"Who do you think will win, Morgana?" Austere asked the vice principal, seated near her.

"I can’t tell, honestly," she shrugged.

She didn’t know how powerful Kailen Darkhaven had become. No one had seen him fight since he became a rank 5 novice stage Transcendent. It was not easy to gauge his strength.

However...

"I lean more towards the possibility that Kailen Darkhaven could surprise us," she added.

Austere nodded. "However the crown prince is also terrifying among his peers. At the rank 5 novice stage Transcendent level in the empire, he’s unrivaled. I’m not sure many hold similar opinions to ours."

"It seems your blind trust in this Kailen Darkhaven has clouded your judgement," a noble from the royal family chuckled.

Another added, "This fellow just got to the rank 5 novice stage Transcendent level. The crown prince has been at the rank 5 novice stage Transcendent level for a very long time. And here you are, thinking that Kailen Darkhaven will win, huh? This will be his death place."

Austere and Morgana did not say anything in response.

They knew these guys had a solid point. In fact, they were personally not confident that Kailen Darkhaven could win.

It was just that this student had this uncanny ability to pull surprises. He was also very levelheaded and accessed situations carefully before he made decisions.

It was only natural they’d entertain the possibility of him winning. But it was a very small possibility.

However, that was the reason why they were here.

If he managed to kill the crown prince, it would mean he had serious potential and had to be valued by the academy at all cost.

Who knew what the royal family fuckers would try in anger if the crown prince died?

They were certain the nobles wouldn’t try any nonsense in the academy. But they didn’t want to take any chances.

This was why Austere and Morgana were here. They were not just here to spectate. They were here to guard Kailen Darkhaven if he proved valuable enough. And that depended on the outcome of the battle.

As for the royal family higher ups who had just commented on Austere’s words, a glint of coldness flashed through their eyes as they exchanged thought transmissions.

"I doubt he can kill the crown prince. But, if he manages to impossibly kill the crown prince, he won’t survive for long outside the academy walls."

"We can’t try anything in the academy. But the assassin corps of the royal family are ready to be dispatched as soon as possible if the crown prince dies. This fellow will be hunted throughout the empire."

The rest of the audience were students, members of the royal and academic factions.

Discussions brewed.

Kailen Darkhaven and Daeveris.

One was a legend who had carved his name in the minds of everyone in the empire. Someone unrivaled at the rank 5 novice stage Transcendent level.

Another was the first Transcendent from the light region of the universe. A strange fellow who was known for being unpredictable and pulling off unexplainable feats.

Between the two, who would be dead by the end of the duel?

"Teiken, who do you think will win?" the tenth ranked on the Royal Fate rankings asked the first ranked on the Heavenly Fate rankings.

Contrary to what many would expect, these two were good friends.

They just chose to belong to different factions because of orientations when it came to benefits.

Several top rankers on the Royal Fate rankings and the Heavenly Fate rankings paid attention to the conversation.

"I can’t tell. I’m not saying this because Kailen Darkhaven is from the academic faction," Teiken said. "But I don’t think the crown prince can underestimate him."

The tenth ranked on the Royal Fate rankings nodded.

"I agree with you. I may be a member of the royal faction. But I don’t have a good feeling about this fight. We may be in for something we did not expect."

"Tsk.. Bohemia, are you nuts?" the 2nd ranked on the Royal Fate rankings chuckled.

He was familiar firsthand with the power of the crown prince. This was because the crown prince had pummeled him in a friendly duel in one of the training halls of the royal family.

How could he allow Bohemia to utter such words?

To him, the death of Kailen Darkhaven was set in stone.

Several on the Royal Fate rankings stared in Bohemia’s direction with puzzlement.

Bohemia, the tenth ranked on the Royal Fate rankings, didn’t care about their thoughts.

"I’m just stating what I think. Why are you guys taking this personally?" He shrugged and focused on the two people floating across each other above the arena turned a forest.

Everyone reigned in their opinions and also focused on the impending battle.

Several transcendents had turned on their recording devices. They were streaming the battle live. This was a battle between the crown prince of the empire and someone who had been making waves across the empire for a while now.

Literally the majority of people across the empire were watching this battle.

At the moment, Julian was seated on a couch in the NGU HQ with his master.

"Who do you think will win?" Julian’s master asked him.

"Do you even have to ask, old man?" The NGU president chuckled and shook his head.

A glint flashed through his eyes as he stared at the holographic screen which had comments and emojis of the audience flying all across it.

"The peace the empire has been experiencing won’t last for long. It was only a matter of time before the academy and the royal family clashed. After this battle, the winds of war will start to gently blow, and suddenly explode into a whirlwind sooner or later. Since my disciple trusts Kailen’s character, I should side with the academy. The NGU has chosen a side," the old man decided quietly.

In the Dawnseer Guild, Dawnseer and others were watching.

Even Dexter Hemsworth, the former mayor of Richtchard city, who had currently become an executive member of the Dawnseer Guild, was watching the battle alongside them.

Lotus and company were also paying close attention to this fight.

They were all aware that they had to choose a side. They did not look down on the crown prince. He was strong. But they had walked closely with Darkhaven. That fellow would never decide to face the crown prince if he was not certain he could win.

And winning meant killing the crown prince. Killing the crown meant the eventual clash between the academy and the royal family.

They decided in their minds.

They would stand by Darkhaven when the time came. They were not too confident the academy could subdue the royal family in the upcoming saga that would follow this battle.

But, at least, they were confident in Kailen’s ability. Their decision was not based on emotions. It was a logical one. It was a risk they were taking.

They could only hope that it would be worth it.

At this moment, everyone watched their screens. Those in the death arenas also watched intently. The two individuals floating above the forest took steps forward simultaneously.