Because I Can

Vito Fool's heavy sword smashed into Danica's with a resounding crash. The sheer force of his strike should have been devastating, but to his surprise, the energy rebounded, sending him flying into the stone wall. He grinned despite the impact, unbothered and eager for more.

Nearby, the mechanical limbs of Vivid Nollen and Emilia Cylus clashed violently. Sparks flew as their ethereal arms collided again and again, each blow resounding with brutal intensity. Jaylen and Cloudy tried to support Emilia with their abilities, but even with their help, it was clear Emilia was struggling to withstand the sheer might of a complete ethereal warrior like Vivid.

On the other side of the room, Gemini Iricson engaged Alice Clayton. Alice's axe, once cloaked in molten heat, had its power significantly reduced as Gemini's Blade of Harmony neutralized the fiery aura. Alice could barely maintain control of her ethereal arm under the oppressive influence of Gemini's presence.

The cramped space left many unable to fight at their full potential, including Rin, Albert, and Osward. Yet Osward's vines twisted and turned through the room with eerie precision, avoiding his allies and honing in on the Blackguards. His ethereal arm, once mocked, was proving to be far more dangerous than anyone had anticipated.

In a sudden roar of fury, the room began to tremble. Albert, using his control over the earth, slammed his fist into the ceiling, causing it to deform and collapse. The priority shifted in an instant: survival.

Rocks and debris tumbled down as the room caved in. Under Albert's guidance, the group managed to escape just in time. Outside, they found themselves face-to-face with the Blackguards' reinforcements—an overwhelming army.

The Blackguards, with their combined forces, now held the upper hand. Their army was no trivial threat. In fact, it was formidable enough to challenge even Lordrixis itself.

But Shun and his allies were not without their own advantages. Dharma Leyndra, Gemini Iricson, and Shun himself wielded the most powerful ethereal arms in the kingdom. The fight was balanced on a knife's edge, with victory hanging in the balance for either side.

Dharma acted first, launching himself into the heart of the enemy forces. His scythe whirled through the air, cutting down foes in an effortless dance of death. Bodies dropped in his wake, his brutal efficiency sending tremors of fear through both sides.

Some of the students stood frozen, their hands trembling. For many of them, this was their first time witnessing real death on such a scale. The lesson was clear: this was a fight for survival, not honor.

Amidst the chaos, Gideon's golden web, the Web of Betrayal, proved fragile in the open battlefield. Meanwhile, Osward White, once mocked as the weakest, excelled. His mastery over the vines was astonishing; each tendril moved as if with a will of its own, seeking out enemies with deadly accuracy.

A faint, brown wing materialized behind Leon's back as he ascended into the sky, surveying the battlefield with a keen eye. The wing, a gift from Vesanze Fortune, was a signature ability she had bestowed upon all members of her manor. Yet, those serving under Ander Leo were granted something even more profound.

Leon muttered softly, "Feel the energy coursing through your veins."

"Concentrate on your inner power, reliant only on yourself, free from external aid."

"And when the cycle is complete..." He crossed his arms over his chest, and two glowing fissures formed on the backs of his hands. As the cracks widened, they revealed two piercing blue eyes that gazed down at the chaos below, even as Leon's own eyes remained firmly shut.

Shun's ear buzzed with Leon's voice as the gadget projected his words to the group. This time, it wasn't about the ethereal abilities of their enemies but a detailed and precise strategy.

"There are many ways we could win," Leon continued, his voice tinged with excitement, "but this is the simplest."

Leon had recently mastered the Reality Calculation technique, a spiritual art from the Eternal Dynasty of An. This skill allowed its user to predict and assess future outcomes by analyzing present circumstances, leading them to the most favorable solution.

Though considered one of the more accessible arts within the Eternal Dynasty, Reality Calculation had harsh prerequisites that few could meet. Vesanze Fortune, however, had no doubt Leon Ermy was the perfect candidate to master it.

Dharma and the others moved in unison under Leon's guidance, splitting the battlefield as Albert summoned towering walls of stone to divide the enemy forces. Exhausted from his exertion, Albert sank to the ground, unable to continue.

On one side, Dharma turned his arena into a blood-soaked slaughterhouse. The screams of his enemies echoed as his scythe cut through them with ruthless precision. Cloudy, Mia, Ruby, Rin, Yurien, and Gideon provided support where they could, but Dharma was unstoppable by himself.

Meanwhile, Vivid Nollen found himself pitted against Emilia, Jaylen, and Vito—three of the most promising fighters. Though they hesitated to face a complete ethereal warrior, Leon's voice had filled them with confidence.

Alice Clayton faced the far more daunting task of battling Gemini Iricson. Though both were complete ethereal warriors, the outcome was never in doubt. Gemini, the ninth strongest ethereal warrior in the kingdom, was far beyond Alice's skill.

And then there was Danica Amnir, staring down Shun Xshasi.

Shun's laughter echoed through the battlefield, a cold, mocking sound. "I still can't believe you trusted me yesterday."

Danica's face twisted in fury and confusion. "Shun Xshasi! You should hate Alfred Eldran as much as Dharma does. Why would you—" She gritted her teeth. "You don't understand what he's done to the world."

Shun's gaze was steady as he looked her in the eyes. "Maybe I don't. Maybe he's the reason for my grandfather's downfall."

Danica started to speak, but Shun cut her off.

"One day, I'll get the answers I need from him. And maybe I'll kill him for what he's done." He smiled grimly. "But that day doesn't involve you, Danica."

Danica's expression faltered, a mixture of bitterness and denial spreading across her face. "Shun, you don't understand. Alfred destroyed my family—he ruined my life. Because of him, so many people's lives had become nightmares. You could've stayed out of this. You didn't have to stand in our way!"

Shun sighed, spreading his arms wide, as if speaking to a fool. "Who you are, what you experienced, and what you are going to do, none of that matters to me. I couldn't care less if you succeed or fail."

He stepped forward, his voice cold and final. "I'm not here to stop you from killing Alfred. I don't care about him either."

His eyes locked onto hers. "I'm killing you, Danica, not because I want to. Not because I have something against you or your plans."

"I'm killing you because I can."