Chapter 461

Chapter 461

Emio Luchan

This individual was widely recognized as one of the top five elite pupils within the sophomore division of the Magic Department.

Consequently, the announcement of Emio’s dismissal at the conclusion of his second year’s initial term sent shockwaves through the student body. Even those peers who maintained a hostile relationship with him found themselves utterly astonished by the news.

Under the established regulations of the mentor framework, a precarious condition dictated that if an apprentice faced banishment, their designated guide would suffer the identical fate. However, Remen, the freshman under Emio’s charge, had successfully navigated the redemption rounds to narrowly secure his placement, meaning Emio’s dismissal was purely a reflection of his own independent failures.

On paper, Emio still retained his prestige as one of the top five spellcasters of the sophomore Magic Department during that first term. This reality left him harboring a deep sense of resentment, viewing the academy’s decision as an egregious injustice.

“Dismissed?” Emio’s gaze sharpened into something venomous.

Noticing the volatile shift, Carl recoiled instinctively, retreating a few paces. “Listen, if you attempt anything reckless here…”

“Silence!” Emio bellowed, thrusting his staff directly toward Carl.

Whoosh!

The incantation triggered instantly, unleashing a violent gale that completely swallowed Carl’s position.

Kwagagagaga-!

The abrupt deployment of offensive sorcery in a public space left the surrounding second-year students paralyzed with bewilderment.

“What is happening?”

“Isn’t that Emio Luchan?”

“Are you out of your mind?! How dare you cast offensive spells in this area!”

“Throwing a tantrum just because you were cast out? Have you no dignity left?!”

Kwagagaga-!

Ignoring the barrage of condemnation, Emio redirected his volatile spells straight toward the vocal crowd. The sophomore pupils recoiled in alarm, scattering backward as Emio barked back at them.

“Does any of this strike you as reasonable?! Incompetent nonentities manage to cling to this place through mere nepotism, while someone of my caliber is discarded?! How is that fair?!”

Veins strained violently against the skin of his throat as he screamed.

“Every last one of you is the same! I will eradicate you worthless insects to demonstrate my true capabilities to Rumerun!”

With crimson, bloodshot eyes, Emio had clearly snapped.

The second-year students, initially caught off guard by the unexpected assault, found their shock twisting into lethal intent. Regardless of the circumstances, these were individuals who had successfully endured the brutal environment of Rumerun up to this point. Even if Emio ranked among the apex of the Magic Department, isolating himself against an entire collective of peers meant certain, rapid subjugation.

Yet, entirely blinded by fury, Emio remained indifferent to the odds.

Right at that volatile juncture, a calm voice broke through the tension. “I can sympathize with your frustration, but perhaps it would be wise to lower your intensity?”

“Ha?! Look who decided to grace us with his presence—the grand savior himself, Your Grace?” Emio sneered, watching Leo emerge as the gathering parted to let him through. “What would the public say if they discovered the legendary champion shields absolute trash merely due to personal favoritism? Are you satisfied? Knowing you helped banish a student who rightfully earned his place here?”

“The student council leader possesses no administrative power to expel anyone. Furthermore, I have never offered Carl any illicit assistance. His continued presence in Rumerun is entirely a product of his own capabilities.”

“What absolute garbage—!”

“See for yourself.” Leo nodded slightly toward the area where Emio’s tempest had struck. “Your spell didn’t even leave a scratch.”

“Phew~ That was incredibly close!”

As the localized vortex dissipated, Carl stood perfectly intact within the clearing.

Emio’s expression shattered into disbelief. “H-How is this possible…!”

“Attention, fellow classmates! The Shield Bracelet manufactured by Carl Thomas is an absolute lifesaver during unexpected crises! Furthermore, it boasts an incredibly sleek, fashionable aesthetic! Though it functions as a single-use mechanism, it guarantees your personal protection while ensuring you look impeccably stylish!”

Amused chuckles rippled through the gathering as Carl enthusiastically pitched his merchandise, offering a confident thumbs-up to the crowd.

“You miserable parasite!”

Emio’s features twisted into a mask of pure rage as he leveled his staff back toward Carl.

“Emio Luchan.”

“Kkhh…?!”

The sheer frost permeating Leo’s tone forced a sharp gasp from Emio’s throat. The surrounding onlookers similarly shuddered, taking a collective step away from the epicenter.

“Allow me to offer a final word of guidance. Desist from these futile actions,” Leo stated, closing the distance between them. “Because I genuinely lack the desire to severely discipline a child.”

“Keep your mouth shut!”

With a hysterical shriek, Emio swung his focus and his staff in a frantic arc.

Jiiiing-!

An immense accumulation of sorcerous energy erupted.

Kwagagagagang-!

The devastating magical shockwave slammed violently into Leo’s position, shattering a section of the waterfront pier into splinters.

“What flaw do I possess?! Inferior weaklings are permitted to stay, so what logical basis exists for my banishment?!”

As Emio continued his frantic screaming, the sophomore students narrowed their focus, shifting into definitive combat stances. Suddenly, a blinding beam of light cut through the air, followed by the relentless trajectory of a razor-sharp blade descending upon Emio.

Shhhik-! Kwagagak-!

“Kkh?!”

Despite being encased in a heavy defensive barrier woven from raw magic, the blade sliced clean through the enchantment, leaving deep lacerations across Emio’s form.

Thump-!

Bwooong! Bwoong!

Iliana executed a graceful landing upon a fragment of wooden debris drifting across the water’s surface, a vibrant smirk gracing her features.

“The striking swordmistress, Iliana Raden, has arrived to grace the stage!”

Her theatrical introduction was immediately met with a chorus of groans and dry jests from the surrounding students.

“How can you spout such utter nonsense given the gravity of this situation?!”

“Calling herself a beautiful maiden… truly, she possesses zero self-awareness.”

“Good grief, how embarrassing.”

The wave of mockery failed to dampen Iliana’s spirits in the slightest.

“I have zero interest in wasting my time on you, so vacate the premises before you end up dead, Iliana Raden,” Emio snarled venomously.

“As a loyal representative of Rumerun Academy, I simply cannot stand idly by while a complete outsider assaults my fellow academic peers!”

Emio’s expression contorted with spite, intentionally highlighting his severed ties to the institution as he confronted her.

“In truth, I have looked forward to thoroughly breaking you for quite some time. Your entire existence is nothing short of a nuisance.”

The lighthearted amusement vanished from Iliana’s demeanor in an instant. The playful facade evaporated completely, replaced by a piercing, lethal gaze as she leveled the tip of her blade directly at him.

“You are an individual who has mastered neither the blade nor the mystic arts!”

Emio swung his staff with violent intent.

Hwaruruk-!

An immense column of roaring fire manifested in the sky, rapidly encased by a swirling tempest of wind.

“Flame Tornado!”

Kwahhhhhhh-!

The inferno combined with a lacerating gale capable of shredding anything within its trajectory, the wind drastically amplifying the destructive heat of the blaze. The catastrophic spell surged directly toward Iliana.

Kwagagagagang-!

The column of fire erupted skyward, triggering a succession of deafening detonations. A dark, predatory grin spread across Emio’s face as he witnessed the destruction.

Flash-!

Suddenly, a brilliant column of pristine white radiance pierced through the center of the vortex, and Iliana tore through the fading remnants of the gale. Her academy attire bore heavy scorch marks and structural tears across various sections, with minor lacerations weeping blood across her skin. Emio’s offensive output was undeniably formidable, preventing her from mitigating the damage entirely.

Even so, she had sustained absolutely no critical trauma.

“This cannot be… my sorcery…!”

“Nothing to write home about! I simply carved right through it!”

Iliana offered a triumphant grin as she descended toward the lake.

Splash-!

Water erupted outward around her. Employing an Aura Step technique, she maintained her balance effortlessly atop the liquid surface without submerging.

Hwaak-!

Adjusting her grip tightly upon her hilt, she surged directly toward Emio.

“A reckless direct charge! Arrogant fool!”

Emio ground his teeth, unleashing an unceasing barrage of spellcraft. The attacks possessed an optimized, devastating destructive capacity, reflective of an individual raised within a prominent military lineage.

Observing the oncoming onslaught, Iliana extended her free hand forward.

Flash-!

A translucent, crystalline barrier of absolute white magic materialized before her like a solid shield. Utilizing the defensive construct, she deflected the incoming magical projectiles away from her trajectory, rapidly eliminating the distance separating her from Emio.

“No!” Emio’s pupils contracted in sheer terror.

Despite the immense destructive threshold of his spells, they were being effortlessly neutralized by her advance.

This defies reality! Our combat capabilities were supposed to be on par!

As Emio spiraled into disbelief, Iliana completed her approach, her expression freezing into a predatory smile. “You are prepared for the consequences, correct?”

“Y-eugh-!”

“Pashya!”

Kwaduk-!

“Uh-oh?”

Iliana delivered a tremendous two-handed strike with her blade, which was thoroughly encased in a dense aura. The energy manifested with the properties of a crushing blunt instrument rather than a cutting edge. Nonetheless, the sheer kinetic force blasted Emio backward, leaving his consciousness reeling.

Kwagagagagang-!

Emio skipped violently across the lake’s surface multiple times like a thrown pebble before crashing heavily into the deep water.

“Hmph.” Iliana offered a casual shrug, brushing a few stray strands of hair away from her face.

The observing student body looked on in sheer awe.

“Since when did Iliana possess that level of combat prowess?”

“That wasn’t even a contest; she completely dominated him.”

Iliana beamed proudly, flashing a celebratory victory sign toward her admiring peers.

Kwagagang-!

Abruptly, the water fractured upward as Emio breached the surface once more.

“You miserable wretch…!”

Shaking uncontrollably from head to toe, Emio locked his frenzied, unstable gaze onto Iliana. Merely a few months prior, at the genesis of their sophomore term, their respective combat metrics had been nearly identical.

“Do not insult my intelligence! Had I been permitted to join the wilderness expedition! Had my performance been evaluated with actual objectivity! I would never have been subjected to such pathetic degradation—”

“The disparity in capability between yourself and Iliana was already firmly established months ago.”

“Kya?!”

Iliana let out a startled gasp as Leo materialized soundlessly right behind her. “President! You nearly frightened me out of my skin!”

Leo offered a reassuring pat to Iliana’s head to quiet her complaints, then stepped past her to face Emio directly. “Would you care to learn the true rationale behind your banishment?”

“What did you just say?”

“It remains a fact that your practical capabilities rank within the upper echelons of the sophomore Magic Department. The critical issue lies in the reality that your development has remained entirely stagnant since the first day of your freshman year.”

“Absolute garbage!” Emio’s visage twisted in denial.

“Was it not already becoming an uphill battle for you to simply comprehend the advanced academic lectures?”

Emio’s practical field metrics indeed remained highly competitive within his department. However, his performance regarding written evaluations and conceptual magical theory had completely cratered relative to his initial academic year. He stood in stark contrast to his lower-ranked peers, who consistently absorbed contemporary principles and successfully implemented them to elevate their practical executions.

Emio had proven utterly incapable of digesting and adjusting to advanced conceptual paradigms. The sole reason he had avoided outright academic failure until now was the buffer provided by his historical grades.

The pursuit of magic demands a perpetual willingness to integrate novel concepts and evolve alongside them. Emio had failed to exhibit this fundamental trait. Even within the practical domain of martial engagement, individuals who once lagged far behind him had demonstrated explosive development, whereas Emio remained completely fixed in place.

“Most decisively, Emio: you lack any capacity to contend with a foe who possesses even a slight marginal advantage over you.”

A true champion is defined by their willingness to confront impossible odds and transcend arduous tribulations. Because of this, genuine legends are perpetually braced to wage war against adversaries who eclipse them in power. Emio possessed no such resolve.

“Your strength within the sophomore pool is undeniable,” Leo remarked, his expression completely unreadable. “But to frame it accurately, you are merely competent within the confines of a second-year environment. The academic board concluded that an individual incapable of further evolution would inevitably perish within Rumerun, regardless of whether you were permitted to stay.”

“Do not make me laugh.”

“As the secondary term of this sophomore year commences, situations will arise where your literal survival is on the line. Given your current limitations, you would simply lose your life.”

Hearing Leo’s assessment, Emio clenched his hands into tight fists.

“The instructing faculty likely felt a sense of pity regarding your limitations.”

“Cease your endless lies! I possess every requisite qualification to remain within Rumerun!”

Observing Emio’s unhinged, screaming form, Iliana merely puckered her lips in distaste. “Your words are completely wasted on him, President.”

“It appears so. In that case, I shall speak with absolute candor.” Leo’s gaze locked onto Emio with piercing intensity. “Instigating a public riot will do nothing to alter the reality of your dismissal. Therefore, crawl away quietly. You have lost.”

“Kruaaaahhh! Leo Flove!”

The instant Emio completely lost his sanity and attempted to channel his internal magical reserves, Leo’s crimson eyes ignited with a sudden radiance.

Paching-!

The intricate magical array manifesting around Emio was violently shattered into pieces. The resulting backlash sent Emio staggering backward in sheer disorientation.

“Dismantling a magical formula of your caliber is elementary for an individual who has mastered the curriculum of the Rumerun Magic Department.” Leo advanced steadily toward him. “This concludes our interaction. Should you persist with this violent tantrum, it will no longer be resolved through lenient measures.”

“Kruaaaahhh!”

With eyes rolled back into his head, Emio launched himself in a frantic charge toward Leo.

Leo let out a quiet sigh and sharply flicked his fingers.

Hwaruruk! Kwaaang-!

A sudden eruption of flame enveloped Emio, culminating in a sharp detonation. The force launched his body upward before he plummeted back down.

Splash-!

Staring down at Emio’s unconscious, unmoving form floating in the water, Leo turned back toward his fellow students. “Let us secure his body and deliver him to the academic staff.”

“Understood!”

“On it!”

The surrounding second-year pupils quickly subdued the unconscious youth, binding him securely using specialized restraint sorcery.

“A chaotic incident to mark the very first day of the academic term,” Leo muttered softly, shaking his head as he let out a weary breath.

Thump- Thump-

Across an endless, desolate expanse of land stood an immense, ancient burial monument. In an era long past, this specific territory served as the absolute epicenter of the cataclysmic conflict against Tartarus—a realm completely defined by utter hopelessness and demise.

This land had ultimately been delivered from the clutches of Tartarus through the ultimate self-sacrifice of a legendary champion. The massive monument before them served as the final resting place of that very savior.

An individual shrouded in a deep, hooded cloak stood motionless before the ancient gravestone, extending a solitary hand. Beneath the fabric of the sleeve emerged a terrifying, skeletal limb.

Thump-!

Gripping the stone surface tightly, the cloaked entity whispered into the silence.

A mere breath later.

Kwaduk-! Kwadudududk-!

A skeletal entity clawed its way out from the depths of the earth, rising into the open air. Emerging directly from the burial site, the creature contorted its neck at an unnatural angle, fixing its gaze upon the intruder.

[You… the Duke of Funerals…]

Sensing the dense aura of lethal intent radiating from the reanimated entity, Artkan, the Duke of Funerals, allowed his lips to curve into a dark smile.

“Do you harbor no desire for a second chance at existence? Oh, champion who was so unjustly discarded.”

The skeletal entity’s arm, which had been reaching forward fueled by pure animosity, froze instantly in mid-air.

[A second… existence?]