Inter-Academy Festival III

Seol-ah sighed quietly, her golden eyes drifting toward the group from Mythos Academy. She could feel it more intensely now, being so close—the sheer strength radiating from them. It wasn't just Class 2-A; it was all of them. Every student from Mythos Academy carried an aura of power that set them apart. 

The rumors she'd heard about Mythos Academy seemed more like truths now. It was said they took the top one hundred out of the best one hundred and fifty talents every year, and Seol-ah found herself agreeing with that notion. The gap between the students of Mythos and those of other academies was stark. Their average strength was on an entirely different level, which was why Mythos Academy never lost—despite being the target of every other academy.

It wasn't enough for Mythos Academy to be defeated. One of the other academies had to accumulate more points than them, and in all the years of the festival, that had never happened. They simply stood too far ahead.

Her gaze rested on two figures in particular—Arthur Nightingale and Lucifer Windward. Both of them were powerful swordsmen, almost legends in their own right, even though they were still students. Arthur, the Martial King's disciple, and Lucifer, the son of Arden Windward—two of the most powerful swordsmen the world had ever known. Their mere presence was enough to shift the atmosphere around them.

Seol-ah felt a twinge of something akin to regret. She would never get to face them in battle, not truly. The gap between them in terms of mana rank was far too wide. She was White-rank and had completed the first stage of the integration process, powerful in her own right, but Arthur and Lucifer were on another level entirely. Even if she wielded the finest swordsmanship, a duel between them would be unfair, out of reach. It was a bitter realization.

But as her eyes lingered on them, she couldn't shake the feeling that one day, somehow, she would stand on equal ground with them. The strength she needed, the gap she had to close—it all seemed insurmountable now, but Seol-ah Moyong was no ordinary swordswoman. She would not remain in their shadow forever.

And besides, strength wasn't measured only by mana rank. There were other ways to prove herself, ways to be remembered. She didn't need a grand stage to show her mastery, just the right moment.

For now, she kept her focus sharp. The Inter-Academy Festival wasn't a place to dwell on what couldn't be—it was a battleground, one where strategy and skill would play as much of a role as raw power.

Among Starcrest Academy's second-year students, there was no question who stood at the top: Aria, Ava, and Seol-ah herself. Ava, with her agile combat skills, was at High Silver-rank. Aria, the fire mage prodigy, had reached White-rank and Seol-ah had successfully integrated part of her mana core into her body—a significant step forward.

But even with their talents combined, they weren't enough to challenge Mythos Academy on their own. The sheer strength of Mythos was like a mountain, and no matter how sharp Seol-ah's sword, cutting through that mountain alone wasn't possible.

That was why they had to rely on alliances. Starcrest couldn't face Mythos without support. Slatemark Academy boasted five top-caliber students, and Gravehold Academy had Aaron Drayce, another White-ranker. If they could form an alliance with these academies, they might stand a chance.

Just as Seol-ah was considering the possibilities, she noticed a shift in the air, a ripple of tension that ran through her instincts like a blade. She turned, and her golden eyes locked with the onyx gaze of Jack Blazespout, leader of the Slatemark Academy students.

A shudder ran through her spine, unbidden.

Seol-ah could feel it immediately—he was strong. More than just strong. Jack carried an aura that weighed heavy on the air, thick with power. It wasn't just the strength of his mana; it was his presence, the quiet confidence of someone who knew they could bend others to their will. It was the unmistakable weight of dominance.

Her instincts, sharpened by countless battles, screamed at her. She couldn't beat him. Not now. Not without preparation, and perhaps not even with it. Jack Blazespout wasn't just another opponent. He was something else.

Beside her, even Aria's usual confident expression had hardened, her gaze flickering with wariness as she registered the depth of Jack's strength. There was something dangerous about him, something that set him apart from the others at Slatemark.

Jack, for his part, gave a polite smile, but his eyes never left Seol-ah's. He had sensed something in her as well—something that piqued his interest. He wasn't here just for casual pleasantries. No, this was about gauging potential threats. Mythos might be his primary target, but he was already calculating the other obstacles that stood between him and his goal.

"Seol-ah Moyong," Jack said smoothly, his voice low and steady. "It seems we'll be seeing a lot of each other during this festival."

Seol-ah returned his stare, unflinching. "It seems that way."

The air between them was thick with unspoken understanding. They both knew what was at stake, and neither was willing to back down, even if they acknowledged the gap in power. Jack might be untouchable now, but Seol-ah wasn't someone to be underestimated either.

This wasn't the moment for battle—there would be time for that soon enough. For now, alliances had to be forged, strategies built. But Seol-ah knew one thing for certain: Jack Blazespout was a threat she would have to face, sooner or later.

It wasn't just him. The rest of the Slatemark students stood out as well, each one formidable in their own right, clearly stronger than the Starcrest contingent. Three of them had reached High Silver-rank, while one, Liora Arundel, stood at White-rank. Known for her mastery of ice magic, Liora was widely regarded as a future contender for the head of the Tower of Magic in the Slatemark Empire. Her reputation preceded her, as cold and lethal as the magic she wielded.

The three High Silver-rankers weren't just strong—they were seasoned, with an air of control and precision that came only from experience. Each movement, each glance, showed their readiness to fight, to dominate. And then there was Aaron Meriot, the top student from Gravehold Academy, a rare axe-wielder who had also reached White-rank. His presence, more understated than Jack's, carried its own weight, like a storm waiting to be unleashed.

The other academies were less impressive. Without any top-class talents among their second-year students, they would be forced to take a backseat in the coming Capture the Flag event. It was clear that the real contest would be between Slatemark, Starcrest, and Mythos Academy.

Jack's voice cut through the tension, low but with an unmistakable ripple of mana beneath it. "I'm sure you understand why I'm here," he said, eyes still fixed on Seol-ah. "We need to team up against Mythos Academy."

Seol-ah didn't respond immediately, weighing her options. She knew Jack was right. Mythos Academy had an overwhelming advantage, not just in terms of individual strength but in their cohesion as a team. They were used to being the target, and every academy here knew that if they didn't band together, they'd have no chance of bringing them down.

But there was something about Jack's presence that made her hesitate. It wasn't just his strength—though that was undeniable—it was the sense that he was always a few steps ahead, always playing a game where no one else knew the rules.

Aria, standing beside her, was the first to speak. "And what guarantees do we have that this alliance will hold? What's to stop Slatemark from turning on us once Mythos is out of the picture?"

Jack's smile was thin. "I'm not asking for blind trust. You'll find that turning on you wouldn't benefit us. We all know Mythos is the real threat here. Take them out, and we'll deal with each other afterward. One step at a time."

Seol-ah's golden eyes narrowed slightly. Jack's reasoning was sound, but it didn't make her feel any more comfortable. Still, she knew that in this game of power, sometimes even the sharpest sword needed to be wielded strategically. And right now, they needed an alliance if they were to stand any chance of toppling Mythos Academy.

She glanced at Aria, who gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. They would go along with it—for now.

"Very well," Seol-ah finally said. "But understand this, Jack. Once Mythos is dealt with, we're no one's second priority."

Jack's grin widened, though it never quite reached his eyes. "Of course. I wouldn't expect anything less."

With that, the uneasy alliance was sealed. The real game would begin tomorrow, and Seol-ah knew that no matter what promises were made today, the true battle would be fought after Mythos Academy fell.

But that was still a big if.