Caseoh stood in the middle of the training grounds, the afternoon sun casting sharp golden rays across the polished stone floor. A low hum of magical energy from the surrounding barrier pulsed through the air, giving the scene an unnatural stillness. The crowd — dozens of students gathered around the ring — watched with hushed anticipation.


    Directly across from him stood Elric, his blond hair gleaming in the sunlight. His tailored academy uniform was spotless, and his expression was sharpened with condescension. His smirk was the same as always — that annoying curl of superiority that had haunted Caseoh for years.


    “So, you actually showed up,” Elric sneered, crossing his arms. “I thought you’d find some excuse to back out.”


    Caseoh’s gaze was steady. His body felt… different. The memory of his awakening — Xa?eoh’s presence washing over him — was still fresh in his mind. His body felt lighter, stronger, more refined than ever before. Every nerve buzzed with latent energy, restrained beneath his skin.


    I could end this instantly.


    But he wouldn’t.


    He couldn’t afford to reveal everything yet. Not in front of everyone. Not after everything that had happened.


    “I’m not running,” Caseoh said quietly. His tone was measured, steady. “You asked for this.”


    Elric’s eyes narrowed. His smirk deepened. “Hmph. Big words for someone who used to get winded walking up the stairs.”


    Caseoh’s jaw tightened. He wasn’t the same person anymore. Elric didn’t know that.


    The instructor stepped forward, his expression cold and impassive. His robes fluttered slightly as a wave of mana spread from his feet into the ground beneath them. A shimmering light formed a thin barrier around the ring.


    “Standard magical duel,” the instructor’s voice was clipped and professional. “No lethal strikes. Victory is determined by incapacitation or submission.”


    Caseoh’s hand flexed at his side. His instincts screamed at him to finish this quickly. But he needed to hold back. Too much strength, and questions would start to spread.


    The instructor’s hand shot upward.


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    “Begin!”


    Elric moved first.


    His right hand lit up with searing crimson mana — fire magic. A jagged burst of flame erupted from his palm, forming a spear of pure heat that hurtled toward Caseoh’s chest.


    Fast.


    Caseoh’s body moved before his mind processed it. He sidestepped, the spear grazing his shoulder as it passed — evaporating into sparks on the ground behind him.


    Gasps erupted from the crowd.


    “Did he just dodge that?”


    “No way… that was a class-B flame spell!”


    Caseoh’s expression remained calm. His gaze never left Elric.


    Elric’s eyes narrowed. His hand glowed brighter, sparks licking the tips of his fingers. “You got lucky.”


    Caseoh’s foot slid forward. “Try again.”


    Elric’s jaw tightened. He raised both hands — the mana around him flaring violently. Three more spears of fire erupted from his palms — this time larger, faster, their tips rippling with unstable heat.


    Caseoh’s eyes sharpened. His instincts screamed to retaliate — to crush this attack with a single counter — but he suppressed it.


    Not yet.


    He ducked low, the spears cutting through the air just above his head. He twisted his body, weaving through them with calculated precision. His feet barely made a sound as he landed back on the ground.


    “Impossible…”


    Elric’s tone darkened. His aura flared — crimson light twisting unnaturally around his arms.


    “Don’t look down on me!”


    He lunged forward, a blade of fire forming in his hand.


    Caseoh''s gaze sharpened. His hand shot out — meeting the edge of the flaming blade with his bare palm. Sparks exploded on impact. The crowd screamed.


    “What—?!”


    Caseoh’s eyes remained steady. His palm remained pressed against the fire, completely unaffected.


    Elric’s hand trembled. “You… what are you—”


    Caseoh pushed forward. His strength sent Elric stumbling back across the ring.


    “You left an opening,” Caseoh said coldly.


    Elric’s face twisted in fury. His aura flared violently — black veins of energy forming along the edge of his blade.


    A sharp chill spread through the air.


    Caseoh’s eyes narrowed. That mana…


    Dark symbols began to pulse beneath Elric’s feet — twisting and curling unnaturally across the ground.


    “…No.”


    Caseoh’s chest tightened.


    Elric’s lips curled upward in a wicked smile. “Took you long enough to notice.”


    Dark tendrils coiled around Elric’s body — his aura spiking unnaturally high. His pupils narrowed into reptilian slits.


    He made a contract.


    “Elric…” Caseoh’s tone darkened. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”


    Elric’s breath hitched. His mouth curled into a crooked smile. “Does it matter?”


    He vanished.


    Caseoh’s instincts flared. His hand shot upward just in time to block a strike from behind. Elric’s fist — now coated in black energy — crashed into Caseoh’s palm with enough force to shatter the stone beneath them.


    Caseoh’s gaze sharpened. He twisted, throwing Elric backward.


    Elric landed on his feet — his black aura seething and unstable. The ground beneath him cracked under the pressure.


    “You’re holding back,” Elric hissed.


    Caseoh’s gaze remained calm. Of course I am.


    “If I use even a fraction of my true strength… you’ll die.”


    But he didn’t say that out loud.


    Instead, he raised his hand. A thin line of mana formed along his fingers — bright white, steady and calm.


    Elric lunged again. Caseoh sidestepped. His hand shot forward — palm pressed lightly against Elric’s chest.


    Elric’s eyes widened.


    A burst of light sent Elric flying backward. His body slammed into the barrier with a loud crack. The barrier flickered from the force.


    The instructor’s hand shot upward.


    “Enough!”


    The barrier dissolved. The instructor’s eyes darkened. “This duel is over.”


    Elric’s chest heaved. His body trembled violently — the dark sigil on his hand still burning faintly.


    “You…” Elric’s voice was low and venomous.


    Caseoh’s gaze remained cold. He could feel the power beneath Elric’s aura — unstable, dangerous.


    “You’ll regret this,” Elric whispered.


    Caseoh’s eyes narrowed. His heart was steady — his breathing calm. He turned, walking away from the ring.


    He knew exactly where this path was heading.


    And he knew it wasn’t over.