"Fine, but with one condition," Arthur spoke into the communicator addressing the old man. "My test will be the sole determinant of who gets selected for the Grade A Corps, even after they are admitted into the academy."
The old man's patience was wearing thin, having secluded himself away from the world for academic purposes, he had never seen such an influx of talent before.
However, his grandson seemed intent on disqualifying them all, like using a dragon to test the worth of mice. It wasn't fair that he was going around knocking out these younglings.
Arthur's proposition seemed unreasonable to the old man, but he reluctantly agreed to it nonetheless.
The truth was that the old man had always given in to Arthur's whims.
Whenever he tried to give something to his always cold and distant grandson, he had to resort to coercion and sometimes even force.
Therefore, when Arthur willingly asked for a favor, the old man granted it since he knew such opportunities were rare.
Despite his initial reluctance, the old man recognized that Arthur had a good reason for insisting on his test.
He knew that Arthur was driven by a desire to ensure that only the most capable students were selected for the Grade A Corps and that he was determined to uphold the academy's standards.
In the end, the old man realized that it was this kind of passion and dedication that would ultimately make Arthur a great leader in his own right.
And so, he acquiesced to Arthur's demands, knowing that it was the right thing to do for the academy and the future of their world.
The old man couldn't ignore the number of casualties and deaths that had occurred due to the inadequacy of some of the entrants, and he began to wonder if Arthur was being too heavy-handed in his approach.
As someone with significant authority, he could have swept the matter under the rug, but he was a man who valued life and knew that no amount of money or authority could replace the value of a single life.
He also recognized the need to prepare the younglings for the threats that lay ahead. The world seemed to be facing a new danger, one that could paint the blue and vital Earth red again, just as it had fifteen years ago.
The success of that group had prompted Grade A Corps' creation, but he knew that couldn't excuse the death toll. Sighing deeply, he turned to his long-time friend Marjorie, who had stood by him through all these years.
"I'm sorry our conversation had to end so abruptly," Richard sighed, apologizing to her.
"I understand that you're worried about Chloe. Why don't you visit that small city? It might alleviate at least one percent of your burden," Marjorie suggested, letting out a brief laugh to ease the tension.
"I understand your concern, but giving preferential treatment to my granddaughter would not reflect well on her. Besides, I'm sure Arthur has something prepared for her, no matter how cold-hearted he may seem," Richard replied, rubbing his forehead and wondering why Arthur continued to adhere to the stereotypical behavior expected of those with an awakened ice mana signature.
Marjorie paused for a moment, her gaze fixed on Richard. "And what about Oxford?" she asked.
Richard's smile faded, replaced by a grave expression as he remembered what he had intentionally tried to forget. In their supernatural world, it was impossible to run from one's karma.
"Yes, Oxford," he replied, understanding exactly what his best friend of over a millennium meant.
Sighing heavily, he disappeared from State Academy Island visiting every member of the family who had been killed during the test. He felt it was the least he could do with the limited time they had left.
With the way things were going, there would be no time for apologies when the world was struggling to maintain its fundamental morality and survival.
-------------------
Dante found himself in a spacious facility filled with hovering bots carrying medical supplies and surrounded by a team of medical staff. The smell of detergents and disinfectants wafted into his nose, overwhelming his senses. Struggling to open his eyes, he stared up at the bright ceiling lights as he fought to maintain consciousness.
Over the past month, Dante had visited the hospital more times than he could count. However, this time was different. He found himself in a different hospital, breaking his streak of visiting the same one twice.
As he turned his head to the left, he saw Rai munching down on some chicken. To his right, there was a girl with purple hair who was munching on some chocolate. She exuded a princess-like aura, which made her a sight to behold. However, the twin greatswords she carried were terrifying enough to change the mind of any weak male.
As Dante tried to process what had happened, a familiar voice echoed in his ear. He immediately recognized the voice and reached for his katana, but he wasn't the only one.
The voice reverberated throughout the facility, causing everyone to react similarly. Auras burst forth from individuals, and elemental attacks were unleashed in Arthur's direction.
The medical staff who were not aware of the situation were terrified, thinking that the end of the world had come. However, Arthur remained unperturbed, his demeanor unchanged as always.
Despite the barrage of projectile attacks, none of them were able to reach Arthur due to a circular wall of transparent ice that had formed around him.
The situation was comical because even though aggressive auras were emanating from various individuals, no one dared to approach Arthur.
Even "Rowdy Rai" remained on his bed, holding a burnt chicken, while he unleashed his most powerful lightning spell. Everyone was afraid of being crushed by the unknown force that Arthur used during the trial.
Arthur's voice echoed throughout the room, unimpressed by the display of power and aggression from the other mages. He looked over the crowd of downtrodden entrants with a sense of superiority, and his words were dripping with contempt.
"I'm not sure why you're all so enthusiastic, considering the majority of you are just trash mages. If it weren't for a few old geezers, three-quarters of you would be back in your noble households, sitting on your soft cushions," he said, his indifferent tone emphasizing his lack of respect for the others.
"However, from now on, I will become a part of your lives. My very existence will be what your pathetic existences will revolve around. And to make things interesting, I have an order for you all. Any student who can assassinate me will receive special tutelage from The Ancient Monarch," he declared, dropping a bombshell that left the mouths of those who understood the significance of the offer agape.
As a snowy wind blew against their faces, Arthur disappeared from the facility, leaving the entrants frozen in their spots for several minutes.
Eventually, a few of them began to disperse, checking their tokens for basic information such as their class selection and accommodation options. However, nothing could overshadow the bombshell Arthur had dropped on them.
The next morning, the news of Arthur's offer spread like wildfire, causing an uproar throughout the academy.
Students began to strategize and plan how to take down Arthur in hopes of receiving special tutelage from The Ancient Monarch.
The academy was never the same again after Arthur's announcement, and his presence would be felt for a long time to come.
While the chaos and excitement of Arthur's announcement filled the academy, Dante was sound asleep on his mana-inscribed bed in his room.
The mana flowing through his body helped to relax him, and his fatigue from the previous day gradually wore off.
When Arthur had made his announcement, it was already nighttime, and Dante was completely drained from using two tiers of Basic Pulse and the Cursed Ordnance.
Although Altered Psyche could have helped, Dante had not yet made significant progress in mastering the ability, and he was using up too much energy just to use it.
Therefore, Dante slept soundly, not bothering to check the relevance of what Arthur had said. He was simply too tired to keep his eyes open and was enjoying a peaceful slumber like a princess.
In his fairyland, the chanting crowd around Dante grew louder as he stood on the stage, gripping one of the swords Magnus had given him. He looked much younger, around 12 years old, and stood opposite the slimmer Arena Lord.
In front of the Arena Lord was another boy, around Dante's age, with spiky blonde hair and golden eyes. He wore a blue jacket and gold baggy pants, with a katana strapped to his waist.
Despite Dante's worn-out clothing and dirty silver hair, the other boy seemed far better dressed and exuded an aura of royalty.
However, as Dante's eyes trailed down to the boy's jacket, he noticed a faint red scar that had not fully healed, indicating that he had been through some rough times as well.
The boy's closed eyes also bore a cross emblem, adding to his mysterious aura. Dante felt a sense of familiarity wash over him as he gazed at the boy, but he couldn't quite place where he had seen him before.
Dante heard the voice of a black-haired boy ringing in his ears, asking, "May I know your name?"
In a childish tone with a slight touch of indifference, Dante responded, "My name is Dante. And you?"
"I am sorry, but you do not deserve to know my name. You are merely an 'Unfated,' but my eyes tell me that you are different. I shall leave you with a parting gift, and I hope you survive. Please prepare yourself; I will strike your chest," the black-haired boy declared, and a bright light flashed for a moment.
When the light disappeared, Dante lay on the ground, bleeding from his chest, his eyes rolling back in his head. He didn't know what happened; he only saw the intense flash.
The emergency unit arrived and treated him, marking the beginning of his servitude to the cunning Arena Lord.
--------
"Ugh, why do I always have these dreams at the wrong time? Well, I guess this is more like a nightmare. I hope that he's here. A rematch would be nice," Dante said, wiping the sweat from his brow as he woke up suddenly from one of his recurring dreams.
Dante sat up on his bed and looked around his room, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream. He could still feel the phantom pain on his chest where the golden-haired boy had attacked him in his dream. He took a deep breath and stretched his arms, feeling the stiffness in his muscles fade away.
He got up from his bed and walked to the window, peering outside. The sun was just starting to rise, casting a warm glow over the academy grounds. He gazed upon the very ground that would be his initial stepping stone on the path to becoming the "Best In The World".