CHAPTER - 18

  Narrator: Naturally, not everyone agreed with their professor’s hellish training.

  The second-year class had approximately 754 students present in every training session, without exception—except in cases of death.

  I won’t tell you that more than half of those 754 students tried to escape during training… but in vain.

  They received double push-ups and extra laps around the field as punishment.

  A training arena with a 200-meter diameter...

  Dav: ( shout ) Leonhart Falken! Finian Arlo!

  Come here immediately.

  Leo/Fin: Yes, sir!

  Dav: I want you to train together with thrusts using your swords.

  No aura, no mana, nothing.

  Use only the thrust technique—no dodging, only parrying with your swords.

  Fin: Professor, I don’t mean to be rude…

  Leo is a good guy and works hard… but against someone with the Blessing of the Body, wouldn’t it be easy for him to soften my blows?

  Leo: (Troubled by those words, but he knew they were true)

  Dav: Can you do it, Leo?

  Narrator: Just those few words were enough to give Leo courage and determination.

  Leo: Yes, sir!

  (Thinking) If the professor asked me this, there must be a reason! He believes in me, so I’ll believe in him.

  Dav: See? It's not a problem for Leo.

  (Looking at Leo) Leo.

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  Leo: Yes!?

  Dav: Don’t die.

  Now go.

  Elysia, come here. Today, you'll be my partner for thrust training.

  Is that a problem, or would you prefer someone else?

  Elysia: No problem! (happy)

  Dav: Good answer! Even if you had refused, you wouldn’t have had anyone else but me!

  Get ready!

  Narrator: They trained for two hours straight, without rest, sweat pouring from every inch of their bodies.

  Dav didn’t take a single step while parrying Elysia’s thrusts.

  But his eyes remained fixed on Leo and Fin, ensuring that nothing would happen.

  Dav: (Thinking) Good kid. Show everyone that even someone without powers can be a strong and brave future Hunter.

  Get ready, Elysia. This thrust will be strong, so parry it.

  If it’s too much, dodge—don’t take the risk.

  Here it comes!

  Elysia: (Thinking) Why is his strike so heavy?!

  He didn’t even take a step or use aura!

  He just moved his sword slowly, without effort...

  I... I can’t...!

  (Faints)

  Dav: Fool, I told you to dodge if it was too much for you!

  Let me heal you.

  (Divine-Level Super Regeneration)

  Elysia: I feel completely fine, not even tired, and without a single scratch!

  I didn’t know you could use healing magic, Professor!

  Dav: Keep that to yourself.

  Everyone, class dismissed. Return to your dorms and go clean yourselves up.

  Master Eldrin Voss, what do you think of her parry?

  Master Eldrin Voss: Truly interesting.

  That strike would have killed a B+ rank without question.

  The fact that she parried it with a wooden sword, without aura, using only her body…

  She’s a true talent.

  You should train her more on her thrusts so she can adapt.

  Dav: If I remember correctly, unlike me, you're someone with a moral compass.

  You’re very protective of your students.

  Are you asking me to kill her?

  Master Eldrin Voss: With your ability, she won’t die.

  Don’t worry—I won’t tell anyone.

  I only hope she can become strong enough to overthrow that sadistic father of hers.

  Narrator: Dav returned to his room, exhausted and deep in thought.

  He looked out the window and noticed a dark figure standing far away, hidden behind a fountain, staring at him.

  His red eyes locked onto the concealed figure.

  Imagine a deep red, like blood spilled on dry earth—a red that is not just a color, but a presence.

  It’s the red of twilight before a storm, a red that burns like an uncontrollable fire.

  It’s the red of freshly spilled blood, the red of a hellish sky at sunset, where even light itself seems to die.

  A red that engulfs and suffocates, terrifying not just for its intensity but for the threat it hides—as if it’s about to devour everything at any moment.

  A red so heavy with energy that it paralyzes you.

  A red that forewarns violence, fury, war.

  The mysterious figure vanished under his gaze.

  Dav: Run, for now. But know this—I will find you.

  I've just injected my Divine Fear into you, just with my eyes.

  It won’t be hard to track you down if we meet again.

  Run, little rabbit, but know that there is no escape.

  I will come for you... and when I do, there will be no second chance for you to flee.

  END OF CHAPTER - 18