62: I'll fight for protecting Hot Chocolate!

"It's good to hear that…" Void's lips curved into a content smile, though his thoughts ran a different course.

...What happened? In the game, she should have turned possessive and terrifying, even taking control of Norton Campbell the one who holds the Frostbane as Void dies in the real story the reason is still unkown to me but he's also—the one who helps Rubianna if Vivienne is the heroine. He had feelings for her...

The battle commenced as the top 50 students clashed, each one testing their mettle. Void found himself facing opponents who were finally on equal footing—those with the potential to actually harm him. Lumi fought fiercely beside him, driven by her new life and her goal to stay by his side. Meanwhile, Vexia tried to take on Sophie.

Celine seized the opportunity to jump into the fray. "Void… Are you forgetting our duel? You're mine!" She unleashed her tentacles, attempting to ensnare Void. But he effortlessly dodged them with new, swift movements. As Celine prepared for another attack, she felt a strong aura behind her.

"You've got some nerve claiming my Void…" Vannessa sneered, grabbing one of Celine's tentacles and hurling her away. In mid-air, Vannessa reappeared. "Know your place, you delusional octo..." She unsheathed her sword and prepared to strike, but Celine managed to grab her leg and slam her into the ground, shattering the platform and sending her crashing to the bottom of the room.

Void, meanwhile, was chilling with his hands in his pockets, dodging attacks with a nonchalant grace. He even danced between blows, his thoughts focused elsewhere. "Oh… That's cool… Nah, I need more speed. Apply more strength," he murmured to himself.

"Oye! Void, get serious and fight me with all your pride! I am Aziel Earlborrow, the Demon Prince, first in line to the crown! I challenge y—" But before Aziel could finish, he was sent flying by a single punch.

...Honestly, I didn't expect getting chosen would make him disappear. I need to find him soon. Even if he's not the villain, I need him to be with Vivienne! As much as I hate to admit it, as her brother, especially her big brother, I have to fulfill my responsibilities. Because of Shuri, Vivienne has become a side character—more like a character in some NTR H-manga who got NTR'd…

Returning to the fight, Aelius the Vampire, Aziel, and Gallus the wolfman—who secretly admired Void—tried landing a blow on him. But Void effortlessly dodged each strike, not even using his Zone or applying mana for accelerated movement.

...But if Vivienne is a side character, it also means Norton is a side character. And I'm here to change the script! Once we enter the Academy, I'll start my game… Haha! Well, these ones here are nothing. My real competition would've been Eliza, Vannessa, Samuel, Shuri, Celine, and the other female fighters. These guys may look strong, but they're not even strong enough to withstand my Glacial Wrath!....

"Void, stop dodging and fight! Your rank is dropping, and if you don't rank up, I swear I'll ban Hot Chocolate production!" Vannessa yelled, busy and frustrated as she fought Celine and the Echidna. For God's sake, if these bitches weren't here, I would've had a romantic duel teasing him and might've gone on a date or done something pretty lewd with him later!

Vannessa's threat wasn't all that convincing, but it worked. "Ahh…! Alright, Zone!" Void sighed as he cast his domain. The activation granted Lumi wild strength, and she transformed into a blade. "Finally… Now's my time! Let's go, my love!" Lumi said as she became a katana.

Void's casting sent chills down the spines of Aelius, Gallus, and the Echidna, who had once mocked him. "This… This is just half of his strength? Even after losing half his mana, he still has such dangerous control over natural mana. I see why my sister appreciated and worshiped him!" Aziel thought, gritting his teeth and tightening his grip on his demonic sword.

"What… the hell!? He just created a domain around the entire cruise—the whole cruise is his territory. I see how he reached such heights even with a low mana count, and he's still standing strong after losing half of it!" Aelius realized, finally understanding the method behind Void's Zone.

"I see… He's learned to use natural mana. Natural mana is free mana that converts itself to whoever it reaches, and Void has learned how to manipulate it" the Raiju observed, sweat forming at the back of her ears. A drop trickled down as she dismantled the concept in her mind.

"Before chanting, Void takes a deep breath, releases a small amount of mana, and since he's blessed by natural mana, there's always a large amount of natural mana surrounding him" the Raiju continued, her contentment mingled with fear as she smiled slightly.

Aelius, Gallus, Aziel, Echidna, Celine, and Raiju all came to the same conclusion after understanding the power of Allainette's Paragon:

A normal body—no matter the mana count—can't bear such a massive flow of mana. And to think… Celine thought, while the Echidna, who had once toyed with Void, trembled in horror.

"This boy… This male… He's been using this ability since he was 10!..." Horror spread across the Echidna's face as she began to sweat.

"This trick can't be copied! No one dares to use natural mana as Void does!" Gallus thought as he swiftly retreated, inches away from Void.

And in that moment, they all finally thought the same thing Samuel had once realized... "He's truly not someone to be underestimated. In fact, quite the opposite… He's someone who should be feared! Honored! Respected! Void Middletown… The Absolute Monster!"

Meanwhile, Void stood with a sinister smile spread across his face. "I held back all this time because Frost… Lumi wasn't with me… Now, I, Void—the Absolute Monster—am back with more energy to fight. Because I can't let Hot Chocolate get banned!" The real event and the fight for Sovereignty begins now!