The stands were ablaze with excitement. The top ten who would enter the academy had been decided. As for the other applicants in the final stage, they might still receive invitations to join various noble families and guilds.
The announcer began speaking:
"From here, the academy examinations will conclude. As for what happened in the final stage, let's leave it until after the closing ceremony."
Everyone exited the battle arena. Many sought to approach the top scorers to form friendships or recruit them into their factions and communities. Naturally, at such ceremonies, there would be friendly duels, candy stalls, and tables of food and drink for the nobles, along with other customary festivities.
Shion Lan walked with Sol Hart through the grounds, watching duels, eating sweets, and chatting about trivial matters—until Baro Ferrer and Fiore Tai appeared, overjoyed at having entered the academy. They expected to hear words of praise, but instead Xion said:
"Great work, despite some mistakes you made—it's still acceptable. Now, let me ask you: what exactly happened in the final round?"
"You really don't know?!" Both were shocked, since that question had been the first everyone asked them. But Shion seemed uninterested, as though he wouldn't have asked at all if he hadn't run into Baro. He sighed and replied dejectedly:
"Fine… The last site was the coast. Monsters surged from the sea in great numbers, and that's what made my points skyrocket, enough to at least compare with the other three."
Baro sighed heavily, but noticed Shion's angry gaze. Shion rapped his knuckles on Baro's head and said:
"I'm asking about what happened—I meant with Vione Lucius. Yes, her arrogance knows no bounds, but aren't you targeting her excessively? At least Fiore was surprised by her attack and reacted quickly. But you—what exactly happened for you to kill her?!"
Though Shion disliked being called "teacher or master," for some reason he didn't mind this time to act like that. He was genuinely eager to know what had transpired. But Baro misunderstood his intent, felt a surge of relief at seeing how much the teacher cared, and awkwardly explained:
"Well… as I said, it was on the coast. Vione had the greatest advantage there. She went to the sea and freely unleashed ice spells, launching ice projectiles everywhere—at both applicants and monsters. Her rank shot up at a terrifying speed. But when she saw me, she focused all her efforts on killing me. I had no choice but to kill her and take her points, since she was the reason no monsters were left for me to fight in the first place."
Shion could only take a deep breath. He had indeed taught Baro manners and etiquette because Baro had once admired a girl and wanted to confess recklessly. Shion, thinking about the etiquette of Ranus's family—nobles who were practically vagrants in fine clothes—taught him nobility's etiquette from Shi Yun Lan's world on a whim. Still, it would've disappointed him if Baro hadn't learned and harm a girl.
Suddenly, a guard of the second princess, Jina Joul, approached and said:
"Her Highness summons Shion Lan, and the students Baro Ferrer and Fiore Tai."
Shion was startled. "What's with her?! She despised me before, but today she's acting strangely…"
He bid Sol farewell and followed with the others to meet the princess. She sat at a lavishly protected banquet table—across from another table belonging to the First Prince, still bedridden in the infirmary. Shion noticed the top scorers divided: at Princess Jina's side were Cole Leon and Rose Gard; at the prince's table sat the others, including Byon Sik and Vione Lucius. He also noticed her mother, and…
Shion suddenly stopped in his tracks, thinking: "There are duelists and mages here… the weakest among them is level five!"
Baro called, "Teacher, what's wrong?!"
"No… nothing," Shion replied, resuming his steps until they reached the table. He bowed to the princess.
"I greet Your Highness."
Baro and Fiore imitated him.
"Please, sit," said Princess Jina.
Once seated, she began:
"Welcome, esteemed ones, and congratulations to my new brothers and sisters for their success in the exam. You all know the struggle for the throne has begun. I need your support to defeat my brother, and I will reward you all when the time comes. I will remember your loyalty and aid you in return…"
She continued at length, but Shion wasn't interested. He noticed Cole's gaze fall upon him, but he was too lazy to respond and simply waited for her to finish.
Finally, the princess asked:
"Will you stand by me?"
Cole moved first: "My sword is at Your Highness's service!"
Rose followed: "I am at Your Highness's service."
Baro and Fiore looked uncertain, glancing at Shion. He told them: "It's your decision." Then, with a subtle push no one else noticed, they understood his signal:
"I, Baro Ferrer, pledge my sword and heart to Your Highness!"
"I, Fiore Tai, pledge my sword and heart to Your Highness!"
The others then turned to Shion. He asked bluntly: "What's wrong?"
A frail-looking man beside Cole eyed him carefully. Shion realized this man was far more than he appeared. The man asked:
"Will you not pledge your loyalty to Her Highness?"
Shion replied, "My loyalty is to the king and heir to the throne. But I don't think my opinion matters, since I can't offer any support."
Hearing this, the princess grew sad, believing Shion bore a grudge against her. She had summoned him because of how gently he'd treated her in the infirmary, but now she seemed mistaken.
The frail man's tone turned threatening:
"If you did not come here to pledge loyalty, then why are you here?"
Unconcerned, Shion said, "Ask Her Highness. She summoned me."
The princess sighed and introduced him:
"This is Shion Lan, teacher of Baro Ferrer and Fiore Tai… like you, Master Dron, Lady Petalin."
Everyone looked at Shion in shock. Even those at the First Prince's table—among them Vione Lucius and her mother—stared at him.
Dron laughed:
"A teacher? What can a mere one-star boy like you possibly do to train them?"
Unfazed, Sion replied flatly:
"Well, I didn't do much. I only gave them some guidance, and they took care of the rest."
Bored, he sipped his tea.
Dron smirked:
"Effort does indeed come from the students. But, would you mind if I tested you a little?"
It didn't sound like a request. Dark energy began pressing down on Xion.
Baro and Fiori grew anxious. The princess cried, "Master Dron, please stop!"
Lady Petalin calmly interjected, "Your Highness must learn how to value her allies, and how to tell the true from the false. If that boy is their teacher, he should at least endure such pressure, being a third-level."
Rose Gard asked nervously, "Will he be alright?"
"Don't worry, he's just testing him," Petalin assured her.
They all watched as Dron's dark aura pressed upon Shion. Then, to everyone's shock, Shion's hand calmly pushed through the aura to place down his empty teacup.
"He was drinking tea under that pressure?!" Petalin thought in disbelief.
Even Dron was taken aback. Shion's sharp tone cut through:
"Lady Petalin makes a fair point: you must value your allies and distinguish the true from the false. But from your aura, Master Dron, I feel you're beneath what it means to be called 'teacher.' So yes—you are right, my lady."
His voice carried no hesitation, only edge.
Dron was stunned. Cole Leon grew angry, but Dron silenced him and said:
"It seems I underestimated you. Allow me to value you properly."
He raised his aura to the sixth level—Dron Leon, a six-star Dark Duelist—unleashing his full oppressive power on a mere one-star Shion. The gap wasn't just numbers: mid-level duelists had abilities beginners couldn't match.
The moment Dron released his aura, the air grew heavier than lead.
The ground seemed to shrink beneath Shion's feet, and every breath became an effort.
An unseen force pressed against his body from all directions, crushing his bones inward and stealing the air from his lungs.
It wasn't just magic or energy—it felt as though the world itself had decided to reject his existence in that very moment.
But he remembered Shi Yun Lan, the power of his world, Shi Yun Han's power and the cruelty of that world that overcome this pitiful aura but his body has nothing to do until the awakening of this person inside him.
The aura still oress on Shion but suddenly, Dron's eyes widened. He hastily withdrew his aura. Xion appeared, utterly exhausted.
"Shion!"
"Teacher!"
The princess and the two students rushed to him. After ensuring he was safe, the princess glared coldly at Dron.
"Master Dron, you went too far this time. You shouldn't have acted like this."
"My apologies, Your Highness. I hope Master Shion will also forgive me."
Everyone was shocked—Dron Leon, who moments ago had been so arrogant, was now apologizing! Even the other table stared. Princess Jina's eyes widened when she realized—Dron was afraid.
Shion rose weakly. "I accept your apology, Master Dron. When I said your aura was flawed, I meant it lacked full control and reacted instinctively. It nearly killed me."
Dron bowed hastily. "I apologize again, Master Shion. I'll make proper amends. Forgive me, Your Highness, may I take my leave?"
"Ah… yes, you may."
No one understood what had just happened. The rest soon departed as well, heading for the battle arena. Lady Petalin followed Dron, perplexed.
"What happened to you? I saw how terrified you were. Are you saying that boy frightened you?"
Dron's voice was grim:
"You don't understand. When I released my full aura, he endured it. Then, in one instant, he shattered it with a radiant aura I've never seen before. My aura reacted instinctively—it nearly killed him. But suddenly, I heard a voice whisper in my ear: 'If you don't wish to die, step back.' "