While Marvin was having a stand-off against the cultist, the taxi sped through the bustling streets, leaving behind a cacophony of honking horns and startled pedestrians. Pavan sat beside Kuro, who was slumped and unconscious, his battered body leaning awkwardly against the seat. Crystal, sitting in the front, glared impatiently at the road ahead.âDrive faster,â Crystal urged, her voice sharp.The taxi driver, a middle-aged man with a balding head and a pair of aviator sunglasses, replied in a calm but slightly amused tone, âMadam, I am following the rules of the road. I canât just drive faster because you said so.âCrystal huffed in frustration, then reached into her bag, pulled out a fat bundle of cash, and dumped it onto the passenger seat. âNow, will you drive faster?âThe driverâs eyes widened at the sight of the money. His professionalism crumbled instantly. âYes, maâam. You have no idea how fast I can drive.âHe slammed his foot on the accelerator, and the taxi lurched forward,
While Pavna and Maria were confused by the sudden turn of events, the battlefield quaked as Marvinâs power reached its peak at the Lapanzo Foundry, the air charged with an oppressive, electrifying energy. Lightning crackled around him, arcing off his body in jagged streaks that seared the ground. His previously calm demeanor was replaced by a fiery intensity that left no room for doubtâthis was the full might of Master Marvin unleashed.Marvinâs body surged with power as the Nine Star Acupuncture Technique reached its climax. Sparks of lightning crackled along his arms, illuminating the battlefield with a brilliant glow. But then, to Danialâs astonishment, Marvin pressed another point on his chest, and the energy around him seemed to stabilize, halting its rise just before reaching its peak of the Third Stage Martial Arts Master.Danial noticed this and thought in shock, He stopped the Nine Star Acupuncture Technique at the end. That means he's holding back even his full strength.The
Danial felt his arms throbbing painfully, the crimson tendrils of the Blood Curse spreading further along his veins. His breathing quickened, and a cold sweat formed on his brow.âMaster, are you alright? We need to get to the academy now!â Danial exclaimed, his voice edged with panic.Marvin, still seated, glanced at the blackened mark on his shoulder. A faint smirk crossed his lips as he said, âThat damned Overseer. Who wouldâve thought heâd manage to craft another Blood Curse in such a short time?â He shook his head, adding, âBut this... this is child's play for me.âDanial was momentarily stunned by the sudden shift in Marvin's demeanor. The trembling that had wracked Marvinâs body was gone as if it had never existed. He stood tall, his usual imposing aura returning with an almost tangible intensity. Then, with a sudden jerk of his body, the spreading poison ceased its advance. Danial watched, wide-eyed, as the blackened poison that had been spreading through Marvinâs shoulder visi
Luna was absolutely furious, her body trembling with restrained rage. Her voice, sharp and resolute, cut through the air, âHow dare Santiago touch Kuro! Doesnât he know the family laws? How dare he defy everything the Hale name stands for!âHer secretary instinctively took a step back. In all the years she had served Luna, she had never seen her in such a state. Lunaâs usual icy composure was now replaced with an intensity that was almost suffocating.At that moment, Doctor Hammer entered the room, bowing slightly before speaking in a calm and measured tone. âMiss Luna, I have arrived.âLuna turned her piercing gaze on him, her voice steady but commanding, âCheck on him. I want to know everythingâevery injury, every detail.âHammer nodded and approached Kuro. For a moment, he felt a strange sense of familiarity while looking at Kuroâs battered face. But this wasnât the time to dwell on such thoughts. Without hesitation, he set to work, his assistant trailing behind him with a bag full
Danial glanced at his arm, his eyes narrowing as the cursed veins pulsed ominously. âIâll need a set of acupuncture needles, a metallic container, and a sharp knife. NOW!â His commanding tone startled Gloria, who blinked at him in disbelief.âAcupuncture?â Gloria asked, her voice tinged with skepticism. âHow is that supposed to help?âDanialâs gaze snapped to her, unwavering and sharp. âItâs the only way unless youâd prefer to cut off my arm. The time gap for placing each needle is critical, and if I fail, the technique fails. Silence is crucial.âFaced with no better alternative, Gloria reluctantly nodded and hurried to gather the items. Marvin stood silently, his arms crossed, observing the scene with concern.Moments later, Gloria returned, placing the needles, knife, and metallic bucket on the table beside Danial. âAre you sure about this?â she asked.Danial didnât respond immediately, instead taking a deep breath and steadying his trembling hand. âClose the door. No interruptions
Danial stepped out of the Infirmary, his body still weary from the recent ordeal. Despite his fatigue, his mind raced with questions. As soon as he was outside, he pulled out his phone and called Pavan. The line connected quickly, and Pavanâs voice came through.âPavan, where are you? And more importantly, where is Kuro? How is he?â Danialâs voice was sharp with concern.Pavanâs reply was calm, though tinged with reassurance. âDonât worry about Kuro. Heâs safe and currently resting at a hospital.âDanialâs brows furrowed. âHospital? I gave you the address of the company. What happened?âPavan sighed. âA lot happened, but heâs okay now. There are people keeping an eye on him. You donât have to worry. Maria and I are heading back to the academy as soon as possible.âDanial nodded, though his concern didnât fully dissipate. âAlright, but I want a full explanation when youâre here.ââYouâll have it,â Pavan assured him.Danial ended the call, taking a moment to collect his thoughts before
Danial walked back toward the seating area, his victory still fresh in his mind, but he didnât have the luxury of savoring it. As he approached, he spotted Leo and Diego waiting for him, smirks plastered across their faces. Their postures oozed confidence, and it was clear they had been waiting to confront him.âDanial,â Leo started, his voice dripping with mockery, âThat match of yoursâĶ Was that supposed to impress anyone? It was barely a challenge.âDiego chimed in, his grin widening. âSeriously. If thatâs what youâre bringing to the tournament, you might as well pack up now. That guy was weak, and you got lucky.âDanial crossed his arms, his gaze steady. âWeak or not, I won. Thatâs more than you can say for yourselves at the moment.âLeo raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. âOh? Bold words for someone whose âteammatesâ are nowhere to be seen. Whereâs Pavan? And Kuro? Couldnât handle the pressure, huh? Ran off with their tails between their legs?âDiego laughed, shaking his head. â
Zyler walked off the arena floor, his dark cloak trailing behind him as the audience's murmurs grew louder. Before he could disappear completely, a Beginner Stage Master stepped into his path, his face stern with authority.âZyler,â the Master said, his voice laced with displeasure. âThe rules of the tournament state that no killing of any kind is allowed.âZyler stopped, tilting his head slightly. His response was cold and dismissive. âI left him alive. Where did I kill him?âThe Masterâs glare intensified, his patience wearing thin. âZyler, stay within your limits. Do not test our patience.âZyler turned his head slightly to meet the Masterâs eyes, his indifference replaced with an edge of mockery. âAnd what if I donât?âThe Master, clearly angered, raised his hand to strike. But as he locked eyes with Zyler, his movements faltered. His arm froze mid-air, trembling as if an invisible weight had shackled it. His pupils dilated, and a sheen of cold sweat formed on his brow. For a brie
Egbert stood up while clenching his blade, his entire body trembling. His eyes, wide with disbelief, locked onto Danial as his voice cracked with confusion."How can this be? How could this ever be possible?" he muttered, his face twisted in shock. He staggered back, gripping his sword so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "How could your basic technique be so powerful? How could your technique overpower my divine Crimson Reaper Arts? That is not possible. You must have cheated!"Egbert could not accept reality. His technique was not just some ordinary martial skill; it was crafted by Norman Ray, a war deity of immense power and wisdom. The Crimson Reaper Arts were revered as one of the strongest sword techniques, refined through generations, yet Danialâs seemingly simple Sword Drawing Technique had shattered it, breaking through his proudest ability as if it were nothing. It defied all logic. It was unacceptable.Egbert's voice echoed through the now-silent hall, but no one came
The battle hall was filled with murmurs and hushed voices as Danial and Egbert stepped onto the duel arena. The place still carried traces of previous battles, the floor marked with faint scars from past clashes, including Danialâs fight with Sara. But today, the tension in the air was differentâmore electric, more charged.Egbertâs arrogance was on full display as he sneered, his voice laced with mockery. âKid, Iâm taking pity on you for whatâs about to happen. Maybe if you kneel and crawl, Iâll let you live.âDanial met his gaze calmly and replied, âNo.âThe single word was enough to darken Egbertâs face. His jaw clenched as his pride took a hit. âDanial, Iâm giving you a way out. Once in the duel arena, I wonât let you off even if you kneel and beg for mercy.âDanial tilted his head slightly, unfazed. âAre we going to fight or not?âEgbertâs eyes twitched in annoyance before he shrugged as if he had already won. âAlright, I hope you remember what I said.âBoth climbed onto the duel
Danial sat in the audience, watching the ongoing matches with mild interest. At first, he paid attention, analyzing the techniques used by different fighters, but after a while, he grew bored. The matches were too predictable, lacking the intensity of the battles he had been in. He tapped his fingers on the armrest, wondering when his final match would come.Crystal, who had been sitting beside him, noticed his bored expression. She smirked and leaned closer. âDanial, letâs go walk around the academy.âDanial glanced at her and considered it for a moment. Sitting here and watching these mundane fights wasnât going to help him. He nodded. âAlright, might as well.âAs they stood up and left the arena, they remained unaware of the shadow lurking in the distance, silently watching their every move.The academy grounds had transformed into a lively hub. Stalls lined the pathways, selling everything from cultivation manuals to exotic snacks. There were booths set up for visitors and student
Crystal descended into the rocky arena, her icy-blue eyes scanning the terrain. The environment was filled with jagged hills, uneven terrain, and rocky outcroppingsâan 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 Danialâs shoulder with a smug grin."Danial, did you see my match just now? The tricks I used had him completely baffledâhaha!"Danial turned to look at him, blinking. "That was your match?"Leonardâs face fell. The excitement in his eyes flickered. "YeahâĶ you didnât see it?"Danial quickly realized his mistake and tried to salvage the situation. "Leonard, I didnât know your match was happening. Iâm 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 hadnât 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 briefâtoo briefâbut the experience had left a lasting impression on him. No, it wasnât 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 Tylerâs shoulder. âAre you okay?âTyler 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.âI want to withdraw from the tournament.âThe 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 stunningâmajestic 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 arenaâs 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, unhurriedâhe 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 announcerâs voice boomed across the coliseum.âNext match! Crystal Kirk of Somerland versus Zaria Dvornik of Krolea! The battle conditionsâdesert environment, no elemental abilities allowed!âDanial's expression hardened. He understood the gravity of this situation. Crystalâs 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 allâsweltering heat sapping her stamina.As Crystal stepped forward, she caught Danialâs expression and smirked. âWorried about me?âDanial folded his arms. âJust assessing the conditions. This isnât exactly in your favour.âCrystal chuckled. âIt never is.â 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 Abbyâs orders, he slumped back onto the bed with a defeated sigh.âYou guys better eat well while you still can,â Pavan muttered dramatically. âI might never taste good food again.âDanial rolled his eyes while Crystal smirked. âYouâre acting like youâre being sent to prison,â she said. âItâs just a diet.âPavan sat up and pointed at her with a solemn expression. âFor a man like me, a diet is worse than prison.âCrystal laughed while Danial shook his head. âJust rest, Pavan. Youâll need your strength for the next rounds.âWith 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