Chapter11-Prepare For Battle!

"Emily, I thought we were friends..."

The situation grew awkward, and John's expression darkened as he said in a low voice, "I don't mean any harm. You don't have to treat me like this, do you?"

"Are you so desperate for friends that you try to befriend anyone you meet? Do you really think we're close? Besides, you know exactly what you did to take Trisha's spot. With your level of skill, you're just going to be a burden, dragging Owen down!"

"I... You're slandering me! I didn't use any tricks!"

"Hmph, do you really think anyone would believe that? Trisha is a Platinum-tier Lv. 7 mage and one of the strongest in the entire academy, as well as Duncan's student. If you didn't bribe him, why would Duncan give this opportunity to you instead of Trisha?"

Faced with Emily's accusations, John's face flushed red, and he found himself at a loss for words.

The truth was, he had used some means—a scroll from the ancient gnome race—to secure this opportunity.

When making this decision, Sorvan had tried to persuade John to reconsider.

The scroll was a token entrusted to John by the gnome race, meant to be returned to their sacred land.

Even if he didn't return it, John could have used the ancient scroll as a foundation to develop his own forbidden magic in the future.

But John believed that forbidden magic was far too distant a goal for him.

As for the gnome race's request, John had said, "Once I gain power in the Tower, if the gnomes dare to trouble me, I'll just kill them all! Who remembers the promises of the weak?"

Instead of gambling on an uncertain possibility, he chose to give the scroll to Duncan in exchange for a spot on this journey to the Tower, hoping to quickly increase his own level.

The fact was, his spot had indeed been obtained through less-than-honorable means.

"Hmph, I knew it! There's no way Trisha would've been kicked off the team without reason. So, it was you scheming behind the scenes!" Andrew sneered, his gaze growing even more hostile.

They were already displeased with John, and now, knowing that their friend Trisha had lost this opportunity because of him, their dislike turned into outright disdain.

Facing their scornful gazes, John clenched his teeth and stubbornly retorted, "The decision was made by Duncan. What's the point of saying all this now? If you have the guts, why don't you go and challenge Duncan instead?"

"You think I don't dare? Once this is over, I will definitely go to the vice headmaster to seek justice for Trisha!"

Andrew turned around, yellowish-brown mana swirling around him. At this point, Owen couldn't help but sigh.

He needed to put an end to this farce. If he didn't step in now, it could escalate into outright bullying against John, and who knows what opportunities that might inadvertently create for him.

With this in mind, Owen took a deep breath and leaped down from the lookout tower. As he neared the ground, a gentle breeze swirled up beneath his feet, slowly lowering him to the ground.

"Alright, everyone, quiet down. Arguing is pointless. Regardless of how John joined the team, he's already here, and that makes us a team. As teammates, we can't afford to fall apart before we even enter the Tower. Do you want others to laugh at us and mock Crossbridge Academy for being disunited?

Our goal on this journey is not just to gain opportunities but also to uphold the reputation of Crossbridge Academy. I don't want to see this kind of situation happen again.

And you, Emily, everything requires evidence. You must be responsible for the words you say. Accusing your teammate based solely on speculation—what are you trying to achieve?"

Under Owen's cold gaze, Emily's eyes instantly welled up with tears. She bit her lip, feeling deeply wronged.

There was often talk within the academy that Chief Trainee Owen was unfeeling and strictly impartial. She hadn't paid much attention to it before, but now, she was experiencing it firsthand.

"I'm sorry..."

"The battles we'll face inside the Tower will be brutal. I hope we can unite, rather than tearing each other down like this. Andrew, did you hear me?"

"Yes, Chief Owen!"

"Good, let's keep moving."

Owen nodded slightly and then turned to walk away.

However, just before he jumped back onto the lookout tower, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and, using wind magic, sent it gently to Emily.

"I'm not targeting you; I just don't want my team to fall apart."

Emily looked up, watching Owen's back as she tentatively clutched the handkerchief in her hand. Owen then leaped back up, gracefully returning to the lookout tower to continue scanning for potential dangers.

After this brief interlude, the atmosphere on the Aetherwing Ark noticeably eased.

At the very least, Andrew and the others were no longer openly hostile toward John.

Whether it was out of genuine change of heart or simply following Owen's orders, there were no more arguments.

Emily, naturally, was in high spirits.

The handkerchief Owen gave her was now her most cherished gift of the past year.

She was so fond of it that she couldn't bear to let it soak up her tears. Instead, she folded it neatly and kept it close to her heart, treating it like a protective charm.

As for John, he was a bit surprised.

He had expected Owen to use this opportunity to suppress him, but to his surprise, the first person to stand up and help him was Owen.

The academy's strongest genius wasn't as aloof as John had thought. Instead, Owen seemed quite just and fair.

Moreover, wasn't it rumored that Owen was especially fond of Emily?

If this was supposed to be affection, it certainly didn't look like it—Owen hadn't even glanced at her more than necessary.

John grew increasingly skeptical of the rumors.

Maybe Owen wasn't so bad after all?

...

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. They didn't encounter much danger along the way, though Owen felt it was merely the calm before the storm.

After all, once they reached the Tower, they might be greeted by brutal battles!

Before they departed, every mentor had warned their students that once inside the Tower, whatever happened would not be held against them afterward.

For those entering the Tower, fewer competitors meant a better chance of success, making it highly likely that the fighting would begin as soon as they stepped inside.

With that thought, Owen exhaled deeply and signaled Andrew to stop the Aetherwing Ark.

"We'll reach the Tower in less than ten minutes. I'm sure you've already been warned to be extremely careful and to survive at all costs—your mentors must have made that clear. However, I want to remind you that this competition for the Tower will likely be even more brutal than you imagine.

A single misstep could mean certain death at the hands of students from other academies. So, stay sharp. I will protect you, but I can't be there for you every second. Don't let me down."

As he spoke, Owen directed his gaze toward Emily, activating his ability so she could hear his thoughts.

"Especially you, Emily. Even though you can be a bit foolish and clumsy, I still want you to make it back safely."

Hearing this, Emily's heart warmed, and a blush spread across her cheeks.

So, Owen does care about me after all...

"[Host has violated the slack off principle. Slack off rewards will be reset to zero and will begin recalculating from tomorrow.]"

The system's notification rang in Owen's ear, but he just shrugged indifferently.

After all, he would have to take action in the Tower no matter what, and it was impossible for him to remain uninvolved.

Besides, in the past two days, he had mastered two forbidden spells, making his overall strength formidable—even his beautiful mentor might not be his match now.

Owen felt quite confident.

With that thought, Owen turned to Andrew and said in a serious tone, "Alright, everyone, get ready. We can land nearby, Andrew."

"Understood."

Andrew nodded firmly.

After finding a suitable spot to land the Aetherwing Ark, the group disembarked and approached the Tower.

It was an ivory tower that seemed to pierce the heavens, its surface covered in cracks, weathered by time, yet still standing tall.

The tower was adorned with numerous runes, and it was said that anyone who could comprehend the runes carved on the Tower's surface would be able to become a master-tier mage!

The area was already filled with students from various academies, all wearing expressions as if they were preparing for a fierce battle.

The tension in the air was palpable, and it was clear that once the Tower opened, chaos would erupt immediately.

Owen's arrival only intensified the atmosphere.

With his hands behind his back, Owen was gently carried forward by the wind, landing gracefully in front of the crowd. He scanned each face before curling his lips into a smile.

"All familiar faces, I see. Lawrence."

"Owen? Long time no see."

Lawrence, the top student of Frostbane Academy, turned pale at the sound of Owen's voice. Although he harbored deep resentment toward Owen, he didn't dare say much.