Chapter 33: Chapter 33: The Blade and the CrimsonSnap

The next morning arrived far too quickly as soft golden sunlight filtered through the tall dormitory windows, painting long streaks across the pink stone walls. Lina stood in front of the mirror, struggling to fasten the final button of her Class A uniform.

Her fingers fumbled twice before she finally managed it, the events of yesterday refused to leave her mind.

The Principal, Professor Valerius, and Elizabeth.

The warning about Snowy being confiscated, Just thinking about it made her stomach twist.

On the desk nearby, Qhuin sat silently on his haunches, and unlike Lina, he wasn’t paying attention to the morning rush.

His ruby eyes remained fixed on a translucent blue screen floating before him.

Current Blood Energy: 148 / 500

Status: Incomplete

His gaze narrowed, three hundred and fifty-two more points that were the number separating him from the next evolution gate.

The academy lockdown had ruined several of his original plans, the stables were now heavily monitored.

Patrol routes had doubled.

Valerius was actively searching for a vampire, even though that irritating history teacher had started wandering around at odd hours.

Every path carried risk.

His ears twitched; the upcoming tournament, however, was different. Hundreds of beasts with Powerful bloodlines gathered in one place.

A hunting ground disguised as a school event, a smile appeared on his mind.

Across the room, Lina finally finished adjusting her collar. She grabbed her carry-bag and hurried toward the door.

"Ah! We’re going to be late!"

Qhuin immediately frowned.

"Slow down, girl."

Lina froze, his voice echoed clearly inside her mind.

"Your anxiety is making your mana fluctuate again."

She immediately looked around despite knowing nobody else could hear him.

"I-I’m trying!"

"Trying poorly."

Qhuin hopped onto the desk’s edge.

"Fasten your uniform properly. Straighten your posture. Control your breathing."

Lina puffed her cheeks.

"You sound like an old grandfather."

"And you sound like a headless chicken."

Lina groaned.

A second later she reluctantly adjusted her uniform again, only after making sure everything looked presentable did Qhuin finally hop into the carry-bag.

"Acceptable."

Lina rolled her eyes, then she left for class.

The academy was already bustling with activity, the lockdown restrictions had eased significantly after the Principal’s announcement.

Students filled the stone pathways, and Beasts roamed beside their Tamers.

Conversations echoed everywhere.

As Lina approached the central courtyard, she noticed a massive magical screen floating above the academy plaza.

Thousands of runes glowed across its surface.

A crowd had gathered beneath it, and Students pointed excitedly; others were already arguing.

The announcement slowly appeared in brilliant gold letters.

AURELIUS ACADEMY OFFICIAL NOTICE

THE FIRST-YEAR INTER-CLASS GRAND TOURNAMENT WILL COMMENCE IN THIRTY DAYS.

PARTICIPATING CLASSES: A, B, C, D, E, AND F.

THE TOURNAMENT CHAMPION WILL RECEIVE AN IMPERIAL MERIT BADGE.

THE TOURNAMENT CHAMPION WILL ALSO RECEIVE ACCESS TO THE IMPERIAL VAULT.

The crowd exploded.

"What?!"

"The Imperial Vault?!"

"That’s impossible!"

"They’re giving freshmen access this year?"

Even Lina stopped walking when she saw the Imperial Vault, she had heard stories about it.

Rare materials, Ancient beasts’ eggs, Evolution treasures.

Items worth entire noble fortunes, Nearby, several noble students were already talking amongst themselves.

One of them snorted dismissively.

"Look at all the commoners getting excited."

His friends laughed.

"They actually think they have a chance."

"The Empire only watches the lower brackets to recruit expendable soldiers."

"Exactly."

"A commoner surviving more than two rounds would already be impressive."

Another noble crossed his arms.

"The real prize is the Vault."

"That’s what the future heirs will compete for."

Lina lowered her gaze, her grip tightened around her bag based on an old habit.

Even after everything that had happened, hearing nobles speak like that still made her feel small.

Inside the bag, Qhuin listened silently, then he scoffed.

"Let them bark."

His mental voice dripped with disdain.

"Every kingdom eventually learns the same lesson. The loudest nobles usually bleed the fastest."

A tiny smile appeared on Lina’s lips hearing his words then she continued toward class.

The Direct Combat Synchronization Arena was already full when she arrived.

Massive stone walls surrounded the training grounds and weapon racks lined every side of the courtyard.

Training dummies stood in neat rows, Freshmen from Class A were gathering in the center.

Some looked excited, Others nervous and Marcus looked terrible.

The moment Lina entered the arena, he immediately looked away.

His face turned pale, and he practically retreated behind two classmates.

Several students noticed.

Whispers spread instantly.

"Why does Marcus keep avoiding her?"

"Didn’t he challenge her before?"

"Maybe he’s embarrassed."

"No idea."

Marcus said nothing, he refused to even glance in Lina’s direction the memory of the cave still haunted him.

Every time he looked at the rabbit, he remembered the bloodless Gore-Boar and those crimson eyes.

Across the arena, Professor Valerius arrived.

Instant silence followed, the black-cloaked instructor walked into the center of the training ground

The entire class straightened instantly, Valerius scanned the students.

Then he spoke.

"Pair up."

His voice was calm.

"Today we train with your weapon."

Nobody argued, the Students immediately moved and within moments partners had been assigned.

Lina found herself facing a tall noble student.

Nick; One of the stronger physical fighters in Class A.

A confident grin stretched across his face.

"Looks like I got lucky."

Lina swallowed.

Nick casually grabbed a heavy steel broadsword, the weapon looked enormous.

Meanwhile, Lina awkwardly picked up a standard training sword and it felt light almost like wood.

She quickly pretended it was heavy; nearby, Valerius observed everything.

Lina hesitated, then she raised her hand.

"P-Professor?"

Valerius turned.

"What?"

Lina shrank slightly.

"W-Why do we train with weapons ourselves?"

She glanced toward the various beasts around the arena.

"Shouldn’t our beasts handle most of the fighting?"

The arena grew quiet, and several students looked over.

Valerius didn’t answer immediately, his golden eyes swept across the class.

Then he spoke.

"A beast is a tool."

The statement stunned several students.

"A useful and powerful tool, but it’s still a tool."

His gaze remained steady.

"If an enemy attacks your beast, they attack your shield."

"If they attack you, they attack the core."

The silence deepened, as Valerius continued.

"A Tamer who cannot fight is a liability."

"A Tamer who depends entirely on their beast is already dead."

Several students shifted uncomfortably, but Valerius’s voice remained emotionless.

"You train your body because battlefields are not tournaments."

"Monsters do not follow rules."

"Assassins do not wait politely so survive however you must."

Then he stepped back.

"Begin."

Across the arena, Qhuin slowly nodded, for once, he completely agreed.

"The hunter speaks truth."

Lina heard his voice immediately.

"A commander incapable of fighting deserves execution."

"Do not embarrass yourself."

Lina wanted to complain, but unfortunately, the spar had already begun.

Nick charged forward, much faster than she expected. Reaching her his heavy sword descended from above.

Lina panicked raising her sword.

CLANG!

She barely blocked, as the impact sent vibrations through her arms.

Nick smirked.

"There we go."

CLANG!

Another strike.

CLANG!

Each hit forced her backward, Nick was aggressive and rigorous, Every swing carried his full body weight and several students watched with interest.

Nick laughed.

"What’s wrong?"

"I thought Class A’s miracle commoner would be stronger."

Another strike struck her stumbling backward, as her heels nearly hit the stone wall.

Nick’s grin widened.

"Maybe they made a mistake."

Another swing.

"Go back to the outer villages."

CLANG!

"Commoner trash."

At that moment, something inside Lina snapped as the mana flowing through her body suddenly surged.

Dark crimson energy flashed through her veins, The world became slow, and she saw Nick’s sword movement, his breathing. Everything became painfully clear.

Her pupils turned red, deep crimson.

The heavy broadsword descending toward her suddenly looked unbelievably slow.

Lina’s expression became blank, as she moved forward then she swung her sword.

A simple horizontal strike.

BOOM!

The explosion echoed across the arena, causing students to scream.

The Shockwaves blasted outward as Nick’s broadsword shattered instantly, and iron fragments exploded in every direction.

His eyes widened, then his entire body flew backward, crashing across the stone floor, with Blood pouring from his mouth.

The arena froze,nobody understood what had happened, nobody except one person.

Valerius ’ gaze sharpened. Meanwhile, Lina continued moving, and her crimson eyes remained empty.

Nick lay helplessly on the ground.

She approached him, standing before him her broken training blade rose slowly.

Nick’s face turned pale, for the first time in his life, he genuinely believed he was about to die.

The blade descended.

CLANG!

A black armored gauntlet caught the sword, and the entire arena shook, Valerius stood between them, his grip crushed the broken weapon effortlessly.

Lina blinked, then the red color faded from her eyes, and her breathing hitched.

The broken sword slipped from her fingers, looking around she saw Nick on the ground, bleeding and terrified and the training class was silent, completely silent.

Standing directly in front of her, Professor Valerius was staring into her eyes, his golden gaze assessing her, for the first time, the executioner was looking directly at her.