The dawn brought a new freshness to the light, as if the world had been upgraded to a higher definition.
Nero woke early, as usual, and set out for a jog through the forest, covering three kiloters. Afterward, he engaged in so light exercises, including stretches and bodyweight movents like push-ups and squats, utilizing the natural terrain around him for balance and stability. He finished his routine with a brief session of breathing exercises, refining prana into his second core for just a few minutes, allowing the energy to flow and strengthen his abilities.
On his way back, he took a mont to check his smart bracelet. Upon seeing the second team closely trailing behind them with only a few points separating their scores, a frown creased his brow.
"Guess we must accelerate things! I can feel the pressure. It won’t be easy at this rate, but it will be fun nonetheless."
He paused to examine the bracelet, which displayed the rankings of the top three teams. It was clear that the team chasing after them was undoubtedly the princess’s—a realization that weighed on him. While other teams were capable, he knew Elreth’s relentless personality would push her to claim first place at all costs, especially with her rival Khione in his team. Losing to Khione was not an option for her, and he could already sense her determination to go all out to retake the lead. This prospect both excited and pressured Nero, but he welcod the challenge with open arms. The thought of ssing with the princess fueled his enthusiasm.
Nero shook his head to refocus his thoughts.
Upon reaching the area where the tents were set up, he spotted Khione sitting in ditation, an overwhelming amount of white prana swirling around her. The ground beneath her was frozen, emanating a chilling energy.
"Wow! She is stepping into the next stage," he realized, instantly understanding what was happening. Khione was on the brink of advancing from the Apprentice stage to the Adept stage.
He waited calmly for her to complete her transformation. It didn’t take long; soon, she finished her ditation and rose to her feet, her aura refined and concealed. The ground within a twenty-ter radius had been frozen, but she effortlessly controlled the icy terrain, returning it to normal as if it had never been altered.
Looking at Nero, Khione was about to say sothing, but he beat her to it.
"Congratulations on reaching the next stage," he wholeheartedly congratulated her. She must be the first to achieve this milestone so quickly; the new school year had just begun, and here she was, already advancing to the second stage. Indeed, a genius. Most of the cadets from the special class were still striving to reach their next stages, whether as Knights or Mages, but that was easier said than done.
Normally, Nero’s words wouldn’t have stirred any emotion in her, as she was accustod to such praise. Yet, for so reason, his complint resonated within her.
"Thank you!" she replied, even managing a smile. For soone who rarely showed emotions, her smile was a bit stiff, but it was still a smile nonetheless, almost ensnaring the young man. He chuckled softly.
"That smile is dangerous," he thought inwardly, though his expression remained neutral on the outside.
"We must hurry up because they are closing in," he announced without wasting ti. Khione knew exactly whom he was talking about; having checked her smart bracelet earlier, she was aware that Elreth’s team was right behind them, only a few points behind. She understood how resourceful her rival was and felt a slight pressure, which could be said to have pushed her to reach the next stage so rapidly. Unbeknownst to her, the princess had inadvertently aided her rival—a fact that would have frustrated her to no end had she known.
"Let’s quickly prepare a light breakfast and eat before we go," Khione suggested, but Nero didn’t respond imdiately. Instead, he found himself staring at her—not with an infuriated look, but with the intense gaze of a predator eyeing its prey.
Khione felt a surge of amusent as she sensed his battle hunger; it was so palpable that it would have been strange not to feel it.
"Calm down. Let’s postpone the duel until after we succeed."
It was a proposition that Nero couldn’t refuse.
"Sure!" he replied, imdiately concealing his battlelust as if it had never existed.
Khione was pleased with his response. Truthfully, she also longed to fight this unusual young man. While he appeared to be a mid-level Blue Knight on the surface, she sensed that she might lose if she were to face him, even with her current abilities. In other words, the outco of such a fight was uncertain, a sentint she usually reserved for one person: her rival Elreth. The idea that this young man, who had recently awakened, could evoke such feelings in her was surprising. Still, having another rival wouldn’t be so bad; it would help sharpen her skills as she quickly aid for the next stage. All of this brought a second smile to her face.
Nero didn’t dwell on what was going on inside Khione’s mind at that mont. He had secured a promise of a duel with her. His goal extended beyond rely satiating his thirst for battle; he sought to glean more from this fight for future use. Upon unlocking the Blue Star, he would be able to utilize every variant of the Law of Water, and the Sub-Law of Ice was the most intriguing. Why not take this opportunity to learn from the best? It would be a waste not to engage in this duel. However, the biggest reason was to satisfy his thirst for combat against a powerful foe, further enhancing his skills. Unbeknownst to both of them, they shared the sa desire: to use the forthcoming fight to sharpen their abilities.
It was ti to prepare the breakfast.
Khione retrieved so fresh vegetables from her spatial ring to prepare a light breakfast: a vibrant fruit salad with a sprinkle of nuts. This would be their breakfast for this morning.
User Comments
0 comments from readers