Chapter 21- The tournament (Revised)

Chapter 21 - The Tournament

Dave moved forward, and Rose, with a hint of doubt, asked, "What did you say to him that made him so scared?"

She couldn't hide her curiosity. She realized just how powerful and merciless Dave truly was.

Fortunately, he didn't seem to mind the curses she'd thrown at him earlier, and she had now become his official girlfriend.

Dave gave a small smile, gently touching her chin as he replied, "I just told him my name, and he immediately got scared."

"I didn't know my name could be that terrifying."

Rose was taken aback. If she was in his shoes, she'd likely feel just as afraid.

She was confident the Duke wouldn't try to retaliate, though she suspected the worst-case scenario might mean Erwin could be punished harshly, maybe even killed, to satisfy the Guardian.

To become a Duke, one had to serve the empire for years, completing many worthy deeds.

Yet, if anyone dared offend Dave, one word from the Guardian could strip them of their title or worse, cost them their life.

It was a harsh truth. Holding the position of Guardian came with great respect, but also heavy responsibilities. The Guardian earned such a position.

Fortunately, the Guardian wasn't against every emperor, as long as they followed the rules and handled their duties. The Guardian even had the power to demote an emperor.

That's how high and mighty a Guardian was within the empire. The emperor managed the empire, but the Guardian was its backbone.

An emperor could be replaced easily, but a Guardian held the highest position of all.

After all, being a Guardian meant you were the strongest in the empire.

As they walked and chatted closely, they ran into their teacher, Lina.

"Good morning, Teacher Lina," Rose greeted her, feeling a bit shy as she was still holding Dave's hand.

Lina noticed their closeness and felt a strange irritation. She glanced at Dave, still finding it hard to shake the memory of their encounter. He had left a lasting impression.

Dave smiled, greeting her, "Good morning, Teacher Lina."

Lina nodded but couldn't meet his gaze. She found it difficult to face the man who had conquered her, especially since she was his teacher. It felt entirely off-limits.

Dave smiled, leading Rose toward their classroom. Lina watched him leave, a pang of sadness hitting her.

Maybe it was because she had once threatened him, and he now held a hint of disdain for her.

She tried to push down her feelings, but they only grew stronger.

Seeing him with another girl felt like a sharp sting in her heart.

Since her time with Dave, Lina felt a remarkable shift within herself. She was on the verge of a breakthrough, not just in strength but in beauty as well.

She was becoming more beautiful and could sense that her limits were close to being reached.

Refocusing, she made her way to the classroom.

Dave and Rose sat closely, with Dave occasionally holding her hand or giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Rose felt special, especially as he showed his affection openly.

The other girls looked at her enviously, as if she'd taken something precious from them.

She ignored their stares, content just to be with Dave.

The boys, on the other hand, were disappointed to see their class's most beautiful girl now Dave's girlfriend.

They looked at themselves, wishing they were as attractive as he was.

Teacher Lina then made an announcement.

"Students, I'm pleased to tell you that we'll be holding a student tournament. You'll compete with students from other classes and years for a chance to represent our school in the annual tournament."

Dave saw this as a perfect opportunity to gain more Sin Points. The annual tournament was highly competitive, with Dragon Academy ranking as one of the top schools in the empire.

Many students felt a surge of excitement and started talking about their training and plans for the tournament with eager anticipation.

After class, Dave and Rose left the school together.

He invited her to his dorm to discuss their plans for the tournament.

Rose, too, wanted to become strong enough to compete alongside him.

In his dorm, Dave changed clothes and cooked a meal for Rose and Draco.

Draco had a huge appetite, so Dave prepared a lot of food, serving it one dish at a time.

The room filled with a delicious aroma as they ate and teased each other playfully.

"When did you learn to cook like this?"

Rose asked, clearly impressed. "You're as good as the chefs at the royal castle!"

Dave chuckled. "I figured you'd think I was a spoiled guy who had someone else do all his cooking."

Rose was genuinely surprised by his skills.

"There's still a lot you don't know about me," he replied with a smile, adding a bit of mystery around his past and abilities.

After they ate, Dave began sharing his plan with Rose.

She was stunned by his boldness. "That's your plan?" she asked in disbelief.

Dave explained, "We've done it before, so you'll only gain from it, and it'll make you stronger. I have dual cultivation skills, and we just need to practice a few more times for you to grow."

"I trust you, and as my girlfriend, it's my job to take care of you,"

Dave said warmly. "I want you to be strong so you can defend yourself if I'm not around. Even though you're a princess, plenty of people would still target you."

Rose was touched by his caring words and couldn't help but smile.

At that moment, she realized she was falling for him and discovering just how sweet love could be.

She remembered feeling stronger after their first time together and now understood why she suddenly looked and felt more powerful.

His essence had enhanced her body and even her skin. Her friends had even asked about the beauty products she used.

They had a week before the tournament, and Dave believed he could help her reach the rank of Top-tier King in that time.

Blushing at his suggestion, Rose agreed, seeing it as the quickest way to grow stronger.

She was ready to commit to him and make him her lifelong partner. Before starting, Dave checked his Sin Points, which had reached 900,000.

He decided to level up first, creating a stable foundation for her cultivation and a bigger boost to her strength.