Editor : Amethyst00



Srrng–!

Leo drew his sword.

Pababat–!

In that instant, Chen Xia disappeared from view.

Chaeeng–!

Leo narrowed his eyes as he saw Chen Xia appear right beside him.

'Was Chen Xia this fast?'

Even before Leo had fully drawn his sword, Chen Xia was already swinging a dagger at his neck.

Leo blocked Chen Xia's attack with the sheath still on his sword, and when he saw the murderous gleam in Chen Xia's eyes, he poured strength into his blade.

Kwaak–!

With their blades locked, Leo pressed Chen Xia down with sheer force.

Kigigigigik–!

Chen Xia crossed her daggers to block Leo's attack.

But even so, she couldn't withstand his sword.

From the stance that aimed at Leo's neck, she was now being pressed down instead.

Jjeojeok–!

Cracks began to spread across the ground where Chen Xia stood.

Whoosh! Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gang!

In an instant, Leo's sword struck the ground hard.

"Whoa!"

"Chen Xia?!"

The third years screamed, thinking Chen Xia had been taken down by Leo's overwhelming power.

Leo narrowed his eyes at the thick cloud of dust.

Chen Xia, having diverted Leo's power, was lying close to the ground.

Leo's sword had swept diagonally, barely grazing the top of her head.

Shwik–!

Still pressed against the ground, Chen Xia rebounded and closed the distance to Leo.

Sgak–!

She threw the dagger in her hand at him.

Whiririk–!

The spinning dagger targeted Leo's vital points.

Leo dodged it with minimal movement.

Chen Xia instantly dove into Leo's chest and pressed her hand against him.

Puh-uhng–!

At point-blank range, a burst of water aura exploded.

Terrifying water pressure slammed into Leo.

But Leo, seemingly unfazed, reached toward Chen Xia.

"Did he hold out?! Against Xia-sunbae's attack?"

Haviden shouted, eyes wide, while Duran narrowed his gaze.

"No. He nullified it with the same water aura."

Leo had countered Chen Xia's attack by exploding his own water aura.

When Leo tried to grab her neck, Chen Xia kicked off the ground and widened the distance.

At the same time, the water flowing around her transformed into blades aiming for Leo's vitals.

Chwaaak–!

Leo snatched the water aura as if pulling a curtain.

The water aura, sharp enough to tear rock, was caught in Leo's hand.

Bubble bubble bubble–

But the water blades were nullified by the water aura Leo had created.

Chen Xia tried to distance herself further with light footwork.

At that moment, as she tried to release her water aura from Leo's grip—

Whoosh–!

"…?!"

Leo pulled the water aura—and Chen Xia was dragged toward him.

But it didn't end there.

Chen Xia's water aura was being invaded by Leo's aura.

'Control of the water was taken.'

The aura that once obeyed her will now resisted her.

The water aura bound Chen Xia like a rope.

She ended up in a state as if tied up.

Using her own aura against her, Leo yanked the water aura and slammed her into the ground.

Kwaaang–!

The first- and second years watching Chen Xia crash into the training ground shut their eyes tightly without realizing.

"If you came at me with killing intent, then I have to respond in kind, don't I?"

Leo spoke with an expressionless face.

He meant he wouldn't hold back.

Chen Xia must have expected this when she challenged him to a duel.

'No, it's not even a duel anymore.'

Leo muttered internally as he slammed her into the ground again.

'This is already a slaughter.'

Since Chen Xia was fighting him seriously, Leo had to be serious too.

Only then could Chen Xia show others what she wanted them to see.

'It's respect to face someone who gives their all against you with equal sincerity.'

As Leo pulled her again—

Paaat–!

Chen Xia broke free of the water ropes binding her.

The scattered water fragments instantly turned into needles and rained down on Leo.

Pabababababak–!

Leo leapt aside to avoid the attack.

Whiik–!

At that moment, something flew from Chen Xia's hand.

Leo tilted his head back and dodged it.

Tak–!

Chen Xia landed on the ground.

Leo raised his tilted head.

Drip—

A thin line of blood appeared on his cheek.

"Hm."

Leo tapped his cheek.

"A concealed weapon, huh. Now we're getting serious."

His red eyes gleamed dangerously.

Chen Xia smiled and pulled her dislocated left shoulder back into place with her right hand.

Crack—

With a chilling sound, the dislocated shoulder was set.

Then, with her right hand, she grabbed her broken left forearm.

Crunch–!

The sound of bone aligning rang out.

She used aura to stimulate the muscles around the broken bone and fixed it in place.

The intense pain surged, but she didn't care.

Chen Xia was neither weak nor had she lived an easy life, to be dulled by pain.

"I don't like things getting rough."

"You're the one who made it rough."

Leo smirked.

Chen Xia readjusted her grip on her dagger as she looked at him.

She had no intention of stopping.

Seeing that, Celia's expression hardened.

'Leo is serious.'

She clenched her fists tightly.

Watching their fight made it clear.

This was an extremely dangerous, deadly battle.

A fight at the brink of death that only those who had experienced it many times could handle.

A razor's-edge battle where a single mistake meant death.

'Could I withstand Leo at full strength like Xia?'

She had no confidence.

She instantly understood what Chen Xia was trying to convey to them.

'This is a real fight.'

Whether it's Chen Xia or Leo.

The enemies they'll face from now on will stand in that realm.

From the outside, the difference might look small, like a single sheet of paper.

But that one sheet was vast.

Duran sensed it too and wore a grim expression.

It wasn't just him.

Chloe, Chelsea, Abad, Walden, and even Eliza—

While others focused on Leo, they were looking at Chen Xia.

'In the past two years, we've never seen Chen Xia truly fight.'

Even someone they saw as a rival had been hiding her real combat power.

Someone they thought was beside them had actually been a step ahead.

'This isn't just a lesson.'

Celia bit her lip hard.

'I will stand behind Leo before anyone else.'

This fight was a provocation thrown at her rivals.

A declaration of war from someone they thought was on equal footing for the last two years.

While Chen Xia's fight shocked the third years—

She stepped forward with sword in hand.

Leo narrowed his eyes at the sight.

'Time to end this.'

The reason Chen Xia could emit real killing intent at him was because of the overwhelming gap in skill.

Even at death's door, her best was to graze his cheek.

That was her limit.

Any further, and she'd be in real danger.

'One last move to end it.'

Chen Xia's movements were now within Leo's prediction.

The fight was already over.

Just as he thought that—

Fwoosh–!

Chen Xia's figure vanished like a mirage.

What caught Leo's eye was a dark haze.

As if she had vanished from this world.

'This is…!'

It far exceeded his expectations.

He had completely lost track of her.

If this was a technique he hadn't known, he might not have been able to counter it at all.

Leo swung his palm behind him.

Normally, he should've punched.

But if he did, her life would be in danger.

Though Leo had fought Chen Xia with composure throughout, in that moment he reacted with full seriousness.

Puh-uhng–!

His palm struck her chest.

Chen Xia was hurled out of the training ground, nearly hitting the wall of the field.

Fwoosh–!

Claria, a Associate Professor from Ain, caught her gently and landed.

Softly–!

"According to knight department rules, fights to the death are forbidden."

Ain appeared in the center of the training ground.

"Just because you're student council president doesn't mean everything's forgiven. And just now—you were serious, weren't you?"

"I'm sorry."

"Sigh… For now, both you and Chen Xia will clean the bathrooms for a week. Of course, you'll also get penalty points."

"Yes."

As Leo nodded indifferently, Ain continued.

"First, take Chen Xia to the infirmary."

Claria, who had approached Leo, handed him Chen Xia.

Leo, holding the unconscious Chen Xia in his arms, headed to the infirmary.

"Wasn't that a bit light?"

At Claria's words, Ain chuckled.

"Neither Leo nor Xia are fools to cause trouble out of immaturity."

If it were just personal grudges or pride, it wouldn't have ended in bathroom duty—it would've gone to detention.

But their fight had stirred something in others.

"I believe it was a necessary fight."

Ain glanced at Leo while looking at the top third years deep in thought.

"For Leo too."

"For Leo?"

"Yes."

Claria looked puzzled.

"His burden should be a little lighter now."

bl

At the infirmary, Leo laid Chen Xia on the bed.

She opened her eyes, regaining consciousness.

"How was it, Leo-doryeon?"

"…How did you use that?"

"You remember when my ancestor possessed me? I memorized their movements and kept practicing since then."

The footwork Chen Xia had just used was Bihar's technique.

An aura skill that moved without a trace or scent.

A secret technique of Bihar, even Kyle couldn't use.

"…I guess I can't treat you like a kid anymore."

"Of course. I'm nineteen this year. A full-fledged adult now. Please treat me as one from now on."

"Still, wasn't that too much? You really stabbed me, you know."

Leo pointed to his back.

In the moment he lost track of her, Chen Xia's dagger lightly stabbed his back.

It wasn't a serious wound, but it had drawn a little blood.

"Please keep that scar forever."

"Why? I'm not at an age where I grow from collecting scars."

"It's a mark."

"A mark?"

"Yes, proof that I'll always stand behind you for the rest of my life. That I've claimed that spot first."

Chen Xia smiled brightly.

"From now on, only I can stand behind you. I won't yield that spot to anyone."

She spoke like she'd written her name on her possession.

Leo let out a wry chuckle.

"Since I'm the first to carve a knife mark on your back, I'm more than qualified, right?"

"Fine, do as you want."

At Leo's reply, Chen Xia beamed.

Leo chuckled as he looked at her.

"Then I should give you a reward."

"A reward?"

"Yeah. Try closing your eyes."

Chen Xia closed her eyes.

Just as her heart fluttered with strange anticipation—

Something tapped her forehead.

"What the…?"

Chen Xia rubbed her forehead in confusion and conjured a mirror using water aura.

She frowned at the [Great Job] stamp on her forehead.

"This childish stamp is the reward?"

"What else were you expecting? A 'Great job!' stamp is enough for a kid."

"But I told you, I'm an adult now."

"Saying you're an adult is the biggest proof you're still a kid."

Leo patted her forehead and shrugged.

"Get treated properly. I'm off to class."

Watching his calm departure from the infirmary, Chen Xia sighed deeply.

'Maybe when I look more mature, he'll stop treating me like a kid?'

bl

Late night.

Far northeast of the continent.

It was once the dwarves' homeland, lost long ago to the Tartaros invasion.

"Everyone run! Quickly!"

Grrrroooaaarrr–!

A monstrous roar echoed.

The dwarf hero leading the scouting party turned pale.

Recently, signs of a Hero Dungeon appearing had been detected in this area. Despite it being Tartaros territory, the dwarves had sent a scouting party.

If a rogue Hero Dungeon went unchecked, it could consume the world.

Even if it meant stepping into enemy land.

But now the scouting party faced annihilation.

They'd encountered massive Gigantes units that weren't supposed to exist here.

That alone proved a rogue Hero Dungeon had appeared in the region.

His mission now was to get this information out, even if it cost his life.

"There's an old fortress once used by the ancestors not far ahead! We'll make our stand there!"

The dwarf hero urged his comrades.

But despair lingered in his eyes.

The fortress had long fallen into ruin and lost its functions.

'We must buy time! We have to get this information to Damien!'

Clenching his teeth, the hero and his team knew they were already as good as dead.

At least they had to relay the situation.

But even that wasn't allowed.

As they approached the fortress, the number of Gigantes increased exponentially.

In the darkness, the berserk beasts brutally ravaged the dwarves.

"Captain! You have to at least—!"

"Felron!"

The hero Noren screamed at his deputy's death.

It was a scene of slaughter.

"O noble Damien! Great Dweno! Please grant us your help to complete our mission!"

Noren prayed to the great heroes of old.

Dawn was near.

With sunrise, the Gigantes would weaken, and they could reach the fortress.

'If so, I can at least fulfill my duty—'

Watching the time, Noren longed for the dawn.

And as it broke—

"…!"

Thud–

He collapsed without realizing.

A blood-red sun drove away the starlit sky.

A gray morning approached.

He knew exactly what it was.

Long before he became a hero.

From the tales he'd read as a child.

The sky of the age of calamity.

"The… Age of Calamity?"

He couldn't even comprehend the situation.

What mattered was that sun was a symbol of despair.

At the appearance of the blood-red sun, the dwarves fell into hopelessness and lost their will.

They forgot they'd even reached the fortress—

Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gang–!

The sound of bombardment rang out.

Puh-puh-puh-puh!

Grrrroooooaaar!

Kyaaaaaaak!

Screams erupted as magical cannons struck the Gigantes.

Startled, the dwarves turned toward the source of the attack.

And saw it.

Not a ruin, but a towering fortress standing strong.

Noren's jaw dropped at the sight.

"What… is happening?"

Amid his shock, he spotted a lone dwarf standing on the wall of the fortress.

Cloaked in golden flames, that majestic figure widened Noren's eyes.

"The… Divine Blacksmith?"