Marcus and Arnold's weapons clashed in a burst of heat and light.

Clang! Boom!

Sparks scattered through the air as fire and starlight collided, painting the forest in silver-white and crimson.

Marcus grinned fiercely, his violet hair whipping in the hot wind. "Finally… someone worth my time!"

Arnold's expression remained calm, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Careful what you wish for. You might regret getting it."

He swung his sword, and a trail of silver light followed the blade. A gleaming arc that sliced through the air toward Marcus.

Marcus spun his spear, intercepting it with a blaze of fire. The two forces collided. Crack! and the shockwave rippled through the clearing, scattering leaves and smoke.

"Ha!" Marcus laughed, pushing forward. "That's more like it! Don't hold back, Arnold!"

Arnold's eyes narrowed. His mana pressure surged. Calm, steady, but crushing. The air around him shimmered faintly, like the night sky full of stars. "Don't worry," he said softly. "I wasn't planning to."

He vanished.

Marcus's eyes widened. "Tch—!"

Arnold appeared beside him in an instant, his sword already descending.

Slash!

Marcus barely managed to parry, the impact sending vibrations through his arms. "Fast bastard!" He twisted his spear and countered with a fiery thrust, flames bursting from its tip like a dragon's breath.

Arnold raised his sword vertically, The air trembled. A silver barrier formed for a split second, dispersing the fire.

Then, he stepped in. One clean motion. His sword glowed with radiant light.

[Starlit Edge!]

A silver streak slashed forward.

Marcus crossed his spear just in time. The collision was deafening. The ground beneath them cracked, sending dust flying.

Marcus was pushed back several meters, boots grinding into the dirt. His hand trembled slightly. "Damn… you're really not normal."

Arnold lowered his sword slightly, his gaze steady. "And you rely too much on brute force. Control your fire before it consumes you."

Marcus laughed, flames swirling around him again. "Control? You don't tell me what to do!"

He slammed his spear into the ground. Flames erupted outward, engulfing the battlefield in a vortex of heat.

Arnold shielded his face from the gust, his coat fluttering in the fiery wind.

Marcus leapt high, spear spinning above his head. "Let's see you block this—!"

The spear ignited fully, turning into a pillar of crimson flame.

[Infernal Comet!]

He hurled it down. The weapon screamed through the air, leaving a burning trail behind.

Arnold's expression sharpened. "Tch."

He pointed his sword upward, mana flaring.

[Stellar Guard!]

A dome of starlight enveloped him just as the flaming spear struck.

BOOOOM!

The explosion swallowed everything. Heat, light, sound. Trees caught fire, the earth split, and shockwaves tore through the forest.

When the smoke cleared, Marcus landed on one knee, breathing hard but grinning wildly. "Let's see how you like that!"

But as the dust faded, Arnold was still standing. His barrier cracked, but intact.

He stepped out, unharmed, eyes gleaming faintly under the starlight. "Impressive attack. But…"

He disappeared again.

Marcus's pupils shrank. "Wha—?"

Marcus got back on his feet and barely avoided Arnold's attack.

Meanwhile, Amon was now walking. He stopped running after getting a little away from them.

"Hah!... damn." Amon leaned on the tree near him. Taking out a water bottle from his storage ring, he started to drink.

Gulp!

Gulp!

The cool water flowed down his throat with a gulping sound.

"Hah... this feels good. Drinking water after running so much. Fighting so much." Closing the bottle, he put it back into the storage ring.

The domed barrier had shrunk. More and more students would fight against each other. Now all Amon was wishing for was to not meet anyone else.

He looked at the sky. It was evening. Soon night would come. He needed to find a nice place to stay. He started to walk again.

But his luck was really bitchy today, not wanting to give him any time for rest.

A spear made up of pure blue lightning shot at him from the left side.

Amon's eyes widened. He ducked down instantly. The spear passed above him, barely missing its target.

BOOM!

It collided against the tree violently, the explosion booming loudly.

'Now who has come to me?' Amon really wanted to curse. He stood up and looked at the person.

'Good. Why is she here?' There, standing with a huge greatsword, was Aisha Darkfang. She stood tall. Her red eyes observed Amon with curiosity.

"You avoided that. Good," she commented.

"Aisha... why are you attacking suddenly? Is there any reason for us to fight? We are good friends after all." He again smiled in the same friendly way, the way he had done with Arnold and Marcus.

He wished at least Aisha wouldn't be like them... despite the fact she had actually attacked him even before he saw her. Weren't Arnold and Marcus actually better? They at least talked with him and then attacked.

'Damn! Aren't beastmen supposed to be like warriors? Why did she sneak attack me?' But Amon didn't try to question.

"You! When did we become friends?" Aisha asked irritatingly.

Amon didn't stop smiling. "What are you saying? Did you forget the night we spent together?"

Amon's words... they felt so wrong. Aisha blushed. Her cheeks turned a shade of pink.

"Sh-shut up!" She put her sword back in her storage ring and then summoned her gauntlets from it. She punched both fists against each other. The metallic sound traveled through the air.

Her blush was now gone. A wide smile bloomed on her face. But her eyes. They were not smiling.

"Hah... beating you with my fists will be more amazing compared to a sword." She was grinning. Her ears twitched with excitement.

Sweat trickled down Amon's head. He was fucked up. His body didn't have any more strength to fight. What wrong did he do to her? Nothing! Yet she was treating him like an enemy.

He took her on a date, showed her the city, treated her to so many things, even took her to her dormitory room. Yet she was not showing him any mercy.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.