A while later, inside the familiar dome of Starlight Academy, Alfanzo lifted his head as he sensed a sudden wave of unfamiliar, powerful, and violent energy coming from the opposite direction—as if a battle had erupted. He wasn't the only one; VP Doris, Principal Wen, and everyone in the vicinity of the Talisman Department also felt it.
"Hmm?"
Alfanzo's gaze narrowed dangerously. Who dared to fight in the academy, let alone use such overwhelming power? What infuriated him was that he hadn't sensed it earlier!
He vanished from his spot, his colleagues—who had also sensed the unfamiliar aura of ominous Dark Evol—followed close behind.
Like them, VP Doris, Principal Wen, several powerful professors, and a few elderly men and women clad in loose attire also rushed toward the Talisman Department building.
Similarly, the professors already inside the building instantly hurried toward the source of the Dark Evol, their hearts racing.
However, before they could even open the door of the classroom from which the Evol emanated, the principal appeared before it and kicked it open. A booming bang echoed through the air as the door was flung aside.
Behind Principal Wen, Doris, several elders, and Alfanzo materialized. They entered the classroom almost in a blur, but the scene that awaited them was utterly unexpected.
The wall opposing the chairs was riddled with cracks, and the ground beneath it was stained with blood. Two unfamiliar figures lay unconscious, their bodies motionless.
Crouched near them was a familiar youth, holding two storage rings he appeared to have taken from the fallen men. He looked back at them, his silver eyes wide.
Zack instantly dropped the storage rings, his heart nearly stopping as multiple eyes locked onto him as if he were alien. Caught off guard by the attention, he blurted out.
"This isn't what it looks like! I swear!"
Charles, who was standing near him, also panicked when he saw the principal he had met after returning from the Royal Battle—along with VP Doris and, finally, Alfanzo.
"This really isn't what it looks like!"
Principal Wen's eyes narrowed.
"We'll know soon enough."
He and Doris immediately appeared beside the two unconscious men, but the moment they saw their faces, their eyes widened as Vice principal Doris muttered solemnly.
"The Cursed Twins."
Her words stunned everyone present. Two notorious criminals with massive bounties on their heads had managed to infiltrate the academy without anyone noticing.
How was that even possible?
The Starlight Academy was fortified with barriers and alarms spread throughout the grounds—how had such dangerous villains entered undetected? And not only had they gotten in, but it seemed the twins had even attempted to kidnap Zack and Charles.
Why did everyone think that?
Because only Charles and Zack were conscious in the entire classroom.
The three other students lying amidst the chairs were also unconscious—and mind you, they were the only students present.
The principal looked at Zack, meeting his silver eyes with an incredulous expression.
"How did you manage to subdue the twins, so much more powerful than yourselves?"
A vein throbbed on Zack's forehead as he snapped at the man, frustration mounting.
"I told you, it's not what it looks like! I didn't fight these men! I didn't—"
His words were cut off by a familiar voice as the owner quickly pushed through the crowd gathered at the classroom door.
"OMG! What is going on here?!"
At the sound of the voice, all eyes instantly turned to the ash-brown-haired youth who had just arrived. Everyone knew him—after all, he was the talk of the continent lately.
Skyler dropped the packets of snacks he was holding, the soft rustle echoing in the air as they hit the floor. His uniform was spotless, nearly pristine, without a single wrinkle, as he stared at Charles in shock.
"I just stepped out to grab some snacks, and... you're already in trouble? Damn."
Charles's jaw dropped—and so did Zack's. Both men stared at Skyler, eyes bulging in disbelief. What the... why the... who the—?!
Freaking hell!
What was Skyler even saying?
He went out to grab snacks for Charles?!
When the hell did that happen? And why on earth weren't they aware of this bullshit?!
Wasn't Skyler the one who had taken down the unconscious cursed twins, healed them completely, and then vanished—leaving the duo utterly dumbfounded? And now he was pinning everything on them?
Unbelievable. What a bastard.
Zack's expression went blank when he turned and saw the principal's face—and realized Wen actually seemed to believe Skyler's nonsense. Not just the principal, but everyone else in the room too.
Was Skyler's acting really that convincing? Or had the scene Zack witnessed—Skyler beating the crap out of the Cursed Twins—just been a figment of his imagination?
VP Doris quickly bound the unconscious men with Evol chains—restraints designed to suppress and block the Evol of criminals, preventing them from using their power.
"All those involved in the matter will stay. The rest leave. This is no small matter. Two powerful individuals infiltrated the academy—not just anyone, but members of the Dark Lights. Their purpose is still unknown. And while we are proud and shocked to find that two young students, despite their low ranks, managed to handle the powerful Cursed Twins, the situation remains unclear."
The crowd—except for Alfanzo, his people, and the elderly man and woman—began to disperse after hearing her words.
Principal Wen nodded in agreement, but his dark eyes stayed locked on the silver-eyed man, who was sweating profusely.
He knew who Zack was—how could he not? Though abandoned by his family, Zack was still the son of one of the Dukes, one of the leaders of the government. Zack Everlette, the youngest son of Duke Everlette.
What surprised Wen were the powerful elemental crystals pulsing within Zack's heart—he was a 12-star Elementist.
Yet this was the very same boy everyone dismissed as a disgrace: notorious for his foul mouth and disrespect toward elders.
He was infamous for neglecting training, chasing skirts, drinking during class hours, and starting fights over petty insults. Zack Evergreen's reckless antics were a stain on the prestigious Evergreen family name.
Not long ago, he was even publicly beaten by a stronger classmate for flirting with a junior student—an incident that turned him into a laughingstock across the academy.
After that, he suddenly went quiet, and his name strangely faded from conversations, as if he had vanished altogether—perhaps deliberately stepping out of the spotlight.
To think Zack had been secretly growing stronger all along. Had getting beaten by Max finally put him on the right path? Or was he training out of a burning desire for revenge? Whatever the reason, Zack had become powerful enough to stand among the best of his generation. And just a few months ago, he was nothing but a joke.
Intriguing, Principal Wen mused inwardly. This year's first-year Elite class was truly exceptional, each student remarkable in their own way. His expression softened.
"Why didn't you come when I summoned the students who returned from the Battle Royal after Skyler? Charles showed up, and I was told you were ill. Yet now, seeing you here, you look far from sick—in fact…"
He dragged his words.
"You look very energetic—enough to have even defeated two powerful Dark Lights."
Beside him, Doris instructed a professor to drag the Cursed Twins away. She glanced back as Zack chuckled in response to the principal's question and shook his head.
He wore a wry smile.
"How many times do I have to tell you it wasn't me who defeated the twins? Just how many? Nor was it Charles. It was..."
He snapped, drawing the attention of the ash-brown-haired youth who had picked up his fallen snacks and was about to flee.
"HIM! Skyler Ironhart was the one who defeated the villains! He just… vanished afterward! The classroom has cameras—check the footage and you wilI see."
Skyler gasped dramatically, as if Zack had just accused him of the gravest offense.
Though inwardly, this time he remembered what had happened when the figures in his subconscious had suddenly taken control of his body. Not that he'd ever admit it.
Hehe.
He stared at Zack with wide, innocent eyes.
"If you don't like me, just say so...! Why make up lies? I didn't do anything."
His eyes sparkled with a flicker of mischief—one only Zack noticed—making him want to strangle the guy right then and there.
Skyler gestured toward the classroom cameras Zack had mentioned to all.
"Check the footage! I've nothing to hide!"
Zack followed his finger and choked on air when he saw the cameras were shattered.
Would they even have any footage at all?
Still, a smirk tugged at his lips.
"Hah, then what about the witnesses? It's not like they'll stay unconscious forever."
Yet his confidence wavered when Skyler simply shrugged, looking unbothered.
"Whatever. It's not like they can describe what they never saw. I didn't do anything."
Outwardly, he appeared nonchalant—but inwardly, he was laughing like a maniac.
'I did everything. Unlike you and Charles, the others won't remember a thing. Hehe… one of the figures in my subconscious erased their memories the moment they fainted.'
Skyler glanced at Charles.
"Right? I'm the one telling the truth."
Zack instantly snapped his head toward Charles, who could testify his claim. But to his disbelief, Charles merely scratched his head awkwardly and gave a hesitant nod.
Charles and Skyler's eyes met briefly, sharing an unspoken understanding.
Watching the silent exchange, Zack finally realized one crucial detail he had overlooked—Charles and Skyler were friends! Freaking bastards! Of course they both would cover for each other without missing a beat!
He clenched his fists, fighting the urge to scream. He should've known better than to expect honesty from those two!