《The Extra Seeks Chaos》 Chapter 1 Reincarnated As An Extra "I guess the author is sick again," Eric muttered as he stared at the "Author''s Note" at the end of the chapter. [Dear readers, this is to inform you all that this novel will be on hiatus for some time due to personal reasons. Please be patient with me, I''ll be back soon, thank you!!] Eric let out a sigh as he switched off his phone and copsed on his bed. Anytime something like this happened, it meant that the author was sick, and that also meant that the readers had to wait. After all, the novel was really popr. "Humanity''s Strongest Mage..." Eric muttered as he stared at the ceiling. That was the name of the novel that still kept him moving in this forsaken world. It was about a boy named Alex who was born talented right from the start. Right from birth, his control over Mana was insane, and even at 4 years of age, he could already cast spells that even individuals years older than him couldn''t cast. In a nutshell, he was a genius, a boy born to save humanity from its impending doom. If there was any word higher than "overpowered," that would describe Alex. He was Humanity''s Strongest Mage! As expected of a typical overpowered Protagonist, he got everything life had to offer. He was very handsome ording to the author''s description, he was favored by everyone¡ªwell, except a certain Antagonist. He was tagged a hero, the one who would lead humanity to victory against the vampires. Individuals could only control a single element, but as the Protagonist, he could control all the elements, and he was even perfecting his mastery over them one after the other. Although he was originally from a poor home, he never suffered, and he even became rich. After all, his talent made him a world treasure, something meant to be taken care of. Andstly, like most Protagonists, he had... "A harem..." Eric muttered. And not just a small harem. In fact, thetest chapter he just read introduced the twelfth harem member. I mean, who wouldn''t want an overpowered, handsome, and rich guy by their side? Well, the novel, "Humanity''s Strongest Mage", was popr for two reasons. Firstly, the writing style was incredible, quickly attracting a lot of readers. And secondly, the unique characters, world-building, and of course, the harem members, also made it popr. Like the masses, Eric liked the book, but... "I hate the Protagonist. He had everything easy in life right from the start." "No troubles, no bad moments, no ''Chaos,'' and no heated moments," Eric muttered to himself as he reviewed the novel in his head. Like a true reader, he remembered every single detail in the novel from the start to where the author currently stopped. That was just how immersed he was in the book, but even with that, he still couldn''t stop himself from hating Alex, the Protagonist. To him, the fact that there was no Chaos made the book boring. Yes, others found it wholesome, but he found it boring. Eric''s eyes darted to the clock hung on the wall near the window.@@novelbin@@ "5 pm, huh? Guess I''ll take a little walk; it won''t hurt." He got up from the bed and changed his clothes. After some minutes, he had fully changed his clothes. He was now wearing a ck hoodie, ck jeans, and a pair of ck sneakers. "This room is a mess..." he muttered, with an indifferent expression on his face. His room wasn''t too big, but it was enough for him. The only things in the room were the bed, some dusty books showing they hadn''t been touched in ages, his clock, and his clothes scattered all over the room. "I''ll probably arrange themter..." Walking towards the mirror, he looked at himself and couldn''t help but remember that certain day. He had normal short ck hair, an average face, and bags under his eyes. "Useless..." he muttered before putting on his headphones and leaving the apartment. He was currently walking on the street, his eyes showing no emotions at all. Cars and people were passing, but he didn''t even bat an eyelid. As he kept walking, he passed a bakery that was closed, and he nced at it for a second. This bakery was his ce of work, but he didn''t go today because the equipment and the bakery itself were undergoing maintenance. At least, he cherished this job a bit, as it was the only ce he was getting money from to take care of food, rent, and of course, to purchase chapters of "Humanity''s Strongest Mage." His parents passed away three years ago, and he had no rtives¡ªwell, he didn''t know them, so he was left to fend for himself. As he kept walking, his mind drifted to the Protagonist of "Humanity''s Strongest Mage" once again. "Tch... if I had the chance to make things hard for him... to make him suffer..." But he couldn''t tell the author how to write their novel. Moreover, the novel was now on hiatus for the tenth time this year, and he didn''t know when the author would resume. Bringing out his phone from his pocket, Eric increased the volume of the music to enjoy his walk, little did he know that he had just made a wrong decision. *Vroom* *Vroom* The car approaching from behind at high speed suddenly lost control and started swaying from left to right. The people who noticed it immediately started screaming and running to safety. But Eric couldn''t hear any of it because of the loud music, and the car was right behind him. And then... *WHOOSH* *BOOM* The car hit Eric with immense force, smashing him into the wall, with the car pressed against his body. "H... huh? W... what the hell just happened...?" Eric''s eyes widened in shock as blood flowed from his mouth. A second ago, he was listening to a song while thinking about how useless he was, and the next second, he was suddenly smashed against a wall, and now, he couldn''t feel his body anymore. He could feel his consciousness slowly drifting away, and he could barely hear the voices of people gathering. ''Am I dying...?'' he thought, but he didn''t have to wait for an answer. "I didn''t even achieve anything... What a shame..." With thatst thought, Eric felt hisst bit of consciousness fade away, and... He died. But then... "Huh?!" Eric eximed as his eyes snapped open. "What the hell is going on?" he muttered as he started taking deep breaths, trying to calm himself. But something else happened... "Ugh...!" He groaned in pain as foreign memories started invading his brain, making him clutch his hair. "Ugh... ugh..." The multitude of memories hit him like a wave, making him bite his tongue just to ensure he didn''t scream. "Ahh, ahh..." After some time, he let go of his hair as the pain decreased. But as the memories he just received sorted themselves, he was slowly realizing something... And then, it hit him... "Wait... Is this...?" "These memories... they have simrities with "Humanity''s Strongest Mage." But that wasn''t all; he suddenly realized something else... something about who he now was. "Wait... I''m now in "Humanity''s Strongest Mage", and I''m... an Extra?!!!" * * * [A/N: Hey guys!! Please support this novel with power stones andments, it''ll be much appreciated, and it''ll also motivate me. Thank you!!] Was this chapter good? Let me hear your thoughts!! Chapter 4 I Know You More Than You Think The grand hall of the Academy was filled with the murmur of excited students, all eagerly awaiting the start of the entrance ceremony. Arin sat quietly, observing the scene with a mixture of anticipation and impatience. At the front, on a raised tform, the principal of the Academy¡ªa man with white hair streaked with ck and an aura of wisdom¡ªcleared his throat, bringing an expectant hush over the crowd. "Wee, new students," the principal''s voice boomed across the hall. "As most of you may have already known, my name is Orion Wynter, the principal of this Academy. Today marks the beginning of your journey at this prestigious Academy. You are about to embark on a path that will challenge you, inspire you, and transform you into the very best you can be." Arin listened with half an ear. He had read about this speech in the novel, and while it was important for setting the tone, he had more pressing matters on his mind. His n to meet Tessa was set for after the ceremony. He needed to execute it perfectly. As the principal spoke of honor, discipline, and the Academy''s rich history, Arin''s gaze drifted to Alex, seatedfortably in the front row. He was surrounded by admiring students, basking in the attention. Arin could see why¡ªAlex''s presence was maic, his charm effortless. Yet, that wasn''t Arin''s concern. His focus remained on Tessa. The speech went on, detailing the Academy''s achievements and expectations, but Arin was already envisioning his next steps. ''Thankfully, I have that mask. It''ll be crucial for my n,'' Arin thought as he folded his arms. "So, I urge you all to be of best behavior, and respect the name and standard that this Academy has attained for itself. Once again, wee to Greenfield Academy!" Principal Orion concluded. "I believe you all know your way around the Academy. With that being said, you all can leave." Finally, the ceremony concluded, and the students began to disperse, heading toward their dormitories or exploring the Academy grounds. "Ahh, now that''s done," Arin muttered as he looked at the swarm of students who were leaving. "Now, my next destination is the forest." Instantly, he got up from the chair, and started walking towards the door. Though, there were obstructions because of the students who all wanted to leave at the same time. ''I believe now is a perfect time to try it,'' Arin thought. He already had information on how to use the Skills he got, so he didn''t have to struggle to activate it. Extra''s Cloak. Immediately he activated the Skill, he felt an undescribable feeling, but apart from that, nothing else happened. Just to test it out, he walked closer to the boy who was standing in front of him, and even stood close to him, but the boy didn''t even turn to look at him... It was as if he didn''t notice that Arin was standing next to him. "Good, it''s working," Arin muttered as he deactivated the Skill. From what he read in the early chapters of the novel, Tessa would often visit the forest to clear her head, rx, and get away from people in general. The forest that was located at the East side of the Academy was a ce of solitude and tranquility, a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere of the Academy itself. "And just after the ceremony, she went to the forest," Arin muttered, remembering the exact words that were in that particr chapter of the novel. With a grin on his face, and a mix of nervousness and excitement, Arin started walking towards the forest that he could see at the distance. He had to time his appearance just right, so he made sure to proceed steadily. Though, there was one more thing he was concerned about, but he would solve it once he reached his location. As he continued walking, he passed lots of buildings that he didn''t have time to check out. After some time, he reached the forest, and stopped immediately.@@novelbin@@ "System, my mask," Arin said. He was yet to know how to ess the inventory, so he just asked the system directly. In that same instant, a mask suddenly appeared on his hand. It was a sleek, ck full-face mask with only eye slits, its surface smooth yet textured with intricate silver patterns. "Nice," Arin muttered as he stared at the mask, before wearing it. The mask perfectly fit his face, as if it was made specially for him. Instantly, he walked into the forest. People didn''t visit the forest much, so it was a perfect ce for Tessa to rx. ''Just a little bit further.'' He thought as he continued walking. Finally, he approached a small clearing in the forest, and he saw her, standing with her arms folded, and a sword strapped to her waist. Her long, flowing hair was fluttering due to the breeze in the forest, and she had an intense, contemtive look in her blue eyes. "Yes, here she is." Suddenly, Tessa heard footsteps approaching her, and she instantly turned. Her sharp eyes glowed for a moment. "Who''s there?" she demanded, her voice sharp as she turned toward Arin. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of the masked figure. "I see... Ferocious as expected," Arin said, his voice slightly muffled by the mask. "Calm down a bit." "Ferocious as... expected?" Tessa muttered, with a confused expression on her face as she furrowed her brows. Right now, there were two questions that she couldn''t answer. Firstly, who was this masked boy that was wearing the Academy''s uniform? Secondly, what did he mean by "ferocious as expected?" Did he know her from somewhere apart from the Academy? ''And I don''t sense any presence from him... It''s almost as if he''s not even standing here,'' Tessa thought as her eyes scanned Arin''s figure. "I have to do this fast, "he''ll" soon arrive," Arin muttered. "Well, lets just say I know you more than you think, and most importantly..." "I know about the death of your parents," Arin said, as a smile bloomed on his face behind the mask. This was just his first step...to get the female lead, and foil Alex''s ns. Chapter 8 A Pawn Arin stared at Tessa, who was struggling to keep her cool, though it was looking impossible at the moment. Mana suddenly erupted from her body, making the wind pick up pace, and her ck bluish-pink hair fluttered more. Meanwhile, a devilish grin appeared on Arin''s face as he stared at Tessa, who was already losing control. "Yes... yes... that''s exactly the reaction I want. My n is... sessful..." If there was one thing he could use to make Tessa his pawn, it was the death of her parents. Ever since her parents went out that certain day two years ago, and people returned with their dead bodies, she swore to find the culprit and kill him or her with her own hands. She never expected it to be Alex Whiteheart¡ªthe same Alex who, after their sparring session in the forest, had professed his love for her just hours ago. She also liked him a lot, so she agreed, moreover, Chaos had formerly told her to ept his proposal, if not, she would remain in the dark forever, without ever knowing the truth. Arin didn''t say anything. He just watched her as she started taking deep breaths, trying to calm herself. Though, it was kinda hard, after all, what Arin just showed her was directly inputted in her brain... It was like a movie. "Ahh... Ahh... Ahh..." Like that, Tessa kept breathing in and out, and after some seconds, she finally calmed down. The Mana that originally erupted from her body was no longer present, and the wind had gone back to its usual pace. Instantly, she raised her head as she looked at Arin who was also staring at her. "What you just showed me... Is it true?" she suddenly asked. There was silence for some seconds, and the only sound that could be heard was the moving wind. "And you think I''de here to show you some useless stuff? You saw it for yourself... didn''t you? How he killed your parents without the slightest hint of hesitation or remorse, and you''re still questioning me? How pathetic," Arin muttered. Tessa''s eyes darted from left to right as she processed Arin''s words. "Yes... I saw it. Moreover, I''ve never heard of, or seen any Magic that could do something like that..." she muttered to herself. At this point, she didn''t have any single doubt... Alex killed her parents. ''Hmm, she doesn''t have any doubt. Now, moving on to the next stage...'' Arin thought, with a grin on his face. "Well, you''ve always wanted to know who killed your parents, right? You''ve gotten your answer," Arin said. "Alex..." Tessa muttered, anger evident in her eyes as she gritted her teeth. "I don''t think it''s a good idea to let him go scot-free, what do you think?" he asked. Meanwhile, the system screen was in front of him with words disyed on it. [An Unwritten Event is happening.] He had already expected this, so he dismissed the screen. "I remember the day I made that promise... That I''ll hunt down the person who killed my parents, and they''ll die by my hands..." Tessa muttered as her eyes suddenly turned cold. "And I''m not breaking that promise..." ''Good... Manipting her was easier than I thought,'' Arin said in his mind. "So, I take it that we have amon enemy," he said as he folded his arms. Tessa instantly looked at Arin as she raised her brows. "He also did something to you?" A slight chuckle escaped Arin''s lips immediately he heard her question. "Something far worse than you can ever imagine..." He raised his head, staring at the moon as he continued. "He''s not who he seems to be, and I''m sure you''ve already realized that by now. Imagine this, after killing your parents, he still had the guts to face you, and tell you that he likes you, haha, outrageous, right?" Tessa was silent for some seconds as she shut her eyes, trying to contain the anger that was building up again. Arin knew her in and out, so he was using that knowledge to twist her mind... To make her his... pawn. After all, she was someone who would y an important role in his great scheme, especially with the fact that she was now in a rtionship with Alex. "I''ll kill him..." Tessa muttered, anger evident in her tone. "Oh, really?" Arin muttered, his voiceced with amusement. "And you think you have what it takes to do that?" Tessa raised her head, staring at the moon for a moment, before she replied. "I hate to admit it, but... Alex is too strong. I don''t know if I can..." Tessa paused as she lowered her head, staring at the distance. Yes, Tessa was strong, but Alex was just on a whole different level... He was a genius. Tessa didn''t know why, but she had a feeling that the person who was currently standing in front of her could help. She needed to fulfill her promise, and she would do whatever it takes to do that. "C-can you h-help me?" Tessa stuttered as she looked at Arin. ''I see... now you''re talking,'' Arin thought. He was silent for some seconds, but suddenly, he started walking towards her. Surprisingly, she didn''t move back. At this point, Arin was now standing directly in front of her as he looked at her straight in the eyes. "I can," Arin said, his voice firm. "Only if you''re willing to ept my help." "What do you want in return?" Tessa asked. She felt like he wouldn''t help her without him getting something in return. After all, in this world, there was always a price for something... Nothing came for free. Arin leaned forward, his face almost touching hers, as he stared deep into her blue eyes. "Like I mentioned earlier, we have amon enemy. With the both of us, it''ll be easier to defeat him, don''t you think so?" he asked. Tessa nodded her head, nervousness present in her eyes, but she couldn''t back down now, she had already gotten to this point. "I understand," Tessa said. "Good. So from now on, just follow my instructions, and everything will go smoothly, do you agree with that?" Tessa''s answer to this question would be the final confirmation he would need. She closed her eyes, took in a deep breath, and opened her eyes.@@novelbin@@ ''I have to do this... For Mum and Dad...'' she thought. "Yes, I agree. Let''s work together... Chaos." Tessa''s eyes glowed as she steeled her resolve. A smirk appeared on Arin''s face as he noticed the look on her face. "Good, that''s more like it." Instantly, the system screen appeared in front of Arin. [You have a gained an ally: Tessa Silverhart.] [Note: As an ally, the probability of her betraying you is low.] ''Even the system has confirmed it....'' Now, he had sessfully made Tessa, the female lead, his pawn. "The Chaos has just... Begun." Chapter 11 Ranking System & Elements Riya didn''t want to go through the trouble of choosing who would go first, so she decided to let the students make the choice. ''If I''m not mistaken, a boy with anky build and ck hair¡­'' Arin thought. "I''ll go first," a boy with ck hair and anky build said as he raised his hand. "Exactly," Arin muttered. "Okay, you know what to do," Riya said, folding her arms. The boy nodded and stepped forward, walking towards the orb. After reaching the front of the orb, he stopped and raised his right hand. Though no one could see it, they all knew he was channeling his Mana into his hand. Secondster, he ced his hand on the orb. It instantly lit up with a green glow. "Wind Element. Now, your Rank," Riya said, gesturing for the boy to move to the ball-like object. The object was indeed like a ball¡ªck and almost rubber-like. It was used to determine a person''s Rank. There were smaller orbs that could be used to gauge a person''s Rank, but the Academy believed this object was more urate, for reasons known best to them. The boy walked towards the ball and stood in front of it, awaiting Riya''s orders. "Use your strongest attack on the ball. Don''t worry, it won''t get damaged," Riya said. The ball was designed to absorb strong attacks, so there was no need to hold back. Otherwise, you were only setting yourself up for a low Rank. Immediately, the students began shifting back, giving the boy space. He also moved back a little and raised his hand, preparing his Spell. ''Everyone already knows how to use Spells without chanting¡­ Unlike before, when Magic was first discovered in this world,'' Arin thought, his indifferent expression unwavering. Before the book went on hiatus, thest few chapters had covered the world''s history and how Magic was first discovered. Arin couldn''t help but smirk as he remembered what had caused this whole ordeal. *WHOOSH* The wind suddenly picked up pace, making the students'' hair flutter. "Kyahhhhh~!" The girls screamed as their short skirts were lifted by the wind. They tried to cover them, but it seemed like an impossible mission. Well, it was already toote because the boys had already seen what they wanted to see. Arin nced at the boy, who now had a huge drill made of wind above his head. The drill was spinning rapidly, gathering more momentum as the boy added more Mana to it. Finally, the boy snapped his hand forward,unching the wind drill towards the huge ball. *WHOOSH* The wind drill moved with immense speed, rushing toward the ball with force. And then¡­ *BOOM* A loud booming sound was heard as everyone shielded their faces. The wind picked up even more, almost as if it were raging, but after a few seconds, it died down. They finally opened their eyes, eager to see the result of the attack. Meanwhile, Riya just stood at the corner with her arms still folded, ncing at the huge ball. As expected, the ball was unscathed. Not even a single scratch was present on it. It was just the way it was before. However, the only difference was the glowing words that suddenly appeared above it. The words disyed the boy''s Rank: Grade 4 Veteran Mage. "Hmm, Grade 4 Veteran Mage¡­ Pretty good," Riya said as she gestured for the boy to join the others. The boy nodded and walked back to join his friends. In this world, strength mattered a lot; that was why a Ranking system was created to rank Mages and "Warriors." A person''s Rank was determined by their Mana output and the amount of Mana their Mana Core could store. In summary, a person''s Rank was determined by how much Mana they could store and how much Mana they could release. ''The Ranking isn''t actually difficult to remember,'' Arin thought. It was Common Mage, Veteran Mage, Master Mage, Grandmaster Mage, Star Mage, Legendary Mage, and Transcendent Mage. Common Mage was the lowest, while Transcendent Mage was the highest, and each of these Ranks had five grades, except for Star and Transcendent. This Ranking system also applied to "Warriors" who utilized Mana differently. Also, it applied to Spells, Weapons, Potions and "Arrays". Just as Arin remembered, the boy was indeed a Grade 4 Veteran Mage. ''My memory never fails me¡­'' Like that, the other students started confirming their Rank one after the other. Each person had only one Element, except for Alex. Fire, Earth, Wind, Water, Lightning, Ice, Sound, Light, and Darkness. These were all the Magic Elements in this world, or so they believed. Each person had one of these Elements. However, in the entirety of Ainsley Kingdom, there were only two individuals who could use the Light Element, and one of them was Alex. The same thing also went for the Darkness Element. Alex and another unknown individual were the only ones who could use the Darkness Element. So, in a nutshell, apart from Alex, the people who could use the Light Element and the Darkness Element were unknown. Well, that aside, it was Tessa''s turn. She walked towards the orb, and just like the boy, she channeled her Mana into her hand and touched the orb. The orb instantly lit up; this time, it glowed with a light purple color. "Sound Magic. Now, to the next stage," Riya said. The Sound Element was also rare, but at least not as rare as the Light and Darkness Elements. There were still people who could use it. Tessa walked towards the ball, her expression difficult to read, as she stepped back a little. Instantly, she spread her arms wide, and Arin knew what she was about to do. Suddenly¡­ *WHOOSH* *PA* A loud pping sound reverberated in the room as Tessa pped her hands with immense force. In that same instant¡­ *BOOM* A loud booming sound, even louder than when the wind drill hit the ball, was heard. *SHINGGGG* "Ugh¡­" Groans were heard from the students. Thankfully, they had already covered their ears beforehand; otherwise, they would have been bleeding from their ears by now. Instantly, words appeared, disying Tessa''s Rank.@@novelbin@@ "Grade 3 Grandmaster Mage," Riya announced. "Next." For someone to be a Grade 3 Grandmaster Mage at her age was incredibly impressive. Apart from Alex, she was another genius in the Academy. With almost all the students having confirmed their Rank, it was finally Arin''s turn. "Ahh¡­ Finally¡­.." * * * [A/N] What do you guys think is Arin''s Affinity? Let me hear your thoughts in thement section!! Chapter 14 Mana As soon as the mes died down, Riya dispelled the Water Bubble, revealing the disy on the ball to the students. Their eyes immediately darted toward it, eager to see what Rank would be shown. Everyone knew Alex was extraordinary, but that didn''t stop their curiosity from boiling over. Finally... **Grade 4 Grandmaster Mage**@@novelbin@@ "Alex Whiteheart, Grade 4 Grandmaster Mage," Riya announced. The moment they saw Alex''s Rank, murmurs filled the room. "Ahh, Grade 4 Grandmaster Mage, he''s exceptional." "I know, right? He''s the strongest among all the first-year students. At this rate, even the second-years won''t stand a chance." "Well, we always knew he was stronger than all of us, so it''s not really surprising." As the murmurs continued, Riya simply gazed at Alex, squinting slightly. A faint smile crossed Arin''s face as he noticed Riya looking at Alex. After all, the two of them knew something the others didn''t. Alex had clearly held back. He hadn''t even poured all his Mana into that fireball, yet his Rank was already Grade 4 Grandmaster Mage. So, what if he had used all his Mana? ''Even the novel mentioned that he held back a bit because he didn''t want the other students to feel intimidated. He didn''t want them to treat him differently just because he was stronger,'' Arin thought. ''Not that they aren''t already treating him differently.'' Alex wore a slight smile as he returned to the crowd of students. On his way, he nced at Tessa to see her reaction, but she was just staring at the wall, lost in thought. ''Something is definitely wrong...'' Alex thought, narrowing his eyes. Riya then took steady steps toward the group of students. She stood in front of them, folded her arms, and gazed at each one before speaking. "So, that''s all. We''re done here. As I mentioned earlier, we know that you all already know your Affinity and Rank. This was just a way for the Academy to confirm," she said. Her presence here, overseeing the confirmation of their Affinity and Rank, symbolized the Academy''s official approval. The same process was happening in other sses, with each teacher representing the Academy. "Understood, Miss Riya," they all said in unison. Riya nodded. "So, let''s go back to the ssroom." The students started leaving the room, Riya watching them with her arms still folded. Once everyone had left, Riya locked the door behind her and muttered, "I can tell... this year is going to be interesting... far more interesting thanst year." They soon returned to the ssroom, and everyone took their seats. Arin went back to the same chair he''d upied before they left. Riya joined them a few secondster, and the students prepared for ss. As usual, she folded her arms before speaking. "sses will now begin properly. I''m your Magic Theory teacher, and I''ll be teaching you everything you need to know about Mana, Spells, and other things rted to Magic." Everyone listened attentively as Riya spoke; they knew that ignoring her would have consequences. Some of them had heard from the second-year students that anyone who disrupted the ss or spoke while she was talking would regret it. Riya had taught the second-years when they were in their first year, so they knew what they were saying. No one wanted to find out what those consequences might be, so they stayed silent and paid close attention. "Mana is the energy present in the air, used to fuel magic and cast spells," Riya exined. "From birth, every individual has Mana within them, and it can be harnessed and utilized in the form of various Elements¡ªat least, that''s the case for Mages." ''Hmm... Because I already know all this, the ss feels boring,'' Arin thought as he nced out the window. "Some individuals are born without an Affinity for any Element, but there''s another path for them. They are the only ones able to utilize their Mana internally," Riya continued. "They can strengthen their bodies and use Battle Techniques with Mana... something Mages can''t do." This wasmon knowledge, but Riya decided to start the ss with it. At least, she didn''t need to exin much about it. She paused for a few seconds, observing the students. "I believe you all already know how Mages and Warriors are Ranked." "Yes," they replied. "Good. That brings us to the next topic: How Mana works," Riya said, starting to walk toward the back of the ss, her eyes scanning the students. "Mana," she muttered, "is an energy that''s not wrong to call the foundation of this world. How it came to be? We don''t know," she said, continuing to walk. Arin couldn''t help but scoff at thatst part. ''It''s nice to have all this knowledge.'' "But what we do know is how to utilize this Energy, and I''ll be teaching you all the right way to do that," Riya said as she reached the back of the ss. None of the students dared to turn around to look at her. She began walking forward again, arms folded. "Mana is ac¡ª" Arin couldn''t take the boredom any longer and decided to act. ''System,'' he called out in his mind. When he saw a system message about a Hidden Element in the testing room, he had decided to wait until sses were over and he was in his room. But now, he was too bored to wait any longer. ''Show me the details about the Hidden Element,'' Arin requested mentally. He had never read about anything like that in the novel, so his curiosity was piqued. The system screen appeared, and Arin''s eyes fixated on it, eager to see the details. [Due to the fact that certain conditions have been met, you have awakened the Hidden Element.] [Hidden Element: ] ''Huh?!'' * * * [A/N] Yes!! Thank you all for your suggestions. The Hidden Element will finally be revealed!! Chapter 18 End Of The Weapon Training Class Arin had a single thought as he stared at the system screen. ''I think I might have just gotten something OP.'' [This spell causes mana to be unstable, making it extremely difficult¡ªif not impossible¡ªfor others to cast spells. Attempts to channel mana or cast spells could result in spells misfiring, fizzling out, or even backfiring on the caster.] He didn''t need further exnation from the system to understand what this spell was. "Chaos Element, huh?" Arin muttered as a smirk formed on his face. He knew there were other details about this spell and the Chaos Element in general. ''I have to understand more about this Chaos Element.'' Suddenly, the system screen appeared again, showing more details about the Arcane Chaos spell, prompting Arin to focus on it. [Arcane Chaos is an area-of-effect spell.] [The spell affects a wide radius around you, creating a zone of Chaotic Energy where all magical energies be unpredictable and unstable. The longer the spell is maintained, the more erratic the mana bes.] Arin ced his finger on his chin, squinting as he stared at the system screen. ''So, basically,'' he thought, ''I can use Arcane Chaos in the middle of a battle to turn the tide by preventing enemy spellcasters from using their magic effectively.'' This was just one example of how he could use this spell. Of course, there were other ways he could implement it, and he already knew some of them. That was why there was currently a smirk on his face. ''And this is just the first spell of the Chaos Element. What would other Chaos Element spells be capable of?'' Arin couldn''t help but wonder. If this was the first Chaos Element spell, the others would certainly be strong¡­.. even stronger and more dangerous than Arcane Chaos. ''But a spell like this would certainly consume a lot of mana,'' Arin thought. ''For it to be this powerful, the mana consumption must be high.'' ''If I practice using it efficiently, I''ll be able to control the mana consumption,'' Arin concluded. He couldn''t deny his excitement about this spell, and he couldn''t wait to test it out. He hadn''t expected to get another element, apart from the ones he had already "nned for." But there was still something he was curious about, and he couldn''t shake the thought. ''Hidden Element¡­ I''m not familiar with that,'' Arin mused. ''And from the looks of it, there are more Hidden Elements besides Chaos.'' This was new to Arin, and he couldn''t help but be curious. ''Unexpected things will definitely happen,'' he thought. ''There are still some things in this world that I don''t know about.'' That was even more reason why he needed to get stronger quickly¡ªto aplish his goals and be ready for the unexpected challenges that would undoubtedly arise. "Arin Vale¡­ Arin Vale¡­" "Arin Vale!" Arin instantly looked up as he heard his name, noticing that all the students were staring at him. ''Hmm, seems I was lost in my thoughts for a moment,'' Arin thought. Dan squinted his eyes at Arin before speaking. "Arin Vale, it''s your turn." Arin nodded and walked forward toward the open space. He instantly gripped his sword, ready to perform the stance. Yes, he hadn''t been listening while Dan was talking, but that didn''t mean he couldn''t perform the stance. Swiftly, Arin crouched and quickly moved his right leg backward while bending his left knee forward at the same time. And then¡­ *WHOOSH* He shed his sword at the air in front of him, causing a gust of wind. A slight smile appeared on Dan''s face as Arin finished executing the stance perfectly. ''It seems Riya was right. The students this year will be far more interesting thanst year''s.'' Arin walked back to join the crowd of students while the next student stepped forward to perform the stance. It continued until it was Tessa''s turn. She walked toward the open space, her wooden sword gripped tightly in her hand. *WHOOSH* "Huh?" "Did you see that?" "Yes, so fast¡­" "Hmm, not as fast as Teacher Dan, though." The murmurs were due to how quickly Tessa performed the stance. So far, among all the students, she had executed the stance the fastest. Well, since she was done, it was time for thest student to perform the stance¡­ Alex. Alex walked toward the open space with a smile on his face as the students stared at him in awe. At this point, he was a celebrity everyone wanted to be friends with. "Do you think he''ll do it faster than Tessa?" "Huh? Are you seriously asking me that? Of course, he''ll do it faster." Everyone watched as Alex gripped his sword, and then¡­ *WHOOSH* He instantly executed the stance with immense speed, but something was off. "Uh¡­ I don''t know if I''m just imagining it, but I''m pretty sure Tessa did it faster." "Hmm, yes, I saw it too. Or maybe he''s tired?" Now, the murmurs were about Tessa and Alex, debating who had executed the stance faster. That aside, ss was over, so they could all leave. "Remember, you all have toe with your gear," Dan said. "That''s all. You can leave." With that, they all left the ss, including Dan. Making his way past the crowd of students, Arin arrived at the entrance of the building and started walking toward the dorms.@@novelbin@@ On his way, he dipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a card. His name and picture were on it, and on the right side, there was a small bar that read "50." Before he could think about anything else, he suddenly heard footsteps rushing toward him from behind. "Oh shit, she caught me¡­" * * * [A/N] What do you guys think of the Arcane Chaos Spell? And who do you think caught Arin? I''d like to hear your thoughts, it always helps me!! Chapter 21 I need you to do something Arin and Lina walked into the cafeteria along with the other students. The cafeteria was spacious enough to amodate all the first-year students, yet from what Arin could see, it was already crowded. The chatter of students filled the air, a mix of those already eating and others waiting for their food. The center of the cafeteria was wide open, while the left and right sides were lined with tables and chairs where the students sat. With steady steps, Arin made his way toward one of the counters at the far end of the room, Lina following closely behind. When they reached the counter, Arin noticed ady with brown hair scribbling something on a piece of paper. She wore a serious expression and didn''t seem to notice their presence. Arin cleared his throat and spoke up, "Excuse me, miss, I''m here to get my food." His voice broke thedy''s concentration, and she quickly looked up, her expression softening as she attended to them. "Oh, sorry about that. What would you like to eat?" she asked, a smile now recing her earlier seriousness. Arin and Lina ced their orders, then walked over to some vacant chairs on the right side of the cafeteria. Arin chose a seat close to the wall, while Lina sat beside him. The other students around them were engrossed in their own conversations. "You''re looking better," Linamented, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "You don''t seem tired anymore." Arin nodded slightly, folding his arms as he settled into his chair. Lina observed him quietly. His demeanor was different¡ªquieter, more reserved. It wasn''t like him, and she couldn''t shake the feeling that something was off. She worried that Arin was hiding something. "Ar¡ª" She started to say his name but hesitated. ''What if I''m overthinking this?'' she wondered, biting her lip. In the end, she decided to keep watching him. If he continued to act differently, she''d have to confront him. After a few minutes, thedy returned with a tray holding two tes¡ªone for Arin and one for Lina. She ced the tray on the table and smiled. "Enjoy your meal," she said before walking away. Arin''s eyes scanned the te in front of him, his hunger intensifying as the aroma wafted up to his nose. The te held a hearty stew with chunks of meat and vegetables, and Arin could tell just by the smell that it would taste incredible. Beside the stew was a warm, freshly baked loaf of bread, its scent just as enticing. Without wasting any time, Arin began to eat. Lina followed suit, asionally ncing at Arin as he ate. In no time at all, Arin had finished his meal and was preparing to leave. "Huh? Already?" Lina muttered, her eyes widening in surprise. She was only halfway through her meal, yet Arin was already done. "We started eating at the same time¡­" Arin adjusted his uniform, ncing at her. "Well, it''s not my fault you''re a slow eater."@@novelbin@@ Lina pouted, "I''m not a slow eater." "Whatever," Arin muttered as he stood up. "I''m heading out now. Bye." "Wait¡­ You''re leaving me h¡ª" Lina tried to respond, but her mouth was full of food, and before she could swallow, Arin was already out of the cafeteria. "What''s up with him?" Lina murmured to herself. ******* Arin dipped his hands into his pockets as he made his way toward the main Academy building. sses would begin in a few minutes, so there was no point in lingering in the cafeteria. As he walked, a nk expression masked his thoughts. ''If I''m right, it''ll happen in about three hours.'' He reached the building and started climbing the stairs. ''I''ll need to be there before it happens.'' The hallway was quieter, with fewer students around since most were still in the cafeteria. ''But before that, I need to stall him somehow,'' Arin thought as he neared his ssroom. ''I''ll arrive before him, but that doesn''t mean he won''t show up.'' He had already formed a n, so there was no need to worry. Everything just had to go ording to n. Entering the ssroom, Arin took his usual seat at the back, the same spot he had chosen earlier. Slowly, the ssroom filled up with students, and after a few minutes, everyone was seated. The chatter continued as usual until Riya entered the room, causing the students to fall silent. The Magic Theory ss went smoothly, and afterward, they all headed to the dorms to change into their training clothes before going to the Weapon ss. Just as Arin had anticipated, the training uniform was tight, but it didn''t restrict his movements. The Weapon training ss also proceeded without any issues, with the students practicing how to properly wield swords and other weapons. Finally, the day''s sses were over, and the students started leaving, including Arin. He walked down the stairs of the main Academy building, returned to his room, and changed back into his regr uniform before heading out again. ''One hour left¡­'' he thought, his eyes narrowing as he gazed toward the distant forest. He passed by the main Academy building, and as he approached the forest, he pulled out a mask from his inventory and slipped it on. Entering the forest, he made his way to the clearing, where, as expected, Tessa was standing, her arms folded. Her eyes were distant, lost in thought. "Tessa," Arin called out, his voice slightly muffled by the mask. In an instant, she turned to face him, her eyes sharp. "Chaos¡­" she muttered as soon as she saw the mask. Her sharp expression softened as she looked at him. Before she could say anything else, Arin spoke up. "I need you to do something¡­" Chapter 24 Theres going to be a showdown tonight Arin sat on his bed, his gaze fixed on the window. The daylight was slowly retreating, allowing darkness to creep across the sky. He had spent some time outside with Lina, and by the time he returned to his room, night was already closing in. "Almost time..." he muttered under his breath. He had a meeting with Tessa scheduled for tonight, and he was ready to leave. The only thing holding him back was the lingering daylight that hadn''t fully faded. There was a specific reason he wanted to meet Tessa tonight. "I could do it alone, but..." Arin squinted, his eyes narrowing with thought. "I''m not sure I can do it quietly. I''ll need her." What he nned to do tonight would benefit him in more ways than one, and he intended to discuss Alex and their next steps with Tessa. With a sigh, Arin stood up and walked over to the window. "This is why I like this room," he murmured, his eyes scanning the view. From his room, he had a high vantage point, allowing him to see the main Academy building in a different light. The streetlights illuminated the path to the Academy, creating a mesmerizing scene. There was no one outside now. The night had fully arrived, signaling that it was time for him to leave. In one swift motion, he donned his cloak and mask, giving him a mysterious air¡ªone that Tessa hadn''t fully deciphered yet. Just likest time, he jumped out of the window, his hair catching the wind as he descended. *WHOOSH* His cloak billowed as he fixed his eyes on the library building below. Hended without making a sound, immediately activating his "Extra''s Cloak" Skill, and sprinted toward the library. Even though he knew no one would be outside at this hour, he activated the Skill as a precaution. He reached the library building and, using the same method as before, scaled its walls. ''I could have asked her to meet in the forest...'' Arin thought as he ascended. It would have been simpler, but there was something about the library rooftop that appealed to him, so he didn''t dwell on the alternative. With a burst of strength, he hoisted himself onto the rooftop. Tessa stood at the edge, her back to him, gazing into the distance. Her ck cloak, with its hood pulled up, obscured her face. Even though Arin was right behind her, she hadn''t noticed him. The "Extra''s Cloak" Skill was in full effect. Her posture and demeanor made it clear she was lost in thought. Arin watched her in silence, arms crossed, giving her a few moments before deciding to speak. "Tessa..." he called out, his voice calm. She spun around instantly, surprise shing in her eyes. Her hand shot to the hilt of her sword, but she quickly rxed when she recognized him. "You''rete... again," Tessa muttered, her gaze assessing him. A smirk tugged at the corners of Arin''s mouth, though it remained hidden behind his mask. "Let''s get straight to the point." Tessa folded her arms, prepared to listen, but his next words caught her off guard. "We''re going outside the Academy," Arin said, his tone matter-of-fact. Tessa''s eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was a stunned, "Huh?" "Rx," Arin said, turning to look at the main Academy building, his cloak fluttering in the wind. "We''ll be back before you know it." "Wait... What are we going to do outside the Academy?" Tessa asked, her curiosity piqued. She squinted, waiting for his answer. Arin turned to face her, his voice tinged with amusement. "What, are you scared?" Tessa''s face hardened into a frown. "You know what''s outside the Academy, right?" "So? Are you really that afraid of Beasts?" Arin teased. Greenfield Academy was renowned, one of the most prestigious in the Kingdom. Its location near a forest filled with Beasts was one of its defining features. However, leaving the Academy grounds didn''t necessarily mean entering the forest. Tessa raised an eyebrow at him. "Of course not." Arin nodded, his tone shifting to a more serious one. "Good. Let''s get going, then." "Wait," Tessa said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You still haven''t told me what we''re going to do outside. And how do you even n on leaving the Academy? You know that''s impossible." Arin remained silent, as if weighing her questions. The pause stretched out, tension building, but Tessa kept her gaze on him, waiting. Finally, Arin moved closer, stopping right in front of her. "As for your first question, you''ll find out when we get there," he said quietly. "And as for your second question, there is a way out." Tessa blinked, her confusion deepening. "That''s not an answer," she whispered, frustration edging into her voice. But she knew that with Chaos, there was always more beneath the surface. If he said he had a way, she believed him, so she decided to follow. ''Should I ask him about what he did in the forest?'' Tessa wondered, her fingers twitching as she considered it. But she quickly dismissed the idea; she doubted he would reveal anything, given his nature. ''Still, it wouldn''t hurt to ask...'' She looked up, steeling herself. "Chaos, I¡ª" Before she could finish, she found herself staring directly into his eyes, closer than she''d anticipated. "Uh..." She stammered, but before she could react further¡ª *WHOOSH*@@novelbin@@ Arin swept her off her feet, holding her firmly in his arms. Her cheeks flushed crimson. "Wh-what?!" Her thoughts spiraled, her heartbeat racing in her chest. "Just stay quiet," Arin instructed, his voice steady. "Hold on tight..." And with that¡ª *WHOOSH* Without warning, he leaped from the rooftop, Tessa securely in his arms. The wind whipped around them as they descended, their cloaks ring out behind them. As theynded, Arin immediately dashed toward the Academy walls. "W-where are we going?" Tessa asked, clutching his neck to keep herself steady. Arin''s focus was sharp, his expression unreadable as he raced forward. This was one of the main reasons he had brought Tessa with him tonight. "Tessa..." Arin murmured. "Huh?" "There''s going to be a showdown tonight..." * * * [A/N] Another chaptering in a few hours!! There''s about to be a battle!! Chapter 27 Battle [Part 2] A smile crept across Arin''s face as he observed the wolves circling them. Their hesitation was evident, their gazes flicking nervously between the two humans. Perhaps witnessing Tessa''s swift dispatch of one of their own had instilled a sense of dread. "What''s the matter?" Arin muttered under his breath, his toneced with dark amusement. "You should know you''re just a warm-up before the real show begins." The wolves, sensing the dwindling time for deliberation, finally made their move. Their collective growls resonated through the forest, a low rumble of anger and fear. The first wolf, unable to bear the tension any longer, sprang at Arin from behind, its ws shing through the air with lethal intent. *WHOOSH!* Arin pivoted sharply, his mana surging into his hand with blinding speed. A Water Spike materialized in his grip, shimmering with deadly precision. *CLANG!* Sparks erupted as the Water Spike shed with the wolf''s ws, sending it hurtling back to the ground. Before the beast could recover, Arin lunged forward, driving the Water Spike into its skull. The wolf crumpled instantly, life snuffed out in a heartbeat. Meanwhile, another wolf leaped at Tessa, but she was already prepared. Her keen ears caught the sound of its approach. Instead of swinging her sword, she extended her hand toward the charging beast. *WHAM!* A piercing soundwave erupted from her palm, targeting the wolf''s sensitive ears. The wolf yelped in agony, copsing as blood trickled from its ears, disoriented and vulnerable. This was as a result of Tessa''s third Spell. This Spell allowed her to create a high pitched sound that she could target towards a single enemy or multiple enemies. With a swift, practiced motion, Tessa swung her sword, ending the wolf''s suffering in one clean strike. She flicked the blood from her de, her expression unwavering. Arin''s smile widened as he folded his arms across his chest. "Three down, seven left." The remaining wolves exchanged nces, their survival instincts kicking in. They knew that attacking one at a time was futile. In unison, they charged, aiming to overwhelm Arin and Tessa from all directions, leaving no room for escape¡ªnot that either of them intended to flee. The ground trembled under the pounding of paws as the wolves elerated, closing in on their targets. Arin''s eyes darted from one wolf to the next, calcting their movements. Tessa''s grip tightened around her sword, her stance shifting as she braced for the onught. *WHOOSH!* Three wolves lunged at Arin simultaneously. In a fluid motion, Arin stepped back, his cloak billowing behind him. He crouched slightly, extending his right palm with pinpoint focus. A small, seemingly harmless ball of water formed in front of his hand, norger than a ping-pong ball. *BOOM!* The Water Ball shot forward with explosive force, tearing through the air like a bullet. The first wolf, unable to halt its momentum, was greeted with the Water Ball. *BOOM!* The impact was devastating. The Water Ball mmed into the wolf''s head with such force that it exploded, sending chunks of flesh and blood sttering in all directions. Arin''s lips curled into a satisfied grin. "Looks like it underestimated the Water Ball." The trick had been simple. Instead of crafting arge Water Ball, he had condensed it, packing an immense amount of Mana into a smaller, more lethal sphere. It was far deadlier than it appeared. Yet, even after witnessing the gruesome demise of theirrade, the remaining two wolves showed no hesitation. They continued their relentless advance, their feral eyes locked onto Arin. "Confident, aren''t we?" Arin muttered under his breath, a cold glint in his eyes. Wasting no time, he dashed toward the lead wolf, a Water Spike materializing in his right hand. As he closed the distance, he leaped into the air, spinning his body mid-flight. *BAM!* His right foot connected with the wolf''s head with bone-crushing force, sending it crashing into a nearby tree. The wolf let out a pained yelp, but Arin was already moving, focused on his next target. In a burst of speed, he lunged at the third wolf, his Water Spike poised to strike.@@novelbin@@ *CLANG!* The wolf barely managed to raise its w in defense, blocking the first strike. But Arin wasn''t finished. A second Water Spike formed in his left hand. With the wolf directly in front of him, there was no time for it to react. *WHOOSH!* The spike pierced through the wolf''s skull with precision. The beast copsed to the ground, dead before it could utter a sound. Arin''s gaze shifted back to the wolf he had kicked earlier. It was struggling to rise, its legs trembling. Arin didn''t give it the chance. A final Water Ball hurtled toward the creature, ending its suffering in a heartbeat. Turning around, he saw Tessa dispatching thest of the wolves on her side. She had already killed two and was closing in on the third. The wolf lunged at her, but Tessa pped her hands together, summoning an invisible barrier that deflected the wolf''s savage attack. This was her fourth spell, a versatile one. Not only could it cancel sound within a certain radius, but it could also deflect physical attacks, just as she demonstrated now. Seizing the moment, Tessa swung her sword in a swift arc, cleanly severing the wolf''s head from its body. The creature''s lifeless form crumpled to the ground. With the battle seemingly over, Tessa nced back at Arin, a frown creasing her brow. "Where''s thest wolf?" Arin unfolded his arms, his eyes fixed on a nearby tree, a predatory grin spreading across his face. "They''ll be here soon," he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "But I guess it''s time to use it... The Chaos Element...." Chapter 29 Far Greater Threat Tessa was certain that the footsteps she heard weren''t those of Beasts. Her gaze darted to Arin, who was already looking in the direction of the sound. "They''re finally here..." he muttered, his tone calm butced with anticipation. Tessa''s grip tightened on her sword as the footsteps drew closer. She squinted, bracing herself for whatever wasing. *WHOOSH* Five figures suddenly leaped into the clearing where Tessa and Arin stood. *BOOM* The ground shattered beneath their feet as theynded with a force that sent dust billowing into the air. The dust cloud enveloped them, obscuring Tessa''s vision. "Damn it..." she hissed, gritting her teeth in frustration. But as quickly as it had formed, the dust began to settle. ''Those aren''t Beasts...'' she realized, her eyes narrowing as she tried to make out the figures through the dissipating haze. As the dust finally cleared, Tessa''s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened, her body trembling as she stared at the five figures. "W-what... what are they...?" she stammered, unable to tear her gaze away. It was something she hadn''t expected to encounter¡ªat least not so soon. In Veloria, there were many threats, most of which had been dealt with. Beasts, though dangerous, weren''t considered a true threat¡ªmore a persistent problem. They were formidable but defeatable, and even served a purpose, providing resources like food, weapons, and ie. But there was another, far greater threat in Veloria. One that had yet to be fully dealt with. One that inspired fear greater than any Beast ever could. The Vampires. No one knew where they came from or what their true purpose was. They had simply appeared one day, leaving a trail of blood and terror in their wake. Though they had been pushed back in a brutal war, they hadn''t been eradicated. For the past two years, they''d been lying low, and a fragile peace had begun to take root. But now... "V...Vampires?" Tessa''s voice trembled as her grip on her sword loosened. She fought to keep her bnce, overwhelmed by the sheer presence of the creatures before her. She had never been this close to a Vampire before. ''Is this... how it feels?'' she thought, her heart pounding in her chest. Even without looking directly at them, she could feel their cold, predatory aura. Suddenly, she gritted her teeth, as the memories that Arin showed her of Alex killing her parents, shed in her head. ''No!'' she screamed inwardly, clenching her teeth. ''I''m not weak! I won''t tremble like this!'' With renewed resolve, Tessa tightened her grip on her sword, lifting her head to face the figures in front of her. Four of the Vampires were male, each with ck, unkempt hair, pale skin, and pointed ears. Their fangs gleamed menacingly, and their w-like fingernails and toenails added to their sinister appearance. Their limbs were thin, bones visible under their skin, but their speed was undeniably terrifying. Saliva dripped from their mouths as they growled softly, their glowing red eyes filled with hunger and madness. Tattered clothes clung to their bodies, barely covering them. The fifth Vampire was a woman, different from the others in both appearance and demeanor. Her long, ck hair was surprisingly neat, and her glowing red eyes, while just as sharp,cked the crazed look of herpanions. Instead, they were calcting, scanning her surroundings with a predator''s keen gaze. She was well-proportioned, her figure more human-like despite her pale skin. A wide, knowing smile spread across her face, exposing her sharp fangs. Her ck cloak fluttered in the wind as she ced her hands on her hips, her eyes alight with curiosity and excitement. She wore sturdy ck boots that looked both durable and flexible, though her sharp nails poked slightly at their tips. Overall, she was far moreposed than the others, and if not for her fangs, ws, and unnaturally pale skin, she might have passed for human. "Ahh, you took longer than I expected," Arin said, his voice casual, almost bored. Tessa nced at him, confusion and suspicion flickering across her face. "Chaos, what do you mean? Don''t tell me..." Her eyes narrowed as realization dawned. "You were expecting them?" She thought back to their journey here, her mind racing. ''He never really gave me a straight answer about why we came here.'' Her frown deepened. ''Does he have some kind of connection with these Vampires? No, that can''t be...'' Just then, the four male Vampires crouched, preparing tounch an attack. But before they could move, the female Vampire raised her hand, halting them. She licked her lips, her smile widening as she kept her gaze fixed on Arin. "Oh darling, it seems you were expecting me. How sweet!" she purred, her voice sultry, dripping with amusement. "Huh? Darling?" Tessa''s shock deepened, her mind reeling. Vampires were standing right in front of her, and now one of them was calling Chaos "darling"? How absurd could this get? Arin merely scoffed at her words, his expression indifferent. He knew her well. She was a prominent character in Humanity''s Strongest Mage, though she had no idea who he was. Her calling him "darling" was just part of her yful, teasing nature. Arin smirked, his eyes meeting hers. "Good to see you, Seraphine Bloodrose, Second Princess of the Vampires." Her eyes widened briefly in surprise before a smirk of her own curved her lips. "Oh? And who might you be?" Arin suddenly began walking toward her, his cloak billowing with each step. "Chaos..." In that same moment... [An Unwritten Event is happening.] * * * [A/N] Hey guys!! The character image of Arin, Tessa, Lina, and Alex is now avable. Please check them out, and vote for them. Golden Tickets will also be appreciated. Thank you!!@@novelbin@@ Chapter 31 I am all that I choose to be An Extra''s Stand¡ªone of the four powerful Skills Arin possessed¡ªwas unique in its own way. This Skill allowed him to triple his physical capabilities, but it could only be activated when he faced a formidable opponent or was in a dire situation. And Seraphine was undoubtedly a strong opponent. The Second Princess of the Vampires wasn''t someone to be taken lightly, and Arin knew it. [An Extra''s Stand.] As soon as Arin activated the Skill, a surge of powerful energy erupted from his body, and Seraphine immediately sensed the change. Her eyes widened in shock, and her hands began to tremble. "Wait... What is this...?" she whispered, her voice betraying her fear. Before, her instincts merely warned her that this man called Chaos was mysterious and unpredictable. But now, those instincts were screaming the same thing the other four Vampires had felt earlier: "This man is dangerous..." Seraphine muttered, her gaze fixed on Arin, whose cloak fluttered wildly in the wake of his unleashed aura. Tessa, now perched at the edge of a tree a considerable distance away, was still catching her breath. Despite her exhaustion, she couldn''t take her eyes off the scene before her. "What now? Does he have even more powers?" At this point, she was beginning to wonder if Chaos was even human, considering the abilities he had disyed. Seraphine''s instinct told her to retreat, to heed the primal fear growing inside her. But her pride as the Second Princess of the Vampires held her in ce. Fleeing now would be an unforgivable stain on her honor. "No..." Seraphine murmured as she clenched her fists. "This is nothing but a mere challenge." Her long ck hair whipped around her as she locked eyes with Arin, her resolve hardening. "It seems you want something from me," she said, narrowing her gaze. "Otherwise, why would you pick a fight with me?" Arin remained silent. He had no interest in exchanging words; discussions would only waste time, and time was something he couldn''t afford to lose. Seraphine and the other four Vampires had been on a scouting mission. With the war currently on hold, Seraphine had taken to exploring new territories as a way to pass the time and satisfy her restless nature. This habit led them to venture deeper into the forest near the Academy, a ce she hadn''t explored before. However, what she didn''t realize was that Arin had anticipated their arrival. He knew about her tendencies and had prepared for this encounter well in advance, ensuring that he would not be caught off guard when they finally crossed paths. Seraphine was actually right, she had something he needed, and he would surely get it. A slight frown creased Seraphine''s brow as she readied her ws. "It seems you''re done talking." Meanwhile, Arin was adjusting to the immense strength now coursing through his body. The sudden surge of power from An Extra''s Stand was overwhelming, but he quickly adapted, taking control of the newfound strength. It didn''t take long. Arin nced at Tessa, and she understood his unspokenmand. Suddenly...@@novelbin@@ *WHOOSH* "Huh?" Seraphine''s eyes widened as she realized Arin was no longer standing where he had been just moments before. Before she could react... *CLANG* Sparks flew as she barely managed to block Arin''s strike with her ws. "H... How did he get a sword?" she muttered, her eyes darting to the de in Arin''s hand. It was Tessa''s sword. Unbeknownst to Seraphine, Tessa had thrown her sword to Arin, enveloping it in a Sound Barrier, ensuring it made no noise. Arin had caught it mid-air and attacked Seraphine in the blink of an eye. The speed of the exchange was too fast for Seraphine to process. She gritted her teeth, pushing back against Arin''s force. "I won''t go down here!!" *WHOOSH* With a quick leap, Seraphine spun in mid-air, sending a kick toward Arin''s head. *WHOOSH* Arin leaned back just in time, narrowly avoiding the kick by inches. Before Seraphine couldnd, Arin swung his sword again, his eyes sharp with intent. But then... *CLANG* A solid red shield materialized on Seraphine''s left hand, blocking Arin''s strike. Without hesitation, she leaped back, creating distance between them. "You know," Seraphine said, her voice cold as her eyes locked onto Arin''s, "I never thought I''d use Blood Energy here, but it seems I have no choice." Arin held his sword steady, his gaze unwavering. "I was starting to think you wouldn''t." Seraphine raised her hands, determination gleaming in her eyes. "You''ve pushed me to the wall." Tessa, watching the battle from afar, suddenly noticed something that made her eyes widen. "Is that...?" Behind Seraphine, red clouds began to form, flickering with crimson light that resembled thunder. The clouds weren''trge, but their ominous presence was undeniable. A chilling smile spread across Seraphine''s face as she stared at Arin. "Not afraid, huh? We''ll see how long that facade of yourssts." Despite her bravado, a nagging thought lingered in the back of her mind. ''Why is my instinct still warning me? Something is wrong...'' For some reason, her instincts continued to scream at her, and Arin''s calm expression was unnerving. But she pushed those doubts aside and focused on the battle. She was confident she could win. "Chaos!" Tessa shouted. "Tha... That''s a Vampire Spell! Will you be ab¡ª" "Enough, Tessa," Arin interrupted, his voice firm. "Stay back. I''ll handle it." Tessa bit her lip, knowing she could only watch from the sidelines. Interfering would only distract Chaos. "Chaos..." she whispered, her eyes glued to him. Seraphine pped her hands together. "Die..." The red clouds behind her shed with a bright crimson light, crackling with energy. Then... *WHOOSH* Long, sharp red spikes shot out from the clouds, hurtling toward Arin. With aposed demeanor, Arin raised his right leg and... *BAM* He mmed his foot into the ground, sending debris flying around him. Crouching low, he shifted his right leg back, his sword poised and ready. A smirk yed on his lips as he locked eyes with Seraphine. "I won''t lose here because..." He paused, the tension rising as the spikes closed in on him. "I am all that I choose to be." Chapter 34 Blood Core It wasmon knowledge in Veloria that when a human was bitten by a Vampire, they would inevitably turn. How quickly that happened depended on the strength of the Vampire. Weaker ones took time; stronger ones made the transformation swift. The citizens of Veloria had learned this the hard way. During the war against the Vampires, humans had collected the bodies of dead Vampires, storing them for study. When the war ended and the Vampires went into hiding, the experiments continued. Desperately, humans sought a way to reverse the curse, to return the turned back to their original forms. But no matter how hard they tried, they found no cure. Yet the search persisted. Even now, there remained a group of people dedicated to studying Vampires, hoping to find the key to undoing the transformation. But the humans were ignorant of something muchrger. The Vampires hadn''t been hiding out of fear. They were biding their time, strengthening their ranks, learning new things. Preparing for the moment the war resumed. And now, they had developed something that would give them a terrifying advantage¡­ The Blood Core. ********** "I need to retrieve something," Arin said, his voice low but firm as he continued walking. His gaze remained fixed ahead.@@novelbin@@ Tessa nced at him, her brows furrowed in curiosity. ''What could he be talking about?'' she wondered, but she kept silent, following his lead. Arin passed by Seraphine''s decapitated body, lying lifeless on the forest floor. His steps took him to the base of a nearby tree, where her head rested. He crouched and picked it up with his right hand, inspecting it closely. A sigh of relief escaped his lips. "Good... it''s still intact," he muttered. Tessa''s confusion deepened as she watched him. ''Why does he need her head?'' she thought, her unease growing. Arin grinned slightly, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Seraphine''s forehead, his target clearly in sight. With his sword raised, he prepared to strike. "Chaos¡­" Tessa whispered, her voice trembling with a hint of horror. "What are you nning to do? Are you¡­ dissecting her?" Her heart raced at the thought, but Arin didn''t acknowledge her question. "Wait¡­" she whispered, the realization dawning on her. ''Is he some kind of maniac who takes pleasure in cutting people apart?'' Arin, unaware of her thoughts, carefully positioned his sword. He was the only one who knew whaty beneath Seraphine''s skin. Only Vampires of the Royal Family possessed a Blood Core. When the war had raged on, the Royal Family had been the first to retreat, using their lesser kin as pawns. The King, Queen, and their seven daughters had disappeared from the battlefield. Seraphine, the second Princess, was the weakest among them, but she still carried the Blood Core¡ªsomething the humans remained oblivious to. In a swift motion, Arin brought his sword down, the de slicing into Seraphine''s forehead. *CLANG* Tessa''s eyes widened at the unexpected sound. "What was that?" Arin''s grin grew as the sword hit its mark, though not without resistance. The de had struck something solid, just as he had anticipated. "Perfect," Arin murmured, dragging his sword downward, cutting through the flesh and revealing a small, glowing object embedded in the bone. A blood-red orb, norger than a marble, pulsed with an eerie glow even in the dim moonlight. It was smooth and round, almost too perfect. "The Blood Core¡­" Arin muttered to himself, his eyes locked on the treasure he had just uncovered. With deliberate precision, he reached in with his fingers, gripping the orb. It was firmly lodged in Seraphine''s skull, but Arin pulled with practiced ease, freeing it within seconds. The core gleamed in his hand, its surface catching the moonlight like polished ss. "What is that?" Tessa asked, her voice betraying a mix of curiosity and unease. "This¡­" Arin stood up, holding the Blood Core in his left hand while Seraphine''s head remained in his right. "...is a Blood Core." Before Tessa could take a closer look, both the core and Seraphine''s head vanished, disappearing into Arin''s inventory with a faint shimmer. Tessa blinked, startled by the sudden disappearance. "You could''ve at least let me take a look," she muttered, her curiosity piqued by the strange object. Arin said nothing as he walked over to Seraphine''s lifeless body, crouching next to it. Tessa stood behind him, deep in thought. ''A Blood Core¡­'' she mused. ''I''ve never heard of anything like that.'' "What does it do?" she asked after a moment, folding her arms as turned to face him. ''Chaos knows so much¡­ he''s clearly familiar with this core. He must know what it''s for.'' Arin paused briefly, his back still turned to her. The silence between them stretched, making Tessa slightly ufortable. Finally, he spoke. "What do you think it does?" His voice was calm, but carried an edge of challenge. Tessa frowned, biting her lip. "An experiment, maybe?" She knew her answer was a shot in the dark, but it was all she could think of. Arin chuckled softly. "You could say that¡­" "Could say?" she repeated under her breath, her curiosity deepening. But something in Arin''s tone told her not to press further. He wasn''t going to exin it any more than he already had. Arin ced his hand on Seraphine''s body, and with a faint shimmer, her corpse vanished, joining her head in the inventory. With a sigh, Arin stood up. "We''re done here," he said, his tone t, as though the entire ordeal had been routine. Tessa nodded slowly, taking her sword from him as they began walking back through the forest. The silence between them felt heavy, but Tessa couldn''t shake her thoughts. As they walked, she found herself stealing nces at him, unsure whether to speak her mind or let it go. Her fingers fidgeted with the hilt of her sword as she weighed her options. Arin, ever observant, noticed her nces but chose to remain quiet. If she wanted to speak, she would. He wasn''t one to pry. Finally, Tessa gave in to her curiosity. "You know," she began cautiously, "back there, with Seraphine¡­ you seemed to know her. Like you''d met before." Arin slowed his pace slightly but said nothing, waiting for her to continue. Tessa hesitated, twiddling her fingers nervously. "I mean¡­ we''re working together, right? You should at least tell me something¡­" Arin nced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Or," he said, "we could talk about Alex. Our ns for a few days from now." Tessa''s brows furrowed in confusion. "A few days from now? What''s happening?" * * * [A/N] Thank you!! Chapter 36 Back To The Academy When Arin was still on Earth, reading Humanity''s Strongest Mage, there was one thing he knew for certain: Tessa was the author''s favorite character. First of all, her rtionship with Alex gave her plenty of privileges, LOTS of privileges. Even though she was strong on her own, there were countless situations she couldn''t handle, and Alex always swooped in to save her¡ªeffortlessly¡ªkeeping her safe every single time. But that wasn''t all. As a devoted reader who had consumed countless novels, Arin could tell that Tessa wasn''t just another hollow character. The author had clearly spent a lot of time crafting her, making sure she wasn''t some half-baked side figure, unlike some of the other characters in the story.@@novelbin@@ Still, some things wouldn''t stay the same with Arin in the picture. ******** Tessay cradled in Arin''s arms, her sobs slowly subsiding as he walked toward the Academy wall in the distance. "You want answers, don''t you? About everything that''s happening..." Arin''s voice was low, his gaze fixed on the horizon ahead. He didn''t slow his pace. Tessa''s head rested against his chest, her nod barely perceptible. Her body trembled slightly, a lingering effect of her earlier breakdown. Arin sighed internally. He wasn''t about to tell her the truth¡ªthat he was once a reader on Earth who''d died and ended up in this world. Or that his main goal now was to cause chaos and upend the storyline. He couldn''t very well say he was just a guy ying games for his own amusement, could he? ''What would she even think?'' He stifled a smirk. ''Absurd'', probably. But then again, he had no intention of telling her any of this. As they neared the wall, Arin came to a stop. He nced down at her, her grip still tight on his cloak. "You''ll know when the time is right," he finally said, voice steady. "Just be patient." Silence followed, broken only by Tessa''s quiet sigh. She shifted in his arms, lifting her gaze to meet his. "Alright then," she whispered, her voice hoarse but determined. "I just hope you''ll be more open with me. We''re working together, after all." With that, she disentangled herself from his arms, standing on shaky legs. She nced down, brushing the dirt from her cloak. Arin merely grunted in response before stepping toward the wall. The opening they had created earlier was still there. Without hesitation, they both passed through, entering the Academy grounds once again. Arin nced at Tessa. Instantly, she understood. With a p of her hands, she erected a Sound Barrier around them, ensuring no one would overhear. Arin moved to the wall and carefully reced the disced section, sealing the entrance as if it had never been disturbed. "Done," he muttered, turning back to Tessa. She nodded, her focus lingering on him for a moment before deactivating the Sound Barrier. As the barrier dissolved, she wiped the remnants of tears from her face. "About tomorrow," she began, her voice still slightly unsteady, "you told me to use my second fighting style, right?" Arin had already started walking toward the dorms, Tessa falling in step beside him. "Yes. From here on out, our priority is confronting Alex. Using your second fighting style will ensure he doesn''t recognize you when the timees." "Oh." Tessa nodded, processing his words. She understood what he was implying. When the time came for their eventual confrontation with Alex, they''d be wearing disguises¡ªperhaps masks. Using her alternate style now would keep Alex from identifying her during the uing expedition. "As for the expedition," Arin continued, "we''ll go over the details tomorrow. It''s crucial we don''t rush anything or make careless ns." "I understand," Tessa murmured. For a moment, she seemed lost in thought, her gaze distant. Arin noticed her silence. "Tessa," he called, keeping his gaze forward. She blinked, startled, snapping out of her daze. "Oh, sorry. I just... got caught up in my thoughts," she admitted, shaking her head as if to clear it. Arin gave her a small, knowing smile. "Sometimes you need to get lost to find yourself." Tessa squinted at him, unsure of what he meant, but before she could puzzle it out, Arin spoke again. "I''ll leave you here for tonight. Tomorrow, we''ll meet again." Tessa looked around, realizing they were already near the dormitories. She had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn''t even noticed how close they were. "Remember," Arin said, his voice a bit firmer, "use your second fighting style tomorrow." She nodded. "Okay," she replied softly. Without another word, Tessa turned and silently made her way toward the girls'' dormitory. Arin watched her go, only turning away once she disappeared from sight. Satisfied, he headed toward the boys'' dormitory. Once inside his room, he closed the door behind him, peeled off his mask and cloak, and copsed onto the bed with a heavy sigh. "I''m exhausted," he muttered, eyes already half-closed. His battle with Seraphine, coupled with the toll of the Extra''s Stand skill, had drained himpletely. His mind wandered as sleep threatened to pull him under. There was something else he needed to do, something important. But as his thoughts drifted, a wry smile tugged at his lips. "This might be thest time I get to enjoy the simple pleasure of sleep," he murmured to himself. "Might as well savor it." And with that, he let the fatigue wash over him, his eyes closing as he finally gave in. Unbeknownst to him, a system screen appeared just as he drifted off, disying a rather unsettling message: [The Chaos Element is still in its Initial Stage and was used.] [Due to that, the Side Effects will now be applied.] Meanwhile, in her own room, Tessa paced back and forth, her mind upied with different thoughts. She nced at her bed, and instantly sat down on it, with a deep frown on her face. Her eyes moved towards the table that was beside the bed. ''Or should I...?'' Chapter 38 Meeting Riya [An Unwritten Event is happening.] Arin halted in his tracks as the notification appeared before his eyes. He knew exactly what it meant. It wasn''t the first time he''d seen it, but today was different. This time, he recognized the specific event that was about to unfold. A smirk tugged at his lips as his mind briefly cleared. "Looks like "he" is finally making his move." His voice carried a hint of amusement. The system screen blinked out of existence, and within moments, the familiar fog returned to his mind, clouding his thoughts.@@novelbin@@ Before he could resume walking, he caught sight of someone darting toward him from the corner of his eye. "Arin!" Lina''s voice rang out as she waved frantically, trying to catch his attention. "It''s me, Lina!" A soft smile formed on Arin''s face as he turned to her. Momentster, Lina reached him, her chest heaving from the effort of running. "Good morning," she greeted between breaths, her usual cheerful expression lighting up her face. "How was your night?" "Fine," Arin responded, lightly patting her head before they began walking toward the cafeteria. Though he smiled, Arin''s mind was a battlefield. His thoughts felt sluggish, weighed down by an overwhelming fog that refused to lift. ''Damn it... I need to figure out what''s wrong with me.'' He knew something was off¡ªseriously off¡ªand whatever it was, it was only going to get worse. The sooner he figured it out, the sooner he could fix it. They arrived at the cafeteria, finding a table after ordering their food. Arin had specifically chosen toe here today, knowing it would likely be thest time he''d enjoy the simple pleasure of eating, and the taste of food. "Here you go," a waitress said, cing their trays on the table with a polite nod before walking away. Lina immediately started eating, her pace quicker than usual as she tried to keep up with Arin. Thest time they ate together, he had left her behind in a hurry, and she didn''t want a repeat of that. But something was different today. As she ate, Lina couldn''t help but steal nces at him. Arin wasn''t himself. For one, he was eating slowly¡ªuncharacteristically so. And while his body sat across from her, it felt like his mind was somewhere else entirely. "Arin," Lina called out, knitting her brows in concern. No response. "Arin... Arin... Arin!" she called again, her voice growing louder with each repetition, yet still, there was no reaction. Frowning, she reached across the table and touched his hand. The sudden contact startled him. "Huh? What?" Arin blinked, rubbing his eyes as if trying to shake off the haze clouding his mind. "Is something wrong?" Lina squinted at him, her worry deepening. "I''ve been calling you, but you seemed lost," she said, leaning in slightly to get a better look at his face. "Oh..." Arin chuckled awkwardly, a wry smile ying on his lips. "Guess I was too caught up thinking about today''s Weapon Training ss." Lina pursed her lips but nodded slowly. "Okay, if you say so." Internally, Arin cursed. ''I didn''t even hear her... what the hell is wrong with me?'' He exhaled softly, trying to focus. "I guess it''s my win today," Lina chimed in, her tone yful as she looked down at her empty te. "Hehe, you''re still not done." Arin smiled weakly, ncing at his own tray of food, barely touched. "Looks like it." He began eating faster, though the taste seemed to evade him. Meanwhile, his mind raced, trying to make sense of his current condition. ********** Tessa hurried toward the main Academy building, her eyes scanning the area for Miss Riya. Her stomach let out a loud growl, and her cheeks flushed red as she quickened her pace. ''Please tell me no one heard that...'' She hadn''t eaten anything yet, having skipped the cafeteria in her rush to find Riya before ss started. Meeting her seemed more important than breakfast. Suddenly, her gaze locked onto a familiar figure near the entrance. "Ah, there she is." Without wasting a second, Tessa rushed over to a tall woman with long, flowing ck hair. The woman held a book in one hand, already on her way into the building. "Miss Riya! Miss Riya!" Tessa called out, waving her hand. Riya stopped and turned, her expression unreadable. Tessa quickly caught up to her, panting lightly from the exertion. "Tessa," Riya said, folding her arms. Her tone was indifferent, as always. "What do you need?" Tessa hesitated, rubbing the back of her head awkwardly. "Uh... well, I was wondering if you could... um..." Riya narrowed her eyes. "If you don''t speak up, I''m leaving." "Okay, okay," Tessa hurriedly replied, her eyes widening slightly. "I was wondering if you could tell me which students in my ss use the Water Element." Riya''s expression didn''t change. "Why?" Tessa bit her lip, fumbling for an excuse. "I heard that Water Element users have better Mana flow." "That''s nonsense," Riya shot back, her voice sharp. "Mana flow isn''t dependent on your Element." ''Damn... I should''ve thought this through,'' Tessa berated herself. "Oh... okay," she mumbled. "I just thought I could learn something from them." Riya studied her for a moment, then sighed, opening her book. "Fine. Hector, Rey, Tina, Verne, Celine, Gil, and Arin." Tessa''s face lit up with a smile. "Thank you so much!" Without another word, Riya turned and walked into the Academy, leaving Tessa behind. A triumphant grin spread across her face as she watched Riya disappear through the doors. ''Perfect. I''ll meet them in the Weapon Training ss.'' ********** Upstairs, near the ssrooms, students mingled in the hallway, chatting and waiting for the teachers to arrive. Alex stood off to the side, leaning against the wall with his arms folded. Beside him stood a blonde-haired boy with piercing blue eyes, a smirk on his lips. "Alex," the boy, Arthur, began. "How''s it going with Tessa?" Alex grinned. "Well, I think she''s into me." Arthur raised an eyebrow, folding his arms. "You think?" Alex chuckled, waving at a few passing girls who giggled at him. "Yeah, but we''ll get closer with time. I''m sure she likes me." Arthur scoffed. "Love''s five minutes of pleasure for a lifetime of pain." Alex nced at him. "That your definition of love?" Arthur shrugged. "Just saying." Alex smirked, but before he could respond, Arthur leaned closer. "Forget about that for now. I''ve got something interesting to tell you." Alex''s curiosity piqued. "Oh? What is it?" Arthur smiled mischievously, unaware of what would soon unfold. Today was one of the day''s written on Arin''s jotter... One of the days to cause..... Chaos. * * * [A/N] Hey guys! Y''all can add "personality" to the characters in the character tab. It''ll make me know what you think about them. Thank you!! Chapter 41 Spar [Part 1] "Hector and Gil!" Dan called out, and two male students stepped forward. Both held wooden swords in hand, their expressions reflecting the anticipation of the uing spar. "Alright," Dan began, eyeing the pair, "as I said earlier, your goal is to pressure your opponent. The spar willst five minutes. If neither of you wins by then, I''ll decide the victor based on performance." Hector smirked, radiating confidence, while Gil gave a slight nod, his eyes calm andposed. "Also," Dan said, turning his attention to the rest of the ss, "keep your eyes open. Pay attention and learn something from this spar." The students collectively nodded, their gazes sharp as they focused on the duo. Of course, not everyone would get to spar today¡ªtime was limited, and a few students had already taken their turns. Still, everyone watched closely, hoping to pick up on any techniques or strategies they couldter apply. Tessa narrowed her eyes as she watched Hector and Gil take their positions. Both were students who could use the Water Element in her ss. She found herself particrly curious about them now, scrutinizing their every movement. ''That Hector...,'' Tessa thought, eyeing his smug grin. ''He certainly isn''t Chaos.'' She shifted her gaze to Gil, whose brown hair and calm demeanor somewhat reminded her of Chaos. He stood there without much expression, simply waiting for the spar to begin. Something about his stillness intrigued her. "Could it be...?" Tessa murmured under her breath, but shook her head quickly, dismissing the thought. Gil, despite his calmness, didn''t give her the same feeling she got from Chaos. No, she was certain he wasn''t the one. ''Then who is it?'' She sighed, closing her eyes briefly and massaging her temples. The search for Chaos was wearing her out more than she cared to admit. "Alex," Arthur whispered, nudging his friend''s arm, "I think something''s wrong with Tessa." Alex, who had been watching the spar preparations with mild interest, shifted his gaze to Tessa. His brows furrowed when he noticed her massaging her temples, eyes shut tight. "She looks... off," Arthur continued in a low voice, making sure only Alex could hear. "Like something''s really bothering her." Alex''s concern deepened. Arthur was right¡ªTessa appeared lost in thought, her usual confident demeanor absent. "I''ll talk to her after ss," Alex muttered, sighing softly. "Alright," Arthur said, ncing at Tessa onest time before turning his attention back to the spar. Dan''s voice rang out, loud andmanding. "Begin!" *WHOOSH* Hector and Gil moved at the same time, their wooden swords cutting through the air with force. Despite the absence of magic¡ªsince this was purely weapon training¡ªthe intensity of their movements captured everyone''s attention. "Your grip''s too loose, Hector!" Dan''s voice barked out. "Tighten it, or you''ll lose your weapon!" Hector adjusted his hold on the sword mid-swing, his smirk fading slightly as he realized his mistake. "And Gil, stop hesitating! The moment you second-guess yourself in battle, you''re already done for!" Gil''s brow creased as he processed the advice, trying to adapt without overthinking. "Back straight, Hector!" Dan''s voice cut through the air again. "And Gil, don''t just block¡ªcounter! You won''t have time to think in a real fight!" Arin, seated near the back, tapped his foot impatiently on the floor, barely paying attention to the sparring match in front of him. His mind was elsewhere, his thoughts clouded. His eyes flicked to Tessa briefly before zoning out again. ''She''ll manage it,'' he thought, not overly concerned about her. He was confident Tessa could handle whatever was going to happenter. She was capable. "Stop!" Dan''s voice boomed, signaling the end of Hector and Gil''s spar. Hector stepped back, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. He shed a grin, confident that he had won. "Well, I''m definitely winning this," Hector muttered under his breath, his smile widening as he prepared for Dan to announce the result. The ss fell silent, anticipation building as Dan took a moment to consider. It had been an intense spar, and no one was quite sure who woulde out on top. "The winner of this match is..." Hector''s smirk grew as he prepared to raise his hand in victory. "...Gil." The ss erupted into cheers, and Gil''s face lit up with a smile¡ªsmall but sincere. "But... why?" Hector spluttered, his earlier confidence reced by indignation. "Simple," Dan replied, his tone steady. "You failed to apply the corrections I gave you. You''d start to, but then you''d do your own thing, and that''s why you lost." Hector opened his mouth to argue but then closed it again, clearly frustrated. With no other choice, he stomped back toward the crowd, casting a venomous re at Gil as he did. Finally, it was time for thest spar of the day. "Alex and Tessa," Dan called. The murmurs among the students grew louder as the pair stepped forward. Some whispered bets on who would win, while others spected if Alex would go easy on Tessa because of their close rtionship. Tessa tightened her grip on her wooden sword, her eyes cold and focused, as if she had locked onto her target. Gone was the worried expression she had earlier; now, she looked as if she was ready to kill someone. Alex noticed the shift immediately. ''That''s... strange,'' he thought. Tessa''s previous look of distress had vanished, reced by something far more intense. It was almost unsettling.@@novelbin@@ "Ready?" Dan''s voice cut through the murmurs, bringing everyone''s attention back to the uing spar. Meanwhile, Arin stared at Tessa as he folded his arms, waiting to see what she would do. As for Alex, Arin already knew what he would do. Well, you couldn''t me someone who was in love. Alex gripped his sword firmly, eyes locked on Tessa. Neither of them bothered to take the stance Dan had taught them. Dan raised an eyebrow but didn''t intervene. "Hmph. They want to spar without a proper stance? Let''s see how this goes..." "Start!" Danmanded. *WHOOSH* Both of themunched forward at the same time. Chapter 43 Purple Eyes & Wave Of Mana Arin stared at Tessa, his expression unreadable. Not one for small talk, he decided to get straight to the point. "Something is going to happen tonight," he said, starting to walk forward slowly. Tessa''s brow furrowed at his words. "What is it?" Arin nced at her as he continued walking, his hands sped behind his back. "I need you to do something." Tessa let out a sigh, turning away to face a nearby tree. "Chaos, seriously? Even after what we talked about?" Arin paused for a moment, watching her carefully. "Who said I wasn''t going to tell you?" She turned back around, crossing her arms as she red at him. "It just felt like you were going to keep me in the dark again." "I see..." he muttered, his gaze holding hers for a beat longer than usual. "So, are you telling me or not?" Tessa demanded. "Because you''re still yet to te¡ª" Her words trailed off into a rant about how he always kept secrets, about why he knew a lot of things, about the strange encounter with Seraphine in the forest, and the mysterious small orb he''d retrieved from her head. "Tessa..." Arin muttered, but his voice was so low that she didn''t hear him. She continued talking. Suddenly, everything started to blur. Tessa''s voice became distant, and he felt like he was losing himself. ''What... What is happening? No... I have to do something...'' He felt as if he were on the verge of slipping into unconsciousness, needing to snap himself back. There was only one thing he could think to do. "TESSA!" Arin roared, his voice echoing through the forest. [WARNING!] *WHOOSH* His eyes glowed a deep purple as a wave of energy surged from his body, sending a shiver down Tessa''s spine. She froze, her breath caught in her throat, as fear gripped her. Arin''s eyes returned to their normal color as he turned away, grasping a tree trunk for support. "Give me a minute," he muttered, his voice steady this time. Tessa nodded, still shaken by what had just happened. She watched as he leaned against the tree, catching his breath. Arin had screamed to wake himself up, but he had no idea why his Chaos element had surged like that. Tessa closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then opened them. "So, why are we leaving this time?" she asked, deciding to ignore what had just happened for now. She could ask about itter¡ªif she dared. Arin let out a scoff, turning to look at her. "We''re not leaving the Academy." Her eyes narrowed, curiosity mixing with caution. "Then what do you want me to do ?" She had expected him to say they were leaving the Academy again, so this was a surprise. Still, she was ready to listen to whatever he had to say. --- Tessa stood silently, processing everything Arin had told her. It was a lot to take in, and she needed a moment. Arin waited patiently, his arms crossed as he leaned against a tree. Finally, she looked up at him. "So, that''s all I have to do?" "Yes," Arin confirmed, nodding slightly. "Then we let him do the rest." Tessa sighed, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension. At least he had told her something this time, not just left her in the dark. "Okay," she said. "I understand." "Good," Arin replied. He pushed off the tree and began to walk away. "You should start now. Later might be toote." Tessa nodded. But before he could leave, she called out, "Chaos." Arin halted but didn''t turn around. She knew he was listening¡ªhe wouldn''t have stopped otherwise. Tessa hesitated, ncing down as she fiddled with her fingers. "I just wanted to know... What are you going to do after we finally get rid of Alex Whiteheart?" Her voice was soft, almost unsure. "I mean, that''s the current goal, so what happens after that?" Arin stared ahead, his eyes narrowing as he focused on a tree in front of him. He had expected her to ask about his eyes or the burst of energy, not this. He let the silence stretch for a few seconds before he spoke. "I don''t know," he admitted, his voice unusually gentle. "But I won''t know if I don''t achieve what I want first." He paused, ncing at the ground. "Once that''s done... then I''ll figure out whates next." Tessa watched him quietly. It made sense, in its own way. With that, Arin continued walking. Then, suddenly, he stopped again. Tessa raised her head, looking at him curiously. He nced over his shoulder at her. "How are you feeling now?" It was an unexpected question, and Tessa felt a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "That was... unexpected." "Tch..." Arin clicked his tongue. "Just answer the question." She chuckled softly, covering her mouth with her hand. "Calm down. I didn''t expect you to care, that''s all." "I feel better now," she added, her smile fading slightly. "At least better thanst night." Arin muttered something under his breath, turning back around and walking away, leaving Tessa alone in the forest. She watched him go, feeling a mixture of emotions swirl inside her. "Just like he said, it''s better to do it now." With a resolute nod, she exited the forest and headed toward the main Academy building. Her mind drifted back to what Chaos had said would happen tonight, making her frown. ''Of course, he''s serious. He wouldn''t joke about something like this.'' From the time she had spent with him, Tessa knew one thing for sure¡ªArin was always right. She didn''t know how or why, but he always was. Her thoughts flickered to the incident with his glowing eyes and the wave of energy. ''I''ll think about thatter,'' she decided. She had to focus on her current task. ''It''s still early, so I''m sure he''s still inside.'' Tessa entered the building and made her way up the stairs, reaching the hallway where students still milled about. She walked briskly, scanning the crowd until she saw Alex talking to a girl with long brown hair. The girl was pretty, though not quite as stunning as Tessa herself. Still, she was the type boys would be falling for left and right. "Tch..." Tessa clicked her tongue in annoyance, though it wasn''t directed at Alex this time. Instead, it was aimed at the girl. They had history¡ªan interesting one. Tessa moved toward Alex, who was holding the girl''s hands as theyughed. Alex noticed her approach and quickly let go of the girl. "Oh," he muttered, starting to walk toward Tessa. "Edith, I''ll talk to youter." Edith nced at Tessa, her eyes narrowing. She knew exactly why Alex was leaving and it made her roll her eyes. "Of course. Only Tessa can make him act like this." She didn''t want to stick around and witness whatever was about to happen, especially considering herplicated rtionship with Tessa. Alex finally reached Tessa, a sweet smile on his face. "Tessa, how are you?" Tessa forced a smile, keeping her eyes fixed on him. "Oh, I''m fine." "Hmm," Alex murmured, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read her. "I actually want to talk to you about something... a lot of things, actually." "Oh," Tessa replied, her voice t. "I also want to talk to you." "Great," Alex said, his blue hair catching the light as it fluttered softly, entuating his handsome features. "Let''s go somewhere quieter, like the field." "Okay then," Tessa agreed, nodding slightly. She was tired of this facade, but she had no other choice. ''This has to work.'' Meanwhile, Arin had arrived in his room and shut the door. The day wasn''t over yet, so there was still time before the show began.@@novelbin@@ ''I should be done with this before night falls,'' Arin thought as he removed his uniform and headed to the bathroom. After a long shower, longer than usual due to his unstable mind, he sat down in a lotus position on the floor. It was time toplete his new spell, but first... ''I think I know what''s wrong with me now...'' ''It''s because of...'' Chapter 46 Let It Begin A smirk tugged at the corner of Arin''s lips. "Just onest thing..."@@novelbin@@ In a swift motion, he began drawing more Mana toward him. With meticulous control, he guided it closer, funneling it into the Magic Circle that was already glowing intensely. This was the final step inpleting the Spell Creation: feeding the Magic Circle with an immense amount of Mana until it reached the necessary threshold. Mages would know instinctively when that point was reached, a kind of sixth sense honed through experience and focus. The Magic Circle glowed brighter as more Mana flooded into it, but Arin knew it still wasn''t enough. His brow furrowed slightly. "More... More..." Mana continued pouring into the Magic Circle, its brilliance intensifying and bathing the Mana Space in blinding light. Arin''s grin widened, his eyes fixed on the circle, the glow reflecting in his gaze. "Almost there..." Suddenly, his hair and clothes began to flutter as if caught in a storm. The Magic Circle trembled, crackling with raw power. A gust of wind erupted from nowhere, causing ripples to dance across the ocean floor beneath him. *WHOOSH!* Arin felt the wind pushing against him, but he held his ground, stretching out his hands to maintain control over the Mana flow. This was the moment he had been waiting for. The chance to push his mental fortitude to its limit. He wasn''t just controlling Mana; he was doing it through sheer willpower, bending it to hismand. The strain was evident on his face, but it only fueled his determination. His eyes zed with intensity. "Yes... This is it!" *WHOOSH!* A burst of blinding blue light erupted from the Magic Circle, forcing Arin to shut his eyes and shield his face with an arm. He stumbled back, the sheer force of the light overwhelming his senses. Seconds passed, and the light finally dimmed. Arin cautiously opened his eyes. The Magic Circle was gone, leaving the Mana Space eerily calm, just as it had been when he first entered. Arin let out a long breath, a small smile of satisfaction ying on his lips. "That''s it..." He was drained,pletely devoid of Mana, but it was a feeling he hade to embrace. He nced ahead at the endless void that stretched before him. "Creating a Spell really is the real deal. I''ve burned through all my Mana." There was no need to linger any longer. With a single thought, his surroundings shifted, and he was back in his room. The exhaustion weighed heavily on him, but it was manageable. However, he noticed something else, something that made his grin widen as he moved towards the mirror. "I did it..." he muttered, staring at his reflection. The fog that had clouded his mind was gone. He could think clearly again, unburdened by the mental haze that had gued him. "It actually worked... strengthening my mental fortitude," Arin whispered, a hint of disbelief in his voice. Yet, he knew this rity was temporary. The side effects of his Chaos Element would surface again, especially since it was still in its initial stage. He needed to continue fortifying his mind to advance the Chaos Element. He took a deep breath, ncing out the window. The day was slowly fading away. "Seems I spent quite some time in the Mana Space." This reaffirmed the importance for a Mage to be in the safety of their home, doors locked, when crafting a spell. Arin sighed, sitting down on his bed. It felt good to have his mind back to normal. He opened his inventory and retrieved a small red object: the Blood Core. "I''ve taken too long," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the Blood Core. "I''ll have to do it tonight." After a moment, he ced it back in his inventory and stood up. There was no time to bask in the relief of his cleared mind. He retrieved his mask and cloak, slipping them on swiftly. It was time for the night''s events to unfold, and he needed to be ready for what was toe. "It''s time..." he muttered, only his eyes visible through the mask. "Time for a great show." ******* Darkness swallowed the light as night fell, an endless loop that was part of daily life. Inside Greenfield Academy, two figures walked steadily toward the Weapon Building, a structure reserved for housing weapons. They wore the Academy''s uniform, marking them as students of this prestigious institution. One had blonde hair and blue eyes, his hands casually stuffed into his pockets, his face set in a rxed expression. The other, with blue hair, was even more strikingly handsome, the kind of face that could make any girl swoon. "So," Alex began, his voice casual, "what did you want to show me?" Arthur smiled, a secretive glint in his eyes. "Rx, will you? You''ll see soon enough." Alex rolled his eyes but continued walking. "Alright, alright." "First off," Arthur started, his tone bing more serious, "thanks foring here first before meeting Tessa. I mean, you chose me over her." Alex shot him a sharp side-eye, his re speaking volumes without a single word. Arthur chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Hey, easy now, it was just a joke." Alex sighed, looking straight ahead. "You know, when you put it that way, it sounds weird." Arthur clicked his tongue, annoyed. "Get your mind out of the gutter, will you?" A thought seemed to dawn on Alex, his eyes widening slightly. "Wait, are you...?" "Shut up!!" Arthur snapped, his face flushing red as he quickened his pace. Meanwhile, high above on a rooftop, a cloaked figure stood against the dark sky. His cloak fluttered wildly in the wind, his face hidden behind a mask. The aura of mystery around him was palpable. He stared into the distance, eyes narrowing as he focused on a point far away. His voice, low and cold, cut through the silence of the night. "Let it begin..." Chapter 49 Rooftop [Part 3] Confusion. That was the only word to describe the Vampire''s current expression. One moment, the boy in front of him was trembling in fear; the next, his demeanor hadpletely shifted. He now looked ready to fight, his eyes holding a resolve that hadn''t been there before. The Vampire''s gaze fixed on Arthur, who gripped a sword he had drawn from his Storage Ring. The de was ck, with hints of red streaking along its edges, the hilt a matching blend of colors. "St... Strange..." The Vampire muttered, narrowing his eyes. Arthur''s lips curled into a grin. "That''s right. It''s strange, isn''t it?" The Vampire hesitated, eyes darting between Arthur''s sword and his face. It could sense that something about this boy was... different. Mysterious, even. Its instincts were on high alert, urging caution despite the prey standing so inly in front of it. But nevertheless... "That won''t stop me," the Vampire whispered, its voice barely carrying over the stillness of the night. The moonlight glinted off its fangs as it took a step forward. Arthur''s grin widened, his eyes gleaming with a strange intensity. "Good. This is my chance... to prove myself... to them... Then maybe... just maybe..." The Vampire didn''t understand what Arthur was mumbling, nor did it care to. It had its own agenda, and the boy standing before it was just an obstacle in its path. Arthur''s expression shifted from a grin to a deadly focus. He crossed his arms in front of him, forming an X with his hands. A sudden realization dawned on the Vampire as its eyes widened. "This... I know this..." it began, but the words caught in its throat. Arthur''s eyes began to glow a bright yellow. His voice dropped to a low, chilling tone as he uttered, "Great Phoenix Art: me''s Warmth." *WHOOSH!* A heavy pressure exploded from Arthur''s body, and the Vampire staggered back, eyes wide in shock. An aura, yellow and pulsating like the flicker of a me, enveloped Arthur. It spread to form the silhouette of fiery wings on his back, extending to his arms and legs until he looked like a figure cloaked in transparent mes. Arthur nced down at his hands, feeling the warmth course through his veins. His gaze snapped back to the Vampire. "You wanted a fight? Come at me, then."@@novelbin@@ The Vampire''s frown deepened. It weighed its options, gauging the situation. ''He''s dangerous... but my instincts aren''t telling me to run. That means...'' A grin spread across the Vampire''s face. "This will make for a good report. I''ll kill you and then rise up the ranks with this," it cackled, its voice echoing through the night. *WHOOSH!* With that, the battle began. Meanwhile... Alex stood in the garden, staring into Tessa''s eyes, his heart pounding against his ribs. His mind was racing with a jumble of thoughts. ''This is it. This is really happening.'' Tessa''s arms were wrapped around his neck, pulling him close. He could feel her breath against his skin, warm, and gentle. "You worry too much," she whispered, a soft smile on her lips. "I''m fine." Alex exhaled, his shoulders rxing slightly. "Alright, if you say so. But if anyone tries anything, promise me you''ll tell me, okay?" "Okay, darling," Tessa replied, her voice sweet as honey. She drew him even closer, her head resting against his chest. "So..." Alex began, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, "why did you want to meet me tonight? Did you have something you wanted to talk about?" Tessa looked away briefly, her cheeks flushing a light pink. "Something like that... but..." Alex tilted his head, curiosity etched on his face. "But what?" Tessa hesitated, biting her lower lip before finally looking back at him. "I... I''m shy." "Shy?" Alex repeated, blinking in surprise. "Yes," Tessa said, ncing down at the ground. "I was too shy in the daytime, so I thought it would be easier at night... when it''s just the two of us." Alex felt a surge of warmth in his chest. "You don''t have to be shy around me, you know. We''re getting closer everyday," he said softly, lifting a hand to caress her cheek. Tessa leaned into his touch, though her thoughts were anything but serene. ''Such bullshit,'' she thought, masking her contempt with a tender smile. ''He has no idea... he has no idea how much I want to rip his eyes out right now.'' ''I''m sure my parents weren''t the first ones he''s killed,'' she thought. ''And yet he can still act so innocent and pure in front of everyone.'' "Thank you, Alex," she replied sweetly. "It''s just that..." Alex leaned in slightly, his voice gentle. "Talk to me, Tessa." ''This is my chance,'' Tessa thought, her heart beating like a drum in her chest. "For what I''m about to do, she began, her voice trembling slightly, "I want it to be special... just between us." Alex''s eyes widened, and a hint of excitement flickered in them. ''Is this what I think it is?'' "What exactly do you mean?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Tessa hesitated again. "Wait," she said, "let me set up a Sound Barrier first." Alex''s suspicions seemed to be confirmed. ''If she wants to set up a Sound Barrier, then...'' He nodded eagerly. "As you wish." Tessa managed to maintain her facade, nodding in agreement. ''Perfect,'' she thought, raising her hands to conjure the Sound Barrier. The air around them shimmered for a moment before sealing them in a cocoon of silence. As the barrier finished forming, Tessa''s expression changed. A genuine, icy smile appeared on her face. ''Missionpleted...'' *********** Arin stood atop the library building, his eyes trained on the Weapon building in the distance. He couldn''t see much from here, but that didn''t matter. He wasn''t nning to go any closer, knowing the risk of the Vampire sensing him. He needed confirmation that everything was proceeding as nned. His gaze sharpened when a notification appeared before him. [An Unwritten Event is happening.] A cold smile spread across his face, shadowed by the darkness around him. "That''s all the confirmation I need..." Meanwhile, on the rooftop of the Weapon building, the battle had just begun. "Great Phoenix Art..." "Huh?" * * * [A/N] Hey guys!! What are your thoughts on Arthur, and that Great Phoenix Art? I''ll like to hear your thoughts as usual. Thank you!! Chapter 52 Just Phase One & Sub-Quest Almost all the students in the Academy were gathered in front of the Weapon building, staring at the rooftop where the aura wasing from. The wind still raged, making their hair flutter. As expected, they had all begun murmuring. "Isn''t that Alex? What happened?" "How am I supposed to know? I just got here." "Look closely, he''s holding someone..." "Wait... that''s true. Don''t tell me... did he...?" Suddenly, a figure swiftlynded on the rooftop, the moonlight revealing his appearance. "Brad!" Hector eximed as he instantly recognized the man. The other students also realized who had arrived. It was Brad, someone the students referred to as... security? It was questionable, considering the fact that he didn''t really act like one. His rank was unknown to the students, and all they knew was that he was a sleepyhead. Brad currently had a frown on his face, his ck hair fluttering wildly as he stared at Alex, whose eyes looked dead. He began walking towards Alex, even with the aura that still radiated from him. Quite surprisingly, Brad walked past the bluish-green aura like it was nothing, reaching Alex. "Alex..." Brad muttered, his eyes shifting to the rooftop floor, and that was when he saw it. "Oh, shit..." TEN MINUTES LATER... The sobs of students could be heard as they formed a line and divided into two sides, leaving a space in the middle. Some of them closed their eyes while others kept them open, watching as Brad walked between them, carrying Arthur''s lifeless body in his arms. Some students couldn''t handle the shock and rushed back to their rooms. Even though not all of them were close to Arthur, they still felt the pain. Tessa was among those who returned to their rooms. When Brad had taken Arthur''s body from Alex''s arms, he suddenly dashed off to an unknown location, and she didn''t know where he went. Tessa sighed as she copsed on her bed, her eyes wide open. "I don''t even know what''s going on anymore..." Suddenly, her expression hardened as she remembered something. "He killed my parents... so he should also feel pain. He should know how it feels to lose someone close to him." ******** Arin had finally entered his room and shut the door behind him. He walked towards the bed and sat down. "Everything went as nned," he muttered. "Just the way I wanted it to be." Honestly, he wasn''t feeling bad about what had just happened. After all, he knew something about Alex that others failed to see. Arin sighed as he removed his cloak and mask before storing them in his inventory. "Alex isn''t who he seems to be." Even though he had to make Alex look bad to get Tessa to follow him, Alex still wasn''t the person people thought he was. "He acts all innocent and pure in front of others, but..." Arin paused, a sharp look in his eyes, "he''s way different in reality." This was part of the reason he didn''t feel bad about everything. As for Arthur, his death was part of Arin''s grand scheme. It wasn''t just about causing pain to Alex¡ªit was much more than that. It wouldn''t be an understatement to say that great chaos wasing due to Arthur''s death. This was just phase one of Arin''s n. At that moment, the system screen appeared in front of Arin, disying a message he had expected. [Quest Complete] A slight smile appeared on Arin''s face as he stared at the system screen. "I don''t think that''s quite right." Arin hadn''t even finished speaking when the words on the system screen suddenly changed. [Error...] [Error...] [Quest is yet to bepleted.] [Error...] Arin continued staring at the system screen, waiting for the final message. [Quest is still ongoing.] [Sub-Quest has beenpleted.] Instantly, one of the quests Arin received when he first arrived in this world appeared in front of him. [Quest 2: Bring chaos to this world & Kill Alex Whiteheart.] [Reward 1: The title: Harbinger of Chaos.] [Note: This reward will be given after you cause chaos at least once.] [Reward 2: ???] [Reward 3: ???]@@novelbin@@ But the system message didn''t end there. [The Sub-Quest is: Cause chaos at least once.] [Through your actions and interference, you have altered the storyline, contributing to the death of Arthur ###, Alex Whiteheart''s friend, causing students to panic, and bringing chaos to the Academy.] [The Sub-Quest has been sessfullypleted.] Arin smiled instantly. He knew that even though he hadn''tpleted the entire quest, he would still get a reward. When he first received this quest after arriving in this world, he noticed that Reward 1 would be given if he caused chaos at least once, and apparently, it was the real deal. "Though there''s still the rest of Quest 2, and even Quest 1," Arin muttered. But for now, he was only focused on himself and his singr goal. [Note: Only Reward 1 will be given.] [Reward 1: The Title: Harbinger of Chaos.] [Reward sessfully received.] Just as Arin thought that was all, the words on the system screen changed again. [Additional rewards will be given for instilling fear in the hearts of the students of Greenfield Academy.] "Oh," Arin muttered. "That was quite unexpected." [Additional rewards: ck Cloak x10 and ck Mask x10.] Arin couldn''t suppress the frown that appeared on his face. He had expected something better, but it turned out to be just cloaks and masks. With no other choice, he checked the information of the items and reviewed their properties. The ck cloak was just like the one he already had. It could repair itself when torn or dirty and was also "Unranked." The ck mask was slightly different from his Extra''s Mask. This mask couldn''t hide one''s presence as much, but it also couldn''t be removed by anyone other than the wearer. At least he now had ten each of these two items. "I should probably give Tessa one of these masks tomorrow." With that done, it was time to check out the perks of his new title. But most importantly... The Blood Core appeared in Arin''s hand as he stared at it intensely. "It''s finally time to do it..." * * * [A/N] Do you guys think that Alex isn''t who he seems to be? Let me hear your thoughts!! Chapter 54 Changes Arin''s eyes snapped open, staring at the ceiling with surprise. "How long have I been unconscious?" he muttered, still gazing upward. Unsure of how much time had passed, he attempted to stand, but... "Huh?" Arin furrowed his brows. "Why can''t I move?" No matter how hard he tried, his body refused to budge¡ªnot even a single finger.@@novelbin@@ "Shit..." he cursed. "How am I supposed to figure out what''s going on?" Unable to move or check his condition physically, there was only one option left. "System," Arin called out. Instantly, the system screen appeared before him, disying his name at the top, but he ignored that for now. His eyes moved directly to the bottom right corner, where a small, glowing red dot awaited. A smile crept onto his face. "I knew it." He remembered that when he was still having the foggy mind issue, he opened the system screen, and realized that there was an unread message. "And of course, there would be a notification after taking the Blood Core," Arin murmured. That was why he''d chosen to check the system now, and sure enough, the red dot was glowing at the bottom right, just likest time. Without wasting any time, he focused on it, and the notification popped up: [You have forsaken your Humanity.] [You have aplished a great feat.] [###### is proud of you.] [Scanning...] [Undergoing Changes...] [Changes will begin in 3... 2... 1...] [Changes have begun.] Arin squinted at the system screen. "Forsaken humanity, huh?" He already knew what that meant, so there was no need to dwell on it. It confirmed that the Blood Core worked, just like the author mentioned. Moving on, the next line mentioned something about achieving a "great feat." "A great feat..." Arin muttered, uncertainty creeping into his voice. "Not sure what to think about that." He tried focusing on the notification, hoping for more information, but there was nothing. The novel hadn''t mentioned anything about aplishing a "great feat," either. What really caught his attention, though, was the next notification. "The name''s hidden," Arin muttered. "And why is this hidden figure proud of me?" This wasn''t the first time he had encountered something like this. Arthur''s full name was also hidden when the system disyed it, but at least, he knew "why." In fact, he knew Arthur''s full name, even though the system didn''t disy it. But this case was different..... If this name was hidden, it had to be someone important¡ªperhaps even the creator of the system. And that meant... "This person is watching me." If they were proud of him, they had to be observing his actions closely. Arin narrowed his eyes. "It could even be that this person is the reason I ended up in this world." He couldn''t rule out the possibility. This notification confirmed there was indeed someone behind the scenes, pulling the strings. A sharp look appeared on Arin''s face. "This system is getting more and more interesting..." "And I will get to the bottom of it," he added quietly. As for the other notification, it mentioned undergoing changes. Arin frowned. "That''s it? Why can''t I move, though?" As if on cue, another message appeared: [The Blood Core has sessfully assimted with the Host.] [Paralysis effect has been lifted.] Immediately, Arin felt his body rx, the weight of paralysis lifting. He moved a finger experimentally¡ªand it responded. A relieved smile tugged at his lips. Without wasting a second, he jumped out of bed and rushed to the nearest mirror. He had to see the changes for himself. What he saw took him by surprise. "Whoa... I didn''t expect this." The first and most noticeable change was his hair. Not only had the color shifted, but the length had too. His once brown hair was now jet ck¡ªand it had grown long. Smooth and silky, it now reached down to his lower back, just like Seraphine''s. Another significant change was his eyes. They now had a subtle hint of red, just like every other vampire. "I''ve gotten taller too..." Arin muttered, examining his reflection. "But not enough for it to be immediately obvious." There were more changes, though. He nced at his fingers¡ªor rather, his ws. They were sharp now, with pointed tips. His skin had also taken on a paler tone, anothermon trait of vampires, though he was still less pale than most. Like Seraphine, hisplexion maintained a healthy bnce. Before he could examine himself further, the system screen shed back into view. [Blood Core Assimtionpleted.] [You have sessfully consumed the Blood Core of a Royal Vampire: Seraphine Bloodrose, the Second Princess of the Vampires.] [Changesple-------] "Huh?" Arin muttered, staring at the interrupted message. "Why did it stop?" [Error...] [Error...] [The Chaos Element is reacting to the Blood Core.] "Huh?" [Note: The Chaos Element is reacting negatively to the Blood Core.] Suddenly... "Ugh..." Arin groaned, copsing to the floor as his chest tightened. His breath came in short gasps, each one more painful than thest. With the system''s warning, he knew exactly what was happening. ''The Chaos Element is fighting the Blood Core...'' His eyes widened as he gripped his chest even tighter, struggling to breathe. What Arin didn''t know, though, was that the Chaos Element wasn''t his only problem. Something far worse was lurking. [Error...] [Error...] [A strange presence has been detected...] [The soul of Seraphine Bloodrose, the Second Princess of the Vampires, has been detected.] Arin''s mouth fell open. "Wait, what? Seraphine?" [Host, you are losing control of your body.] [Seraphine Bloodrose is now taking over.] [In 3... 2... 1...] [Seraphine Bloodrose is now in control of your body.] * * * [A/N] What do you all think is about to happen now? Let me hear your thoughts as usual!! Thank you!! Chapter 56 Fusion Complete What was happening was easy to grasp. After consuming the Blood Core, Arin had sessfully transformed into a Vampire, but his Chaos Element seemed to be battling the Blood Energy inside him. Yet now, the very Chaos Element that had fought with the Blood Energy was merging with it, changing him into something else entirely. Arin nced at the mirror and immediately noticed something odd. "Whoa... not again!" Right before his eyes, each strand of his long ck hair was turning white. His hair, originally brown before his transformation into a Vampire, had turned ck. And now, it was turning pure white. Within seconds, his hair hadpletely shifted to pure white, still long and reaching his lower back. Arin kept his gaze fixed on the mirror, watching closely to see if any other changes would ur. But after a few moments, nothing else happened. His ws, fangs, eyes, and skin all remained the same¡ªdistinctively Vampiric. However, the change in his hair color was a clear sign that something significant had taken ce. "Hm..." Arin muttered, squinting at his reflection. "I don''t feel any different." Meanwhile, Seraphine''s voice bbing in his head. "The Blood Core is one of the greatest achievements of the Vampires!" she eximed. "I bet you didn''t even know that. Ha! How pathetic to think you could stop me!" Arin sighed softly, closing his eyes in frustration. "I''m royalty, after all, and of course, I had the Blood Core," Seraphine added. "And you didn''t even know that as long as the Blood Core isn''t destroyed, the Vampire''s soul lives on inside! You''re so clueless~" "Just shut up," Arin snapped, opening his eyes. "You do realize that you''re the one trapped here, right?" "Huh? Wait... What?!" Just then, a system screen appeared in front of Arin, instantly grabbing his attention. [Fusion Complete.] [The Chaos Element has sessfully fused with the Blood Energy.] [Changes have beenpleted.] Arin''s eyes scanned the notifications one by one until another message appeared. [You have sessfully changed from a Vampire to a Chaos Progenitor Vampire.] "Chaos Progenitor Vampire¡­?" Arin muttered, narrowing his eyes at the words on the screen. "What is this I sense?" Seraphine suddenly stopped her rambling. "You''re not a regr Vampire, are you?" Raising an eyebrow, Arin waited for more details to show up. Seraphine, however, seemed to have realized something, as her voice grew shaky, almost stuttering. "This Energy... I''ve never felt anything like this before... Don''t tell me... You''re a... a... Progenitor?!" Arin ignored her and focused on the system screen, though hearing her use the same term caused a slight reaction in him. The system had just mentioned that exact word. The screen provided more details. [You are now a Chaos Progenitor Vampire.] Arin continued reading. [Chaos Progenitor Vampire.] [After consuming the Blood Core of Seraphine Bloodrose, you sessfully became a Vampire, a strong one due to Seraphine Bloodrose being royalty.] Another message appeared. [However, the Chaos Element you possess is a powerful Energy, just like Blood Energy. Both Energies would destroy each other in a battle, and it would harm the host in the process.] [But instead, the Energies fused, transforming you into something different... something unique... something that has never existed in this world before.] Arin squinted again. "Wait, that''s it? There has to be mo¡ª" More information suddenly shed across the screen, interrupting him. [Both Energies have fused, transforming you into a Chaos Progenitor Vampire... A special Vampire that has never existed before. You are the first of your kind, earning you the supreme title: Progenitor.] [Your Blood is unique, and anyone you turn will inherit the special traits of a Chaos Progenitor Vampire. However, they will never surpass the Progenitor.] [End of Information.] Arin nodded. "I see..." "So, in other words, I''m a unique Vampire, different from the rest... A Progenitor," he muttered. "A LEADER!" Seraphine blurted out. Before Arin could reply, Seraphine''s tone shifted. "Please forgive me for my ignorance and disrespect! I did not realize what I was doing! I, Seraphine Bloodrose, humbly greet the Progenitor." Arin remained silent for a few moments before his lips curled into a smirk. "Seems this is a bigger deal than I thought." "It''s okay," Arin said, walking toward the window and opening it. "Though I can''t just forgive you that easily, can I?" His long white hair fluttered wildly in the breeze as he gazed at the stars. He felt... different. "N... no," Seraphine stammered. "I havemitted a grave sin." Arin''s eyes remained fixed on the stars as he tapped his toes against the floor. ''From the looks of it, a Progenitor outranks even a Princess.'' Yet, deep down, Arin felt that even without bing a Progenitor, he could have controlled Seraphine. "It''s probably because I have full control of her soul," Arin muttered. That also meant the unknown entity that helped him regain control of his body yed a role in subduing Seraphine, ensuring she remained under hismand. The chances of her regaining control were slim, given the system''s assurance that she had no chance, but Arin wasn''t going to take that for granted.@@novelbin@@ "From this day forward," Arin said coldly, "you will answer to me." A chilling smile spread across his face as he folded his arms. "Is that clear?" Seraphine sighed, her voice trembling. "As the daughter of the Vampire King, it feels wrong to fully submit to anyone... even a Progenitor." Arin remained silent, allowing her to continue. "However, I''ve realized that even as royalty, I am no longer in control. I cannot resist yourmands, so... I willingly pledge my submission to you." There was a hint of sorrow in her voice, but Arin chose to ignore it. "Good," he replied with a satisfied smile. "I''m d you realized that on your own." "Very well then," Seraphine said, her voice formal. "I, Seraphine Bloodrose, pledge full submission to... err..... err.... uhm, please what is your name?" "Oh, my bad. It''s Arin... Arin Vale." "Not Chaos?" "Shut up!" Chapter 59 Another Perk of the Blood Core "You''re going to be a little surprised," Seraphine said. "Hmm..." Arin muttered, "show me, then." With that, Arin waited for whatever Seraphine had in store. Since she said he would be surprised, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of anticipation. Seconds passed, yet nothing happened, and Seraphine still hadn''t said anything. Arin furrowed his brows in confusion. "What is goi¡ª" Before he could finish, a bright sh of red light suddenly shot out from his chest, illuminating the room. The red light formed into a small orb, levitating in front of him. Arin stood still, eyes fixed on the orb, waiting for what would happen next. He wasn''t sensing any danger, so he remained calm. Suddenly... *WHOOSH!* The red light brightened, further filling the room with its glow. This time, it was too intense, and Arin squinted his eyes against the brilliance. ''Maybe it''s a weapon...'' Arin thought, his eyes still closed. ''I mean, what else could it be?'' Momentster, the light finally dimmed, and he slowly opened his eyes. But then... "Huh?!" Arin eximed as he stared at the figure in front of him. "How did you do it?" he asked, still gazing at Seraphine, who now stood before him. She looked just as she had when they first met in the forest¡ªperfectly fine, without a single scar. Her long ck hair was neatly in ce, her red eyes glowing. Her fangs and ws were visible, and her pale skin contrasted with the ck cloak and boots she wore. A smile formed on her face as she stared at Arin. Then, without warning, she knelt down, lowering her head. "I greet the Master." Her voice was unchanged, and she addressed him as "Master," meaning it was still the same Seraphine who had pledged herself to him. Arin closed his eyes for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Stand up." Seraphine rose immediately, the smile still on her lips. Arin squinted as he stepped closer to her. He reached out and touched her hand to confirm if her body was real. And yes, it was. "How did you do it?" he asked again. "It''s one of the perks of having the Blood Core," she exined. "If a vampire who possesses the Blood Core dies, their soul remains within it." She paused for a moment before continuing. "The vampire can then choose to leave the Blood Core and materialize their soul, taking their original appearance before death." Arin furrowed his brow, a finger resting on his chin. He felt there was more to it, and indeed, Seraphine wasn''t finished. "But," she added, "the vampire can only stay in this form for thirty minutes. After that, they''ll return to the Blood Core." Arin nodded. "I see..." What he was seeing now was just Seraphine''s soul in physical form. After thirty minutes, her soul would return to the Blood Core, back into his mind. Seraphine noticed the understanding in his eyes but continued. "In this form, I can still use all my vampiric abilities. But as I mentioned, after thirty minutes, I''ll return to the Blood Core." Arin had been about to ask about this, but Seraphine had already rified it. If that was the case, then... A smile spread across Arin''s face. "This just got a whole lot better..." They discussed it further, and Arin learned that the thirty-minute limit reset every twenty-four hours. Seraphine could only materialize once per day for thirty minutes, unless she returned to the Blood Core early. In that case, she coulde out again to use the remaining time. Seraphine was right¡ªArin was indeed surprised. This ability would benefit him in more ways than one. With his new Chaos Element spell and his status as a Progenitor, he was steadily growing stronger. Arin sighed as he sat down on the bed. "Now I''ve got a lot of things to test." He was still yet to test the Water Bubble Spell he recently made, and now, he had to test his new Chaos Element Spell, and of course, his Vampiric Abilities. He still had to keep strengthening his mental fortitude in order to handle the side effects of using the Chaos Element while removing it from it''s initial stage. It was a lot to handle, but Arin didn''t mind. Any chance to grow stronger was always wee. "Is something wrong, Master?" Seraphine suddenly asked, interrupting his thoughts. She noticed Arin staring nkly at the wall and thought something might be bothering him. Arin sighed softly as he nced at her. "You know, you don''t have to stand there like a statue. Befortable." Seraphine nodded eagerly and walked over to the bed, sitting beside him. Arin nced out the window and noticed that morning was approaching. In just a few hours, the sun would rise. He didn''t feel tired, and he never would again. In fact, this was an advantage¡ªhe could work on creating new spells and strengthening his mental fortitude throughout the night without needing rest. Many mages would envy this kind of ability... though not many would want to be vampires for it. "It''s gonna be a long day..." Arin muttered. With the teachers and principal returning to the Academy this morning, there was sure to be some sort of meeting with all the students. In short, a lot was about to happen. Suddenly, the system screen appeared in front of him, disying some new information. [Your Blood Energy has been measured.] [Your Vampire Rank will now be disyed.] "Huh?" [Your Rank is...] *@@novelbin@@ * * [A/N] Finally!! Morning is approaching, and it''s time to leave. Let''s see what''ll happen next!! Chapter 62 Leon Stormheart & Arins Spar Leon Stormheart. He wasn''t an unknown figure. In fact, many would say he was quite the opposite. He wasn''t just another noble from the House of Duke Stormheart¡ªhe was the Duke''s youngest son. However, Leon had a well-known reputation, though not a good one. The young man was weak, barely able to summon any Mana, and no one, not even the most seasoned Mana experts, could figure out why. Over the years, his father, Duke Stormheart, grew to ept Leon''s shorings. Eventually, he stopped giving him attention altogether. As a result, Leon became a target for ridicule, and people mocked him openly without fear of retribution. If not for the Stormheart name, most wouldn''t even acknowledge him as a noble anymore. Still, it was his family name that earned him a transfer to Evergreen Academy¡ªthe most prestigious academy in the city. Normally, such transfers were forbidden, but an exception was made for Leon. But the person least concerned about all of this? Leon himself. On top of his weaknesses, he had earned a reputation as a notorious pervert, which only added to the whispers behind his back. He was a disappointment to many, but not to Arin. *********** Leon swept his eyes over Tessa, his gaze lingering far too long before he puckered his lips and blew her an exaggerated kiss. He then winked at her, walking with an air of false confidence towards the chair next to the girl who almostughed. The rest of the students frowned, following him with their eyes as if he had disrupted the whole room. Leon plopped down in the chair, turning his attention to the girl next to him, staring with a grin that was far from innocent. "Attention, everyone," Riya''s voice cut through the tension like a knife. All eyes, including Leon''s, shifted to the front. She scanned the students, her gaze firm. "As I mentioned earlier, today''s topic is Mana Absorption." The lesson began. Riya spoke at length, exining everything in more detail than usual. She even revisited past topics, much to the students'' surprise. Most of them assumed it had to do with Leon''s sudden transfer.@@novelbin@@ However, Arin noticed something odd. Riya''s gaze lingered on him more than it should. Every time she looked his way, he caught her checking if he was paying attention. Though, it was usual for him to space out during her lessons, but she seemed more vignt than usual. ''Why does it feel like she''s more focused on me than on teaching?'' Arin wondered. He brushed it off, figuring she was just making sure he didn''t fall into his usual habit of zoning out. Atst, the Magic Theory ss ended, and the students were dismissed to change into their training gear. Weapon Training was next. As Arin made his way to the training hall, he overheard several students murmuring to Alex, offering their condolences over Arthur''s death. Arin scoffed under his breath, folding his arms. ''If only they knew.....'' Tessa was also with him throughout, which was actually a good thing, considering the fact that it would be immensely odd and suspicious if she wasn''t by his side. Momentster, Dan strode into the room, his presencemanding immediate silence. He scanned the students, his sharp gaze pausing briefly on Leon before moving on. Without a word, he walked to the weapon rack and selected his own. "So," Dan began, addressing the ss, "we''ll be continuing with sparring today. Since most of you sparred yesterday, today''s session should be quick." The students nodded, some of them smiling at the thought of a shorter ss. Dan paced in front of them, his hands sped behind his back. His eyes swept over each student as he seemed to weigh his next decision. After a moment, he stopped. "Arin and rk," he called. Arin and a boy with ck hair stepped forward, standing before the ss. Arin''s face was expressionless as he studied his opponent. He didn''t know if rk was particrly strong or weak, but with his vampiric strength, Arin was confident. His only goal was to keep his abilities low-key. ''Just fight like an Extra...'' Arin walked over to the weapon rack, picking up a wooden sword. He noticed rk selecting a wooden axe from the selection. They squared off, taking their positions. Arin shifted his right foot back and bent his left knee, gripping the sword with his right hand. It was amon stance, but Arin used it to avoid drawing attention to himself. "Master, beat him to a pulp! Hehehe." Seraphine''s voice echoed in his mind, followed by a chilling chuckle. ''Shut it, Seraphine,'' Arin replied telepathically. rk took the same stance, his eyes narrowing in focus. He raised his axe high above his head, ready for an overhead strike. "Begin!" Dan''s voice rang out. Bothbatants charged toward each other, weapons at the ready. rk swung his axe down, intending to overwhelm Arin with sheer force. But Arin suddenly stopped in his tracks, lowering his head and rxing his posture. His sword dropped to his side, its tip resting on the ground. Then, with both hands, he gripped the hilt and swung upward with a roar which he decided to add, "ARGHHHHH!!" rk''s axe hurtled down toward him, but¡ª *BAM!* The two weapons collided with a loud crack, but the force of Arin''s strike was too much. rk''s axe was knocked out of his grip, flying across the room. rk stumbled back, his arm flung behind him from the recoil. Before he could recover, Arin had his sword at rk''s throat. "The winner is Arin," Dan announced. The ss erupted in apuse, murmurs of admiration spreading through the crowd. Arin sighed as he walked back to the weapon rack, shaking his head. ''So much for sparring like an Extra.....'' Even though he didn''t want to stand out, that didn''t mean he nned to loose. But hisck of control over his enhanced strength made the spar more dramatic than he''d intended. Dan, noticing Arin''s technique, smiled approvingly. "ss, did you notice how he used both hands to grip his weapon? That''s a basic technique you should all adopt. More force means throwing your opponent off bnce, like you just saw." Arin smirked to himself. ''At least he thinks it was just the two-handed grip.....'' Dan turned to rk. "You did well, but your attack was predictable. Work on that." Minutester, the ss was dismissed, but Dan wasn''t done yet. "Before you leave," he called, halting everyone in their tracks, "the Weapon Training ss will be more intense from now on. Not just because of recent incident, but because of what''sing up in two days." Confusion spread through the students. rk voiced the question on everyone''s mind. "What event?" he asked. Dan''s eyes widened, as if he had just remembered something. "Wait... She didn''t tell you?" * * * [A/N] What event do you guys think Dan is talking about? Let me hear your thoughts!! Also, fight scenes are on their way, hehehe. Chapter 63 Tessas Guilt From Dan''s expression and his brief words, the students didn''t need anyone to tell them that Riya was supposed to announce something. But apparently, she hadn''t. "Tch..." Dan clicked his tongue, a slight frown tugging at his face. "I can''t believe she didn''t even bother telling them. She always leaves everything for me¡­" Though the rest of the students couldn''t hear him, Arin caught the words clearly with his enhanced hearing. A small smile tugged at his lips. ''She''s always been like that... You''ll just have to deal with it.'' Dan cleared his throat and pped his hands, instantlymanding the room''s attention. "Two days from now," he began, "all first-year students will be going on an expedition." Excitement rippled through the room, students murmuring amongst themselves. "We''re finally leaving the Academy!" one eximed. "Yeah, but it won''t be for long," another replied. "I don''t care about that," someone else chimed in. "An expedition means real challenges¡ªactual Beasts to fight." "And some students might even die, hahaha." "Is that really something to joke about?" The murmuring continued. Half the students seemed thrilled at the thought of leaving the Academy for a while. The rest were just eager for some action, a change from the endless training sessions.@@novelbin@@ Dan waited for the noise to die down. "As you all know," he said, "there are several forests in this city. Not all first-year sses will go to the same one. A few sses will head to one forest, and others will go to another. It''s simple." Arin''s thoughts drifted as Dan spoke. ''In the novel, the expedition was set for four days from now... but now it''s two days away.'' He suspected the Academy had elerated the timeline because of Arthur''s death. They definitely knew that a vampire was responsible. Sending the students out for an expedition was probably a way to distract them, a chance to face real challenges and momentarily forget the tragedy. Dan cleared his throat again, drawing everyone''s focus back. "Clearsky Forest isrge, and that''s where this ss, along with two others, will go. Three sses in total." The students nodded in understanding. Arin remained deep in thought, barely registering the exnation. "When the dayes, the rules will be exined," Dan continued. "If you don''t have a weapon yet, buy one now or save up and get it before the expedition." "Understood!" the students echoed in unison. With that, the ss was dismissed. Students began shuffling out, some checking their point bnces and talking about which weapons they would buy. Arin walked past them, his gaze sweeping across the hallway. He spotted Alex talking to Edith, the brown-haired girl he often saw him with, aside from Tessa. They were some distance away, but Arin''s enhanced hearing allowed him to catch their conversation. "I hope you''re feeling better," Edith said softly, looking up at Alex with her striking eyes. She was undeniably beautiful. Alex smiled, though there was a hint of tiredness in his expression. "I''m much better now, thanks to you." Edith smiled back and gently took his hand. "I''m d. You know, if you ever need help, I''m here. We''ll find the one who did this. They''ll pay." Alex''s smile faltered for a moment. "I know you care, and I appreciate it, but... I don''t want to drag you into this." He reached up, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Besides, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." Edith nodded slowly, still holding his hand. "Okay¡­ but if you ever change your mind, I''m here." Arin moved on, leaving the Academy building with a faint smile on his face. ''Alex... you never fail to surprise me.'' Once outside, and where no one was present, Arin slipped on his mask and made his way to the forest, heading to the usual spot where Tessa waited. As expected, she was already there. The moment she saw him, she crossed her arms and spoke sharply. "We need to talk, Chaos." Arin raised an eyebrow but didn''t stop walking. "Well, I''m here. So, what is it?" "Did Arthur really have to die?" she asked, her voice tight with emotion. Arin paused. Silence hung between them, the weight of her words sinking in. Tessa stepped closer, her expression conflicted. "I couldn''t sleepst night... I kept thinking about it. Alex is our target, but now... others are getting dragged into this. Arthur got dragged into it." She stopped just in front of him, staring at him. "I feel responsible, Chaos." Arin sighed quietly, his expression unreadable. "Tessa, by now, you should know I don''t act without reason." "I do know that," Tessa said, her gaze hardening. "But an innocent person died." Arin looked at her for a long moment, then asked, "You know Alex''s friends, right?" Tessa blinked, caught off guard by the shift in the conversation. "Yes, I know them." "And you know their names?" "Of course." Arin leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing. "Then tell me." Tessa squinted in suspicion but answered. "rk Windcrest, Dennis Blueveil, Ray Ravende, Wendy Greenthorn... and Arthur." Arin nodded slowly, stepping even closer. "Well, you''re right, but Arthur..." "What about Arthur?" Tessa asked, slightly confused. "You mentioned their surnames... except for Arthur." Tessa froze, her eyes widening as the realization hit her. "What?!" she gasped. Chapter 67 Commotion In The Area Lina had finally finished eating, and after spending some time in The Area, it was time to leave¡ªit was getting close to curfew. "I''m still surprised you didn''t eat anything," Lina said, staring at Arin. Arin chuckled softly. "I told you, I''m not hungry." Lina squinted her eyes, scrutinizing him, trying to catch any hint of a lie. After a moment, she sighed and gave up. "Okay, if you say so." Just as they were both about to stand up and leave, a boy with long brown hair approached their table. *BAM!* He mmed his hand onto the table, drawing the attention of the remaining students. Grinning, his gaze locked onto Lina. "Finally found you..." He nced at Arin, who stood beside Lina, his face indifferent. "So, this is the guy you''ve been hanging around with? Is that why you''ve been avoiding me?" With his hands still in his pockets, Arin casually turned to Lina. "Who''s this?" But he noticed Lina trembling, gripping his shirt and trying to hide behind him. ''I think I know what''s going on here...'' Arin thought. Before Lina could answer, the boy interrupted. "I''m talking to you!" he shouted, grabbing Arin''s cor. Arin instantly noticed the ck band on the boy''s wrist, signaling he was a second-year student. "Second-year, huh?" Arin muttered. The boy scowled. "Tch... I''m not here for you. I just saw my darling and thought I''d pay her a visit." With that, he shoved Arin aside and reached for Lina. By now, a crowd had gathered, watching themotion unfold. "Master, what are you going to do?" Seraphine asked. "This boy... He''s behaving like that pervert who almost married my teacher in the Vampire Kingdom. He certai¡ª" Seraphine continued rambling, but Arin wasn''t listening. Lina trembled, backing away. "Leave me alone! Don''te near me!" None of the first-year students dared intervene¡ªchallenging a second-year was as good as asking for trouble. And the second-year students merely looked on indifferently. The boy''s grin widened as he approached Lina, but before his hand could reach her... *WHOOSH!* Arin didn''t know if it was the protective instinct of the former Arin, or if it was his own instincts, but he just moved, and then, he grabbed the boy''s shoulder, stopping his advance. And then, with his voice was low and icy, he muttered. "Don''t even think about it..." The boy froze, a shiver running down his spine. But he quickly regained his bravado. "What the hell do you think you''re doing!" the boy snarled. "Uhm... Master, please, control yourself," Seraphine stammered, sensing something was off. Despite her warning, Arin didn''t loosen his grip. "Shit... Let go of me!" the boy roared, mes igniting around his right fist as he swung at Arin. Lina''s voice trembled with fear. "Arin! Move!" But Arin didn''t flinch. Instead, he clenched his right fist, feeling his Blood Energy surge through him, strengthening his punch. *WHOOSH!* With lightning speed, he swung his fist toward the boy''s ming one. The sheer force caused the air to ripple as both fists flew toward each other like bullets. The crowd held its breath in anticipation as both fists moved closer and closer to each other. And then..... *BOOM!* Dust cloud suddenly filled everywhere, obscuring everyone''s vision. Secondster, as the dust settled, the result wasn''t what anyone expected. "It seems you all enjoy a good show," a woman''s voice cut through the silence. "Shit, it''s Miss Riya..." a girl muttered. Riya stood there, her long ck hair fluttering in the air, calmly gripping both the boy''s and Arin''s fists. A bubble of water surrounded her hands, preventing any injury from the impact. Her face, as always, was unreadable. "Everyone, return to your rooms. Curfew is near." The crowd quickly dispersed, and the workers began packing up to close The Area for the night. ''Such speed... I didn''t even see her move,'' the boy thought as Riya released his fist. She let go of Arin as well, her gaze shifting to Lina. "Don''t worry, you can go to your room now." Lina looked at Arin, who gave her a reassuring nod. Reluctantly, she turned and left for her room. Riya''s eyes then bore into the boy, making him shudder. "I don''t think I need to tell you what to do..."@@novelbin@@ The boy nodded hastily and bolted, heading toward the second-year dorms. As he fled, he frowned, remembering Arin''s face. ''A first-year dares to stand up to me? This isn''t over... I''ll make sure to deal with him...'' A malicious grin crept onto his face. ''And I know just the way...'' Meanwhile, Arin was deep in thought. ''Aren''t the teachers supposed to have left the Academy by now? Why is she here?'' He couldn''t shake the feeling that something wasn''t right, especially after recalling the way Riya had stared at him in ss. Now, she appeared just as his fist was about to sh with the boy''s. It couldn''t be a coincidence. Riya''s eyes met Arin''s as she spoke. "Go to your room. Curfew is here." Arin nodded, but as he started to walk away, Riya grabbed his hand and touched his face, caressing it lightly. She leaned in, her face almost touching his, so close they could feel each other''s breath. In a soft, mesmerizing voice, she whispered, "Be careful... it won''t be easy." Arin swallowed hard, his gaze locked on hers. In that moment, one thing became crystal clear. ''Something is definitely wrong...'' Chapter 69 The Carriages Riya''s long ck hair fluttered as she walked toward the gate, joining the other teachers who were already present. Looking at her now, Arin couldn''t help but recall how close her face had been to his the other day. Instantly, he frowned. ''I can''t believe I''m thinking about that now. Tch¡­'' Her expression was as indifferent as usual, a stark contrast to how she looked when they had talked the other day. Finally, Principal Orion approached the gate, and the students immediately fell silent. He scanned the crowd of first-year students, then smiled. "I don''t have much to say. The teachers will handle most of the instructions. Just remember, the second-year students are wishing you all good luck, and don''t forget to follow your teachers'' directions." He gave onest nce before concluding, "That''s all." With that, he turned and headed back toward the main Academy building. "He really is a man of few words," Lina muttered. "Alright!" Dan''s voice boomed, instantly drawing the students'' attention. "Each ss will be called one by one. When your ss is called, line up outside and gather near your Magic Theory teacher." "Is that clear?!" "Yes, Sir!" the students replied in unison. "Good," Dan muttered. After that, the Magic Theory teachers for each ss stepped outside to wait for their students. "ss 1A!" Dan called out. The students of ss 1A began walking out to meet their teacher. They were about 30 students which was also the amount of students each ss had. It continued like that, and then, finally... "ss 3A!" Arin and the other students of ss 3A made their way out. As he started to walk, Lina tugged on his shirt, causing him to turn back. "Be careful, okay?" she whispered. Arin smiled, gently patting her head. "I will. You too, be careful." Lina nodded and let go, watching him as he exited the Academy. As soon as Arin passed through the open gate, he squinted at his surroundings. "Just as I thought..." Not far from where they stood was the forest where he had fought Seraphine. In front of him wererge carriages, each tagged to indicate which ss it belonged to. Arin nced to his left, spotting his ssmates. He quickly walked over to join them, passing by other carriages already filled with students. ''No wonder the novel mentioned these carriages can fit up to 40 students,'' he thought, eyeing their size. The carriages were spacious, with well-furnished benches for seating. Standing near a carriage marked "ss 3A," Arin joined the rest of his ssmates. "Alright," Riya said, stepping into the carriage. "You can all get in now. Quietly. If not....." She didn''t finish her sentence, but no one needed further exnation¡ªthey could already feel that a cmity would befall them if they dared to disobey. Well, except for one. Leon yawned loudly, nudging Arin. "She''s such a cold beauty¡­ Dangerous. Just the way I like it, hahaha..." Leon believed he was speaking softly, but in reality, even the students in the carriage ahead could hear him. Suddenly, Leon froze, feeling a piercing gaze on him.@@novelbin@@ His eyes widened in fear. He didn''t even dare to turn and look. Instead, he stared at Arin and muttered, "Don''t tell me... Did she hear¡­?" Arin shook his head slowly, his eyes closed as though mourning. "It''s toote, Leon." "Huh?!" The rest, as they say, was history. A few minutester, all the students of ss 3A were seated quietly in the carriage. Some of the other carriages had already departed for their assigned forests. Riya sat at the front, arms folded, waiting for the students from the other two sses assigned to Clearsky Forest to finish boarding. After a few moments, students from ss 3C and ss 4A came out and entered their respective carriages. The three sses were headed to the same forest. "Alright, we''ll be leaving now," Riya said. Leon, seated next to Arin, wore a dejected expression, staring at the floor. Arin nced at him briefly but said nothing. Now wasn''t the time to tell him anything, if not, it could give away his identityter on, and he didn''t want that now. The wind picked up, and the carriage began to levitate off the ground. The students were unfazed; they''d seen this before. These expedition carriages didn''t move like regr ones. They were powered by Beast Cores; a certain type of core that only Veteran Rank Beasts and above had. Beast Cores could be used for a variety of purposes, and poweringrge carriages like these was one of them. As a result, the carriage floated rather than rolling on the ground. The Wolves Arin and Tessa fought in the forest were Common Rank Beasts, so they didn''t have Beast Cores. With a sudden whoosh, the carriage began to move, heading toward the forest. They would pass through it to reach the main city. The carriages of ss 3C and ss 4A led the way. Arin nced at Tessa and Alex, who were deep in conversation, and a smirk yed on his lips. The moment they reached Clearsky Forest, the expedition would officially begin. But for Arin, this expedition had a different purpose. It was time to strike..... Chapter 73 Seraphine vs Alex [1] Seraphine leaped, her wsing down like a meteor, while Tessa swung her sword from Alex''s right. Caught between their attacks, Alex grinned and gripped his sword tightly. Both strikes drew closer, but before they could connect... BOOM! A rock-like dome made of the earth itself formed, shielding Alex from both attacks. CLANG! Sparks flew as Tessa''s sword and Seraphine''s ws collided with the dome. But before they could react further, something else happened. WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! The outeryer of the earth dome started transforming into spikes, nearly impaling Tessa and Seraphine, who were close by. They quickly leaped back, avoiding the spikes. BOOM! The dome crumbled, revealing Alex unharmed, his grip steady on his sword. A grin yed on his face as his eyes darted between Seraphine and Tessa. "Did you two really think you could harm me with such weak attacks?" His gaze focused on Tessa, clearly marking her as his target. Seraphine and Tessa exchanged a quick look, and with a nod, Tessa backed off, positioning herself near a distant tree, away from Alex and Seraphine. A frown creased Alex''s face. "Huh?" As Tessa withdrew, Seraphine slowly began advancing toward him, eyes locked on his. "Filthy vampire..." Alex sneered. Seraphine''s smirk widened. "Seems like you''ve tangled with a vampire before. How about we make this one memorable?" "A duel, just the two of us," she taunted, her ws elongating, red energy swirling around her arms and legs as she crouched, eyes never leaving him. "A duel, huh?" Alex muttered. "Call it whatever you want, but you''re dead¡ª" "Shut up and fight!" Seraphine shot back, cutting him off as sheunched herself at him, ws extended. In an instant, she was upon him, wsing down with deadly force. CLANG! Alex blocked with his sword, but Seraphine wasn''t done. ''I''ll use what Master used against me in that forest,'' she thought, grinning. Using her ws on his sword as a foothold, she leaped behind him. Alex''s eyes widened¡ªhe hadn''t expected that. Seraphine was already swinging her ws with precision, aiming for his neck. WHOOSH! Her elongated ws sliced through the air, but before they could connect¡­ BOOM! A surge of fire erupted from Alex, pushing her back and halting her attack. He turned, his expression serious. "You''re stronger than I thought," he admitted, his gaze sharp. "Why are you here? What business do you have with humans?" Seraphine crouched once again, something she didn''t usually do before. But that wasn''t all. ''I''ll rather not use any Skill, instead...'' Red Energy began seeping out from her hands and enveloping her ws and legs. Alex''s eyes widened as he realized something. ''She wasn''t using all her Blood Energy before?'' Blood energy poured from Seraphine''s hands, cloaking her ws and legs in crimson. Even the wind seemed to respond to her presence, picking up speed.@@novelbin@@ She locked eyes with him. WHOOSH! In a sh, she charged, weaving in a zigzag pattern as she closed the distance. But Alex didn''t just stand still. WHOOSH! He dashed towards her, his sword ready, his feet barely touching the ground as he glided, propelled by a Wind Element spell. WHOOSH! As Seraphine reached him, she spun, adding force to her ws. CLANG! Sparks flew as her ws shed against his sword. mes erupted along Alex''s de, throwing Seraphine back and disrupting her stance. Not giving her a chance to recover, he raised his hand, conjuring five water spikes that hovered above him. WHOOSH! The spikes hurtled toward her with deadly precision, but Seraphine didn''t flinch. Instead, she grinned, crouching low before charging again. CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! She deflected each water spike one by one as she ran, her ws a blur. WHOOSH! Leaping over the fourth spike, shended and immediately deflected thest one, never breaking her stride. But then, Alex mmed his hand to the ground, activating an Earth Element spell. The ground trembled violently, knocking Seraphine off bnce as the quake intensified. For a moment, Seraphine struggled to keep her footing, but just as quickly as it started, the tremors stopped. Alex grinned as he watched her regain her stance. "Time to show you a little of what a Mage can do..." Instantly, he raised his hands. WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! Fire spikes, water spikes, earth spikes, wind des, lightning, and even ice spikes appeared above them, encircling Seraphine. The wind surged around them, intensifying as more and more spikes manifested, all pointed at her. "Hm..." Seraphine muttered, ncing at the array of attacks surrounding her. Alex''s grin widened as he muttered a single word. "Die..." WHOOSH! Every spikeunched toward her at once, converging from all directions. But Seraphine didn''t move. She just stood there, watching as the attacks closed in. But just as the Spikes were about to hit her, she suddenly grinned. "Huh?" Alex muttered in disbelief as he watched the unexpected happen. "H..... How is this possible?" Right before impact, the spikes stopped mid-air, as if held by an invisible barrier. But that wasn''t all. The spikes shifted, scattering in all directions¡ªsome even turned toward Alex himself. BOOM! Alex quickly reacted, destroying the spikes that came at him, but then he heard a faint sound¡ªa cloak rustling behind him. Without wasting time, he turned back, with his sword in front of him. *CLANG!* Sparks flew as something shed with his sword, creating a nging sound, followed by a calm voice. "Ah.¡­.. Guess my cloak gave me away." And in that moment, Alex realized something. ''There''s one more person.....'' Chapter 74 Seraphine vs Alex [2] After the collision and hearing that voice, Alex instantly realized there was someone else present. In one swift motion, he leaped to the right, putting some distance between himself and the new arrival. As he looked at the neer, he noticed it wasn''t a girl this time, but there was something else he picked up on. "The same group¡­" Alex muttered, seeing that the person was also dressed in a ck cloak and mask, only his eyes visible. A smirk formed on Alex''s face as he stared at Arin. "Are you thest one, or are there more?" Despite his casual tone, Alex felt a hint of unease. ''I didn''t even sense him...'' Alex thought. If not for the faint rustle of Arin''s cloak, he would''ve had no idea someone was behind him. ''How is that even possible?'' Alex took pride in his keen senses, but somehow, this neer had slipped past them. And there was more. ''And he''s not a Vampire. There''s no trace of Vampiric traits or even that red energy.'' He gripped his sword, analyzing the situation. But beyond that, there was something else, something even more troubling. ''Was he the one who stopped my attacks from hitting that Vampire?'' He was certain it hadn''t been Seraphine who blocked his spikes¡ªshe hadn''t even moved. The only logical exnation was this new guy. But how? The question gnawed at Alex, though he knew one thing for certain. "He''s more dangerous than the others¡­" he muttered, his gaze fixed on Arin. By now, Arin stood between Seraphine and Tessa, hands sped behind his back. Seraphine moved closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Master, thank you. I''ve memorized his attack patterns, so you won''t need to use ''that'' again. Just conserve your mana." Arin nodded, his eyes on Alex. "Your time is almost up. Use it well." "Understood," Seraphine replied, stepping forward, ready tounch herself at Alex once more. Alex frowned. "She''s still the only one attacking? What are they nning?" An uneasy feeling crept over him. With the three of them there, why was only the Vampire charging? He couldn''t shake the unsettling vibe of the neer''s silent stare. But there was no time to ponder because¡ª WHOOSH! Seraphine charged forward, a gust of wind sweeping past as she closed the distance with startling speed. Blood energy swirled around her ws and legs as she swung at Alex with brutal force. Unfazed, Alex activated an Earth Element spell, encasing his sword de in a rock-likeyer to strengthen and reinforce it. As Seraphine''s ws came close, he held his ground. CLANG! The sound rang out louder than any other sh so far, sparks scattering from the impact. Without missing a beat, Alex used a Sound Element spell, absorbing the nging noise and channeling it into a burst of speed. In the blink of an eye, he swung his sword with far more agility than before. CLANG! Seraphine swiftly raised her left w to block, but Alex kept absorbing each sound, boosting his speed more and more. CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! "So fast¡­.." Tessa murmured, struggling to follow their movements with her eyes. Seraphine and Alex became blurs as they weaved through the trees, shing at blinding speeds. CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! Sparks flew, trees cracked under the force of their strikes, and the very air around them seemed to vibrate. Tessa could only catch glimpses of their shes through the sparks that were flying around, shes of light and sound. Arin watched with an unreadable expression, his hands still behind his back. CLANG! Seraphine slid back, regaining her footing almost immediately. But Alex was already in front of her, his sword descending once again.@@novelbin@@ CLANG! Seraphine met the strike with her left w, but without hesitation, she swung her right w upward, aiming for his chin. With his sword still locked against her left w, Alex was left wide open. His eyes widened in surprise, but he acted quickly. A gust of wind surged, forcing Seraphine''s w away from his face, but he didn''t expect what happened next. As soon as her w was pushed away, Seraphine instantly raised her knee, and then... *BAM!* "Ugh..." Alex groaned in pain as Seraphine delivered a knee to his groin. But before Alex could react further, Seraphine switched tactics. Since her ws had dulled and weakened from deflecting Alex''s sword too much, she relied on pure force. Blood energy shifted from her legs to her right fist, which began to glow an intense red as she channeled her Energy into it. In a sh, her fist shot forward. BAM! The glowing fist smashed into Alex''s unguarded face, the edges of her ws adding even more force to the blow. WHOOSH! Alex''s body rocketed backward, crashing through multiple trees in his path. BAM! BAM! BAM! He hit the ground hard, groaning in pain, but forced himself to stand up. His body was intact, but his face was bloodied, scratches lining his cheek, and it looked like a couple of his teeth might be missing. But something was off¡­ Tessa''s eyes widened as she stared at Alex. "Why is he¡­ smiling?" Arin sighed, his gaze fixed on Alex. "It''s surprising, isn''t it? Doesn''t it seem odd that he took that much damage?" Tessa thought about it, realizing Chaos was right. Seraphine was strong, but considering how strong Alex was, it was strange that he''d been brought to this state. Arin turned to Tessa. "I''ll tell you one thing¡­ there''s a reason Alex killed your parents. A reason that would shock anyone to the core." A shiver ran through Tessa as she absorbed his words. "What¡­ What the hell is going on?" Chapter 78 Tessa vs Alex [2] Instantly, Tessa ced her palms on either side of Alex''s head. Alex''s eyes widened as he realized what she was about to do, but it was toote. He couldn''t utter a word, held in ce by her thighs. "Don''t tell me..." Seraphine gasped, while Arin watched with slight amusement. And then... SHINGGG! A loud, piercing sound escaped from Tessa''s palms, shooting straight into Alex''s ears.@@novelbin@@ "AGHHHH!" The sound was followed by Alex''s scream of pain as blood burst from his ears. He staggered backward, and in the process, Tessa fell off his shoulders. But something was off. Arin, unaffected by the sound thanks to blocking his ears with Blood Energy, stared at Tessa, who had blood oozing from her ears. ''That wasn''t caused by her spell,'' Arin thought, squinting his eyes. ''I think I know what happened.'' Tessa realized it too. She wasn''t bleeding because of her spell; it was Alex''s doing. He had used the exact same spell, matching hers at the same moment. Since both spells activated simultaneously, the sound seemed toe from a single source. Alex''s spell had affected Tessa, making her ears bleed. Tessa instantly stood up, gripping her sword. ''Good thing I protected my ears with mana beforehand. Otherwise, this would''ve been a lot worse.'' Alex had recovered, ring at Tessa with intense bloodlust, his sword held tightly. For a moment, he looked over at Arin, who hadn''t moved. Alex frowned. ''Tch... I''m still not sure if I can use my spells without him intercepting them.'' The way Arin simply stood there was unsettling, but Alex decided to focus on the girl in front of him. ''This isn''t Tessa,'' he thought. ''I know her fighting style, and this isn''t it.'' Tessa''s gaze locked on Alex, and then... BOOM! She kicked off the ground, creating a dust cloud as she charged at Alex. WHOOSH! Moving in a zigzag pattern, she kept Alex guessing. Alex opted not to dash forward, instead bracing himself for the sh. He gripped his sword with both hands, tracking her movements from side to side. ''I have a slight idea of her style now,'' he thought. ''I should be able to predict her next move.'' But just when he thought he had her figured out, Tessa changed her approach. As she neared him, she stopped zigzagging, confusing him for a split second. And then... WHOOSH! She slid right under his legs, her sword scraping the ground, swiftly positioning herself behind him. Alex''s eyes widened as he tried to spin around. ''Huh?'' Using the hilt of her sword as leverage, Tessa pushed herself up with a powerful kick. BAM! Her foot connected with Alex''s face, sending him flying backward into a tree. She absorbed the sound from the impact, boosting her speed even further. WHOOSH! In a blink, she was upon him again, her sword poised to strike. WHOOSH! She leaped, bringing her de down like a meteor. Alex gritted his teeth, reacting in time to block her strike. CLANG! Sparks flew as their swords shed. Tessa, still airborne, spun with blinding speed. BAM! Another kicknded on Alex''s face, sending him flying once more. "She''s swift," Seraphine said with a hint of admiration. Arin smiled lightly. "There''s a reason why she''s one of the strongest students in the Academy." Bruised but undeterred, Alex staggered up, but Tessa didn''t give him a chance to recover. ''It''s suspicious, but this might be my only opportunity to kill him,'' Tessa thought. She dashed at Alex, leaping up, her sword descending with lethal intent. This was it¡ªthe moment to end it. A fierce glint shed in Tessa''s eyes as her de hurtled down. But just before her sword could connect, Alex grinned, extending his hand. BOOM! mes erupted from his palm in a powerful explosion, creating a dust cloud. Tessa managed to lessen the impact by shielding herself with her sword, but she still took damage. Blood trickled from her burn wounds as she leapt back. Before she could fully recover, Alex was already upon her, swinging his sword with full force. Tessa''s eyes widened, but she raised her de in time, boosted by the speed and strength from absorbed sound. CLANG! Sparks flew as the upper part of her sword snapped, ttering to the ground. At that moment, her ears picked up a faint sound. Instantly, she jerked her head back as an Earth Spike Alex had created nearly grazed her throat. The Earth Spike missed her throat by a few inches. Time seemed to slow down, because Tessa could even see the Earth Spike missing her throat by a few inches. Suddenly... "Got you..." Alex whispered. In that instant, something unexpected happened. The wounds on Alex''s right leg healed at a rapid pace, and his muscles tensed, hardening. Tessa''s eyes widened in shock, but it was toote. Alex raised his right leg, and then... BAM! He kicked her in the stomach, sending her flying back as blood spurted from her mouth. BAM! Her body crashed through three trees beforeing to a stop. Arin, watching intently, raised an eyebrow as Tessa was kicked. Slowly, he began walking forward, hands behind his back. "I think it''s finally time... time for me to intervene..." At the same moment, his fingernails suddenly began elongating, transforming into ws. The real battle was about to begin.... * * * [A/N] Hey guys!! The character art for Seraphine is now avable in the character tab. Please, check it out and vote with points. Thank you!! Chapter 80 "This is more serious than I thought." While Arin and Alex were about to start their own battle, something else was happening outside the forest. WHOOSH! Riya''s and Ben''s Auras surged, each radiating fierce intensity as they red at one another. "You want to enter the forest?" Riya asked coldly, her voice chilling as the ground beneath her cracked from the force of her Aura. "Then you''ll have to go through me." Dan grinned, crouching lightly. "That won''t even take a second." The tension between them had already reached its peak, and then¡ª BOOM! The ground cracked beneath them as they sted off toward each other, swords drawn, eyes locked. The other teachers could only watch in surprise; any attempt to intervene could mean getting hurt themselves. Riya''s blue Aura enveloped her sword, while Ben''s brown Aura surrounded his. Their weapons seemed to gain a tangible weight and power. They closed in on each other, swords poised for a powerful sh. Even the air rippled from the sheer force of their swings. "Know your ce!" Ben roared, his grin widening as his sword sliced through the air toward Riya''s. And finally¡ª BOOM! A thunderous crash sounded, sending dust swirling around them, blocking the teachers'' view of the oue. As the dust began to clear, the teachers leaned forward in anticipation. But what they saw wasn''t what they expected. ''I thought she wouldn''t intervene¡­..'' one of the female teachers thought, her eyes widening slightly. In the center of the dust cloud stood the woman who hade on behalf of Dan. Her long ck hair swayed, a few strands covering her calm, expressionless eyes. Her hands gripped both Riya''s and Ben''s swords, holding them in ce and preventing the collision. If anyone looked closely, they''d notice her palms were a vivid, almost orange-red, with smoke rising from them as if her skin had turned tova. ''She stopped both swords with her bare hands?'' one male teacher thought, astonished. ''I knew she was strong, but¡­..'' Realizing their attack had been halted, Riya and Ben quickly withdrew their Auras and sheathed their swords. The woman dropped her hands, her palms returning to normal. She nced at them, her voice calm but carrying an edge of authority. "Did you both forget I was here?" Riya and Ben lowered their heads, speaking in unison. "Apologies, Assistant Principal." They kept their heads bowed, awaiting her response. "Raise your heads," she said, turning back toward the carriages. She leaned against one carriage, her gaze lingering on them. "The next time something like this happens, I won''t take it so lightly." Her gaze swept over the other teachers. "This applies to all of you. You know the rules¡ªand the consequences for breaking them." "Yes, Assistant Principal!" they all replied in unison. Riya and Ben shared one final re before looking away. Just then, Riya''s card vibrated, signaling that one of her students needed immediate help. Without a word, she dashed into the forest, following the signal. ''I hope Ben doesn''t try anything¡­..'' Riya thought. ''It won''t be funny at all.'' Outside the forest, Ben watched her retreating figure before looking toward the Assistant Principal, who had closed her eyes, as if already asleep. Under the watchful gaze of the other teachers, Ben approached her, knowing her reputation for falling asleep even in important meetings. ''Riya is definitely hiding something,'' he thought. ''And with her gone, this might be my only chance to find out what.''@@novelbin@@ But he still had to ask for the Assistant Principal''s permission before leaving. "Assistant Principal," he called out. She instantly opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. Without hesitation, Ben continued, "I was wondering if I could check out that explosion sound from earlier." "No." Her answer was short and direct as she closed her eyes again. "Oh, I just thought¡ª" Before Ben could finish¡ª BOOM! A fiery red Aura erupted from the Assistant Principal as she red at him. "Ugh..¡­" The teachers, including Ben, groaned as they dropped to their knees under the weight of her Aura. "Have I been too soft that you all think you can question me?" Her previously expressionless eyes now held a spark of rage as she stared them down. Ben''s eyes widened, falling fully to his knees. "I''m sorry! Please forgive me!" he begged, keeping his head low. Then, as quickly as it came, her Aura vanished, and her eyes returned to their calm state before she closed them again. "Perhaps it''s time I start acting more like an Assistant Principal..¡­" she murmured, drifting back to sleep. ''That was close¡­..'' Ben thought, still shivering slightly. Meanwhile, inside the forest, Arin had fully transformed into his Vampire form, startling both Alex and Tessa, who rested against a tree nearby. "So you want to know who I am?" Arin asked, a dark amusement in his voice. "Then you''ll just have to find out yourself....." In that same moment, Alex realized the severity of the situation. ''This is more serious than I thought¡­..'' But just as he had this thought, Arin took a step closer. "Shall we begin?" Arin asked, his gaze fixed on Alex, whose leg had finally stopped smoking. Alex quickly regained hisposure, standing tall with a smirk. "Confident, aren''t you? I like that." Arin just shrugged in response, but a purple glint suddenly shed in his eyes, surprising Alex. And then, in a chilling, low voice, Arin whispered just two words..... "Death''s Whisper¡­..." * * * [A/N] Hey guys! I know I''ve been inconsistent, and I deeply apologize for that. I''ve been going through a lot recently, and it''s affecting me. Though, the update rate is now back to normal, so thank you very much for your patience and understanding. I really appreciate!! Chapter 82 Chaos vs Alex [Part 1] The tension between Arin and Alex was high, but the oue of the battle would soon be known because... BOOM! In an instant, Arin kicked off the ground, his cloak fluttering wildly as he dashed toward Alex. Immediately, Alex pointed his staff at Arin, and then... WHOOSH! Fireballs instantly formed above him, and with a swift swipe of his staff, they headed toward Arin, who was fast approaching. WHOOSH! Even after seeing the iing fireballs, Arin didn''t slow down. He squinted his eyes and thought, ''These fireballs are no match for my enhanced speed.'' In that instant... BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Arin began swiftly evading the fireballs, moving in a zigzag manner as he gripped his sword tighter and continued approaching Alex. The fireballs exploded as soon as they hit the ground, leaving scorch marks. BOOM! Arin kept evading them, keeping his eyes on Alex, who was about to summon more fireballs, but, of course, he wouldn''t let that happen. WHOOSH! Arin''s speed suddenly increased as he raised the sword in his right hand. BOOM! He swung the sword, instantly destroying another fireball that he couldn''t evade. WHOOSH! He slid under another one, and as soon as he regained footing, he leaped toward Alex, who had a frown on his face. WHOOSH! Arin wasing down like a meteor, with his swords in an X shape, positioned to strike. ''He''s fast,'' Alex thought, ''but I already expected this.....'' Instantly, when Arin was just about to reach him, Alex mmed his right foot on the ground, and a wall made of ice suddenly appeared, tall enough to reach Arin, who was still airborne. "Shit..." Arin cursed as he swung his swords with immense force. BOOM! The ice wall was instantly destroyed, but it gave Alex the chance to leap back, creating distance between himself and Arin. As soon as Arinnded on the ground, he dashed toward Alex without wasting time, but Alex had already done something. He mmed the bottom of his staff on the ground, and in that same instant... BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Three golems made of rock suddenly emerged from the ground and began running toward Arin. Instantly, Arin stopped his advance and squinted his eyes, scrutinizing the golems. "Hahaha," Alexughed as he looked at Arin. "Just so you know, I can create more of those if you like." Because of their size and the fact that they were made of rock, the golems weren''t too fast, giving Arin time to make his decision. Though, because of this, he ignored Alex, who now had a frown on his face. ''I can do this,'' Arin thought. ''I''m sure my strength will aplish that.'' Instantly, he moved enough Blood Energy to his legs, strengthening them. ''Hmmm, I''ll add just a little more,'' Arin thought as he added more Blood Energy to his legs.@@novelbin@@ Immediately, a grin appeared on his hidden face as he crouched. Alex squinted his eyes as soon as he noticed this. ''Huh? He looked hesitant to approach just some seconds ago.'' BOOM! This time, the ground beneath Arinpletely shattered as he sted off the ground, dashing toward the iing golems with immense speed. WHOOSH! As soon as he got close to the first golem, which had already swung its huge arm toward him, he nted his feet firmly on the ground and leaped up, evading the arm while performing a front flip in the air. Just as nned, his body went above the golem''s head, but that wasn''t all. While falling back to the ground, he ced his feet on the back of the golem''s head, and then... BOOM! Arin''s body sted forward like a bullet toward the second golem. He tensed the muscles in his right foot, adding more Blood Energy as he got closer to the golem. He spun midair,unching his foot toward the golem''s head. Instantly... BOOM! The golem''s head was destroyed as Arinnded on the ground. Without wasting time, he continued dashing toward Alex, but the third golem was in his way, and its right arm was alreadying toward him. WHOOSH! Before the golem''s arm could hit him, Arin rolled to the right, evading the arm. BOOM! The golem''s arm hit the ground, instantly destroying it and causing debris to fly. Meanwhile, Arin had already regained his footing, but Alex already had his staff pointed at him. WHOOSH! A wave of fire instantly left Alex''s staff with immense speed, heading toward Arin. Instinctively, Arin mmed his right hand on the ground, and a wall of water was instantly formed, shielding him from the fire wave. A dust cloud formed from the collision, but Arin could still hear Alex''s voice. "H... How can you use magic?" Alex asked, his voice stillced with surprise. "You''re a Vampire, so how?" "Tch..." Arin clicked his tongue. "You never listen, do you? I said one question at a time. Your first question hasn''t even been answered, and you''ve already asked a total of three." Though Arin was mainly using his enhanced physical capabilities as a Progenitor Vampire¡ªbecause that was the only area in which he surpassed Alex¡ªit was the only way he could manage to keep up with him. At this point, Alex couldn''t hold it anymore and instantly snapped. "AGHHHH! Stop messing with me!" he eximed. Instantly, fire began spreading out from Alex''s hands, forming a circle, like a ring of fire. The ring extended for quite a distance, with Alex and Arin in the middle of it. Arin looked at Alex''s eyes and noticed that his pupils seemed to have mes inside. Alex held his staff with both hands as he whispered, "me Domain." Instantly, the ring of fire intensified, and Alex''s eyes shone brighter. "Master, your Death''s Whisper spell won''t work on him again, right?" Seraphine asked. "Hmm," Arin squinted his eyes. "I tried it again, but he seemed to have used a spell to block it." "And I think I know what spell he used," Arin added. Huge swords made of mes suddenly began appearing around the ring of fire, from all angles, all pointed toward Arin. "Until one of us dies....." Alex whispered as he raised his head, a crazy grin on his face, "no one is leaving this domain." "Shit....." * * * [A/N] I really appreciate all the continuous support, even with my inconsistency. Thank you very much! Next chaptering up! Chapter 87 Chaos vs Alex [End] [Congrattions, you have sessfully activated the first innate Skill of a Progenitor.] [First Innate Skill of a Progenitor: Overheat] Suddenly, red smoke began oozing out from Arin''s body, spreading round. His eyes glowed a deep red as he stared at Alex from inside his Blood Barrier. Alex''s eyes widened as he stared at Arin. "W..... What is happening? What is this sudden fear I''m having?" For some reason, seeing Arin right now sent a kind of chill down Alex''s spine. The red glow in Arin''s eyes was so intense and eerie that Alex found it hard to look away. ''No...'' Alex thought. ''This is just a feeling. He still stands no chance against me.'' Instantly.... BOOM! Alex''s Golden and Dark Aura red, sending a wave of pressure to Arin. His right eye glowed Golden, and the Dark glow in his left eye deepened. "Let''s finish this," Alex whispered. His Aura spread out in the forest, reaching every corner. Though, this caused something else to happen. Hector, who was on another side of the forest, gripped his dagger tightly as he prepared to stab the iing wolf. "Come at me!" Hector roared, but then.... WHOOSH! The wolf suddenly made an abrupt stop as it looked around as if it was confused. "Huh?" Suddenly, the wolf turned back and began running somewhere else. "What?! Come back here!" Hector eximed, but the wolf had already dashed away. Hector ced his finger on his chin thoughtfully as he squinted his eyes. "The wolf didn''t run because of me... Then what made it run away like that?" Suddenly, he felt a certain kind of Aura... An oppressive Aura that made him want to leave the forest instantly. "Wh... What is that Au....." Hector stammered as his eyes widened, unable toplete the sentence. Without wasting time, he dashed hastily towards where the teachers were located, with one thing in mind.@@novelbin@@ ''I have to let them know.....'' This same thing was happening to other students in the forest. The Beasts they were fighting would suddenly run away in fear, and then, they would also feel the Aura, making them start running towards where the teachers were located. A girl who was also running towards the teachers suddenly stopped and hid behind a tree after hearing the sound of Beasts approaching. In that instant..... WHOOSH! More than 50 wolves rushed past her, heading towards a different direction. "What could possibly be the source of that Aura?" the girl muttered as she continued running towards the teachers. Meanwhile, Arin''s eyes were fixated on Alex whose Aura had already spread round the forest. Though, he could not focus well because the new skill he got just activated on its own. The red smoke oozing out from his body increased, but that wasn''t all. Some parts of his skin were now red, and it was as if his blood was boiling. He could feel it flowing in his body. ''It''s almost as if my blood is boiling,'' Arin thought. ''Maybe that''s the cause of the red smoke.'' He couldn''t check the description of the skill now, but he instinctively knew how it worked. He looked at Alex once again and noticed the Aura exuding from him. ''He''s bringing out the pure ''Elemental Energy'' and shrouding himself in it...'' Arin thought. ''That''s why it''s spreading out so fast.'' Immediately he had this thought, the system screen suddenly appeared in front of him. [You have gained insight on Aura] [Congrattions, you have sessfully activated the second innate Skill of a Progenitor.] [Second Innate Skill of a Progenitor: Aura] [You can now utilize a small portion of your Aura.] Arin instantly grinned as soon as he saw the notification, but before he could have any thought, another notification appeared. [Due to activating two innate Skills of a Progenitor, including Aura, your Blood Energy has increased.] [Your Rank has increased.] [You are now at the Vampire General Rank.] [You can now add Blood Energy to your Mana-based attacks.] As soon as Arin read thatst part, a smile instantly formed on his face. ''I guess I''m ready to face him head-on once again,'' Arin thought. He had been sustaining the Blood Barrier with more Blood Energy, but now, it was time to face Alex again. SHING! As soon as Arin stopped adding Blood Energy to the barrier, it instantly shattered, revealing him. He was perfectly fine, including his cloak and mask, but apart from that, a bright red Aura shrouded him, just like how Alex''s Aura shrouded him. His cloak fluttered as he continued walking forward before stopping a short distance away from Alex. They both stared at each other in silence, without anyone making a move. The tension was high between the two, but then... BLINK Yes, in the blink of an eye, the two of them were no longer standing on the same spot, and the next second... CLANG! Sparks flew in the air as both of them shed midair. They instantly returned to the ground but dashed toward each other again. ''This... So this is the effect of Overheat, huh?'' Arin thought with a grin on his face. He could feel his blood boiling, increasing his physical capabilities. His physical capabilities were already enhanced before, and now with the Overheat Skill, he was a blur. He could also utilize his Aura, enhancing his strikes and forming spikes and other things. CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! Only nging sounds could be heard as they shed. Trees weren''t spared from their sh either. They couldn''t be seen due to their speed, but the sparks from their weapons were clearly visible. Arin''s Aura instantly enveloped his swords, enhancing them as the sh continued. The wind shes from the tornadoes were still present, but they couldn''t harm Arin because of his new Aura Skill that was blocking them. Arin instantly leaped back, creating distance between himself and Alex. He grinned as he stretched his right hand, and then... "Blood Dragon..." Since he was now able to add Blood Energy to Mana-based attacks, he did just that. Instead of the usual blue, water-like dragon, the dragon that was formed this time had red scales, and a red Aura shrouded it. But this dragon also did something different. As it zoomed toward Alex, it suddenly let out a bone-chilling roar that shook the trees. ROARRRR! Alex grinned at the iing dragon as he raised his staff. "Justice''s Call..." he whispered. And then... CRACKLE! BOOM! A golden-colored lightning descended, striking the dragon and instantly destroying it. A dust cloud formed, covering the surroundings. Arin gripped his chest in pain as he closed his eyes. ''I think I''ve reached my limit... I''m not sure I can continue.'' He had been fighting for a while now, but he could feel himself getting weaker. He was using too many skills at the same time, and his Mana was also depleted, but that wasn''t the main reason. "Blood..." Arin muttered as he staggered slightly. Since the fight began, he had been healing himself, so his urge for blood was slowly building up, and now... ''I can still move well, but...'' Arin thought. ''I won''t be able to continue fighting, especially considering the fact that I have to join the other students.'' ''I can''t do anything that''ll blow my cover now.'' The dust cloud finally cleared, and the two of them stared at each other. "You said you wanted to know my name, right?" Arin began. "Well, I guess I''ll let you know." "Haha!" Alexughed. "Why the sudden change of heart? Or are you surrendering?" "Hmmm, no," Arin replied. "But I''m about to leave, and I think I should leave with a big bang, don''t you think so?" Alex''s expression instantly changed as soon as he heard what Arin said. Without saying anything, he dashed toward Arin, but Arin had already turned back, walking away. "We''ll meet again," Arin said. Alex, who had a deep frown on his face, heard what Arin said. "Come back here! I''ll kill you!" But before he could reach Arin, he suddenly saw Arin stretch out his hands, and then... BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Three blood dragons formed at once, heading toward Alex with immense speed. "Shit..." Alex cursed as the blood dragons blocked his view, but he managed to hear Arin''s voice. "By the way... I''m Chaos." ".... Until we meet again." Chapter 88 Back To The Academy & Alexs Anger The students were standing near the carriages with their heads raised, looking at the incredible sight. "I''m not the only one seeing those dragons, right?" Leon asked, his mouth wide open in surprise. "Of course not," the girl standing beside him replied. The teachers were also looking at the Blood Dragons that roared before descending with force. However, they couldn''t do anything. After all, they had to receive orders from the Assistant Principal first before taking any action, and right now, she was sleeping¡ªeven with the noise the students were making. Well, the students didn''t even know they had an Assistant Principal, so they continued talking about the dragons without any fear of making noise.@@novelbin@@ Tessa folded her arms as she leaned on one of the carriages, looking around. ''I have a feeling that Chaos is the one controlling those dragons. Does that mean he''s still fighting Alex?'' After regaining a bit of her strength, she had immediately left the battlefield, changed into her normal clothes, and killed some beasts. She made sure that at least a few students saw her doing so, just in case Alex was suspicious and decided to ask around. Tessa furrowed her brows as she stared at the part of the forest where she had left Chaos and Alex. ''Why am I so worried...?'' However, she didn''t know that Arin had already left Alex, changed back into the clothes he originally wore for the expedition, and passed through a different part of the forest to join the students outside. Distracted by the dragons, the students didn''t notice his return. Besides, his Extra''s Cloak skill was activated, allowing him to blend in unnoticed. Well, except... Riya stared at Arin with squinted eyes and folded her arms. ''Hmmm, he passed through the side of the forest to join them... Smart.'' Secondster, everyone''s eyes darted to Alex, who was emerging from the forest. His clothes were perfectly fine, and he was uninjured. The moment Ben saw him, he rushed over, bombarding him with questions. "What happened? Why haven''t youe out of the forest until now? Were you the source of that aura and the dragons?" Alexughed lightly before replying, "I can do many things, Instructor Ben, but definitely not creating a dragon." "Haha, I guess so," Ben said. "Then what was the source of that aura?" another teacher asked, thoughtfully cing a finger on his chin. "I tried to check it out," Alex said, "but before I could get there, all the beasts attacked me at once, and I had to fight them off." ''He''s such a good liar,'' Arin thought. ''Well, I guess I am too.'' "Master, you have to start thinking about how to consume blood," Seraphine said. "You can still stay without it for a while, but you''ll eventually need it." Arin sighed, folding his arms. "I know... I''ll think about thatter." One of the teachers whispered something in the Assistant Principal''s ear. A few secondster, she walked to the front of the students. She pped her hands before speaking. "Alright, everyone get into the carriage meant for your ss. We''re leaving now." ONE HOUR LATER... All the students had finally entered their rooms, while some decided to go to The Area to chat about the expedition. The day was still bright, so it wasn''t close to curfew yet. But one person had a different destination. Alex stood in front of Principal Orion''s office, a deep frown on his face. "I know you''re there. Come in," Orion said from inside the office. Alex instantly opened the door and walked in. Orion was seated, a stack of papers on the table in front of him. Adjusting his sses, and without looking up, Orion muttered, "Have a seat." Alex''s frown deepened. "I''m not here to sit, Principal Orion." Orion finally raised his head and looked at Alex. "What has you so worked up?" "Three unknown people tried to kill me during the expedition," Alex said. "And two of them were Vampires." Orion''s expression changed immediately. "Huh? Vampires? Why?" "Are you seriously asking me that?" Alex snapped, his eyes fixed on Orion. "Moreover, are we suddenly letting Vampires roam around? It''s been about two years years since theyst appeared. One of them suddenly showed up and killed Arthur, and now two others have tried to kill me. Are we really going to allow that?!" Alex added, his voiceced with pure anger. Orion sighed and dropped the paper he was holding. "I think you should calm down, Alex." Suddenly... BAM! Alex mmed his hand on the table, his eyes widening in anger, but Orion remained unshaken. "Calm down?!" Alex eximed. "Everybody thinks nature is all chill, right? It''s such bullshit! Everything is trying to kill everything else all the time, and every single thing has to kill to live. Killing is nature." "What are you getting at, Alex?" Orion asked. "Are you really going to bring that up now?" "I''ll do it if I have to," Alex muttered, his brows furrowing. Orion sighed once again and stood up. He walked toward the window, looking out over the Academy, with his hands behind his back. His office, located on the top floor, gave him a clear view of the grounds. "I disagree with your view of nature, Alex," Orion said. "The strong should aid and protect the weak. Then the weak will be strong and, in turn, protect those weaker than them. That is nature." Alex now had a deadpan expression as he stared at Orion. "Well, I don''t care." "Tch..." Orion clicked his tongue. "And I thought my wise words would get to you." "Keep your wisdom to yourself," Alex said, frowning. "I just have one request." Orion raised an eyebrow as he turned back to Alex. "And what is that?" "Set up a meeting," Alex muttered. "I want to speak with the King....." Chapter 91 Rescuing Lina As soon as Arin exited the dorm building, he headed straight for the Main Building of the second-year students. ''They won''t be able to enter the building directly with Lina,'' Arin thought, ''after all, she isn''t a second-year student, and only second-year students are allowed into the Main Building.'' ''So there''s only one ce they would''ve taken her to...'' Arin continued walking, and he could already see the Main Building from where he was. Students nor teachers weren''t evening in and out of the building. It was just silent. That was because the second-year students focused more on practicals than sitting down in a ss to learn. So, they were always in special sses outside the Academy with their teachers or sometimes well-known figures in the Kingdom to learn more advanced things. Apart from that, most of them went on missions almost all the time, because it helped them gain more fighting experience alongside points. ''I''m sure she tried to scream, but nobody would''ve heard her,'' Arin thought as he finally reached the Main Building, ''especially with how this second-year side is devoid of people.'' Instantly, he walked around the building, heading towards the back. Of course, the students wouldn''t hold Lina hostage in the front of the building, so the next possible ce would be the back, where no one went at all. As Arin got closer, he could already hear the voices of some boys. "Don''t worry, your brother will soon be here, hahaha." "Are you sure he''ll evene? He might decide to stay in his room out of fear." "He''lle. We have his sister, after all." Arin squinted his eyes as he finally arrived at the back of the building. The four boys who were there instantly turned their heads the moment they noticed someone else was there. The boy with long brown hair, whom Arin met in The Area, was standing in front with a grin on his face, like a leader. Three other boys were standing behind him, with one of them holding Lina. Lina''s mouth was tied, making it impossible for her to scream, and fear was evident on her face. The moment she saw Arin, she began shaking her head frantically, as if telling him to leave. "So you came, huh?" Brygar, the boy with long brown hair, spoke. Arin furrowed his brows. "Are you blind or something?" Brygar''s eyebrows instantly twitched in annoyance. "You better watch that mouth of yours. We have your sister." "Release her," Arin said, getting straight to the point with an indifferent expression. "Huh?" Brygar suddenly smiled. "Not so fast. You have to do something first." Arin didn''t say anything, but the boy continued. "As a first-year student, you have to know your ce," Brygar began. "So get down on your knees and beg me to forgive you for trying to fight me in The Area." "And I''ll let your sister go," he added. Arin fixated his eyes on Brygar without looking away for a bit. Brygar''s condition was actually an easy thing to do, but for two reasons, Arin didn''t want to do it. Firstly, he had the strength to beat these guys up and leave with Lina. And secondly... "Your pride as a Progenitor..." Seraphine said slowly. Arin suddenly grinned as he began walking forward. It was exactly as Seraphine said. There was a certain pride he got after bing a Progenitor Vampire. He knew he didn''t have that kind of pride before, which was why he knew it was an effect of bing a Progenitor. And that pride wouldn''t allow him to beg someone as shitty as Brygar. Heck, even without that pride, he still wouldn''t do it. "What are you grinning for?" Brygar asked as he noticed Arin walking forward. "Or don''t you want your sister back?" Seeing that Arin continued walking forward with an expression that showed he was about to do something, Brygar decided to make the first move. mes suddenly enveloped his right fist as he dashed towards Arin, ready to deliver a punch. The heat emanating from his fist was intense, as expected of a second-year student. Immediately, Arin also dashed towards Brygar, his expression unwavering. WHOOSH! Brygar swung his fist with immense force towards Arin, the mes intensifying. Meanwhile, a Water Shield suddenly formed on Arin''s left hand, positioning itself towards the iing me fist. BOOM! The me fist and Arin''s Water Shield collided, creating a dust cloud, but Arin didn''t wait. He instantly swung his right fist towards Brygar, who was close to him. Due to the dust cloud, Brygar was unable to quickly notice Arin''s fist, and then... BAM! Arin delivered an uppercut to Brygar, sending him ¡ª and some of his teeth ¡ª flying. The other three boys just stood with widened eyes, unable to believe what had just happened. The boy closest to Arin suddenly regained his senses, and instead of running away, he decided to attack. "AGHHHH!" He let out a war cry and dashed towards Arin, his legs coated with lightning. Arin instantly dashed towards the boy, and before reaching him, he jumped and stepped on the building''s wall, whipping his leg out. BAM! His kicknded on the boy''s face, sending him flying as well. The third boy had already reached Arin, swinging his Wind Dagger, but Arin''s quick reflexes kicked in. He ducked, evading the dagger, and sent out his right fist. BAM! His fist connected with the boy''s stomach, sending him flying too. "Now, who''s next?" Arin muttered as he looked at thest boy holding Lina. The boy was shivering, one thought running through his mind: ''Who the hell is this Arin?''@@novelbin@@ He looked at Arin, then at Lina, before making a decision. Without wasting time, he let go of Lina, turned back, and ran away. Instantly, Lina ran towards Arin with tears on her face and hugged him. "I..... I''m so happy you''re safe, Arin." Arin carefully wrapped his arms around Lina, caressing her hair. "Don''t worry, you''re fine now, okay?" Lina was so emotional that she didn''t even think about how Arin had defeated four second-year students. She was just happy that he was okay. Arin suddenly let go of Lina and walked toward Brygar, who was on the ground. He bent down and pped him lightly, waking him up. "Ahh....." Brygar breathed heavily, his eyes widening immediately as he saw Arin. Arin gazed at him, making him shiver slightly. "If you ever mess with me and my sister again," Arin whispered, his voice cold, "you don''t want to know what''ll happen....." With that, Arin walked back to Lina, and they began heading back to the first-year side. He still had a lot to do, likepleting the Water Element Spell and learning a new Vampiric Skill. He also had to meet Tessa the next day, and then there was Leon, who was very important. Arin nced at Lina, who was talking about how they tricked her into thinking he was in trouble. ''With all these things I''m doing and my plot against Alex, can I consider myself a hero?'' ''Maybe...'' Arin answered his own question. ''But I''m sure I''m doing the right thing. And maybe... just maybe others will realize this with time.'' ''That aside, tomorrow will be a busy day,'' Arin thought. ''Because I''ll also visit the Mission Hall...'' Chapter 94 Unexpected Turn Of Events Arin stood with his eyes fixated on the Mission Building. It was a two-storey building, with studentsing in and out. Since there were no sses today, some of the students decided to take missions. After all, they had spent their points on weapons, so they needed to get more. Without further hesitation, Arin walked into the building and was greeted with the sight of two rows of students standing in straight lines with a paper in each of their hands. In front of both rows of students, there were two tables and chairs with twodies seated on them, collecting the papers before writing down something. Arin quickly noticed that the line of students wasn''t that long. ''Guess I won''t have to wait for long...'' Without wasting time, he walked towards the board that was at the side of the room. Papers were stuck to the board with details of missions written on them. Arin''s eyes scanned the board, looking at all the avable missions. ''I feel like taking a mission that isn''t rted to Beasts.'' Almost all the missions present were about killing a particr Beast and bringing its body. Some of them even specifically requested parts of the Beast, like teeth, horns, or just the bones. ''I guess most of these missions were issued by Alchemists,'' Arin thought. ''They use stuff like this a lot.'' Apart from Alchemists, vigers also issued missions to the Academy through letters. It could either be to kill a particr Beast disturbing them or to escort one of their vigers to the City. As Arin was scanning the mission board, his eyes suddenly settled on a particr mission. The next second, a smirk formed on his face. "I''ll take this..." He immediately removed that particr paper from the board and joined the students in the line. Within minutes, it was finally his turn. The woman in front of him raised her head, looking at him, and stretched out her hand. It was clear what she wanted, so Arin instantly ced the paper in her hand. She grabbed it and looked at it. For seconds, she kept staring at it before finally.... "A... Are you sure this is the mission you want to take?" she asked, her eyes widening slightly. "Yes," Arin replied shortly. The woman was silent again before she tapped the other woman beside her who was attending to other students. She showed her the paper, making her eyes widen also. The woman then looked at Arin before asking, "What Rank are you?" Arin was already expecting this question, so he instantly replied. "Grade 4 Veteran Mage." The woman was about to speak, but Arin interrupted her.@@novelbin@@ "I''m very sure my Rank is now higher than that," Arin said. The first woman sighed before speaking, "We don''t know that, except you take the Ranking Up Test." "And this mission must not be taken by any student below the Master Mage Rank," she added. "So how sure are you that you''re already at the Master Mage Rank?" "How about we take the test and find out?" Arin replied with a question, going straight to the point. The woman instantly sighed again. With the expression on her face, it was very clear that she didn''t want to stand up to take Arin for the Test. These two women were in charge of approving the missions that students wanted to go for and also in charge of the Ranking Up Test. But today, a lot of students were going for missions, so there would be no time for them to take a student for a Ranking Up Test. Meanwhile, the students behind Arin were already grumbling lightly because they were taking more time than usual. As the woman was thinking of what to do, she suddenly spotted someone, and a bright smile instantly appeared on her face. "Perfect..." she whispered. Arin, noticing this, instantly followed her line of sight, and then he realized... ''Wait... Don''t tell me it''s what I''m thinking...'' The woman''s smile widened, and then..... "Tessa Silverhart," she called out, making Tessa, who was at the back of the line, look at her. "Come here, please." A slight frown instantly appeared on Arin''s face. ''Oh shit.'' Tessa walked to the front of the line before standing beside Arin. Because of this, the frown on the faces of the students behind Arin deepened. Arin stole a nce at Tessa, noticing that a slight frown was also on her face. ''I mean, she currently has no reason to smile,'' Arin thought. Immediately Tessa got to the front of the line, the woman began exining. "He wants to take this mission," thedy began, handing the paper over to Tessa. "But this mission can only be taken by a student at the Master Rank and above." Tessa turned her head, staring at Arin. At this point, he couldn''t help but further notice how beautiful she really was. She suddenly tilted her head, making Arin look away. "He ims to be at the Master Rank, but we''ll have to take the Ranking Up Test to confirm that," she added. ''Okay, I never said that,'' Arin thought. Tessa was silent for some seconds as she stared at the paper. "Bandits, huh?" "So, what should I do?" she asked. The woman smiled before replying. "He''s at the Grade 4 Veteran Mage Rank now, so I want you to go with him on this mission. Let him do everything by himself and watch him fight the bandits." Arin''s frown deepened while Tessa furrowed her brows. "I trust that you''ll be able to rate him based on how well he uses his Spells, and you can also observe his Mana output," she added. "But I''m not sure it''ll be urate," Tessa instantly said. "Don''t worry," the woman smiled. "We''ll also make him take the test either when he returns today or tomorrow. But for now, since he''s confident that he''s up to the task, just watch him." ''Hmm, doesn''t sound too bad,'' Tessa thought. ''It''s still a mission, so I''ll still get points from it. And moreover, we''ll be going to a vige for the mission, so at least it''ll be a change of scenery and I''ll be able to distract my mind from all these thoughts.'' She looked at thedy before speaking, "Mission epted." "Yes!" the woman eximed. "Don''t worry about points, we''ll discuss that when you return." The woman winked at Tessa as if saying she would be rewarded handsomely. After that, she approved the mission and gave Arin a small square-shaped tag with the Academy''s stamp and details of the mission on it. Tessa nodded her head and looked at Arin. "Let''s go..." Arin just felt confused. ''Everything happened so fast...'' ''I didn''t see thising AT ALL.....!'' Chapter 96 Heading To Brownleaf Village The carriage continued moving, rolling steadily through a path in the forest. It was different from the routes the Academy carriages usually took to the cities where expeditions were held. This particr path led to the viges. Like the Academy, most of the viges were located outside Starshine City, but despite the distance, they were still considered part of the city''s domain, simply lying beyond its borders. Tessa''s frown deepened as she nced at Arin, who was staring out of the window with an indifferent expression. The two sat in silence, their thoughts upying the space between them. ''Maybe I really am overthinking things,'' Tessa thought, sneaking another nce at Arin. ''I mean, there''s no way he can be Chaos, right? He doesn''t seem like someone capable of hiding his identity.'' She wanted to dismiss the idea entirely, but no matter how much she tried to convince herself, a small voice in her mind refused to let go of the suspicion. The simrities she had noticed were too hard to ignore. It wasn''t unusual for others to have indifferent expressions or give short replies, but thebination of those traits and his ability to use the Water Element made him a concrete suspect in her eyes. ''I can''t rule out the possibility,'' Tessa thought. ''I''ll keep watching him.'' Meanwhile, Arin had his own concerns. ''She''s been ncing at me for a while now,'' he thought, catching Tessa''s quick looks from the corner of his eye. ''What''s going on in her head?'' The carriage jolted slightly as it hit a bump, and Tessa shifted her gaze to the road ahead. Her thoughts moved on. ''sses resume tomorrow, so I''ll see him in ss. I''ll keep observing him closely to see if he really is Chaos.'' Suddenly, Tessa furrowed her brows as a new thought crossed her mind. ''Speaking of Chaos, I forgot to ask him about that other Vampire I partnered with to fight Alex.'' When Seraphine had appeared to battle Alex during the expedition, Tessa had been as shocked as Alex himself. She never thought Chaos would work with a Vampire, but she had hidden her surprise. Any visible reaction would have shown Alex that their ns weren''t as organized as they seemed. ''I didn''t ask about it because I was more concerned about him being a Vampire than him bringing one,'' Tessa thought. ''Though, I have an idea who that Vampire might be.'' The carriage continued down the path, nked by trees on either side. The sound of wheels crunching against the dirt road filled the air. Minutester, they reached a vige with walls made of rough, weathered wood. The driver''s voice rang out. "On the tag, it says Brownleaf Vige. That''s the vige after this one." "Alright," Tessa and Arin said in unison. The man fell silent, and the carriage continued forward. Two guards, d in worn-out armor, stood at the wooden gate. Upon seeing the Academy''s insignia on the carriage, they instantly opened the gate and bowed their heads. The driver exchanged a few words with the guards before the carriage rolled into the vige. "Such respect," Arin whispered under his breath. Tessa caught thement and turned to him. "That''s how anyone from the Academy is treated," she exined. "Those guards bowed not just for the driver but also for us inside." Her tone carried the air of a lecture, though it was information Arin already knew. He merely replied with a short "Hmm." ''Of course, that respect onlyes from vigers or those in the city who attended less prestigious academies,'' Arin thought. ''Higher-ranked individuals wouldn''t bother with such disys.'' The streets of the vige were unpaved, and the houses were far from luxurious, yet the residents wore wide smiles. Their faces radiated happiness, a stark contrast to their modest surroundings. As the carriage passed, the vigers paused their activities to watch in awe. At the vige''s exit, another wooden gate came into view. The guards opened it promptly, and the carriage moved on toward its destination. Back on the forested path, Arin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The refreshing scent of the trees filled his senses. For a moment, he let his thoughts drift away from Alex, the blood he needed to drink, and his most recent thought... His family. Instead, he focused on the soft breeze and the calming atmosphere. Before long, they arrived at another vige. The wooden gate at the entrance bore the name "Brownleaf Vige." As the carriage entered, it was evident that this vige was different. The residents didn''t gather to watch the carriage. Instead, most of them hurried into their homes, their fear evident. The carriage came to a stop, and Arin and Tessa stepped down, scanning their surroundings. Instantly, The driver addressed them. "I''ll take the carriage to an empty space in the vige and keep watch over it. Once the mission is over, we''ll head back to the Academy." They nodded in response before the carriage rolled away.@@novelbin@@ Even though almost all the vigers had entered their homes, three men approached them. One was bald, while the other two had thick ck hair. The bald man stepped forward and spoke first. "Wee, honored Mages of the great Greenfield Academy." Arin and Tessa nodded silently. They hadn''t spoken much during the journey, both consumed by their own thoughts. Tessa opened her mouth to respond, but Arin stepped forward, his hands sped behind his back. He had taken this mission, and Tessa was merely observing him. He wouldn''t let her take control of the situation. Apart from when it would be time to fight the bandits, he had to show that he was capable of handling matters. "Greetings," Arin said, his tone firm. "We don''t have much time. Tell me¡ªhow long until the bandits arrive? And where do they usually attack from?" Tessa was caught off guard by Arin''s directness. "So straightforward...." she murmured. The bald man, noting Arin''s seriousness, answered immediately. "They could arrive at any moment. In fact, they might already be on their way." Arin raised an eyebrow. "Good. Then I won''t have to wait long." This mission was more than just a task. For Arin, this mission will solve three of his problems. First, he''ll be able to get a weapon after this mission, and as for the other two problems, they were pretty serious. * * * [A/N] Did you guys remember that Tessa hadn''t spoken to Chaos about Seraphine? Just wanna get your response! Chapter 99 One-sided Battle "One down... Nine left." "No... No..." Thedy muttered as she kept shaking her head. "Scar just made a mistake. This boy isn''t that strong." The others also told themselves the same thing, some swallowing their saliva in nervousness. "Attack him!" Thedy eximed. "He was just lucky!" "Yes!!!" The others responded in unison. Instantly, two of the Mages came forward and pped their hands. A Water Ball and Fireball formed above each of their heads, and with amand, both attacks moved toward Arin. A Water Shield formed on Arin''s left hand, and with his sword in his right hand, he dashed toward the two Mages. The Fireball and Water Ball reached him, but then... BOOM! The Fireball was blocked by his Water Shield, instantly destroying it, and at the same time, he swung the sword at the Water Ball, also destroying it. While doing all this, he never stopped dashing toward the Mages, but he was slowed down a bit because of the attacks. Fear instantly gripped both Mages after seeing how easily their attacks were destroyed by Arin. But before he could reach the Mages, another Mage at the back suddenly punched the ground. Arin, with his enhanced senses, was able to sense the movement beneath him. Without wasting time, he increased his speed and slid to the left. A pir of earth suddenly erupted from where he had been standing. The Mage widened his eyes in shock. "Did he predict my attack?" Because Arin slid to the left, he was now directly beside both Mages. Before they even had the chance to turn their heads to look at him, both of them were cut in half. Thedy shivered as she watched everything with widened eyes, unable to move. "H... How is he so fast?" The Warrior who had previouslyughed was closest to Arin, so he took the chance to attack. He raised his axe, and just like thest Warrior, his axe vibrated before bringing it down, aiming to destroy Arin. Meanwhile, Arin was having a certain thought. ''Tessa is observing me, and anything I do will be used to assess me. This means I have to use my Water Element a lot, so my assessment will be high.'' Since Tessa would report to thedy in the Mission Hall, he had to attack and defend with his Water Element, as his usage of the Element would determine how well Tessa would report to thedy. ''Moreover,'' Arin thought, ''it''ll be weird if I defeat these guys by using the sword alone. I have to use my Water Element more.'' With that thought, he decided on what to do. By this time, the Warrior''s axe had almost reached him. Instantly, with immense speed, Arin raised his right leg and mmed his foot on the ground. WHOOSH! A wall made of Water formed in front of Arin just when the axe was about to reach him. BOOM! The Water Wall easily stopped the axe. Because of the force behind the swing, the Warrior was slightly thrown off bnce and defenseless. A Water Spike instantly formed on Arin''s left hand, and without wasting time, he drove it into the Warrior''s heart, killing him instantly. "Four down... Six left..." The leader of the bandits unconsciously stepped back, fear evident on her face. Arin still wanted to showcase his use of the Water Element for Tessa to see, so he didn''t stop. With a flick of his finger, ten Water Balls formed above him, and then... WHOOSH! They moved with immense speed toward the remaining six. The Mage who had summoned an Earth Pir before once again punched the ground, and an Earth Wall formed in front of the group. After seeing what Arin had been doing, he instinctively knew that one Earth Wall wouldn''t be enough, so he summoned one more. ''That still won''t be enough,'' Arin thought as the Water Balls moved with incredible speed. Even though the Water Balls weren''t too big, the Mana inside them was much, so it packed a lot of power. WHOOSH! Arin dashed toward the bandits, following just behind the Water Balls. Finally, the Water Balls reached the Earth Walls. BOOM! BOOM! The first Wall was instantly destroyed, followed by the second Wall, but because the Water Balls were slowed down, the bandits were able to evade them. But they seemed to forget that Arin was following just behind the Water Balls. He pressed his feet on the ground, and then... BOOM! He leaped up and pped his hands midair, summoning Water Spikes. While still in the air, he flicked his fingers, sending the Water Spikes moving toward them. WHOOSH! WHOOSH! "Shit! These Spikes are fast! Too fast!" The Mages tried to use defensive Spells, but the power behind the Water Spikes was too much. Two of the Spikes stabbed one of the Mage''s heads, killing him instantly, and another Spike found its way into another Mage''s neck, also killing him. "Six down... Four left..." ''Sh... Should I run away...?'' Thedy thought as she shivered. ''No... There''s still a way.'' "Three of you!" Thedy eximed. "Attack him at once!" Arin knew what she was nning. She wanted thest three Mages to attack him together while she ran toward the Storage Hall to steal everything, then leave through the entrance gate. "Ditching yourrades, huh?" Arin whispered to himself with an amused smile on his face. Thest three Mages felt like they would be able to do something if they attacked Arin at once, so they gave it a shot. Moreover, if they were sessful, they would get a high amount of the share because the others were dead. The three Mages instantly dashed toward Arin, while thedy began running toward the Storage Hall, but Arin wasn''t about to let that happen. He quickly mmed his right hand on the ground, and in that instant, a Water Bubble formed, trapping all of them inside like a barrier. "Where do you think you''re going?" Arin asked thedy, staring at her. Thedy''s eyes widened for an unknown number of times again. "Oh no..." Left with no other choice, she gripped herrge sword. "Let''s attack him together!" The four of them instantly dashed toward Arin at once, determined to end him. Meanwhile, Tessa, who was hiding behind a house close to the exit gate, was watching everything with a slightly shocked expression. ''There''s no way he isn''t already at the Master Rank,'' Tessa thought, her eyes fixated on the battle. But that was when Arin''s Water Bubble was formed, and even though it was slightly transparent, she couldn''t see much. "Good. He stopped her from heading toward the Storage Hall," Tessa said to herself. Inside the Water Bubble, the four remaining bandits attacked Arin at once. The three Mages used their Spells. One of them summoned a Fire Ball, the second one summoned a Lightning Spear, and the third one, the Earth Mage, summoned a boulder. The leader herself suddenly activated a Battle Technique, making her muscles bulge. If one looked closely, they would notice a small glow around her. Without further dy, Arin dashed toward the four of them. As soon as he reached the attacks, he began moving in a zigzag manner, evading each of them. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The attacks hit the ground, creating a dust cloud. ''He''s way faster than me,'' the leader thought. Arin was too fast for the Mages to follow, so they didn''t even know when he reached them. STAB! In the blink of an eye, he stabbed their hearts, killing them instantly. There was a reason why he didn''t want to sh their heads off or cut them in half. Now, it was only their leader remaining. "I''LL KILL YOU!!" She eximed and leaped up, her sword glowing with a low blue light.@@novelbin@@ She wasing down with immense force, her sword ced in front of her, ready to strike. It was at that moment that Arin deactivated the Water Bubble Spell because he wanted Tessa to see the end of the battle. He dropped the sword on the ground as a Water Shield formed in his left hand. In that same moment... BAM! Thedy''s sword connected with Arin''s Water Shield, but he didn''t even budge, nor was the Water Shield destroyed. Before she could do anything else, a Water Spike formed on Arin''s right hand, and he quickly drove it into the side of her head, instantly killing her. The battle was over. "It waspletely one-sided," Tessa whispered as she began walking toward Arin. Meanwhile, Arin stared at the bodies around him with one thought in his mind... ''Blood...'' Chapter 101 Conversation The carriage continued moving, with Greenfield Academy as its destination. Inside the carriage, Arin and Tessa satfortably. Tessa had her arms folded, legs crossed, while Arin rested his cheek on his palm. They were both doing something simr: staring at the sky. It was already evening, and the sunset, as beautiful as always, was visible¡ªworth staring at. Though, Tessa asionally stole nces at Arin while still gazing at the sunset. Arin, on the other hand, was lost in his own thoughts. ''I think I should start a conversation. With that, she might slowly get less suspicious of me.'' That would certainly be hard to pull off. Short replies and an indifferent expression came naturally to him. In short, the way he acted as Chaos was his natural character, even before reincarnating. ''And from the memories I received, the original Arin is kinda jovial and cheerful,'' Arin thought. ''That''s why Lina was suspicious at first, and I''m sure she''s still suspicious now.'' ''That aside, if Tessa finds out that I''m actually Chaos, what would possibly go wrong?'' Even with this thought, he still didn''t want her to know... at least not yet. Arin turned his head, staring at her. "You sure like the sunset." Tessa turned her head sharply, slightly surprised, but quickly regained herposure. "Y-yes, I love staring at it a lot." Arin smiled at her before speaking. "Trust me, I perfectly understand. I mean, the sunset is a beautiful sight to behold¡ªwho wouldn''t like it?" Tessa also smiled back and replied, "I agree. It''s one of the many beautiful things in this world." Arin nodded before staring at the sunset again. "What does it remind you of? For me, it reminds me how beautiful beginnings and endings can be. I mean, watching how the day starts and how it ends... it''s perfect."@@novelbin@@ ''Geez, how did I evene up with that?'' Arin thought. Tessa was having her own thoughts. ''What is going on here? Was he always this free? It feels like I''m talking to apletely different person.'' ''No!'' Tessa thought. ''Maybe he knows that I''m getting suspicious and has decided to start acting freely to make me stop suspecting him.'' She realized he''d asked what the sunset reminded her of, so she quickly replied, "For me, it reminds me of my pare~" She suddenly stopped, realizing what she was about to say. Arin stared at her again. "You were about to say parents, right?" Tessa was about to speak, but Arin had already continued. "I understand. I also miss my parents. If only the Academy could give us a brief holiday so we could see our parents again." Tessa couldn''t help but stare at Arin. ''Is he just pretending like he doesn''t know?'' "Uhm, yes," she said. "I miss them a lot." Arin could feel the emotion behind her words, as well as the sudden distant gaze in her eyes. He let out a sigh before speaking. "Hopefully, we''ll get to meet them sooner than expected." Tessa smiled, looked at him, and nodded, but then she noticed something. She suddenly grabbed his right hand, observing the small wound on it with furrowed brows. "Oh, that," Arin whispered. "Did you carry a healing potion?" Tessa instantly asked. Arin bit his lip slightly. "No..." "Hmph, you''re supposed to know that when going on a mission, no matter how easy, you must carry a healing potion with you," Tessa said. "You never know what might happen." Arinughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "My bad... I somehow forgot." "Please don''t report this," he added in a low voice. Tessa closed her eyes, then opened them thoughtfully. "Hmm, but make sure to remember next time, okay?" "Of course, I will," Arin replied instantly. She brought out a small vial containing a green liquid from a pouch tied to her waist, opened it, and poured a small amount of the liquid on Arin''s wound. Instantly, the wound began closing until itpletely healed. Arin had gotten that scratch while fighting the bandits and purposely left it for Tessa to notice. Thankfully, he suppressed his natural healing ability, so the wound hadn''t healed on its own. Well, his n worked, because... ''Chaos is a Vampire, so a wound like this is supposed to heal on its own,'' Tessa thought. ''I don''t know what this means, but I''ll keep watching.'' Tessa finally let go of Arin''s hand and noticed that he was smiling. "Why are you smiling?" Tessa asked, with a nervous smile on her face. Arin smirked. "It''s just that you sounded like a teacher scolding me for making a mistake." Tessa pouted, her cheeks turning slightly red. "Uh... Uhm, just don''t forget next time." Arin nodded in response. ''I think that''s enough for now,'' he thought. But then, Tessa suddenly looked at him again. "Thank you," she said. Arin squinted, confusion evident on his face. "For what?" Tessa looked outside again, staring at the sunset with a bittersweet smile. "It''s just that... with the vigers smiling and that little girl thanking us, it was a pleasant experience. If you hadn''t taken the mission, I wouldn''t have experienced it." "The atmosphere was just great, and... and," Tessa looked at Arin, "I had a great time." Arin smiled. "Don''t worry, I''m d you found it pleasant." "And I''m sure since you enjoyed this mission, you''ll give a very good report," he added with a wink. Tessa chuckled, nodding her head. "Of course." The ride continued smoothly, with Arin and Tessa exchanging asional small talk before the carriage finally arrived at the Academy. The carriage stopped in front of the Mission Hall, which was still open, and they both stepped out before the carriage continued moving. They entered the building where the twodies were still seated. The firstdy immediately stood up with a bright smile on her face. "Ah, finally! I was already thinking of closing up so you''d have to give the report tomorrow." "I''m d I decided to wait a bit," she added. Tessa and Arin both smiled before Tessa began giving her report. Meanwhile, something was happening elsewhere, and Arin had no idea what wasing. Chapter 103 Helplessness Arin had an indifferent expression on his face as he stared at Seraphine, who was currently pouting like a little child who didn''t get her candy. They were both seated on the bed, and Arin folded his arms. "What, are you just being stubborn, Seraphine?" Arin asked, his eyes fixated on her. "But you promised..." Seraphine whispered. When they were about to fight Alex in the forest, Arin promised her that if she did well, he would let her take a walk. Well, it was time to uphold his promise, but he felt like this wasn''t the right time. "Like I told you," Arin began, "Alex might be outside right now, and he''s very observant. If he sees you, I don''t know what will happen." Seraphine was about to speak again, but Arin interrupted her while ying with the Blood Spike in his hand. "And just so you know, if Alex is even caught outside now, even though it''s already past curfew time, he won''t be punished." Seraphine had a thoughtful expression on her face before asking, "What are the chances of him being outside now?" "I''ll say betwe¡ª" Before Arin could finish talking, he suddenly felt a gust of wind. Seraphine also felt it, and in an instant, they turned their heads sharply toward the open window. And that was when they saw it...@@novelbin@@ Adynded gracefully on the window with her arms spread out like an eagle. Her blue hair was fluttering wildly, revealing the hilt of the sword strapped to her back. Her head was facing down, so they couldn''t see her eyes. Instantly, Arin and Seraphine leaped back from the bed,nding near the door. Arin''s gaze turned cold as he red at her. ''Who is she? I didn''t sense her until shended on the window... She certainly isn''t normal.'' Liora concealed her Blood Energy, so Arin was still unaware that she was a Vampire, but that wasn''t until she raised her head. Meanwhile, Seraphine had been trembling ever since Lioranded on the window, and of course, it was for a valid reason. As soon as Liora raised her head, Arin saw her red eyes, making him open his mouth slightly. ''Those eyes... There''s no doubt, she''s definitely a Vampire,'' Arin thought, shock evident on his face. ''Maybe she can also hide her Blood Energy.'' The shock made him ignore her immense beauty. He was just too focused on the fact that she was a Vampire. She moved forward,nding on the floor inside the room before folding her arms. Her mesmerizing red eyes were fixated on Seraphine. ''I knew it... My senses can''t deceive me.'' "L... Lor... Lord Liora..." Seraphine stuttered, still trembling. ''Did dad send her here to investigate about me?'' Seraphine thought. Liora had a calm expression while still staring at Seraphine. "I want to ask you why you''re not bowing in my presence, but I think I know what''s going on," Liora said. Immediately after she said that, her gaze shifted to Arin, who was now holding two Blood Spikes like daggers, his eyes sharp and alert. "Who are you?" Arin asked, his tone cold. He had already noticed that Seraphine called her ''lord'' and she was trembling. With that, he guessed that she must be someone with a really high position in the Vampire Kingdom. ''But for a Princess to call someone ''lord'', that means thisdy is probably a... Progenitor.'' Arin nced at Seraphine and saw the look in her eyes... A look that made it clear she had given up. "It''s no use..." She whispered, her words directed at Arin. Arin gritted his teeth in anger as his muscles tensed, but he suddenly heard Liora''s voice. Liora sighed before speaking. "Any questions you have will be answered when we get to the Vampire Kingdom." Arin furrowed his brows. ''How did she even know I was here? Was it because I was ying with my Blood Spike? No... I think she somehow sensed me from the Vampire Kingdom, but how?'' "Can my questions not be answered here?" Arin asked, gripping his Blood Spikes tighter. ''And what did Seraphine mean by it''s no use? Is there really nothing I can do in this situation?'' "I have no time for this conversation," Liora said. "It''s time to go." Before Arin could even process what she just said, he suddenly felt something around him. But that wasn''t all. Before he even blinked, Liora was already in front of him. That was when he noticed that it was a red chain around him. The chain was long enough to trap his legs, stomach, and arms. But the most important detail was that the chain was releasing a red smoke. ''W... When did I get chained?'' Arin thought. ''And... I can''t talk?'' He tried to say something, but he couldn''t. He couldn''t move, and above all, he couldn''t even ess his Blood Energy. ''What is going on...? It''s as if even my Blood Energy has been trapped.'' Liora moved closer to Arin. They were roughly the same height, so they locked eyes. She ced her hand on his shoulder before speaking. "Listen," Liora began, "if you just do as I say when we get to the Vampire Kingdom, there will be no issues, okay?" She then looked at Seraphine, but before she could do anything, Seraphine instantly disappeared, entering Arin''s head. Liora just squinted her eyes before grabbing Arin. ''Why...? I''ve never felt so helpless before...'' Arin thought. Liora brought out the small vial containing the red liquid and opened it. As soon as the liquid, which was actually blood, touched the floor, the same pattern appeared: the big circle, square, and the X shape. Liora looked around the room again before whispering, "You might never return..." Immediately, she stepped on the X shape, and she and Arin disappeared, leaving the room empty. Chapter 106 Duel Arin and Liora stood in the empty space, facing each other as they stared at each other. ''Ah, I ended up epting the duel,'' Arin thought as he gripped the sword he was holding tightly. Liora had given him one of her swords, so she was also holding one. ''Well, I don''t see any hidden motive behind it, and she requested politely,'' Arin thought. Though, the main reason he epted the duel was because of what Seraphine told him about how Progenitors respect each other. Liora also gripped her sword with both hands, her posture making it clear that she was ready to attack. Arin squinted his eyes as he whispered, "Overheat...." Immediately, he could feel his blood boiling as parts of his skin began turning red. Red smoke also began oozing out from his skin. Liora squinted her eyes. ''Overheat, huh? He can already use the First Innate Skill.....'' But Arin wasn''t done. He also activated the Aura Skill, making a red aura shroud him. Now, his physical capabilities were doubled because of the Overheat Skill, and even more enhanced with the Aura Skill. The Aura Skill also acted like a shield. ''He can also use the Second Innate Skill....? Surprising,'' Liora thought. ''He might have more control over his Blood Energy and Vampiric Skills than I thought.'' Well, she wasn''t too surprised. After all, for some reason¡ªwhich she might actually know¡ªSeraphine was with him. Since Arin had activated these skills, his Blood Energy got released, causing his appearance to change. His brown hair elongated, reaching his lower back as the color turned white. His eyes glowed a deep red as his fangs and ws revealed themselves. Liora watched the transformation with squinted eyes. ''So it was because he wasn''t really using his Vampiric Skills before, that was why his true appearance remained hidden.'' Liora truly had some questions about Arin''s sudden transformation, but they would have to wait tillter. "Shall we begin?" she asked. Arin nodded his head in response as he lowered his knees, crouching lightly. ''My senses are heightened due to the skills, so I should be able to follow her moveme~'' Before Arin could even finish his thought, Liora was no longer standing in the same spot. ''Huh?'' WHOOSH! Arin suddenly felt something from his right side. Without wasting time, he moved his sword swiftly toward his right side. CLANG! Sparks flew as his sword and Liora''s sword collided. Instantly, he leaped back, creating distance between himself and her. ''He was able to block it.....'' Liora thought as she gripped her sword again. ''As expected.'' Arin instantly used his aura to form spikes and swords above him. He also used his Blood Spike Skill, increasing the number of spikes above him. WHOOSH! With a single motion, the spikes and swords rushed toward Liora with immense speed, with Arin following behind them. Liora stood unfazed as she faced the iing spikes. Before they could reach her, she suddenly stretched out her right hand, and then... SHING! BAM! A transparent blood barrier instantly formed in front of her, stopping the attacks and even destroying some of them. Arin, who was still rushing toward her, instantly noticed that the barrier only covered the front of her. A smirk appeared on his face as he increased his speed. As soon as he reached her front, he suddenly slid to the left, gripping his sword. Liora''s brows furrowed. ''Huh? He changed direction?'' Arin instantly swung his sword with immense force toward her. CLANG! The nging sound this time was louder as Liora blocked the strike with her sword. Suddenly, she added more force to her sword, sending Arin flying. WHOOSH!@@novelbin@@ While in the air, Arin did a backflip, stabilizing himself. SHING! His ws scraped the floor as he slid on the ground afternding. In the blink of an eye, he stretched out his right hand toward Liora and clenched it as Blood Energy formed in front of his fist. BANG! BANG! BANG! Instantly, he began shooting Blood Orbs toward Liora, who was dashing toward him with immense speed. Immediately after seeing the Blood Orbs, Liora began moving in a zigzag manner, evading the orbs. BOOM! BOOM! She shed her sword, destroying one of them before leaping up, heading straight for Arin. She came down like a meteor, her sword ready to strike. ''She''s really fast...'' Arin thought. He was unable to move out of the way on time, so there was only one choice. CLANG! Their swords collided, causing sparks to fly. The force the both of them were using to grip their swords was so strong that their swords began shaking. Liora kept leaning closer to Arin, increasing the force of her sword. ''At this rate, I''ll be sent flying again,'' Arin thought. At that point, he suddenly noticed something, making a grin appear on his face. Before Liora could even wonder why he was grinning, Arin instantly spoke. "Are you that desperate to kiss me again?" "Huh?" That was when Liora realized how close her face was to his because she had kept leaning closer to him to increase the force. What Arin said was so sudden and unexpected that she was slightly startled¡ªbut that was exactly what Arin wanted. Because she was startled, she momentarily stopped adding pressure to her sword, giving Arin a chance to push her back slightly. Before she could react, Arin swung his sword with immense force again, but she blocked it. Though, the force moved her backward slightly because she was yet topletely regain bnce. Taking the chance, Arin jumped up and spun his body, his right leg moving toward her with force. WHOOSH! Liora was able to move her head backward on time, evading the kick. As soon as Arinnded, he twisted his left leg, moving it toward her stomach. Liora leaped backward, evading the kick. Now, they both stood, facing each other. Suddenly, Liora''s eyes glowed. "I think it''s time to end this." Before Arin could even say anything... BOOM! ''Huh? Her aura..... It''s overwhelming....'' A red aura shrouded Liora, spreading out, filling the entire room. It even suppressed Arin''s aura. Though, he could still stand even with the force. Liora suddenly pointed her fingers toward Arin like a gun as a great butpressed mass of Blood Energy formed in front of her fingers. Arin''s eyes were fixated on her fingers. ''I can''t use my Arcane Chaos Spell to disrupt Vampiric Skills, but I can dodge it... I can.'' But before he could even move... WHOOSH! BOOM! He felt a slight breeze pass his right ear, followed by a booming sound behind him. He looked up, staring deep into Liora''s eyes. Her expression was as calm as ever as she spoke, "I won''t miss the next one." Chapter 110 Pro Liar Thalos just kept staring at Arin with squinted eyes. ''For some reason, I can''t just find the words to counter what he just said.'' ''Is it because I actually believe that he has information about the Phoenixes that we will definitely need, and I don''t want to mess up such an opportunity?'' Thalos thought. With a sigh, he leaned back into his throne. "You''re right, Progenitor Arin." "I don''t think so, King Thalos," Vaelric snapped as he red at Arin. "We at least deserve to know how he knows a lot of things about the Phoenixes, and he even needs to tell us those things that he knows right now." Arin furrowed his brows. "I have a feeling that you''re ordering me, Progenitor Vaelric." "Oh, where is this going?" Serak whispered with a yful grin. "Isn''t that the same as telling me ''tell me how you get your information''?" ''I have to say a lot more to prove my point,'' Arin thought. "If that''s how Progenitors try to invade each other''s privacy, then I don''t think I even want to be among you," Arin said. Darius stopped stroking his beard for a second as he nced at Arin. "This is all a misunderstanding." "I don''t think so," Arin said. "I believe that Vaelric fully knows what he''s trying to do." "This isn''t about privacy," Vaelric said as he adjusted his long red hair. "It''s just something we all deserve to know." Arin scoffed. "Oh, if that''s the case, I''m very sure that you know things that the other Progenitors deserve to know, but you''ve decided not to tell anyone." The heads of the other Progenitors instantly turned to look at Vaelric. "That is not true," Vaelric said calmly. "I do not have anything to hide." "Moreover," he added. "There is no evidence of that." Arin smiled as he murmured, "sounds exactly like what someone guilty will say." Vaelric''s eyebrows twitched in anger after hearing what Arin said as he red at him. "And also," Arin continued. "How do we know that you really don''t have anything you''re hiding?" ''Good,'' Arin thought, ''I''ve shifted the topic to him.'' The others could only remain silent as they watched the exchange of words. Vaelric closed his eyes, calming himself without saying anything. "So, you see," Arin said. "Everyone has their own information and their way of getting it, so we shouldn''t even try meddling in it." His grin turned cold as he added, "trying to meddle will bring more problems than you think." Liora sighed. "I agree." Serakughed out loudly as he nced at Arin. "I must say, I also agree with you. In the end, everyone has their own ways." Darius just nodded his head as he continued stroking his beard. Thalos never for once stopped staring at Arin. ''How is he able to exchange words with Vaelric so calmly?'' "That aside," Thalos said. "I believe we have your support, Progenitor Arin." "Yes," Arin replied shortly, his tone firm. "I also have some questions about my daughter," Thalos said. Arin closed his eyes and opened them again. "My sword pierced her forehead, that was how she died. Though, I noticed that my sword hit something solid." "Using the sword, I brought out a shiny red object which I just learned is called a Blood Core," Arin continued. "My Blood Energy resonated with it, and I absorbed it." "So, that was how her soul ended up with you, huh?" Serak chuckled. "Yes," Arin replied. "I was about to destroy her soul, but she pledged full submission to me. I guess she believed that was the only way she could stop me from doing it." ''Ah, I''m a pro liar,'' Arin thought. "I see..." Thalos said. "I have nothing against you because she attacked first, and I even have to thank you because thanks to absorbing her Blood Core, she can still have a physical appearance." "Though, it has a time limit," Arin said. "I understand," Thalos said. Suddenly, Arin felt something inside his head. ''You''re back, huh?'' "Yes," Seraphine replied. "But I got to spend some time with my mother and sisters." Before Arin could reply, Mirael walked into the throne room with a slight frown on her face. "She suddenly disappeared," she said as she reached the throne and sat down.@@novelbin@@ "Yes," Thalos said. "The time limit psed." Mirael nodded her head in understanding as she rxed on the throne. "So," Thalos began. "We''vee to a conclusion." "The next time we''ll know the next step of action is when we see the result of the prisoner. If hees back... Or if he doesn''t." The Progenitors nodded their heads in agreement. Arin stood up with his hands in his pockets. "Then it''s time to leave." "Huh?!" Vaelric eximed. Liora kept her indifferent expression, almost as if she wasn''t bothered by what Arin just said while Darius had a calm expression but he was staring at Arin. Serak smiled. ''I quite expected this...'' "What do you mean by that?" Vaelric asked. Arin genuinely had a strong urge to insult Vaelric right now but he also had to stay calm. "Yes, I still have things to do in the Human Realm," Arin said. "Or have I been kidnapped here?" "We''re on the brink of a war, and you''re talking about going back to the Human Realm?" Vaelric questioned. "Progenitor Vaelric," Thalos called out. "Please, stay calm." "Tch..." Vaelric clicked his tongue in annoyance as he obeyed. Arin sighed. "I know the situation, but I never said I wouldn''te back." "Immediately it''s time to give my support and information, I''ll be back," Arin added. ''What do I do?'' Thalos thought. ''This Kingdom needs the information he has, and he can easily decide not to give us if we anger him, and if he''s stubborn.'' ''We don''t even have an idea of what his Special Ability is,'' Thalos thought. ''There''s a good chance that he has a strong Special Ability that''ll be helpful to us in this iing war.'' At this point, Thalos was overwhelmed, and confused. ''Since I became the King, I''ve never felt so confused and out of options before.'' Mirael could sense his uneasiness and she rubbed his back, making him look at her. "Take it easy..." She whispered as he nodded his head. Suddenly, Liora''s voice was heard. "I have an idea..." Chapter 111 Lioras Plan & Oath "I have an idea..." Instantly, they all turned to look at Liora, who had her arms folded. "Let''s hear it," Thalos said. Arin sat down, ready to hear what Liora had to say. "He can go back to the Human Realm," she began, "and like he said,e back when it''s time to support and give us information." "But I know that the main reason for our reluctance is because we think there''s a chance he might note back," she added. "True," Darius said. "So, what is your n?" Vaelric asked, making Liora re at him sharply. "We''ll send someone along with him," Liora said. "I''ll exin," she added before anyone could ask any questions. "We have no way of knowing if he''ll disappear without a trace once he gets to the Human Realm," Liora said. "I mean, it''s possible¡ªafter all, he''s a Progenitor." She paused for a moment before continuing. "So instead, we''ll send someone along with him who''ll just be by his side, making sure we know that he hasn''t disappeared. You understand what I mean?" Liora said. "And Arin," she added, "don''t get me wrong. This isn''t a way to watch you or invade your privacy. The person will just be there to make sure you''re present¡ªnot to watch or interrupt your daily life."@@novelbin@@ "I see..." Arin muttered. "Agreeing to this will also make it clear that you don''t intend to ditch us and that you''ll be here when we need you," Liora said. Arin had a thoughtful expression on his face. ''I can actually agree to this, as long as the so-called person doesn''t interrupt my business.'' "Master, I can sense it... You have a n, right?" Seraphine asked. Arin managed to hold back a smirk. ''Yes... I''ll agree to this, after all, these people seem to underestimate my maniption skills.'' "As for the Academy there," Liora continued, "there''s a way for the person to be there too." Thalos furrowed his brows. "Do you mean...?" "Yes, King Thalos," Liora said. Arin squinted his eyes, staring at Liora. ''What does she mean?'' Darius nced at Liora. "If you mean that Artifact, I don''t think any of us would oppose it. After all, it''s been sitting there for ages without anyone using it." "What Artifact are you talking about?" Arin asked. He already knew what Artifacts were because the novel mentioned them. Artifacts were special objects imbued with the Special Blood of the "Founding Vampires." Most of the Artifacts were still yet to be seen, but the ones that had been found each had a different use. "You''ll see its use when we bring it," Liora said. "Hmm, it really has just been sitting there," Thalos murmured. Liora continued with her n. "So when it''s time to support, both you and the person will return here." Arin nodded. "Sounds okay to me." "That''s a good n," Thalos said. "Does anyone object?" Vaelric gritted his teeth. ''Once again... There''s nothing I can say to counter this.'' "Okay, it''s decided," Thalos said. "Now, who''ll follow him?" "I think I know the perfect person for this," Liora said. Serak''s eyes were fixed on Liora with a cheeky grin on his face. ''What exactly is she trying to do...?'' Minutester, a guard walked in, holding a white cloth that looked like a handkerchief. He handed the cloth over to Thalos before bowing and leaving. "King Thalos," Darius called, "do you still give some of your daughters Artifacts to keep for you?" "Yes," Thalos said. "That''s because I trust them." Darius nodded as he continued stroking his beard. Not long after the guard left, Liora, who had gone out to get the person a few minutes ago, walked into the throne room with a girl following behind her. Arin''s eyes lingered on the girl who had just entered with Liora. ''Of course, what did I expect? I''m in the Vampire Kingdom, so everyone here is bound to be beautiful.'' The girl had blue hair just like Liora. However, her hair was tied in buns on either side, with strands falling over her forehead. She had long eyshes, and her red eyes were calm as she walked into the throne room. Her battle skirt wasn''t too short, but it was short enough to reveal her smooth legs and a small part of her thighs. As soon as she entered, she lowered her head and spoke. "I greet the King and the Queen, and all the Progenitors." The Progenitors nodded their heads as the King spoke, "Raise your head and introduce yourself." She raised her head and, asmanded by Thalos, instantly introduced herself. "My name is Roxanne. I am Lord Liora''s student." "No surname, huh?" Serak whispered. "No," Liora immediately replied. "Have you told her about it?" Thalos asked Liora. "Yes," she replied. "I exined everything while we wereing here." Thalos nodded and nced at the handkerchief-like cloth, which was positioned in a way that clearly indicated it was used to wrap something. He unwrapped it, revealing a red-colored ring with a red gem on it. Thalos nced at Arin before speaking. "This Artifact will enable her to transform into any object of her choice after transferring a bit of Blood Energy into it." "You could say it''s the weakest Artifact we currently have," Thalos added. "I believe we also have to include an oath," Vaelric suddenly said. "Can''t argue with that," Darius said. "True," Thalos said as he nced at Arin. "It''s nothing serious." Arin understood the concept of oaths, but he didn''t know Vampires did this. Thalos looked at Roxanne before speaking. "Go on." Roxanne nodded and walked to the middle of the throne room. Instantly, she stretched out her right hand and began moving Blood Energy around her body, especially focusing it on the thumb of her outstretched hand. Arin had a general understanding of what was going on, so he followed suit. "So here are the rules," Liora said as she began exining the details of the oath. Secondster, she finished exining everything. First, Arin would not try to harm Roxanne and would not try to break the vials that Serak had given her, which would enable them to return to the Vampire Realm. As for Roxanne, she would not intrude on his personal life or privacy and would just do what she was sent to do. With that, Roxanne pricked her thumb, making her blood drop onto the floor. Arin did the same, and their blood pooled together on the same spot. Suddenly, a red glow appeared where their blood had dropped. Roxanne immediately felt as though a chain had wrapped around her chest before the sensation disappeared. "You''ve gotten the feeling of a chain wrapping around your chest, right?" Seraphine asked. "Nope," Arin said to Seraphine in his mind. "I didn''t feel anything." "What?!" Seraphine eximed. Before Arin could say anything else, Thalos spoke. "Sessful," he said. "We can now be at ease." Arin smiled. ''It''s time to go back...'' Chapter 113 Just play along Arin gazed outside, noticing that the sun was already rising. He had just finished his conversation with Roxanne, who was also looking out the window. "A genius, huh?" Arin whispered to himself. "Master," Seraphine suddenly spoke up. "I''ve been meaning to ask you something for a while." Arin furrowed his brows. "Knowing you, it must be something annoying." "No, no," Seraphine quickly said. "It''s nothing annoying. I''m serious." Arin sighed. "Okay, go on." "After that battle against Alex in the forest," she began, "I''ve been thinking¡­ Wouldn''t it be good if I also trained to improve my skills?" Arin raised a brow but remained silent, allowing her to continue. "I mean, if I take my physical form, I can practice for that short amount of time," she exined. "If I keep at it, I''ll definitely get stronger over time." Arin didn''t see anything wrong with her logic. In fact, it would benefit him in the long run. "Ah, you finally said something reasonable for the first time in a while," Arin remarked. "Master¡­" Seraphine muttered. "That''s harsh!" Arin ignored herint and got up, stretching slightly before heading toward the toilet. "Alright, that makes sense. You''ll start today." Seraphine''s eyes brightened. "I''ll leave you here while I go to ss," Arin added. "When the time pses, you''ll return." Roxanne remained silent, still gazing out the window. As Arin entered the toilet, she smiled faintly, her expression calm yet thoughtful. ''I hope you''re doing the right thing, Lord Liora¡­'' ********** The Academy grounds buzzed with life, the chatter of students mixing with the steady sound of footsteps. Arin stepped out from the toilet, adjusting his uniform. His eyes fell on Roxanne, who was still looking outside. However, something was different this time. Her mouth was slightly open, her eyes wide with wonder as she stared at the multitude of students walking about. "Roxanne¡­" Arin called as he adjusted his sleeve. She flinched slightly at his sudden call, quickly turning to face him. "Oh, I''m sorry," she said. "I spaced out for a moment." "It''s fine," Arin replied. "But I thought a sight like this would be normal for you." Considering what Seraphine had told him about the Vampire Kingdom''s Academy, he found it odd that Roxanne looked so fascinated. "The thing is¡­" She lowered her head slightly before continuing. "I never attended the Academy in the Vampire Kingdom." "Oh¡­" Arin murmured. "That''s surprising," Seraphine said. "There must be a good reason for that." "After Lord Liora took me as her student, she decided to teach me everything herself," Roxanne exined. "She never allowed me to attend the Academy." Arin squinted his eyes. "Did she ever tell you why?" Roxanne shook her head. "No, but I obeyed her nheless. I trust that she had a good reason." "That''s strange," Seraphine said. "Even some of the few Vampires who are lucky enough to be students of a Progenitor still attend the Academy." Her words made Arin think of something. "What happens if a Vampire bes the student of a Progenitor?" he asked. "Hm, the Progenitor teaches them about Blood Energy," Seraphine began. "The Academy also teaches it, but learning from a Progenitor allows the student to grasp it much faster. Any Blood Skill they learn directly from the Progenitor will be stronger than what they would learn at the Academy." Arin assumed she was done and was about to speak, but she suddenly continued. "But apart from that, the major thing is that if a Progenitor picks a student, they will also teach them their Special Ability." "Huh?" Arin muttered, surprised. "Then that means Progenitors won''t just choose any Vampire as their student." "There must be a certain criteria," he added. "Maybe the criteria is just being a genius like Roxanne," Seraphine said. "Hmm, maybe." Roxanne had returned her gaze to the students, a small smile forming on her lips. "They all look so happy¡­" she murmured. "It must be a wonderful experience." Arin scoffed. "I''m done. It''s time to go." Roxanne nodded and imbued her Blood Energy into the ring. Instantly, it glowed brightly. As the light dimmed, a ck bracelet remained where Roxanne had stood. Arin picked it up and slipped it onto his wrist. He already understood how this particr Artifact worked¡ªRoxanne could now observe his surroundings, but she wouldn''t be able tomunicate with him. After securing the bracelet, he opened a drawer, pulling out a certain paper. His eyes skimmed the list of important dates he had written. "Three days from now, huh?" Arin murmured. "I think it''s time to confront him." Quickly, he released Seraphine, who materialized in front of him. Arin shot her a sharp look. "Practice, just like you said. And don''t even think about doing anything stupid like leaving the room." Seraphine put a hand on her chest and nodded. "Understood, Master." Arin gave her a final nce before walking out the door. As he stepped into the hallway, he heard her voice behind him. "Bye! I''ll be right back in your head!" "Tch¡­" Descending the stairs with his hands in his pockets, Arin stepped outside the dormitory building. The moment he looked up, his eyes locked onto someone he definitely didn''t expect to see. Riya was standing nearby, her gaze fixed on him, a small smile on her face. Something about the look in her eyes made Arin suspicious. ''Why do I feel like she''s here because of me?'' Neither of them moved at first. They just stood there, silently staring at each other.@@novelbin@@ Then, suddenly, Riya began walking toward him. Arin remained still, waiting for her to reach him. Finally, she stopped in front of him, her smile still present. "Good morning, Arin Vale." Arin met her gaze calmly. "Good morning, Miss Riya." For a brief moment, Riya''s expression changed¡ªher brows furrowed slightly as if she had noticed something. "What''s with the sour expression?" she asked. "Oh," Arin let out a forcedugh as he rubbed the back of his head. "It''s nothing." Riya smiled again. "If you say so." Turning away, she began walking toward the main Academy building. However, just as she began walking away, Arin caught something she whispered under her breath. "Just y along¡­" Arin''s eyes widened slightly. ''Huh?'' Chapter 116 Meeting Leon & Two Battles "I think it''s time to meet Leon," Arin murmured as he began walking back to the main Academy building. On the way, he told Seraphine what Riya did and about the girl who smirked at him. She was still training in his room when those things happened, so she wasn''t aware. "The look in Riya''s eyes when she stared at you was suspicious, huh?" Seraphine whispered. "This just confirms two things," she added. "What?" Arin asked as he reached the building and began heading towards the hallway. "Firstly," Seraphine began, "she surely knows something. And this excuse she gave your sister and ssmates was helpful. If not, you would have been getting thoroughly questioned right now." "But," Seraphine continued, "we don''t know why she helped you. We don''t know if there''s a hidden motive behind it or if she''s doing it to gain something." "Hmm," Arin murmured as he furrowed his brows. "That''s true." "That''s why I have to confront her," Arin said. "I have to know what''s going on." "And when confronting her, I''ll prepare for the worst," he added. "Agreed," Seraphine said. "And secondly?" He asked. "Secondly," Seraphine began. "The way you exined the look in her eyes confirmed something. The first time, it was almost as if she wanted to kiss you, then in the Vampire Kingdom, Liora kissed you, and now, she looked at you seductively." "It has been confirmed... Older women are into you!" Arin''s eyebrows twitched in anger as he gritted his teeth. "Shut up!" Arin finally reached the hallway, and as expected, Leon was there, trying his best to talk to girls even though they were ignoring him. Immediately, Arin reached where Leon was, grabbed his shoulder, and pulled him closer. "Whaaa!" Leon was taken by surprise, but then, Arin whispered into his ear. "I have an offer for you." "Offer?" Leon asked. "What kind of offer?" Thankfully, Leon wasn''t shouting this time, so others weren''t hearing what they were saying. "If you''re interested, meet me at the mission hall three days from now," Arin said. "If you forget, you''ll miss the opportunity." ''Please, let your dumbness show itself here,'' Arin thought. "Hmm," Leon muttered. "I have just one question." "What?" Arin asked, unable to see Leon''s facial expression because he was whispering in his ear. "Will this offer make me get some girls?" Leon asked. Arin smirked. "Of course. It''s even one of the main reasons why I decided to tell you about this offer. I see you''re trying your best, and I have something that can help, so of course I''ll help." "Hahahaha!" Leonughed out loud, startling the students who were still in the hallway. "I knew I would find my brother one day!" "Since you could sense my struggle and have decided to help me, you are indeed my brother!" Leon added.@@novelbin@@ Arin smiled wryly as he let go of Leon''s shoulder. "Keep it down, you don''t want others to find out about it, do you?" Leon''s eyes widened as he looked around, checking if anyone was listening. "Of course not." Arin sighed as he tapped Leon''s shoulder. "Don''t forget." "Understood..." Leon whispered, trying to be quiet as much as possible. Arin nodded before walking out of the main Academy building. "That boy will certainly not tell anybody," Seraphine said. "He won''t let such a chance slip." "I know," Arin said as a smirk formed on his face. "In three days from now, we''ll acquire the Shadow Seed." ''I have toplete the new Water Element Spell I''m making,'' Arin thought. ''And I also have to find a way to create a Chaos Element Spell and understand the Element more.'' He remembered what the system said about the Chaos Element being the Major Weakness of the Three Supreme Races. He needed to know more about it. ''But how?'' Arin thought. ''I''ll figure something out... Definitely.'' ''I should also consider making my own Chaos Element Spell,'' Arin thought. ''But I''ll really need to understand the Element for that.'' Arin reached the dorm building and climbed the stairs before entering his room. With a sigh, he removed the bracelet and dropped it on the floor. Instantly, a glow appeared from the bracelet, and it was no longer there. Instead, Roxanne was now standing on the same spot. She lowered her head before speaking. "Greetings, Lord Arin." Arin nodded his head in response as she raised her head. ''I hope things don''t get boring for her,'' he thought. Arin stared at her before speaking. "My eyes will be closed for a while, but don''t worry, I''m fine." Roxanne was slightly confused, but she still replied. "Understood." With that, Arin sat down on the floor in a lotus position. ''Three days from now, I''m confident that there''s going to be two battles,'' he thought. ''And I must be prepared for both. After all, one of them will be against Alex...'' Arin knew that he was still not strong enough to defeat Alex, but he had a n, one that would leave Alex confused. ''Even with that n, I might still not defeat him, but I''ll use it to know if I''m actually getting closer to defeating him.'' After sitting in a lotus position, Arin closed his eyes, and he instantly concentrated. Roxanne stared at him for some seconds with a smile on her face before she walked towards the window, observing the students who were still walking about. Meanwhile, Arin began moving his Mana around his body while drowning out all the noise around him. Seconds passed by as his concentration deepened, while increasing the speed at which he was moving his Mana. And then, finally... WHOOSH! Arin opened his eyes and found himself in the familiar endless space that stretched out as far as the eyes could see. The blue mist, which was actually Mana, was present, and the clouds in the sky were moving slowly. The space was bright even though the source of light was unknown. Arin got up, standing on the familiar ocean-like surface that showed his reflection. Even though he was standing on water, he didn''t sink. He sat down in a lotus position again, sending ripples on the water. "Good," Arin said as he squinted his eyes. "I mustplete this Spell today." Chapter 119 Meeting Riya (2) After talking with Riya for a while, he found out other things. Apparently, the Great One had told her to work with Arin and listen to him, which begged the question¡ªwas he perhaps chosen by this Great One? But how? And why? He didn''t know the answer to those questions because the Great One only told Riya to listen to him but didn''t exin why or even what his goal was. She had only agreed because he showed her the truth about the death of her mother and brother and because he said there would be hope if she listened to Arin. ''I''m very sure that whatever this Great One is doing, it is certainly rted to Alex.'' The Great One had also beenmunicating with Riya. That was how she found out when he was going to fight Alex in the forest and warned him to be careful. That was also how she discovered that, for some reason, Arin wasn''t in the Human Realm, prompting her to make an excuse for the students, Lina, and Tessa. Arin also realized that she didn''t know he had gone to the Vampire Realm or that he was a vampire. She had looked suspicious and even asked him where he went, but he changed the topic, making it clear that he didn''t want to talk about it. The item the Great One had given her was also the same mask and cloak he received as a reward from the system, further reinforcing his suspicion that this Great One had something to do with the system. He also learned that ''Great One'' wasn''t this person''s real name, and even Riya didn''t know what it was. ''No wonder it''s not visible on the screen,'' Arin thought. ''His real name is still hidden.'' ''But for what purpose?'' Arin let out a sigh, tapping his fingers on the table. "That''s a lot of information¡­" Riya smiled. "But I''m sure most things are cleared up now." Arin nodded. "That''s true." At least he was no longer confused about Riya, and his suspicions of her had also lessened. He had also gotten a bit of information about the unreadable name he had always been curious about¡ªand still was. "I always pointed you out in ss and even asked you to repeat thest thing I said. And I did that more than once," Riya said. "I hope you won''t hold that against me." "That sure was annoying," Arin admitted. "But I''m not holding anything against you." "Thank you," Riya said with a smile. "ss is about to begin. It''s time to go," she added. Arin nodded and stood up but noticed a paper on the table that stood out from the rest because of the long list of items written on it.@@novelbin@@ He decided not to ask about it, but Riya noticed that he was staring at the paper. "It''s a list of items needed for the joint ceremony," she said. "It was supposed to take ce two weeks from now, but the Academy decided to move it back to three days from now." Arin knew what the joint ceremony was. It was an event where both first-year and second-year students would gather in a hall and have fun together. It was a formal event, so students were expected to dress ordingly. The curfew would likely be canceled that day since the event would take ce at night. "But why was it moved up?" Arin asked curiously. "I have no idea," Riya replied. "For some reason, the Academy has been shifting events. They also did it for the expedition." Arin had a thoughtful expression after hearing what Riya said. "But I don''t think it''s anything serious," Riya continued. "They might just be trying to change the pattern of events." "Though," she added, "I still won''t overlook it." Arin nodded, deciding to discard the thought for now. He would still keep an eye out for anything unusual at the Academy. As they were both about to leave the office, Arin suddenly nced at the bracelet on his wrist. "Wait," he said, stopping Riya before she could walk out. She turned around to face him. "I have a request," Arin said. "I don''t know if it''ll be possible." Riya smiled, staring at Arin. "Tell me¡­" --- Riya and Arin walked out of the office, and Riya closed the door before they descended the stairs and exited the building. As they were walking, Riya suddenly cleared her throat, gaining Arin''s attention. "There''s been this rumor spreading around that I''m twenty-seven years old," Riya said. ''Why is she suddenly talking about her age?'' Arin thought. "Is it true?" he asked, not wanting it to seem like he wasn''t listening. "Of course not," Riya said. "I''m twenty-one years old." Arin nced at her. ''Who the hell would think she''s twenty-seven? She clearly looks twenty-one.'' But then, he suddenly realized that he had initially thought she was in herte twenties. ''Was it my imagination?'' They reached the main building and entered the ssroom together. As soon as Riya stepped in, all the students quickly sat down. The ss went smoothly before it ended. Riya also made an announcement about the joint ceremony, and as expected, the students couldn''t contain their excitement. Before they left, Riya told Arin that if any issue arose or if the Great One told her anything, she would let him know. After that, the Weapon Training ss was held, and it also ended without any problems. Arin walked out of the main Academy building before ncing toward the forest. ''I have to meet Tessa today.'' He saw her leaving the building, so he was sure she must have gone there by now. With that, he began walking toward the forest, and as usual, he wore his mask before arriving. He entered the forest, and after walking a short distance in, he saw her standing with her arms folded and a calm look on her face. "Tessa¡­" Arin called out, making her turn around instantly. The moment she saw that it was Chaos, a small smile unknowingly formed on her face. Chapter 123 Two Days Later With a thought, Arin exited the Mana Space as his eyes snapped open. He exhaled lightly, feeling the shift between dimensions as he adjusted back to reality. His gaze flickered to Roxanne, who was still staring outside through the window. Her smile remained unfading, but now, it was even wider than before. Pushing himself up from the floor, Arin sat on the bed, his mind already returning to the Shadow Portal. ''If I remember correctly, it appeared a little before sunset,'' Arin thought, his fingers lightly tapping against his thigh. ''And it stayed for about thirty minutes before disappearing.'' As if sensing he had returned, Roxanne turned away from the window and looked at him. The moment her eyes met his, she spoke. "Wee back, Master." Arin blinked. "Oh, yes... Thank you," he replied, still partially lost in thought. Leaning forward, he ced his finger on his chin, contemting his next move. ''I should be able to do everything before curfew.'' In the novel, when the Shadow Portal appeared, Alex hadn''t sensed it. However, the moment the Shadows emerged, he picked up on their presence and rushed to the forest. The Nightmare Shadow had managed to escape due to its ''form,'' but that wasn''t the case for the Shadow General. When Alex finally defeated the Shadow General in the forest, he was praised as usual. The Academy buildings had remained intact since the battle had taken ce in the forest. ''The novel mentioned that Alex didn''t know about the Shadow Seed and missed the opportunity to obtain it because the battle happened outside the Portal, not inside,'' Arin recalled. His eyes narrowed. ''Though, the novel mentioning the Shadow Seed despite Alex not obtaining it means he''ll surely get itter. Otherwise, there wouldn''t have been a need to mention it at all.'' ''That aside, if I go into the Shadow Portal, I''ll be killing two birds with one stone.'' A smirk formed on Arin''s lips as he squinted his eyes slightly. ''Two days from now isn''t far¡­'' ********** Two days passed in the blink of an eye, though they were mostly uneventful. Arin had spent the time honing his control over his Blood Energy and Chaos Element Mana. He had decided that before attempting to create a Spell again, he needed to refine his mastery over Chaos Mana first. As he continued training, he couldn''t help but wonder how long it would take him to reach the Vampire Noble Rank. The progress was steady, but patience was required. As for Riya, there hadn''t been much interaction between them since hest visited her office. However, the frequency of her smiles at him had increased. At the very least, she no longer called his name whenever he spaced out in ss. That was a relief. Now, he could zone out in peace. He had also reminded Leon about their meeting and the offer. Not that Leon seemed to need the reminder¡ªevery time they made eye contact, he shed Arin a knowing grin. Now, as Arin walked towards the Mission Hall, where he had arranged to meet Leon, he muttered under his breath, "He should be there already." The new girl in his ss¡ªthe one who had smirked at him during her introduction¡ªhad been mostly absent from his view. He rarely lingered after ss, so there had been little opportunity to observe her. However, the one time they stood opposite each other in Weapon Training ss, she had given him a brief, almost teasing smile before looking away, further piquing his curiosity. ''I won''t approach her as long as she doesn''t try meddling in my business,'' Arin thought, his pace steady as he neared the Mission Hall. He also hadn''t seen Alex muchtely. Since the day he had tried to grab Arin, their paths had rarely crossed outside of ss.@@novelbin@@ ''Though, he seems to visit Principal Orion a lot these days,'' Arin mused. ''Not that it surprises me.'' As expected, he spotted Leon standing in front of the Mission Hall, grinning at the girls passing by. Something that wasn''t surprising. Arin raised a hand in greeting. The moment Leon saw him, his grin widened, and he rushed over. "Haha, you''re a little bitte," Leon teased, shing his usual yful smirk. "But I don''t care. Tell me about the offer." "Not here," Arin said simply. "Follow me." Leon pouted for a split second but quickly recovered. The moment Arin said to follow him, his face brightened up again, his excitement returning. "A good offer would certainly be top secret," Leon chuckled as he fell into step beside Arin. Arin shook his head with a wry smile, patting Leon on the back. "Keep it down, will you?" ''Riya and Seraphine are the only ones who know my identity as Arin and Chaos,'' he thought. ''But I guess there''s about to be a new addition to that list.'' They moved towards the forest, following the familiar path. It didn''t take long before Leon''s pace slowed, his jaw dropping slightly. The reason? Tessa. She stood with her arms crossed, watching them with an unreadable expression. Leon turned sharply to look at Arin, eyes wide. "D... Does this offer perhaps concern her?" "Yes," Arin answered inly. Leon''s reaction was instant. "Hahaha! This is a blessing!" he eximed, though his volume quickly dropped when Arin shot him a warning re. It was clear from his expression that he was practically on the verge of tears¡ªtears of joy. Tessa, unfazed by Leon''s outburst, stepped forward, her gaze shifting to Arin. "So, the only thing I need to do is keep him here until youe out, right?" Arin had already informed her of the n, so she wasn''t surprised to see Leon. "Yes," Arin confirmed. "And no one shoulde near where the Portal appears... Not that peoplee to the forest apart from us." This was one of the reasons Arin liked the forest. People didn''te here. They''d rather go to The Area. His sharp gaze scanned the surroundings. ''I don''t remember the exact spot where the Portal appeared, but I should be able to see it from here.'' Arin trusted his enhanced eyesight. He knew he wouldn''t miss it. Tessa''s expression softened slightly as she looked at him. "I know you''re strong, and you said the Shadow General won''t be much trouble, but still¡­ be careful, okay?" Arin met her gaze. "Hmm. Okay." Leon, who had been rtively quiet, suddenly spoke up, interrupting the eye contact between Arin and Tessa. "Maybe Tessa should tell me about the offer..." he suggested, grinning. "I''d like it if she talked to me directly." Arin almost chuckled. "Oh, she''ll be the one to tell you," he said, his toneced with amusement. Before the conversation could continue, Arin suddenly caught sight of something in his the corner of his vision. His eyes sharpened, and a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. "It''s here¡­ The Shadow Portal." Chapter 127 Meeting The King A carriage rolled in the street of the Capital City, heading towards a tall building in the distance. People walking in the street and even the ones selling items all stopped just to stare at the carriage. Well, it was to be expected, because with a nce, they could all tell that it was the type of carriage that could levitate, even though it was moving on the ground now. This was the Capital City of Ainsley Kingdom, so of course, it wasn''t like this was the first time they were seeing a carriage that can levitate. The thing drawing their attention the most was the insignia on the carriage. A man paused, staring at the carriage as it moved. "Isn''t that the insignia of the well-known Greenfield Academy?" Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire "Exactly! I thought I was seeing things for a while." "I''m very sure the students aren''t on holiday yet, so maybe it''s a teacher?"@@novelbin@@ "But still... What business would a teacher of the Academy have here? And moreover, if they took an Academy carriage, it must be serious." What even made the people of the Capital City more concerned was the fact that the carriage was moving towards the Castle. They had never seen an Academy carriage going to the Castle before. Though, since it didn''t look like there was any threat or emergency, they carried on with their activities. The carriage finally reached the Castle, stopping in front of therge gate. There were four guards stationed in front of the gate, two each on the right and left side. Immediately after the carriage stopped, a handsome boy with blue hair stepped out with a small smile on his face. He was wearing the Greenfield Academy''s uniform. He exchanged some words with the man who rode the carriage before walking towards the gate where the guards were present. Immediately as he reached the gate, one of the guards opened it before speaking, "The King is waiting for you in the throne room." Alex nodded his head as he nced at the other guards before walking inside. Thepound wasrge, as expected of a Castle. From where he stood, he could see the training grounds and some other smaller buildings that weren''t too far from the main Castle itself. His eyes darted towards the door of the main Castle, but before he could walk towards it, the door suddenly opened, and a maid walked out. She stopped a few distances away from Alex and lowered her head. "Please,e with me, Sir Alex." Alex nodded his head. He knew that she was sent by the King to lead him to the throne room. The maid turned back and began walking, with Alex following behind her. They both entered the Castle and took the stairs. Alex didn''t bother ncing at the luxurious things; it wasn''t like this was the first time he was seeing things like that. Finally, they reached a door, and without wasting time, the maid knocked on it. Just as quickly as she knocked, a man''s voice was heard from inside. "Come in." The maid opened the door and lowered her head again. "Sir Alex has arrived." Immediately after she said this, she turned back and left, leaving way for Alex to enter the throne room. The room wasrge, and just like the Vampire Kingdom, there were two thrones present. At the left and right sides of the room, there were luxurious chairs, and most of them were upied by individuals who wore luxurious clothes. From their dressing, one could guess that they were dukes or barons. Immediately after Alex entered the room, they all looked at him. Some had smiles on their faces, while the expressions of others were unreadable. "Wee, Alex!" A voice boomed in the throne room. It came from the man who was seated on one of the thrones. He wore royal attire, and a crown was seated on his head. He had short blonde hair and sharp blue eyes. From the look in his eyes and his posture, he radiated the authority of a King as he stared at Alex. Alex instantly lowered his head. "Greetings, Your Majesty." He paused for a second before he continued, "Greetings, great nobles." The nobles were yet to say anything ever since Alex entered the room. Some of them just nodded their heads in response to his greeting. A grin formed on the King''s face as he nced at the nobles. "We''ll continue this discussionter." His eyes darted back to Alex, whose head was still lowered, as he squinted his eyes. "For now, I have something to discuss with Alex..... In private." "Understood, My King," they all said in unison as they stood up and began leaving the throne room. Some of them nced at Alex as they walked past him. It was clear that there were a few of them who didn''t like him..... It was quite obvious. ''Ugh..... Damn nobles,'' Alex thought as he waited for all of them topletely leave the room. Finally, it was just him and the King. "Hahaha!" Rowan Ainsley, the King,ughed as he stared at Alex. "When Orion told me about the meeting, I was slightly surprised, but then, I realized that there are really things we need to talk about." Alex smiled. "Yes, and some of them are serious issues." "Hmm, I know," Rowan said, his expression slowly turning serious. "Just know that the time ising when this Kingdom will really need you more than ever." "Of course," Alex said. "I know that. And I''ll be more than ready to defend this Kingdom with my life." Rowan smiled. "I believe you." Alex nced at the second throne that was empty. ''She''s not around, huh? That''s even better. She doesn''t seem to like me around, and I don''t like her either. She annoys me.'' He diverted his attention back to the King. "So, what is the issue, Alex?" Rowan asked. Alex''s expression turned serious as he stared at the King. "Like you already know, it''s about the Vampires." "After thest war, they disappeared for two years, but now, I''vee in contact with three of them in such a short timeframe." Alex furrowed his brows. "I can feel it... Another war ising..." Chapter 129 Convincing Leon All humans have weaknesses, and when some realize this, they find out what their weakness is and try to handle it so that it doesn''t lead to their downfall. But some are either unable to know their weakness or know it but just can''t control it. The former was the case for Leon. Arin was sure that he didn''t even realize how far he would go just to get girls. This put Arin at an advantage because Leon was the only one he knew who could take the Shadow Seed. The effects of the Shadow Seed only worked on someone who naturally had a low amount of Mana, and Leon was the only one Arin knew who met the requirement. Together with his weaknesses, Arin already knew that getting Leon to take the Shadow Seed wouldn''t really be a hard thing to do. He just needed to y his cards right. ******** Leon stared at the vial containing the seed as he processed what Arin just said. "Give me all those qualities?" he murmured as he squinted his eyes. "Yes, Leon," Arin said. A slight frown appeared on Leon''s face. "I don''t understand... So you''re saying I should take this thing?" Arin stared at Leon. ''This might be harder than I thought...'' "Yes," Arin replied. "And just like I said, you''ll get what you want." Leon''s eyes never left the vial, still observing it as if it would disappear if he took his eyes off it. The frown on his face was also still present. Tessa could sense Leon''s uncertainty as she stared at him. She folded her arms as she walked towards him. Leon''s eyes instantly darted towards her. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire She was now standing directly in front of him, looking at him straight in the eyes. "Leon," she began, her voice calm as she gave him a sweet smile, "I know you''re confused, but it''ll all make sense." Arin watched Tessa, waiting to hear what she would say. Tessa continued. "Just think of this as an amazing cult that does amazing things." Arin tilted his head, staring at Tessa immediately after he heard what she said. ''Cult, huh? I guess you can put it that way.'' "C... Cult...?" Leon stuttered. The sound of that was somehow frightening to Leon, but at the same time,ing from Tessa, it became less frightening. Remembering the strangedy who came to tell her about Chaos''s training, Tessa decided to add something. "Yes, Leon," she said. "And we also have more female members, not just me..." Leon raised his brows the instant Tessa mentioned more female members. This was one of Leon''s weaknesses, and both Arin and Tessa knew that. Arin raised a brow, staring at Tessa. ''She''s surprisingly good at this.'' For now, he decided to let her do the talking, to see if she would be able to convince Leon to voluntarily take the Shadow Seed. But if that didn''t work, then he had a n B. ''If talking doesn''t work, I''ll just shove the seed into his mouth,'' Arin thought. "Y... You mean you aren''t the only girl in this... err... cult?" Leon asked Tessa. "No," she replied. "There are others, and they''re all hoping you join." From what Arin was seeing, it turns out Tessa was on her way to bing a pro liar like him. ''I''m still the best, though.'' The expression on Leon''s face was slowly changing, turning from uncertainty to thoughtfulness. He stared at the vial again and nced at Tessa. "If I take this seed-like thing," he began, squinting his eyes, "it''ll give me those wonderful qualities, right? But how would it affect me?" He asked this question because he had a feeling that those qualities wouldn''t juste for free without something like a bacsh. Arin walked forward. "The only bacsh is that you won''t need to eat anymore because you won''t be able to taste food, and secondly, you won''t sleep anymore. You can be awake all the time without getting tired." Leon frowned slightly after hearing the first one. ''Won''t be able to taste food...'' He didn''t see the second one as too much of a problem. In fact, it was something he liked, but the first one... Tessa walked closer to him and ced her hand on his shoulder, rubbing it. They both stared at each other straight in the eyes before Tessa spoke. "If you take it, you''ll be helping me so much, and I won''t even know how to thank you enough for that." ''Ugh... This is so tempting,'' Leon thought, confused. ''I have so much to gain, but the food part...'' Seeing the beautiful way Tessa was staring at him, he couldn''t resist it anymore. "Okay, fine," he said, "I''ll take it..." Tessa smiled excitedly. "Yes! Thank you so much, Leon." Leon instantly looked at Arin. "Though, how can I be sure that the seed will actually give me those qual¡ª" Before Leon could finish talking, Arin suddenly disappeared from his sight, and in the blink of an eye, Arin appeared in front of him. The next moment, Leon suddenly felt something entering his mouth, followed by a slight pain in his chest. Everything happened so fast that he didn''t know how to react. Even Tessa was shocked by the way Arin suddenly shoved the seed into Leon''s mouth. Tessa stared at Arin with confusion written on her face. Arin sighed. "He already agreed to take it, so..." Arin knew that Leon was about to ask how sure he could be that the seed would actually give him all those qualities, but he didn''t have the time to start proving all that to him. Moreover, the novel only mentioned the effects of the seed, so since no one actually took it, there was no way he could transfer any sort of image to Leon''s head. Tessa just shrugged as her eyes darted to Leon, who was shaking uncontrobly. Instantly, he fell to the ground, still shaking. Without wasting time, Arin crouched and gripped his body, reducing the way he was shaking. "So what now?" Tessa asked, staring at Leon. "Just wait," Arin said, his voice calm. Leon continued shaking for a few minutes before, finally, he stopped. Arin didn''t know how long or what would happen before the seed would finally settle, so he could only continue holding Leon to see what would happen next. ''Doing this in the Academy isn''t even such a good idea,'' Arin thought. But it was already done, so there was nothing he could do about it. Suddenly, ck smoke began oozing out of Leon''s nose and eyes. Immediately after Arin saw the smoke, he realized that it looked exactly like how the Nightmare Shadow was. Arin didn''t panic; he still continued holding Leon as the ck smoke increased. Though, it still wasn''t enough to spread out of their circle. Seeing the smoke, Tessa suddenly remembered something.@@novelbin@@ "That reminds me, Chaos," she began, "minutes before you came out from the Portal, a mass of ck smoke came out. Though, it dashed past me and Leon, almost as if it was running away." "The Nightmare Shadow," Arin murmured. "I even forgot to ask them about it." Tessa continued. "I got distracted by the seed you brought and the conversation with Leon, so I forgot to say it sooner." "It''s okay, Tessa," Arin said, watching Leon, who hadpletely stopped shaking, and the smoke was also reducing. "It''s the Nightmare Shadow, but don''t worry, I''ll tell you about it." Tessa nodded her head in response, drawing her attention back to Leon. Nothing was happening anymore, and even the ck smoke had stopped, but Arin still waited. Suddenly... WHOOSH! Dark energy, simr to the one that shrouded Valtor''s sword, burst out from Leon''s body, forming a barrier around him. Tessa shifted back a bit while Arin frowned slightly. Because of the barrier, they could no longer see Leon. Arin turned back to look at Tessa. "Did Alex perhaps tell you where he would be today?" Tessa was startled slightly by the sudden question, but she quickly replied. "Yes, he said he had a mission outside the Academy and won''t be back till evening." "He mentioned that he might not be back before curfew, but he already has a permit," she added. Arin sighed. ''That''s a relief.'' And he knew that the teachers had all gone home, so there was no threat that someone might sense the energy. Arin watched as the barrier began getting smaller, though, at a slow rate. ''At least, there''s still some time before curfew,'' Arin thought, ''so I''ll have time to teach him how to hide the Dark Energy.'' ''As for the abilities he''ll get, I don''tpletely know them, but I''m sure he''ll naturally know what he can do.'' Arin had already began plotting all the things he would do before curfew. His mind drifted to the Nightmare Shadow. ''I remember that it started acting up a day after the Ceremony.'' ''And well, tomorrow is the Ceremony...'' Chapter 131 What will it be? Tessa walked forward, staring at Leon. "It''s about Alex...." "Huh?" Leon muttered, slightly confused. "He''s not who everyone thinks he is," Tessa said. "He has done unthinkable things." A slight frown appeared on Leon''s face. "I know it might sound unreasonable now," Tessa continued, "but trust me, I have no reason to lie." "I still don''t get it," Leon said. "What unthinkable things are you talking about?" Tessa nced at Arin, who nodded his head and walked forward. He stopped directly in front of Leon before speaking, "I''ll show you something." Leon was still confused, but he nodded his head. With that, Arin ced his fingers on Leon''s forehead, and then..... ''Transfer.....'' Instantly, information flooded Leon''s head about what Alex did. They came in the form of images¡ªhow Alex killed Tessa''s parents and other individuals and how he used them to perform a ritual. Immediately after the information finished transferring to Leon, Arin withdrew his fingers and walked backward, giving Leon time to process the information. Secondster, Leon raised his head and opened his eyes, staring at Arin and Tessa. The silence continued for some seconds before Leon finally spoke. "How am I sure that all this is true?" "They are true, Leon," Tessa said. "Me being here is proof." Tessa exined to Leon how she wasn''t allowed to see the bodies of her parents and also about the dark smokeing from Alex''s body. "It was the same smoke you also sawing out from his body?" Leon asked with furrowed brows. "Yes," Tessa replied. "That was when I truly realized that he was really the one." Leon couldn''t help but think. ''If Tessa, who is in a rtionship with Alex, is saying with all confidence that Alex killed her parents and other individuals, then there''s a high chance that it''s true.'' "And Alex isn''t kind and caring like people think he is," Tessa said. "If I had tried asking him about it, there''s a very high chance that he''d silence me." A sharp look appeared in her eyes as she stared at Leon. "And you know how he would do that." Leon gulped immediately when he saw the look in Tessa''s eyes. Readtest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Arin was yet to say anything. He just watched as Tessa spoke. "Look, I know it''s hard to believe, especially with the image Alex has set for himself," Tessa said. "But in truth, I have no reason to just lie against him like that." "The only reason I stillugh and speak with him is to make sure he doesn''t suspect anything. After all, I don''t have the strength yet to really do anything against him," Tessa added. Leon thought about what Tessa said as he nced at Arin. "How were you able to get this information?" "It''s something I can do," Arin said. "I can get information about someone and transfer it, though it doesn''t work for everyone and also not every time." "I can show you something that''ll make you believe me if you want," Arin added. Leon squinted his eyes. "Okay, show me." Arin walked towards Leon and ced his fingers on his forehead. Immediately, information began transferring. Leon''s eyes widened in shock. The information was from a certain day before Leon transferred to the Academy¡ªwhen his father was screaming at him in their mansion. It came in the form of images, so Leon was able to see that it was the exact same clothes he wore and also the exact same clothes his father wore. Leon gasped. "Nobody knows about this except my brother..... H..... How?" "Now you believe me, right?" Arin asked. At this point, Leon didn''t have any other option but to believe Arin, especially after what he had just shown him. ''Thankfully, a bit of Leon''s past was written in the novel,'' Arin thought. Now, the chance of Leon believing them had increased drastically. Arin smiled as he stretched out his right hand. "So what will it be, Leon? Join me..." Leon stared at Arin''s outstretched hand, ready to make a decision. ********** "Another war, huh?" Rowan muttered as he ced his elbow on the armrest and rested his palm on his cheek. "Yes, my King," Alex replied. "I had already seen thising, but I don''t think it''s time to rush yet," Rowan said. "Currently, the students in all the Academies, both Mages and Warriors, are all being well taught." Alex nodded his head. "Yes, but I think the students should start getting hints that another war is approaching. And training for students should increase." Rowan raised a brow. "You have a point....." Alex nodded his head as he smiled. "Thank you, my King, but of course, you''ll be the one to give the final decision, and I''ll be ready to follow whatever you decide." Rowan smirked. "Hmm, talking about Academies, I think it''s time to do a cleansing..... Just in case." Alex knew what Rowan was talking about, so he didn''t bother to ask about it. "That aside," Rowan continued, "you should meet Elena.... She has been waiting for you." A smile instantly formed on Alex''s face as he lowered his head. "Understood, my King." He got up and began walking towards the door. "Alex..." Rowan suddenly called out, making Alex turn back to look at him. Rowan raised a brow as he grinned. "Remember your promise....." Alex smirked as he turned back and continued walking towards the door. "Don''t worry, King Rowan....."@@novelbin@@ Immediately after Alex exited the room, he met the same maid who had walked him to the throne room. She lowered her head before speaking. "Princess Elena is waiting." Alex nodded his head as he followed her to another door. She knocked twice before a girl''s voice was heard. "Come in." The maid bowed and left, leaving Alex in front of the room. Alex sighed before he opened the door and was greeted with a familiar sight. The room was big and had a king-sized bed. He looked forward as his gaze settled on the balcony of the room, where a girl was standing. Immediately after she saw Alex, she smiled. "I have been waiting for you, Alex," Elena said as she arranged her blonde hair. Alex walked forward with a smile, arriving at the balcony that overlooked part of the city. Immediately after he arrived, Elena hugged him tightly before whispering in his ear. "I missed you..... And just so you know, I''m already making ns for our wedding." Alex chuckled. "Wedding, huh? You sure are a fast nner...." Chapter 133 Lioras Special Ability Arin had an idea that Liora''s Special Ability was rted to copying, but he didn''t know that it was this broad. ''She can use all the Special Abilities of all the Progenitors?'' Arin thought. "But there''s a limitation," Roxanne suddenly said. Arin looked at her. "What is the limitation?" "The Special Abilities aren''t as powerful as the original owners''," Roxanne replied. "After copying the Special Ability, the strength of that Ability will be reduced, so they can still use their Special Ability to their fullest potential while she can only use it at a certain level of strength." "I see..." Arin said. He understood what she meant. "The more she masters her Special Ability, the stronger the Special Abilities she copied will be," Roxanne said. Arin nodded his head in understanding. ''Which means that if she further masters her Special Ability, then she''ll be even stronger,'' Arin thought. ''Because the Special Abilities she has copied will be stronger.'' It was slightly surprising that Roxanne was telling him the details of Liora''s Special Ability, but he didn''t even bother asking her about it. "Is there any other limitation?" Arin asked. "Yes," Roxanne replied. "There''s one more." "She can only use one copied Special Ability at a time," Roxanne said. "So if she''s using Lord Darius''s Special Ability, she won''t be able to use the Special Ability of any other Progenitor until she stops using Lord Darius''s Special Ability." "I get it....." Arin said. ''It would''ve been crazy if she was able to use all the Special Abilities of all the Progenitors at the same time,'' Arin thought. Arin suddenly realized something as he squinted his eyes, staring at Roxanne. "Does that mean...?" Roxanne smiled, already understanding what Arin wanted to ask. "Yes," she replied to the question Arin was about to ask. "Since I''m Lord Liora''s student, she has already taught me a lot of things, including her Special Ability." "So, I can also use the Special Abilities of all the Progenitors," she added. "Now that''s surprising," Arin muttered. What was surprising wasn''t the fact that she was also able to copy Special Abilities¡ªafter all, she was Liora''s student. Instead, it was the fact that she could also use the Special Abilities of all the Progenitors. And this led to Arin''s next question. "Did all the Progenitors just allow Liora to copy their Special Abilities?" Arin asked. "And how were you able to copy their Special Abilities?" Before Roxanne could start talking, Arin gestured for her toe sit on the bed. She lowered her head slightly before she walked towards the bed and sat down. "ording to Lord Liora, it took a while, but she eventually copied all their Special Abilities," Roxanne began. "It caused a major argument among the Progenitors, but in the end, they all realized something that made them allow her to copy their Special Abilities." Arin listened to Roxanne without interrupting. "They realized that if they didn''t allow her to copy their Special Abilities, then the Progenitors wouldn''t be equal," Roxanne said. "But if she copied all their Special Abilities, then they would all be on equal ground, without one being neglected," she added. "They also approved because of the respect between Progenitors and because they knew about the limitations of her Special Ability." ''Hmmm, fair enough,'' Arin thought. "Though," Roxanne continued, "like she told me, Vaelric was the only one who seemed dissatisfied with the decision." "Did she tell you a specific reason why he seemed dissatisfied?" Arin asked. "No," Roxanne replied. "As for me," she continued, "the other Progenitors do not know that I can use their Special Abilities." "They''ll kill you?" Arin asked as he nced at her. Roxanne chuckled. "There''s a very high probability of that happening." "I see..." Roxanne continued. "I was able to copy their Special Abilities in a....uhm, unpleasant way." A slight frown appeared on her face as she spoke, making Arin realize that it might actually be an unpleasant memory. "I copied their Special Abilities through their students," Roxanne said. "Each of them has at least three students who are able to use their Special Abilities." She furrowed her brows as she continued. "I had to....uhm.... I had to..." The words couldn''t seem toe out of her mouth, so Arin decided to help her. "Seduce?" he whispered. Roxanneughed nervously as she nced at Arin. "Err... Something like that." "Though, I just became close to them, and just like me and Lord Liora nned, they quickly fell in love with me, and that''s when I used the chance to copy the Special Abilities." ''Now that''s one hell of a method,'' Arin thought. "They''re not as experienced or observant as the Progenitors, so they didn''t even realize that I had already copied their Special Abilities," Roxanne said. Arin noticed that Roxanne was ncing at him, embarrassment clearly evident on her face. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire "I think she''s concerned about how you''ll look at her from now on," Seraphine said. "Because with what she just said, that means she has kissed three boys." Arin squinted his eyes. "To be honest, I really don''t care about that." "She didn''t do it for fun," he added. "She did it for a clear purpose, and she aplished what she wanted." He nced at Roxanne. "At least, you used that method to get what you wanted, right?" Immediately, Roxanne heard what Arin said, her eyes instantly lit up. "Yes, Lord Arin. I''m d you understand." Arin nodded his head. "And as for Lord Ss," Roxanne said, "Lord Liora copied his Special Ability without any of the other Progenitors objecting, and I was able to copy his Special Ability in secret." "In secret?" "Yes. Since he recently became a Progenitor and didn''t have any students, I had to copy it from him directly." Arin really wanted to know how that was possible, and thankfully, Roxanne was already giving the details. "After approval from the other Progenitors, Lord Liora took him to another room, and using Lord Serak''s Special Ability, I was able to teleport to that room." "Since his eyes were closed and he was frightened, he didn''t realize that I was in the room and had already copied his Special Ability," she added. Arin understood all that she said. Now, he had a detailed knowledge of Liora''s Special Ability, and even what Roxanne was able to do. And since Roxanne could use all the Special Abilities of the Progenitors, he would be able to know their Special Abilities through her. "Hmm, I understand," Arin said as he stood up. "Thank you." Without waiting for her reply, he walked into the bathroom and shut the door. "Oh, th...thank you, Lord Arin," Roxanne stammered. She was so flustered and surprised that Arin thanked her that she repliedte. She smiled, stood up, and began walking towards the window. ''Lord Liora..... You were right.''@@novelbin@@ A few minutester, Arin exited the bathroom. He nced at Roxanne, who was still staring outside even though the day was already getting dark. ''Even though she was unable to hide her Blood Energy, she would still have been able to walk in the daytime. After all, she has Ss''s Special Ability.'' Putting that at the back of his mind, he walked towards his drawer. ''I''m very sure there''s something formal here.'' Arin could tell through the memories of the original Arin. He remembered that formal clothes were among the ones he had brought with him to the Academy. "More like Mum forced the original Arin to bring them with him," Arin muttered. His mind drifted toward his family for a second, recalling their faces. "I''ll soon see them." For some reason¡ªmaybe due to the emotions of the original Arin¡ªwhen he thought about his family, he felt a certain kind of warmth inside¡­ a strange one. "I miss them..." Though Arin couldn''tpletely discard the fact that his family was crazy. "I just hope they''ve stopped their crazy behavior when Lina and I return home." And the day they would return home wasn''t far anymore. Arin searched the drawer, and within seconds, he found a suit and trousers. "Perfect..." He nced at the corner of the drawer where a pair of ck shoes was present. "Ah, at least I have something to wear." "Thankfully, you won''t have to attend the ceremony tomorrow in your school uniform... Hahaha!" "Tch..." Ariny down on the bed and brought out the strange orb he had taken from Valtor''s body from his inventory. The ck smoke was still swirling inside. "I still don''t know what this is," Arin muttered. "And I can''t even sense anything from it. But since it was taken from Valtor, there''s a high chance that the ck smoke inside is Dark Energy." Still getting no answer from the system about it, he decided to put it back inside his inventory. He had already achieved some things today, like the Shadow Seed, which gave him a new ally. "Now that I remember, the system mentioned Leon''s new race," Arin muttered as he opened the system screen to check it. Tomorrow would also be a busy day since it was the day of the ceremony... Chapter 135 Roxannes Suspicious Trust A few minutes after Arin left her office, Riya finished arranging her books and stood up, ready to leave, but someone suddenly knocked on the door. She squinted her eyes before speaking. "Come in." The door opened, revealing Ben, the white-haired teacher she had a small fight with in the expedition. He entered the office and stared at Riya with his hands behind his back. "What do you want?" Riya asked, her expression sharp. "It won''t hurt to calm down, you know?" Ben said with a small smile. Riya frowned. "If you don''t have anything to say, please leave my office." "Oh, don''t worry, I won''t take long," Ben said. Riya just stared at him without saying anything. "I know you''ll be informedter," Ben began, "but I decided to still inform you personally." Riya furrowed her brows, but she still didn''t say anything. "Principal Orion and the Assistant Principal have decided that all the teachers will have a meeting tomorrow," Ben said. "And a lot of things will be discussed." Riya smiled. "Thank you for the information." Ben nodded his head as he turned back, ready to leave. Suddenly, he stopped and turned his head with a smirk. "Just so you know, a lot of things about you will be discussed in that meeting... especially your actions in that expedition." Benughed as he walked out of the office. Riya sighed. "I had already seen thising..." ******* Arin walked out of the Weapon Training ss, with Riya''s office as his destination. sses went smoothly as usual, except for Tessa asionally stealing nces at him. Thankfully, Leon didn''t stare at him, because Arin knew that if Leon stared at him, it would make Tessa even more suspicious. "Leon''s physical capabilities definitely increased," Seraphine said. "I noticed it too," Arin said. "Well, he''s no longer a human, so..." Leon''s case was just simr to Arin''s case. As a Vampire, even though his Blood Energy was hidden, he still had the naturally increased capabilities of a Vampire. It was also like that for Leon. As a Shadow Lord, he now had naturally increased capabilities. Though it wasn''t obvious, Arin noticed it in the Weapon Training ss. He finally exited the main Academy building, and just as he turned, ready to head toward the building for teachers, he saw Lina waving at him. A smile formed on his face as he waved back while waiting for her because she was already running toward him. She smiled widely as soon as she reached him. "Ugh... Arin! Why does it feel like I haven''t seen you in a year?" Arinughed. "I can''t answer that..." Lina pouted a bit before her smile returned. "How are you preparing for the ceremony tonight?" "I don''t need to ask you if you have what to wear because I remember Mum forcing you to take your suits and trousers along with you... Hahaha!" "I''ll have to thank her for that," Arin said as both of them began walking. "If not, I wouldn''t have anything to wear except my uniform." Lina''s eyes widened slightly. "That would have certainly made you popr in the Academy... The first student to ever wear the Academy uniform to the ceremony." Both Arin and Lina chuckled. They kept talking for a while before Lina finally left. With that, Arin instantly found his way to the building before reaching Riya''s office. "Come in." Arin opened the door, entering the office. They only smiled at each other before Arin dropped the bracelet on the floor, and it glowed, revealing Roxanne. Arin closed his eyes, exhaled, and opened his eyes before he began speaking to Roxanne, whose expression had turned to confusion again. "Like I told you before, we''ll brief you on what''s going on, but I''ll leave it to her," Arin said, pointing at Riya. Roxanne nced at Riya, who was still smiling, before looking at Arin again. From what Arin just said, she realized something. "Does this mean you intend to leave me here with her to exin some things to me?" Roxanne asked. Arin nodded his head. "Yes, once she''s done, we''ll meet again." Roxanne blinked. "But you know about the..." Roxanne didn''t finish what she wanted to say, but Arin understood. ''Shit... I forgot about the oath,'' Arin thought, but before he could say anything, Roxanne suddenly spoke. "Don''t worry," she said, smiling. "I trust you, so out of my own free will, I can decide to stay here." "Hmm, if she''s the one deciding to stay here by herself without you being present, then the oath won''t be broken," Seraphine said. "Oh..." Arin stared at Roxanne. ''I still don''t get it... Why does she trust me...? Why do I have this feeling that something is going on?'' "You said once she finishes exining some things to me, then we''ll meet again today, right?" Roxanne asked. "Yes, that''s it," Arin replied.@@novelbin@@ Roxanne smiled. "I''m okay with that..." Arin nodded his head. "Okay, then... I''ll see youter." Roxanne lowered her head in response. Arin and Riya nodded at each other before Arin left the office. Riya smiled at Roxanne. "I respect the trust you have for him." "I''m d he has such an amazing friend..." Roxanne smiled back. "Thank you." Arin descended the stairs, heading outside the building. ''That went well...'' Within minutes, he had already reached the male dorm building and entered his room. The day was still bright, so it wasn''t yet time for the ceremony. Through the window, he could see a high number of students buying different things from the shops in the Academy, especially the girls. Most of them were buying jewelry, and he even saw a boy holding a newly purchased suit. "They don''t normally sell things like this in the Academy," Arin muttered. "I guess it''s just for today." With a sigh, he brought out his suit and trousers with a white inner button-up shirt and ced them on the bed. After that, he decided to practice with his Blood Energy while waiting for the time when he would start dressing up for the ceremony. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire "Ah, today is gonna be slightly hectic..." "Do you even know how to dance?" Seraphine suddenly asked. "Because I''m sure there''s going to be a lot of dancing." "Dance, huh?" Arin muttered. "I don''t know about that..." With that, Arin began practicing as the day was slowly turning into night... The ceremony would soon begin... Chapter 139 End Of The Ceremony & Meeting ''Kiara, huh?'' Arin thought. ''She said something about a certain mother, and I don''t think she''s talking about Arin''s mother.''@@novelbin@@ Arin furrowed his brows. ''So what could it be....?'' ''I''ll find out... I know that for sure.....'' Arin continued talking with Roxanne, and her smile didn''t show any sign of fading. A few minutester, Orion once again went to the raised tform, gaining the attention of the students. He put his hands behind his back before speaking. "I know most of you must have been wondering when the holiday would arrive." He paused for a few seconds, his gaze sweeping through the crowd of students. "Well," he continued, "it''ll surely arrive, but I won''t say it''s soon." The look on the faces of the students made it clear that they were unsatisfied with his announcement, and some of them even began mumbling. "Ugh.... Then he wouldn''t have even made the announcement if the date was not close." "I was just thinking the same thing..... This is messed up." The murmurs continued, though the people murmuring were mostly first-year students. Second-year students looked almost disinterested in the announcement. AHEM As soon as Orion cleared his throat, the murmurs instantly stopped. "I know most of you are not happy with this announcement," Orion said. "But there have been certain rumors going around, so I just wanted to clear things up." Orion concluded the announcement about the holiday before moving on to the final announcement. "With this," he announced, "we have sessfully concluded the ceremony!" Everyone began pping with smiles on their faces. Though there weren''t many events, the ceremony was still enjoyable nheless. Only the music, dances, calm atmosphere, and chit-chat were enough for the students. Orion left the stage, and the music instantly continued. Some still stayed inside to dance while some had already begun walking out of the hall, either to talk with their friends outside or to go to their rooms. Arin nced at Roxanne. "Let''s go." Roxanne nodded her head, her excitement still visible. "Okay, I''ll be right back." She walked towards Riya and exchanged a few words with her before taking the flower from her and walking back towards Arin. With that, both of them began walking out of the hall. Though, before they stepped out, Arin turned back and looked at Riya, who was also looking at him with a smile. He nodded at her, and she also nodded back before he left the hall. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire The moon was present, sending down a soft glow as students filled outside. As Arin was walking with Roxanne, he suddenly felt someone rushing towards him from behind. Though he couldn''t sense any killing intent, so he didn''t turn back. Instead, he decided to wait for the person. Finally..... "Wait...." Arin heard a girl''s voice before someone grabbed his hand. He instantly turned back, and like he suspected, it was Tessa. Arin stared at Tessa. "Oh.... It''s you. I was shocked for a second." Tessa smiled. "Sorry if I scared you." "No, it''s okay," Arin replied. Tessa was about to continue talking, but that was when she noticed Roxanne, who was standing near Arin. She also noticed the flower she was holding. "Oh.... Uhm....." Tessa didn''t quite know what to say, and Arin knew that, so he spoke up. "She''s with me...." he said. "Oh...." Tessa nodded her head. "I saw you earlier, but I wasn''t able to meet you," Tessa continued. "So when I saw you a while ago, I decided to follow you." "That''s great," Arin said. "How was the ceremony for you? It was enjoyable, right?" Tessa chuckled. "Of course." Roxanne just kept staring at Tessa with her calm red eyes as she continued talking to Arin. "Okay, then," Tessa said. "I''ll get going." Arin nodded. "Okay. Good night." Tessa smiled as she turned back and began walking away. She turned back, ncing at Arin. ''Ever since that mission, why do I find myself always wanting to talk to him?'' It was still a mystery to her, but she always found herself thinking about Arin. She red at Alex as she approached him. ''Just a little while longer..... '' ********** Arin and Roxanne had finally reached a considerable distance where people weren''t present. It was close to the male dorm building, but where they stood, it would be hard for people to see them. Arin was about to tell Roxanne that it was time to head back to his room and she should transform into the usual bracelet, but before he could do that, she suddenly grabbed his arm and stared straight into his eyes. "Huh?" "Please, Arin..." she muttered. "Let''s just stay here for a few more minutes, then I can transform back into the bracelet." Arin could see the sincerity in her eyes. ''She must''ve really enjoyed this.....'' "Hmm, like you usually say, it won''t hurt, right?" Seraphine teased. Arin smiled. "Okay..... Just for a few minutes." Roxanne nodded her head in excitement as they both stood, staring at the moon. Roxanne closed her eyes and exhaled. "Thank you... Thank you, Arin." Arin just nced at her before he looked away. ''From tomorrow, the Nightmare Shadow will start operating,'' Arin thought. ''This is just the calm before the storm.....'' A few minutester, Roxanne transformed back into a bracelet, and Arin wore it before he walked straight to the dorm building and found his way to his room. Immediately after pulling his clothes off and freshening up, he began practicing with his Blood Energy. ''I should also start making a new Spell,'' he thought. He squinted his eyes as another thought entered his mind. ''I should also start doing it..... Then I''ll be able to freeze water, thereby using the Ice Element.'' There were a lot of things to do, but he had to take it step by step. ''For now, the time for another showdown is already here.....'' ********* The sun was up high in the sky as the chatter of students once again filled the Academy. As expected, most of them were still talking about the ceremony that happenedst night. As usual, Roxanne was standing near the window, looking at all the students. Arin nced at her as soon as he exited the bathroom. ''I think the reason she enjoys this so much is because she can hear what they''re all saying.'' With her enhanced hearing, it wouldn''t be surprising if she could hear almost all of them. Putting that aside, Arin finished preparing and was ready to leave. Immediately, Roxanne saw that she transformed into a bracelet, and Arin wore it. "Bye!" Seraphine eximed as she sat down on the bed, ready to practice. Arin frowned. "Don''t scream like that..... A boy might hear your voice." "Okay, okay," Seraphine said. Arin nced at the gown Roxanne worest night that was on the bed. ''I almost forgot that.....'' He quickly put it inside his inventory. ''I''ll give it to Riya when sses are over.'' With that, he left the room and exited the dorm building. A few minutester, he arrived at the main Academy building before entering his ss. The ss was slowly getting filled up, but Arin''s eyes were fixated on the door as if he was waiting for someone. Finally, a girl with long purple hair walked into the ssroom. Arin squinted his eyes. "Kiara....." ********** Inside a spacious room, arge table with chairs around it was present. The chairs were all upied, but nobody was yet to say anything. All the teachers, including Riya, were the ones seated on the chairs, with Principal Orion and the Assistant Principal. Finally, Orion cleared his throat as he began. "First of all, thank you all for making the ceremony a sess yesterday. All of you really put effort into it, and I appreciate that." "Thank you," all the teachers said in unison. Orion nodded his head. "Now, that aside. I called this meeting for two reasons." He nced at the teachers before he continued. "The first reason is the uing tournament, and the second reason...." He paused as he stared at Riya. "The second reason is rted to Miss Riya''s behavior in the expedition." Ben nodded his head as he nced at Riya. "We''ll be starting with the second reason," Orion said. "First of all," he began, "everything has been exined to me by the other teachers." "Miss Riya," Orion said, making Riya look at him. "You have a lot of exnation to do." Riya ced her hands on the table. "I have no problem with that....." Orion raised a brow. "Okay, then." "Mr Ben''s proposal to check what caused that loud explosion wasn''t wrong, right?" "I believe it was wrong," Riya said, making Orion squint his eyes. Even the other teachers couldn''t help but nce at Riya. Meanwhile, as usual, the Assistant Principal was sleeping... Even in an important meeting like this. But surprisingly, Orion didn''t even tell her anything..... He didn''t even look bothered by it. "If that''s the case," Orion said. "I believe you have a good reason for thinking his proposal was wrong." At this point, the other teachers realized that the tension in this room was going to be insane. Chapter 141 Talk About The Nightmare Shadow Arin watched Kiara as she sat down on her chair. ''I don''t know how strong she is,'' Arin thought, staring at her. ''So I don''t know how confronting her would be.'' There was also the option to let here to him by herself, but he was just too curious to know what she was talking about in that ceremony. Arin suddenly realized something, making him furrow his brows. ''What if that is what she wants.....? What if she wants me to be curious and confront her?'' ''If I do that, I might be entering her trap,'' Arin thought. There were many possibilities, but all he knew was that he would definitely find out who she was and what she was talking about. Arin nced around, his gaze sweeping through the students in the ss who were talking among themselves as usual. All the students were already present. Arin squinted his eyes. ''Riya iste..... She is supposed to havee by now.'' And looking at the faces of the students and the way they were asionally ncing at the door, Arin knew that they had also realized that Riya iste. ''She has neverete before,'' Arin thought. ''Maybe something came up.'' Just a few minutester, Riya walked into the ss, making all the students move to their seats and stop talking. She nced at Arin briefly before she averted her gaze. "Okay, let''s start." The ss went smoothly, and it was the same for the Weapon Training ss. Finally, sses had ended for the day, and the students were now free. Though, for some reason, Arin didn''t see Kiara anymore. It was almost as if she disappeared as soon as sses ended. ''That''s not an issue, I''ll find a way to know what is happening,'' Arin thought. He began walking out of the Weapon Training ss with Leon walking in front of him. As soon as they left the ss into the hallway, Arin moved beside Leon. "Oh, Brother," Leon said with a smile as soon as he saw Arin. "I danced with three beauties yesterday." "I see.... That''s good," Arin said. Leon was about to continue rambling about the three girls he danced with, but Arin cut him off. "We''ll talk about thatter," Arin said. "For now, you know the location, right?" Leon nodded his head. "Of course." "Great. And remember..." "Don''t say your name," Leonpleted what Arin was about to say. Arin nodded his head. "I''ll see you there." With that, he increased his walking pace, and secondster, he was already outside the main Academy building. The first person he saw as soon as he exited the building was Lina. "Arin!" She called out. "I saw youing out, so I decided to wait for you." Arin smiled as he walked towards her. "What if I had entered inside back?" Lina pouted. "I would have still waited..... Hehehe." Suddenly, she leaned closer to him before whispering, "Brother, I saw you dancing with a beauty in the ceremony yesterday." "You didn''t tell me that I would soon have a sister-inw," Lina added with a cheeky grin. She thought that she had seeded in teasing Arin, but she didn''t know that Arin also had something to say. Arin grinned. "In that case, I guess I can also start calling Hector my brother-inw." Instantly, Lina''s cheeks turned red as she stared at Arin, slightly surprised. "Hehehe, I saw the both of you yesterday," Arin said. "You certainly looked happy while dancing with him." "Don''t say anything again!" Lina eximed, embarrassed. "Okay okay," Arinughed. "You should meet him now.... He''s waiting for you." "I know," Lina said as she turned back and started walking towards Hector, who was standing not too far from her. "I''ll see youter." Arin saw that Hector was waving at him, and he waved back before turning back and walking away. As usual, before he got to the forest, he wore his mask, and after reaching the usual spot, he saw Tessa and Leon.@@novelbin@@ They were both discussing without any sign of quarreling. "I hope they won''t just start quarreling all of a sudden, just like they did that day," Seraphine said. "That''s if Leon doesn''t annoy her," Arin replied. Immediately, Tessa saw Chaos, she gave him a silent nod, which he returned. Meanwhile, Leon was about to exim, but he seemed to remember that they were now in the forest, making him lower his voice. Arin sped his hands behind his back before he started speaking. "I believe the both of you remember that ck smoke that came out of the Portal, right?" They both nodded their heads in reply before Arin continued. "Just like I said that day, it''s the Nightmare Shadow," Arin said. "To an extent, it''s not a dangerous Shadow." Both Tessa and Leon listened as Arin continued. "It''s able tomunicate by appearing in the person''s dream or, in other words, nightmare." "So do we have to be worried about it?" Tessa asked as she folded her arms. "Or do you have a n?" Arin nced at both of them as he replied, "Yes. If we y our cards right, we''ll be able to use it... against Alex." Tessa''s expression instantly turned serious as she squinted her eyes while Leon nced at Arin and Tessa. "But how?" Leon asked. "Moreover, we don''t even know where it went." "That''s not a problem," Arin said. "What I''m about to say might sound absurd, but..." He paused as he nced at both of them. "The Nightmare Shadow just wants a friend." Leon frowned slightly. "Huh?" "What do you me~?" "Wait," Leon suddenly said, interrupting Tessa. Suddenly, he clutched his head tightly as if he was in pain. Tessa''s expression instantly turned to that of worry. She held Leon''s shoulder. "Leon, what is the problem? Are you okay?" Arin nced at Leon. "I think I know what''s wrong." Tessa instantly looked at him. "He''s a Shadow Lord....." Arin said. "You can consider him the King of the Shadow Race, which means....." Arin squinted his eyes. "He has knowledge about the different sub-races of Shadows." Tessa turned to look at Leon, who was still clutching his head. "So you''re saying he has knowledge about the Nightmare Shadow and other Shadows?" Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire "Yes," Arin replied. "He''s currently in pain because most of the knowledge is rushing into his head at once." As soon as Arin finished talking, Leon suddenly stopped clutching his head as he looked up, staring at Arin and Tessa. A small smile formed on his face. "The Nightmare Shadow, huh?" The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!