At the Karath Academy, First Prince Jaiden Joul sat with his royal relative, who was in the second year, sweating profusely with anxiety consuming him. The First Prince spoke calmly, "So, Roy… you're telling me that Glass Sano disrespected me, so you made him sit with Shion Lan because you knew that teacher would target him?"
"Y-… y-… yes, Your Highness!"
"And who asked you to act on your own?"
"No one… but I couldn't tolerate that boy's arrogance! He thinks he's above the royal family!"
The First Prince shook his head helplessly. "Do you even know that Glass Sano—the one you dislike—carries the Sano family's inheritance and possesses their guardian spirit? One of the ancestors of that house, the only person who could face a Nine-Star duelist on equal footing while he himself was only at the Eighth Level?"
Before Roy could answer, he felt a crushing pressure emanate from the First Prince.
"You simply couldn't handle being bothered by a boy your own age, and you want to turn him into my enemy because of your foolishness—when the position of heir is at stake!"
A chill ran down Roy's spine.
"Is there anything else you want to say?"
Roy couldn't speak out of fear.
"Speak."
Jaiden Joul's tone was ice-cold.
Roy finally stammered, "T-there was someone under me named Krow… I told him to pretend he served Glass Sano and to harass Shion Lan during his mission because… because he also dislikes you…"
The First Prince froze in anger and disgust. "To this extent—you want me to fail at inheritance before I even begin?!"
A spell ignited in his hand.
"It seems your mind has rotted. Let me clean it for you—"
"Your Highness! The Academy Director wants all members of the fourth class in the arena, immediately!"
Shun Ranus delivered Director Tim Ayr's order before Jaiden could strike Roy Joul…
In the arena, all fourth-year students stood by their divisions. Among the Royal Division stood Violet Night, her dark aura radiating the might of the Night family. Soon the First Prince arrived with Shun Ranus, who moved toward the Noble Squad.
"Calm down a little, Lady Night."
"I'm merely releasing my aura. It's dangerous to let it accumulate… and it just so happened I reached my limit moments ago, so don't be angry, Your Highness."
'She's irritating me… 'Jaiden felt Violet was mocking him, especially since she stood beside his sister Jina Joul.
'She probably knows about the artificial ring. Damn you, Shion!'
Director Tim Ayr arrived and spoke:
"We have received a report of an upcoming battle in the Eastern Region. Region 14 will join, led by the Seven-Star duelist Aiten. The Magic Tower will send the Fire Magic Hero—Amy of the Blazing Flames—and the Rain Battalion will join under the Wind Storm Hero, Wendy.
Your enemy will be a group of Dark Crows from Level One to Level Seven. You will form a special battalion and operate under the army's command up to Level Four enemies. They will teach you efficient ways to kill these crows; even Level Three fighters can battle Level Four crows equally. This mission will aid your graduation.
You may now depart with Instructor Ryan."
The star instructor, Ryan Shine—a Seven-Star duelist of the Light element—stepped forward, and everyone moved with him toward the teleportation circle leading to Eastern Region 14…
---
"Hahahahaha! You really can't solve that equation?!"
Belize Sano laughed at Rona Flair's frustration.
"For heaven's sake! I've never seen an equation like this in my entire life! I don't even know how Shion Lan knew about it. He claims it's Level Four… I'll be embarrassed if I can't solve it."
"Alright, alright, let me check what that boy is doing."
She glanced toward the training grounds. Shion stood beneath the golden sun, sweat pouring with every swing. His form was at its peak, and his sword had begun to ignite, radiating a fiery aura.
Shion thought:
'The emotional state required for the technique must not overwhelm the mind. Rage, wildness, excitement—these must all remain under control. Even during the opening matches against Jina Joul, I felt anger, yet I still managed to use the technique before it was stopped. Water needs calmness, yet it can rage like a storm… and fire can be gentle and warm as well. With proper aura release and correct movements, I must succeed. Rona Flair helped me form the complex fire circle… my aura and stardust gathering have improved… I'm finally close to my goal.'
Strike. Two. Three…
Forty-nine. Fifty. Fifty-one…
Ninety-eight. Ninety-nine. One hundred.
Shion executed one hundred cutting motions. He felt a slight frustration, but encouraged himself:
'At least it feels like I'm about to form the Star of Fire.'
He sat cross-legged, resting.
"Shion Lan, are you alright?"
He turned toward the soft voice.
"I'm fine, Lady Sano."
"I think you're struggling a bit with your training, aren't you?"
"Yes… I can't fully activate my technique."
Bliza smiled gently. "What do you think about training together? I'll suppress my strength down to Level One."
Shion thought for a moment. "I appreciate the offer. Allow me to rest a little, then I'll spar with you."
He meditated on his movements, searching for mistakes in his sequence or the muscles he used—
but…
'No matter how much I think, I can't find any errors. Training with someone might really help.'
Once he recovered, he grabbed his sword. Beliza unsheathed hers as well, suppressing her power. Shion felt the sharp decrease in her aura.
"Let's begin!"
Shion dashed forward with great speed, attempting a thrust. She blocked it. He followed with a circular slash, but she evaded. When she countered, Shion grabbed her wrist and tried to strike, but she kneed him in the stomach, forcing him back. She attempted a downward strike; he shifted slightly, and the blade grazed beside his head. He retreated again.
'As expected of someone who reached Level Five. Her basics aren't sloppy—they're solid. Impressive.'
But while Shion admired her skill, Bliza was shocked.
'Even my brother couldn't handle me in this state… I may need to increase my power slightly and use some techniques.'
"Shion Lan, allow me to use some techniques—but I'll weaken them to Level One."
"Please do."
She focused her aura.
"(Cold Cut)!"
She moved with slicing speed. Shion dodged, surprised.
'Even though the strike didn't hit me, I can feel the cold…'
The exchange intensified. Shion's reaction time dropped, so he released his Fire aura. His movements returned.
'As I thought—the aura and movements are correct, but the technique is still incomplete.'
They clashed again. Beliza admired his swordsmanship.
She used another technique:
"(Rending Blade)!"
A Wind-element slash shot toward his face. Shion barely dodged; a shallow cut marked his cheek. Another slash soared and struck his shoulder. Beliza approached and placed her blade at his neck—thinking she won—when she realized Shion's sword was already pressed against hers, preventing the finishing strike.
They both stepped back.
'If I had aimed at her neck, I would have lost—she's faster than me.'
Another blade flew toward him; Shion tried to block but was injured again.
"Were you trying to cut my technique's slash with your sword? Try again."
As she struck once more, she sensed Shion's aura change—his eyes turned silver, speckled like stars. Time itself seemed to slow for him.
'Cut the strike… cut the strike…
Cut… (Cutting Flames)…
Not just a cutting motion—the technique needs something to cut…
I had everything except the catalyst…
I had the slash but no target…
Thank you for the help, Lady Sano.'
Shion activated his Fire aura; his sword ignited. He struck, slicing the technique's blade apart. Immediately after, Beliza placed her sword at his neck again and defeated him—this time decisively.
But Shion was overjoyed. He had finally formed the Fire Star—the blazing star at the center of the complex circle. With the starlight aura surrounding it, stardust gathered around the great Fire Star like a tiny, warm galaxy.
A sword pressed to his neck again, but he smiled.
"Thank you for this little training session."
"You're welcome."
"Shion Lan, you bastard! I still can't understand that equation!"
Shion and Beliza walked to Rona, who was struggling with the spell he had given her. They found papers simplifying the equation, but some symbols and unknown elements confused her.
Shion picked up the papers, praising her inwardly:
'Although this spell is from Shi Yun Lan's world, she managed to decipher most of it. The rest she couldn't understand because the symbols only exist in his world. Even so, I think I can convey the concept to her—and she'll do the rest.'
Rona said, "The fundamentals are right, but the symbols are strange—I've never seen them. And if I try replacing them with something else, the technique collapses."
"I see. My teacher told me this technique is unknown, but he explained the symbols and described the skill. This should help."
Shion took a deep breath.
"(Paths of Fire)—a mid-level spell. It differs from most fire spells. We create a source, then release thin threads that track their targets. They won't harm them until contact. Once contact is made, we alter the energy flow—and the flow can increase enough to explode the target. The maximum number of threads is ten."
Rona was amazed—
just as the academy students finally arrived.