While Shion Lan was fighting against the Blood Spirit, Academy Director Tim Ayr was speaking with a man in a black robe, one of the Shadow Forces.
"So, I want to ask you about Sora Neumann. Inform your commander of this and return immediately."
The individual looked at him and said, "Sir Tim, there is no need for all that. Sora Neumann is a traitor working with the Kingdom of Amoritchi. The two lords eliminated their Viper Forces, and currently Lady Solan Neumann is fighting Sora."
"So the royal honor Shion spoke about may have come from the King of Amoritchi, not our king."
"Yes, sir. The commander of the Shadow Forces decided to investigate and discover some evidence."
"Very well. You may leave."
Without another word, the man vanished from before the director. Everyone then turned their attention to the battle below. Shion was purely on the defensive, launching no attacks at all.
In this situation he thought,
'Where is that girl? I've been defending for a long time. I won't be able to continue much longer… but still…'
Shion briefly looked away from the Blood Spirit and glanced outward. He could see everyone more clearly and muttered to himself,
'The domain has grown much weaker. There's no longer any trace of blood—it has reverted to a basic domain. That will buy me more time… but I won't last afterward. I might die then… or in other words, Shi Yun Lan will appear, and I won't be able to explain his existence to everyone.'
The Blood Spirit continued her assault and said, "You little wretch! You have skill, I admit that, so I've decided to spare your life this time!"
Everyone stared in shock. Shion did not know what she was trying to do. Meanwhile, she muttered to herself:
'I'll lose my domain soon. The only way to continue is for my magic circles to reach me—but I can't even sense a single one, as if they vanished from the palace. And I doubt that girl found them, or I would have died dozens of times already.'
She looked deeply at Shion and thought,
'What I don't understand is that my blood attacks hit him, yet he isn't affected. He only blocks the spiritual attacks. But I don't think I can continue now. If we both go on the offensive, we don't know who would collapse first. Even if I win, I may not have enough strength to return to the Spirit World.'
Then she looked at the director outside the domain and thought,
'That old man outside won't let me escape, and I won't have the strength to resist—even for a moment. What kind of situation is this?!'
"What do you say we take a short break?"
Everyone looked—it was Shion Lan.
"You don't want to kill me. That means you're not confident of victory."
The Blood Spirit's face twisted into something ugly but he continued,
"And I'm not certain I can defeat you either. So let's just rest for a bit."
She looked at him as he sat down and spoke,
"You won't attack?"
"Why should I do anything reckless?"
"..."
Silence.
Facing someone nearly at the eighth level head-on was madness—and now he said he wasn't reckless!
The director suppressed his anger and watched as Shion ran his hand over his sword, charging it with power.
"What are you doing?!" the Blood Spirit screamed but Shion answered calmly,
"Don't act as if you aren't restoring your power too. In a moment, you'll come to kill me. So I must prepare as well."
Shion began to glow. Stellar aura radiated from him and flowed into the sword.
"How do you have such power?!" she demanded.
"Because I possess both body and soul. I can charge the sword freely. Unlike you—you only have your spiritual form, which will dissipate if you act recklessly. Even so…" Shion shook his head helplessly. "The most I can use is the third level. You can use the seventh. This is merely a battle between quantity and quality nothing else."
Hearing this, the Blood Spirit also sat to restore her strength. Unlike Shion's Stellar aura, a dense aura of blood and pitch-black darkness surrounded her. It was terrifying and revolting.
Shion looked with admiration at the sword and thought:
'This sword is amazing. Even though I can only charge a small portion of it, it's incredible. It allowed me to withstand that fierce spirit's attacks. But....'
He sighed and thought,
"Will Solan Neumann give it to me? After all, this sword belongs to the Neumann family. I can't just take it because I want to.'
He suddenly heard voices from outside.
'The barrier of the domain has weakened! I can communicate with them again!'
"Director, sir!"
The director turned. "Can you hear me, boy?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Don't worry. Solan's spirit moved quickly to search for the magic circles. She found them in the southern region."
"What? Weren't they in the palace?"
"They were, but an incident occurred and they were stolen. The heads of the Flair and Sano families had to assist Solan. They will return shortly."
"Could Sora Neumann have stolen the circles when things went out of control?"
Shion frowned as he asked.
"Yes. It was Sora Neumann. It turns out he is a spy for the Kingdom of Amoritchi."
"No wonder I never liked him in the recorded past."
Shion closed his eyes and continued charging the sword.
The director thought, 'Strange… why hasn't that person moved yet?'
He released his domain to search for that person who had stopped him earlier—but all attempts failed.
'Where is he?!'
…
In the southern region, Solan Newman stood before Sora and dismissed Polter.
She said contemptuously,
"I didn't expect you to be this despicable! You sacrificed your comrades without mercy!"
"And still I failed in the end," Sora lowered his head, ready to die. He tried to bite off his tongue, but a powerful aura stopped him from Brad Sano who used a freezing aura.
"That's strange," said Miral Flair. "Cliff Biv was also from Amoritchi, and we couldn't interrogate him due to a seal on his body. I sense the same seal on him."
Brad Sano asked, "Is there something in our kingdom attracting them?"
"I don't know. And I doubt this bastard will speak."
As they looked at him, Sora shouted, "If I cannot die peacefully, I'll spread chaos instead!"
Seven sheets appeared before him.
"The seven magic circles!"
Solan shouted and tried to get them but he dripped his blood onto them from his cut wounds. The circles glowed with a sinister aura, then vanished.
"What did you do, you bastard?!" Miral roared.
Sora laughed madly. "Hahaha! Solan cannot destroy the circles now unless she is inside the Blood Spirit's domain!"
Everyone's faces changed.
"You scoundrel!!!"
Miral smashed Sora's face with a lightning-charged punch.
Solan frowned. "He's right. I can't undo the circles from here. I must enter the blood domain…"
Her eyes widened in horror on realization.
"Shion!!!"
Miral and Brad reacted instantly.
"Solan! Hold onto my aura!" Brad shouted as they rushed back.
The aura caught Solan and without another word the two heads went as fast as they could.
On arrival, they stared in shock at the scene.
"What's happening here?" Solan asked, seeing Shion and the Blood Spirit sitting opposite each other and gathering power.
"You finally came!" the director said with a slight frown.
"What's going on, sir?"
As they asked, Tim didn't care,
"I'm too lazy to explain."
Shion's aura spread everywhere.
"Father!" Rona Flair rushed to Miral.
"Uncle!" Beliza Sano and her brother Glass Sano hurried over.
After a quick explanation, Miral said helplessly, "Ahh! I wanted to see this!" Suddenly remembered something and frowned,
"Director, there's an urgent matter!"
"Speak."
Tim didn't care as he tried to scan the area but a terrible news hit him,
"We cannot destroy the magic circles except inside the domain!"
"What?!"
Everyone shocked by that, a member of the Shadow Forces appeared, binding Sora Newman.
"This man triggered something in the circles that added that condition."
Solan looked at Shion, her heart aching despite being a spirit.
Shion looked at her in surprise. "You're here! Why haven't you destroyed the circles?"
"I can only do that if I enter the blood domain."
"Huh?! ... What?!" Shion screamed in shock.
The Blood Spirit opened her eyes and laughed loudly unable to hold it.
"You annoy me! Shut your cursed mouth!"
Shion shouted at the spirit.
But the Blood Spirit said in an evil voice,
"You little wretch! That girl cannot kill me unless she enters—and she'll be under my hands. I'll grow stronger and kill you both!"
She laughed wildly especially when the domain get crimson red.
Shion exhaled heavily and closed his eyes.
"Shi Yun Lan… do you advise me, or shall I act as I please?"
No answer came.
He opened his eyes.
"Solan, enter the area of the scroll. I'll protect you with my life."
Everyone stared in disbelief.
"But—" Solan began.
"No 'but'! That spirit is the cause of your suffering. We end this today!"
He turned to the director.
"Director! Enhance the speed of her spells to reduce the time needed to destroy the circles!"
"But how will she enter? You activated the scroll. The consequences will be severe!"
Beliza Sano said, but Solan replied, "I am a pure spirit. I can enter any place without affecting it. So…" she looked at Shion "I can do it—and provide protection as well."
The director raised his hand.
"(Time Magic: Acceleration of Spells)!"
Multiple magic circles surrounded Solan.
She felt as the energy ran along her existence and gave it a try,
"(Soul Gathering)!"
With fourth-level magic, it should have required preparation time—but under Tim Ayr's time spell, Solan cast it rapidly and more effective. A vortex of spirits surrounded her, restoring her strength quickly.
"Polter!"
Polter appeared, bowing and awaiting her orders.
"Once I enter, I want you to face the Blood Spirit with full power. Shion will handle the minor things. Endure as long as possible."
"As you command, my lady!"
Shion stood and walked to the edge of the domain.
"I will protect you."
He released his stellar aura.
"(Star Claws) (Star Surge) (Star Vortex) (Cutting Stars)!"
He unleashed his full power. His sword blazed with aura. His left hand transformed into shining silver claws. A circular space formed around him, a vortex enclosing him like a king standing in his own realm.
"Please enter, Solan."
She looked at him for a moment, nodded, and entered with Polter.
The instant her feet stepped into the area—holding the sheets—the blood within the domain thickened, and Shion could no longer see those outside.