While Esdeath was away on her separate journey, life at the Awakened Academy was anything but peaceful.
Lortell Mariette had taken it upon herself to ensure the four girls who once bullied Esdeath couldn't sleep peacefully. Lortell was relentless, tormenting them at every opportunity, and no one dared to challenge her openly.
Even Lilith, who could stand toe-to-toe with Lortell in authority, found herself unable to fully curb Lortell's actions. The tension between the two was palpable, but Lortell's cunning left Lilith with little to no ground to intervene effectively.
The situation escalated to such an extent that even the parents of the four girls became aware of their daughters' plight. Yet, despite their influence, they couldn't do anything to stop Lortell. Her dominance within the academy remained unshaken.
But today was different.
It was early morning, and the academy grounds buzzed with the usual hum of students arriving. However, a commotion broke out before the day even properly began. Crowds of students gathered in the academy garden, forming a wide circle. Murmurs and gasps filled the air as all eyes fixated on the lifeless body lying in the center of the crowd.
It was Bella—one of the four girls who had bullied Esdeath and had since been the target of Lortell's vengeance.
The sight was grisly. Bella's body was in a horrifying state, her skin marred by countless scars and wounds. Blood had seeped into the ground beneath her, and her lifeless face bore an expression of frozen agony.
As whispers of blame and speculation swirled, many students instinctively turned their gaze toward Lortell.
Far from the scene, Lortell stood on the academy's balcony, leaning casually against the railing. Her silver hair glistened under the morning light, and her sharp crimson eyes flickered with a hint of amusement as she noticed the stares directed at her.
Raising an eyebrow, she snorted loudly enough for the crowd to hear.
"What are you all looking at? If I'd done it, she would've died in a far worse state than this!" she scoffed, her voice laced with sarcasm and a touch of irritation.
For the first time, Lortell was telling the truth—she wasn't responsible for Bella's death.
Yet her claim of delivering a "worse death" seemed almost laughable, considering the condition of Bella's corpse. The lifeless body bore evidence of unspeakable horrors. Deep, jagged wounds covered her arms and legs, as though her very organs had been cut and replaced. Her pale skin was marked with faint traces of stitches, and the effects of drugs were visible in her discolored veins.
Lortell's eyes, sharper than most, noticed details that others couldn't. Though she stood far away, it was as if Bella's body lay mere inches from her.
Her gaze narrowed as she analyzed the injuries. "Stitch marks... drug traces... experiments?" she muttered under her breath, her tone tinged with genuine shock.
She leaned back against the railing, her mind racing. "So, she was kidnapped, experimented on, and then killed? But who could pull this off? Who has the kind of power to kidnap a student, perform inhuman experiments, and dump the body here without anyone noticing?"
Even Lortell, with all her arrogance and influence, was taken aback. The sheer audacity of such an act within the academy walls left her momentarily stunned. She knew the limits of her own authority; if she were to kill a student, it would undoubtedly spark an uproar.
Of course, It not like anyone can do anything to her but still, Pulling off something like this, was surely a great feat.
"Well, the investigation hasn't started yet. Since this is a case of human experimentation, many high-level authorities will get involved. The person behind this will likely be exposed soon enough," Lortell thought to herself, her crimson eyes narrowing as she glanced once more at Bella's lifeless body. Without another word, she turned on her heels, her silver hair catching the morning sunlight, and walked away from the balcony, disappearing into the academy corridors.
---
Despite the murder that had shaken the academy earlier that morning, the competition to decide the final duelists continued as planned. Bella was no noble after all, Why academy would bother their events for a commoner?
For the past several days, fierce trials had been held to determine which students would qualify for the highly anticipated one-on-one duel match. The competition was grueling, testing not only strength but also strategy, adaptability, and determination.
Many outstanding students had already secured their spots for the finals. Esdeath Crimson, Maruti, and Valen, the team that had triumphed in the first round, were naturally among the finalists. After countless battles, others like Ethan Rothslayer, Sylvain, Violet Vondarion, Kaelith Maranthia, Claus Clandestine, and a handful of other top-tier students had also claimed their places.
However, not everyone could emerge victorious.
Among those who had failed to qualify were two particularly surprising names: Princess Ravenna Thorne and Corin.
The defeat of Princess Ravenna, in particular, sent ripples of shock through the academy. She was a figure of prestige and power, the beloved princess of the Anastasia Kingdom— To see her not just lose but fail miserably was unthinkable.
Had she placed second or third, it might have been excusable, though still embarrassing for someone of her stature. But to fail outright? It was a devastating blow to her reputation.
"How could a princess—someone with her status and resources—fail like this?" whispered many students in disbelief. The murmurs grew louder with each passing day, and Ravenna's failure became the subject of endless gossip.
---
Today, the academy had organized a special duel for those who had failed the trials. It was a chance for redemption—a last opportunity for the fallen contenders to fight for two remaining spots in the main finals.
Despite the gruesome events earlier, the competition moved forward. The battle arena was filled with students eager to witness the intense matches.
In the arena, Princess Ravenna was a force to be reckoned with. Her previous defeat seemed to have ignited a fire within her. With her pink hair flowing like silk in the wind and her piercing pink eyes glowing with determination, she dominated every opponent who dared step into the ring.
The arena resounded with gasps and cheers as she defeated one challenger after another. Her movements were graceful yet fierce, a perfect blend of elegance and power. Her opponents barely had time to react before they were either disarmed or forced to surrender.
"She's completely overwhelming them," one student murmured.
"She's the princess of Anastasia Kingdom, after all. This is the strength she should've shown from the start!" another chimed in.
The reason for her earlier failure became clear to those watching. The academy's competition rules had prohibited the use of mana and essence stones, a restriction that had significantly limited her capabilities.
In her kingdom, Ravenna had access to an abundance of resources and Without them, she was forced to rely solely on her physical skills and combat instincts—areas where others, like Esdeath and Maruti, excelled.
"If they'd allowed mana and essence stones, she could've easily defeated both Esdeath, Maruti and by herself," a noble remarked confidently.
As Ravenna continued to dominate the duels, her earlier humiliation seemed to fade. The princess of the kingdom wasn't going to let her reputation crumble so easily.
After several matches, it was finally Corin's turn to step into the arena. He walked to his spot confidently, holding his long sword tightly in one hand. His opponent, Zekt, stood on the other side of the arena, gripping his own sword with determination. Zekt's eyes were fixed on Corin, and it was clear he was ready to give it his all.
Corin, however, wasn't too worried about this fight. "I'm sure I can win against Zekt," he thought to himself, glancing at his opponent. But his mind wasn't fully focused on the duel.
His thoughts drifted back to what had happened the night before. "Just like Esdeath said," Corin thought with a frown. "I went out for a midnight walk and met a strange person. Ever since then, my life became different—just like she predicted."
He hesitated for a moment, his grip on the sword loosening slightly. "Could Esdeath really be able to see the future? Is she some kind of psychic?" Corin shook his head, trying to push the confusing thoughts away.
Right now, he had something more important to think about. The mysterious person he met had given him a drug, promising it would increase his strength and abilities. Corin didn't fully trust it, but he was curious. "If it works, it could give me a huge advantage. But what if it fails at an important time?"
That's why this fight with Zekt was perfect—it was the best chance to test the drug. Corin planned to use Zekt as a way to see how the drug worked.
"I'll try it out here," Corin decided. "Better to find out now than to use it in a real emergency and regret it."
Taking a deep breath, Corin focused his energy and activated the essence stones. The "Output" stone, which was connected to the "Input" stone hidden in his personal room, began to glow faintly. Even though the drug was stored far away, its effects flowed into Corin's body instantly.
As the drug took effect, a powerful feeling surged through Corin. His muscles felt stronger, his vision sharper, and his body lighter. A confident grin spread across his face.
"This… this power," Corin muttered under his breath. "It's incredible."
As the drug coursed through Corin's veins, his instincts sharpened in a way he had never experienced before. It was as if a door had opened to an entirely new world. He could hear the sound of people breathing around him, their soft inhales and exhales filling the air. Even the distant chirping of birds, far beyond the arena, reached his ears.
His body felt incredibly light, almost as if he could float away. A strange happiness bubbled up inside him, overwhelming and intoxicating. His grip on the sword loosened without him realizing it, and the weapon clattered to the ground.
A bright, almost childlike smile spread across his face. "This feels… amazing," Corin muttered, his voice filled with awe. "I feel invincible!"
But while Corin was lost in this euphoric moment, the spectators were in shock.
"Did he just drop his sword?!" one student gasped.
"What is he even doing?!" another shouted, frustration in their voice.
In the arena, Zekt's face twisted with anger. To him, it felt like Corin was mocking him—acting like he didn't even need a weapon to win.
"Stop underestimating me!" Zekt roared, his voice echoing across the arena. Without hesitation, he charged forward, his sword gleaming under the sunlight. As he closed the distance, he swung his blade in a flurry of quick, powerful strikes.
"Dodge! Dodge! Dodge!"
The crowd held their breath, expecting Corin to struggle. But Corin didn't even bother to open his eyes. Moving with precise, effortless motions, he dodged each attack as though he had been trained for this moment his entire life.
Then, without warning—BAM!
Corin spun and delivered a powerful flying kick to Zekt's chest. The impact sent Zekt flying backward, and he hit the ground hard, unconscious.
For a moment, the arena was dead silent. No one could believe what they had just seen.
"Was Corin always this strong?" someone whispered.
After this, one thing became clear in that instant: Corin had secured his place in the finals, alongside Princess Ravenna. The competition had just become far more interesting.
--------------
Ethan sat quietly in his room, lost in his thoughts. He couldn't shake the image of Bella's lifeless body, and the uneasiness it brought him only grew stronger. Unable to focus on anything else, he skipped his classes and returned to his personal space, seeking solitude.
"Just like in my previous life," Ethan thought, his expression dark and grim. "This is the time when everything started falling apart. Back then, one by one, students were killed, and soon after, monster waves began to appear. It got so bad that even the academy couldn't protect itself."
He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he remembered the coward he used to be. "At that time, I ran away. I was too scared to face what was happening. I ended up joining a mercenary guild, thinking I could escape the chaos. But in the end, I learned that Violet… Violet didn't survive. She died in that disaster, and I could never forgive myself for abandoning her… for being a coward."
Anger bubbled up inside him, directed at his past self. He bit his lip, his frustration clear. But then, as if a spark had ignited within him, his resolve began to grow.
"This time, things are different," he whispered, his voice steady and full of determination. "I won't let anything happen to Violet. She's done so much for me. No… it's not just about her. I'll protect everyone I care about. I'll save as many people as I can."
For a moment, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. The memory of his defeat at Lortell's hands resurfaced—her overwhelming strength, how easily she had beaten him. Fear crept in, cold and sharp, but he pushed it away.
"It doesn't matter how strong my opponents are or how impossible my goal seems," Ethan said aloud, his voice rising with conviction. "I'll walk my path, no matter what!"
"Quit dreaming, young man!"
A deep, calm voice suddenly interrupted him. Startled, Ethan looked up to see the floating form of Gareth's soul emerging from the golden ring on his finger.
"Determination alone won't get you far," Gareth said, his tone steady but firm. "You need strength, too. Without it, your resolve means nothing."
"I know that!" Ethan replied with a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "But that's easier said than done."
Gareth tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk on his ghostly face.
"By the way, the last time we spoke, you said there was something you wanted to discuss with me. It's been several days now. Are you finally ready to talk?" Ethan asked.
"Of course," Gareth began, his voice calm and steady as always. "It's not much, really. I just wanted to let you know that I've already seen glimpses of your potential through your soul. You'll definitely acquire a rank B inheritance one day. So, I thought it was time to share some things about our upcoming journey and give you an idea of what lies ahead."
"Journey? What kind of journey?" Ethan asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
Gareth's tone grew slightly more serious. "It's about the treasures left behind by the hero. Although he's been gone for ages, humans were only able to recover a small portion of what he left behind. Many of his most valuable items were stolen, especially one of the most crucial—his sword. That sword is still in the possession of someone to this day."
Ethan leaned forward, intrigued but cautious. "Who is this person?"
Gareth's expression darkened. His next words carried an air of gravity that made the room feel colder. "Kirmada."
Ethan froze. His entire body began trembling, and his eyes widened in shock. "K-K-Kirmada? That Kirmada?"
"Yes," Gareth confirmed, his calm exterior hiding the unease in his voice. "That Kirmada. One of the Four Lords of Hell. Even among the most feared beings, he stands as a legend. If the Four Lords work together, they can even stand toe-to-toe with the Demon King himself."
Kirmada was one of the Four Lords of Hell, each of whom held immense power. Together, the four of them could even go toe-to-toe with the Demon King. But Kirmada wasn't feared just because of his strength or title.
What made him truly terrifying was,He was among those few people,Who refined the "Grant Wish Essence Stone," a legendary that only a handful in history had ever refined.
The essence stone couldn't grant something like true immortality, but it could grant a twisted version of it. Kirmada's wish was cunning: "As long as someone has refined an essence stone in their life, they cannot kill me."
To understand the weight of this wish, one had to know what an essence stone was. Much like magic, essence stones were fundamental to the awakened. Every awakened being—whether human, demon, monster, or beast—refined at least one essence stone in their lifetime and have it insde Or outside of their bodies. It didn't matter what type it was;
Kirmada's wish meant that anyone who had ever refined an essence stone was powerless against him. And even if someone managed to discard their essence stone, it wouldn't matter. His wish covered them too. The condition was simple: once you refined an essence stone, it was over, You are not qualified to kill him.
Because of this, Kirmada was immune to almost the entire world. Not even the strongest heroes or villains could harm him. Ethan, Esdeath, Maruti, Lortell, Mourya, Gareth—none of them were qualified to take him down. Even the most powerful beings, The demon king, Star constellations also can't kill him.
"Although we can't kill him, that doesn't mean we can't defeat him," Gareth said, his voice calm and steady as he tried to ease the tension in the room. "He's been defeated twice in his life already. If it happened before, it can happen again."
His words weren't just meant to reassure Ethan; they were a test. Gareth wanted to see how Ethan would react. Would he crumble under the weight of despair? Or would he rise with unshakable determination?
Ethan let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Heh... here I was thinking my only goal was to surpass Lortell. Turns out my future opponents are way more troublesome than her! Fine then. I've already made up my mind—I won't hold back anymore!"
With a determined glint in his eyes, Ethan reached into his bag and pulled out several essence stones. Their soft glow illuminated the room, each one brimming with untapped power.
"The competition starts the day after tomorrow, but I've already sent a letter requesting two days off," he said, standing up.
He opened his status window, revealing a list of stats he had carefully saved and nurtured over time. Unlike Esdeath's system, his granted rewards like skills and essence stones for killing monsters. Ethan had been holding onto his universal stat points for far too long, waiting for the right moment.
That moment was now.
He quickly allocated the points, increasing his overall stats with precision and purpose. Then, with deep focus, he poured his mana into all the essence stones at once.
The room was filled with a radiant glow as the stones activated. Among them were:
- The Boar Strength Essence Stone,
- The Flying Elephant's Strength Essence Stone.
- The White Boar Strength Essence Stone.
But the last two were the most important:
- The Jade Emphasis Skin Essence Stone.
- The Silver Muscle Essence Stone, designed to enhance both flexibility and raw power in his muscles.
- And finally, the Iron Bone Essence Stone, reinforcing his skeleton to be as tough as steel.
Ethan's body trembled violently as the essence stones took effect. Surprisingly, it wasn't the strength-enhancing stones that caused the intense pain—it was the Jade Emphasis Essence Stone and the Iron Bone Essence Stone.
His skin began to undergo a drastic transformation, replacing its natural texture with a jade-like sheen. It exuded a soft moisture while boasting incredible endurance. At the same time, his bones started turning black, reforging themselves into Iron Bones. Each snap, crackle, and shift in his skeleton felt like his very existence was being remade.
Ethan was ready for this. He clenched his jaw, his teeth grinding against each other as beads of sweat dripped down his face. His hands gripped the edge of the bed, and with a trembling voice, he whispered, "Pain Nullification Essence Stone... activate!"
The pain disappeared almost instantly, replaced by a strange calmness. However, the relief was short-lived. Ethan's body collapsed onto the bed, completely paralyzed. Though the stone nullified the pain, the overwhelming process had drained his energy, rendering him immobile.
He stared blankly at the ceiling, his breathing steady but shallow. This was why he had planned ahead, requesting leave from the academy and informing his friends that he wouldn't be available for a while.
"One and a half days... I'll be like this for that long," he thought, his mind still sharp despite his body's state.
Gareth floated nearby, observing the changes with an approving gaze.
"Hmm... using more than five essence stones at once. You've got some talent, young man," Gareth said with a faint smile, his tone calm but impressed. With that, he returned to the golden ring, leaving Ethan to rest.
As Ethan lay there, his status window reflected the results of his efforts, his stats now significantly enhanced:
Name: Ethan Rothslayer
Title: Regressor
Attributes:
- Strength 112
- Stamina: 128
- Speed: 94
- Magic Power: 686
Current Skills in Possession:
- Genius Hour (B) Upgradable: When activated, Strength increases by 20%, Stamina by 25%, and Speed by 30% for one hour. Cooldown: 24 hours.
- Righteous (B) Upgradable: The body slowly heals over time while fighting for a righteous cause. If near defeat, Stamina snd fatigue resets once, and pain is numbed for an hour.
- Bleeding (C): Wounds inflicted by you continue to bleed until fully healed with magic.