The mountain pass shook.
Wind howled between the cliffs.
Professor Elena stood before Noah.
Her crimson aura flared like a blazing inferno.
Across from her...
The Commander rested his black greatsword on one shoulder.
Neither moved.
Neither blinked.
The pressure between them alone forced nearby students to retreat.
Professor Elena spoke first.
"Students."
Her voice remained calm.
"Fall back."
Nobody argued.
Eric grabbed Noah’s arm.
"We have to go!"
Noah didn’t move.
The Commander hadn’t taken his eyes off him.
"I found you."
His voice was almost gentle.
"The Seventh Successor."
Professor Elena stepped forward.
"You’ll have to get through me."
The Commander smiled faintly.
"I was hoping you’d say that."
Without warning...
He vanished.
BOOM!
His greatsword crashed down.
Professor Elena met it with her crimson blade.
The collision shattered the ground beneath them.
A shockwave tore through the mountain pass.
Students were thrown off their feet.
The sky itself seemed to tremble.
Eric shielded his face.
"What the hell are they?!"
Noah watched silently.
"Monsters..."
Steel clashed again.
The Commander attacked with overwhelming force.
Each swing split the earth.
Professor Elena answered with flawless precision.
She blocked.
Redirected.
Countered.
Every movement was elegant.
Years of experience condensed into perfect technique.
The Commander laughed.
"You’re stronger than the reports claimed."
"And you’re louder."
Elena disappeared.
She reappeared behind him.
Her sword slashed toward his neck.
CLANG!
He blocked without turning around.
"You’ve slowed."
"I’ve aged."
She kicked him in the ribs.
The Commander slid backward twenty meters before stopping.
He grinned.
"Good."
"I was worried this would be boring."
Meanwhile...
The remaining assassins rushed toward the students.
"Protect the convoy!"
Damien roared.
Stone pillars erupted from the ground.
Sophia darted between enemies.
Her twin daggers flashed.
Eric intercepted an assassin trying to flank Luna.
"I’ve got this one!"
Luna calmly raised one hand.
"Ice Prison."
A massive wave of ice exploded outward.
Five assassins were frozen instantly.
The battlefield became a storm of steel, fire, ice, and blood.
Noah drew Shadowfang.
Three assassins charged him together.
The first attacked high.
The second low.
The third circled behind.
"Too predictable."
He stepped inside the first strike.
Shadowfang flashed.
The assassin cried out as blood sprayed across the rocks.
Noah spun.
His elbow smashed into the second assassin’s jaw.
Before the third could react...
Shadowfang pierced his shoulder.
The man staggered backward.
"You..."
He coughed blood.
"...fight like..."
"...one of them."
Noah frowned.
"One of who?"
The assassin laughed weakly.
"The Keepers..."
Before he could finish...
A black needle shot through the air.
THUNK!
It pierced his throat.
The assassin collapsed instantly.
Dead.
Noah looked toward the cliffs.
Someone had silenced him.
Professor Elena noticed as well.
Her expression hardened.
"They’re cleaning up their own."
The Commander swung his sword again.
"You should focus on me."
Elena barely blocked in time.
The impact sent her crashing through a boulder.
Dust filled the air.
For the first time...
Blood ran from the corner of her mouth.
The students froze.
Their professor...
Had been injured.
The Commander slowly lifted his sword.
"Enough games."
Black mana surged around the blade.
The clouds above twisted into a vortex.
Even the professors paled.
One whispered,
"...That technique..."
"...Impossible."
Professor Elena wiped the blood from her lips.
She smiled.
"Finally."
Crimson flames erupted around her body.
The temperature skyrocketed.
Her academy coat burned away, revealing ancient crimson armor engraved with phoenix-like runes.
The students stared in disbelief.
Eric whispered,
"...Professor?"
Noah’s eyes widened.
"She was hiding her true strength..."
The Commander chuckled.
"There you are."
"The Crimson Blade."
Elena pointed her sword at him.
"No more holding back."
The mountain trembled once again.
Far above the battlefield...
Azrael opened his eyes.
For the first time since the battle began...
He smiled.
"Now..."
"...this is worth watching."