The sun shone softly in the blue Cambridge sky at 1:30 PM. The shadows of ancient oak trees lining the school yard stretched across the ground, creating a dancing pattern on the red brick pavement. The distant cries of seagulls blended with the cheerful laughter of students sitting on park benches, their uniforms gently rustling in the spring breeze.
In the distance, a group of students played cricket, their enthusiastic shouts echoing across the grounds. The subtle fragrance of roses from the garden near the library mixed with the air, evoking a serene atmosphere.
Above it all, on the balcony of a building...
Thump!
A punch struck a black-haired young man in the same school uniform, causing him to stagger backward, feeling the force behind it.
"Damn, man! Was that just a regular punch? You've definitely improved," the young man, whose name tag read Aeric, said as he looked at his sparring partner. They were training together.
"Heh, I'd say I'm pretty happy with my progress," replied his opponent, a blonde-haired young man about 186 cm tall, with a name tag reading Lucien. His tone brimmed with satisfaction. "That book is something else—and I haven't even finished reading it yet."
Aeric smirked, shaking his head lightly. "Well, don't get too cocky. There's still the Miracle Spirit Awakening Ceremony ahead. Your power could grow even more."
"Yeah," Lucien said, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I'm really hoping to awaken an S-grade Miracle Spirit. Imagine if that actually happens. What do you think?" A self-assured smirk curved his lips.
Aeric chuckled, tilting his head. "What do I think? I think Kassandra might actually fall head over heels for you this time."
"What are you talking about, bro? She's already my girlfriend," Lucien replied, laughing lightly.
"Yeah?" Aeric raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with amusement. "But you two don't really seem like a couple. Weren't you chasing her for two years and getting rejected every time? Then suddenly, she accepts you? Sorry if this stings, but don't you think there's a chance Kassandra might just be playing you?"
Lucien's laughter faltered for a second, but he quickly masked it with a faint chuckle. "Come on, Aeric. She's not like that."
"Yeah? So how far have things gone between you two? Have you, uh, slept together yet?" Aeric asked bluntly, his tone half-serious, half-curious.
"Aeric," Lucien groaned, his expression turning awkward. "We've only been dating for a week. Of course, we haven't gotten that far. We're just… um… talking," he added, his voice lowering as if embarrassed by the admission.
Aeric sighed, shaking his head. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and tapped on the screen before turning it toward Lucien. "You might want to take a look at this," he said, his tone more serious now.
Lucien leaned in, his brows furrowing as he stared at the image. In the photo, Kassandra was standing by the roadside, her expression unreadable, next to a black-haired man he didn't recognize.
"While waiting for you, I happened to catch your girlfriend with this guy," Aeric said. "Do you know who he is?"
Lucien didn't answer immediately, his gaze fixed on the photo. The sight of Kassandra with another man sent a knot of unease twisting in his stomach.
"Well, if you don't know, I'll fill you in," Aeric continued, his voice steady. "That's Victor Archfindor. A rich kid from a family with a... let's just say, unusual background. If he's interested in Kassandra, he's not the kind to give up easily. He might even use his influence to get what he wants. If you want to stay with her, you're in for a fight."
Lucien's grip on Aeric's phone tightened momentarily before he handed it back. He stayed silent, his mind racing. The name Victor Archfindor meant nothing to him until now, but the implication of Aeric's words was clear: this wasn't going to be a simple problem.
"I've got a suggestion," Aeric said, breaking the silence. His voice dropped slightly, taking on a conspiratorial tone. "How about you deal with him directly? Beat him up somewhere private. Wear a mask, cover your identity, and make it clear he's to stay away from Kassandra. From what I've heard, the guy has zero talent in magic or combat. He's just a spoiled, second-generation rich brat."
Lucien didn't respond immediately, but his expression darkened, his jaw tightening. He wouldn't let Kassandra slip through his fingers, not after everything he'd gone through to win her heart.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. When he reopened them, his gaze was sharp and resolute. "I'm going, Aeric," he said curtly before walking off, determination radiating from every step.
Aeric watched Lucien's back in silence. Lucien was his best friend, and he hoped for the best for him.
----
Meanwhile, in a villa room, Victor lounged against a pillow, staring at a hologram in front of him.
[System Upgrade in process]
That was the result of using a draw chance. Honestly, he hadn't expected the system to still be upgradable.
[System Upgrade Complete]
[New Features Added: System Storage, System Fusion, Enhanced System Perception, and Protagonist Halo Absorption]
Victor raised an eyebrow. He wasn't too impressed by the upgrade and, in fact, thought these features should have been there from the beginning.
"Well, better than nothing," he muttered, closing the system interface and getting out of bed. He changed clothes, intending to train with Herakles.
He planned to use the remaining time to practice the magic inherited from the Demon Emperor.
The memories were fragmented, offering no clear image of who the Demon Emperor was—not even his name. All Victor could see was a human figure with blood-red pupils standing atop a mountain of corpses in rivers of blood.
Victor suspected the "Demon Emperor" wasn't a literal demon but a title. The memories carried an elusive intent that Victor couldn't yet grasp.
---
Standing on a terrace with Herakles beside him, Victor prepared to leave.
"Where are you headed, young master?" Carlo asked as he crossed paths with him.
"To train," Victor replied simply.
"Shall I accompany you?" Carlo offered.
"No need. Herakles will join me," Victor said, glancing at the towering figure beside him.
"Understood," Carlo said with a slight bow.
As Victor and Herakles walked away, Carlo remained behind, watching their retreating figures. He still struggled to fathom how Victor had acquired a guardian at the peak of the Sage Realm.
For years, Carlo believed he understood the young master he had raised. But now, he realized Victor was like a mountain, its true form hidden beneath the sea's surface. There were depths to him Carlo could never comprehend.
Still, Carlo trusted him. The boy he once knew had grown into a man standing on his own.
---
Elsewhere, deep within a secluded forest, Leon sat cross-legged beneath the crashing waters of a towering waterfall. The icy spray soaked him to the bone, but he hardly noticed. Hours had passed as he tried to meditate, to find some semblance of calm after the humiliating incident that morning.
No matter how hard he tried, the memory refused to fade.
Finally, he opened his eyes, his expression dark and fierce. "Damn it! How did it come to this? I didn't even provoke anyone," he muttered, his voice low but sharp, laced with frustration.
The scene replayed in his mind with agonizing clarity. He'd never lost control like that before, never let himself be caught so off guard. Drunkenness? He wasn't even sure how that had happened. And if it had come to a fight, he was confident he'd have won—his power wasn't something ordinary people could match.
"It must've been one of Master's enemies," he muttered, his voice steadying as realization struck. His master had warned him about the dangers of those who bore grudges against him. "I'll need to be more vigilant from now on," he resolved.
With that, Leon rose in a fluid motion, leaping out of the cascade's relentless flow. His movements were precise, practiced, as he made his way to a flat rock in the middle of the river where he had left his clothes.
Dressed and ready to leave, Leon paused mid-step. A cold sensation prickled the back of his neck. His instincts screamed a warning. Slowly, he lifted his gaze toward the waterfall, and there, at its peak, stood a man.
The figure was tall, dressed in pristine military attire, his hands clasped behind his back. The water flowed around him as though he were an immovable force, unyielding to nature itself.
Leon's gut churned with unease. Whoever this was, he wasn't someone to be trifled with.
He turned, ready to retreat, but before he could take a step, the air itself seemed to ignite. A surge of mana erupted in front of him, striking the riverbed with such intensity that the water instantly evaporated, revealing jagged, blackened rocks beneath.
Leon's eyes widened in shock. The sheer power of the attack was staggering, leagues beyond what any low-level magus could produce.
"So," the man said, his voice cutting through the still air like a blade. "You're Godwyn's disciple, are you? I've been looking for you."
His words were accompanied by a cruel grin, a sinister edge to his tone that made Leon's heart race.