brimming with a lot of energy. It was far larger than before, robust with Magia, and it glowed even brighter than ever.
    Even with that, the lazy Spirit was sleeping in the Soul.
    Of course, Ash could not allow that.
    ¡¯With Nyx being unusable for the moment, I need a Familiar that can take on the stress of what I need to achieve.¡¯
    And that Familiar was none other than the Medium Grade Wind Spirit.
    ¡¯I didn¡¯t advance you for your benefit.¡¯ Ash declared to it. ¡¯I advanced you for mine, which means you¡¯ll need to work even harder now that you have more power.¡¯
    The Medium Grade Wind Spirit nodded energetically, completely subservient to Ash¡¯s desires.
    The Wind Spirit was now a lot more intelligent in correspondence to its power, so a proper conversation was more than possible.
    ¡¯We will begin training with [Externalization], and while it¡¯s too ambitious to hope for full [Fusion] mastery anytime soon, I can try my best to achieve the former.¡¯
    There were only a few days left before the Exchange.
    Time was of the essence.
    ¡¯I must get strong enough to surprise Seth and advance in the Exchange.¡¯
    **********
    [A Few Days Later]
    The time had come.
    The Academy Exchange was officially beginning, launching it with an explosive first event in the massive arena that occupied all the spectators and participants.
    Hundreds of people, consisting mainly of alumni and certain dignitaries, were seated in the Arena Hall. Every single person seated was important to the Empire, and the front row seats had even more prestigious individuals.
    Members of the Four Great Noble Households sat at the high table, alongside the representative of the Emperor, who had the most elevated position among the most highly respected spectators in the scene.
    The Academy Exchange was an annual contest that could be said to be among the biggest¡ªand most important¡ªevents in the Empire, hence it wasn¡¯t open to general attendance. The match was going to be recorded for later viewing by the more common members of the Empire, and specifically for the other Academies whose students were participating in the Exchange.
    Since the Exchange was taking place in the Akashic Magus Academy, the other schools required recordings so that their own students and staff could witness the amazing event once they returned.
    "Welcome, all dignitaries who have traveled far and wide for this spectacular event!"
    The one who made the opening speech was none other than the Head of Student Affairs: Beatrice Lampshade.
    Ever since she took on this position, she had integrated to every facet of the students¡¯ lives, and that included the Exchange. Rather than leaving this role to someone else, she chose to act as the host herself.
    "I hope everyone is excited for the amazing display of skill and power that the students of our mighty Empire will display before you today and for the days to come."
    She continued with her speech, paying reverence to the Emperor¡¯s representative, and to the Four Great Noble Households. She addressed all the most important dignitaries, and then made a general greeting to everyone in attendance.
    Her exhilaration was contagious, and before they realized it, everyone in the audience could feel the electric atmosphere of elation that she spread.
    Then, she looked at the competing students and smiled at them.
    "Do not disappoint us."
    Every student from each Academy simply smiled and nodded at these words, determined¡ªmore than anything¡ªnot to fall short of expectations.
    After all, if the Akashic Academy won, they would continue this comfortable tradition of hosting the Exchange and retaining their position as the Number 1 Academy in the Empire.
    However, if any other Academy won¡­
    ¡¯We¡¯ll become the new top school and the Exchange will take place in our Academy instead!¡¯
    With this thought being shared by most of the students present, it was no surprise that they were willing to give it their all. Everyone had individual motivations, but they also thought of the benefit their victories would bring upon their respective Academies.
    And everything began at this moment.
    "We will begin with a little exhibition: a mock battle between two of our Alumni¡­ just to show you all why our Akashic Magus Academy has remained the top school in the Empire for decades, and what to expect from your future as Mages."
    This announcement silenced the thoughts of all the hungry wolves and vultures, and two young adults¡ªa man and a woman¡ªclimbed the stage.
    "Enjoy."

 Chapter 72: Preliminary Round

    "Whoa!""Did you see that? It¡¯s amazing!"
    "I didn¡¯t know that was even possible with Spirit Arts¡­"
    The voices amidst the crowd served as a reflection of the intense battle that was occurring on stage between the two Alumni. Their attack patterns were incomparable to that of students, revealing the true nature of fully-fledged Mages.
    Not only would this ignite the flames within the hearts of all participants, it would also improve the prestige of the Akashic Magus Academy in the eyes of sponsors or high dignitaries who would most likely send their children to their Academy based on the impressive sight they witnessed.
    In essence, the Magus Academy was advertising itself, and it was working.
    The danger of this exhibition was that it would raise such a high bar for the audience, and once it was time for the students to fight, their battles would look boring in comparison. However, the benefits of this short presentation far outweighed its disadvantages.
    "That is all from our two Mages here¡­ and I hope you enjoyed the show."
    Once the match ended, a thunderous round of applause burst out from the audience. Grown men and women could not help but acknowledge the skill and sheer power that were displayed before them. The students¡ªespecially those belonging to the Akashic Magus Academy¡ªwere particularly energetic as well.
    This fight had just shown them what to look forward to in the years to come.
    "Now that you¡¯ve all had the appetizer, it¡¯s time to kickstart today¡¯s main event." Beatrice Lampshade smiled at the endeared audience.
    A lot of them were shifting impatiently in their seats at this moment, hungry for more.
    How could she disappoint?
    "Today kickstarts the Exchange, and we will begin with the Preliminary Round of the Apprentice Stage students." Her voice echoed in the room. "All Apprentice Stage students, please come to the stage."
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    Instantly, the concerned participants rose from their designated seats and walked to the massive stage before them. Many had serious and determined expressions, but there were a few with rather peculiar faces.
    Kellion, for one, displayed sheer anger as he glared at a particular student in the crowd. Fey, one of the twins of the Orion Sage Academy, kept up the emotionless mask that was her face.
    Quite a few Nirvana Gate Academy students had pompous faces as well.
    In the end, it was a mix of varying energies and expressions as all forty Apprentice Stage students gathered on the stage.
    "The rules are simple." Beatrice began as she faced the students. "This Preliminary Round will take the form of a battle royale, and the last 16 people on the stage will qualify for the Main Tournament that will be held two days from now."
    In essence, 24 students¡ªover half of the people standing on stage¡ªwould be booted before the real deal began.
    It was a brutal method for thinning the herd, but no one was surprised.
    ¡¯The first three days of the Academy Exchange are like this¡­ just Prelims after Prelims.¡¯ Ash thought to himself as he glanced around him. ¡¯Tomorrow will be for the Intermediate Stage, and the day after that will be for the Expert Stage.¡¯
    The rest of the day involved a lot of advertisements from the Akashic Magus Academy, including a tour for all the important guests, as well as several variety shows that served to entertain those who attended.
    ¡¯It isn¡¯t until the fourth day that the Main Tournament begins in full throttle.¡¯
    However, that didn¡¯t mean any of the students could slack off during Preliminary rounds either.
    ¡¯Only 16 of us will pass, and since it¡¯s a battle royale¡­ things will get really messy.¡¯ He sighed, his wandering eyes finding their way to Seth, who just happened to be looking at him at that exact moment.
    Once they locked eyes, Seth quickly looked away.
    He had a complicated expression on his face, one that Ash quickly deciphered with a single glance.
    ¡¯Seth probably feels guilty for saying all those mean things to his twin brother, Ashfelt, but at the same time he still wants him to quit.¡¯ A smirk played on his face. ¡¯I wonder what expression he¡¯ll have after this round.¡¯
    Ash¡¯s smirk quickly vanished as his eyes met someone else.
    ¡¯Kellion¡­¡¯ He noticed the burning gaze that the Asura Spirit Academy student gave him.
    It wasn¡¯t good.
    ¡¯He¡¯s definitely going to make me his prime target as his form of revenge.¡¯
    A sigh escaped his lips.
    This was why he didn¡¯t want his identity to be revealed.
    ¡¯Seth can handle this kind of pressure, but that¡¯s too much to ask of me.¡¯ He quickly took his eyes off Kellion and observed the rest of the contestants.
    If he wanted to win, he somehow had to outlast 24 people; all without revealing the most important cards in his sleeve. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡¯And I have to do all of this while dealing with Kellion¡¯s wrath.¡¯
    It was a chore.
    ¡¯Normally, I¡¯d rely on Seth to help me mitigate the level of danger I¡¯ll be facing, but he practically wants me out of the Exchange as quickly as possible, so I most likely won¡¯t be getting any help from him.¡¯
    Ash was on his own, and he had to accept that.
    ¡¯Plus, what¡¯s he doing here?¡¯ A big sigh escaped his lips as he noticed a man in a pitch black coat take his seat in a rather inconspicuous corner.
    It was Raven Nightshade.
    ¡¯He¡¯s watching me keenly¡­ I wonder how much he knows now.¡¯
    There was a lot of pressure mounted on him from all directions, but all Ash could do was inhale deeply and march forward regardless of the several challenges that came his way.
    "Okay, students¡­ the battle royale begins in 10 seconds."
    And so, the countdown began.
    "Ten¡­"
    Beatrice exited the stage, leaving the forty students making battle stances as they opted to create distance between themselves and their competitors.
    "... Five¡­"
    Everybody¡¯s eyes glowed a certain color and the air crackled with climbing energy waiting to be unleashed.
    "... Three¡­"
    Ash found a perfect spot for him to stay, finally removing both hands from his pockets as he slightly crouched and revealed a confident grin.
    It was time for his public debut.
    "... One!"

 Chapter 73: The Way To Win

    BOOOOOM!!!As expected, the stage trembled due to the clash of powers.
    Spells of all kinds were cast, with attacks getting hurled at adversaries and several glows of fortitude glimmering all over the battlefield. Amidst all of this madness, a certain blur zoomed past a lot of the students engaged in serious combat as it zigzagged through the battlefield with immense speed and precision.
    This blur was none other than Ashfelt Zephyr.
    With his Enhancement Spell active, and his Familiar¡¯s energy circling around him, he was much faster than normal, and since he had a very high cognitive process and had taken his time to study the full layout of the stage and the students on it, he was able to easily navigate through the chaotic battlefield.
    The reason he opted to be mobile like this, rather than creating a firm foundation for battle, was not simply because he was trying to outlast the other students by simply running around.
    No, it was simply a much different strategy that could best guarantee his victory.
    ¡¯Just as I expected, most students opt for large attacks, but the key is using small and swift attacks that help in evasion and small offensive maneuvers.¡¯
    In essence¡ª
    WHUUM!
    Ash was able to hit someone in the jaw, while using his legs to knock him off balance and his second fist to punch him away from the stage; all of this while being aided by the immense velocity that he had accumulated.
    That was his first opponent down, but he didn¡¯t stay stagnant for too long.
    He was mobile a few breaths after.
    Compared to him, most people would rather use explosive and flashy moves to get rid of as many competitors as possible, or try to outlast everyone by creating a fortified defense.
    Both of these plans were too inefficient for Ash.
    ¡¯Too much emphasis on defense will cause a lot of attention to be drawn on you, which means a lot more people will target you. Plus, it takes too much time to create incredible defense. In the same vein, too much emphasis on the offensive eats up one¡¯s focus and creates too many blind sides that any random adversary can exploit.¡¯
    In essence, one¡¯s defense was bound to be lacking.
    ¡¯My method of evasion and small offensive moves is the most efficient¡­ though it is exhausting in its own way.¡¯
    Constant movement ate at stamina and drained physical energy, so it was easier to employ the basic tactics that the students around him were utilizing. Most people wouldn¡¯t even be able to use his method.
    However, as someone who constantly trained his body, Ash had no issues.
    "I¡¯m sure I can keep this up until all 24 students are eliminated¡­"
    "Out of my way!" A certain roar echoed in the battlefield as several students were sent flying, revealing the enraged expression of one red-haired student.
    It was Kellion, his entire body covered in ripples of crimson energy.
    His muscular skin seemed to gleam like metal, and veins appeared all over his face as his red hair floated and he kept his enraged gaze focused on only one person.
    ¡¯Looks like I spoke too soon.¡¯ Ash sighed. ¡¯He found me rather quickly.¡¯
    Apart from the central benefits attached to his present tactic, there was another reason why he chose to employ it rather than resorting to an easier measure.
    ¡¯Kellion¡­ he¡¯s targeting me.¡¯
    He had to remain mobile in order to lose the boy. If he used the other students as his shield, he could use Kellion to eliminate more students while also avoiding a direct confrontation with him for the entirety of the Preliminary Round.
    However, it seemed Kellion took note of this plan and did not cause any of the students in his way to get thrown off the stage. Even the ones who were flung out of the way only landed a couple meters from their previous positions, so they were still on the stage.
    "You¡¯re not running from me, Ashfelt!" Kellion roared. "You better not throw yourself off the stage until I get you!"
    ¡¯Why would I do that?¡¯ Ash reasoned amusedly.
    Kellion was indeed a threat in the Preliminary Round, but it wasn¡¯t like Ash was scared of him¡ªat least, he wasn¡¯t to the point that he would intentionally lose.
    Instead, he simply found him to be a nuisance.
    ¡¯Since he isn¡¯t helping in thinning the herd, I might as well take things into my own hands¡­¡¯
    Ash increased his pace, rushing to even more students while setting basic traps in order to set them up for failure. For example, he cast [Flash] on one particular student who was trying to send a fiery Spell to his target, which temporarily blinded the boy and made him lose concentration on the Spell.
    Ultimately, the Spell exploded prematurely, and the blast sent the caster off the stage.
    Then, there was his use of [Grease] to cause his opponents to lose their defensive footing, allowing them to break concentration and leave them vulnerable to external attacks.
    Once in a while, Ash would directly eliminate an opponent¡ªespecially if they were close to the stage¡¯s edge¡ªbut he often laid the groundwork and let others finish the job. He did all of this while being pursued by Kellion.
    ¡¯So far, so goo¡ª!¡¯
    BAM!
    Kellion suddenly landed right in front of Ash, causing the ground beneath the both of them to tremble.
    ¡¯Oh shit!¡¯ The latter¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡¯He caught up already¡­¡¯
    Ash looked around to see if he could find a leeway to escape, or a fellow student to act as his shield, but no one was closeby. This was a problem Ash had foreseen, but he never expected it to be so frustrating.
    ¡¯The longer the Battle Royale, the less the participants that will be on the stage.¡¯
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    ¡¯It means there will be less meat shields and distractions that I can utilize to my advantage.¡¯ Ash wanted to look around and count how many students were left so he could have a good idea of how long he would need to last against Kellion.
    Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the crimson barbarian before him.
    ¡¯One mistake and I¡¯m out.¡¯
    "You think you can get away with fooling me?!" Kellion yelled, hurtling a powerful fist at Ash.
    FWUSH!
    Ash mitigated the strike by creating a push of wind in the opposite direction of Kellion¡¯s fist, using the momentum to send himself back as well, perfectly evading the attack and getting rid of any persistent shockwaves.
    ¡¯Close one!¡¯ He sighed in relief. ¡¯But here comes another one.¡¯
    Ash carefully analyzed Kellion¡¯s movements, and despite the tough spot he was in, he couldn¡¯t help but break into a smile.
    ¡¯He¡¯s just like the novel describes, thank goodness¡­¡¯
    "You¡¯re laughing at me?!" Kellion¡¯s rage intensified. "How dare you?!"
    BOOOM!
    More energy rose from his body, causing even Ash to shudder as he felt the boy¡¯s speed increase as he charged in one straight motion.
    ¡¯Shit!¡¯ Ash¡¯s eyes displayed panic. ¡¯Looks like I pissed him off too much.¡¯
    The hair on his skin stood on all ends, and he quickly understood that he couldn¡¯t completely evade this strike or completely defend against it¡ªnot without revealing a hidden card that he was saving for later. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡¯Will I have to¡­?!¡¯
    Thankfully, Ash didn¡¯t have to consider for very long, as a blaring sound echoed throughout the hall, which was promptly followed by Beatrice¡¯s voice.
    "24 Students have been eliminated. The Apprentice Stage Preliminary Round is over!"
    "Tch¡­" Kellion stopped his fist mere inches from Ash¡¯s face, his eyes burning with intense anger as he gritted his teeth in frustration.
    Even someone as unruly as Kellion knew to control himself in this situation.
    If he dared to attack Ash even after the Preliminary Round was over, he would be disqualified and bring shame to his Academy. There was no way someone like Kellion would do something that led to that.
    "This isn¡¯t over, snake¡­" He growled. "If we are ever placed in the same stage in the main tournament, I¡¯ll crush you so much that you¡¯d wish you lost here."
    After saying this, he walked away from Ash and went to the center of the stage with the rest of the students.
    "The qualified Apprentice Students should get off the stage now and leave for the Registration Room where you¡¯ll also be offered refreshments and also be briefed about the Main Tournament."
    Beatrice Lampshade¡¯s words echoed in the background.
    ¡¯Whew¡­¡¯ Ash smiled in relief, stopping his trembling hand. ¡¯Looks like this body instinctively knows the meaning of danger.¡¯
    Even though his mind was calm, his body displayed fear.
    After a few seconds of catching his breath and subtly glancing in the direction that Raven Nightshade previously sat, he made his way to the center of the stage as well.
    ¡¯I wonder when he left¡­¡¯ His fleeting thoughts echoed in his mind as a small smile tugged at his lips.
    Despite the intensity of the situation, he was still glad,
    After all, he won.

 Chapter 74: Before The Main Tournament

    The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the academy grounds in hues of orange and purple as the first day of the Exchange finally concluded.The air buzzed with the residual energy of countless spells and the collective tension of the participants. Students filtered back to their respective dorms, some chatting excitedly about the battles and strategies, others walking silently, lost in thought.
    Ashfelt Zephyr lingered behind, taking a slow walk through the quieter paths of the academy grounds. The cool evening breeze brushed against his skin, and the solitude gave him the clarity he sought.
    His mind replayed the events of the day¡ªthe chaotic melee of the prelims, Kellion¡¯s rage-fueled pursuit, and his own narrow escape from elimination.
    "What a day," he muttered, his breath visible in the cooling air. "Still, I¡¯ll need to be even sharper for the main tournament."
    The path ahead was dimly lit, the lampposts casting elongated shadows on the cobblestones. As Ash turned a corner toward the dormitory, he froze mid-step.
    A figure stood a few feet away, illuminated by a faint, eerie green glow.
    The presence was unmistakable.
    Arius Inkwell.
    Ash immediately felt a shift in the atmosphere. The air seemed heavier, and Arius¡¯s form exuded an unsettling aura. His usual scowl was replaced with an unsettling grin, his eyes gleaming with a manic intensity that hadn¡¯t been there before.
    There was something off about him, something¡­ wrong.
    "Arius?" Ash called out cautiously, his body instinctively shifting into a defensive stance. "What are you doing here? You¡¯re not even supposed to be in the Expert Wing."
    Arius didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, he took a slow step forward, the green glow pulsing faintly around him like a heartbeat.
    When he spoke, his voice was low, dripping with malice.
    "Ashfelt Zephyr," he drawled, his tone both mocking and ominous. "You and Seth¡­ you¡¯ll be the last."
    Ash frowned, the cryptic words setting his nerves on edge. "What are you talking about? What¡¯s going on with you?"
    "Revenge," Arius whispered, his grin widening. "Oh, I¡¯ll savor it. The others will fall first, but you and Seth¡­ you two will be my masterpiece."
    Ash¡¯s mind raced.
    Arius¡¯s behavior was alarming, but what stood out even more was his presence in the Expert Wing. He wasn¡¯t a participant in the Exchange. So how was he here? And why did he radiate such an unnatural aura?
    "Arius, you¡¯re not making sense," Ash said, his voice firm but measured. "You need to calm down and explain what¡¯s happening."
    Arius laughed, the sound hollow and chilling.
    "Explain? There¡¯s nothing to explain. You wouldn¡¯t understand, anyway. But don¡¯t worry, Ash. When the time comes, you¡¯ll know. You¡¯ll understand everything. And you¡¯ll regret ever crossing me."
    Ash¡¯s eyes narrowed as he observed Arius¡¯s stance, his expression, and the faint glow surrounding him.
    It clicked.
    ¡¯The gem,¡¯ Ash realized. His mind flashed back to the original storyline, the dark path Arius had taken after his fall from grace.
    ¡¯He originally went down this route after losing embarrassingly to Seth in the Prelims after targeting him for his petty vendetta, which meant he wouldn¡¯t participate in the main Tournament.¡¯
    Ash had tried to prevent this from happening by ensuring Arius didn¡¯t even participate in the Exchange at all, but it seemed fate had a way of self-correcting.
    "Arius," Ash said evenly, masking his unease. "Whatever you¡¯ve gotten yourself into, it¡¯s not going to end well. You still have a choice."
    "Choice?" Arius tilted his head, his grin faltering for a moment.
    Then, his expression darkened, and he stepped back into the shadows.
    "No, Ash. The choices have already been made. And soon, you¡¯ll see the results."
    VWUSH!
    Before Ash could respond, Arius vanished.
    The green glow faded, and the oppressive aura lifted, leaving Ash standing alone on the path. He scanned the area, his senses heightened, but there was no trace of Arius.
    Ash let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair.
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    "Damn it," he muttered. "I tried to stop him, but it seems some things are just meant to be."
    The encounter left him unsettled, but there was little he could do at the moment.
    Pushing the thoughts of Arius to the back of his mind, Ash continued his walk back to his dorm.
    When he finally arrived, he flopped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling as the events of the day swirled in his head.
    "Focus," he told himself. "Arius is a problem, but I can¡¯t take on everything at once. The Exchange comes first."
    The opening ceremony and the Apprentice Stage preliminaries were mandatory, but the following days would give him some breathing room. He had until Day 4 to prepare for his next fight, and he intended to make the most of it.
    "Time to push myself even harder," Ash whispered, determination flickering in his eyes. He would train relentlessly, improve his Magia Pool, and refine his techniques. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he would be ready.
    But as he closed his eyes, the image of Arius¡¯s unsettling grin lingered in his mind, a grim reminder that the darkness he had tried to avoid was still closing in.
    ***********
    [Day 3 Of The Exchange]
    Nightfall draped the academy in a blanket of stars, and the Training Hall was cloaked in a heavy silence.
    The echoes of Ash¡¯s steps reverberated softly in the corridor as he approached his dorm, his body drenched in sweat, and exhaustion weighing down his every movement. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand, his mind swirling with calculations and plans for the days ahead.
    ¡¯Just a little more training, and I¡¯ll be ready,¡¯ he thought.
    But as he neared his room, the faint glow of a light from within gave him pause. Pushing the door open, he was greeted by the sight of his twin brother, Seth, leaning casually against the window frame.
    Seth¡¯s posture was relaxed, but the intensity in his blue eyes was anything but.
    "Finally," Seth said, his voice cutting through the quiet. "I thought you¡¯d collapsed somewhere in that Training Hall, brother."
    Ash chuckled lightly, shutting the door behind him. "Close. But not quite. What¡¯s so urgent that you¡¯re waiting here at this hour?"
    Seth¡¯s lips curved into a wry smile as he held up a small slip of parchment.
    "The roster for the Main Tournament is out."
    Ash felt his heart skip a beat.
    He dropped his training bag onto the floor and walked over, snatching the parchment from Seth¡¯s hand. His eyes scanned the names listed, and then they stopped¡ªhis own name paired with Kellion¡¯s.
    "Well," Ash said after a moment, forcing a grin. "I guess I just have bad luck."
    "Luck?" Seth scoffed. "Kellion¡¯s been gunning for you since the preliminaries. This isn¡¯t luck; this is karma for whatever ridiculous plans you¡¯ve been cooking up."
    Ash folded the parchment and slid it onto the table, masking his unease.
    "I¡¯ve faced worse. Besides, it¡¯s not like you have it easy. You¡¯re up against one of the Genius Twins from Orion Sage Academy in the first round."
    Seth crossed his arms, his tone steady but pointed. "I¡¯ve heard they¡¯re strong. But I¡¯m not the one who¡¯s been dodging death glares for days."
    Ash ignored the jab, leaning back against his chair with a casual shrug.
    "Look on the bright side, Seth. We¡¯re at opposite ends of the roster. If we both win our matches, we¡¯ll get to face each other in the finals."
    Seth rolled his eyes. "You¡¯re delusional, brother. With your current abilities, there¡¯s no way you¡¯ll make it past Kellion."
    Ash smirked, leaning forward with an idea already forming in his mind.
    "Let¡¯s make a wager, then."
    Seth arched a brow. "A wager?"
    "If I make it to the finals and beat you, you¡¯ll have to listen to me as an underling during the Succession Wars."
    Seth¡¯s expression darkened at the mention of the wars¡ªan unspoken reminder of their father¡¯s eventual passing.
    His jaw tightened, but he said nothing, allowing Ash to continue.
    "And if I lose at any point in the tournament," Ash added, his tone turning serious, "I¡¯ll step away from the Succession Wars entirely. I¡¯ll endorse you as the heir of the Zephyr Household."
    Silence settled between them, broken only by the faint sounds of the night outside.
    Seth¡¯s gaze bore into Ash, searching for the reasoning behind his bold wager. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his jet black hair.
    "You¡¯re infuriating, you know that?" Seth muttered. "Fine. I¡¯ll accept your stupid bet. But only because I¡¯m tired of your reckless schemes."
    Ash grinned, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
    "Glad to hear it."
    Seth stepped closer, his expression softening slightly. "Just¡­ be careful, Ash. It¡¯s not too late to back down."
    Ash shook his head, his resolve unwavering. "I won¡¯t back down, Seth. Not now. Not ever."
    Seth exhaled sharply, his frustration evident, but he didn¡¯t press further. "Suit yourself. Don¡¯t come crying to me when Kellion crushes you."
    With that, the two brothers parted ways, each retreating to their rooms.
    As Ash lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, the weight of the wager and the looming battle settled over him like a heavy fog.
    He knew the risks, the stakes, and the odds stacked against him. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    But, retreat had never been an option.
    ¡¯Tomorrow, the Main Tournament will begin, and I suppose I¡¯ll have to surprise everyone in it.¡¯

 Chapter 75: Main Tournament Begins

    The grand hall of the Akashic Academy was alive with energy, more vibrant and bustling than it had been even during the opening ceremony.Rows upon rows of elevated seating brimmed with dignitaries, scholars, and alumni from the most prestigious regions across the Empire. Nobles in lavish attire mingled with battle-hardened Mages, and the air buzzed with a mixture of hushed anticipation and loud, excited chatter.
    Brilliant banners bearing the crests of competing academies hung from the vaulted ceiling, their silken fabrics shimmering in the glow of enchanted chandeliers. Magical projections floated in the air, displaying rosters, highlights from previous matches, and glowing brackets of the tournament progression.
    At the center of it all was the grand stage¡ªa colossal, circular arena of polished stone and intricate carvings, surrounded by shimmering wards to protect the audience from stray Spells.
    The protective dome occasionally flickered, reminding everyone of the intensity that battles of this caliber promised.
    The crowd roared in excitement as Head of Student Affairs, Beatrice Lampshade, took her place at the podium.
    Her elegant figure commanded respect, draped in ceremonial robes embroidered with gold and silver. Her voice, amplified by a touch of a Spell, silenced the noise like a tide receding.
    "Welcome, one and all, to the Main Tournament of the Celestine Academy Exchange!"
    Beatrice began, her voice ringing out like a clear bell.
    "Today, we witness the finest students from across the Empire as they showcase their strength, skill, and determination. Let the matches ignite not only the arena but the flames of inspiration in us all!"
    The crowd erupted into applause, and Beatrice allowed a moment for the excitement to swell before continuing.
    "As is tradition, the first rounds will feature the Apprentice Stage competitors," she announced.
    "And to begin this monumental event, we present a match destined to set the stage for an unforgettable tournament. On one side, we have Ashfelt Zephyr of the Akashic Magus Academy. And on the other, Kellion, a force from Asura Spirit Academy!"
    The hall erupted once more, cheers and murmurs rippling through the audience.
    Some chanted Kellion¡¯s name, but none rooted for Ash.
    All eyes watched the students closely, eager to see if the underdog could pull off a miracle or if the assumed victor would win.
    In the arena, Ash and Kellion stood face-to-face.
    Kellion¡¯s lips curled into a confident smirk as he tightened the straps of his combat gauntlets.
    "This is going to be over before you know it, Ashfelt," he taunted. "I hope you at least brought some decent tricks, so it¡¯s not too boring."
    Ash returned the smirk, though his expression was calmer, almost detached. He stepped a little closer, lowering his voice so only Kellion could hear.
    "How about we make things a bit more¡­ interesting?" Ash said, his tone smooth but deliberate.
    Kellion raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What¡¯s the catch?"
    "If I win," Ash began, "you¡¯ll hand over another bag of Spirit Stones. A generous wager for the excitement, don¡¯t you think?"
    "And if¡ªno, when¡ªyou lose?" Kellion retorted, his smirk widening.
    Ash¡¯s tone turned solemn, though his confidence didn¡¯t waver.
    "If I lose, I¡¯ll not only return the Spirit Stones I took but also confess to everyone here that I¡¯m a lying thief. And," he added with a sly grin, "I¡¯ll become your subordinate for the rest of the Exchange."
    The offer hung in the air, and Kellion¡¯s eyes lit up with satisfaction.
    "You really are desperate, aren¡¯t you? Fine. Let¡¯s do this." He extended a hand, which Ash shook firmly, sealing the wager.
    As they stepped back to their respective corners of the arena, the crowd¡¯s cheers swelled again, unaware of the private deal struck between the two combatants.
    Ash¡¯s face betrayed no sign of worry; instead, his golden eyes gleamed with quiet resolve. Kellion, on the other hand, radiated unshakable confidence, cracking his knuckles as he readied himself to fight.
    Beatrice¡¯s voice rang out once more. "Competitors, take your positions!"
    The two fighters bowed slightly to each other¡ªa formality neither truly cared for¡ªbefore assuming their stances.
    "Let the match begin!" Beatrice declared, her hand slicing through the air.
    The crowd fell silent in an instant, their anticipation so thick it could be felt. The two figures on the arena floor locked eyes, the tension between them building like an approaching storm.
    And then, the first move was made.
    VWUUUSH!
    The arena was a maelstrom of energy and anticipation as the battle began.
    Kellion unleashed his Spirit Art, enveloping his body in a blazing crimson aura that shimmered like molten fire. His Greater Grade Spirit, the Crimson Tiger, materialized beside him¡ªa majestic and fearsome creature, its fiery stripes glowing like molten lava.
    The audience gasped in awe at the raw power emanating from Kellion as his physical abilities skyrocketed.
    Ash, however, remained calm.
    The wind around him swirled lightly, a stark contrast to Kellion¡¯s roaring flames. His Medium Grade Familiar, a Wind Spirit, hovered by his side, its ethereal form undulating like a gentle breeze.
    Despite the apparent disparity in their Familiars¡¯ grades, Ash¡¯s bright green eyes were sharp and calculating.
    He wasn¡¯t relying solely on strength; he had a plan.
    Kellion charged first, his enhanced speed blurring his form as he closed the distance in an instant. His claws, cloaked in crimson energy, slashed through the air with a ferocity that sent shockwaves rippling across the arena.
    Ash narrowly dodged, his movements fluid and deliberate, letting the wind guide him.
    "You can¡¯t dodge forever!" Kellion growled, launching a flurry of crimson energy blasts.
    BOOOM!
    BOOOOOMMM!!
    BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM!!!
    The explosions lit up the arena, and the crowd cheered wildly, convinced that Ash was on the back foot.
    But Ash wasn¡¯t retreating aimlessly.
    He was observing.
    Calculating.
    "You¡¯re too predictable," Ash muttered under his breath.
    As Kellion lunged again, Ash sidestepped at the last possible moment, creating a gust of wind that threw off Kellion¡¯s balance.
    Using the opening, Ash countered with a swift spell¡ªa Wind Cutter¡ªthat sliced through the air and struck Kellion¡¯s shoulder. Continue your adventure with NovelFire.C?m
    The crimson aura absorbed some of the damage, but Kellion stumbled, his confidence faltering.
    Ash smirked. "All that power, and yet you can¡¯t land a clean hit? This is going to be easier than I thought."
    Kellion roared in frustration, his aura flaring brighter.
    He summoned an apparition of the Crimson Tiger, which leaped at Ash with its claws extended.
    Apparitions weren¡¯t the same as [Externalization].
    [Externalization] involved manifesting one¡¯s Familiar to reality, but summoning an Apparition was simply mimicking the nature and form of a Familiar in order to create an illusion of externalization and launch a devastating attack.
    "Hehe¡­ as expected."
    Ash smiled and countered by summoning an Apparition of his Wind Spirit, creating a vortex that deflected the attack.
    The two Familiars clashed, their energies colliding in bursts of crimson and silver-green light.
    Despite the Crimson Tiger¡¯s overwhelming power, Ash¡¯s tactical use of his Wind Spirit allowed him to stay one step ahead. He used his Familiar not for brute force but to augment his mobility and create openings.
    FWUUUUSH!
    The wind around him became sharper and more focused, slicing through Kellion¡¯s defenses like a scalpel.
    As the fight wore on, Kellion¡¯s movements became more erratic, his frustration mounting.
    Ash, meanwhile, remained composed.
    He used simple but effective tricks¡ªfeints, misdirection, and well-timed counterattacks¡ªto keep Kellion off-balance.
    In the final moments of the battle, Kellion charged at Ash with everything he had, his body engulfed in a massive crimson aura.
    "I¡¯ll end this now!" he bellowed, launching a devastating claw attack infused with all his remaining energy.
    Ash didn¡¯t flinch.
    Instead, he channeled all his power into a single spell. The wind around him surged violently, forming a spinning cyclone. With precise timing, Ash unleashed the Tempest Strike, a devastating gust that not only deflected Kellion¡¯s attack but also sent him hurtling backward, his aura shattered. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Kellion crashed into the arena floor, the crimson energy dissipating from his body.
    His Familiar vanished, defeated. The crowd erupted in a mix of shock and awe as the dust settled, revealing Ash standing tall, his Wind Spirit swirling triumphantly around him.
    Ash approached Kellion, who struggled to rise, his face a mixture of humiliation and disbelief.
    "You relied too much on your raw power," Ash said, his voice calm but firm. "You¡¯re unskilled and reckless. That¡¯s why you couldn¡¯t beat me. And that¡¯s why you¡¯ll never stand a chance against Seth."
    Kellion glared at Ash but had no retort. He knew Ash was right.
    "And don¡¯t forget," Ash added, a faint smirk on his lips. "I¡¯ll be expecting those Spirit Stones."
    The crowd roared as Beatrice Lampshade announced the victor. "The winner of this match¡ªAshfelt Zephyr!"
    Ash raised his hand in acknowledgment, but his expression remained humble.
    For him, this was just the first step.
    As he walked away, leaving a defeated Kellion to nurse his bruised pride, Ash¡¯s thoughts turned to his next opponent.
    ¡¯I¡¯m sure I surprised everyone with this, but they haven¡¯t seen anything yet.¡¯
    This was only the beginning.

 Chapter 76: Undefeated Genius

    "For the next match, we have Fey from the Orion Sage Academy versus Dexter Morgause from the Akashic Magus Academy."Beatrice¡¯s voice rippled through the air as the audience displayed both excitement and worry.
    They had heard the rumors surrounding the two students¡ªparticularly the recent controversy regarding Dexter and how he brutalized a Beta Class student to the point where the boy had to be hospitalized.
    In fact, there were variants of the rumors that involved Dexter being the eventual killer of the Beta Student whose name many didn¡¯t even know.
    "He¡¯s brutal¡­ and he¡¯s from the Morgause Household, known for their cruelty."
    "I heard that Fey is one of the geniuses of the Orion Sage Academy, but will she really be able to fare well against someone like that?"
    "I think it¡¯s best if she forfeits¡­ for her safety."
    There were many thoughts from the audience as both students climbed the stage and faced each other, but what appeared to be the general consensus was that Dexter Morgause was a far more skilled and brutal fighter, which meant he was more likely to win.
    In contrast to the wide grin and confident demeanor that Dexter personified, Fey seemed feeble and weak. She moved with grace, and her emotionless face made her appear calm, but many considered this a mere front.
    In battle, it wasn¡¯t composure that won the day.
    It was brutality.
    And so, despite their worry for her, the audience wanted to feast their eyes on the brutality that would be displayed by the supposed winner.
    However, amidst those who watched, there was a particular student who smirked and shook his head while listening to the words being spewed by the ignorant audience. He sat comfortably with his arms crossed and his gaze fixed on the girl on stage.
    A broad smile was on his face.
    "My sister is far stronger than whoever that Dexter guy is¡­ they¡¯ll see." Finn, her twin brother, muttered.
    "Just watch and feast your eyes on her power!"
    ********
    [Moments Later]
    "The winner of this match is Fey!"
    The crowd was dead silent as they witnessed the most shocking event since the Academy Exchange began. Their minds were still reeling from the shock that they forgot to cheer and applaud until moments later when Finn jumped to his feet and started clapping.
    This applause was followed by a round by all the Orion Sage students, which finally broke the rest of the audience from their state of surprise, causing them to clap and cheer for her with hesitant voices and trembling hands.
    Who could blame them, though?
    The sight they witnessed wasn¡¯t one that could be easily put into words.
    "O-one move¡­ she beat him in one move."
    "She¡¯s crazy strong!"
    "The rumors don¡¯t do her justice at all!"
    Everyone who wasn¡¯t an Orion Sage Academy student was still recovering from the very brief battle, but there was another student who¡ªdespite displaying surprise like everyone¡ªwas not the least bit shocked by the development.
    It was Ashfelt.
    ¡¯As expected, she¡¯s still a monster in this storyline¡­¡¯ A wry smile formed on her face.
    Normally, he¡¯d be happy that some parts of the timeline remained intact, especially since that meant he could predict the future. However, this time, his feelings on the matter were quite complicated.
    And it was for one single reason.
    ¡¯I¡¯ll be facing her in the next round¡­ how scary.¡¯
    The match with Kellion dragged on for quite a while, which was why he was able to utilize some advantages that he had, ultimately leading up to his victory. However, Fey¡¯s match would be completely different.
    ¡¯She¡¯s too powerful, and she ends her matches very quickly¡­ leaving no room for counters.¡¯
    Ash could still see the icy petals that littered the stage and the shards that surrounded the area of impact. It was sturdy enough to resist his most powerful Spell, making his victory appear to be nothing more than a distant dream. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡¯What a pain¡­¡¯
    ************ Experience more on NovelFire.C?m
    [Moments Later]
    The Main Tournament continued for even more rounds, eliciting various kinds of reactions and emotions in the audience.
    16 Apprentice students winning the Prelims meant there would be a total of 8 matches.
    Ash won the first round.
    Fey won the second.
    Afterward, the third to seventh rounds featured a lot of intense battles. The main standouts in these fights was¡ªmuch to everyone¡¯s surprise¡ªthe Nirvana Gate Academy.
    The students of the Nirvana Gate Academy won their matches flawlessly, easily dominating the numbers of winners in the Tournament.
    By the end of the seventh round, the Akashic Magus Academy only had one student¡ªAshfelt Zephyr¡ªqualified for the next stage. The Asura Gate Academy had two, while the Orion Sage just had one. As for the Nirvana Gate Academy, they had a total of three passing students.
    They were leading in the number of qualified students, shocking everyone in the hall.
    "It¡¯s time for the final round of the day for the Apprentice Stage students!" Beatrice said, still full of energy, despite the worry that squirmed within her heart.
    Students were the future, especially those in the Apprentice Stage.
    If the Akashic Magus Academy¡ªthe host of the Academy Exchange¡ªwas falling behind when it came to the quality of their wards, then the potential investors that they had managed to obtain could pull out at the last minute.
    All of a sudden, it seemed like the Nirvana Gate Academy was becoming more appealing.
    They had three flawless victories!
    All the Akashic Magus Academy had was Ashfelt Zephyr winning the first round, an outcome that was not expected.
    ¡¯If we do not win this round, then it will severely affect their perception of our school.¡¯
    And for that very reason, she stole a look at the one who would be representing the Academy in the final fight¡ªthe boy whom the hopes of the school was resting on.
    An undefeated genius in every sense of the word.
    ¡¯Seth Zephyr¡­ we are counting on you!¡¯ She thought to herself with clenched fists.
    ¡¯Don¡¯t let us down!¡¯

 Chapter 77: Seth Vs Finn

    "WOOOHOOOO!!!"The crowd¡¯s energy was at its peak as the final match of the day was announced.
    The arena buzzed with excitement, the air practically crackling with anticipation. Beatrice Lampshade¡¯s voice amplified across the hall.
    "The final match is between Seth Zephyr of the Akashic Magus Academy versus Finn of the Orion Sage Academy!"
    A wave of cheers erupted, with students and dignitaries alike eager to witness the clash between two prodigies.
    Finn strode confidently into the arena, his twin sister watching from the participant section with a calm but expectant gaze.
    Finn had a very rare water-based Familiar, a Sea Serpent. He was well regarded as a genius alongside his twin sister, and while a majority of the spectators were skeptical about his sister¡¯s power, with their expectations raised, they were beyond excited to see what Finn would show them.
    After all, the general consensus was that the twins were evenly matched.
    ¡¯Fey is stronger than I am, but¡­ it doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯
    Finn¡¯s eyes shone with determination.
    His Familiar coiled within him, its translucent scales shimmering under the bright lights within his Soul.
    ¡¯I don¡¯t plan to fall short.¡¯
    Seth Zephyr entered next, his blue eyes calm and unreadable. He exuded an aura of effortless confidence, his every movement measured and deliberate.
    A faint spark of electricity danced around his hands as he surveyed his opponent.
    The two locked eyes as the match began, the arena falling into an anticipatory silence.
    No words were exchanged.
    The two parties knew what they wanted and leaped into action instantly.
    VWUUUUUMM!!
    Finn wasted no time, immediately summoning a massive wave of water that surged toward Seth, a Sea Serpent Apparition riding atop it.
    The crowd gasped as the wave roared like a living entity, its size dwarfing Seth.
    Seth raised his hand, and a burst of lightning arced from his palm, splitting the wave in two.
    ZZZTTZZZ!!!
    Experience tales with NovelFire.C?m sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The crowd erupted into cheers as the electricity crackled, illuminating the arena.
    Seth moved swiftly, dashing to the side to avoid the remnants of the attack while launching a counterstrike¡ªa bolt of lightning aimed directly at Finn.
    Finn countered by raising a water barrier, which absorbed the attack and dispersed the energy into harmless sparks.
    With a wave of his hand, he manipulated the remaining water, forming tendrils that lashed out at Seth like whips. Seth weaved through them with ease, his movements quick and precise.
    "You¡¯re as good as they say," Finn admitted, his voice steady despite the strain of maintaining his constructs. "But I¡¯m not here to lose."
    With a sharp motion, Finn summoned a towering golem of water, its form solidified with immense pressure.
    The Sea Serpent Apparition coiled around it, amplifying its strength. The golem charged at Seth, its fists crashing down like tidal waves.
    Seth sidestepped the first blow and raised his hand, calling forth a falcon-shaped bolt of lightning.
    SKRRIIIII!!!
    The Spell let out a piercing cry as it unleashed a flurry of lightning bolts, striking the golem repeatedly.
    Steam hissed and rose as the electricity clashed against the water construct, creating a chaotic scene of light and vapor.
    "Tch¡­ I can¡¯t lose here!"
    Finn gritted his teeth as he pressed the attack, the arena filling with pools of water that limited Seth¡¯s movements.
    ¡¯We promised each other¡­ we promised that we¡¯d make it to the top together!¡¯
    So many people were relying on him: his peers and his seniors.
    Finn knew full well that his Academy was in a state of decline, and they were approaching dangerous territory.
    He and his sister had sworn to repay the Orion Sage Academy for the kindness the school showed them¡­ taking them both in and treating them like family.
    That meant he had to work harder than anyone! He had to study more than anyone! He had to fight better than anyone!
    And most importantly¡­ he couldn¡¯t lose!
    WHISH!
    Small streams snaked toward Seth¡¯s feet, attempting to trap him. Finn¡¯s strategy was clear¡ªcontrol the battlefield and drown Seth in overwhelming power.
    But Seth remained unfazed.
    "Not bad," he said, his voice calm. "But you¡¯re too focused on quantity."
    With a sharp gesture, Seth leaped into the air, lightning crackling around him.
    He activated his Spell.
    "[Stormburst]," Seth whispered, creating a dome of electricity that repelled the water and evaporated the pools.
    The crowd roared as Finn¡¯s control over the battlefield was shattered.
    Seth didn¡¯t stop there.
    He raised his hand to the sky, calling forth a massive surge of lightning that coalesced into a spear of pure energy. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it toward Finn.
    Finn countered by summoning a massive whirlpool, its vortex spinning with incredible force.
    The spear struck the whirlpool, creating a spectacular explosion of steam and light that obscured the arena.
    When the mist cleared, Seth was already closing in, his lightning falcon soaring overhead.
    Finn barely had time to react as Seth struck with precision, his lightning-coated fist landing a decisive blow.
    BOOOOOMMM!!!
    The force of the attack sent Finn skidding across the arena floor, his water constructs collapsing.
    "G-guhh¡­"
    Finn struggled to rise, his Sea Serpent apparition instantly dissolving into evaporating liquid.
    ¡¯I have to get up¡­ I have to!¡¯
    He looked up at Seth, who stood over him, his expression calm but resolute.
    "You fought well," Seth said simply. "It was a good match."
    Beatrice¡¯s voice rang out over the arena.
    "The winner of this match¡ªSeth Zephyr!"
    The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as Seth turned and walked away, the electrical glow around him disappearing in a flash of light.
    ¡¯I¡­ I lost¡­?¡¯
    Finn felt the crushing weight of defeat as the thought settled on him.
    He looked in the direction of his sister and saw her reaction.
    ¡¯Forgive your useless brother, Fey¡­¡¯
    She watched silently, her expression unreadable, but the determination in her eyes was clear.
    It was clear that she didn¡¯t blame him.
    Her eyes simply told him that she would work even harder; for the both of them.
    ¡¯... Sorry, but it seems you¡¯re advancing on your own.¡¯
    Upon concluding this thought, Finn closed his eyes and finally let unconsciousness claim him.
    *******
    "Looks like the match went just as expected."
    Ash smirked as he witnessed the conclusion of the Apprentice Stage matches for the day.
    ¡¯You never disappoint, Seth.¡¯

 Chapter 78: Training Monster

    "With this, the curtains fall on the Apprentice Stage students for today!"As the announcement concluded the Apprentice Stage matches for the day, the crowd remained abuzz with excitement.
    Many stayed behind to witness the upcoming Intermediate and Expert Stage battles, eager to see the older and more advanced competitors display their power.
    However, Ash felt no such desire.
    He slipped out of the Main Hall, moving against the stream of students and dignitaries eager for the next spectacle.
    The cool air outside the Main Hall provided a sharp contrast to the electric energy within. Ash stretched his arms and took a deep breath, letting the tension from his earlier match fade. As he walked toward the training hall, a familiar voice called out behind him.
    "Ash!"
    Turning, Ash saw Seth approaching, his expression a mix of curiosity and determination.
    "You were incredible back there," Seth admitted, catching up. "I¡¯ll admit, I underestimated you. I didn¡¯t think you had that kind of strength in you. How¡¯d you do it?"
    Ash smirked, his bright red eyes glinting under the soft light of the lampposts lining the pathway.
    "If I told you now, where¡¯s the fun in that? Let¡¯s just say I¡¯ll reveal my secrets after I beat you in the Finals."
    Seth¡¯s eyes narrowed, his competitive spirit reignited. "You¡¯re confident, I¡¯ll give you that. But don¡¯t think for a second I¡¯ll let you win. I¡¯ve got no intention of losing to you, brother."
    Ash chuckled at the familiar banter. "Good. I wouldn¡¯t want it any other way."
    As they walked together, Ash glanced at the Main Hall behind them.
    "You know," he began, "you should probably stay and watch the Intermediate and Expert matches. You might learn something useful from their techniques."
    Seth frowned, crossing his arms.
    "What, you want me to waste time watching others instead of training? Nice try. I know you¡¯re just trying to get into my head and make me slack off."
    Ash raised a brow, amused by his brother¡¯s suspicion. In truth, he meant his advice genuinely¡ªthere was much to learn from observing the techniques of the stronger participants.
    But he also knew better than to argue. If Seth was determined to misinterpret him, Ash wasn¡¯t about to correct him. After all, why stop an opponent from making a mistake?
    "Suit yourself," Ash said with a shrug, feigning indifference. "I¡¯m off to train. Don¡¯t let me stop you from doing the same."
    Without another word, the two brothers headed to the training hall, their shared path silent yet charged with their rivalry.
    ********
    Upon arriving, they split off into separate rooms, each consumed by their own thoughts. Seth dove into intense drills, pushing himself to master his lightning-based Spirit Arts. Sparks danced around him as he practiced precise strikes and swift movements, his mind replaying his earlier match and imagining ways to counter Ash¡¯s unpredictable style.
    Meanwhile, in his own room, Ash worked with quiet determination.
    Unlike Seth, whose power radiated like a storm, Ash focused on refining his efficiency and control.
    He practiced advanced techniques to further enhance his agility and mana expenditure, occasionally murmuring under his breath.
    "I already know what happens next," Ash said to himself, recalling the narrative of the novel. "But knowing isn¡¯t enough. I have to stay ahead of it all."
    Despite their separate rooms, the competitive tension between the brothers lingered, driving each to push harder.
    Both carried the weight of their family name and the unspoken promise of their eventual clash.
    *********
    [Moments Later]
    "Haaa¡­"
    As the evening sun painted the sky in hues of orange and purple, Ash finally emerged from his training room.
    His shirt clung to him, drenched in sweat, and his legs felt like lead after hours of relentless practice.
    He leaned against the cool wall of the training hall corridor, catching his breath. The faint hum of magic and occasional bursts of power from the other rooms reminded him of the fierce competition they were all preparing for.
    He glanced toward Seth¡¯s room, sensing the crackling energy of lightning from within.
    "Still going at it, huh?" Ash muttered, shaking his head in amazement. "What a monster."
    Deciding not to disturb his brother, Ash exited the hall, only to stop short as a familiar figure leaned casually against the outer wall. It was Kellion, his opponent from earlier that day.
    Ash¡¯s body tensed instinctively, his drained mana reserves making him wary. Still, he kept his face neutral, masking his fatigue behind a calm facade. "Kellion," he said evenly, stepping forward. "If you¡¯re looking for Seth, he¡¯s still inside. You¡¯ll find him down the corridor."
    Kellion¡¯s smirk deepened, shaking his head. "I¡¯m not here for Seth."
    Ash¡¯s mind raced. Then he¡¯s here for me¡­ For a brief moment, he considered his options. He couldn¡¯t take on Kellion in his current state, but before his thoughts spiraled further, Kellion tossed him a small bag.
    Ash caught it reflexively, his sharp senses recognizing the faint clinking sound within.
    "That¡¯s all I could get," Kellion said, crossing his arms. "Spirit Stones, like we agreed."
    Ash loosened the drawstring and peeked inside. The faint glow of the stones confirmed their authenticity. He quickly closed the bag and tucked it away, nodding his thanks.
    "You¡¯re taking a big risk," Ash said, tilting his head. "If anyone finds out you took those stones, you¡¯ll be in even more trouble than you already are for losing today."
    Kellion sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, no kidding. It¡¯s already bad enough. They¡¯re furious I lost to someone like you." His tone wasn¡¯t mocking, but it still stung a bit. "But a deal¡¯s a deal, and I¡¯m not the type to back out of one."
    Ash gave a small, approving nod. "Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t reveal our little arrangement. Your secret¡¯s safe with me."
    Kellion let out a relieved breath. "Thanks." He hesitated, then continued, "Listen, I didn¡¯t just come here to hand over the stones. I came to warn you about Leera."
    Ash raised an eyebrow. "Leera?"
    "She¡¯s the other Asura Academy student you¡¯ll face if you make it further in the tournament," Kellion explained. "She¡¯s on another level, Ash. Stronger than me. Faster, too. She¡¯s got both skill and power, and she won¡¯t underestimate you like I did."
    Ash nodded, filing the information away. "I¡¯ll still win."
    Kellion studied him for a moment, then chuckled. "You¡¯re confident. I like that." He paused, his expression softening. "Look, the truth is¡­ I feel like I¡¯m stuck. Like I¡¯ve hit a wall with my growth. I was hoping you could help me figure out how to push past it."
    Ash blinked, caught off guard. "You want me to help you? After all this?"
    Kellion smirked. "Don¡¯t get me wrong¡ªwe¡¯re still enemies. But you beat me fair and square. I want to know how you did it. I think you can help me improve."
    Ash considered this, then smiled. "Fine. After the tournament¡¯s over, I¡¯ll help you train. But not right now¡ªI¡¯ve got bigger things to focus on."
    Kellion looked relieved. "That¡¯s more than I expected. Thanks, Ash." Experience exclusive tales on NovelFire.C?m
    As they parted ways, Ash¡¯s mind whirred with possibilities.
    ¡¯If all goes well and Seth ends up as my subordinate, I can use him to train Kellion. He¡¯s a better match for Kellion¡¯s strength anyway.¡¯
    Watching Kellion walk away, Ash felt a small sense of satisfaction. Another piece on the board.
    ¡¯He¡¯ll be useful in the future.¡¯
    The cool evening air wrapped around him as he made his way back to his dorm, the bag of Spirit Stones tucked safely in his pocket. The tournament wasn¡¯t over yet, and Ash knew the battles ahead would only grow tougher. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    But with each step, his confidence solidified.
    This was his story now, and he was determined to shape it his way.
    *******
    As Ash entered his room, he let out a tired sigh, kicking off his shoes and rubbing the back of his neck. He paused mid-step, his sharp instincts catching something amiss.
    Sitting on his bed, arms crossed and radiating his usual aura of composed menace, was Raven Nightshade.
    "Comfortable, are we, Sir Nightshade?" Ash quipped, raising an eyebrow, though his tone held an undercurrent of wariness.
    Raven leaned back, resting on his hands with a smirk.
    "Your bed¡¯s softer than mine," He replied smoothly, his dark eyes gleaming with suspicion.
    Ash closed the door behind him, his earlier exhaustion now replaced with cautious focus.
    "What do I owe the pleasure of this¡­ uninvited visit?"
    "I was curious," Raven said, tilting his head slightly. "After that impressive display against Kellion, I figured you might have something interesting going on. Imagine my surprise when I spotted you sneaking back here with a bag of Spirit Stones."
    Ash¡¯s hand instinctively went to the pouch tucked into his pocket.
    "I didn¡¯t sneak," he said, feigning nonchalance as he moved toward his desk. "And the Spirit Stones are none of your concern."
    Raven¡¯s smirk deepened as he stood, his movements graceful and deliberate.
    "Oh, I think they are my concern. Spirit Stones aren¡¯t exactly something you just stumble upon, especially not after a fight like today. So¡­" He stepped closer, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Care to share where they came from?"
    Ash turned to face him, leaning casually against his desk.
    "Sorry, but I promised to keep it a secret. What are you going to do, interrogate me? Torture me for the information?" His tone was light, but his eyes stayed alert.
    Raven chuckled softly, the sound both amused and chilling.
    "Tempting, but no. I don¡¯t need to do any of that." He crossed her arms, her smirk fading into a more serious expression.
    "You¡¯re good at hiding things, Ashfelt Zephyr, but you¡¯re not perfect. I¡¯ve been watching you, and I know there¡¯s more to you than meets the eye. It¡¯s only a matter of time before I figure out what you¡¯re really up to."
    Ash met his gaze evenly, his mind racing.
    "What do you think I¡¯m up to?"
    "That¡¯s the question, isn¡¯t it?" Raven smiled.. "You can keep your secrets for now. But remember¡ªnothing stays hidden forever."
    ¡¯Raven Nightshade¡­ Always one step ahead.¡¯
    *
    *
    *
    [A/N]
    Thanks for reading.
    I¡¯m sorry for my inconsistent uploads these days. I¡¯ll try to do better.

 Chapter 79: Possession

    "Rather than spend your valuable time on useless stuff, like investigating me¡­ wouldn¡¯t it be better to put your resources to better use?"Ash¡¯s voice echoed in his room after a minute of silence.
    Raven Nightshade wasn¡¯t moved by Ash¡¯s words, as he found it incredibly obvious what the boy was trying to do. By shifting the Shadow Inquisitor¡¯s focus to another matter, he could find some leeway to act and evade scrutiny.
    Unfortunately for the crafty snake that was Ashfelt Zephyr, Raven was an expert at manipulation.
    He wasn¡¯t going to fall prey to it.
    "I¡¯m serious." Ash continued. "Arius Inkwell came to the Expert Wing just the other day, and he seemed completely off. Not only did he break the boundaries that exist in the Academy, by traveling all the way here from the Apprentice Wing, but the malicious words he uttered makes me certain he¡¯s up to something¡­"
    All of these things were the truth, and Ash was indeed not playing around.
    Sure, he would appreciate it if Raven Nightshade backed off from his affairs, but he knew it wouldn¡¯t be that easy to accomplish. Bringing up the information of Arius Inkwell was simply done out of concern.
    ¡¯If Arius keeps following this path, then the tragedy of the original storyline is bound to happen¡­¡¯ He sighed.
    Ash wanted to prevent that from happening, if possible.
    Unfortunately¡ª
    "You underestimate me, Ashfelt Zephyr. I am not like those other students that dance at the palm of your hands and dangle on your puppet strings. You can try your best, but I won¡¯t be so easily manipulated."
    This caused Ash to sigh even further.
    ¡¯His strong distrust for me makes him view my legitimate information as less credible.¡¯
    There was nothing he could do about it at this point. All he could do was wait until Arius struck in some capacity, which would make Raven have no choice but to pay attention to the matter.
    ¡¯But, considering how obsessed he is with me now, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll delegate the task to his Order of Shadows and pursue me himself.¡¯
    Ash shrugged all of this off.
    ¡¯You can try your best, Raven Nightshade¡­ but you¡¯ll never get anywhere.¡¯
    "I should leave now." The man clad in darkness began walking towards the door. "The Main Tournament continues tomorrow, and¡­ you¡¯ll need all the rest you can get."
    "I didn¡¯t know you cared that much."
    "...."
    Raven didn¡¯t respond to Ash¡¯s words. Instead, he silently walked out, and the moment he stepped out of the room, dark silhouettes surrounded him.
    In an instant, he vanished.
    "Whew!"
    Ash collapsed on his bed and sighed, using a Wind Spell to gently close the door, forcing it to automatically lock itself.
    ¡¯Things have gotten quite messy, haven¡¯t they?¡¯
    Nothing ever truly went according to plan, which was why Arius and Raven were being such pains to him, even when he had a tournament to prepare for the next day.
    ¡¯I already have Fey to worry about, but this?¡¯ Ash shook his head. ¡¯The issues just keep mounting.¡¯
    He wasn¡¯t complaining by any means, but exasperation was inevitable.
    With this came worry.
    ¡¯The biggest risk right now is with Dustan.¡¯
    Arius mentioned revenge, so he was undoubtedly going to target Dustan at some point. Also, since Raven Nightshade was now certain that Ashfelt was a prime suspect, he would also be targeting Dustan.
    ¡¯The question now is¡­ who will get to him first?¡¯ Ash couldn¡¯t help but wonder.
    Either way, he couldn¡¯t help but feel for the boy.
    ¡¯Sorry, Dustan¡­ but you¡¯re on your own.¡¯
    ************
    [Meanwhile¡­]
    Dustan sighed as he walked in the bright cobblestoned path of the campus grounds.
    He had just left the Library and was on his way to his dormitory, but the bitter expression on his face made it appear like he had just been through the most unpleasant experience. He had a what appeared to be a permanent scowl on his face, and his back hunched slightly as he sluggishly moved his body.
    As his brown hair danced with the wind and his green eyes barely lit open, he kept up a constant sigh.
    ¡¯Why?¡¯ He asked himself. ¡¯Why couldn¡¯t I also participate in the Exchange?¡¯
    He had watched the recordings of the Exchange earlier that day¡ªincluding Ash¡¯s fight¡ªand he could no longer hide or control his jealousy.
    ¡¯Ashfelt is there and I¡¯m not¡­ it¡¯s no fair.¡¯
    Still, there was nothing he could do about the matter but whine to himself.
    As a former Beta Student, he had no friends in Alpha Class, so he was constantly alone. As for his Beta Class friends, they were already treating him differently due to his new status, causing him to grow uncomfortable in their circle. Continue reading at NovelFire.C?m
    He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but he was very lonely at this point.
    Dustan never realized just how close he had gotten to Ashfelt, and how much his world revolved around his scheming friend until he left. Not only could he feel Ashfelt¡¯s absence, but he began to crave his return.
    ¡¯I still hate what he did to me, though¡­¡¯
    TZZZTTZZ!
    A sudden buzzing sound resonated around Dustan, causing him to snap out of his thoughts and look around him.
    The street lights around him began to flicker.
    And then they were out.
    Almost instantly, he took a defensive stance, his eyes darting all around as a bead of sweat formed on his face and he felt the hair on his skin stand. His throat instantly felt itchy as he swallowed the last bit of saliva in his mouth.
    "Who¡¯s there?" An attempt was made to sound bold.
    No response.
    The crackling sound only intensified, followed by a low humming sound, and then loud cackles that would send shivers down a person¡¯s bones.
    "[Starry Flash]."
    Dustan cast a relatively powerful Spell, sending multiple flashes of light high into the air in order to illuminate his surroundings.
    In an instant, the lights were sent out, covering the area with their warm glow.
    ¡¯H-huh?!¡¯ Dustan¡¯s eyes widened as he saw someone standing still, a couple of feet from where he stood.
    The relative distance, coupled with the way the person smiled as he stared at him, made him take a while before recognizing him.
    "A-Arius¡­?" He muttered under his breath.
    Arius Inkwell was not wearing his signature glasses, making it difficult to recognize him, but Dustan didn¡¯t have a problem with this, since one of the tasks he was given by Ashfelt before leaving was to ensure he constantly watched Arius for any change in behavior.
    ¡¯So far there has been none, but¡­ what is this?¡¯
    This seemed like a different person¡­ only barely resembling the boy he used to know.
    "Vermin¡­ plebeian scum."
    Arius¡¯ deep voice caused the very air to vibrate as he spoke.
    His eyes were bloodshot, oozing a greenish black color as he gave all his attention to the confused and slightly frightened Dustan.
    "You¡­ it¡¯s your fault I was demoted." He continued his ramblings and took a step forward. "If only you understood your place and remained in it, I wouldn¡¯t have been humiliated like that¡­"
    Arius quickened his movements, now to the point of sprinting.
    "I¡¯ll teach you a lesson for that¡­ and the tuition fee is YOUR LIFE!"
    WHOOOSH!
    He became a blur, dashing at Dustan with breakneck speed so the boy barely had any time to react before he went straight for his heart.
    However, thanks to Ashfelt¡¯s teachings, Dustan had already enhanced his body with a few silent Spells and was able to barely dodge Arius¡¯ half-hearted attack. He shifted to the side and rolled on the floor, his eyes wide with confusion and fear as he stared at Arius.
    ¡¯He would have really gone for my heart¡­ he really wants to kill me!¡¯
    But why?
    Dustan knew Arius bore ill-will towards him, since it was the former¡¯s promotion that led to the latter¡¯s demotion. However, no matter how annoyed Arius was, he wasn¡¯t crazy enough to kill someone because of it.
    ¡¯He¡¯s an honors student¡­¡¯ Dustan reasoned. ¡¯He knows the risk of killing someone.¡¯
    That was when it struck him.
    ¡¯What are the risks?¡¯
    Dustan was a mere commoner.
    Even though he was in Alpha Class, that didn¡¯t change his standing in the eyes of the Academy bureaucrats. There was no way a member of the Four Great Noble Households would be punished severely for getting rid of a mere commoner.
    ¡¯But Arius would never take that chance¡­ right?¡¯
    Dustan took a fighting stance, ready to defend himself against Arius¡¯ next attack while wondering if he could talk some sense into the boy.
    Running away was suicide, especially since Arius had proven himself to be much faster.
    "You can¡¯t do this, Arius! Killing another student is¡ª"
    "You¡¯re livestock¡­ objects for my amusement¡­ and revenge¡­" The way Arius spoke was akin to a man drunk on wine.
    He was clearly not fully himself.
    "Did he get possessed or something? But how could something like that happen? He didn¡¯t participate in the Exchange, right?¡¯
    Dustan swiftly shrugged aside his thoughts and decided not to focus on speculations.
    ¡¯It doesn¡¯t matter how it happened, but that it happened.¡¯
    With his mind a lot calmer than before, he could actually confirm it as the truth: Arius was indeed possessed by something.
    How did Dustan know for sure?
    ¡¯The Alarms haven¡¯t been triggered yet despite the use of Spells¡­ which can only be caused by the interference of Tainted Spirits.¡¯ Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    That meant two things for Dustan.
    ¡¯I¡¯m facing someone with a Tainted Spirit¡­ and no one is coming to help me.¡¯
    WHOOOOSH!
    Arius didn¡¯t waste any more time, swiftly raising one hand to summon a gust of jagged spikes made from wind mixed in with corrupt energy.
    The spikes moved very fast, traveling like bullets as they charged at the now-focused Dustan.
    "[Water Walls]."
    He reacted quickly, summoning layers of walls made entirely out of water.
    There were a total of four, with a fifth one underway, but the jagged spikes tore through everything and still charged at Dustan, who was able to dodge in time thanks to his barriers slowing the projectiles down.
    "Ack!" As his chest hit the flow and he swallowed dust, he realized just how outclassed he was in his fight.
    One glance at the grinning Arius told Dustan all he needed to know.
    ¡¯He¡¯s too strong¡­¡¯

 Chapter 80: Dustanéˆ¥æªš Little Problem

    "Haa¡­ haaaa¡­"Dustan panted as he stared at Arius, his mind racing.
    The malevolent aura around his opponent made it clear¡ªthis was no ordinary fight. The corrupted energy that oozed from Arius felt suffocating, and the dim lighting of the deserted pathway only amplified the chilling atmosphere.
    Arius stood with a crooked grin, his bloodshot eyes gleaming with greenish-black malice.
    "Running won¡¯t save you, Dustan. I¡¯ll hunt you down until there¡¯s nothing left."
    Dustan swallowed hard, his fingers twitching as he clenched his fists.
    ¡¯I can¡¯t run. He¡¯s too fast.¡¯
    "[Water Spear Barrage]!" Dustan shouted, summoning dozens of glowing blue projectiles from thin air.
    The water spears hovered briefly before launching toward Arius in a synchronized attack.
    Arius laughed, raising his hand. "[Abyssal Barrier]!"
    A black shield of corrupted energy erupted around him, swallowing the water spears with ease. The projectiles vanished as if devoured by the darkness itself.
    "Is that all you¡¯ve got, little worm?" Arius mocked, stepping closer. "You¡¯re an insult to Spirit Arts!"
    Dustan cursed under his breath, sweat trickling down his brow.
    ¡¯He was already stronger than me when I fought him in the Promotional Exams, but now he¡¯s unbelievably stronger. If I don¡¯t do something different, even if I use [Externalization], I¡¯ll lose badly!¡¯
    He needed to switch tactics.
    Reaching deep within himself, he connected to his Medium Grade Water Spirit and High Grade Ghost Spirit, their energies surging through him.
    ¡¯If I use too much of the Ghost Spirit¡¯s power, I might get caught¡­ but I don¡¯t have a choice.¡¯
    "[Phantom Drift]!" Dustan whispered, activating a spell tied to his Ghost Spirit Art. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    His body shimmered, becoming translucent and ghostly.
    He dashed forward, weaving through Arius¡¯s next wave of corrupted wind spikes with unnatural agility.
    Closing the distance, he thrust his palm forward. "[Spectral Shard]!"
    A dagger of ghostly energy materialized in his hand, glowing faintly with an eerie light. He aimed for Arius¡¯s chest, but his opponent sidestepped with startling precision, countering with a strike of his own.
    "[Dark Fang]!" Arius¡¯s hand became cloaked in black, claw-like energy as he swiped at Dustan.
    The ghostly state of Dustan¡¯s body allowed him to phase through the attack, but even so, the dark energy left an icy chill that gnawed at his very core.
    He¡¯s too strong¡­ stronger than I imagined.
    Summoning his focus, Dustan pivoted, using his Water Spirit to unleash a tidal wave.
    "[Torrential Surge]!" The massive wall of water crashed toward Arius, momentarily engulfing him.
    But Dustan didn¡¯t stop there.
    He raised his hand again. "[Spetral Chains]!" Ghostly chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around the stunned Arius as the water dissipated.
    For a brief moment, Dustan thought he had gained the upper hand.
    "Got you!"
    "You think that will hold me?" Arius¡¯s voice boomed, layered with something inhuman.
    With a violent burst of energy, Arius shattered the chains, the corrupted power sending shockwaves in all directions.
    BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
    "Ack!"
    Dustan was thrown back, skidding across the cobblestones and gasping for breath.
    Arius emerged from the dissipating mist, his grin wider than ever. "Impressive¡­ you¡¯re more fun than I thought. But this ends now."
    Raising both hands, Arius began chanting, a swirling vortex of dark energy forming above him. The air grew heavy, the ground trembling beneath their feet.
    Dustan¡¯s heart pounded in his chest. He could feel the overwhelming power radiating from the spell Arius was preparing. If it landed, it would be the end.
    ¡¯I can¡¯t let him finish!¡¯
    Dustan made a split-second decision.
    Channeling his Ghost Spirit¡¯s power once more, he shouted, "[Ethereal Blink]!"
    In an instant, Dustan disappeared, reappearing directly behind Arius.
    "[Phantom Strike]!" He plunged a ghostly blade into Arius¡¯s back, the spectral energy erupting into a burst of light that forced Arius to stumble forward.
    "GRAAAH!" Arius howled, his spell fizzling out as the pain momentarily overwhelmed him.
    Dustan didn¡¯t wait.
    He summoned another wave of water, this time infused with the chilling energy of his Ghost Spirit. "[Spectral Flood]!"
    The wave crashed into Arius, its dual nature of physical and spiritual damage forcing him to his knees. Dustan used the moment to retreat, his chest heaving with exhaustion.
    Arius slowly rose, his eyes blazing with fury.
    "This isn¡¯t over, Dustan. You can¡¯t run forever."
    But Dustan had no intention of sticking around. The heavy use of his Ghost Spirit Art had already pushed him to the brink, and he could feel the faint traces of its corruption lingering in his Soul.
    ¡¯Besides, even without the alarm, our fight would have caused quite a bit of commotion already.¡¯
    He couldn¡¯t afford to stick around for much longer.
    ¡¯I used my Ghost Spirit Art. If this situation is investigated and my Magia Signature is found out, I¡¯ll be done for.¡¯ Sweat trickled down his brows. ¡¯But I had no choice¡­ I had no choice!¡¯
    All he could do now was keep his fingers crossed and hope that no one would tie him to the events of the night.
    If anyone did, he would be done for.
    Without a word, he turned and sprinted into the darkness, vanishing into the night.
    *******
    [The Next Day]
    ¡¯So far¡­ so good.¡¯
    Discover hidden content at NovelFire.C?m
    Dustan tightened his grip on his satchel as he walked the bustling paths of the campus.
    The morning sunlight painted the Academy grounds in golden hues, but to him, it might as well have been a stormy night. His encounter with Arius the previous evening lingered like a dark cloud over his thoughts.
    ¡¯Did anyone see me? Did anyone sense it?¡¯
    The faint chill of the Ghost Spirit¡¯s power still resonated in his body, despite his efforts to suppress it. Every step he took felt like walking on a tightrope, balancing between calm and panic.
    ¡¯I was able to get rid of the tainted energy in my Soul last night before it spread, thanks to my knowledge of the novels, but¡­ that was really a close call.¡¯
    Just when he began to feel relieved, his heart skipped a beat when a shadow fell over him.
    "Dustan."
    The voice, cold and authoritative, made him freeze.
    He turned slowly to find Raven Nightshade standing before him, flanked by two members of the Order of Shadows.
    Their dark uniforms and intimidating presence made Dustan¡¯s stomach churn.
    "Y-yes?" Dustan stammered, his throat dry.
    Raven¡¯s eyes narrowed as he gestured to the members of the Order.
    "We need to talk. Come with us."
    A cold sweat broke out on Dustan¡¯s back. His legs felt like lead as he took an involuntary step back. "I-I have class¡ª"
    "That wasn¡¯t a request," Raven interrupted, his voice carrying a quiet menace. The two Order members stepped closer, effectively cutting off any escape route.
    Dustan¡¯s mind raced.
    Did they know? Had someone seen his fight with Arius? Did the traces of his Ghost Spirit¡¯s energy give him away?
    ¡¯I¡¯m screwed¡­ damnit!¡¯ Dustan wanted to cry. ¡¯Ashfelt¡­ where are you? You have to help me!¡¯
    He opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out.
    Realizing resistance was futile, Dustan nodded weakly and allowed himself to be led away. The stares of passing students burned into his back as the group vanished into a secluded corridor of the campus.
    ***********
    [Meanwhile¡­]
    In the grand arena, the air buzzed with excitement.
    The second day of the Tournament had drawn an even larger crowd than the first, with students, faculty, and visitors eager to witness the Quarter Finals. The tension in the atmosphere was palpable, and whispers of predictions and strategies filled the air.
    Ashfelt Zephyr stood calmly near the stage, his arms crossed as he surveyed the crowd.
    His emerald eyes gleamed with confidence, though his mind was far from idle. He had spent the previous evening preparing for this moment, running countless scenarios through his mind.
    ¡¯Fey¡­ this won¡¯t be easy,¡¯ he thought, watching his opponent approach the stage.
    Fey, a student from the Orion Sage Academy, had already made waves in the tournament with her exceptional combat prowess and mastery over her Spirit Arts. She moved with a graceful determination, her piercing blue eyes locking onto Ash with a quiet intensity.
    "She¡¯s good," Seth said from behind Ash, his voice low. "Don¡¯t let your guard down, brother."
    Ash smirked, not bothering to turn around.
    "I never do."
    The announcer¡¯s voice boomed across the arena, silencing the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Quarter Finals of the Inter-Academy Tournament!"
    Cheers erupted, shaking the very foundations of the arena.
    "Our first match of the day features Ashfelt Zephyr of the Akashic Magus Academy against Fey of the Orion Sage Academy!"
    The two competitors climbed onto the stage, their steps deliberate and measured. The tension between them crackled like lightning, drawing the audience to the edges of their seats.
    Ash and Fey faced each other, their gazes locked.
    Fey¡¯s expression was calm, almost as if she was nonchalant about the whole fight. However, her fierce eyes told a different story.
    It seemed like they were saying:"I hope you¡¯re ready, Ashfelt. I won¡¯t hold back."
    Ash¡¯s smirk deepened.
    ¡¯Well¡­ this should be quite an interesting fight.¡¯
    The announcer¡¯s voice rang out once more, signaling the start of the match.
    "Let the battle¡­ BEGIN!"

 Chapter 81: Ash Vs Fey

    Continue your journey on NovelFire.C?mThe moment the announcer¡¯s voice echoed through the arena, the battle between Ashfelt Zephyr and Fey of the Orion Sage Academy erupted into motion.
    A bone-chilling wind swept across the stage as Fey whispered a single word under her breath, barely audible beneath the excited cheers of the crowd.
    "[Frost Veil]." sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    A dense mist of freezing energy burst forth, swallowing half the stage in a thick, swirling blizzard. The temperature plummeted instantly, and Ash felt the cold bite into his skin despite his wind-based defenses.
    Ice began creeping along the stage floor, encasing it in a slick sheet of frost that spread with alarming speed.
    ¡¯As expected¡­ this attack comes first.¡¯
    Fey was the type to not waste any time and end things as quickly as possible.
    Ash¡¯s eyes narrowed as he instinctively leapt backward, narrowly avoiding a sudden spike of jagged ice that shot up from where he had stood.
    ¡¯She¡¯s fast.¡¯
    Fey stood still within the icy fog, her figure barely visible through the frost-laden mist.
    Her silver-white hair flowed behind her like a frozen waterfall, and her blue eyes remained emotionless, void of hesitation or even exertion. With each whispered incantation, the battlefield continued to shift in her favor.
    "[Glacier Shards]."
    Without warning, a barrage of razor-sharp icicles materialized in the air around Ash and shot toward him at terrifying speed. He spun his body, summoning a gust of wind with a flick of his fingers.
    "[Wind Barrier]!"
    A vortex of air spiraled around him, deflecting the shards away, but Fey was relentless.
    Another whisper. Another spell.
    "[Frost Chains]."
    The ice beneath Ash¡¯s feet cracked, and thick tendrils of frozen energy lunged at him like serpents. His eyes widened, and with a powerful gust from his Wind Spirit, he propelled himself upward, barely escaping their grasp.
    Hovering midair, Ash grit his teeth, feeling a bead of sweat¡ªno, condensation¡ªforming on his brow.
    Fey¡¯s mastery over ice wasn¡¯t just powerful, it was suffocating.
    ¡¯She controls the entire field¡­ if I stay on the ground, I¡¯m done for.¡¯
    The only reason he had survived this long was due to him predicting her movies and his unbelievably fast casting time that exceeded even those who were stronger than him.
    Fey¡¯s whisper came again, her lips barely moving.
    "[Frozen Lance]."
    A spear of solid ice formed in her delicate hand, and without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she flung it with chilling accuracy.
    It sliced through the air, aiming straight for Ash¡¯s chest.
    "[Gale Step]!"
    Ash twisted midair, wind swirling around his feet as he narrowly evaded the deadly projectile. He countered with a sharp thrust of his hand, wind coiling into razor-sharp currents. "[Wind Cutter]!"
    The blade of air shot toward Fey, but the ice surrounding her shifted instinctively, forming a thick wall of frost to absorb the attack. A crack echoed through the arena as the barrier shattered into shards, but Fey remained unharmed, her face expressionless.
    ¡¯She¡¯s too calm. She¡¯s not wasting energy.¡¯
    Ash understood that Fey wasn¡¯t just powerful¡ªshe was efficient.
    Every move was calculated, her energy output perfectly balanced. If he continued playing her game, he would eventually lose.
    ¡¯Time to change tactics.¡¯
    His eyes glinted with determination as he whispered under his breath.
    "[Externalization]."
    VWUUUUSH!!!
    A surge of emerald light burst around him as his Medium Grade Wind Spirit materialized¡ªan ethereal figure with flowing ribbons of air trailing behind it.
    Its presence amplified Ash¡¯s mobility and power tenfold, and the winds around him howled in response. With wings spread out beneath Ash¡¯s feet, it raised him high above the stage, causing him to rise beyond the freezing area.
    ¡¯I knew I would have to use this at some point¡­ I guess the time has come.¡¯
    Fey¡¯s icy blue eyes flickered with the faintest sign of interest as Ash shot higher into the air, his Wind Spirit keeping him afloat.
    From above, he had the advantage.
    He could avoid her ground-based assaults and attack freely.
    "[Tempest Surge]!"
    A massive whirlwind descended upon Fey¡¯s position, howling and spiraling with enough force to tear through the icy mist she had created. The frost cracked and groaned under the pressure, but Fey remained eerily composed. She raised her hand and whispered again.
    "[Absolute Zero]."
    In an instant, the howling winds slowed.
    Ash felt the air around him turn deathly still. A freezing pressure descended upon him, and for the first time in the battle, he felt true danger.
    ¡¯She¡¯s freezing the air itself!¡¯
    He pushed his Wind Spirit to the limit, forcing himself to move faster before he was caught. Fey¡¯s power was a slow and steady force¡ªif he let it drag on, he would eventually be overwhelmed.
    ¡¯Even with [Externalization], I¡¯m still struggling¡­ it just goes to show how fierce her power is.¡¯
    Not only was she expending an insane amount of Magia, but her Familiar was of the Greater Grade. If it wasn¡¯t for his identity as a Transmigrator who already knew about her beforehand, he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.
    ¡¯Let¡¯s try this instead¡­¡¯ Gritting his teeth, Ash changed his approach.
    Instead of brute force, he started weaving around the battlefield with rapid movements, striking at different angles with [Wind Blades] and [Aero Strikes].
    Fey blocked each one with minimal effort, but Ash could see it¡ªtiny cracks forming in her defenses.
    Despite her composure, she was slowing down.
    ¡¯She¡¯s not used to long fights.¡¯
    Taking a deep breath, Ash decided to go for the finishing blow.
    Channeling every ounce of his remaining strength, he raised his hand and whispered his final spell.
    "[Storm Barrage]."
    A powerful surge of wind condensed above him, forming dozens of razor-sharp wind lances.
    With a flick of his fingers, they shot down in a relentless storm.
    Fey¡¯s eyes widened, and for the first time, she whispered faster, her hands moving in fluid motions to summon barriers of ice.
    "[Frost Shield]!"
    But it wasn¡¯t enough. The barrage of wind tore through her defense, shattering the last remnants of her strength.
    Ice exploded across the stage, and before she could react, Ash descended in a flash, landing a decisive strike with his wind-enhanced fist.
    BOOM!

 Chapter 82: Upcoming Challenge

    "Gahh¡­"Fey staggered backward, ice shattering around her, and she finally collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
    Her expression didn¡¯t change, but Ash could see it¡ªthe exhaustion in her eyes.
    The announcer¡¯s voice boomed.
    "Winner: Ashfelt Zephyr of the Akashic Magus Academy!"
    The crowd was initially quiet, and for good reason.
    Ashfelt wasn¡¯t the most popular in the Academy, but a sizable number of people already knew him to be an untalented loser. Some even knew that he was only able to contract with a Lesser Grade Wind Familiar.
    However, this sudden display was by no means ordinary.
    All of a sudden, everyone¡¯s assessment of the shame of the Zephyr Household changed.
    It was only then that the crowd exploded in cheers for him, but Ash barely heard them as he stood over Fey, breathing hard.
    "That was close¡­" He wheezed, looking at the girl beneath him.
    She looked at him with curious eyes as her lips parted for a moment, her body trembling with suppressed emotions. However, this only lasted for a moment.
    Fey stood to her feet and simply nodded, her gaze now icy and emotionless. She said nothing to Ash, but gave a slight bow of acknowledgment before stepping off the stage. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    As Ash looked around the roaring arena¡ªobserving just how widespread the damage done was¡ªhe realized once just how close that battle had been.
    ¡¯She almost had me.¡¯
    But now, he had made it to the Semi-Finals.
    ¡¯The climax draws ever so nearer¡­¡¯
    *******
    The crowd¡¯s excitement showed no signs of waning as the tournament pressed on, each match bringing forth an electrifying clash of abilities.
    The banners of the four academies of the Empire fluttered in the wind above the arena, each representing the pride and power of their respective institutions.
    Following Ash¡¯s hard-fought victory over Fey, the second match saw the Asura Spirit Academy claiming a dominant win, their representative displaying overwhelming power that left the audience in awe.
    The third match was no different, with the Nirvana Gate Academy emerging victorious, their student¡¯s precise and calculated techniques securing them a well-earned spot in the Semi-Finals.
    Now, the fourth and final match of the Quarter-Finals was about to begin.
    Seth, the pride of Akashic Magus Academy and a force to be reckoned with, strode confidently onto the stage. His opponent from the Nirvana Gate Academy, a tall and stoic fighter with a reputation for impenetrable defense, stood across from him with a calm, unwavering gaze.
    As the match was announced, the air crackled with anticipation.
    Seth wasted no time.
    The moment the battle began, his presence engulfed the stage like a storm. His signature blue flames roared to life, coiling around his arms as he lunged forward with blistering speed.
    "[Infernal Burst]!"
    A surge of fire erupted toward his opponent, but the Nirvana Gate Academy student was prepared. A shimmering golden barrier formed just in time to block the attack, the heat causing the air to shimmer around it.
    Seth smirked. "Good defense. But it won¡¯t be enough."
    Unlike many students, Seth could masterfully utilize more than one elemental attribute. His Familiar, the Storm Dragon, controlled various elements, making him adept at various kinds of Spirit Arts.
    He pressed the assault, weaving around the stage with a series of fiery strikes, each one testing the limits of his opponent¡¯s defense. The Nirvana Gate fighter responded with a calm precision, countering Seth¡¯s attacks with well-timed bursts of spiritual energy, creating shockwaves that rippled through the air.
    Minutes passed, and despite the challenger¡¯s resilience, Seth¡¯s relentless aggression began to wear him down. The Nirvana Gate student¡¯s breathing grew labored, his movements slightly slower. Seth seized the opportunity with a devastating combination of fire and force.
    "[Blazing Wrath]!"
    A massive burst of azure flame shot forth from Seth¡¯s fists, breaking through the weakening defenses and sending his opponent skidding across the arena floor.
    The force of the impact left him unable to continue, and the referee swiftly called the match.
    "Winner: Seth of the Akashic Magus Academy!"
    The crowd erupted in cheers, celebrating Akashic Magus Academy¡¯s second victory. Seth stood in the center of the stage, his chest heaving but his expression smug, basking in the applause.
    Ash, watching from the sidelines, allowed a small smile to tug at his lips as he saw Seth step down from the stage, waving off the attention as though it were nothing.
    But that smile didn¡¯t last long.
    As his eyes drifted toward the tournament board, his gaze landed on the matchups for the Semi-Finals.
    Two students from the Akashic Magus Academy.
    One from the Nirvana Gate Academy. Enjoy new adventures at NovelFire.C?m
    And one from the Asura Spirit Academy.
    Leera.
    Ash¡¯s expression darkened.
    He had known this match was inevitable, but now that it was staring him in the face, the weight of it settled on his shoulders.
    ¡¯Leera¡­¡¯
    The name alone carried a sense of unease.
    She was a prodigy, a force of nature who blended raw strength with deadly precision. The Asura Spirit Academy didn¡¯t just produce powerful students¡ªthey crafted monsters.
    And Leera was one of their finest.
    "She¡¯s skilled and powerful. She won¡¯t be an easy opponent." Kellion¡¯s warning echoed in his mind.
    "I know that already."
    Ash exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders and trying to shake the tension creeping into his muscles. His previous victory had been hard-fought, and he knew he couldn¡¯t afford to make mistakes against an opponent like Leera.
    As Seth approached him, a smirk still plastered on his face, he noticed Ash¡¯s troubled expression.
    "What¡¯s with the long face, brother? We made it to the Semi-Finals!"
    Ash forced a chuckle, trying to mask his unease.
    "Yeah... we did."
    Seth arched an eyebrow, but didn¡¯t push further. "Don¡¯t overthink it. Just do what you always do¡ªsome weird, unpredictable scheme and you¡¯ll be fine."
    Ash chuckled, though it was hollow. He appreciated Seth¡¯s confidence, but deep down, he knew this would be his toughest challenge yet.
    As the announcer¡¯s voice boomed through the arena, calling for the next match, Ash took a deep breath and stepped forward.
    It was time.
    His fight against Leera was next.

 Chapter 83: Trick For Success

    The roar of the crowd filled the grand arena, their anticipation thick in the air as Ashfelt Zephyr and Leera of the Asura Spirit Academy faced each other across the battlefield.The stark contrast between the two fighters was immediately evident¡ªAsh, lean and agile, his expression carefully composed, and Leera, standing tall and unyielding, her muscular frame encased in layers of earthen armor that pulsed with latent power.
    Ash could feel the weight of the fight before it even began.
    Leera¡¯s reputation preceded her; she was a walking fortress, blending raw power with endurance that seemed limitless. Unlike Fey, who had overwhelmed him with precise control and relentless ice, Leera embodied the sheer brute force of the earth itself.
    "Fighters, ready!" Beatrice Lampshade¡¯s voice boomed through the arena.
    Ash took a deep breath, flexing his fingers as a soft breeze circled around him, his Medium-Grade Wind Spirit shimmering faintly at his side.
    "Begin!"
    BOOM!
    Leera wasted no time.
    The ground beneath her cracked and surged as she stomped forward, summoning a hulking stone golem that towered over Ash. Its massive fists slammed down toward him, forcing him to dodge with a sharp gust of wind.
    "[Swift Step]!"
    Ash moved like a shadow in the wind, gliding across the battlefield with effortless speed. He zipped around the colossus, launching rapid bursts of wind blades at its legs, but they bounced harmlessly off its dense rock exterior.
    "Useless," Leera muttered under her breath, and with a flick of her hand, the golem swung at Ash again, faster than before.
    Ash cursed under his breath, dodging narrowly.
    ¡¯Not good. This thing¡¯s too sturdy.¡¯
    He shot forward with a surge of wind, aiming for Leera directly. With a quick chant, he fired a concentrated burst¡ª[Gale Lance], a sharp wind projectile that could slice through steel.
    But Leera was ready.
    "[Earthen Bastion]!"
    The ground rose up in response, forming a thick wall of reinforced stone that absorbed the impact effortlessly.
    Dust scattered everywhere, but as it settled, Leera stood unscathed behind her fortress.
    "You can¡¯t break through," she said, her eyes cold and calculating. Without warning, the earth beneath Ash rumbled, and spikes shot up in an attempt to skewer him.
    Ash barely avoided them, twisting midair with an aerial maneuver before landing lightly a few meters away. His breathing grew heavier.
    ¡¯She¡¯s not just strong¡ªshe¡¯s strategic,¡¯ he realized. ¡¯She¡¯s forcing me into a battle of endurance... and I can¡¯t win that.¡¯
    Leera advanced again, her steps causing tremors.
    She clenched her fists, and layers of earth began to encase her body¡ªher [Granite Bulwark] technique. A thick, jagged armor covered her from head to toe, making her an impenetrable juggernaut.
    Ash scowled. ¡¯My Wind Spirit is at a disadvantage here. My attacks don¡¯t have enough force to break through her defenses.¡¯
    A low rumble echoed as Leera summoned another golem, this one smaller but faster, darting across the battlefield with surprising agility. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Ash flipped backward to avoid its charge, using his wind to stay aloft, but the golem lunged at him midair, catching him by surprise.
    He barely managed to block with a barrier spell¡ª[Aero Shield]¡ªbut the impact sent him crashing back to the ground, rolling across the dirt.
    "Ugh!" Ash groaned, coughing as he pushed himself up. Leera¡¯s relentless assault continued, golems swarming toward him while she herself charged at a steady pace.
    "You¡¯re too weak," she said simply, her voice unwavering. "Your wind is nothing against my earth. Give up."
    Ash wiped the blood trickling from his lip, eyes narrowing.
    "Not happening."
    He quickly created a gust of wind beneath himself, propelling him into the sky again. His only advantage was mobility, but even that wouldn¡¯t last forever. The longer the battle dragged on, the worse it would get for him.
    Leera raised both hands, and multiple jagged stone pillars shot up into the air, aiming to swat him down like an insect. He twisted midair, narrowly avoiding them, but he could feel the strain.
    His body was beginning to tire.
    ¡¯Think, Ash¡­ think!¡¯ He bit his lip, feeling frustration bubble up.
    Every time he tried to attack, she would block or counter him. Every attempt to wear her down only drained his own stamina.
    Then it clicked.
    ¡¯Wait a second¡­ that¡¯s it!¡¯
    With a sudden burst of wind, Ash created distance between them, landing on the far end of the battlefield.
    He stood there, his chest heaving, but a smile tugging at his lips.
    Leera frowned at his expression. "Why are you smiling?"
    Ash straightened, wiping the sweat from his brow and staring at her with newfound confidence. "I¡¯ve finally figured it out."
    Leera¡¯s eyes narrowed in response. "Hmph. Let¡¯s see if your plan can withstand the weight of my power."
    Ash tightened his grip, his Wind Spirit flaring with newfound energy as he prepared for his next move.
    ¡¯We¡¯re just getting started!¡¯
    BWUUUSH!!!
    The battlefield was engulfed in a dense smokescreen, swirling gusts of ash and wind creating an eerie haze that swallowed the entire stage.
    The spectators murmured in suspense, unable to see what was happening within the thick veil.
    Leera stood in the middle of the battlefield, her ears straining to catch any hint of movement within the oppressive fog. Her granite-clad body was a fortress, impervious to Ash¡¯s relentless wind-based attacks.
    She clenched her fists.
    "This won¡¯t help you," she muttered under her breath, sending a silent command to her golems.
    The hulking figures of stone rushed into the smoke with heavy, earth-shaking strides. The ground quaked beneath their weight as they vanished into the thick cloud. The crowd held their breath, waiting for the inevitable clash.
    And then¡ª
    THUD. THUD.
    Two stone heads rolled out from the smokescreen, crashing onto the arena floor with a resounding thump. Leera¡¯s eyes widened, her jaw tightening. The golems she had sent in were dismantled with such speed that she hadn¡¯t even sensed Ash¡¯s presence near them.
    ¡¯What... what happened in there?¡¯ she thought, unease creeping into her usually steadfast demeanor.
    But she quickly shook off the feeling.
    If Ash thought he could intimidate her with tricks, he was mistaken.
    "Enough of this," she said, raising both hands high.
    The ground trembled violently as she channeled her Spirit Art to its maximum output. A massive golem, nearly twice the size of any she had summoned before, erupted from the earth, its towering form casting a shadow over the battlefield.
    "[Titan¡¯s Hand]!" Leera commanded.
    With a mighty swipe, the golem¡¯s massive arm surged forward, dispersing the thick smokescreen in one powerful motion.
    Dust and debris scattered into the air, revealing Ashfelt Zephyr on one knee, panting heavily, sweat dripping down his face.
    His Wind Spirit hovered faintly beside him, flickering with exhaustion.
    No one knew when it was that he activated [Externalization], but it had to be during the attack of the Golems. However, with his energy now spent, and his Spirit on the verge of disappearance, he was at his wits end.
    Leera smirked. "You¡¯re done, Zephyr."
    She advanced toward him cautiously, her earthen armor shifting with each step.
    Even with his cunning tricks, she held the advantage.
    Her defenses were impenetrable, and her towering golem stood ready to crush any last-ditch effort from Ash. Step by step, she closed the distance, her piercing eyes watching for any sign of deception.
    Ash didn¡¯t move, only breathing heavily, his hands gripping the ground as if trying to stay upright.
    As she drew closer, her instincts screamed at her to be cautious¡ªbut it was too late.
    Suddenly¡ª
    The solid ground beneath her feet vanished.
    "What?!" Leera gasped in shock as her body lurched forward. Before she could react, she found herself falling off the edge of the stage, her hands reaching out in vain to grasp onto something¡ªanything¡ªbut the illusionary floor beneath her had betrayed her senses completely.
    With a hard thud, she landed outside the arena boundary. Your journey continues with NovelFire.C?m
    The crowd exploded in gasps and cheers.
    Still standing on the stage, Ash wiped the sweat from his brow and forced a small, tired smile.
    "Looks like... you fell for it."
    Leera stared up at him from below, her face a mixture of disbelief and confusion. "But... you¡¯re still standing there... How? I didn¡¯t sense any mirages..."
    Ash chuckled weakly. "It wasn¡¯t me that was an illusion... It was the ground itself."
    Realization dawned on Leera¡¯s face as she pieced it together.
    Ash hadn¡¯t used a simple illusion spell to trick her sight; he had altered the perception of the battlefield, making the solid arena floor appear continuous when, in reality, it wasn¡¯t. She had unknowingly walked straight off the stage, her confidence in her defenses blinding her to the trick.
    "You manipulated the terrain¡­?" she murmured, still in shock.
    Ash exhaled deeply. "Yeah. Wind and illusion spells together can make for a nasty combo... I just needed to tire you out and wait for the right moment."
    Beatrice¡¯s voice happily rang through the air.
    "Winner: Ashfelt Zephyr of the Akashic Magus Academy!"
    The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, but Ash could barely enjoy it. His legs buckled slightly as he steadied himself, exhaustion threatening to take over. Despite his victory, he had been pushed to his absolute limits.
    Leera clenched her fists from outside the ring, her expression hard.
    "Tch... I underestimated you."
    Ash smiled tiredly. "Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re not the first."
    With that, he turned and walked toward the waiting area, each step feeling heavier than the last. The next fight wouldn¡¯t be any easier, and despite his victory, doubt gnawed at the back of his mind.
    ¡¯If I had to push myself this far against Leera... how will I handle what¡¯s next?¡¯
    He cast his gaze on a particular person who stood in a corner, preparing for the next match that would take place¡ªSeth Zephyr.
    ¡¯Can I possibly win against him?¡¯
    *********
    ¡¯Brother¡­ you¡¯ve really gotten strong.¡¯ Seth thought to himself as he climbed on the stage to face his next opponent.
    The boy from the Nirvana Gate Academy had a pompous expression on his face, almost as if he didn¡¯t think there was any chance for him to lose.
    However, Seth wasn¡¯t particularly focused on the lad.
    His thoughts were on Ash.
    ¡¯You can already use [Externalization], and true to your words¡­ you made it to the finals.¡¯
    Seth felt his lips curl up into a smile as he had the thought.
    ¡¯I¡¯ll be sure to see you there!¡¯

 Chapter 84: End Of Day 4

    The arena was thick with tension as Seth Zephyr stepped onto the stage, his signature calm yet imposing aura radiating from him.Across from him stood Malik Zelik, a prodigy of Nirvana Gate Academy, his sharp eyes filled with confidence. The murmurs in the crowd grew louder as whispers of Malik¡¯s lineage spread¡ªhis older brother was the strongest in their academy, a figure of legend. And while Malik was not yet at that level, his talent and strength were undeniable.
    Ash watched from the sidelines, his arms crossed as he studied both fighters.
    A bead of sweat trickled down his face, not from the heat of the battle but from the pressure of what was to come.
    "This is going to be interesting..." he muttered under his breath.
    Beatrice stepped forward, raising her hand.
    "Semi-finals match: Seth Zephyr of the Akashic Magus Academy versus Malik Zelik of the Nirvana Gate Academy. Begin!"
    In an instant, Malik grinned and shot forward, his hands weaving intricate sigils in the air.
    His movements were precise, practiced¡ªevery action oozing confidence.
    "[Infernal Tempest]!"
    A swirling vortex of wind and fire erupted from his hands, tearing across the battlefield with an intense roar. The flames intertwined with razor-sharp gusts of wind, creating a spiraling inferno that hurtled toward Seth with devastating speed.
    The audience gasped in awe at the sheer power behind the attack, the blazing tempest illuminating the entire arena.
    Seth, however, didn¡¯t move.
    He simply watched the incoming attack with an almost bored expression, his jet black hair swaying lightly in the wind. His eyes, deep and calculating, remained locked onto Malik, who smirked with satisfaction.
    "You can¡¯t avoid this, Zephyr!" Malik shouted, his voice echoing through the stadium. "My wind feeds the flames, and my flames thrive in the wind. It¡¯s the perfect combination!"
    But before the attack could reach Seth¡ª
    BOOM!
    A sudden burst of azure energy exploded from Seth¡¯s position, obliterating the incoming tempest in an instant. The audience collectively gasped, eyes wide with shock as the swirling inferno was snuffed out like a candle in a hurricane.
    Malik staggered back, his confidence shattered in an instant.
    "W-what?!"
    Seth finally moved.
    He raised a single hand, fingers lightly crackling with vibrant, electric-blue energy. The sheer pressure in the air intensified as a faint humming sound resonated from him.
    Then¡ª
    "[Azure Rupture]."
    A blinding blast of blue energy erupted from his palm, tearing through the air like a divine decree. The force of it was beyond comprehension, slicing through Malik¡¯s defenses effortlessly and engulfing the entire stage in an overwhelming wave of power.
    BOOOOOOM!
    The explosion shook the arena, sending shockwaves rippling through the stands. The audience shielded their eyes from the intense light, and when the dust settled¡ª
    Malik lay sprawled on the ground, unconscious, a crater beneath him.
    Silence.
    Absolute silence.
    The crowd was frozen in shock. Even the commentators were left speechless, their voices caught in their throats as they tried to comprehend what had just happened.
    Seth, standing amidst the destruction he had wrought, brushed some invisible dust off his shoulder before turning his gaze toward Ash.
    A confident, almost cocky smile played on his lips.
    "Looks like we¡¯ll be facing each other in the finals, brother," he said, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
    Ash, still standing on the sidelines with his arms crossed, felt another bead of sweat roll down his face. His expression remained stoic, but deep down, he felt the weight of what had just transpired.
    Seth¡¯s power was monstrous.
    He had known his brother was strong, but to this extent? It was overwhelming.
    ¡¯How am I supposed to beat that...?¡¯ Ash thought to himself, his fingers tightening slightly around his folded arms.
    He wasn¡¯t surprised, but the sheer difference in power was still hard to ignore.
    Seth¡¯s gaze lingered on Ash for a moment longer before he casually walked off the stage, his victory having been sealed in mere seconds. Beatrice, still stunned, hesitated before raising her hand and announcing the inevitable.
    "Winner: Seth Zephyr of the Akashic Magus Academy!"
    The audience finally erupted into cheers, but Ash could only watch his brother¡¯s retreating back, a whirlwind of thoughts running through his mind.
    The finals were set.
    And he would have to face this monster.
    *********
    [Moments Later]
    As the echoes of the cheering crowd died down, Ash and Seth found themselves in a quiet corner of the arena grounds. The energy of the tournament still lingered in the air, but in this brief respite, the brothers stood apart from the excitement.
    ".... So, yeah. I¡¯m surprised, but in a good way, actually. Who would have thought you had already mastered [Externalization]? Amazing!"
    Ash was silent even after being praised by Seth.
    The latter leaned casually against a marble pillar, his azure eyes calm yet piercing as he studied his silent brother.
    "You don¡¯t look too thrilled, brother," Seth said, his voice carrying a hint of concern. "What¡¯s on your mind?"
    Ash folded his arms, his gaze fixed on the arena below where workers were resetting the stage for the Intermediate and Expert rounds.
    "Just thinking," he replied, exhaling slowly. "We both made it to the finals. But... it won¡¯t be easy." Explore stories at NovelFire.C?m
    Seth smirked.
    "That¡¯s an understatement. If you plan to beat me, you better be prepared for hell."
    Ash gave a wry smile, shaking his head.
    "You really don¡¯t hold back, do you?"
    Seth pushed off the pillar and stretched, his muscles rippling beneath his Academy robes.
    "No point in holding back. You should know that by now. Complacency leads to failure, and failure leads to weakness." He jabbed a finger at Ash¡¯s chest. "Don¡¯t let this little tournament go to your head. If you slack off now, you¡¯ll regret it when we fight."
    Ash chuckled. "I won¡¯t. Tomorrow¡¯s a rest day, but I plan to train through it. No distractions."
    Satisfied, Seth nodded and adjusted his collar.
    "Good. I¡¯m heading off to train now. Watching these other matches would just be a waste of time."
    "I¡¯ll stay and observe," Ash said, glancing toward the arena. "There¡¯s something off about the Nirvana Gate Academy. They¡¯ve been... different lately."
    Seth shrugged, uninterested. "They¡¯ve always been arrogant. Just make sure you don¡¯t waste time overthinking things."
    Ash watched as Seth walked away, his brother¡¯s confident stride carrying him toward the exit of the arena grounds.
    Once Seth was out of sight, Ash turned back to the arena, his eyes narrowing.
    The Intermediate and Expert Quarter-Finals were beginning.
    *******
    As the matches unfolded, Ash noticed a disturbing trend.
    Nirvana Gate Academy students were fighting with an unusual level of aggression. Their spells were laced with excess power, their attacks aimed not just to defeat but to hurt their opponents. There was an undercurrent of hostility in every movement they made, every strike they delivered.
    They weren¡¯t just trying to win.
    They were trying to dominate.
    "Something¡¯s not right..." Ash muttered under his breath, his fingers tightening around the railing.
    He observed match after match, noting how Nirvana Gate Academy fighters targeted weaknesses ruthlessly and even employed subtle underhanded tactics¡ªlike manipulating the battlefield, forcing opponents into bad positions, and using deceptive techniques that bordered on foul play but remained within the rules.
    Despite the brutality, the referees weren¡¯t interfering.
    The Nirvana Gate Academy students advanced swiftly, reaching the finals of both the Intermediate and Expert Stages.
    If they won tomorrow, it would solidify their status as the top academy in the empire.
    Ash rubbed his chin in thought.
    "Is this just ambition... or something more?"
    His mind drifted to the recent events in Akashic Academy¡ªthe White Death Incident, the mysterious murder of the former Head of Student Affairs, and most recently, the death of a Beta Class student.
    The Apprentice Wing had been in turmoil ever since, but the Intermediate and Expert Wings were supposed to be unaffected.
    And yet...
    ¡¯The Nirvana Gate Academy is definitely taking advantage of the chaos in our Academy, and while a few things seem to be different from the novel, it seems like their endgame remains the same.¡¯¡¯
    The more Ash watched, the more convinced he became.
    The timing of their aggression was too perfect.
    If they crushed Akashic Academy now, when morale was already low, it would deal a huge blow to the institution¡¯s reputation and influence across the empire.
    He clenched his fists.
    "I can¡¯t let this happen."
    Ash already knew that in the novel, Nirvana Gate Academy was involved in darker dealings. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡¯But with so many things shifting and changing, I couldn¡¯t rely solely on my knowledge, which is why I had to watch things for myself.¡¯
    ¡¯They¡¯re planning something,¡¯ Ash thought grimly. ¡¯And if I don¡¯t stop it, Akashic is doomed.¡¯
    ******
    As the sun dipped below the horizon and the last match ended, Ash turned on his heel and left the arena, his mind racing.
    He needed to prepare.
    Seth might have raw strength, but Ash had something better¡ªstrategy.
    He would train harder than ever tomorrow, but at the same time, he needed to uncover what Nirvana Gate Academy was truly up to.
    He was sure that they were conspiring something, so he simply had to make sure their plans came crashing down.
    ¡¯How hard could it be?¡¯

 Chapter 85: Ravenéˆ¥æªš Interrogation

    "Huu¡­ haa¡­"Dustan sat rigidly in his chair, his fingers tapping nervously against his knee.
    The dimly lit room was silent except for the soft hum of the enchanted lamps lining the walls, casting eerie shadows that flickered across the stone floor. Across from him, lounging with an almost predatory ease, was Raven Nightshade¡ªleader of the Order of Shadows.
    Raven¡¯s sharp, dark eyes studied Dustan with an unsettling intensity, his lips curving into a smirk that held no warmth.
    "You seem tense, Dustan," Raven said smoothly, his voice as soft as silk yet as dangerous as a blade. "Relax. This isn¡¯t an interrogation... merely a conversation between two like-minded individuals."
    Dustan swallowed hard, his throat dry.
    "You... you said you had something to talk about," he muttered, trying to keep his voice steady. "About Ashfelt."
    Raven leaned forward slightly, his fingers interlacing as he rested his elbows on the table.
    "Yes. Your dear friend, Ashfelt Zephyr. Or should I say... your master?"
    Dustan flinched at the choice of words.
    Raven¡¯s smile widened.
    "I know he has you under his thumb, Dustan," Raven continued, his tone turning colder. "I¡¯ve been watching, observing. You¡¯re too cautious around him, too obedient. It¡¯s almost... unnatural." He tilted his head. "And I suspect it¡¯s because of something deeper, something binding."
    Dustan felt a cold sweat run down his back. "What... what do you mean?"
    Raven chuckled darkly. "A Soul Contract, perhaps?"
    Dustan stiffened, his eyes widening in shock for a split second¡ªjust long enough for Raven to notice.
    "I see," Raven murmured with satisfaction.
    "Of course, it¡¯s not visible, but I can feel it. That aura of submission, of forced loyalty." His voice lowered dangerously. "I imagine it¡¯s quite... suffocating."
    Dustan clenched his fists, keeping his mouth shut. Raven sat back, exhaling in amusement.
    "But I¡¯m not here to scold you, Dustan. Quite the opposite. I¡¯m offering you an opportunity¡ªa way out."
    Dustan¡¯s eyes flickered with interest despite himself.
    "What... kind of opportunity?"
    "A contract of your own," Raven said, his voice almost hypnotic. "One that binds you... to me."
    Dustan stared at the man, his mind racing. "Why me? Why not Elma? She¡¯s¡ª"
    "Elma?" Raven¡¯s expression darkened. "Let me show you something."
    He snapped his fingers, and the door behind him opened. Two of his subordinates entered, dragging Elma into the room. Dustan¡¯s stomach twisted at the sight of her¡ªfrail, barely conscious, her eyes sunken and empty. Bruises and scars lined her arms, and she seemed barely able to stand on her own.
    Dustan shot up from his seat. "Elma!"
    Raven waved a hand dismissively, and the subordinates let go of her, letting her slump against the wall.
    "She¡¯s useless now," he said coolly. "Broken beyond repair. Whatever Soul Contract Ash forced on her has made it so that she remains tight-lipped about everything. Torture does nothing but drain her. If I put any more pressure on her, she¡¯ll perish."
    Dustan felt a lump in his throat. "Y-You did this to her?"
    Raven arched a brow. "No, Ash did."
    Dustan¡¯s breath caught.
    "He squeezed everything he could out of her and discarded what was left," Raven continued, his eyes boring into Dustan¡¯s. "And if you think he won¡¯t do the same to you... you¡¯re delusional."
    Dustan stared at Elma¡¯s limp form, his heart pounding.
    "He got rid of the previous you," Raven whispered, his voice like venom in Dustan¡¯s ears. "And you... you¡¯re just another disposable pawn."
    Dustan¡¯s mind reeled.
    He looked back at the black crystal shard on the table.
    "If... if I take this contract," he said hesitantly, "what happens next?"
    Raven¡¯s smile returned, but it didn¡¯t reach his eyes. "You serve me, Dustan. And in return, I ensure your survival. No lies, no blackmail, no being cast aside like yesterday¡¯s trash."
    Dustan¡¯s hands trembled as they hovered over the shard.
    His thoughts were a whirlwind.
    ¡¯Ash lied to me?¡¯
    "Before I agree," Dustan said shakily, "there¡¯s something I need to know."
    Raven gestured for him to continue.
    "Is there some sort of footage in the room where all the recordings are kept in the staff quarters?"
    "Hm? How do you know about that?"
    "Word goes around¡­ and I¡¯m not the only one you¡¯ve interrogated." Dustan fought to stay calm as he spoke. "You sensed another Magia Signature there, right? Maybe it belongs to an accomplice and you¡¯re trying to identify that as Ash."
    Raven was silent for a moment as he stared at Dustan.
    ¡¯Ash... has footage of me... blackmail material. If he¡¯s lying about that, I need to know.¡¯ The boy swallowed.
    Raven¡¯s eyes glinted, and he leaned forward.
    "Footage?" He let out a laugh, low and sinister. "I wish there was some kind of footage¡­ perhaps a hidden one¡­ but the schematics of the Recording Storage Room had no place for another set of recordings or footages."
    In essence¡­ there was no secret recorder in the room. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ¡¯What¡­?¡¯
    Dustan felt like the floor had been ripped from beneath him.
    Ash had been lying this whole time.
    The grip he thought Ash had over him... it was all an illusion.
    Raven seized the moment. "Now tell me, Dustan. Will you turn against him? Will you join me?"
    Dustan swallowed hard.
    His eyes flickered between the seated inquisitor and Elma¡¯s broken body. Raven was right¡ªAsh used people and discarded them.
    And if he didn¡¯t act now, he¡¯d be next.
    A shaky breath escaped his lips.
    "Fine... I¡¯ll do it."
    Raven¡¯s smile widened in triumph. "Good choice."
    Dustan reached out and grasped Raven¡¯s hand. As soon as his fingers closed around it, a dark aura enveloped him, and he felt the chilling tendrils of the Soul Contract sink into his being.
    Except... it wasn¡¯t binding to the soul Raven assumed.
    Dustan had another.
    They both stated the terms of their agreement, and it became binding on them.
    Raven¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the ritual complete, oblivious to the deeper truth lurking within Dustan¡¯s dual soul.
    Dustan opened his eyes, feeling the cold weight of the contract settle inside him.
    He met Raven¡¯s gaze and forced a smile.
    "What do you want me to do?"
    Raven chuckled, rising to his feet. "For now? Tell me everything you know about Ashfelt¡­ including exactly how he ties into the White Death Incident and the murder of Gerald Lockwood and those guards."
    "...."
    "Start talking now."
    Dustan sat in the dimly lit chamber, his expression carefully neutral as Raven Nightshade leaned in closer, his piercing gaze searching for any cracks in his composure.
    "I¡¯m waiting¡­"
    Raven began to show signs of impatience, but the boy remained still.
    Dustan kept his face impassive, but inside, his thoughts churned with clarity.
    ¡¯Elma... she¡¯s an Otherworlder too. It all makes sense now. Ashfelt had hinted that there was another person who altered the events of the White Death incident¡ªthe true culprit, the real White Death.¡¯
    Ash didn¡¯t tell him because he had some sort of Soul Contract with Elma, which explained why he was so secretive regarding their affair.
    ¡¯As for Gerald, he already explained the details behind why he had to kill him. I¡¯m still not sure he was being completely honest, but¡­ I have to believe him.¡¯
    That was one thing about Ash.
    He could twist the truth... but he never fully lied.
    Dustan silently pieced it together.
    ¡¯Elma¡¯s silence, her broken state¡ªit wasn¡¯t just due to Raven¡¯s torment. She had a reason to protect Ash, a contract she willingly made. She wasn¡¯t some innocent victim; she was part of something much bigger, something darker.¡¯ Your next chapter is on NovelFire.C?m
    And Gerald... Dustan clenched his fists under the table.
    Ash had predicted this moment. He had told Dustan about Raven¡¯s inevitable interest, that the Order of Shadows would try to get to him.
    "Play along, buy time," Ash had said.
    And Dustan would do just that.
    "You¡¯re awfully quiet," Raven murmured, his dark eyes narrowing. "What¡¯s going through that head of yours, I wonder?"
    Dustan forced a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his head.
    "I¡¯m just... thinking. You¡¯re asking a lot, Raven. And, well... it¡¯s not like I have much of a choice, do I?"
    Raven¡¯s smirk deepened.
    "Exactly. You¡¯re starting to understand how the world works. Good." He leaned back in his chair. "But I need something more than just silence from you. I need... cooperation."
    Dustan feigned hesitation. "And what if I say no?"
    Raven¡¯s eyes turned cold, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Then I have no choice but to implicate you, Dustan. I know you¡¯ve been involved in things you shouldn¡¯t have. And once I bring that to the academy¡¯s attention... well, let¡¯s just say Ash won¡¯t be able to protect you from behind bars."
    Dustan felt a chill, but he didn¡¯t falter.
    ¡¯Raven has no proof.¡¯
    That¡¯s why he needed Dustan in the first place. If he truly had something solid, he¡¯d have already made his move.
    ¡¯He doesn¡¯t know about my fight with Arius last night. He¡¯s bluffing.¡¯
    Dustan¡¯s lips twitched into a nervous smile.
    "I... I see." He sighed, pretending to be weighed down by the choice. "Look, I need some time to think about it, okay? I can¡¯t just turn my back on Ash overnight."
    Raven studied him for a long moment before exhaling in frustration.
    "Fine. But don¡¯t take too long, Dustan." He stood, pacing toward the window, his back to Dustan. "Time is running out, and I can¡¯t afford loose ends. Neither can you."
    Dustan nodded, standing as well. "Right. I¡¯ll... I¡¯ll think about it."
    Raven waved his hand, dismissing him.
    "You¡¯re free to go."
    With a nod, Dustan walked to the door, his steps steady. As he exited the chamber and the heavy wooden doors shut behind him, he released a slow, silent breath. His heart pounded in his chest, but his resolve remained unshaken.
    ¡¯I won¡¯t betray Ash. Not now, not ever.¡¯
    Ash had given him strength, shown him a path forward.
    With his knowledge of the plot¡¯s future, Dustan knew that sticking with Ash was his best bet for survival... and for getting stronger.
    Besides, Ash treated him like a friend¡ªmanipulative or not, that meant something.
    ********
    Back inside the chamber, Raven Nightshade stood still, staring out the window into the darkened academy grounds. His fingers curled into a fist, his jaw tightening.
    "Damn it," he muttered under his breath.
    Dustan wasn¡¯t breaking as easily as he¡¯d hoped. And without tangible evidence, he was running out of options to pressure him.
    He turned, his cloak billowing behind him.
    "Looks like I have no choice," he murmured to himself. "If Ash wants to play games... I¡¯ll face him head-on."
    His lips curled into a dangerous grin.
    ¡¯This time, no holds barred.¡¯

 Chapter 86: The Finals Begin

    "N-no¡­ no¡­ need more¡­ more¡­"
    Arius wandered through the dimly lit corridors of the academy, his footsteps echoing against the cold stone walls. His head hung low, his whitish silver hair disheveled, his eyes sunken and hollow.
    He muttered to himself, his lips twitching as incoherent whispers filled his mind, seeping into every corner of his consciousness like an insidious poison.
    "Weak... pathetic... failure..."
    The words twisted around his thoughts like a vice, squeezing tighter with every step he took.
    "Dustan... you failed to kill him. How disgraceful."
    Arius gritted his teeth, his hands trembling at his sides.
    He could still remember the way Dustan had humiliated him¡ªthe way he had stood over him in victory, the smirk on his face.
    The shame, the rage... it boiled inside him, festering like a wound that refused to heal.
    "You need more power."
    Yes. Power. That was the only way.
    Dustan had bested him because he was weak.
    And weaklings had no place in this academy, or in the academy he was going to.
    They were discarded, cast aside like trash.
    Just like his so-called friends¡ªno, his former friends¡ªwho had abandoned him the moment he fell from grace, relegated to Beta Class like some common failure.
    His breathing grew heavy, his heartbeat thudding in his ears like a war drum. The whispers in his head grew louder, urging him on, taunting him, demanding more.
    "You know how to gain it, don¡¯t you? The Souls... take them. Consume them."
    His fingers twitched involuntarily, his nails digging into his palm hard enough to draw blood.
    "Yes... I do," Arius muttered under his breath, his voice trembling with equal parts fear and anticipation. "I do know how."
    And then, fate delivered an opportunity.
    As he walked past the entrance to the library, he heard laughter¡ªfamiliar laughter. His blood ran cold, and his head snapped toward the source of the sound.
    Two figures emerged from the building, their conversation lively and carefree. Arius¡¯s breath hitched when he recognized them instantly.
    Cyril and Vance.
    His former friends. The ones who had laughed at him behind his back, whispered rumors, and deserted him without a second thought when he was demoted. They had been his closest allies once, standing beside him when he was still at the top. But the moment he fell... they abandoned him like he was nothing.
    His fingers twitched. His vision blurred. They deserved to pay.
    "...I¡¯m telling you, with the next Exchange coming up, we need to get stronger. The Nirvana Gate students aren¡¯t playing around. Thankfully, the Zephyr brothers are carrying us so hard right now." Cyril said, his voice confident. "Did you see what happened with Ashfelt? He completely surprised us and even defeated Leera."
    Vance scoffed. "It¡¯s crazy, right? Hah! The final rounds are going to be so interesting."
    Arius stepped into their path, his shadow stretching long under the moonlight.
    "Evening, gentlemen," he rasped, his lips curling into something that barely resembled a smile.
    Cyril and Vance froze, their conversation halting mid-sentence.
    They squinted at him for a moment before realization dawned on their faces.
    "Arius?" Cyril blinked, taking a hesitant step forward. "Is that you? You look... different."
    Different. Yes. He was different.
    He no longer wore his glasses, and his hair had now turned white¡ªas if he was an old man.
    Vance smirked, nudging Cyril. "Wow, Arius, I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d see you around anymore. Beta Class must be... humbling, huh?"
    Arius tilted his head, his fingers twitching.
    "Humbled?" he whispered, the word rolling off his tongue like venom. "Yes... humbled."
    Cyril shifted awkwardly. "Look, man, no hard feelings, right? We had to move on... you understand, don¡¯t you?"
    Arius stared at him, his eyes dark and empty. "Understand... yes. I understand."
    And then, before they could react, he moved.
    Faster than either of them could track, his hand shot forward, grabbing Cyril by the throat. The taller boy¡¯s eyes widened in horror as Arius¡¯s grip tightened like a steel vice. Cyril gasped, clawing at his hand, but it was futile.
    Vance took a step back, panic setting in. "Arius, what the hell are you doing¡ª?!"
    But Arius wasn¡¯t listening.
    "Take it. Their Souls. Devour them."
    A twisted grin spread across his face as he murmured something under his breath. A dark aura, sickly and pulsating, spread from his palm, sinking into Cyril¡¯s flesh.
    A bloodcurdling scream tore from Cyril¡¯s throat as his body convulsed violently. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    His eyes rolled back, his skin paling as his very essence¡ªthe core of his being¡ªwas ripped away. Arius¡¯s eyes glowed with an eerie light, his veins darkening with the stolen energy. The power flowed into him, filling every fiber of his being with an intoxicating rush.
    Cyril¡¯s lifeless body crumpled to the ground like a broken doll.
    Vance turned to run, sheer terror written all over his face.
    "Not so fast." Arius¡¯s voice was a whisper, but it cut through the air like a blade.
    In a blur, he closed the distance, his hand plunging into Vance¡¯s chest. The boy screamed, thrashing, but it was useless. Arius¡¯s grip tightened, and again, the black aura spread. Vance¡¯s screams were cut off with a sickening gurgle as his Soul was torn from him, feeding the ever-growing hunger inside Arius.
    When it was over, Arius stood amidst the two lifeless bodies, their empty eyes staring at nothing. He breathed heavily, his body trembling from the overwhelming surge of power coursing through his veins.
    Yes. This was it. This was the power he needed.
    A dark laugh bubbled from his throat, low and ragged. He felt... alive. More alive than he had in months.
    The whispers in his head were no longer just whispers¡ªthey were his guiding truth.
    "More. You need more. Find them. Take them all."
    Arius stared down at the bodies of his former friends, his lips curling into a sneer.
    "Looks like I¡¯ve finally surpassed you," he whispered.
    Without another word, he stepped over their corpses and vanished into the shadows of the academy, a predator on the hunt.
    *********
    [Day 7 Of The Academy Exchange]
    The grand arena of the Akashic Magus Academy buzzed with energy, packed to the brim with students, instructors, and esteemed guests from across the Empire. Banners of the four competing academies fluttered in the wind, each cheering section roaring with anticipation as the final day of the Exchange Tournament commenced.
    Today, the champions of each stage¡ªApprentice, Intermediate, and Expert¡ªwould battle for glory, and tensions were at an all-time high. The air crackled with magic, and the pressure of hundreds of expectant eyes bore down on the competitors like a crushing weight.
    And standing at the center of it all were Ashfelt Zephyr and Seth Zephyr, brothers by name but rivals by circumstance.
    Ash stood tall, his wind-swept ashen white hair shimmering under the morning sun.
    His crimson eyes were focused but carried a weight of unease deep within them. Facing him across the grand stage was Seth, his azure eyes gleaming with excitement, his presence exuding an undeniable confidence that made Ash¡¯s nerves tingle.
    The two locked eyes, and for a brief moment, the noise of the crowd faded into silence.
    "Finally," Seth said, cracking his knuckles. "I¡¯ve been waiting for this, brother."
    Ash sighed, rolling his shoulders to release the tension that had been building up for days. "Yeah, I know. I just hope you haven¡¯t been holding back too much in your previous matches."
    "I haven¡¯t needed to go all out... yet. But you? You¡¯re different. You¡¯ve improved, Ash. I can see it." Seth grinned, his stance casual yet brimming with raw power.
    Ash smiled, though it didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes.
    "I appreciate that, Seth. But let¡¯s not pretend we don¡¯t both know how this ends."
    Seth chuckled, stepping closer. "You sound like you¡¯ve already accepted defeat. Where¡¯s that confidence, brother?"
    Ash met his gaze steadily. "I¡¯m being realistic. You¡¯re... well, you¡¯re you." Stay connected through NovelFire.C?m
    Seth placed a hand on Ash¡¯s shoulder, his grip firm. "And you¡¯re you, brother. I want you to give me everything you¡¯ve got. No tricks, no holding back. This is our moment. Let¡¯s make it count."
    Ash hesitated before nodding, his hand tightening into a fist at his side.
    He had come this far, fought tooth and nail through countless opponents, but the one standing before him now... this was the real test.
    "Remember our agreement, Seth." Ash muttered under his breath. "Don¡¯t come crying to me when you lose."
    Seth smirked. "That¡¯s the spirit. Now, let¡¯s put on a show they¡¯ll never forget."
    Beatrice Lampshade¡¯s voice echoed throughout the arena, amplified by magic:
    "FINAL MATCH OF THE APPRENTICE STAGE! ASHFELT ZEPHYR OF THE AKASHIC MAGUS ACADEMY VERSUS SETH ZEPHYR OF THE SAME ACADEMY! TWO BROTHERS. TWO TITANS. ONLY ONE WILL CLAIM VICTORY!"
    The crowd erupted into cheers, a deafening wave of applause and shouting. The announcer continued, their voice filled with excitement.
    "Let the FINAL MATCH... BEGIN!"
    Ash and Seth stepped back simultaneously, falling into their respective stances.
    Wind whipped around Ash in controlled currents, his Medium-Grade Wind Spirit swirling within his Soul. Seth, on the other hand, radiated raw, crackling energy, his presence alone making the ground tremble beneath his feet.
    The tension between them was immense.
    Ash exhaled slowly, his heart pounding.
    ¡¯Here it goes¡­ I can¡¯t afford to back out now!¡¯

 Chapter 87: Ash Vs Seth [Pt 1]

    The crowd held its breath as Ash and Seth circled each other on the grand stage, the air between them crackling with tension.
    Seth stood tall, a confident smirk playing on his lips, while Ash kept his stance low and measured, his eyes locked onto his brother¡¯s every movement.
    "You¡¯re too stiff, brother," Seth taunted, flexing his fingers as arcs of electricity danced between them.
    "Come on, show me something impressive!"
    Ash didn¡¯t reply.
    He couldn¡¯t afford to. His mind was racing, analyzing Seth¡¯s posture, the faint flicker of mana that pulsed beneath his skin, the subtle shifts in his breathing. Every twitch was a clue¡ªan opening waiting to be exploited.
    ¡¯I know all your moves, Seth¡­ I can¡¯t afford to be complacent!¡¯
    ~WHUUUSH!!!~
    Without warning, Seth lunged forward, his hand crackling with raw energy. Discover exclusive tales at NovelFire.C?m
    "Storm Fang!"
    A jagged arc of lightning surged toward Ash, tearing through the air with blinding speed.
    Ash¡¯s eyes widened, but his feet were already moving, instincts honed by countless battles kicking in. He sidestepped just in time, feeling the heat of the spell scorch past him as it struck the arena floor, sending debris flying.
    BOOOOOM!!!
    ¡¯He¡¯s fast... but predictable.¡¯
    Ash twisted mid-dodge, pivoting just as Seth followed up with another barrage¡ªwind-infused lightning bolts that zigzagged toward him.
    "Cyclone Strikes!"
    Instead of running, Ash leaned into the attack, reading Seth¡¯s patterns and moving through the gaps in the storm of energy. Every strike that should have grazed him instead found empty space, the crowd gasping as Ash wove between the attacks with surgical precision.
    Seth narrowed his eyes. "Tch... not bad."
    Ash slid across the stage, a thin sheen of sweat forming on his brow. He could see it now¡ªthe gaps in Seth¡¯s aggressive offense.
    A rhythm.
    If he could keep up his evasion, he¡¯d find the perfect opening to strike.
    Seth wasn¡¯t done.
    He slammed his foot down, and the arena trembled as he called forth a powerful gale.
    "Typhoon Surge!"
    A violent vortex of wind and lightning roared to life, engulfing the battlefield in a tempest of raw elemental force. Ash felt his feet lift off the ground, but he forced his body to stay steady, using his own wind magic to counteract the pull.
    Almost there... just a little more.
    Diving low beneath the whirlwind, Ash finally spotted it¡ªthe opening.
    Seth¡¯s right side was exposed, his focus split between maintaining the typhoon and preparing his next attack.
    It was now or never.
    With a sharp exhale, Ash surged forward, his mana flaring. He muttered under his breath, weaving an intricate spell that crackled to life in his palm.
    "Gale Piercer!"
    The air around him condensed into a spiraling spear of wind, and just as he was about to strike¡ª
    BOOM!
    An invisible force erupted from Seth, pushing Ash back with brutal force. The sudden shockwave sent him skidding across the stage, nearly knocking him off balance. He coughed, stunned by the raw power his brother had just unleashed.
    "Guh!"
    Seth stood at the center of a shimmering field of energy, his aura blazing with an intensity that dwarfed anything Ash had seen before.
    "I was waiting for you to take the bait," Seth said smugly. "Did you really think I¡¯d leave an opening that obvious?"
    Ash gritted his teeth, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "You¡¯re... really annoying, you know that?"
    Seth laughed, electricity crackling around him.
    "I know."
    Ash inhaled sharply, his hand tightening into a fist. If Seth wanted to play seriously, then so would he. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    He raised his hand, his voice steady.
    "Externalization!"
    A surge of emerald light burst from Ash¡¯s chest, and in an instant, his Medium-Grade Wind Spirit emerged beside him.
    The spirit, a translucent humanoid entity with gleaming wings, let out a piercing cry before coiling around him, amplifying his power.
    Ash¡¯s aura intensified, the wind bending to his will as he charged forward with renewed vigor.
    Seth¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement.
    "Finally."
    Raising his arm, he uttered the same incantation.
    "Externalization!"
    A deafening roar shook the arena as a colossal, azure-scaled figure materialized behind Seth. His Storm Dragon, an embodiment of wind and thunder, perched on his shoulder, its piercing golden eyes staring directly at Ash.
    The entire battlefield seemed to freeze under the creature¡¯s overwhelming presence. A suffocating pressure blanketed the arena, forcing even the spectators to lean back in their seats, wide-eyed and breathless.
    Ash stared up at the magnificent beast, feeling its gaze bore into him like a predator sizing up its prey.
    His fists clenched tighter, his heart pounding furiously in his chest.
    "Let¡¯s see if you can still keep up, brother." Seth grinned, the Storm Dragon letting out a low, menacing growl.
    Ash swallowed hard but steadied himself.
    "I always find a way."
    BOOOOOOM!
    The battlefield was a storm of chaos.
    Seth stood tall at the center of it all, his aura crackling with unrestrained power. Arcs of lightning surged across the arena, scorching the ground and sending gusts of wind howling in every direction.
    His miniature Storm Dragon perched on his shoulder, its eyes gleaming with predatory focus, each breath it took sending out waves of intense pressure.
    Ash struggled to keep up.
    His wind spirit darted around him, assisting where it could, but Seth¡¯s relentless assault left him with little room to breathe.
    Every time he evaded a strike, another followed immediately, and each one was stronger, faster, and more precise. Seth was pressing his advantage mercilessly, forcing Ash to stay on the defensive.
    "Too slow, brother!"
    Seth¡¯s voice boomed through the arena as he launched another devastating attack.
    "Thunder Tempest!"
    A vortex of electrified wind spiraled toward Ash, and though he managed to dodge at the last second, the shockwave that followed sent him tumbling across the stage.
    He rolled to a stop, coughing as dust and debris settled around him.
    ¡¯Damn it... he¡¯s not giving me an inch.¡¯
    Ash wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart pounding against his ribs. His breathing was ragged, his limbs heavy.
    Seth¡¯s strength was monstrous¡ªhis attacks weren¡¯t just powerful, they were precise, leaving Ash no chance to counter.
    Seth smirked, taking slow, deliberate steps forward.
    "This is your limit, isn¡¯t it? All that fancy dodging, but you can¡¯t even touch me."
    Ash gritted his teeth.
    He hated to admit it, but Seth was right.
    No matter how fast he moved, Seth¡¯s overwhelming power made it impossible to turn the tide.
    ¡¯I can¡¯t keep running... I need more.¡¯
    His hands clenched into fists, his mind racing for a solution.
    And then, an idea.
    It was risky¡ªdangerous even¡ªbut if he didn¡¯t try it now, he would never stand a chance.
    He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them with renewed determination.
    "Fusion!"
    A brilliant emerald glow enveloped Ash¡¯s body, and his wind spirit responded instantly.
    It dove into him, merging into his very being, and the air around him exploded with power.
    His form shifted subtly¡ªhis hair lifted as if caught in a constant breeze, his eyes shimmered with an eerie green glow, and his speed surged beyond anything he¡¯d displayed before.
    Wings appeared from behind him as markings glowed on his skin and aspartame of his body¡ªhis limbs especially¡ªwere costed in whitish green light.
    WHUUUUSH
    Gasps echoed through the crowd as Ash vanished in a blur of wind, reappearing above Seth in an instant.
    Seth barely had time to react before Ash struck.
    "Tempest Strike!"
    A whirlwind of razor-sharp air blades cascaded down onto Seth, forcing him to raise his defenses.
    His Storm Dragon roared, forming a protective barrier of crackling electricity, but Ash didn¡¯t let up.
    He moved like a phantom, striking from every direction, each attack faster and more precise than before.
    Seth¡¯s eyes widened slightly, his smirk faltering.
    "So... you¡¯ve mastered Fusion, huh?"
    Ash didn¡¯t respond¡ªhe didn¡¯t need to. His attacks spoke for him, hammering against Seth¡¯s defenses like an unrelenting storm. For the first time, it seemed as if the balance had shifted.
    But Seth wasn¡¯t one to back down.
    "You think this is enough to beat me?!" he roared, his aura surging. "Not even close!"
    His Storm Dragon let out a deafening roar, unleashing a wave of turbulent wind that shattered the surrounding air. Seth retaliated with a devastating punch, charged with raw elemental force, and Ash barely managed to dodge it by inches.
    The brothers clashed in a blur of movement¡ªwind against lightning.
    Every strike sent shockwaves rippling through the arena, forcing the audience to shield their eyes from the sheer intensity of the battle.
    The two fighters were evenly matched, each refusing to give an inch.
    From the stands, whispers filled the air.
    "I can¡¯t believe it... Ashfelt Zephyr is keeping up with Seth Zephyr!"
    "This is insane... Who¡¯s going to win?"
    Even the instructors of the various academies leaned forward, their expressions serious.
    "Haaa¡­ haaa¡­" Ash gritted his teeth, panting heavily.
    Despite his newfound strength, Seth was still a monster. Even with Fusion, he couldn¡¯t land a decisive blow.
    His brother had too much raw power, too much experience, and the fight was taking a toll on him.
    Seth, though impressed, showed no signs of backing down.
    "You¡¯re good, brother. Really good. But I¡¯m not losing today."
    Ash wiped sweat from his brow and smirked.
    "Neither am I."
    The two locked eyes once more, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a blade.
    The audience sat in silence, eyes locked on the battlefield, not even daring to blink.
    Who would emerge victorious?
    Nobody knew!

 Chapter 88: Ash Vs Seth [Pt 2]

    RUMBLE!
    The battle raged on, the arena trembling under the sheer force of their relentless exchange.
    Ash and Seth clashed in a dizzying flurry of spells, wind and lightning intertwining in a chaotic dance that left the battlefield scarred and smoking. Each strike met with a counter, each maneuver met with a counter-maneuver.
    It was a battle of power versus strategy, and for now, neither side was willing to concede.
    Ash circled Seth, his enhanced speed allowing him to stay just ahead of his brother¡¯s devastating attacks.
    The Storm Dragon loomed behind Seth like an ominous shadow, sending arcs of crackling electricity coursing through the air with every movement.
    Seth stood his ground, his presence like a storm incarnate¡ªunstoppable and unyielding.
    "You¡¯re holding up better than I thought, brother!" Seth grinned, sending a barrage of compressed wind blades hurtling toward him.
    Ash barely managed to evade, the sharp gales slicing into his shoulder. He winced but kept his focus.
    "I told you... I¡¯m not going down easily."
    He retaliated, twisting the wind around him in a spiraling vortex.
    "Tempest Surge!"
    The compressed winds shot forward like a tornado, aiming directly at Seth¡¯s chest.
    With a flick of his wrist, Seth countered effortlessly, summoning a dome of lightning-infused air.
    "Thunder Wall!" The two forces collided with a deafening roar, sending shockwaves rippling through the arena.
    Ash¡¯s eyes narrowed.
    No matter what he did, Seth¡¯s defenses held strong, and worse¡ªhe wasn¡¯t even slowing down.
    ¡¯He¡¯s too strong... and he¡¯s not running out of energy anytime soon.¡¯
    Sweat dripped down Ash¡¯s face as fatigue started to weigh on him.
    His breathing grew ragged, and the power granted by his fusion with his Familiar was beginning to wane.
    He was running out of time. If he didn¡¯t end it soon, Seth would overwhelm him.
    Seth, on the other hand, looked as composed as ever, his storm crackling with power. He launched another attack, the air around him twisting violently.
    "Storm Breaker!"
    A massive, electrified wind current surged toward Ash, tearing through the battlefield with enough force to shatter stone.
    Ash reacted instantly, leaping back and conjuring a powerful gale to soften the blow, but it barely held. The edges of his clothes were singed, and his limbs trembled under the strain.
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    ¡¯I need to end this... now.¡¯
    Then, in a split second, Ash¡¯s keen eyes caught something¡ªan inconsistency in the battlefield. With all the constant bombardments, cracks had formed on the stage beneath Seth.
    The stone was weaker there, fractured and brittle from the continuous impact of their attacks.
    A spark of an idea flickered in his mind.
    ¡¯That¡¯s it!¡¯
    Seth charged forward, lightning crackling around him.
    "Give up, Ash!"
    Ash didn¡¯t respond.
    Instead, he gathered every last ounce of energy he had left, wind swirling around him with renewed intensity. He launched another concentrated blast¡ªnot at Seth, but at the ground directly in front of him.
    BOOM!
    The stage beneath Seth exploded into rubble.
    For a moment, confusion flickered across his face as the ground crumbled beneath him.
    "You¡ª!"
    Seth instinctively leaped away, avoiding the collapsing section just in time¡ªbut Ash was ready.
    ¡¯Got you.¡¯
    With the last reserves of his strength, Ash manipulated the lingering winds, forming a barrier behind Seth mid-air. Before his brother could fully recover, Ash conjured restraining gusts that pressed against him, preventing him from escaping further.
    "No way!" Seth growled, struggling against the wind barrier, but it was too late.
    Gravity took hold, and Seth plummeted down with the collapsing rubble, his expression shifting from shock to grudging acceptance as he fell off the stage and into the abyss below.
    The crowd erupted in stunned silence.
    "Haa¡­ haaaa¡­"
    For a moment, Ash remained frozen, his chest heaving.
    Then the realization hit him¡ªhe had done it.
    "Winner¡ªAsh Zephyr!"
    The announcement echoed through the arena, and the silence was instantly shattered by thunderous applause and cheers.
    Seth emerged from the wreckage below, unharmed but visibly impressed. He gazed up at Ash with a smirk, shaking his head.
    "You sneaky bastard... I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d actually pull it off."
    Ash let out a breathless chuckle, exhaustion weighing heavily on him.
    "Neither did I."
    Seth climbed back onto the stage and offered a hand.
    "Looks like you win this time, brother."
    Ash clasped Seth¡¯s hand firmly, feeling the immense relief wash over him.
    "Yeah... this time."
    As they turned toward the roaring crowd, Ash couldn¡¯t help but smile, though deep down he knew that beating Seth had only been a small victory in the grand scheme of things.
    He had won the tournament, but what came next would be far more challenging.
    ¡¯Without even thinking about the Succession Wars, I have to consider what will happen at the last parts of this Exchange.¡¯
    For now, though, he allowed himself to savor the moment.
    ********
    [Moments Later]
    "And now¡­ for the finals of the Intermediate Stage¡­!"
    The roaring cheers from the arena echoed through the vast hallways of the grand stadium, but Ash and Seth paid them no mind as they slipped away from the celebratory chaos.
    They found themselves in a secluded corner behind the towering pillars, the tension from their earlier match still hanging thick in the air.
    Seth leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, while Ash wiped the lingering sweat from his brow, his breathing slowly returning to normal.
    Seth broke the silence first, his signature grin tugging at his lips.
    "Well, you did it. You actually beat me, brother."
    Ash exhaled a chuckle, leaning against the pillar beside him. "Yeah¡­ barely. You weren¡¯t holding back, were you?"
    "Of course not," Seth said with a shrug. "But fair is fair. I lost, so I¡¯ll keep my end of the bargain."
    He straightened, his expression turning more serious. "If the Succession Wars ever happen, I¡¯ll stand by your side. No questions asked."
    Ash studied his twin brother carefully, trying to gauge the weight behind those words.
    Seth had always been the stronger one, the prodigy their family and the academy admired. For him to submit to Ash¡¯s leadership was not a small matter. Yet, as always, Seth spoke with unwavering confidence¡ªif he made a promise, he would see it through.
    "Thanks, Seth," Ash finally said, offering a small but genuine smile. "I¡¯ll be counting on you."
    "But," Seth added, his eyes narrowing slightly, "I still think you¡¯re overthinking it. Father¡¯s fine. The Succession Wars won¡¯t happen anytime soon."
    Ash¡¯s smile didn¡¯t falter, but he didn¡¯t argue either.
    "Maybe you¡¯re right." Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Seth sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "You¡¯ve got that look again. What are you planning now?"
    Ash glanced away, watching the distant flashes of magic from the ongoing Intermediate Stage Finals.
    "Nothing much... just thinking ahead. I might need a favor from you later."
    Seth eyed him warily. "What kind of favor?"
    "Don¡¯t worry," Ash reassured him. "It won¡¯t be anything illegal, and it will have something to do with our agreement."
    Seth smirked, nodding. "Good. You know the rules. As long as it aligns with that, I¡¯ll hear you out."
    Ash nodded in return. "I understand."
    Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden eruption of cheers from the arena. The brothers exchanged a glance and stepped forward to peer through the large viewing windows.
    The announcement boomed across the stadium:
    "The winner of the Intermediate Stage Finals¡ªNirvana Gate Academy!"
    The air shifted with a mix of excitement and tension. Ash¡¯s sharp eyes tracked the Nirvana Gate students as they celebrated on stage, their triumphant grins sending a wave of unease through him.
    He couldn¡¯t help but feel that their victories were more than just skill and power¡ªthere was something sinister lurking beneath their success.
    Seth whistled lowly.
    "Looks like they¡¯re serious contenders this year. That puts us in a tight spot."
    "Yeah. It all comes down to the Expert Stage match now. If we lose, they take the title of the Top Academy in the Empire." Ash nodded, his expression hardening.
    Seth crossed his arms again, a glint of competitiveness flashing in his eyes.
    "You worried?"
    "I¡¯d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t," Ash admitted. "Something feels... off about them. I can¡¯t shake the feeling that they¡¯re up to something."
    Seth snorted. "Overthinking things again, brother?"
    "Maybe," Ash muttered, still watching the Nirvana Gate students revel in their victory.
    "But I¡¯d rather be cautious than caught off guard."
    Seth patted Ash on the shoulder. "Well, whatever happens, I¡¯ll be around. Just say the word if you need me to crush someone."
    Ash chuckled.
    "I¡¯ll keep that in mind."
    As the final match of the tournament loomed closer, Ash knew that this was more than just a battle for the title.
    If Nirvana Gate Academy won, they wouldn¡¯t just be the top academy¡ªthey would gain influence, resources, and power within the Empire.
    And with everything that had been happening at the Akashic Magus Academy lately, the stakes were higher than ever.
    So many things had strayed from the original story. He had contributed a lot to some of them, but this was something that he wanted to flow according to the novel¡¯s original course.
    Unfortunately, it seemed the Nirvana Gate Academy winning the Exchange seemed inevitable at this point.
    ¡¯Of course, I can¡¯t allow that to happen.¡¯

 Chapter 89: Expert Stage Match

    Ash slipped back into the grand arena hall just as the final match of the day was about to begin.
    The entire auditorium buzzed with anticipation, the energy so thick it was almost suffocating. This was it¡ªthe final battle that would determine which academy would reign supreme.
    At the center of the colossal stage stood Nero Desgarron, the pride of the Akashic Magus Academy. He was tall and composed, his golden hair glinting under the stadium¡¯s light, and his piercing shimmering eyes exuding a chilling confidence.
    Across from him was Dredd Zerik, the strongest student of the Nirvana Gate Academy.
    With his dark, wild hair and the eerie crimson markings across his arms, he radiated an ominous aura that sent shivers through the spectators.
    The announcer¡¯s voice boomed throughout the stadium.
    "Let the final match of the Expert Stage¡­ begin!"
    Without hesitation, both competitors extended their hands forward.
    "[Externalization]!"
    BOOOOOOOOOM!!!
    The ground trembled as their Familiars materialized with a deafening roar.
    Nero¡¯s Blizzard Dragon erupted from a swirling storm of frost and ice, its serpentine body coiling in midair. Towering over the battlefield, its crystalline wings spread wide, sending shards of frost into the air. The chilling presence alone dropped the temperature of the arena by several degrees, and its piercing blue eyes locked onto its opponent with predatory focus.
    Dredd¡¯s Chaos Lion, however, emerged with an ominous snarl, its massive frame crackling with chaotic energy. Its dark fur bristled with raw energy, and its crimson eyes gleamed with a menacing hunger.
    The beast¡¯s aura distorted the space around it, flickering with chaotic tendrils of black and purple energy that threatened to consume anything in their path.
    The moment their Familiars locked eyes, they lunged at each other.
    BOOM!
    A powerful shockwave exploded as dragon and lion collided, sending ice and chaotic energy scattering across the arena. The fight between the two titanic beasts raged with terrifying intensity, ice meeting chaos in a flurry of devastating blows.
    Nero stood with his hands behind his back, an almost bored expression on his face, while Dredd gritted his teeth in frustration, already feeling the pressure of Nero¡¯s superior control. Continue your journey on NovelFire.C?m
    "Impressive," Nero muttered, watching his Blizzard Dragon dominate. "But not enough."
    Dredd growled, his hands flashing through intricate spell formations.
    "[Chaos Rend]!" S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The Chaos Lion let out a thunderous roar, slashing with its claws, sending tendrils of chaotic energy spiraling toward the Blizzard Dragon.
    However, Nero didn¡¯t even flinch.
    "[Frozen Aegis]."
    A thick wall of enchanted ice materialized in an instant, blocking the attack effortlessly. The next moment, the dragon retaliated with a vicious swipe of its tail, sending Dredd¡¯s Familiar crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact.
    The crowd roared as the dust settled, and it became increasingly clear¡ªNero was in a league of his own. His Blizzard Dragon moved with calculated precision, each movement a demonstration of overwhelming control and power.
    Dredd, panting, wiped the sweat off his brow.
    His Chaos Lion was struggling, battered and bruised. His mind raced, knowing that if things continued like this, he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.
    "Tch¡­ no choice, then."
    Dredd¡¯s eyes darkened with determination as he took a deep breath.
    "[Fusion]!"
    In an instant, the Chaos Lion dissolved into tendrils of energy that surged into Dredd¡¯s body.
    His muscles expanded with newfound power, and his eyes gleamed with feral, chaotic light. Black and purple energy swirled around him like a violent storm, and his aura intensified, causing the very ground beneath him to crack and tremble.
    Part of his body now resembled the lion, and the ground beneath him cracked as the energy around him crackled.
    The arena erupted in excitement¡ªDredd had gone all-in, combining with his Familiar to achieve his full potential.
    Ash watched intently from the stands, his arms crossed, muttering to himself, "Let¡¯s see if this is enough¡­"
    But Nero simply smirked, unimpressed.
    "[Partial Fusion]."
    Unlike Dredd¡¯s complete transformation, Nero allowed only part of the Blizzard Dragon¡¯s power to merge with him. Ice crystals formed along his arms, and his aura surged, creating a chilling atmosphere that made it difficult for anyone nearby to breathe.
    His eyes glowed an eerie frost-blue, and an aura of absolute dominance radiated from him.
    Dredd, now brimming with chaotic energy, launched himself at Nero with blinding speed, his fists crackling with destructive force. "
    Take this!"
    "[Frozen Domain]."
    With a single wave of his hand, Nero summoned an enormous field of ice spikes that erupted from the ground, forcing Dredd to skid to a stop, barely avoiding impalement.
    The momentary hesitation was all Nero needed.
    In the blink of an eye, he dashed forward with inhuman speed. His frosted fist met Dredd¡¯s chest with a resounding crack, sending him flying across the arena.
    The crowd gasped in awe¡ªNero wasn¡¯t even using his full power, yet he was dominating Dredd with ease.
    Dredd coughed, barely managing to get back on one knee, his chaotic energy flickering unsteadily around him. His vision blurred as he looked up to see Nero standing over him, his frosty breath visible in the cold air.
    "Give up," Nero said, his voice calm but unwavering. "You have no chance against me."
    Dredd clenched his fists, his teeth grinding in frustration. But deep down, he knew Nero was right. Even with his full power, he was no match for the strongest student of Akashic Magus Academy.
    Beatrice Lampshade, seeing Dredd¡¯s silence, raised her hand.
    "The winner of the Expert Stage Finals¡ª"
    "I¡¯m not done!"
    The arena erupted in deafening silence as Nero frowned while staring at Dredd. His expression was calm and composed as ever, but his eyes glowed with a little concern.
    "You don¡¯t know when to give up, huh?"
    "Huu¡­" Ash exhaled a breath he didn¡¯t realize he was holding.
    He had been watching this fight silently, and while it was seemingly obvious that Akashic Magus Academy had secured the win, he wasn¡¯t as optimistic.
    ¡¯If both the Apprentice and Expert stages win, the Akashic Magus Academy will remain at the top¡­ problem solved.¡¯ A small smile leaked on his face. ¡¯But if that happened, this wouldn¡¯t be a memorable Exchange, would it?¡¯
    Nirvana Gate Academy had been too aggressive, too desperate...
    There was no way they didn¡¯t account for a situation like this. Nero had always been an unbreachable wall, and as long as he existed, the Expert Stage match was inevitably going to be won by the Akashic Magus Academy.
    Unless¡ª
    "Huu¡­" Ash narrowed his eyes and let his smile vanish.
    "... Something¡¯s coming."

 Chapter 90: Unexpected Conclusion

    The crowd¡¯s deafening cheers filled the grand arena as Nero Desgarron stood towering over Dredd Zerik, his victory all but secured.
    The frigid air hung heavy, ice spikes glistening under the stadium lights, a testament to Nero¡¯s overwhelming dominance. Dredd remained kneeling, his chaotic energy flickering weakly around him, his breathing ragged and labored.
    "Give up," Nero repeated, his voice carrying an air of finality. "You have no chance against me."
    A hush began to fall over the audience, murmurs of admiration and relief rippling through the Akashic Magus Academy¡¯s supporters.
    Ash, watching from the stands, let out a small breath.
    But then... something changed.
    "Hehe¡­"
    A low, guttural chuckle escaped from Dredd¡¯s lips. His hunched figure began to tremble, not with exhaustion¡ªbut with something far more sinister.
    "No chance, huh?" he muttered under his breath, his voice dripping with something almost inhuman.
    Before Nero could react, a pulse of pure, raw energy exploded outward from Dredd¡¯s body.
    BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
    The entire arena shuddered as an oppressive, suffocating aura enveloped the battlefield, dark tendrils of energy coiling and writhing around him like living serpents.
    "What...?" Nero¡¯s ice-blue eyes widened in shock.
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    The crowd gasped, and Ash shot to his feet, his eyes narrowing as he felt the sudden spike in power.
    ¡¯This¡­ isn¡¯t normal.¡¯
    "What is this?" Members of the audience stammered, caught off guard by the sudden surge.
    Dredd slowly rose to his feet, his darkkened eyes glowing with an unnatural intensity. The chaotic energy around him had transformed¡ªbecoming something darker, something tainted.
    A menacing grin spread across his face.
    "Did you really think I¡¯d come here without a trump card?" Dredd¡¯s voice boomed across the stadium.
    With a mere flick of his wrist, the chaotic energy coiled into his hand before erupting into a devastating wave.
    "[Abyssal Rend]!"
    The attack shot forward like a black hurricane, slicing through the icy terrain Nero had created with terrifying ease. Nero barely had time to raise a defense before the blast struck him, sending him hurtling backward with bone-crushing force.
    "Gaaah!" Nero¡¯s cry echoed through the arena as he crashed into the reinforced barrier with a thunderous impact, cracks spider-webbing across the magical defenses meant to protect the spectators.
    The entire stadium fell silent, stunned.
    Nero Desgarron¡ªthe strongest Expert Stage student of the Akashic Magus Academy¡ªwas sprawled across the ground, ice shards falling around him like broken glass. His armor of frost was shattered, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
    He struggled to push himself up, but his limbs trembled violently.
    "Impossible¡­" someone whispered in disbelief.
    Dredd flexed his fingers, his chaotic energy crackling with newfound vigor. "You underestimated me, Nero. All this time, you thought you were untouchable."
    He took a step forward, the very ground trembling beneath his newfound might.
    "But I¡¯ve been preparing for this."
    With blinding speed, he vanished and reappeared in front of Nero, driving a brutal fist into his gut. Nero¡¯s eyes widened in pain as he doubled over, air forced from his lungs.
    "Gahhh!"
    Dredd¡¯s strength had grown exponentially in an instant, and no one¡ªleast of all Nero¡ªwas prepared for it.
    Before Nero could counter, Dredd raised his hand.
    "This ends now."
    A final surge of chaotic power exploded outward, sending Nero flying off the stage, crashing into the far wall outside the ring.
    The crowd erupted into a mixture of cheers and horrified gasps. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Beatrice, still processing what had just occurred, hesitated before finally declaring:
    "The winner¡­ DREDD ZERIK of the Nirvana Gate Academy!"
    A stunned silence followed before Nirvana Gate Academy¡¯s supporters erupted into deafening cheers. Their students cheered wildly, reveling in their unexpected victory.
    Nirvana Gate Academy had won.
    They were the new top academy.
    Ash clenched his fists as he watched Nero being carried away by the medics.
    ¡¯As expected¡­ he lost.¡¯
    "That power¡­ just as in the novel, it¡¯s not normal. He shouldn¡¯t have been able to overpower Nero like that." Ash nodded slowly, his mind racing.
    Something sinister was at play, and this unnatural victory was sheer proof.
    Dredd raised his arms in triumph, basking in the adoration of the crowd, his grin never fading. His eyes locked onto Ash¡¯s for a brief moment, and in that instant, Ash saw it¡ªsomething lurking behind that smile.
    Something dark.
    **********
    The students of the Akashic Magus Academy sat in stunned silence, their earlier excitement replaced with disappointment and confusion. The final matches were over, and the audience was now waiting for the official announcement of results and the grand award ceremony.
    Ash slipped away from the crowded stands, his steps brisk and purposeful.
    He weaved through the maze of corridors beneath the arena, heading toward the private lounge where Seth was waiting.
    His mind was racing, thoughts swirling in a storm of resolve and urgency.
    ¡¯I only have a few minutes, tops. Now that I have confirmed what I wanted to, there¡¯s no time to waste.
    As he reached the lounge, he pushed the heavy door open to find Seth standing near the window, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the massive banners of the Nirvana Gate Academy being hoisted above the arena.
    Seth turned at the sound of the door closing behind Ash. He raised an eyebrow.
    "Took you long enough. What¡¯s going on?"
    Ash walked straight up to him, his voice low but urgent. "We need to talk about that match. Right now."
    Seth frowned.
    "Yeah, no kidding. Did you see what happened out there? Nero Desgarron was crushing him, and then out of nowhere¡ªboom, sudden power spike. It was certainly unexpected, but what are you getting at?"
    Ash stepped closer, lowering his voice. "That¡¯s because they cheated, Seth. Nirvana Gate Academy didn¡¯t win fairly. Dredd used something¡ªsomething unnatural."
    Seth¡¯s eyes narrowed in suspicion.
    "Cheated? Ash, that¡¯s a bold claim. Do you have proof?"
    "Not yet, but I have a strong hunch, and I know where to find it. If we act now, we can expose them before the award ceremony starts." Ash nodded sharply
    Seth rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Alright, let¡¯s say you¡¯re right. How do you know where to look? What are you planning?"
    Ash smirked faintly, the gears in his mind already turning.
    "Just trust me."
    Seth hesitated for a brief moment before his usual cocky grin returned.
    "Fine. But this better not be one of your crazy hunches, brother. You beat me, so I guess I¡¯ll help you out. Lead the way."
    "I knew you¡¯d see reason." Ash patted Seth¡¯s shoulder.
    "Let¡¯s go."

 Chapter 91: Exposed

    The grand arena was alight with anticipation.
    It was finally time for the official declaration of the winner of the Academy Exchange, as well as the grand prize that would go to each student who won.
    The stage, adorned with banners from all the competing academies, glittered under the brilliance of magical lanterns.
    Students and spectators alike cheered as the winners of each stage took their place at the front of the stage. The air was charged with excitement, the energy of the Exchange Matches still drifting in the air.
    Ash stood silently to one side of the stage, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd and the Nirvana Gate contingent.
    Dredd Zerik, the Expert Stage winner from Nirvana Gate Academy, stood confidently in the center, basking in the glory of their newly achieved status as the top academy. His demeanor was smug, his shoulders squared, exuding an air of invincibility.
    As the Beatrice Lampshade, very clearly trying to hide her dissatisfaction, began to step forward to announce the final results, a voice rang out, cutting through the cheers like a blade.
    "Wait!"
    All heads turned as Seth Zephyr strode onto the stage, his presence commanding and his voice steady.
    The crowd murmured in confusion, but the Nirvana Gate students immediately tensed. D
    redd¡¯s smirk faltered for a split second before he recovered, crossing his arms with a cocky grin.
    Seth stopped at the center of the stage, his eyes locking onto Dredd.
    "Before we crown Nirvana Gate Academy as the new top academy, there¡¯s something everyone here needs to know."
    Beatrice Lampshade raised an eyebrow but gestured for him to continue.
    Seth turned to the crowd, his voice ringing loud and clear.
    "Dredd Zerik cheated. During the Expert Finals, he used a Tainted Spirit to overpower Nero Desgarron. Everyone knows that only normal Spirits are permitted in matches like these¡ªTainted Spirits are forbidden because of their volatile and uncontrollable nature."
    The crowd erupted into murmurs, the words "cheating" and "Tainted Spirit" rippling through the audience.
    Normally, Mages of the Empire were only allowed to contract with normal Spirits, hence it was practically unorthodox for a Mage to be in possession¡ªnot to mention utilize¡ªa Tainted Spirit.
    Since they were thought to be uncontrollable, the revelation that Tainted Spirits could be used to cheat in the Exchange was a stark one.
    It caused many to frown at the absurdity and severity of the situation.
    However, at the moment, there was one matter that held even higher priority than the Tainted Spirit accusation.
    "Me¡­?" Dredd stepped forward, raising his hands in mock disbelief.
    "Cheated? That¡¯s a bold accusation, Zephyr. Do you have any proof, or is this just a case of sore losers trying to save face?"
    Seth¡¯s jaw tightened, but before he could respond, Ash stepped up beside him, his usual calm demeanor unshaken.
    "If you doubt my brother, then check his Soul for his Familiar," Ash said, his voice carrying across the stage. "If he¡¯s innocent, you¡¯ll find nothing unusual."
    The Head Of Student Affairs frowned, turning in the direction of the seated Vice Head of the Academy.
    She wanted to know what to do.
    As one would expect, the Vice Head was also frowning, but he nodded at her. This allowed her to motion for a team of Soul Inspectors to step forward.
    The inspection was swift, and moments later, one of the inspectors announced:
    "We checked his Soul. The Familiar is normal and resides within his Soul as it should."
    The tension shifted immediately. The Nirvana Gate students relaxed, and Dredd¡¯s grin widened.
    "See?" Dredd said, spreading his arms as if addressing the entire crowd. "Nothing but baseless accusations. I¡¯d like to formally accuse the Zephyr brothers of slander. Clearly, their jealousy knows no bounds."
    The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, and several eyes turned to Ash and Seth with suspicion.
    But Ash didn¡¯t flinch.
    Instead, he turned to Seth, who then smiled faintly, his eyes sharp as they locked onto Dredd.
    "You¡¯re good, I¡¯ll give you that. But, let¡¯s not pretend that there aren¡¯t other ways to go about it. Hiding the Tainted Spirit within a Soul Crystal is a clever trick to use, and its efficient since the Spirit won¡¯t be able to taint your soul, presenting little to no danger to yourself. If you use that method, the Tainted Spirit doesn¡¯t reside in your Soul and can¡¯t be detected by standard inspections."
    Experience tales with NovelFire.C?m
    Beatrice sighed as she turned to Dredd.
    "Do you have a Soul Crystal in your possession?"
    "Of course not. They already checked me, didn¡¯t they? There¡¯s nothing on me because I¡¯m innocent." Dredd shook his head confidently.
    The crowd¡¯s murmur grew louder, the momentum shifting further in Dredd¡¯s favor.
    Seth clenched his fists, but Ash placed a calming hand on his shoulder.
    "He¡¯s right," Ash admitted, his smile not wavering. "He most likely doesn¡¯t have it on him now. But that¡¯s because he was smart enough to leave it behind before coming on stage."
    Dredd¡¯s confidence faltered ever so slightly, but he quickly masked it with a laugh.
    "This is ridiculous. You¡¯re grasping at straws, Zephyr. Admit your loss gracefully."
    "If my brother is wrong, he and I will drop out of the academy and forfeit our positions here. I swear it on the honor of the Zephyr family." Ash stepped forward, addressing the Vice Head directly.
    The audience gasped at the bold declaration, and even Seth looked at his brother in shock.
    Ash continued, his voice steady.
    "But if I¡¯m right, I ask only one thing: search Dredd Zerik¡¯s room. A Tainted Spirit requires nourishment¡ªspecifically, energy from Spirit Stones to survive. If he truly used a Tainted Spirit, there will be Spirit Stones in his quarters. I stake everything on this claim."
    Charles Zellium, the Vice Head, hesitated for a moment, but the weight of Ash¡¯s words and the seriousness of his oath left him no choice.
    "Search his quarters immediately." He nodded to a group of officials.
    Dredd¡¯s confident facade remained, but for the first time, he looked genuinely annoyed.
    "This is absurd! You¡¯re letting them drag my name through the mud without proof!" He yelled out.
    But the officials were already moving.
    The audience watched in hushed anticipation as the minutes dragged on like hours.
    Ash and Seth exchanged a glance, a small smile passing between them. As the crowd roared around them, Seth leaned toward his brother.
    "You¡¯re insane, you know that?"
    "Insanity¡¯s just another word for genius, Seth." Ash chuckled
    "You better be sure about this¡­ Our lives here are at stake."
    Ash gave no response to this, but his lips curled even wider as he thought very loudly to himself.
    ¡¯I am!¡¯
    ********
    [Moments Later]
    ¡¯Hehe¡­ fools.¡¯
    Dredd Zerik stood on the stage, a confident smirk now growing on his face even as the officials left to search his room.
    His composure was unshaken, a quiet satisfaction burning in his chest.
    ¡¯They can search all they want,¡¯ he thought to himself. ¡¯I wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to keep the Spirit Stones in my room. Those were disposed of this morning. As for the Soul Crystal, it¡¯s in safekeeping where no one will ever find it. Let them dig; they¡¯ll come up empty-handed.¡¯
    The murmurs of the crowd rose and fell as the tension hung thick in the air. Ash and Seth waited calmly, but Ash¡¯s piercing gaze remained locked on Dredd, who refused to meet his eyes.
    Moments later, the officials returned, their expressions a mixture of triumph and stern disapproval.
    One of them stepped forward, holding a small pouch in his gloved hand. The pouch radiated a faint, ominous glow, and the audience gasped as the official opened it, revealing several Spirit Stones.
    The headmaster¡¯s voice boomed across the arena.
    "We have found Spirit Stones in Dredd Zerik¡¯s quarters. These stones bear the crest of the Asura Spirit Academy, which matches well with the stolen report that they made a few days back."
    The arena erupted into chaos.
    Gasps of shock, accusations, and whispers of disbelief rippled through the crowd.
    Dredd¡¯s smirk finally faltered, his eyes widening ever so slightly.
    "W-what?" he whispered under his breath.
    ¡¯That¡¯s impossible... I got rid of them. There¡¯s no way¡ª¡¯
    His thoughts were interrupted as he glanced at the two brothers who were grinning even more than before.
    ¡¯Bastards! You planted those, didn¡¯t you? I used Spirit Stones, sure¡­ but I never stolen from the Asura Spirit Academy!¡¯
    But how could he admit his innocence and report the twins without implicating himself in the process?
    "Order." The Vice Head raised a hand to quiet the crowd.
    His expression was grim as he addressed Dredd.
    "This is a serious offense, Dredd Zerik. These Spirit Stones were reported stolen by the Asura Spirit Academy, and now they¡¯ve been found in your quarters. While further investigation will determine whether you cheated using a Tainted Spirit, the mere act of possessing stolen property is grounds for disqualification. The Nirvana Gate Academy is hereby disqualified from the Exchange Matches."
    The announcement sent shockwaves through the crowd. The representatives from Nirvana Gate Academy stood in stunned silence, their victory snatched away in an instant.
    Dredd¡¯s composure finally cracked as he stepped forward, his voice desperate.
    "T-this is a setup! I got rid of the Spirit Stones¡ªI mean¡ª"
    He froze, realizing his slip.
    "Enough. Your actions have disgraced your academy and undermined the integrity of this competition. Guards, detain him." Charles¡¯ glare hardened. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The guards stepped forward, seizing Dredd by the arms as he struggled.
    "I was framed! This is all a conspiracy!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the arena.
    As he was dragged away, the Head of Student Affairs for the Nirvana Gate Academy, a lanky man with glasses and a soft demeanor, stepped forward.
    He adjusted his spectacles, his face a picture of contrition.
    "I deeply apologize for my student¡¯s actions," he said, his tone mild and unassuming. "I had no idea he was involved in such reprehensible behavior. I must take full responsibility for being too lenient with him."
    The Vice Head eyed the man suspiciously but nodded.
    "Your academy will be contacted for further investigation."
    With Dredd removed from the stage, the headmaster turned to address the crowd.
    "Due to the disqualification of Nirvana Gate Academy, the Akashic Magus Academy retains its position as the Number 1 Academy. Congratulations to all the participants, and may this be a lesson in the importance of honor and integrity."
    The crowd erupted into applause, though the atmosphere remained tense. While the Akashic students celebrated, the Nirvana Gate delegation wore expressions of shock, anger, and humiliation.
    Seth let out a sigh of relief, turning to Ash.
    "You pulled it off."
    "Barely. But this is only the beginning, Seth." Ash smiled faintly.
    ¡¯There¡¯s more going on here than even you realize.¡¯

 Chapter 92: The Last Issue

    ¡¯Any moment now¡­¡¯
    Ash smiled as his hands were in his pockets while he took gentle strides in the campus grounds.
    It felt nice, finally being free from the burdens and pressure of the Academy Exchange, but he knew the entire saga was far from over.
    There remained one loose end¡­ one final issue he had to properly resolve before he could call things a wrap.
    ¡¯I don¡¯t know if things will occur as they did in the past, especially since I¡¯ve changed so much, but¡­ things look like they should be on schedule.¡¯
    His smile remained planted on his face as he desired his destination.
    The evening air was crisp and quiet, the soft glow of the academy¡¯s lanterns casting long shadows along the stone pathways. Ash walked alone, his thoughts deep, when the sound of approaching footsteps drew his attention.
    ¡¯I was wondering when he¡¯d come find me¡­¡¯
    Kellion.
    The older student had his hands in his pockets, his usual smirk replaced with something more inquisitive.
    "You planted the Spirit Stones in Dredd¡¯s room, didn¡¯t you?" he asked without preamble.
    Ash didn¡¯t flinch.
    Instead, he exhaled softly, tilting his head slightly. "If I didn¡¯t, Dredd would have walked free."
    "So it was a setup from the start." Kellion narrowed his eyes.
    Ash gave a small, knowing smile.
    "Let¡¯s just say it was my backup plan. I suspected he¡¯d get rid of the evidence before the award ceremony, so I made sure there was something for them to find. The stones belonged to the Asura Spirit Academy in the first place¡ªI just¡­ made sure they ended up in the right hands again."
    Kellion studied him for a moment, then let out a chuckle.
    "I see. And let me guess, you don¡¯t want your brother knowing about this?"
    "It¡¯s better if he thinks everything was legitimate." Ash¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver. "Seth values honor¡ªif he knew I manipulated the situation, he might start doubting our methods. I need him to trust me completely."
    "Fine. Your secret¡¯s safe with me." Kellion nodded, seemingly amused.
    Then, his expression turned serious. "But now that the Exchange is over, you still owe me something. You promised to train me, remember?"
    Ash gave him a thoughtful look before nodding.
    "Come with me."
    ****** S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Kellion followed Ash through the dim corridors of the still-functioning Training Hall until they arrived at a secluded training room. As the heavy doors creaked open, the sound of controlled breathing and steady footwork echoed within.
    Seth Zephyr was already inside.
    The twin Zephyr had removed his outer coat, standing in a combat stance, his muscles tensed in preparation.
    He turned when he heard them enter, his golden eyes sharp.
    "Brother? What¡¯s this about?"
    Ash stepped inside, letting the doors close behind them. He looked at both Seth and Kellion, his gaze unwavering.
    "You two are strong. Incredibly strong." He crossed his arms. "But not strong enough."
    Seth frowned. "I know¡­ I just thought we¡¯d be the ones training, you know? Alone?"
    "Remember I told you I would need your favor? Well, this is it."
    "I thought the favor was for exposing Dredd."
    "Nope!"
    Seth shook his head lightly, raising both hands in surrender as he shrugged the last embers of his hesitance off.
    Kellion, who had been watching this silently, let out a small sigh.
    "I assume this is going to be hellish training, then?"
    "That depends on how fast you learn." Ash smiled.
    Both Seth and Kellion straightened, their initial reluctance shifting into quiet determination. They were powerful, yes, but Ash had positioned himself as their superior¡ªnot just as an ally, but as a strategist who saw further than anyone else.
    He wasn¡¯t just training them. He was molding them into weapons.
    ¡¯If I have these two, and the others I plan to obtain eventually¡­ I¡¯ll be able to influence future scenarios for sure.¡¯
    And as he stood by the sidelines, watching them prepare for their first round of brutal training, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
    Two powerful pieces, now firmly under his control.
    The air inside the training hall was thick with tension.
    Kellion and Seth stood at opposite ends of the sparring arena, their eyes locked, bodies poised. There was no audience, no fanfare¡ªonly Ash watching from the sidelines, arms crossed, as the two warriors prepared to clash.
    "Whenever you¡¯re ready," Ash said, his voice calm yet expectant.
    Neither needed further prompting.
    Kellion was the first to move.
    WHOOOSH!!
    The ground beneath him cracked as he lunged forward with a burst of speed, flames erupting from his arms. His fire wasn¡¯t just ordinary¡ªit was destructive, the kind that didn¡¯t merely burn but tore through whatever it touched.
    Seth met his charge head-on, sidestepping just enough to avoid a direct hit.
    Azure lightning crackled around him as he retaliated, his fist wreathed in blue fire as he drove it toward Kellion¡¯s ribs.
    Kellion barely managed to block, but the impact sent a violent shockwave through his body, forcing him backward. His arms trembled from the force.
    Too strong.
    But he wasn¡¯t about to admit that.
    Kellion gritted his teeth and countered with a sweeping kick, his foot igniting mid-motion, leaving a blazing arc in its wake. Seth ducked, but Kellion anticipated it¡ªhe pivoted, twisting his body to bring down an overhead punch, his entire arm engulfed in roaring flames.
    Seth raised a hand, and a pulse of blue lightning surged outward. The force stopped Kellion¡¯s attack mid-swing, the pressure alone sending him skidding back.
    The gap between them was clear.
    Seth wasn¡¯t just stronger. He was faster, smarter, and still holding back.
    Kellion wiped the sweat from his forehead, his breath heavy.
    "You¡¯re not even trying, are you?"
    Seth rolled his shoulders, his expression unreadable. "I don¡¯t want to kill you."
    Kellion¡¯s flames flared in frustration. "Don¡¯t patronize me."
    He roared forward, his body bursting into motion with renewed fury. The flames around him coiled like serpents, the sheer heat distorting the air.
    This time, he didn¡¯t just attack¡ªhe unleashed destruction.
    Fists wreathed in obliterating fire, he struck, again and again. Each blow carried the weight of an explosion, shaking the arena floor. Seth weaved through them effortlessly, dodging with movements that seemed almost lazy.
    Then, Seth countered.
    A single step forward. A precise strike.
    BOOM!
    Kellion barely registered the impact before his vision blurred. Seth¡¯s fist slammed into his gut, lightning surging through his veins, his nerves screaming in pain.
    The next moment, he was on his back, gasping for air.
    It was over.
    Kellion clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him. He had lost, and Seth had barely broken a sweat.
    Ash finally stepped forward. His gaze lingered on Kellion for a moment before shifting to Seth.
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    "Not bad," he remarked, then turned his attention fully to Kellion. "But you¡­ You have a long way to go."
    Kellion scowled but said nothing.
    Ash crossed his arms. "You two have quite the next couple of days ahead of you."
    There was no need for further explanation.
    This was just the beginning.
    ********
    [Later That Night]
    "Damnit¡­"
    Dredd Zerik sat in his cell, his hands clenched into trembling fists.
    His mind raced, replaying the moment his victory was stolen from him. He had been so close¡ªso close to cementing Nirvana Gate Academy as the top Academy in the Empire. But now?
    Disgrace.
    His reputation, his future, everything he had worked for had been ripped away.
    The dim torches along the corridor flickered, casting long, wavering shadows across the stone walls. The silence of the prison was suffocating.
    Then, a presence.
    A cold shiver crawled down his spine as a silhouette materialized outside his cell, blending seamlessly with the darkness. The figure¡¯s form was indistinct, but the weight of its malice pressed down on him like a heavy shroud.
    "You failed," the silhouette said, voice smooth and devoid of emotion.
    Dredd swallowed hard. "I¡ªIt wasn¡¯t my fault. I was¡ª"
    A small object clattered against the stone floor of his cell.
    Dredd¡¯s breath caught in his throat. The dim light revealed the smooth, glistening surface of a Soul Crystal¡ªhis Soul Crystal.
    The one he had hidden.
    The one that held the Tainted Spirit.
    No¡­
    The crystal began to crack.
    Dredd¡¯s eyes widened in terror. He scrambled backward, pressing himself against the cold cell wall.
    "W-Wait! I can fix this! I can still be useful¡ª"
    The cracks spread.
    Then, with a sickening shatter, the Soul Crystal broke apart, and the Tainted Spirit burst free.
    A swirling mass of dark energy and ghastly tendrils erupted from the crystal, twisting and contorting into a monstrous form. It let out an unnatural, guttural growl, its empty, abyssal eyes locking onto Dredd.
    Dredd opened his mouth to scream, but the Tainted Spirit lunged.
    The room was filled with the sickening sound of bones snapping, flesh tearing, and a soul being devoured.
    The prison guards rushed in, their weapons drawn. "What the hell is¡ª"
    They never got to finish.
    The thing that was once Dredd lifted its head, its body now distorted and grotesque, with writhing shadowy appendages where arms had been. Its eyes gleamed with unnatural hunger.
    Then, it struck.
    The corridor was drowned in screams as the abomination ripped through the guards, devouring their very essence.
    The more it fed, the stronger it grew.
    From the shadows, the silhouette observed in silence.
    A smile played at their lips as they whispered¡ª
    "Oh¡­ the night is about to get very fun."

 Chapter 93: Tainted Horror

    The night was shattered by chaos.
    What had once been a contained disturbance within the academy¡¯s holding cells had spiraled into an all-out disaster. The Tainted Spirit¡ªonce a mere specter bound within a Soul Crystal¡ªhad transformed.
    No longer a wraith-like entity lurking in the shadows, it had evolved into a monstrous abomination. Explore more at NovelFire.C?m
    Its massive, grotesque body pulsated with raw, corrupted energy, constantly shifting as if its very form rejected stability.
    Jagged tendrils, each stretching over thirty feet long, lashed out violently, carving deep gouges into the academy grounds. Its dark form was unnatural, writhing and pulsing like a living shadow, devouring everything in its wake.
    But worst of all were its eyes.
    Hollow, abyssal voids that radiated hunger¡ªan endless, insatiable hunger for more souls.
    It had already feasted on the guards.
    Their bodies had long since withered, their spirits torn from them and absorbed into its ever-growing mass. With each new victim, it grew stronger. Larger.
    And now, it was on the verge of turning its wrath upon the students and staff. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The alarms rang out across the academy, their shrill wails tearing through the once-peaceful night. In every building, in every dormitory, Mages were jolted awake by the overwhelming pressure of the Tainted Spirit¡¯s power.
    It wasn¡¯t long before the academy¡¯s most powerful figures were gathered.
    ******
    "Thank you all for coming."
    Within a grand chamber in the central academy tower, four figures stood in grim silence.
    The Heads of Student Affairs from each of the rival academies had convened¡ªeach of them formidable in their own right.
    At the head of the gathering was Beatrice Lampshade, the esteemed and commanding leader of the Akashic Magus Academy.
    Clad in regal silver and dark violet robes, she radiated authority, her piercing eyes surveying the others with unwavering confidence.
    Standing across from her was Heinrich Vale, the stoic and battle-scarred Head of the Orion Sagw. His presence was as solid as iron, his arms crossed over his broad chest as he observed the situation with a tactical mind.
    To his right, Garrik Durnhelm of Asura Spirit loomed, an absolute giant of a man with arms like tree trunks. His heavy plate armor barely seemed to weigh him down, and the crackling energy that danced around his gauntlets spoke volumes of his sheer power.
    The last of the quartet was Dreyfus Lakyus, the lanky and timid Head from the Nirvana Gate Academy
    Behind them, lined up in disciplined formation, stood the Instructors¡ªeach one a veteran Mage of unparalleled skill.
    Their combined presence alone was enough to make the air feel dense, their spiritual pressure pressing against the walls like a brewing storm.
    The severity of the situation was clear.
    "This thing is growing out of control," Heinrich stated, his voice grim. "If it keeps consuming souls at this rate, it could become a catastrophe."
    "It already is a catastrophe," Dreyfus countered, his voice calm yet biting. "We need to act now."
    "Agreed," Garrik rumbled. "No time for hesitation."
    All eyes turned to Beatrice.
    She met their gazes, then gave a single, decisive nod.
    "I¡¯ll lead the assault," she declared.
    None of the others objected.
    They knew better than to argue with Beatrice Lampshade when it came to battle.
    Behind her, the assembled Instructors straightened, readying themselves. Some cracked their knuckles, others drew their weapons, but all of them were prepared.
    No more words were needed.
    Beatrice raised her hand, and an intricate array of golden sigils appeared beneath the gathered warriors, glowing brilliantly. The magic circle widened, enveloping them all in a surge of teleportation energy.
    In an instant, the air around them warped, the chamber vanishing¡ª
    And the battlefield awaited them.
    The Tainted Spirit, now a towering monstrosity, loomed over the horizon.
    Its abyssal eyes turned toward them.
    It screamed.
    ZZZTTTZZZZ!!!
    The night air crackled with raw power.
    The four Head of Student Affairs stood before the towering Tainted Spirit, their expressions hard as steel.
    Around them, the air shimmered with the aftershock of their teleportation, but none of them hesitated.
    "ROAAARRR!!!"
    The monstrosity before them let out another deafening, unnatural scream, its abyssal eyes locking onto the warriors with insatiable hunger. Its amorphous body of writhing shadows pulsed, its massive tentacles lashing out in chaotic arcs, crushing the academy structures around it like brittle twigs.
    This was no ordinary creature. It had evolved past the limits of a normal Tainted Spirit, bloated with the stolen souls of its victims, exuding a suffocating aura of corruption.
    But the Heads of Student Affairs were undeterred.
    Beatrice Lampshade stepped forward, her violet eyes gleaming like stars in the darkness. She lifted a single hand, and the air around her shifted, thick with condensed mana.
    "This ends now."
    With those three words, she activated her Fusion.
    A blinding golden light erupted from her body, engulfing her in a swirling vortex of power. The very ground beneath her trembled, unable to withstand the surge of energy.
    The other Heads of Student Affairs followed without hesitation.
    Heinrich Vale let out a low chant, his voice reverberating through the battlefield. A storm of metallic fragments spiraled around him, coalescing into a shimmering silver aura. His eyes gleamed like molten steel as he vanished into the light.
    Garrik Durnhelm threw his head back and roared, his entire body crackling with raw thunder. Lightning surged through his veins, wrapping his form in a corona of white-hot destruction.
    Seraphina Gale, ever the silent storm, simply raised her hand, and the wind obeyed. A spiral of crystal-blue energy encased her, her silhouette flickering like a mirage as the air itself became her weapon.
    The Tainted Spirit screeched, sensing the escalation in power. Its form twisted in response, tendrils snapping toward them like spears.
    And then, the light faded.
    The Head of Student Affairs had changed.
    Beatrice emerged first. Her form was sleek and terrifyingly radiant¡ªher armor now shimmering obsidian edged with violet, her eyes glowing like a pair of celestial stars. Ethereal wings of golden light extended from her back, pulsating with pure energy. Her presence alone warped the space around her, making her seem almost divine.
    Her Familiar¡ªnow fully fused with her¡ªwas still unknown, yet the sheer pressure of its existence was overwhelming.
    Heinrich now stood clad in silver battle armor, his entire form enhanced with razor-sharp edges, his every movement exuding precision and lethality.
    Garrik had become an avatar of destruction, his massive frame crackling with unstable lightning, his arms now resembling titanic gauntlets of pure thunder.
    Dreyfus¡¯ transformation was modest and simple¡ªhis body now half-ethereal, form constantly shifting between solid and air, making him almost untouchable.
    WHOOOOSH!Beatrice moved first.
    With a flicker of motion, she vanished¡ªreappearing above the Tainted Spirit with a flash of violet light.
    Her hands ignited with pure energy, and with a single downward motion¡ª
    "Annihilation Arc."
    A colossal blade of golden energy erupted from the heavens, cleaving through the Tainted Spirit¡¯s body with unimaginable force. The shockwave alone shattered the surrounding academy walls, sending debris flying.
    The creature howled, its form splitting apart¡ªonly for it to reform instantly.
    Garrik thundered in next. His gauntlets roared with crackling white-hot energy, and he launched a devastating thunderclap punch straight into the Tainted Spirit¡¯s core. The force was like a falling meteor, sending a ripple of destructive energy that tore through the entire field.
    Again, the creature¡¯s body exploded¡ªand again, it regenerated.
    "Tch!" Heinrich clicked his tongue, already moving. His hands snapped outward, and the air filled with the sharp, ringing sound of steel.
    "Steel Dominion."
    A thousand razor-sharp metallic lances materialized mid-air, hovering like the fangs of a great beast¡ªthen, in the blink of an eye, they all struck.
    The Tainted Spirit was impaled, its body riddled with silver spears of light.
    But it did not fall.
    Instead, the darkness around it twisted violently, absorbing the attacks, growing stronger.
    Dreyfus¡¯ eyes flashed. He raised a hand, and suddenly, the air itself shattered.
    "Gale¡¯s Erasure."
    A vacuum of compressed wind formed around the Tainted Spirit, isolating its very existence from the world. A sphere of absolute nullification¡ªmeant to erase it completely.
    For a moment, it seemed as though it had worked¡ª
    Then, dark tendrils tore through the sphere.
    The Tainted Spirit was unharmed. Worse¡ªits power had increased.
    Then, it counterattacked.
    SWUSH!
    A single tendril snapped forward.
    One of the Instructors, a powerful Rank 6 Mage, raised his hands in defense¡ªonly to freeze as the tendril touched him.
    A horrible, wet sound echoed through the battlefield.
    His entire soul was ripped from his body in an instant. His form collapsed¡ªhis spirit devoured.
    The others followed.
    Tendrils lashed out, striking down Instructor after Instructor, each one drained of their very essence before they could even react.
    In a matter of moments, the battlefield had shifted.
    The Instructors were gone.
    Only the four Head of Studenr Affairs remained.
    Beatrice clenched her fists, her glowing violet eyes filled with rare frustration. "It¡¯s adapting too fast."
    Heinrich exhaled sharply. "At this rate, we¡¯ll be the next ones consumed."
    "We need to hold the line." Dreyfus¡¯ expression was grim.
    Garrik gritted his teeth, his body still brimming with unspent power. "Then we hold the damn line."
    The Tainted Spirit loomed above them, its eyes gleaming with endless hunger.
    The battle had only just begun.
    And there was no sign of it ending.

 Chapter 94: Sudden Assault

    [Moments Earlier]
    "Haaa¡­ what an intense round."
    Kellion was wheezing as he lay on the ground, completely exhausted. Sweat covered his entire body, even oozing to the floor as he glanced at Seth.
    Unlike him, Seth was standing upright and had minimal drops of sweat on his body.
    He breathed a little heavily, but nothing too serious.
    As for Ash, who had served as a spectators for most of their fights, but also utilising his Spirit Arts to demonstrate a few things, he was the most lax out of the three.
    Since he hadn¡¯t exerted himself as much as the two, he barely broke into a sweat.
    The three remained in the room for a while.
    Silent.
    Then¡ª
    "ROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!"
    The distant roar of battle shattered the quiet of the training hall.
    Ash¡¯s eyes narrowed as he turned toward the source of the disturbance, sensing the surge of chaotic energy rippling through the night air.
    Beside him, Seth and Kellion also stiffened, their expressions shifting from focus to concern.
    A dark crimson glow flickered on the horizon, accompanied by the faint echoes of explosions and the unmistakable hum of high-tier magic being unleashed.
    Seth clenched his fists.
    "That¡¯s not normal."
    "Yeah¡­ and it¡¯s close." Kellion let out a slow breath.
    The three of them stepped out of the hall, moving swiftly toward an open vantage point that overlooked the academy grounds.
    What they saw sent a chill down their spines.
    A colossal, writhing monstrosity towered in the distance, its shadowy mass of tendrils and glowing abyssal eyes an affront to reality itself. The Tainted Spirit had fully manifested, its presence warping the very air around it, causing the atmosphere to shudder with every motion.
    A massive battle was already underway.
    The four Head of Student Affairs, now in their Fusion forms, clashed against the creature with earth-shattering attacks.
    Flashes of violet, silver, blue, and gold lit up the battlefield, their magic colliding against the entity in a relentless barrage. Yet, despite their combined strength, the Tainted Spirit endured, absorbing their attacks and growing stronger with each passing moment.
    "That thing¡­ what is it? It¡¯s fighting against the strongest mages in the academy and still holding its own?" Seth¡¯s breath caught in his throat.
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    Kellion grimaced. "No. It¡¯s winning."
    Ash¡¯s sharp gaze analyzed the scene.
    The entire academy staff¡ªonce standing at the Head of Student¡¯s side¡ªwas gone.
    Their souls devoured, their bodies reduced to lifeless husks. The battlefield was now reduced to a war of attrition, one where the odds were tilting against humanity¡¯s finest.
    It was a disaster.
    Seth exhaled, regaining his composure. "Should we¡ª"
    "No." Ash¡¯s voice was firm. "This isn¡¯t our fight."
    Kellion shot him a look. "Are you serious?"
    Ash nodded.
    "We¡¯re students. If we get involved, we¡¯ll just be liabilities. The best thing we can do is follow the protocol and evacuate."
    Seth hesitated, watching the distant battle.
    His instincts screamed at him to act, to fight, but deep down, he knew Ash was right. If even the Head of Student Affairs were struggling, what could they do?
    "Damn it. I hate when you make sense." Kellion groaned, rubbing his face.
    Ash turned away from the scene, his mind already formulating their next move.
    "Let¡¯s head back to the dorms. We regroup, stay out of sight, and wait for further instructions."
    Seth and Kellion exchanged glances before nodding.
    But just as they turned to leave¡ª
    A killing intent unlike anything they had ever felt crashed down upon them.
    A figure landed just a few meters ahead of them, cracking the ground beneath his feet.
    A low, guttural growl filled the air, raw and animalistic, filled with nothing but pure hatred.
    Arius Inkwell.
    But it wasn¡¯t the same Arius they knew before.
    The man who stood before them was different¡ªhis once-pristine uniform was in tatters, his exposed skin cracked with dark veins pulsing with raw power.
    His eyes, now a sickening blood-red, burned with madness.
    "Grrrrrrr¡­"
    His aura was unstable, his entire being radiating pure, violent intent. His body twitched unnaturally, like a puppet barely holding itself together.
    Seth took an involuntary step back.
    "What¡­ the hell happened to him?"
    "I don¡¯t know, but he¡¯s¡ª" Ash tensed, already shifting into a combat stance.
    Arius¡¯s lips curled into a twisted, unhinged grin.
    His voice, once arrogant and composed, now came out as a feral snarl, dripping with bloodlust.
    "I¡¯ll kill you all."
    The air turned suffocatingly thick, an invisible pressure pressing down on them as the insane warrior lowered himself into an attack stance.
    Ash¡¯s eyes narrowed.
    Arius wasn¡¯t just hostile.
    He was completely and utterly broken.
    And he was coming for them.
    FSHUUUUU
    The night air was thick with malice, suffocating and oppressive. Dark energy pulsed around the battlefield, a tangible force that made the very air feel heavy.
    In the center of it all, Arius stood¡ªno, loomed.
    His once-proud form was now a grotesque fusion of man and corruption, his red eyes gleaming with insanity as his body twisted with dark power.
    The Tainted Spirit had fully consumed him.
    A guttural snarl rumbled from his throat, the sound more beast than man. His presence alone made the ground tremble, cracks splintering beneath his feet.
    Then he lunged.
    WHOOOSH
    Arius vanished in a blur of shadow, reappearing right in front of Kellion with terrifying speed. His clawed hand lashed out to grab him¡ª
    BOOM!
    Kellion barely dodged, throwing himself to the side as the ground where he stood exploded, sending stone and debris flying.
    A crater smoked beneath Arius¡¯s outstretched fingers¡ªhad that hit, it would have ripped Kellion¡¯s very soul from his body.
    "Keep your distance!" Ash commanded, already moving. "Don¡¯t let him touch you!"
    Kellion rolled to his feet, gritting his teeth.
    "Yeah, I figured that out¡ª"
    Arius was already on him again.
    This time, he slammed down with both fists, the air distorting from the sheer force.
    A wall of azure flames erupted, intercepting the attack¡ªSeth.
    The blast sent a shockwave through the battlefield, ripping through the stone floor and forcing Arius to stagger back, his skin crackling from the heat.
    But he was unscathed.
    Arius grinned. "Is that all?"
    Then, with a flicker of motion, he swiped the air.
    A black wave of corruption shot toward them, its very essence screaming as it tore through the atmosphere.
    "Scatter!" Ash barked.
    All three dodged in different directions, the dark energy erupting behind them in a pulse of pure death, the ground it touched turning into a lifeless husk.
    "This is insane¡ªhe¡¯s shrugging everything off!" Kellion grimaced.
    "He¡¯s absorbing the energy of everything he touches," Ash said, his mind racing. "Even Seth¡¯s lightning barely fazed him."
    Seth narrowed his eyes, his body crackling with electricity. "Then we don¡¯t let him absorb it. We overwhelm him."
    Ash¡¯s eyes gleamed. That was it.
    He turned to both of them. "Listen. We attack in waves. Nonstop pressure. He won¡¯t be able to absorb energy if he doesn¡¯t have time to recover."
    Kellion smirked.
    "Now that¡¯s a plan I can get behind."
    They moved as one.
    Kellion was the first to strike, slamming his fists together as his entire body burst into flames.
    "Come on, you bastard!"
    With a roar, he sent a towering inferno spiraling toward Arius, the sheer heat warping the air.
    Arius sneered and punched through it.
    But the flames weren¡¯t the attack.
    The moment his vision was blocked, Seth appeared behind him.
    "Thunderfang!"
    A storm of electric blades rained down on Arius, each strike crackling as they tore into his flesh.
    Arius roared in pain, staggering¡ªhis first sign of actual damage.
    Ash saw his opening.
    He moved like a phantom, weaving through the battlefield. As Arius reeled from Seth¡¯s attack, Ash raised his hand, his fingers forming a complex sigil.
    The air around him shifted, an unnatural force spiraling outward.
    Arius¡¯s red eyes snapped toward him.
    Too late.
    "[Banishment]."
    A pulse of golden energy exploded from Ash¡¯s fingertips, slamming into Arius¡¯s chest.
    Arius screamed.
    The Tainted Spirit inside him convulsed, its form flickering violently, as if struggling to maintain control.
    "NOW!" Ash shouted. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Kellion and Seth unleashed everything.
    Kellion¡¯s Infernal Burst¡ªa flaming explosion that shattered the earth.
    Seth¡¯s Azure Judgment¡ªa heaven-splitting lightning strike that blinded the sky.
    The combined impact hit Arius dead-on, sending a titanic shockwave through the battlefield. The sky lit up, the sheer energy turning night into day for a brief moment.
    The explosion sent Arius flying, his body slamming into the ground with bone-shattering force.
    Silence.
    The dust cleared.
    Arius twitched, barely conscious.
    Now.
    Ash appeared behind him, his hand already moving.
    His fingers traced one final sigil.
    "Severance."
    He touched the back of Arius¡¯s neck.
    A golden light flared.
    Arius let out an unholy shriek, his body seizing violently as the corruption inside him was forcefully expelled.
    The Tainted Spirit howled, its form disintegrating, its dark energy scattering into nothingness.
    Arius¡¯s body jerked once¡ªthen collapsed.
    Motionless.
    "Haaa¡­"
    Ash exhaled, his body tensing as the last remnants of the fight dissipated.
    Seth let out a slow breath, his body crackling as he released the last of his stored energy.
    Kellion wiped sweat from his brow. "That was ridiculous."
    Ash¡¯s gaze lingered on Arius¡¯s unconscious form.
    They had won.

 Chapter 95: Immense Shadows

    "Haaa¡­ haaa¡­"
    The battlefield lay still for a heartbeat¡ªa macabre tableau of chaos and exhaustion.
    Ash, Seth, and Kellion, their bodies battered and minds raw from the earlier confrontation with Arius, stood amid the remnants of shattered stone and smoldering energy. In the center of the field, Arius lay unconscious, his corrupted form slack and still, a temporary lull in the tide of madness.
    The acrid smell of corrupt energy mingled with the metallic tang of spilled blood.
    Without warning, the darkness stirred anew.
    From the fringes of the devastation, figures emerged with the stealth and precision of predators: Raven Nightshade and his Order of Shadows.
    Their dark cloaks billowed like living shadows in the harsh light of the ruined courtyard.
    Raven¡¯s eyes, cold and calculating, swept over the scene as he stepped forward, his voice low yet authoritative.
    "You three," he called, his tone betraying neither triumph nor pity. "We¡¯ve been tracking his trail¡ªevery body, every soul left behind by Arius. It led us here."
    Ash¡¯s gaze met Raven¡¯s, and in that brief, wordless exchange, the weight of their shared burden passed between them.
    Raven continued, "You did well, but as you can see from the battle in the distancd¡­ this is not the end. I order you to retreat to your dorms at once. You are not meant to face this horror. Leave it to my subordinates and me."
    Seth¡¯s jaw tightened in reluctant agreement, while Kellion¡¯s eyes narrowed, the fire of defiance still burning despite his exhaustion.
    Before any of them could question Raven¡¯s command further, a disquieting sound echoed from the distant dormitories¡ªa sound like thousands of anguished wails carried on a rising wind.
    Then came the first signs of a new horror: Tainted Spirits, born from the same corruption that had possessed Arius, began to manifest from the darkened windows and broken doorways of the dorms.
    One after another, they emerged¡ªgaunt, spectral forms with hollow, ravenous eyes, drifting out as if summoned by an unseen command. Their movements were jerky and unnatural, as if their very existence was a perverse mockery of life. It was a parade of death, a macabre procession of souls twisted into servitude of a malignant power.
    Raven¡¯s expression hardened.
    "So, it seems the contagion is spreading," he murmured, his tone a mix of contempt and resolve. "This has to be a coordinated outbreak."
    Before the three students could retreat, the parade of Tainted Spirits surged forward in a relentless wave, converging on the courtyard like a tidal force of malice.
    Their spectral forms coalesced into a swirling mass of dark energy, each spirit¡¯s moan echoing like a death knell. The ground trembled under the weight of their approach, and the air vibrated with the collective hunger of countless stolen souls.
    Ash, Seth, and Kellion exchanged urgent looks, their fatigue momentarily forgotten in the face of this new threat.
    "We can¡¯t let them touch us," Ash shouted, his voice cutting through the raging noise.
    "If one of them gets close¡ª" he began, but his words were drowned out by the rising roar of the spirits.
    Raven, already a figure in the center of the chaos, bellowed an order.
    "Form up! We must combine our strengths to hold them off and rescue any students trapped inside!"
    His subordinates, clad in dark, intimidating armor, moved with lethal efficiency to establish a perimeter around the building¡¯s entrance.
    Without waiting for further instructions, the trio of students sprang into action. Their earlier battles had honed them into formidable fighters, and now their survival depended on swift cooperation. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Despite being exhausted, they moved.
    They circled the courtyard, maintaining a cautious distance from the advancing spirits, who writhed hungrily toward them.
    "We attack from a distance¡ªno direct contact. We can¡¯t risk them siphoning our souls." Seth was the first to break the silence.
    His azure flames flared as he prepared a barrage of lightning-infused spells, aimed not to kill outright but to force the spirits back.
    Kellion roared in agreement and launched a series of destructive fireballs, each one exploding against the spectral mass with a shock of heat and light.
    The Tainted Spirits recoiled at the impact, their forms flickering as they struggled to maintain cohesion. Discover stories at NovelFire.C?m
    They weren¡¯t nearly as strong as the ones that Beatrice and the others faced, but they weren¡¯t conventionally weak either.
    Ash took the lead, orchestrating their movements like a master strategist.
    "Seth, hit them with your lightning¡ªforce them to scatter. Kellion, keep the pressure with your flames. I¡¯ll use my wind to create distractions and openings."
    As the trio fought in unison, Ash summoned swirling gusts of wind that whipped around the advancing spirits, drawing them into chaotic eddies.
    His spells were precise, designed not to destroy but to confuse and divert the dark creatures. Seth followed, his hands crackling as bolts of azure lightning arced through the air, searing through several Tainted Spirits that dared venture too close.
    Kellion¡¯s flames roared and surged, each attack a burst of ferocious heat that incinerated the corrupted forms upon impact.
    Yet, no matter how fiercely they fought, the Tainted Spirits seemed to regenerate¡ªthe dark energy feeding on the residual souls and rising anew.
    Their numbers swelled, and with every soul they absorbed, their power grew.
    The charge of negative energy was like a tangible force that gnawed at the very fabric of the battlefield.
    Raven¡¯s eyes narrowed as he surveyed the escalating assault.
    "Hold the line!" he commanded, his voice echoing over the din.
    His Order of Shadows converged with lethal precision, forming a defensive circle around the building¡¯s entrance.
    Their combined Spells and martial prowess created a temporary bulwark, but the onslaught was relentless.
    In all honesty, they were the real champions of the fight, as compared to the meager efforts of the exhausted children, they were dending off most of the attacks.
    Even as Ash, Seth, and Kellion fought valiantly, the Tainted Spirits closed in, driven by an insatiable hunger.
    A particularly massive spirit, its form rippling with vile corruption, surged forward and brushed against one of the Shadows¡ªan act that caused the unfortunate soul to instantly collapse, drained of every ounce of life.
    A wave of panic swept through the assembled forces as the reality of the threat sank in.
    "We need backup!" someone shouted from behind the defensive line.
    Raven¡¯s gaze swept across the chaos.
    "Stand firm¡ªevacuate the students!" he ordered, his tone brooking no argument. "We cannot allow another tragedy on these grounds!"
    But before his words could fully register, the Tainted Spirits accelerated their advance. The dark, spectral entities surged with renewed ferocity, as if empowered by the mounting despair of the battle.
    Their unholy forms swarmed over the perimeter, forcing Ash and his allies to concentrate their combined efforts on defense.
    Seth¡¯s eyes burned with determination.
    "I¡¯m going to push them back!" he declared, his voice steeled by resolve.
    With a deep, measured breath, he gathered every iota of his remaining energy. In a single, explosive moment, he unleashed a spell of unprecedented might¡ªa colossal bolt of azure lightning that tore through the ranks of the Tainted Spirits.
    The sky above seemed to split, and the bolt struck the mass of darkness head-on, sending a shockwave that shattered the spirits and left them scattered like shattered glass.
    "Huff¡­ huff¡­"
    Seth was running out of steam and he wasn¡¯t the only one.
    But they had to go on.
    The battle raged on, the night alight with magic and the relentless howls of the Tainted Spirits.
    Ash, Seth, Kellion, Raven, and the Order of Shadows fought side by side, each spell and strike a desperate attempt to push back the overwhelming tide of corruption.
    Ash ducked under a swipe from a lunging spirit, twisting his body in midair as he fired a razor-sharp arc of wind Spell. It cut through the specter¡¯s chest, dispersing it into a cloud of dark mist before it could reform. Nearby, Seth¡¯s lightning crackled violently, striking down several spirits in rapid succession, while Kellion¡¯s blazing infernos burned through the spectral hordes like a wildfire.
    Despite their exhaustion, the group refused to falter.
    The courtyard was nearly clear, but the dormitories still teemed with imprisoned students, their screams muffled by the monstrous wails of the spirits.
    They had to get inside¡ªbut the creatures wouldn¡¯t let them.
    Amidst the chaos, Raven¡¯s sharp voice cut through the noise.
    "By the way¡­ Ashfelt Zephyr," he called, his tone oddly casual for the battlefield. "Dustan told me everything."
    Ash barely spared him a glance as he dodged another attack, his blade slicing through the darkness.
    "That so?" he asked, his voice calm but skeptical.
    Raven smirked slightly, though his eyes remained unreadable. "You¡¯re coming with me for questioning after this."
    Seth¡¯s head snapped toward Raven at the statement, but Ash remained unimpressed. He shook his head, finishing off another spirit with a precise wind strike before turning to face the older man.
    "Liar," he said simply. "Dustan wouldn¡¯t betray me."
    Raven¡¯s smirk didn¡¯t falter. "You¡¯re confident."
    "Because I trust him," Ash replied firmly, stepping forward. "And because if you really wanted to take me in, you¡¯d be doing it right now instead of talking."
    He exhaled, brushing a hand through his hair, still poised for battle.
    "But let¡¯s say this isn¡¯t just a distraction. If, at the end of all this, you still want to know the whole truth¡­ You know where to find me."
    For a moment, their eyes locked¡ªa silent battle of wills amidst the chaos. Then Raven chuckled, turning away as he lifted a hand.
    "Fine. Have it your way. But for now¡­"
    Dark energy gathered around Raven¡¯s fingertips, coalescing into a deadly vortex of pure destruction. He turned toward the dormitory, where dozens of Tainted Spirits still prowled hungrily inside.
    "Finally¡­ it¡¯s ready." With a flick of his wrist, the swirling darkness condensed into a single, concentrated sphere¡ªan abyssal force of obliteration.
    "Let¡¯s end this."
    With a single motion, Raven released the spell.
    BOOOOOMMMM!!!
    A colossal wave of destruction erupted from his fingertips, consuming every spirit in its path.
    The dark energy tore through the dormitory halls, dragging the Tainted Spirits out like a riptide pulling debris from the shore. They shrieked, writhing in agony as the abyss swallowed them whole.
    In mere moments, every last one was erased.
    A heavy silence followed.
    Then¡ªfar in the distance¡ªa brilliant golden light erupted into the sky.
    All eyes turned toward the battlefield where Beatrice and the other Head of Staff had been locked in their battle against the massive Tainted Spirit.
    The light was blinding, a radiant explosion of pure magic that seemed to rend the darkness apart at its very core.
    And then¡ªjust like that¡ªthe monstrous entity was gone.
    The rampage was over.
    For the first time that night, the battlefield fell eerily quiet.
    Ash exhaled deeply, exhaustion settling into his bones.
    The fight was finally done.
    Raven crossed his arms, watching the golden light fade from the sky. He smirked slightly, then cast a sideways glance at Ash.
    "Guess we¡¯ll see what happens next."
    Ash didn¡¯t respond immediately. He simply looked up at the sky, watching as the remnants of the golden light flickered away like embers in the wind.
    ¡¯You have no idea what happens next¡­¡¯