The enrollment day at Veridia City Martial Guild Academy was exactly what I expected—a showcase of wealth and power masquerading as an educational gathering. Massive stone columns lined the entrance, imposing and ancient, each carved with symbols of martial glory. Young aristocrats in their finest silks strutted about like peacocks, their servants trailing behind them carrying luggage and gifts for instructors.


    Perfect cover for me to slip in and begin my search for Isabelle.


    I kept my head down as I approached the registration tables, dressed in modest but respectable attire that wouldn''t draw attention. The jade token given to me by Jackson Harding felt heavy in my pocket—my legitimate ticket into this nest of vipers.


    "Name and rmendation?" asked a bored-looking official without looking up from his ledger.


    "Liam Knight. Independent rmendation from Elder Harding."


    The man''s head snapped up, eyes widening. "Elder Har—" He caught himself, lowering his voice. "One moment, please."


    I watched as he hurried over to another official, whispering urgently. The second man cast a calcting nce in my direction before nodding and approaching me with a forced smile.


    "Mr. Knight, please follow me. The academy has prepared special amodations for personally rmended candidates."


    I followed him through the crowd, ignoring the curious nces from other arrivals. My goal here wasn''t to make an impression—it was to use the academy''s resources to locate Isabelle and eventually free her from wherever the Guild had her imprisoned.


    As we walked, snippets of conversation floated around me.


    "Did you hear about Dominic Ashworth? Still in seclusion after that incident..."


    "They say the ck-robed man who humiliated him was actually that nobody son-inw from the Sterling family..."


    "Impossible! How could amoner defeat an Ashworth?"


    I kept my expression neutral even as I catalogued each face and voice. Information was power in this ce.


    A group of young men in expensive robes caught my attention—particrly one with meticulously styled auburn hair who seemed to be holding court among his peers.


    "The Mystic Realms are the true source of the Guild''s power," he was saying with practiced authority. "My father says only the highest echelon of masters are granted ess."


    "What''s in them, Ricardo?" asked an eager listener.


    The auburn-haired youth—Ricardo—smiled smugly. "Ancient treasures, forbidden techniques, resources beyond imagination. Why do you think the Guild controls who enters? They''ve monopolized the greatest power sources in our world."


    Mystic Realms. That aligned with what Jackson Harding had told me. If Isabelle was being held somewhere truly secure, it might be in one of these realms rather than a physical location in the city.


    My guide led me to an ornate building separate from the main dormitories. "These are the private quarters for exceptional candidates," he exined. "Elder Harding''s rmendation ces you in... elevatedpany."


    I nodded my thanks and stepped inside, scanning my surroundings. The quarters were luxurious but not ostentatious—clearly designed for serious cultivators rather than pampered aristocrats.


    Perfect. I needed a secure base of operations.


    After settling in, I ventured back outside to observe the proceedings. The official enrollment ceremony would begin soon, and I wanted to assess who might be obstacles in my mission.


    The courtyard had grown more crowded, now filled with hundreds of hopeful students and their entourages. I positioned myself near arge willow tree, partially hidden but with a clear view of the proceedings.


    That''s when I felt it—a familiar, malevolent presence that made my skin crawl.


    "Well, well... if it isn''t the man of the hour."


    I turned slowly to find Ms. Hayward standing a few paces away, her elegant features arranged in a smile that didn''t reach her cold eyes. But it wasn''t her presence alone that set my instincts screaming.


    Beside her stood a young man I''d never seen before, yet something about him struck me as hauntingly familiar. He was tall and unnaturally graceful, with silver-white hair and eyes that reflected light like a predator''s. His skin had a faint, iridescent quality that reminded me of... <cite ss="meta-ref-static">This chapter was made possible by themunity at *.</cite>


    Scales.


    The Heaven Swallowing Python. It couldn''t be.


    "You look puzzled, Mr. Knight," Ms. Hayward purred. "Don''t you recognize an old friend?"


    The young man''s lips curled into a smile that showed teeth slightly too sharp to be human. "Ourst meeting was... memorable," he said, his voice carrying an unsettling, melodic quality. "Though I looked somewhat different then."


    "Transformation pills are rare treasures," I remarked coolly, even as I tensed for potentialbat. "The Guild must value you highly to waste one on a beast."


    His smile vanished, reced by naked hatred. "I will enjoy watching you die slowly, human."


    Ms. Hayward ced a restraining hand on his arm. "Patience, my dear. There''s a time and ce for everything." She turned her attention back to me. "The academy wees all talented individuals, Mr. Knight—even those with...plicated histories. I do hope you''ll find your education here enlightening."


    The threat behind her cordial words was unmistakable.


    "I''m always eager to learn," I replied evenly. "Especially about things the Guild keeps hidden."


    Her eyes narrowed fractionally. "Careful, Mr. Knight. Curiosity has been known to be fatal around here."


    Before I could respond, amotion erupted near the main stage. The crowd parted, and I saw Ricardo—the auburn-haired youth from earlier—backing away from someone, his face flushed with anger.


    "You can''t be serious!" Ricardo was shouting. "My father is—"


    "I don''t care if your father is the emperor himself," replied a familiar voice that made me tense. "Your position is meaningless to me."


    ise Rostova stepped into view, looking dramatically different from when I''dst encountered him. His oncenky frame had filled out with solid muscle, and his bearing carried an unmistakable aura of power. But most shocking was the palpable energy radiating from him—he''d advanced to thete-term Military Marquis realm, a frightening progression in such a short time.


    Ms. Hayward''spanion scoffed loudly. "Another ant that thinks it''s a dragon."


    The entire courtyard fell silent at his words. ise turned slowly, his cold eyes assessing the transformed Python.


    "And what exactly are you supposed to be?" ise asked with tant disdain. "I sense borrowed power in you—nothing earned, nothing understood."


    The silver-haired man''s face contorted with rage. "You dare—"


    "I dare many things," ise cut him off. "Unlike you, who hides behind a woman''s skirts."


    Ms. Hayward stepped forward. "Mind your tongue, boy. You''re addressing the academy''s most promising new talent."


    "Is that what you call him?" iseughed without humor. "I''ve trained hunting dogs with more genuine potential."


    The transformed Python moved with blinding speed, closing the distance to ise in an instant. His hand shot out, aiming directly for ise''s throat.


    But ise didn''t flinch. He didn''t even move.


    The silver-haired man''s attack stopped inches from ise''s neck, his hand trembling against an invisible barrier.


    "Pathetic," ise said quietly. "All that power, and you still can''t control it properly."


    Ms. Hayward''s expression darkened. "Xander, return to my side."


    So, they''d given the creature a name. Xander reluctantly obeyed, though his eyes remained fixed on ise with murderous intent.


    "Listen well, all of you," Xander announced, his voice carrying across the courtyard. "I will be the undisputed champion of this academy. Anyone who thinks otherwise can challenge me now or bow before meter."


    His gaze swept over the crowd before settling on me. "Some of you already know the taste of defeat at my hands. Others will learn soon enough."


    The assembled students shifted ufortably, intimidated by his presence.


    "Your bragging is even worse than your stinking feet," ise cut in, his voice dripping with contempt. "Where did you bounce out from? If anyone will be number one here, it''s me."


    The tension in the air became suffocating as the two powerful figures stared each other down, neither willing to back away. I remained still, analyzing the situation. Both were dangerous, but Xander represented the more immediate threat—his hatred for me was personal, and Ms. Hayward would undoubtedly use him as a weapon against me.


    But ise''s transformation was equally concerning. What had happened to advance him so dramatically? And where did his newfound confidencee from?


    As the standoff continued, I noticed Ricardo Beaumont edging toward me, his expression a mix of fear and calction.


    "You''re him, aren''t you?" he whispered. "The one who defeated Dominic Ashworth."


    I gave him a measured look but said nothing.


    "My father says the Guild is in turmoil because of you," he continued, apparently taking my silence as confirmation. "He says they''ve moved their most valuable asset to a Mystic Realm where no one can reach her."


    My heart skipped a beat. Isabelle. He was talking about Isabelle.


    Ricardo leaned closer. "I could tell you more... for the right price."


    Before I could respond, a thunderous voice echoed across the courtyard.


    "ENOUGH!"


    An elderly man in Guild Elder robes appeared on the main stage, his expression severe. "This is the enrollment ceremony for the Veridia City Martial Guild Academy, not a street brawl! Any student who cannot conduct themselves with dignity will be expelled immediately!"


    Xander backed down reluctantly, but his eyes promised future violence. ise merely shrugged, seemingly unconcerned by the elder''s rebuke.


    As the crowd dispersed and the ceremony preparations resumed, Ms. Hayward gave me one final, venomous look before guiding Xander away. I remained where I was, processing what I''d just learned.


    The Guild had moved Isabelle to a Mystic Realm—a ce even more inessible than I''d feared. And now I had two powerful enemies within the academy walls, both potentially standing in my way.


    Yet I also had a lead—Ricardo Beaumont seemed to have information, though his reliability was questionable at best.


    As I contemted my next move, ise approached me directly, stopping just far enough away to avoid appearing threatening.


    "We need to talk," he said quietly. "Not here. After the ceremony,e to the ancient oak behind the east training grounds."


    Without waiting for my response, he walked away, merging seamlessly with the crowd.


    I watched him go, wondering what game he was ying now. Last time we''d met, he''d been determined to kill me. Now he wanted a private conversation?


    One thing was certain—the academy was already proving to be even more dangerous than I''d anticipated. Between Ms. Hayward''s transformed pet, ise''s mysterious new powers, and the revtion about Isabelle''s location, I needed to tread carefully.


    But I would find her. No matter what realm they''d hidden her in, no matter what monsters stood in my way, I would tear apart the very foundations of this guild if necessary.


    As the enrollment ceremony began, I stood silently among my enemies, already nning their downfall.