The boy, still shaken by the sudden challenge, pleaded with the headmaster, "Wait, I just met you! Why do I have to fight?" His voice wavered, but the headmaster pressed on.
"In this world, the ideology of fighting for a reason has been stripped away from every person born into this war. Peace was once a privilege given to those who could acquire it. Now, there is no reason we must fight, but that alone is reason enough. Show me your resolve, boy," proclaimed the headmaster, his once gloomy eyes now filled with life.
Bracing for the incoming attack, the boy tried to prepare himself, planting his foot behind him to lessen the blow. The headmaster launched himself into the air with great strength, sending shockwaves through the ground before coming down with a powerful frontal kick. The boy crossed his arms in an X-shape above him to block the blow, but despite his efforts, the force broke his guard. However, thanks to his planted stance, he managed to reduce the damage.
"Very good, but that won't be enough to stop it," said the headmaster, increasing the strength of his attack. The boy struggled under the pressure, fighting to keep his balance and maintain the block, but he refused to give in.
A voice echoed in his mind, mocking him. Are you really going to be beaten twice? Pathetic.
Suddenly, the tide began to turn. The headmaster, who had been overpowering him just moments before, started to feel resistance. The boy's energy surged, red aura radiating from his body. "Interesting," the headmaster muttered, watching in fascination as the boy's power grew.
Step by step, the boy advanced, his footsteps reverberating through the courtyard. On his fourth step, he vanished, leaving only a cloud of dust behind.
"Where did he go? I couldn't track him at all!" Luke exclaimed, watching in disbelief.
The headmaster stood still, scanning the area, his eyes darting from left to right in an attempt to anticipate the boy's next move. "To the left," he muttered, throwing a punch in that direction.
"BELOW YOU!" Rhea screamed, warning the headmaster.
BOOM! An upward kick from the boy shattered the sound barrier, sending the headmaster flying. He barely managed to block the blow, and before he could fully recover, the boy vanished again, circling the headmaster with blinding speed. His movements created afterimages, making it impossible to predict where the next strike would come from.
Seeing the headmaster struggle, the boy prepared to strike again, but just as his fist was about to connect, a dark energy enveloped him. The headmaster's voice boomed, "Nox viventium."
The sound of the battlefield became mute, and his body froze. "What just happened?", the boy questioned with panic in his voice.
Scanning around he tried to focus pinpointing any sound or movement that he may hear. For what felt like eternity but was only a second; after trying hard to focus he heard the sound of running coming from behind him, "found you". Turning around to stop the attack coming at him. The boy now without sight tried grabbing where he thought the sound was coming from.
"How naïve," the headmaster's voice came from the opposite direction. Before the boy could react, the headmaster's fist connected, sending him crashing into a nearby tree.
Groaning, the boy rubbed the back of his head. "You said I win if I get you to use your saevus."
"That wasn't its power," Luke explained smugly from the sidelines. "People of nobility have blessings separate from their saevus that allow them to break human limits without activating it. You really thought you could make him sweat?"
Annoyed, the boy clenched his fists. "I'll wipe that stupid grin off your face," he muttered, stepping forward with newfound determination.
A voice echoed in his mind once again. Do you want to beat him? I'll give you power—power to take on anyone you want.
"Who are you?" the boy asked, his head throbbing.
Soon, you'll know the truth, REDACTED, the voice answered before fading.
"I don't care what happens to me right now," the boy muttered under his breath, "but I really want to beat this person."
"Good, good. That's the spirit! Show me what you're capable of," the voice encouraged as a new surge of energy flooded the boy.
"Something's off," the headmaster remarked, his expression growing more serious. "He's different now."
The world seemed to pause for a moment, as if acknowledging the boy's transformation. Without hesitation, the headmaster made his move, once again uttering, "Nox viventium," and closing the gap between them. He unleashed a flurry of blows, but before they could land, the boy's aura pushed him back with overwhelming force.
The headmaster was stunned. Before he could speak, the boy's voice rang out with a power that sent shivers through the air.
"Saevus Open."