Chapter 68: Aether vs. The Assassins of Hellsing
The preliminary battles were over.
🔥 Aether Academy had proven their strength… but it wasn't enough. 🔥
✔ Hellsing Academy and Crimson Fang Dojo had stolen the top ranks.✔ Aether Academy was third.
And now—they had to prove they deserved to be here.
The Match Announcement – Aether's First Real Test
🔊 BEEP! BEEP!
The stadium screen lit up, revealing the first official round of the tournament.
💥 MATCH 1: Aether Academy (Japan) vs. Hellsing Academy (Germany)
💀 Silence filled the room. 💀
Then—whispers erupted.
Student 1 (shocked): "T-They're fighting Hellsing first?!"Student 2 (nervous): "They're the most feared assassins in this tournament…"Student 3 (grinning): "This is gonna be brutal."
Rei clenched his fists.
🔥 This wasn't just a fight. 🔥
It was a battle for survival.
Hellsing Academy – The Phantom Killers
Hellsing Academy wasn't like the others.
✔ They didn't fight in tournaments.✔ They didn't showcase their skills.✔ They weren't just students.
🔥 They were trained killers. 🔥
Rei (thinking, serious): They're different from Crimson Fang. Those guys were martial artists.
Hellsing? They're assassins.
💀 And assassins don't fight fair. 💀
The Meeting Before the Match
Back in the Aether Academy waiting room, the atmosphere was tense.
Magnus Valeford stood in front of them, his expression cold.
Magnus (calmly): "You will not be fighting a normal opponent. Hellsing Academy doesn't rely on strength or speed alone."
🔥 He turned to the team. 🔥
Magnus: "They will aim to disable you instantly. They will fight with lethal efficiency. If you hesitate, you will lose."
Souta (grinning, stretching his arms): "So what? We just have to be faster than them."
Akari (nodding): "And unpredictable. They can't counter what they can't read."
Rei stayed silent.
Because he understood something the others didn't.
Rei (thinking, serious): Hellsing doesn't just win with skill. They win with fear.
🔥 They make their opponents afraid to attack. Afraid to move. Afraid to breathe. 🔥
If Aether Academy wanted to win—they couldn't let fear control them.
The Fighters Are Chosen – Aether's Representatives
The match format was announced.
✔ Each team would send three fighters.✔ Elimination-style battle.✔ The first team to eliminate all three opponents wins.
🔥 Aether Academy had to pick their fighters. 🔥
Magnus (calmly): "Kozuki, you're going in."
No surprise.
Kozuki (grinning): "Obviously."
Magnus: "Souta, you're next."
Souta (cracking his neck): "Heh. Can't wait."
Magnus paused—then turned to Rei.
Magnus: "Kurogane. You're the last one."
The room fell silent.
Even Souta and Akari looked surprised.
Souta (blinking): "Wait, him?"Akari (serious): "He's strong, but this is Hellsing we're talking about."
But Rei just nodded.
Because he understood.
🔥 This wasn't just about fighting. 🔥
Magnus had chosen Rei because he was the only one who could read Hellsing's tactics in real time.
Rei (calmly): "I'll do it."
And with that—the team was set.
💥 Kozuki. Souta. Rei. 💥
The strongest in Aether Academy stepped onto the battlefield.
The Arena – A Battlefield of Shadows
The fight location was revealed.
🔥 A massive circular dome, surrounded by walls and filled with mist. 🔥
✔ Low visibility.✔ No escape routes.✔ A perfect battlefield for assassins.
Rei (thinking, serious): Tch. This is their home turf.
Hellsing had everything in their favor.
And then—their opponents entered.
💀 Three masked figures, dressed in black, moved like ghosts into the arena. 💀
🔥 Hellsing's three best assassins had arrived. 🔥
The Battle Begins – Aether vs. Hellsing
💥 BEEP! 💥
🔹 FIGHT START.
The moment the signal rang—Hellsing vanished.
💀 Gone. No sound. No presence. Nothing. 💀
Souta (tensing up): "…Where the hell did they go?"
Rei's vision sharpened.
🔥 He could see them. 🔥
✔ One assassin was circling behind Souta.✔ Another was crouched low, waiting to strike.✔ The third was already moving toward Kozuki.
💥 WHOOSH! 💥
🔥 They attacked all at once. 🔥
✔ A knife slashed at Souta's throat.✔ A shadowy fist shot toward Rei's ribs.✔ A silent kick flew toward Kozuki's head.
And then—
💥 BOOM! 💥
💀 Everything exploded into motion. 💀
Kozuki vs. The Phantom Assassin
The assassin aimed a deadly kick at Kozuki—
But before it could land—
🔥 Kozuki was already behind him. 🔥
Kozuki (grinning): "Too slow."
💥 CRACK! 💥
One punch.
The assassin's body slammed into the ground, motionless.
Kozuki yawned.
Kozuki: "Well, that was disappointing."
Souta vs. The Shadow Striker
Souta saw the knife flash toward his throat.
But—he was faster.
💥 WHOOSH! 💥
🔥 He disappeared. 🔥
The assassin's eyes widened.
Assassin (thinking, shocked): Where—?!
💥 BANG! 💥
Souta reappeared behind him, slamming an elbow into his spine.
🔥 The assassin collapsed instantly. 🔥
Souta (grinning): "Too predictable."
Rei vs. The Last Assassin
The final assassin wasn't like the others.
🔥 He was different. 🔥
✔ He didn't attack recklessly.✔ He didn't show emotion.✔ He analyzed.
Rei's eyes narrowed.
Because for the first time—he was facing someone just like him.
🔥 A fighter who could see everything. 🔥
💥 WHOOSH! 💥
The assassin moved first.
✔ A feint punch to distract Rei's eyes.✔ A hidden blade strike toward his ribs.✔ A second attack, aimed at his knee to cripple him.
💀 It was perfect. 💀
But—
🔥 Rei dodged all three. 🔥
✔ He twisted his body like a snake, avoiding the blade.✔ He shifted his stance like a panther, countering the knee strike.✔ He struck like a falcon, hitting the assassin's weak point.
💥 CRACK! 💥
The assassin's body went limp.
🔥 FIGHT OVER. 🔥
The Aftermath – Aether's First Victory
The stadium exploded with cheers.
Announcer:"THE WINNERS—AETHER ACADEMY!"
But even as the crowd roared—Rei knew the truth.
🔥 This was just the first step. 🔥
Because the real threats were still out there.
And Aether Academy wasn't ready yet.
💀 Not even close. 💀