The Dean of Barak Academy looked at him for a long moment, then gave a slow, understanding nod. "…A pity. But you're right. I doubt there's anyone in this tournament who could truly match you."
Max didn't respond. He simply exhaled through his nose, lifting his gaze briefly toward the open sky before turning to walk away.
The Dean made no attempt to stop him.
"Well," the Dean said finally, his tone calm but with a hint of regret, "thank you—for helping us, even if it was just for one match. Because of you, Barak Academy's name will be recognized."
Max gave a quiet nod and turned to leave. His cloak shifted slightly as he and his teammates walked away—calm and silent, not looking back.
As they disappeared from sight, one of the younger instructors leaned toward the Dean with a frown.
"Dean… why didn't you make them stay?" he asked quietly. "If we had forced them to join the Academy officially—"
Smack!
The Dean hit him hard on the back. Not out of rage—but to knock some sense into him.
"You fool," the Dean snapped. "Do you want to get the whole academy into trouble?"
The instructor flinched. "I-I wasn't thinking—"
"Clearly," the Dean said sharply. "Do you really believe people that talented don't have someone powerful behind them? You think people like that just walk around without support?"
He took a deep breath.
"The fact that they even helped us once was already more than we could have hoped for."
The instructor looked down. "I'm sorry, Dean."
The Dean sighed. "Just be thankful for what we got. Don't get greedy."
He turned to leave, waving for the others to follow.
"Let's go back and not do anything foolish."
Barak Academy's teachers followed quietly, the conversation ending there.
As the group made their way out of the tournament grounds, the energy of the crowd behind them slowly faded. The streets grew quieter, lined with trees and the soft rustling of wind.
Mu Qing stretched her arms lazily. "So… where to now?" she asked casually. "We already crushed Shrek. Should we stick around and watch the rest of the tournament?"
Lan Xue glanced sideways at Max. "Or… was that our final act here?"
Max didn't stop walking. His eyes stayed forward, hands in his pockets. After a few seconds, he answered.
"We're going to Ghidorah Academy."
The girls exchanged surprised looks.
Mu Qing raised an eyebrow. "That elite academy hidden deep in the eastern mountains? I thought it was closed off to outsiders."
Lan Xue narrowed her eyes slightly. "Didn't you say you had some history there?"
Max nodded.
"I spent years there… before I left. No one's seen my real face since. Not even the people who used to know me."
He glanced over his shoulder at the two girls walking beside him. Both powerful, both trusted. Both curious.
"It's time I returned," he said quietly. "And time I showed you two who I really am."
A breeze passed through, carrying his words like a quiet promise.
Lan Xue gave a faint smile. "You're finally going to stop hiding?"
Max shrugged. "They'll recognize me the moment I walk through the gate. This time, I won't be wearing a mask."
Mu Qing looked amused. "Are we expecting a warm welcome… or a war?"
Max's smirk deepened. "Both."
Lan Xue nodded simply. "Then we follow you. Ghidorah Academy it is."
Without another word, the three of them continued down the quiet path—leaving behind the tournament, the noise, and the people too small to challenge them.
They were heading east now—toward the legendary Ghidorah Academy, hidden deep in the misty mountain range.
The journey was smooth. They weren't in a hurry, and for once, there was no need to hide. As they walked along a forest path, the light filtering through the trees, Max suddenly removed his face mask, revealing his true appearance for the first time in front of the girls.
Lan Xue and Mu Qing paused, stunned.
Max casually ran a hand through his hair, his eyes calm as ever. "I figured it's time you saw the real me," he said with a smirk. "Feels better not to hide anymore."
Lan Xue blinked. "You…"
Mu Qing's eyes widened. "You look… completely different!"
Max gave a small laugh. "I told you before. My real face is many times more handsome."
Both girls looked away for a second, blushing faintly—though neither commented.
As they stopped to rest near a quiet clearing, Max leaned back against a tree, glancing calmly at the two girls beside him.
"So," he said casually, "are you two ready to meet the other three?"
Mu Qing and Lan Xue both nodded without hesitation. They had already known—before they ever got close to him—that the version of Max they were traveling with was a disguise. And they'd accepted him even after he told the truth: that he had been hiding his identity and that three girls were already waiting for him elsewhere.
Even so, they had chosen to stay by his side.
Max watched them for a moment, then smiled faintly. "Don't worry. Those three won't make trouble for you."
With that, he turned and continued walking—toward the massive gates ahead.
The towering, black-and-gold entrance to Ghidorah Academy stood like a fortress before them, elegant and intimidating.
Two guards at the front looked up as he approached.
Their eyes widened instantly.
And then—they bowed deeply.
"Welcome back, Dean!" they said in unison.
Mu Qing and Lan Xue stopped in their tracks.
They stared at Max's back, speechless.
"D-Dean?!" Lan Xue muttered.
Mu Qing blinked rapidly. "Wait… this guy isn't just a strong hidden disciple… he's the head of the entire Ghidorah Academy?!"
Max turned slightly, grinning at their stunned expressions.
"Heh… don't be too surprised yet," he said with a wink. "You haven't even seen the rest of it."
As the gates opened, a wave of Spirit Energy rolled outward.
And beyond the entrance, students, instructors, and elders were already gathering—some bowing, others whispering in awe.
***
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