"What the fuck?"

As the sharp winds of the shockwave brushed across the students, one exclaimed, utterly marveled by the feat they had just witnessed.

With the exception of a few, most didn't think much of Art and presumed him to be a noble who had only gotten a job in the academy because of his connections. So, the shock on their faces as they watched him not only dodge an attack too fast for their eyes to follow but also deliver a kick so strong it produced a shockwave—sending a veteran professor of their academy flying—was nothing short of bewilderment.

For a moment, their breathing ceased, their pupils dilating in shock as Grim, spinning in midair, suddenly moved her right hand forward, launching the dagger nested in her grip straight at Art.

The blonde young man, burning with fighting spirit like no other, moved with anticipation, his sapphire eyes flickering with pale light as he traced the dagger's trajectory. He brought his sword up just in time to intercept its path, blocking the attack.

The dagger made contact with the wooden surface of the sword, nearly piercing through before Art managed to redirect it, letting the grassy ground suffer the brunt of the impact instead.

While this happened, Grim—still airborne—infused her remaining dagger with her aura. A sinister green energy enveloped the tip of the weapon before she hurled it at Art with tremendous force.

"Tsk!"

Clicking his tongue, Art, uncertain he could block the attack without losing his sword, leaped to the left just as the dagger crashed into his now-empty spot and—

BOOM!!!!

What followed was a massive eruption of earth, the sheer force of her throw obliterating the ground.

"That's a fucking bombardment."

Bringing his hands up to shield his face from the spray of dust, Art complained, putting more distance between himself and the expanding cloud.

With how wide it had spread, visibility was near zero. Art knew Grim had planned this—her strength lay in her cunning mind.

"She'll burst through the dust any moment—"

Cutting off his own thought, he saw movement—a figure tearing through the dust barrier and shooting toward him.

"I expected this."

Raising his wooden sword in retaliation, he pushed his left foot forward, his blade now wrapped in a ghostly pale aura. It flashed downward with calculated precision, cleaving the incoming figure in half.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then came a blinding flash—the slash parting the dust as if he had willed it.

"Ha..."

With his sword now touching the ground, Art looked at the bisected figure—only to face a horrifying realization as fragments of a cleaved wooden dagger clattered onto the grass.

"Fuck."

He barely had time to react before an arching pain ripped through his gut, breaking his posture and forcing him to reel back.

As his body registered the pain, he looked up just in time to see a kick racing toward his face.

"Shit."

Dodging in the nick of time by leaping backward while clutching his stomach, he saw Grim crouched in his previous spot, her stance beastly—arms parted, fingers curled like claws ready to rip him apart.

Art's once-composed expression paled, reminiscent of a time when a lion had nearly mauled him to death at a zoo due to his carelessness. That primordial fear had followed him into this world, and Grim—her expression vicious, her stance feral—brought those memories rushing back.

"She's too fast."

Stepping back in fear, his hands—once wielding his sword with confidence—began to shake. For a moment, he wondered if this was worth it. He had only wanted to test his strength while revealing it to Grim. He'd done that—shown her everything he had. There was nothing left. Shouldn't he just give up?

Thinking this, he glanced around at the students, their faces pale from the intensity of the exchange.

Some unconsciously stepped back, fearing they might become casualties. Others pulled out their phones, recording the fight with anticipation. And then there was... her.

"Trish!"

Looking at the student whose deadpan expression had morphed into pure excitement, he couldn't help but smile slightly.

"This is a light spar," he told himself, his fear diminishing.

"It doesn't matter if I lose."

His wavering gaze sharpened.

"It doesn't matter if I get hurt."

Removing his hand from his aching stomach, he gripped the hilt with both hands.

"My goal is to nurture those brats... What kind of role model would I be if I cowered now?"

Unleashing the full force of his aura, he wrapped it around his body, abandoning Trish's strict swordsmanship in favor of his own.

His stance crumbled, replaced by one lacking discipline—flawed, yet fluid.

"This is how I want to die."

Losing himself to the thought for a moment, he smiled. A death against an impossible opponent—but at the last second, the mentor at his lifeline would reach their own enlightenment and...

"Go out with a bang."

With an explosive launch, his body ruptured, his bones cracked, his muscles stiffened, and his nose bled—but he ran. He ran with such force that the ground, unable to withstand his determination, quaked and then shattered beneath him.

"I like this."

For the first time since arriving in this world, he finally felt his own strength—not one granted by cheats, but one this body had forged.

With his heart pounding like a war chant, he bent his knees, launching himself in an explosive leap, raising his sword high.

Overshadowing the very sun that blessed him with its glow, his sword burned with golden light, intensifying and expanding into a massive blade of radiant energy.

An awed chant erupted from the students as they witnessed their first awakening of Intent.

And Grim, sensing the genuine power radiating from the descending golden blade, looked up—a glimmer of newfound trust stirring within her.

"I guess I was wrong."

Nonchalant despite the chaos, she infused her own aura—having birthed Intent decades ago—and raised both hands, bracing to block the golden blade.

A/N: Thirteen more chapters.

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.