Danial stood up from his chair, adjusting his suit jacket as he looked at Liam and Letty, who were still standing by the desk. "Alright, I’ll be heading back to my office now. Don’t worry about any formalities. My mother’s in there, and she’s got a sharp eye. If you both come down looking too serious, she’ll get suspicious for sure.Liam nodded quickly. "Of course, sir."Letty gave him a nervous smile, her eyes still wide from earlier. “Yes, Chairman. Understood.”Danial smirked slightly at how different their attitudes were compared to the beginning of the day. He turned and left the chairman’s office, walking through the long corridors with the air of someone who belonged. His confidence had grown, especially after all the information he’d just learned about the Greatest Families. But all of that would need to wait for later.When he reached his office, he opened the door and immediately spotted his mother sitting in his chair, scrolling through her phone lazily. She looked up the m
Danial’s heart thumped in his chest as the tension in the room thickened. Sara’s saber gleamed under the fluorescent lights as she pointed it at him, her eyes lit up with excitement."Fight me!" she declared, her voice ringing with anticipation.Danial blinked in shock. “What??” he exclaimed, standing up in disbelief. He had been mentally preparing for a tense briefing, not a duel with a sword-wielding maniac."Why?" Danial continued, shaking his head, still trying to grasp the situation. "I understand that what happened that day was my fault, and I’m ready to apologize, but why do you want to fight me?"Sara chuckled, a gleam of amusement in her eyes. "I never took the incident seriously," she said with a shrug. "I want to fight you because I’ve heard much about you. You stood up against Elysia during the trial fighters, even though she was just toying with you. Then you went ahead and defeated one of the Emsgate representatives in single combat and martial techniques, not to mention
Sara’s saber began to glow with a golden hum, its light pulsating and radiating power. Danial’s eyes narrowed as he analyzed the situation. The sword had transformed, and something in its aura warned him to be cautious. He took a deep breath, instinctively stepping back as he realized this was no ordinary blade. He could feel the energy crackling around it, vibrating in the air.Sara’s lips curved into a confident smile. She waved her saber in a swift arc, the light from the blade shimmering in the dim underground training hall. "Don't blink, Danial. You’ll miss it," she said, her voice filled with thrilling anticipation.Danial didn’t respond, his focus entirely on the saber in Sara’s hands. In an instant, she leaped toward him, her form a blur of speed. The golden light of her sword gleamed brightly as she slashed downward in a powerful vertical strike.Danial barely managed to dodge, the wind from the blade brushing past him as he dived to the side. He rolled to his feet, glancing b
General O'Malley took a deep breath and then addressed the room with a tone of finality. "Now that we know the ‘little things,’ let’s move on to the main topic of this meeting."Danial straightened in his seat, his easygoing demeanor vanishing in an instant. His thoughts raced, and he muttered to himself, "If those were the little things, what on earth are the main things?"O'Malley didn’t miss a beat. He turned and pointed to the screen behind him, where a rough, incomplete layout of the ruins came into focus. Danial and the others leaned forward, studying the details closely. A portion of the ruins, notably the sections leading deeper underground, appeared blurred and distorted, almost as if the scan had hit an invisible wall."This," O'Malley began, gesturing to the map, "is the only possible map we’ve been able to create using ultra-deep scanners. The Arcane Array laid out around the ruins prevents us from directly entering the site or conducting any physical reconnaissance, but w
After everyone’s order arrived—ranging from steaks to sandwiches and, of course, a couple of pizzas to settle the “great debate”—the group started to dig in. The lively chatter at the table carried on with everyone throwing in jokes and stories between mouthfuls of food. However, Maria, mid-bite of her sandwich, froze when her eyes landed on the restaurant’s door.Standing there, like a silent shadow, was Sara, watching Danial with a look of intense seriousness, her arms crossed, and an unreadable expression on her face.Maria blinked and thought, What the hell is Sara doing here? She racked her brain, remembering that Sara was supposed to be in the middle of training with Gareth for the upcoming Ancient Ruins mission. She shot a glance at Danial, wondering if he knew.Curiosity sparked, Maria cleared her throat and asked, “Danial, what have you been doing this week?”Danial blinked, momentarily caught off guard. He thought for a second, clearly trying to come up with something casual.
Danial took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and then asked, while tapping the table, "Enough about me. What have you all been doing?"The moment the words left his mouth, the atmosphere shifted. It was as if the entire restaurant had dropped a few degrees. The cheerful chatter around them became background noise as Danial's friends seemed to collectively shrink into themselves. Heads lowered, shoulders tensed, and no one dared meet his eyes. It was as if a cloud of dread had settled over them. Danial, now unnerved, blinked in confusion.Danial leaned back slightly, eyebrows raised, as the dark and ominous atmosphere weighed on the group. His curiosity was quickly turning into dread as his friends all seemed to shy away from his question, evading his gaze as if they had been through something unspeakable."Guys... seriously, what's going on? Did something happen?" Danial asked, his voice tinged with concern. His eyes darted to Kuro, who looked like he was sweating bullets, keeping his h
Leonard returned from the washroom, his usual cool smile in place, only to be greeted by the sight of Danial and Pavan still bickering like children. Kuro was visibly stressed, sitting between them, desperately trying to calm the chaos. The tension in the air was thick, but there was also an underlying sense of absurdity that made the whole scene almost comical.Leonard raised an eyebrow as he slid back into his seat, nodding toward the group. “What did I miss?” he asked, his tone light but curious.Kuro, with a deep sigh of exasperation, threw his hands in the air. “These two buffers are arguing over the most useless topics ever!” He gestured toward Danial and Pavan, who were still glaring at each other with arms crossed. “And now it's escalated into... whatever this is. Honestly, I should’ve reconsidered my life choices before joining this group.”Maria burst out laughing, clutching her stomach with one hand and wiping a tear from her eye. “Kuro, you should have reconsidered ages ago
As Danial and his friends arrived at the academy, the air buzzed with excitement and anticipation. They bid each other goodbyes, each heading to their respective dorms, laughter and promises to meet up echoing in the hallways. Despite the day's events weighing on him, Danial felt a surge of energy. Sleep wasn’t on his agenda tonight.He sought out a quiet training hall, finding a secluded corner bathed in dim light. Settling down, he closed his eyes and began to cultivate Titan's Endurance. In his mind, he envisioned his internal energy swirling through him, circulating as he focused intently. He felt the familiar strain on his meridians and blood vessels, but this discomfort was a small price to pay. With determination, he slipped into a meditative state, letting the world fade away as he immersed himself in cultivation.Hours passed. Before he knew it, the entire night had slipped by. Morning light broke through the windows, casting warm rays across the hall. As he opened his eyes,
Crystal descended into the rocky arena, her icy-blue eyes scanning the terrain. The environment was filled with jagged hills, uneven terrain, and rocky outcroppings—an arena that would test movement and adaptability. Danial leaned against the railing, watching her with a small smile, fully confident in her victory.Just as the match was about to begin, Leonard approached from behind, patting Danial’s shoulder with a smug grin."Danial, did you see my match just now? The tricks I used had him completely baffled—haha!"Danial turned to look at him, blinking. "That was your match?"Leonard’s face fell. The excitement in his eyes flickered. "Yeah… you didn’t see it?"Danial quickly realized his mistake and tried to salvage the situation. "Leonard, I didn’t know your match was happening. I’m sorry."Leonard forced a smile, waving it off. "Alright, no worries." He turned and walked away, but as he did, the forced smile gradually faded.Danial sighed, feeling a little guilty, but his attenti
As the tournament progressed, the excitement in the air reached its peak. The crowd roared in anticipation as each match brought forth new surprises, showcasing the sheer talent and determination of the academy's young warriors. Danial sat with Crystal, both observing the ongoing battles with quiet interest.Crystal turned to him and asked, "You already won two matches. This guarantees your spot in the Final Stage tomorrow. Who do you think your final opponent will be?"Danial shrugged, his expression calm. "I don't know," he replied simply.Just as he finished speaking, movement from the side caught his attention. Pavan had returned from the infirmary, his head and shoulders wrapped in fresh bandages. His steps were steady, but the slight wince as he moved revealed that his injuries hadn’t fully healed.Danial immediately got up and walked over to him, his brows furrowed in concern. "Why are you out of the infirmary? Your body needs rest."Pavan groaned, waving his hand dismissively.
Tyler staggered slightly as he stepped down from the arena, his legs trembling, his face pale. The match had been brief—too brief—but the experience had left a lasting impression on him. No, it wasn’t just the match itself; it was the gaze. That chilling, soul-crushing gaze that had locked onto him as if stripping away every ounce of his being. It was unlike anything he had ever faced before.His master approached, his eyes filled with concern as he placed a firm hand on Tyler’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”Tyler did not answer immediately. He walked in silence, each step feeling heavier than the last. His master was about to repeat the question when Tyler finally spoke, his voice hollow.“I want to withdraw from the tournament.”The words were so unexpected that his master was momentarily stunned. Tyler was not one to give up easily. He had trained relentlessly, fought fiercely, and had dreams of proving himself. Yet now, standing before him, was not the same student who had entered thi
As Kyle Drakon stepped into the light, an almost ethereal presence seemed to radiate from him. For someone so young, he was nothing short of stunning—majestic in a way that defied mere good looks. His face, strikingly symmetrical with high cheekbones and a sharp jawline, carried an air of effortless majesty. His nose was straight and refined, giving him a noble appearance, while his lips, neither too thin nor too full, were naturally set in a calm, unreadable expression. His skin was smooth, almost flawless, as if sculpted by the finest artisan, carrying a faint glow under the arena’s illumination.His jet-black hair, slightly messy yet undeniably stylish, fell in layered waves around his forehead and temples, enhancing the intensity of his features. Each step he took exuded confidence, his strides measured, unhurried—he moved like a sovereign who did not need to prove himself, yet commanded attention wherever he went.But it was his eyes that truly held everyone captive.A deep crims
The air inside the arena buzzed with excitement as the next match was announced. The announcer’s voice boomed across the coliseum.“Next match! Crystal Kirk of Somerland versus Zaria Dvornik of Krolea! The battle conditions—desert environment, no elemental abilities allowed!”Danial's expression hardened. He understood the gravity of this situation. Crystal’s greatest strength lay in her ice element, and now, she was being forced to fight in the most unfavourable terrain possible. A desert battlefield? There was no moisture in the air, no chance of manipulating frost, and worst of all—sweltering heat sapping her stamina.As Crystal stepped forward, she caught Danial’s expression and smirked. “Worried about me?”Danial folded his arms. “Just assessing the conditions. This isn’t exactly in your favour.”Crystal chuckled. “It never is.” With that, she strode toward the arena entrance, her icy confidence unwavering.Danial exhaled sharply, watching as she disappeared into the tunnel leadi
Danial and Crystal lingered in the infirmary for a while longer, chatting with Pavan, who continued to grumble about his forced diet while sneaking glances at the nurses, hoping one of them would take pity on him. When it became clear that none of them were willing to defy Abby’s orders, he slumped back onto the bed with a defeated sigh.“You guys better eat well while you still can,” Pavan muttered dramatically. “I might never taste good food again.”Danial rolled his eyes while Crystal smirked. “You’re acting like you’re being sent to prison,” she said. “It’s just a diet.”Pavan sat up and pointed at her with a solemn expression. “For a man like me, a diet is worse than prison.”Crystal laughed while Danial shook his head. “Just rest, Pavan. You’ll need your strength for the next rounds.”With that, Danial and Crystal left the infirmary, walking side by side through the long corridors. The scent of antiseptics and medicine slowly faded, replaced by the crisp air of the academy halls
Abby rushed into the arena, her heart pounding as she sprinted toward the fallen Pavan. She knelt beside him, her sharp eyes scanning his battered body. Blood dripped from his wounds, staining the ground beneath him. But even in his injured state, Pavan had not lost his spirit."Pavan, you have done well," Abby said softly, her voice filled with both pride and concern.Pavan, barely conscious, managed a small hum in response before his body went completely limp. Abby’s expression darkened as she turned her gaze toward Egbert, who stood proudly in the arena, basking in the cheers of the crowd. His arrogance was evident as he waved at the audience as if he had just achieved a great victory. Abby scoffed, her grip on Pavan tightening as she walked away without sparing Egbert another glance.Egbert simply snorted, unimpressed by her reaction, before continuing to soak in the adoration of the spectators. Meanwhile, among the crowd, Danial frowned heavily. He had seen the entire match unfol
Egbert vanished from his position, appearing instantly before Pavan like a crimson blur. His sword whistled through the air as he delivered a deceptively simple horizontal slash, its force enough to ripple the atmosphere around them.Pavan barely had time to process what was happening. Instinctively, he raised his sword to defend himself, the blade trembling in his grip.CLANG!The clash reverberated through the arena like a thunderclap. The sheer force of the impact sent Pavan skidding back, his boots carving deep grooves into the arena floor as he was pushed a full ten meters before managing to stop. His arms trembled uncontrollably as he looked down, his face pale.His fingers tightened around his blade, but the sight before him made his stomach drop—his sword, forged from the academy's renowned ore, now bore a jagged chip near the centre. How is this possible? He thought. These swords weren’t ordinary; they were designed to withstand the harshest of battles. And yet, a single stri
The announcer’s voice echoed through the massive arena, amplifying the excitement of the crowd. “The next match is between Pavan from Somerland and Egbert Ray from Xeria!”The crowd erupted into a deafening roar, their enthusiasm palpable. Flags bearing the symbols of both academies waved in the air, and cheers filled every corner of the stadium. Pavan took a deep breath, trying to steel his nerves as the noise washed over him.Danial stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. His voice was calm but firm. “It’s alright, Pavan. You’ve got this.”Pavan turned to Danial, his lips forming a faint smile. “Thanks, Danial.” With a quick nod, he turned and made his way toward the arena, his footsteps steady but deliberate.As Pavan’s figure disappeared into the crowd, Crystal, who had been uncharacteristically silent, suddenly broke the quiet. “This is bad,” she said, her tone grave.Danial frowned, sensing the seriousness in her voice. “What do you mean?”Crystal’s eyes na