16

"No! You idiot, get away from that mirror!" Kale shouted, but he was too late. The mirror had already shattered into pieces.

The worker quickly turned around, realizing that the director of the academy himself was standing at the room's entrance.

"S-Sir Kale? Y-You?" The worker's voice trembled with fear, his words stuttering.

"Listen to me very carefully. Don't look back now. Just keep your eyes on me and start walking towards me," Kale spoke in a commanding tone.

"Y-Yes?" The worker became confused by Kale's words.

"Don't question, just do as the director tells you," Seti commanded.

"Okay," the worker said as he began walking toward Kale.

'Mr. Bob, aren't you going to look at me? I am standing just behind you,' a sweet voice echoed in Bob's mind.

Bob suddenly went into a trance, his eyes turning blank for a second.

"Don't listen to anything she says. She's not a real human. Hey, are you listening to me?"

"S-She is calling me. I have to look back," Bob spoke, a crazed smile forming on his face.

"Hey, hey, don't look back. She will kill you. Don't look back, you idiot!" Kale tried to stop Bob, but Bob started rotating his neck.

"Kale, kill him before she does," the wand shouted.

"Yes, Lightning Blades," Kale said as he unleashed a powerful skill.

Suddenly, multiple blue lightning bolts were launched towards Bob, aimed to end his life instantly.

But before the bolts could reach him, Bob turned to look at Vespera. However, this time, she appeared different from a minute ago.

Her eyes were completely white, and her pupils had sunken. Half of her face looked human, while the other half resembled a demonic being. Instead of two hands, she had four, and her legs had multiplied to five.

"Ah—" Bob tried to scream, but before he could, Vespera swiftly sucked out his soul and life force in a mere 0.3 seconds.

As she drained everything from Bob's body, it turned grey, and several lightning bolts struck it, destroying it instantly.

"Hehehe, you're late," Vespera spoke as she transformed back into her human form.

"Get back into that mirror, or I will destroy your life essence," Kale threatened.

"Don't bluff in front of me, Kale. You know I can sense greed and lies. See you soon," Vespera spoke before she jumped into a nearby small glass and vanished.

"Damn it, she's out now," Kale shouted.

"Don't worry, she can't kill anyone for the next three days. We still have 72 hours to catch her, but can we catch her?" the wand asked.

"I know, but I'm afraid of what will happen after three days. She will have no limitations on killing after that," Kale replied.

"S-Sir, who was she?" Seti asked, fear evident in her voice.

"Don't get angry. Keep your composure and explain it to her. It's not the time to fight amongst ourselves," the wand advised Kale, analyzing his growing anger.

"Shadowheart, a formidable demon with the ability to traverse realms through mirrors, was imprisoned within the Mystic Mirror of Enigma for a staggering 130 years. Captured by the Second Principal of the academy, she was a relentless hunter, primarily targeting men through her unique mirror travel.

Rather than simply preying upon her victims, Shadowheart employs a cunning strategy. She lures them with her seductive charm, gradually siphoning their life force and vigor until their very souls are devoured. The aftermath of her sinister feasts leaves her victims not only lifeless but also physically and spiritually damaged, a grim testament to her malevolent powers," Kale explained.

A sudden chill ran down Seti's spine as she understood what has been released into the academy.

"Is she really that dangerous?" Seti asked.

"Yes, that's why I gave you the keys. I thought you were the most trustworthy female teacher I have, but you've ashamed me," Kale replied.

"I'm sorry, sir. If I had known about this, I would have never given him the keys to this room," Seti apologized.

"For now, she has used all her powers to escape the mirror. It will take her at least three days to replenish her powers. We need to trap her again before those three days pass," Kale ordered.

"As you command, sir," Seti spoke, looking down.

"This news must not leave this room, or the students will panic. Keep it strictly confidential," Kale ordered.

"It won't, sir," Seti replied.

"Good. I will find the book that contains the method to catch her in the academy's main library. You continue the race here," Kale said as he picked up a blue crystal from one corner of the room and tossed it towards Seti before exiting the room.

It was none other than the crystal that Bob had been searching for.

"Damn, I almost forgot about the teleportation portal and the race," Seti hurriedly left the room and made her way to the teleportation portal room.

Stormborn Sea...

"Ouch, ouch... hmm?" Luna opened her eyes only to find herself in the lap of a cute-looking girl. The girl had shells covering her breasts and a fish-like body from the waist down.

Luna quickly sat up.

"A-A siren?" Luna asked in surprise as she looked at the siren, noticing small green scales on her cheeks and mesmerizing eyes.

"Are you alright, Child of the Wolf?" the siren girl asked.

"I don't know. You tell me," Luna replied.

"Well, you look fine to me," the siren girl answered with a smile.

'Yeah, but if you eat me, I won't be fine ever again,' Luna thought, observing every movement of the siren closely.

'My ki is at it's minimum, barely enough to move my own body. I can't fight. Where is Ano—' as Luna was thinking about Anon, she saw something unbelievable in front of her.

Anon was eating some kind of seaweed while resting in the laps of three to four sirens.

"Hahaha."

"Hahaha."

"Hahahaha, Anon, you're so funny," a siren complimented Anon.

Suddenly, an expression of disbelief covered Luna's face. 

"W-What's going on? Seraphina, can you explain?" Landon asked in confusion and amusement, his gaze fixed on the screen before him.

"I-I don't know. I can't explain any of this," Seraphina replied, a faint laugh escaping her lips as she watched the unfolding scene on the screen.

Confusion etched on the faces of everyone witnessing the spectacle. It was confusing as well as amusing at the same time.

Landon observed Anon, reclining confidently in the Siren Queen's lap, leisurely munching on a piece of seaweed while other Sirens pampered him with gentle touches and massages.

"What the hell, Anon? What are you doing?" Luna asked in confusion, striding toward the rocky perch.

"Hmm? Oh, Luna, you're awake? Here, try some of this. It's good," Anon said munching the seaweed,as he tossed a piece of seaweed towards Luna.

She caught it at once, started sniffing it curiously.

"Anon, I need to talk to you," Luna spoke in a commanding tone, exchanging some meaningful glances with him.

"Sure, let's chat..." Anon replied, a carefree expression on his face.

"...in private," Luna shouted as she looked at the other sirens around anon, her eyes signaling urgency.

"Okay, ladies, give me a minute," Anon said, rising to his feet and walking with Luna to a secluded corner of the rock.

"What the hell are you doing?" Luna whispered, her voice barely audible to anon.

"What do you mean? I'm just chilling with the girls. What's the problem in that ?" Anon spoke in a teasing tone, as he winked at luna.

"The problem? Are you kidding me? We're in the middle of the Stormborn Sea, surrounded by Sirens who could devour you and me at any moment. Let's get out of here as soon as possible and stop winking towards me." Luna suggested with a wierd expression on her face.

[Skill <Stamina Boost> will be ready for use in 1 minute and 37 seconds.]

A translucent screen popped up in front of anon.

"Sorry, luv, but my skill is still on cooldown, and I don't want to drown in the sea. I'll hang out here until the cooldown hits zero. You can leave if you want, first you have to go straight in that direction and turn left to reach the next kingdom." Anon taunted, winking again at Luna before returning to Lorelei's lap.

A few minutes earlier...

As Luna and Anon landed on the rock, Luna was struck by a rock and lost consciousness, while Anon stood his ground, facing the smiling, seductive Sirens.

"Hello, ladies," Anon greeted with a playful smile on his face.

"Hello, handsome human. What is your purpose for coming here ?" one of the Sirens descended and caressed Anon's cheek.

"I was wondering if my puppy friend and I could rest on this rock for a few minutes," Anon requested.

"Why only a few minutes? You can stay here as long as you want," the Siren replied, her hand caressing Anon's chest.

"Listen here, handsome," another Siren turned Anon's face toward her and used a skill.

<Charm >

Her eyes shimmered with a bright pink hue, as did Anon's.

[Skill <Charm > effects canceled due to Class Cerebraxis.]

"So, trying to charm me, huh?" Anon asked, sporting a playful smile.

The Sirens smiled in response, slowly encroaching on Anon's personal space.

<Song of the Siren King>

"Ladies, halt right there," Anon commanded, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. The Sirens obeyed, freezing in their tracks as soon as Anon spoke.

"So, my charms work too," Anon remarked, another mischievous smile gracing his lips.

The Sirens quickly realized that Anon was no ordinary man.

"My king, you're here," the Queen Siren spoke, descending from the rock and regarding Anon with a careful gaze.

Approaching Anon, she kneeled before him.

"I am Lorelei, my king, queen of this Siren group," she introduced herself, her ample bosom straining against her seashell attire.

"Very well. Fetch me something to eat; my legs are growing numb," Anon ordered.

"As you wish, my king. But first, may you release these girls so they can serve you?" Lorelei requested.

Recognizing the resonance of the Siren King's voice, the Queen knew Anon possessed greater power than her—a measure of dominance in Siren society.

"You are now free," Anon commanded, and all the Sirens immediately dropped to their knees, showing their respect.

"What in the world am I witnessing? The Siren tribe bowing before a commoner?" Seraphina exclaimed.

"They are indeed Sirens, Seraphina, and I'm as bewildered as you are. All I can tell you is that the one bowing before Anon is likely their queen," Landon explained.

"Why is the Siren Queen bowing to a mere human?" Samantha questioned.

"There's no explaining his actions, and I've stopped trying to find explanations. At this point, I'm just enjoying the show," Jake said, a smile playing on his lips as he glanced at the screen.

"As expected, these Sirens are nothing but playthings in Anon's presence," Frank mused, his earlier prediction proving accurate.

"My king, please come and rest on my lap," Lorelei invited, patting her lap.

"I'll bring some food for our king," one of the Sirens dove into the water, resurfacing with a handful of seaweed.

"Here, my king. Please enjoy this sweet seaweed from the depths of the sea," Lorelei offered, feeding the seaweed to Anon.

Nom-Nom

"Mmm, delicious," Anon savored the taste, chewing the seaweed slowly.

[Mana permanently increased by +100]

A message suddenly appeared before Anon, surprising him.

"What's this?" Anon sat up, reading the message with astonishment.

"What does this seaweed do ?" Anon inquired, turning to Lorelei.

"My king, that seaweed enhances energy within our bodies, enabling us to sing without limitations," Lorelei explained.

Anon reclined once again in Lorelei's lap, smiling contentedly as he enjoyed the special seaweed, his hands occasionally exploring Lorelei's boobs.

"What is this pervert up to?" Seraphina asked, covering her face with her right hand but peering through the gaps in her fingers.

The group watched, captivated, as the unexpected encounter unfolded before their eyes.

[Skill <Stamina Boost> is ready for use.]

"Hup..." Anon rose from Lorelei's lap, his powerful presence commanding attention.

"It is time for me to depart, ladies..." Anon declared, his voice resonating with unwavering determination.

"My king, are you going to abandon us like this? You haven't even shared your seed. Please, my king, do not leave us without bestowing upon me the blessing of your child," Lorelei pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation as she tried to halt Anon's departure.

Anon settled back down, his hand gently caressing Lorelei's cheek.

Lorelei placed her hand atop Anon's, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at him.

'I have no problems about making love to her right here. My only concern is the prying eyes of the kingdom witnessing our live porn session.' Anon thought, a mischievous smile playing upon his lips.

"Darling, I cannot grant you anything at this moment. However, when I return, I will fuck you so many times and give you so many that your boobs alone will not suffice to nourish them. But for now, accept this from your king," Anon murmured, his lips pressing tenderly against hers.

"Now, I must be on my way," Anon declared, his gaze shifting towards Luna, who voraciously devoured seaweed with an insatiable appetite.

Nom-Nom

"What are you up to?" Anon inquired, his tone laced with curiosity.

"Hmmm...? Thwes seaweawes icrease ny ki." Luna replied, her mouth still full of sweet seaweed. Her words emerged as muffled sounds.

"Very well, finish eating and then speak," Anon instructed, a note of amusement in his voice.

Luna hastily swallowed the seaweed.

"I was saying, these seaweeds boosts my ki," she explained, promptly reaching for another strand of seaweed.

"Excellent, we shall depart now," Anon commanded, his body in motion as he began descending towards the lower part of the rock.

"Alright, let's go," Luna agreed, falling into step beside Anon, her energy renewed.

<Pheonix Ignition>

<Stamina Boost>

Anon activated his skills, his body engulfed in a blazing inferno that consumed him from head to toe.

Clap-Clap

"Wow."

"He looks incredibly formidable."

"Our king shall forever shine brightly."

The Sirens erupted in applause, their admiration and respect evident.

"So... what about me?" Luna's voice held a shy undertone, her expression coy.

"What about you? Haven't you fully regained your energy?" Anon questioned, a touch of confusion in his voice.

"I have but how am I supposed to traverse the sea? I cannot run atop the water like you," Luna spoke in a sweet, endearing tone, clasping her hands bashfully behind her back.

"What do you think, i should do about it?" Anon teased, a playful smile adorning his face.

"Hmph, don't tease me. Lift me up, as you did before, and carry me," Luna exclaimed, her voice tinged with a mix of shyness and anticipation.

"Haa, why must you nobles be so lazy in everything?" Anon retorted playfully as he effortlessly scooped Luna into his arms once more.

"Farewell, ladies," Anon bid farewell to the sirens, his voice carrying a touch of fondness and gratitude.

"On your knees," Queen Lorelei commanded.

All the sirens obeyed, gracefully sinking to one knee, their devotion palpable.

"May the blessings of the seven seas be upon you, our king," they spoke in unison, their voices filled with reverence.

Anon offered a slight smile before resuming his journey, striding purposefully towards the next kingdom.

The House of Witches, the Seventh Ring...

"Miss Marinda, you must see this," a bespectacled girl hurriedly approached a massive closed door within the mansion.

"What business do you have here, Madam Shelly?" Two female guards protecting the gates questioned Shelly, crossing their spears in an "X" formation, blocking her path.

"I have something of utmost importance to show Madam Marinda. Step aside immediately," Shelly commanded.

"Allow her entry," a calm yet authoritative voice emanated from behind the door.

"Indeed. You may proceed," the guards retracted their spears as the gates slowly swung open.

As the gates parted, a woman bathing in a lavish pool was unveiled, attended by seven alluring maids.

Appearing around the age of 40, possessing ample bosom, a voluptuous posterior, purple eyes, and lustrous purple hair, her curves defied reality. Any man who beheld her unclothed form would lose his senses instantaneously.

"Greetings, Shelly. Do you bring urgent tidings? I detest being interrupted during my bath, and you are well aware of that," Marinda spoke in a commanding and serious tone, fixing her gaze upon Shelly.

"Madam, this is something of great significance that requires your attention," Shelly replied, conjuring a sizable screen in front of Marinda and playing a live broadcast of Anon's race.

"What is this, Shelly?" Marinda inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"Madam, this is the Kingdom's Night Run organized by our academy," Shelly explained.

"Wasn't that event banned years ago?" Marinda recalled, stepping out of the pool while her attendants quickly dried her body with towels.

"Yes, but for some reason, the academy's director has decided to revive it, and I have made an intriguing discovery," Shelly stated, displaying a picture of Anon on the screen.

"Ah, he does possess charm. So, you harbor a desire to marry him, do you not?" Marinda asked, a playful smile gracing her lips.

"No, Madam. Please, observe further," Shelly continued, playing Anon's live broadcast.

"Are those sirens?" Marinda questioned, her interest piqued.

"Yes, Madam. Witness how they bow before him, yet he departs without hesitation. They haven't posed the slightest threat to him," Shelly elucidated.

"Hmm, fascinating. What was his name again?" Marinda queried as her attendants proceeded to dress her.

"He is Anon Agreil, Madam. If we can recruit him, he could prove to be a valuable asset," Shelly proposed.

"I see. Samantha and Jake are also joining the academy, correct?" Marinda inquired.

"Yes, Madam."

"Excellent. Inform Samantha about this. Retrieve some gold from the family treasury and a D-ranked weapon. Go and enlist that young man to work for us," Marinda issued her orders.

"But, Madam, other houses are also aware of him," Shelly revealed.

"Who exactly knows?" Marinda's expression turned grave as she posed the question, a hint of concern flickering in her eyes.

"According to our reliable sources, every household is aware of the prodigious child. However, some have devised unique methods to recruit him," Shelly explained.

"What sort of 'different methods' are we talking about?" Marinda inquired, dressing herself and heading towards the dining table.

"The leader of the Martial House has declared his intention to make him his son-in-law. They plan to hold an engagement ceremony tomorrow morning," Shelly clarified.

"Hah, the Martial House. They are such narrow-minded fools, marrying off their daughter to a commoner. That would be my last resort to recruit a commoner, especially a male," Marinda chuckled.

"Ma'am, that child has shattered the kingdom's javelin throw record and effortlessly demolished the immortal dummy in the beginner's trials," Shelly informed.

"Mhm... Shelly, I want this child in our household. No other house shall have him," Marinda commanded with authority.

"For that to happen, we must increase the facilities we can provide him; otherwise, he might not choose our house," Shelly pointed out.

"Well, then, let's improve them. Give him a C-rank weapon and 5,000 gold," Marinda stated as she observed more clips of anon.

"Yes, ma'am, but there is another issue," Shelly said, her face displaying concern.

"What now?" Marinda asked, settling herself at the dining table and starting to eat a piece of steak.

"Ma'am, the Denver House of Justice is also planning to recruit him," Shelly revealed, causing the room to fall silent.

Marinda paused her meal, her face contorting into an expression of anger.

"Shelly..." Marinda uttered in a tone seething with fury.

"Y-Yes, Ma'am?" Shelly replied, her voice filled with fear.

"What offer are they making?" Marinda demanded, forcefully driving her fork into the dinning table.

"I couldn't confirm the details, ma'am, but there are indications that they are planning to propose their sixth daughter to Anon. However, this information is still not entirely reliable, i will confirm it by tommorow." Shelly explained as tension appeared on her face.

"Those deceitful bastards! They're using their most worthless daughter to entice a promising talent into their house," Marinda fumed, her temper escalating rapidly.

"Ma'am, please calm down," Shelly implored, attempting to soothe Marinda's anger.

"No, which one of my daughters is the most useless?" Marinda inquired with an angered expression.

"All of them," Shelly murmured softly, averting her gaze.

"What?" Marinda questioned.

"Ah, out of your six daughters it must be the third one, ma'am. Miss Samantha. She possesses your charms but lacks any real skills. Although, if you consider conversing with the dead a skill... Then i can't say." Shelly trailed off.

"Tell Samantha that she will marry him and their engagement will be done by tomorrow. Offer him an A-grade weapon and 100,000 gold to entice him into our house, and if the house of justice has a more enticing offer than us, you will match it and if needed just double it.

I need that kid in our house, shelly. Do you understand ?" Marinda ordered as she rose from the table and left.

"Yes, ma'am," Shelly responded before departing as well.

After a few minutes, a maid began clearing the cutlery from the table and noticed the fork embedded in the dinning table.

Curiosity compelled her to grasp the handle and attempt to remove it from the table.

However, despite exerting all of her strength, the fork remained firmly lodged. She then resorted to using a bodily strengthening skill, and finally, with one powerful tug, she succeeded in extracting the fork from the table.

Thud

Thud

But as soon as the fork dislodged, the table collapsed into pieces.

"What?" The maid stood there in shock, observing the wreckage of the dinning table.

Denver House of Justice...

"Great Mother, I cannot marry a commoner," a girl with golden eyes, blonde hair, and an attractive figure said, kneeling before the esteemed matriarch of the house.

"What are you saying? It is God's will that you bring the boy named Anon into our house. Are you defying God's decision?" the Great Mother inquired.

Her eyes were green, her hair was blonde, and she possessed fair white skin, ample bosoms, and a remarkably large derriere.

"B-But I am a noble, and he is merely a commoner," the girl pleaded.

"God never speaks falsely. While you may be of noble birth, you are more useless than that commoner boy. Fulfill your command or face expulsion from this house," the Great Mother commanded sternly.

"Yes, hail the Great Mother," the girl acquiesced before exiting the room.

The Great Mother then grasped her own ass and jiggled them up and down.

"Hmm, they are starting to sag," she remarked, turning her attention back to the screen displaying Anon.

"Damn it, I will never marry a commoner, not in this lifetime. Great Mother, I will show you just how valuable I am after I slay your god-appointed brat," the girl declared, retrieving a dagger from her pocket.

Martial House...

"Ma'am, you summoned me?" a black-clad girl emerged in Sera's room.

"I need someone dead," Sera spoke with vengeance in her voice.

"Command me, ma'am. His head will rest at your feet before you can blink," the girl assured.

"His name is Anon Agreil. He is participating in the Kingdom's Night Run. You must eliminate him before tomorrow's sunrise," Sera commanded, her eyes fixated on the picture of her daughter, now possessing red eyes.

"His head will be at your feet before tomorrow's sunrise. Don't worry, ma'am," the girl vanished after uttering those words.

Click

Sera absentmindedly sliced betel nuts with a cutter, not even glancing at them. When she finally looked down, she realized she had accidentally severed one of her fingers.

Without shedding a tear or displaying any reaction, she calmly picked up the severed finger and examined it closely.

"I will not allow my daughter to marry some imbecile. Even if I have to eliminate everyone in this house, I will demonstrate to that wench Cassandra that I hold power within these walls," Sera vowed, biting her own severed finger and tearing it in two.

"There it is, the coastline of the second continent, Eldoria," Luna exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement, as the bright lights illuminated the shoreline.

"Well, it seems this is where you get off, huh?" Anon remarked casually as he smiled a bit.

"Yes," Luna replied, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes.

"Is something bothering you, Luv?" Anon inquired with a confused expression on his face.

"N-No. Why do you ask?" Luna replied, her voice betraying her true emotions.

"You seem a bit down," Anon persisted as he looked at luna.

"No, I don't. Just drop it," Luna snapped, adamantly denying any sadness.

[Why am I feeling like this? It's a mix of sadness and excitement. What is it that I truly desire?] Luna pondered silently.

"Perhaps it's love, and you wish to have sex with me ?" Anon teased, having heard everything that was going on in Luna's mind.

"W-W-What? Love a commoner like you? Absolutely not! I am a noble lady, and I can't possibly fall in love with a pervert like you," Luna blurted out, her cheeks turning crimson with embarrassment.

[Do I truly love him?]

"I believe you do. That's why you feel sad when I'm leaving," Anon stated, a smile playing on his lips.

"H-Hey, cut it out," Luna protested.

"Cut what out?" Anon asked, a mischievous grin on his face.

"And how in the world are you able to read my mind?" Luna questioned.

"I've already told you, I can read the minds of girls who have a crush—"

"Nonsense! There's no such thing. Tell me the truth," Luna demanded, her tone serious.

"Your stop has arrived," Anon stated, stopping near the coastline where several people were waiting.

Seti, Letti, Samantha, Jake, Frank, Ren, and the first aid team.

"Ladies and gentlemen, after a series of mind-boggling and bewildering events, we have reached the end of the first Kingdom and the beginning of the coastline of the second continent, Eldoria. Anon is clearly in the lead in this race.

The second runner in the Kingdom's Night Run will be Samantha Grey. Will she be able to surpass Anon? Does she possess the qualities required to outshine him in this race?" Landon announced.

"Are you all right, Ms. Warwood?" Seti asked, thoroughly examining Luna.

"Yes, I'm fine," Luna replied, beginning to walk towards the teleportation portal.

Seti briefly glanced at Anon before hurrying back to the portal.

"Well, well, don't think you're almighty just because you defeated Luna Warwood. Defeating me will prove much harder than her," Samantha warned Anon, assuming her position to run.

'I never considered myself almighty; it's you nobles who do,' Anon thought, a smile playing on his face as he readied himself for the race.

"3...2...1, BOTH OF YOU, START!"

"Swiftshadow Run," Samantha activated a skill.

[Swiftshadow Run]

[Swiftshadow Run is a mystical skill employed by adept witches to traverse vast distances with remarkable speed while maintaining a controlled and consistent pace. Infused with the essence of shadows and enhanced by the witch's arcane abilities, this skill allows them to move swiftly and effortlessly through the world, as if becoming one with the fleeting shadows themselves.

When a witch activates Swiftshadow Run, a subtle transformation takes place. Their form becomes momentarily blurred and indistinct, enveloped by a faint veil of shadowy energy. As they begin to move, their steps become light and agile, barely making a sound as they glide across any terrain with uncanny swiftness.

Applies one shadow stack every three minutes while running.

Each shadow stack increases the user's speed by 20% and can stack up to 50 times while running.

Despite its incredible speed, Swiftshadow Run allows the witch to maintain precise control over their movements. They can navigate intricate paths, dodge obstacles, and adjust their speed to match the demands of the terrain. Whether running along forest trails, across open plains, or through winding city streets, the witch remains steadfast in their stride, propelled forward by otherworldly energy.]

[Mana: 500/minute]

"See you never, loser," Samantha taunted as she started running, but her speed appeared ordinary.

"What the hell? Why is she running so slowly?" Anon wondered to himself.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see, Samantha has started running, but her pace seems considerably slow. I don't think it will be enough to defeat Anon. Is Samantha utilizing some mysterious spell, or will she also be bested by Anon?" Seraphina commented.

[Master, she used a stacking spell. Every three minutes, a shadow stack will be added, increasing her speed by 20%. She can stack up to 50 times.] Link promptly explained.

"A stacking spell? Do I possess any stacking spells, system?" Anon asked.

[Master, search for purging spells.] Link suggested.

"What? But what good would a purging spell do?"

[Master, if you purge her stacks, she will only run at a single speed that you can easily surpass.] Link clarified.

"Excellent, system, search for purging abilities."

[45 purging skills found.]

"This one seems suitable."

[Astral Purge]

[Astral Purge is a potent skill wielded by those attuned to the mystical forces of the cosmos. When invoked, it allows the user to strip away the accumulated strength and advantages of their opponents by purging their buff stacks.

Upon activating Astral Purge, a surge of celestial energy envelops the caster, imbuing them with the ability to disrupt and cleanse the enhancements bestowed upon their adversaries. It is not a skill that relies on brute force or raw power, but rather on the manipulation of cosmic energies and the unraveling of magical influences.

The unique aspect of Astral Purge lies in its interaction with verbal communication. When the caster engages their opponent in conversation and poses a question, every time the opponent responds, their accumulated buffs are forcefully stripped away. It is as if their words carry the weight of their own undoing, triggering the purging effect.]

[Mana: 5000/use]

"Why isn't Anon running? Is something wrong with him? He's just standing on the starting line, gazing into the air in front of him," Landon remarked.

Anon smirked as he strode past the starting line, taking a seat on the ground, leaving the audience in awe.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as you all can see, Anon has crossed the starting line, indicating the beginning of the race feom his side. However, instead of continuing, he chose to sit down, creating another perplexing situation for us to decipher," Landon spoke, his voice tinged with confusion.

"I believe that he is taunting Samantha," Seraphina chimed in with a taunting tone.

"Why do you say that, Seraphina ? Is there any particular reason for you to say a comment like this ?" Landon inquired with a smile.

"It's just a hunch, but what if Anon wants to demonstrate to everyone that he can easily catch up to Samantha even if she is far ahead of him ?" Seraphina proposed as she tried to figure out the situation.

"Yes, that could be entirely possible, Seraphina. In fact, i believe that is the only reason he have." Landon replied, his gaze fixed on the screen in front of him.

"Why would he rest if he still has mana and stamina ? It doesn't make any sense, what are you planning now Anon ?" Luna pondered, her eyes focused on the screen.

Meanwhile, Anon was deep in calculation at the starting line.

"1,567... 1,566... 1,565..." Anon counted down.

'Okay, if Samantha gains a shadow stack every three minutes, increasing her speed by 20% each time, she'll need 25 stacks to reach 500% speed, equivalent to my Phoenix Ignition. But I shouldn't purge her at 25 stacks; otherwise, I won't be able to catch up, and she'll accumulate more stacks over time. I should aim to purge her between 10 and 15 stacks.'

"That means my first purge will occur in 1800 seconds. It's already been 200 seconds since she left the starting line, so I have approximately 1600 seconds remaining," Anon calculated.

"Eh, that's more than enough time," Anon muttered, retrieving something from his inventory.

"What is Anon withdrawing from his dimensional pocket? Is it an artifact for running or a doping agent?" Seraphina announced, her gaze fixed on the screen.

However, what Anon withdrew from his inventory left everyone shocked and amazed.

It was a long, black cigar that only nobles used to smoke.

"Is that a...?" Seraphina tried to ask but Landon interpreted immediately.

"Yes, Seraphina. It's a cigar, and Anon is about to smoke it if I am not mistaken, that's a high quality cigar, i have to tell you." Landon announced.

Click

Anon snapped his fingers, conjuring a small fireball that hovered over his middle finger. He used it to ignite the cigar and took a puff as he released the smoke from his nostrils.

For the next 25 minutes, the same scene played out. Anon sat near the starting line, smoking his cigar, while Samantha continued running, under the impression that she had already bested Anon.

"That fucker must be thinking of catching up to me just like Luna but today you will be faced with truth kid. Not everyone is Luna Warwood." Samantha spoke as an evil smile appeared on her face.

"Ladies and gentlemen, while Anon continues to enjoy his cigar near the starting line, Samantha has already covered half of the kingdom, surpassing two hurdles with her increasing speed. Will Anon be able to catch her now? Will Samantha claim victory in this race and complete the Kingdom's Night Run?" Landon posed the questions.

"3... 2... 1," Anon murmured, dropping the cigar and rising from the ground.

🎵Best to give me your loyalty, 'cause I'm taking the world, you'll see.🎵

Anon suddenly burst into song, assuming a running stance once again.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Anon Agreil has finally risen from his spot, adopting a running stance. Will he now start running?" Seraphina exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.

"He can't defeat her now. The best he can do is briefly overtake her, but it won't last long. She's already accumulated over nine stacks," Jake stated, his smile betraying his confidence.

"What do you mean by 'stack'?" Frank inquired.

"Every three minutes, she gains a shadow stack, increasing her running speed by 20%. She already has over nine shadow stacks, meaning a 180% speed boost. Anon has wasted so much time, and the time he'll spend catching up will only allow my sister to accumulate more stacks, granting her greater speed. It's already a victory for us. My sister can't be stopped now; her speed will keep increasing. If Anon had run alongside her from the start, there might have been a slim chance of his success, but now it's simply impossible," Jake explained.

"Hmm, so she's using a stacking spell. I was wondering why she was initially running so slowly," Frank remarked with a serious expression.

"My sister has calculated everything. Anon pauses every ten minutes, triggering a cooldown for his skill. By the time he catches up, which will take at least six minutes, he'll need to stop for another four minutes for his cooldown. That will be his true moment of defeat. After that, even if he uses his skill, he won't be able to surpass her," Jake continued, unaware of Anon's hidden plans.

🎵They'll be calling me royalty.🎵

As Anon uttered these words, his entire body ignited in crimson flames, propelling him forward from the starting line at an astonishing speed.

"Anon has resumed running, and with this velocity, he'll catch up to Samantha very soon," Landon declared.

"An effort in futility. Even if you run faster than that, you'll still lose, Anon," Jake laughed, confident in his assessment.

'Hmm, Anon must not have realized that Samantha was using a stacking skill. His overconfidence has led him to believe he's invincible. I believe he can be defeated now,' Frank chuckled to himself, observing the screen before him.

Seventh ring, House of Alchemists...

"Hmm, so that's what overconfidence looks like, huh?" a man remarked, sitting in a chair inside his chemical lab, his eyes fixed on Anon on the screen.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Anon has taken off, already a quarter of the way through the kingdom and halfway to catching Samantha. Will Anon truly turn the tables on Samantha, or will Samantha defeat him?" Landon announced with anticipation.

"Here comes the first hurdle of the second kingdom, the Desert of Kalahari, but I don't believe it will pose a problem for Anon. He has already conquered the most treacherous deserts and the most dangerous sea across all seven continents." Seraphina declared confidently.

"There are a total of 23 hurdles scattered across the seven continents, but only five of them are truly perilous. The rest are considered mere race tracks. I have already cleared three, leaving only two remaining—the Forest of Nightmares and Darkthorn Grove Forest in the last kingdom. According to Letti, I will receive assistance in the Darkthorn Forest, and the Forest of Nightmares is my own territory. I am already in a winning situation, but you never know when circumstances may change and you die." Anon pondered as he traversed the Kalahari Desert.

"Hmm... I have already crossed it, well that was easy ?" Anon mused, glancing back momentarily before resuming his rapid pace.

"It has only been two minutes, and Anon has effortlessly conquered the first hurdle of the second kingdom as he continues to close in on Samantha but i still think that Samantha can win." Seraphina announced.

"Well, judging by his speed, I believe this guy truly has a chance of winning the race. What do you think, Seraphina?" Landon inquired.

"I'm afraid I don't share your optimism now landon. Upon closer observation that i did right now, it seems that Samantha is employing a stacking spell, gradually boosting her speed every few minutes," Seraphina responded, analyzing the situation.

"I knew it! She's utilizing a stacking spell. Now, hand over my winnings," A noble student spoke.

"Damn it! I thought she was using a standard spell," Another noble student spoke as he tossed two silver coins towards him.

"So, it appears Samantha will emerge victorious." Another one spoke.

"Care to make a bet? I can still wager on Anon,"

Bets began to circulate among the nobles and commoners alike.

"Ms. Letti, care to place a wager?" Seti proposed with a wide smile on her face.

"Hmm... What kind of bet?" Letti inquired, her eyes fixed on Seti as she smiled.

"Considering you support Anon and his astonishing speed, I assume you believe he will emerge triumphant, correct?" Seti questioned.

"Yes, undoubtedly," Letti confirmed.

"How about another blank mana contract as a bet? I propose that Samantha will win. What say you?" Seti proposed, a confident smile on her face.

"And what do you want in return?" Letti asked with a suspicious expression.

"If you lose, you will have to destroy the first blank mana contract that I gave you," Seti replied with a cunning smile.

Suddenly, a tense expression crossed Letti's face.

"What do you say? Care to make the bet? You have nothing to lose, and you stand to gain another contract if you win," Seti enticed, employing the Gambler's trick.

The Gambler's trick was a wordplay tactic used by gamblers to lure others into placing bets. It focused on emphasizing the potential gains to the other party while distracting them from the possible losses from the bet.

"No..." Letti responded.

"What? But you could earn an additional mana contract through this bet. Don't you desire another blank mana cont—," Seti began, only to be interrupted by Letti.

"Let's bet two mana contracts," Letti proposed, her smile taking on a psychopathic quality.

"W-What?" Seti grew alarmed at Letti's unsettling grin and stammered.

"Let's bet two mana contracts. If I win, you will give me two more mana contracts. If you win, I will nullify your first contract and provide you with one of my mana contracts. How does that sound? You stand to gain so much if I lose, and I already possess one of your mana contracts. What harm could two more do to you?" Letti expertly employed the Gambler's trick, turning the tables on Seti.

Unlike Letti, Seti quickly fell into her trap, and...

"I accept. Let's do this," Seti declared, a wide smile adorning her face.

Both teachers had made a bet before thousands of students, and breaking it would result in their reputations being shattered throughout the entire academy.

'You have no idea what you've done, you commoner bitch. You're finished now,' Seti thought with a smile.

'Well, two more mana contracts for me. I can't refuse that,' Letti thought, smiling in return.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Anon has triumphantly cleared the second hurdle of the second kingdom—the Frozen Lake of Eldoria. He is now closing in on Samantha," Seraphina announced.

"Yes! Surpass her, Anon! The moment you overtake her will mark your ultimate ecstasy, the sweet taste of victory. But four minutes later, when my sister surpasses you, you will experience the cruelest moment of your life, a memory that will haunt you forever," Jake proclaimed, a peculiar smile on his face.

'What a fucking weirdo,' Frank thought as he observed Jake's expression.

'Can this dishwasher girl truly defeat Anon? I have a dreadful feeling about this,' Frank contemplated, his gaze fixed on the screen before him.

Anon drew closer to Samantha, and their eyes met as he effortlessly surpassed her.

"As you can see, Seraphina, Anon has overtaken Samantha and is now surging toward his victory," Landon commented.

"Better have those mana contracts ready," Letti quipped, smiling at Seti.

"Yes, we shall see who will be preparing the mana contracts and who will receive them," Seti responded, her smile carrying a hint of mockery.

"We certainly will," Letti replied.

'Everything is proceeding as Samantha informed me,' Seti thought as she observed Anon surpassing Samantha.

Five minutes before the commencement of the second round...

Eldoria's coastline...

Jake, Samantha, and Seti were hatching a plan.

"He's utilizing a cooldown skill along with Phoenix Ignition to maintain his stamina," Jake explained, displaying Anon's previous race clips on the screen.

He's utilizing a cooldown skill along with Phoenix Ignition to maintain his stamina," Jake explained, displaying Anon's previous race clips on the screen.

"What exactly are you trying to say, Jake?" Seti asked, her expression filled with confusion.

"What Jake means is that Anon takes breaks every 10 minutes because the skill he uses to maintain stamina with Phoenix Ignition goes on a cooldown for 5 minutes after every 10 minutes," Samantha explained.

"Correct," Jake confirmed.

"So, how do we win with this? He'll just keep running with his monstrous speed and defeat all of us. Once his cooldown is over, he becomes unstoppable. Damn it, this Commoner is giving me headaches," Seti spoke, grabbing her head in frustration.

"No, I have a plan. I'll use a stacking spell in this race," Samantha spoke confidently.

"What difference does that make?" Seti asked.

"Stacking spells don't provide instant speed; instead, they gradually boost your speed over time," Jake explained.

"Okay, so what? Can you guys get to the point, for fuck's sake?" Seti blurted out, immediately realizing her choice of words.

"Oh shit, I-I didn't mean to say that. I'm so sorry, I just-" Seti began to apologize.

"Stop it. Judging by that Commoner's attitude, I can confirm one thing. He doesn't like nobles and wants to show his superiority over us. He'll do something foolish at the start of the race, and that's when we'll seize the opportunity to win. Once I safely accumulate over 9 stacks, no one can defeat me," Samantha explained.

"Even if Anon catches up to sis, he'll still have to stop for his cooldown, and that's when we'll hammer the final nail of victory in that Commoner's coffin," Jake added.

"Okay, I can arrange for some guys to delay him at the starting line for a while, want--"

"NO," both Jake and Samantha shouted loudly.

"Whoa, okay, okay, chill. What's gotten into both of you?" Seti asked, bewildered.

"We've seen your brilliant mind already. We're only sharing this plan with you because there are certain things we, as students, can't do in emergencies. That's why we're entrusting you with this. Understand?" Samantha explained.

"Okay, I understand. Just tell me what you need, and I'll arrange it as quickly as possible. We have to win this race, or the nobles will become a laughingstock," Seti replied.

"Good. We'll take care of it."

Seventh ring, Dragon House of Flames...

A woman practiced in the training room, striking the immortal dummy with her sword repeatedly.

She had long black hair cascaded down her back, complementing her fierce red eyes that gleamed with determination. Her fair complexion radiated an aura of confidence, and her well-toned body boasted chiseled six-pack abs. She was a formidable warrior, and her dedication to honing her skills was evident in every movement.

The wooden sword she had been using to strike the dummy finally snapped under the force of her blows.

"Still struggling to break it, huh?" A man in royal attire asked from behind as he laughed a bit his voice resonating with a mix of pride and curiosity.

His red eyes gleamed, and his sturdy frame emitted an aura of authority.

"Ah, Father, is there something you need my help with?" the woman asked, donning her plate armor and securing her sword at her waist.

"Yeah, I could use your assistance," the man replied.

"It's been 21 years since you last spoke to me. Today, you suddenly show up and ask for my help. I don't think you want me to be your bodyguard since you have Alex. So, what brings you here after all this time?" She questioned, her words laced with a boldness that had long been absent from their interactions as she wiped the sweat from her forehead with a white towel.

"Oh, it has been 21 years, huh? Well, I don't have such a good memory. But for now, I have a great offer for you," the man said, handing a screen to the woman.

Curiosity piqued, the woman accepted the device, her fingers deftly navigating its interface. As she activated the screen, a series of race clips featuring a talented racer named Anon unfolded before her eyes. Each clip showcased Anon's remarkable skills and undeniable potential.

"Hmm... Such remarkable progress at such a young age. Impressive," she murmured, her gaze fixated on the screen, captivated by Anon's abilities.

"So, what do you think, Sherly?" the man inquired.

"My name is Silk, and this kid is good. He'll make a fine knight. However, no matter what you offer him, he will never join our house. His demeanor suggests he has no interest in material wealth, and he possesses skills beyond our teachings. He's a self-learner who hones his abilities over time," Silk stated firmly.

"So much insight from just watching a few clips... How do you know he doesn't lack money? After all, he's just a Commoner," the man questioned.

"You're the family leader of our house, Bolge, the greatest dragon warrior, and you still can't figure that out?" Silk mocked.

"Well, you could say I'm more of a Berserk than a gentleman. Care to explain how you concluded that this kid lacks neither money nor skills, despite being a Commoner?" Bolge asked.

"Here, look at this clip. He jumped over an incredibly long valley and used four skills simultaneously. It's called a quadracast," Silk responded before Bolge could.

"This demonstrates that he possesses skills that you cannot teach him in exchange for recruiting him."

"And after this quadracast, his mana dropped significantly. What would a Commoner with no money do when they run out of mana?"

"Hmm... Drink a high-quality mana potion?" Bolge suggested.

"No, he waits for his mana to regenerate. But this kid did something almost unbelievable. He produced a special-grade mana potion and consumed it all at once, as if he had a stock of them in his dimensional pocket. This indicates that he is not poor and possesses a significant amount of gold," Silk explained.

"Hmm, he'll be challenging to recruit," Bolge murmured.

"Do you think he's handsome?" Bolge inquired, a hint of silkiness in his voice.

"Hmm, he's kind of cute and strong too," Silk replied, curiosity and suspision in her tone. " Wait, buut why do you ask that ?"

"Alright, it's decided then," Bolge declared, rising from the ground.

"What... What is decided?" Silk questioned, suspicion etched on her face.

"You will marry Anon," Bolge stated firmly.

"What? How can you make such a hasty decision? Did you come here with this intention?" Silk retorted, a trace of anger creeping onto her face.

"Well, sort of, but believe me, he's a good kid..." Bolge tried to convince Silk of Anon's worth.

"Father, I can't marry him. He's a commoner, and he doesn't appear as strong as me," Silk protested.

"Nonsense! He's far stronger than you," Bolge asserted, his expression serious.

"Prove it," Silk challenged.

"I knew you'd ask. That's why I saved some clips of Anon to show you later. Here, take a look," Bolge said, handing Silk another screen.

"Let's see what your Anon has to prove his strength," Silk remarked, a smile forming as she accepted the screen.

Silk's face filled with surprise as she watched Anon's clips. He had broken Silk's own record for spear throwing in the kingdom, made sirens bow before him, and demolished an immortal dummy with a single blow from an unknown weapon that he made himself.

"This is incredible," Silk murmured, the words escaping her lips in awe of Anon's extraordinary feats.

"So, what do you say now?" Bolge asked, a sense of pride evident on his face.

"Still, he's a commoner, and I am a noble--" Silk began.

"Oi, bonk," Bolge lightly tapped Silk on the head.

"Ouch, why would you do that?" Silk protested, rubbing her head.

"Your mother was also a commoner, don't forget. Yet, she was one of the four wives I loved with all my heart, out of all twelve concubines," Bolge explained.

"Yeah, and look what happened to all of them. Your four loving wives are dead, while the eight cunning foxes are still alive. What do you have to say about that?" Silk retorted, her gaze still fixed on the screen before her.

Bolge taps on Silk's head

Bolge tapped Silk's head and spoke, attempting to create a somber atmosphere. "Your mother was a good person, and I'm sorry I couldn't save her. But I made her a promise, a promise for you and your sister Lexi--"

"Her name is Letti. Why do you always forget everyone's name?" Silk interjected.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. What is she, a professor inside the academy, right?" Bolge asked.

"Yes, and I'm proud of her because she hasn't used your identity to achieve anything in her life," Silk responded, a warm smile gracing her face.

"Eh, I defeated the Demon King, became one of the cruelest leaders of the cruelest house, and she still acts like a commoner within that academy. The moment she reveals her identity, they'll immediately crown her as the director. But she wants to be an independent person. When I was twelve, I didn't even know the meaning of the word 'independent.' It was easier to hunt a dragon than to learn the meaning of these useless words..." Bolge delved into tales of his adventures, while Silk continued to observe Anon on the screen.

"She's using a stacking spell," Silk suddenly spoke as she pointed towards Samantha.

"That's when I--wait, How do you know that ?" Bolge asked with a surprised expression.

"Because-"

"Wait, let me guess. The black hue surrounding her body is increasing every few minutes, right?" Bolge interrupted, attempting to deduce Silk's observations.

"Yes, correct. And Anon is using the <Phoenix Ignition> skill, which means his stamina should have been depleted within a minute. Yet, he's been running for about six minutes, and in his previous clips, he takes a break every ten minutes. It implies he's using two skills simultaneously: <Phoenix Ignition> and another skill to sustain his stamina, but i don't know which skill." Silk explained.

"How can you tell? Isn't it obvious that he stops every ten minutes to recover his mana by using a mana potion? Didn't you see that he's using special-grade mana potions?" Bolge asked.

"It's just a mere distraction to divert the observers' attention from the fact that he always stops for exactly five minutes during the race. The cooldown on his stamina-sustaining skill must be five minutes, which is why he uses the mana potion as a diversion. I refuse to believe that a high-grade mana potion can't fully replenish his mana," Silk elucidated with a serious expression on her face as she continued to observe anon.

"How do you always do that? It's as if everything comes to your mind automatically. Do you have a special skill?" Bolge inquired.

"A warrior never reveals their secrets," Silk replied, her expression serious as she focused on the screen before her.

"At this rate, he's going to lose. If he's been running for the past eight and a half minutes, it means--" Before Bolge could've completed his sentence silk interrupted.

"Yes, he will take a break in the next minute and a half. That's when the witch girl will accumulate enough stacks to defeat him, even if he activates his skill again in the next five minutes. It will be an ultimate defeat for him," Silk concluded, an uncomfortable feeling enveloping her mind.

"Hmm, well, he alone completed the first round and three-fourths of the second round. That's pretty impressive for a commoner, right?" Bolge remarked.

"No, something is amiss here," Silk said, her gaze returning to the clip of Anon sitting at the starting line.

"What are you doing? Why are you rewinding it? I want to watch the race," Bolge protested.

"5162..." Silk muttered.

"What?" Bolge asked, confused.

"His lips. He's counting backward, but why?" Silk pondered.

"Hmm? You can read lips?" Bolge inquired.

"I can read many things. But why would he count backward from such a large number?" Silk mused.

Suddenly, Silk's eyes widened in realization as she grasped something.

"He knows," Silk spoke, her voice carrying a hint of certainty.

"What?" Bolge asked, his confusion evident.

"Anon has been aware from the beginning of the race that the girl from the witch house is using a stacking spell. He's been counting down the seconds, waiting for her to reach thirteen stacks. That's when he plans to make his move," Silk explained, her words laced with intrigue.

"What exactly does he plan on doing?" Bolge inquired.

"I cannot say," Silk replied cryptically.

"Hmm, perhaps he intends to eliminate her?" Bolge suggested.

"No, if he were to do that, he would become a target for every bounty hunter in the black market. It's something else, but what exactly?" Silk pondered, her gaze fixed on the live telecast.

[Skill <Stamina Boost> will go on cooldown in 30 seconds.]

"Cease the skill," Anon commanded.

In an instant, the crimson flames enveloping Anon's body dissipated, causing him to gradually slow down.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see, Anon has once again come to a halt. Is he out of stamina, or is he simply taunting Samantha at this point?" Seraphina inquired.

[Skill <Stamina Boost> will be available again in 4 minutes and 59 seconds.]

Upon seeing this notification, Anon stopped and promptly sat down on the ground.

"Look, Seraphina, Anon has halted his run and taken a seat on the ground. Samantha's speed continues to increase with each passing second, and it seems she has surpassed Anon's running speed. Could she win this round?" Landon speculated.

"I cannot say, Landon. Anything can happen in this race, but I believe Samantha has a higher chance of emerging victorious," Seraphina responded.

Suddenly, Samantha appeared, sprinting from the same direction Anon had come from earlier, her speed astonishingly fast.

"Oh, your sister has arrived," Frank remarked, pointing at the screen.

"I am aware. Now that commoner will suffer; my sister will crush him," Jake gloated, his laughter tinged with malice.

'Hmm, I still find it hard to believe that a girl like her, with a face like a dishwasher, can defeat someone like Anon.' Frank thought to himself as he observed the screen.

"Come on, girl. Defeat that piece of shit. Once I win this bet, I'll receive a precious Blank Mana Contract. I'll make this bitch's life a living hell once I obtain that contract," Seti chuckled, her gaze fixed on the screen.

Dragon House of Flames...

"He stopped, just as you predicted," Bolge remarked.

"Yet something feels amiss. The witch girl is closing in, yet his expression grows more confident by the moment. What are you planning, Anon?" Silk murmured, her mind racing with possibilities.

"Hmm, I believe he has accepted his defeat," Bolge stated, wearing an air of confidence.

"No, that look on his face doesn't belong to someone who has accepted defeat. It's as if he's playing chess, but he's playing it from both sides. That smile on his face suggests that something is about to happen, but what?" Silk wondered, her features tense with anticipation.

Samantha raced toward Anon with incredible speed, and he simply waited for her.

"How are you?" Anon shouted.

"Did he just ask me 'How are you?'" Samantha wondered, trying to make sense of Anon's strategy.

"What is he doing?" Jake pondered, his eyes fixed on the screen.

"Seraphina, did you witness Anon asking Samantha how she is?" Landon asked.

"I did, but I cannot fathom why he would do such a thing," Seraphina replied, her attention focused on the screen.

As Samantha passed by Anon, she defiantly showed him her middle finger and retorted, "Fuck off, loser. That's how I am," leaving Anon behind.

Zzzzz....Click

Suddenly, something occurred that left everyone utterly surprised.

A wave of purple energy emanated from Samantha's body, instantly purging all her shadow stacks and removing the black hie from her body.

Her speed returned to normal.

"Huh...? What the fuck?" Samantha exclaimed, scanning her body in bewilderment.

"Something amiss, darling?" Anon asked, rising to his feet.

Samantha fixed her gaze on Anon and interrogated him, her anger apparent. "What did you do?"

"Me? I did nothing. I'm just here resting," Anon replied with a feigned smile, his face innocent.

"Don't toy with me! Just tell me, what did you do to me?" Samantha demanded, her voice escalating.

Dragon House of Flames...

"Hahahahaha! That was a brilliant move," Silk burst into laughter.

Bolge looked at Silk, perplexed, as he asked, "What just happened? I don't understand."

"He used a purging skill. Anon purged every single stack from the witch girl, instantly reverting her speed back to normal. Now it all makes sense. He waited for her to accumulate a specific number of stacks before purging them.

They thought they were the masters of the game and he was playing, but it turns out Anon was the true master all along. Incredible," Silk explained, unraveling the events.

"But aren't purge skills incredibly rare to come by?" Bolge inquired.

"Indeed, purge skills are exceedingly hard to find. That's why purgers are highly valued members of raiding parties. Yet, he used such a skill effortlessly, signifying his exceptional abilities. This proves it that he needs no help with his skills." Silk remarked.

"So, will you marry him now?" Bolge joked.

"I wish to observe him further before making a decision," Silk responded.

"Of course, take your time. I'll wait for your answer until tomorrow at noon," Bolge declared.

"Why tomorrow at noon?" Silk questioned, her expression filled with confusion.

"We must propose the marriage before any other house does," Bolge clarified.

"What are the other houses offering?" Silk inquired.

"The leader of the Martial House offered their daughter because Anon saved her life. Witnessing this, the House of Justice also presented their less-than-impressive daughter for the marriage proposal. The House of Witch, always envious of the House of Justice, hastily put forth this Samantha girl up for the purposal. I thought if the lad is so remarkable, why not wed you to him?" Bolge explained.

"What about the House of Alchemist?" Silk asked.

"They have yet to make any moves." Bolge spoke.

"Commoner, tell me, what did you do? Or I will fucking kill you now," Samantha shouted, her voice laced with anger.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see, Samantha has stopped running. When she crossed Anon, something happened, and she abruptly halted. Now she is displaying aggressive behavior towards Anon, blaming him for whatever happened to her ability," Landon addressed the crowd.

"I can't determine what happened at this moment, why Samantha stopped running and lost all of her stacks, but I believe Anon is somehow involved," Seraphina added, voicing her opinion.

Seti's face twisted in confusion as she stared at the screen, her expression turning grim. She turned to Jake, seeking an explanation.

"What happened? Why did she stop running?" she questioned.

Jake, still in shock from the unfolding events, erupted in frustration.

"What the fuck! How is that even possible?" he exclaimed.

Seti and the noble students standing nearby quickly distanced themselves from Jake, leaving Frank, who maintained a calm demeanor.

"What's happening now?" Frank nonchalantly inquired, his earlier premonition proving correct.

'I knew it. You can defeat anyone but Anon. No way,' Frank thought, eyeing Jake.

Jake glared at Frank, his face filled with anger.

"That motherfucker used a purge skill!" Jake shouted.

The words echoed in everyone's ears, leaving them stunned.

"A purge skill? What are you saying?"

"Purgers are incredibly rare, right?"

"So, he was a purger. Now I understand how he won the first round."

"How?"

"Purgers possess god-like support abilities, defeating them in a race like this is a mere joke. He must have been utilizing support abilities to run, explaining how he raced on water and leaped over the valley effortlessly," a teacher explained, shedding light on the matter.

"What about the sirens, sir?" a student inquired.

"Well, I don't know," the teacher casually replied.

The revelation that Anon was a purger sparked discussions among the students.

"He is not a purger," Letti interjected.

"How do you know?"

"Yeah, how do you know?"

"How can you possibly know?"

The noble students began arguing amongst themselves.

"Here, check this," Letti said, tossing a crystal ball towards the noble students.

One of the noble students caught the crystal ball and examined it closely. Words started forming inside the crystal ball.

[Name: Anon Agreil]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Mage]

"What is this?" a noble student asked, perplexed.

"This is a class test ball. It indicates that Anon's class is mage," another student replied.

The class test ball was a crystal ball primarily used to detect a student's race. Sometimes, demons would disguise themselves and infiltrate the academy, causing trouble. The crystal ball served as a secondary security measure, ensuring accurate identification.

The crystal ball's results were infallible, almost impossible to manipulate. However, Anon had found a way.

When Anon infused his mana into the crystal ball, he employed the illusion skill. Once inside, his mana became trapped within the crystal ball, creating a permanent and incredible illusion.

"Show me," Jake demanded, snatching the test ball from the noble student and inspecting it closely. However, he found nothing to support his claims.

"If he is a mage, then he cannot use purge. Meaning, he didn't do anything," Jake concluded.

"Yes, this commoner has gone mad."

"Haha! He's already losing his mind. What if Anon really won this race?"

The commoners burst into laughter.

"Who said that? Who said I am crazy? Say it to my face, motherfucker!" Anger consumed Jake, leading him to lash out at the commoners.

This was the worst possible display a 7-star noble could present.

"Jake, calm down. You are tarnishing our reputation," Seti intervened, grasping his shoulders.

"Damn it, how are you doing this?" Jake asked, seething with anger as he stared at Anon.

"I didn't do anything to you. I don't know why you stopped running, but you better start again because this time, I won't be waiting like I did at the starting line," Anon spoke, pointing in the opposite direction to show Samantha the way.

"There's no point in running now. But I can render you unable to run, can't I?" Samantha taunted, letting out a chilling laugh.

"Oh, are we going to fight?" Anon replied, his smile mocking.

"No, I'm just going to destroy you, commoner. Killing you would lead to my suspension from the academy, but making you physically disabled would be fair game, right?" Samantha's voice carried a psychopathic edge.

"Fuck, my sister is losing control. Can Anon fight back?" Jake turned to Letti for answers.

"Why?" Letti questioned.

"She's going to hurt him. Can he dodge attacks? I don't want my sister to get suspended from the academy before she even begins her studies," Jake expressed his concerns, his face filled with worry.

Letti started contemplating something.

'Can Anon fight back? He's good at sports, but he's been running for the past hour and thirty minutes. He must be exhausted. Can he even dodge her attacks? Damn it, if something happens to him, I won't be able to forgive myself,' Letti pondered, tension covering her face.

Hoot-Hoot

An owl messenger descended from the air and perched on Jake's shoulder.

"A message from mom?" Jake muttered as he unraveled the small strip of paper wrapped around the owl's leg and began reading it.

A grim expression appeared on Jake's face.

"What happened?" Seti asked, feeling a chill run down her spine. Nothing was going as planned for Samantha, and she would now have to provide two more mana contracts to Letti if Anon won this round.

"We have to stop her," Jake declared, dashing toward the transportation portal room without offering any explanation.

Seti and Frank followed him without questioning his actions.

Witch House... 7th Ring.

"Ma'am, something very wrong has occurred," Shelly hurriedly entered Marinda's room.

Marinda sat at her table, engrossed in her documents.

"What now, Shelly?" Marinda dismissed her with minimal attention, still focused on the papers.

"Ma'am, you should take a look at this," Shelly urged, handing Marinda a screen displaying the live broadcast of the Kingdom Night Run.

"Not this again... I have more important work to—wait, is that Samantha attacking Anon?" Marinda interrupted herself, abandoning everything to focus on the screen.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Damn it! How useless can that girl be? Didn't my message reach her?" Marinda exclaimed in frustration.

"Ma'am, I believe our message arrived too late, and Young Master Jake received it."

"Fuck."

"If she kills Anon, we'll face a dire situation. He saved the daughter of the Martial House, and they will come seeking answers. The god worshippers will support them wholeheartedly. We cannot afford to face two 7-star houses simultaneously, especially since that guy has so much talent. We can't let him die like that, we need him." Marinda declared, rising from her chair with determination.

"What should we do, Madam?" Shelly inquired with a tense expression.

"We must stop her," Marinda responded, pointing her finger towards the ground. The mats immediately scattered away as a large magic circle emerged on the floor.

"Oh, Goddess of all, lend me your powers, and I shall serve you forever... Space Cutter," Marinda invoked, causing the magic circle to radiate a brilliant blue light. A dark purple and black spatial portal materialized above the circle.

"Let's go," Marinda commanded, stepping into the portal.

"Was this always here?" Shelly wondered, gazing at the magic circle on the ground.

"Hurry or it will close," Marinda's voice resonated from the portal.

"Yes, Ma'am," Shelly acknowledged, entering the portal.

In Eldoria...

"Anon Agreil, prepare to bid farewell to your hands and legs, for I am about to annihilate them. <Frost Bullets>," Samantha threatened as she laughed like a maniac.

[Frost Bullets] [A-Rank]

[Frost Bullets is a formidable skill that harnesses the power of ice and manipulation of frigid elements. When activated, this skill allows the user to summon an awe-inspiring barrage of frozen bullets, numbering in the thousands, with a single command. These bullets materialize through magical means, formed from the essence of ice and imbued with a chilling aura.

As the skill takes effect, an array of intricate, small magic circles manifest behind the user, their designs symbolizing the convergence of frost and projectile magic. From each circle, sharp, gleaming ice projectiles emerge, rapidly multiplying until the air is filled with a torrential storm of frozen ammunition.]

[8000 mana/use]

Suddenly, hundreds of small magic circles appeared behind Samantha, giving birth to thousands of sharp frozen bullets.

"W-W-Wait, p-please, spare me. W-What did I ever do to you?" Anon pleaded fearfully, collapsing to the ground upon witnessing the onslaught of frost bullets.

"That's precisely the issue, you see. Commoners like you cannot stand against nobles like us. But don't worry, I won't kill you," Samantha taunted, her laughter echoing.

A black portal opened 200 meters away from the scene, and Marinda emerged from it, followed by Shelly.

"Ma'am, Madam Samantha is over there," Shelly informed, pointing in Samantha's direction.

"Damn it, she's casting a mass AOE spell. You claimed she was useless, yet how can she unleash such destructive power if she's truly useless?" Marinda questioned, dashing toward Samantha.

"Ma'am, I suspect she is utilizing an artifact to enhance her spellcasting limits," Shelly suggested.

Chckkk

As they neared the scene, a curved, pitch-black kunai appeared near Marinda's face, abruptly halting Marinda.

"Who dares?" Marinda demanded, glaring at the kunai's holder.

It was a man with pure white skin, red glowing eyes, blonde hair, a handsome face, and an aura emanating danger and menace. It was none other than Mike.

Since Anon had slain the witch Morgana, the fear that hindered Mike's growth dissipated, driving him to embark on a self-training journey in the most perilous regions of the world. He had now surpassed his previous self by a significant margin and could confront two of the 7-star noble house forces on his own without much difficulty.

"He is dangerous," Marinda's initial thought surfaced.

"Hey, who are you? Don't you know who she is? She is the leader of-" Marinda began.

"Silence," Marinda commanded.

"Ma'am?" Shelly questioned, confused.

"Who are you, and why are you obstructing us?" Marinda inquired with a serious tone.

"Shhh... I've been instructed to prevent any interference," Mike hushed them, placing his index finger on his lips.

"Who is your master?" Marinda pressed.

"Shhh..." Mike repeated the gesture.

"Is Anon your master?"

Mike remained silent.

"Is Samantha your master?"

Again, Mike chose not to respond.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as you can witness, Samantha Grey has activated the Frost Bullets mass AOE skill. Will Anon survive this? Or will this be the day Anon meets his end?" Landon announced.

"Damn it, is it ready or not?" Jake queried, glaring at the worker operating the transportation portal.

"Y-Yes, sir, I'm just adjusting its location," the worker replied in a frightened tone.

"Do it quickly, you worthless piece of shit, or dire consequences await you," Jake barked.

"Y-Yes."

'Why, sis? Why do you have to kill him now?' Jake pondered, gripping his temples in tension.

"It's open, sir," the worker declared.

"Excellent, let's go," Jake swiftly leaped into the portal, followed by Frank and Seti.

The portal opened 300 meters away from the location, in the exact opposite direction of Marinda's portal.

"There," Frank pointed towards Samantha's position.

"Damn it, sister, stop!" Jake shouted, but his voice didn't reach Samantha.

Jake sprinted toward her.

"Enjoy a life of disability, commoner," Samantha sneered, unleashing a barrage of icy bullets at Anon.

Zzzzzz

Countless sharp frozen bullets hurtled towards Anon.

"Oh, shit. Not good," Frank expressed with feigned worry on his face, knowing what was about to transpire.

"Sister, noooo!" Jake cried out, halting and shielding his face with his hands to prevent any facial damage, as there was no time to cast protective spells.

<Telekinesis >

One second passed... Two seconds passed... Three seconds passed, yet nothing happened to Jake.

"Huh...?" Jake muttered, slightly removing his hands from his face and witnessing an unbelievable sight.

Thousands of frozen bullets hung motionless in mid-air, merely a meter away from touching Anon.

"Huh...? What happened?" Samantha inquired, astonished to see her skill halted mid-flight.

"Well, it seems playtime is over," Anon declared, rising from the ground and brushing off the dirt from his clothes.

Marinda observed the scene, a mixture of confusion and surprise clouding her face.

Jake was equally bewildered.

"What did you do?" Samantha asked.

"Nothing, but now I'm going to do something," Anon responded, moving two of his fingers as the frozen bullets transformed into ice dust.

"Link," Anon commanded.

[Yes, Master.]

<Quantum Reflect>

"Samantha unleashed her deadly <Frost Bullet> skill, aiming to take down Anon, but to everyone's shock, her bullets disintegrated into mere dust upon reaching him," Seraphina announced, her voice filled with awe.

"Could this be one of Anon's arts, or is someone orchestrating this from the shadows?" Landon speculated, his tone laced with intrigue.

"The time for games has ended, princess," Anon declared, his eyes ablaze with a menacing purple glow, emanating an aura of insatiable bloodlust.

Cough

Samantha convulsed, blood escaping her lips as she succumbed to the overwhelming bloodlust radiating from Anon. Falling to her knees, she struggled to comprehend the unfolding chaos.

"What... What is happening?" Samantha gasped, wiping the blood from her mouth, her gaze fixated on the formidable Anon.

"What transpires there? Has Anon met his demise?" Seti questioned Frank, seeking answers.

"Yeah, only in your wildest dreams," Frank retorted sharply.

"What?!" Seti asked in confusion.

"I believe he still stands, behold," Frank replied, pointing resolutely toward the unyielding figure of Anon.

"Why is Samantha kneeling?" Seti inquired, his voice tinged with concern.

"Link," Anon commanded with authority.

[Master]

"Initiate <Quantum Reflect>."

[Yes, Master]

Anon's hand ignited in a crimson blaze as Link materialized from his tattooed form, growing in size with every passing moment. Coiling around Anon's frame, Link expanded until he surpassed Anon's stature, unfurling a colossal hood that enshrouded Anon's head.

With eyes ablaze in resplendent gold, Link conveyed a message before Anon.

[Your loyal companion, Link, has unleashed the might of <Quantum Reflect> on the selected target.]

Anon's body gradually ascended, suspending itself in the air at a calculated distance. Suddenly, a multitude of enchanting sigils materialized behind him, heralding the birth of millions of frozen bullets.

Thousands of magic circles emerged, enshrouding the entire horizon in an icy aura, plunging the environment into a bone-chilling abyss. Unsettled, noble spectators felt beads of perspiration trickle down their foreheads, an undeniable discomfort invading their beings.

Even the teachers succumbed to perspiration, their gazes fixated on the spectacle unfolding before their very eyes.

Letti, too, stood awestruck, her eyes wide with wonder as she beheld the unfathomable scene playing out on the screen.

The commentators fell into a stunned silence, their mouths rendered mute by the sheer magnitude of the moment. All attention converged on the screen as commoners and nobles alike became enthralled. Witnessing a commoner slay a noble in real-time was a spectacle, one hundred times more captivating than any other.

"H-How?" Jake stammered, his voice a mere whisper, as he grappled with an overwhelming sense of helplessness, watching his sister teeter on the brink of doom.

In this moment, an unexpected revelation unfolded before their eyes, defying all expectations. Unleashing such devastating destruction was a feat only achievable by the most seasoned archmages.

"He aims to end her life," Marinda declared, her eyes ablaze with a relentless bloodlust as she locked eyes with Mike.

Despite Samantha's apparent insignificance, she remained Marinda's daughter, and Marinda was prepared to fight tooth and nail to protect her kin.

Click

Mike withdrew the kunai from Samantha's visage, vanishing into the shadows with an air of sinister intrigue.

Anon redirected his gaze from the heavens to the quivering Samantha, who trembled in abject terror, her very essence exuding fear so potent that she lost control over her bodily functions.

"So, what were you saying about handicapping me?" Anon sneered, a twisted smirk curling on his lips.

"N-No..." Samantha stammered, her life's ultimate truth unraveling before her eyes — an encounter with Death itself.

"Boo..." Anon leapt, startling Samantha, causing her to lose consciousness as fear consumed her, yet again relinquishing control of her bodily functions.

"Cancel the cast, Link."

[Master, I apologize, but once initiated, this spell cannot be undone. I must proceed.]

Link's voice reverberated through Anon's mind.

Panic gripped Anon as he frantically surveyed his surroundings, finally spotting a colossal mountain in the distance.

"Good. I've found my target," Anon declared, pointing with unwavering determination toward the towering behemoth.

"Fire."

Zzz

ZzzZzzz

Zzzzzzzzzz

In a mesmerizing display, countless frozen bullets erupted from the magical sigils, obliterating the mountain instantaneously, reducing everything in its vicinity to naught but dust.

With the mountain's annihilation, tranquility descended upon the scene. Link reverted to its tattooed form, and the magical sigils dissipated, leaving behind an eerie stillness that permeated the horizon.

"H-He didn't kill Miss Samantha," Shelly exclaimed, her words shattering the silence like a crack of thunder.

"Arcane Flicker..." Marinda muttered, materializing near Shelly with an ethereal grace. She cradled Marinda tenderly in her arms, her gaze fixated on Anon.

"We shall cross paths again, Anon Agreil," Marinda vowed before vanishing once more, leaving only a lingering air of bloodlust in her wake.

"Alright, I've got a thing for MILFs anyway," Anon remarked, a mischievous grin playing upon his lips.

"Something truly extraordinary just occurred, ladies and gentlemen. Anon Agreil not only mirrored Samantha's skill but amplified it with unprecedented power," Seraphina bellowed with excitement, her voice echoing through the air.

"Landon, speak your mind," she urged.

"Ah, yes. It was utterly mind-blowing. I could never have fathomed such a turn of events, which caught me completely off guard," Landon admitted.

"Likewise," Seraphina agreed.

"Anon is a force to be reckoned with."

"Undoubtedly, he possesses immense strength."

"My God, had he employed that skill against Samantha, she would have been vaporized in an instant. Her remains would be nothing more than elusive whispers."

"You're right. We commoners possess formidable contenders."

The commoner students' section erupted with chatter, brimming with newfound confidence and exhilaration. They realized that they, too, had a champion who could stand tall against the nobility.

"Is such power even possible for a commoner, sir?" a student questioned the teacher, his voice filled with awe.

"I-I don't know. Take your seats," the teacher replied, his forehead glistening with perspiration as he wiped it with a trembling handkerchief.

Gia's class...

"Gia, your brother is a terrifying force. How did he amass such power? Did he study under an archmage or perhaps acquire an artifact of immense potency to unleash such devastating spells?"

"Gia, I want to be your brother's slave." Yumi spoke.