Vito Fool slowly descended amidst the settling dust, his body radiating with a dark, eerie brilliance.
No one said a word. Even if they did, their voices would be lost in the cacophony of screams and roars.
"Leave the questions for later, alright?" Vito shook his head, his expression a mix of excitement and regret.
Principal Lorthus cleared his throat, a sound powerful enough to restore silence to the Colosseum.
"Vito Fool, that strike did not contain any force, am I correct?"
"I won't question the true nature of your ethereal arm; I know you have your reasons for keeping it a secret. But I am puzzled by one thing."
"Why did you interrupt a lesson in which you were not included?" Enwyld Lorthus's expression was filled with fury, his aura surpassing even the pressure of the previous meteor.
"A student who doesn't follow the rules shall be punished."
A staff emerged from his hand, the ground beneath them starting to vibrate and distort, symbolizing his wrath.
"Realm of Infinity, engulf him."
Vito Fool, unafraid, responded instantly, "If helping classmates and friends is a sin, then there is no point for me to stay in this academy anymore. Fighting as a team, isn't that what you always taught us?"
Despite his words, Vito unsheathed his sword, ready for the worst.
But the principal withdrew his staff, and the environment instantly returned to normal.
With a disdainful spat, he walked away from his seat, leaving behind his final words, "It seems only one person understands the context of the lessons. Imagine if the entire academy were filled with warriors like him."
Most instructors and students in the audience were trembling, some having witnessed the principal's fury once before—a catastrophe they never wanted to see again.
Back at the Celestial Summit
The scene at the Celestial Summit was rather interesting.
Emilia and Jaylen had been hovering over Leon for quite a while, delighted to see him regain consciousness.
El and Cloudy were conversing quietly, occasionally glancing at Vito, who was engaged in a discussion with Instructor Lumiel.
Silver was teaching Shun a game he had never heard of, calling it Poker—perhaps a game from her hometown.
Suddenly, a groan broke the static scene.
"Leon."
"Leon?"
Leon Ermy slowly opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Emilia and Jaylen's anxious faces.
"Ugh, why does it always have to be me?" Leon sat up, embarrassed and exhausted.
Emilia immediately whispered, "Leon, why didn't you tell us Vito's true ability back then?"
"My ethereal arm is like a brain of its own. It not only detects ethereal abilities but also analyzes positions and suggests the best solutions." Leon answered deeply, his brows furrowed. "There is only one reason why Informational Intelligence didn't inform me of his complete abilities."
"It thinks I'm better off not knowing."
Emilia and Jaylen gasped. What could such a horrifying ability be? How could an ascended ability be so powerful?
"Let me answer your questions now." Vito Fool's voice cut through the air, his presence previously overshadowed by Leon's awakening. "The true ability of my ethereal arm is not the power to live forever."
"I didn't break the meteor; I 'killed' it."
Everyone stared at Vito, their expressions a mix of shock and curiosity.
"The ability of my ethereal arm has a special requirement to activate."
"I must kill the person I love the most."
"Moreover, I will not be pardoned by death until I forget that particular person."
"I will continue living like a husk until I forget her existence."
"God's deadliest curse, enough to drive a man insane." Vito's smile was filled with sorrow.
"I simply want to apologize to Leon."
"After I saw her again during the test, I stopped thinking logically."
"Leon Ermy, I am deeply sorry, and my remorse will last as long as I live."
Leon's face twisted in a mix of confusion, empathy, and sadness. He tried to speak, but no words came out.
"Now it's time for me to reveal the truth of my ethereal arm." Vito's tone brightened, trying to sound more confident.
"It's an ironic ability for someone who can't die himself."
"The power of death, the ability to make life perish. I can only use this ability once a month."
"I never knew this ability could work on objects, but it seems everything has its own life."
"How much have you killed?" Emilia asked quietly.
"None." Vito smiled, but it was clearly not a smile for his classmates.
The Next Day
Seven students from the Celestial Summit gathered around Instructor Lumiel, once again leaving Vito Fool in his little corner. This time, it was due to raw fear.
Instructor Lumiel, clearly not wanting to recall yesterday's battle, went straight to the point.
"The Interacademy Ethereal Combat Tournament is recognized as the most prestigious tournament for ethereal warriors studying within an academy."
"We have no information on the other students' ethereal arms and abilities, so it's impossible to formulate a strategy right now."
"There will be no rewards for anyone except for first place. Let me be clear: I do not expect you to win the tournament. The Haven Royal Academy possesses two complete warriors, making it impossible for us to even compare."
"However, the fame we gain from becoming top 5 is beyond imagination. As long as your name is heard, it wouldn't be hard to live a prosperous life after you graduate."
"I don't need to emphasize its importance more, right?"
Shun was the first to ask a question.
"What will the first-place reward be?"
Instructor Lumiel sighed.
"An entire city."