The day began with an intense sword match between Leo and Kael Draven. The rest of the students gathered to observe.
Sweat rolled down Leo's face as he was pushed back once again, struggling to land even a singlstrike.
Kael sidestepped effortlessly.
"You need to focus, Leo. Your sword is not just a weapon—it's a reflection of your will."
Leo gritted his teeth.
"What's the point when your ability lets you see my next move? How am I supposed to beat that?"
"No more excuses," Kael said firmly. "Figure it out."
Leo muttered under his breath.
"Only thing he's got going for him is his ten wives. I got... what? Eno? Ruka? No—she's Ardy's property. Sumi? Hmm... actually, I want every hot girl I can get…"
Meanwhile, in the jungle, Raven stood alone amidst the trees. A ripple in the air signaled Rosalie's arrival.
"How are you?" he asked calmly.
"You have to act now," Rosalie said. "Or the future will be destroyed. You must kill..."
The rest of her sentence was lost in magical distortion.
Raven frowned. "Are you sure that brat could really ruin everything?"
"Yes."
He sighed. "Alright. Tell me what I have to do."
Rosalie stepped forward and began to explain.
Three days passed.
The battlefield roared with tension. On one side, Riden, Akira, and other members of the Covenant. On the other: the might of the Holy Kingdom.
Ardy, Leo, Eno, and Akumo were assigned to the jungle, responding to reports that enemy forces might launch a flanking assault from within.
Back on the main battlefield, Raven chanted under his breath, dozens of magical talismans floating around him before exploding across the field—paper bombs raining down like sparks of chaos.
In the haze of war, Raven caught sight of Ruka's father.
"Something about him... seems familiar," he murmured.
Deep in the forest, Ardy's team ran into the top brass of the Covenant: Jack, Ryū, and Necros.
Jack smirked. "So it's just a bunch of kids? Tough luck. But I'll give you a chance—run while you can."
Leo stepped forward. "You're like my ex—worse than I expected."
Jack laughed. "Wait... you had an ex? Poor girl."
"Not worse off than your face," Leo shot back.
Necros didn't wait—his gravity magic surged. Everyone was forced to their knees—everyone except Ardy.
Necros looked surprised as Ardy slowly stood and moved against the pull of his gravity.
Necros extended his hand to increase the pressure—but Ardy twisted against it. With one sudden move, he shifted with enough force to break Necros' arm.
Jack's expression shifted. "He's... something else."
Ryū cracked his knuckles.
"He's interesting. I want him."
He launched forward, delivering a punch that sent Ardy flying through the trees, splitting him off from his team.
At the same time, Jack unleashed a mass of tentacles from his back, targeting Leo and Eno.
Akumo engaged Necros, trying to restrain him with portal magic, but the broken arm made it difficult for Necros to channel at full strength.
Leo turned to Eno. His mind flickered back to a moment before the battle began.
"Please, Eno," he had begged, clutching her leg. "I swear I won't look at any other girls. I'll stop being a perv. I'll even become better than Ardy!"
Eno looked disgusted.
"Let go of me."
Leo cried louder. "Please! I'll change!"
Eno sighed. "If you survive this war... then I'll think about it."
Leo suddenly grinned. "So… you're wearing red panties, right?"
Eno's foot launched into his face.
"You pervert!"
Back in the present, Leo gritted his teeth.
"I have to protect her
Jack's tentacles launched again, nearly piercing both Eno and Leo—but they barely managed to dodge.
Eno raised her hands and called upon the trees, her nature magic urging the roots and vines to launch a powerful counterattack.
Meanwhile, Leo realized he couldn't use his shadow magic—the dense jungle canopy blocked sunlight, and the shadows of the trees were no use.
He grabbed a basic blade, channeling his energy into raw skill.
Akumo struggled with Necros, who despite his broken arm, hurled large trees at him using raw magical force.
Akumo gritted his teeth.
"You're too reckless!"
Necros swung, but Akumo opened a portal at the last second—slicing off his other hand.
Necros screamed as blood sprayed across the vines.
Elsewhere, Ardy battled Ryū with everything he had.
But no matter what, Ryū always got back up. His immortality was exhausting Ardy's stamina.
Finally, Ardy screamed and unleashed a devastating punch—a crater erupted, obliterating part of the jungle and slicing through a nearby mountain.
Ryū's body regenerated again, slowly piecing itself back together.
On the battlefield, Zero activated his hidden power.
His eyes turned red, and his hair shifted to silver.
"I didn't want to use this… but now I have to."
In a flash, the battlefield was destroyed—but then… everything reset.
The damage was reversed, the land restored.
A figure emerged: Rosalie, face hidden.
Everyone froze.
She raised her hand.
"Etheral Conflux: Tempus Divinus."
Time stopped.
When it resumed, every enemy—except Riden—was gone.
Rosalie spoke softly.
"One survived. You can handle him."
Riden walked alone toward the heart of the Holy Army.
One man—facing the Emperor, 1,000 Holy Knights, 2,000+ students, 4 S-Rank combatants, a council elder, Master Lee, and General Kael.
He grinned and jumped toward them, blocking Zero's punch and diving straight into battle.
Raven reappeared and restrained Ryū with magical talismans, finally capturing him.
He turned to the soldiers. "Lock him up. Don't let him speak."
Elsewhere in the jungle, Leo and Eno continued fighting.
Jack's tentacles overwhelmed them.
One sharp tentacle pierced through Eno's chest, right into her heart.
"ENO!" Leo screamed, running to her.
Jack smiled wickedly.
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