Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1475: The Weight of Rivalries

Ibarin’s warning still rang in the minds of the Central Academy students. He had made it clear, again and again: failure was not an option. The memory of their last meeting with him was enough to make their blood run cold. In that moment, every one of them had believed they were on the verge of being expelled , stripped of their prestige, their titles, their path forward.

They had always considered themselves untouchable, the best of the best, chosen from noble and powerful families across Alterian society. They were heirs to names that commanded respect, families who had influence woven into the bones of the empire. But standing before a Grand Magus had reminded them of an uncomfortable truth. Prestige meant nothing compared to raw power. Their family names could not shield them from Ibarin’s wrath.

What they didn’t know was that their fears had been tame compared to reality. Ibarin had already resolved that if they failed him, if they truly disappointed him again, he would not simply strip them of status. He would erase them entirely. Their families, their lineages, every thread that connected them to society , gone. No witnesses, no loose ends. Even Alen, who had dared recommend Wilton’s mysterious students, would be silenced once Ibarin learned the truth.

It was this silent threat that weighed on the students now. It was why none of them had dared to use the pills yet. They all knew the pills were their trump card, their last resort. To reveal them too soon would be reckless. And besides, they were Central Academy’s finest. They still believed they could win on their own merit.

As the match began, the battlefield erupted into chaos. Spells shot across the field, carving lines into the earth, filling the air with heat and light. Kelly moved swiftly, her wind magic cutting across the ground like invisible blades, forcing Wilton’s students to keep moving.

From the opposite side, Londo surged forward. Sparks of lightning danced across his hands and then exploded down into the earth as he ran. With a powerful sweep of his arm, he shattered Kelly’s winds, tearing them apart with pure force. Lightning hissed across the ground, scorching lines into the soil as he advanced.

Kelly’s lips curved upward in the faintest of smiles. This was exactly what she had hoped for. “Good,” she thought. “I needed someone to clash with. This way, no one questions where I was or what I was doing. But… maybe I’ll push myself a little harder. I didn’t claw my way here just to stand still.”

She raised her hands again, wind gathering in swirling currents. She would put on a convincing fight , for herself, for Raze, and to keep suspicion away from her true intentions.

Elsewhere, the battle lines were forming. Two Central Academy mages had zeroed in on Liam, deciding that the swordsman was too dangerous to face alone. They came at him with coordinated fire and ice, their magic tearing up the battlefield. Liam, however, merely lifted his wand. Lightning burst forth, his strikes faster and heavier than they expected. Their confident smiles faltered as they realized they had underestimated him.

Meanwhile, many eyes kept flicking toward Raze. They noticed something strange. He wasn’t moving. He wasn’t casting spells. He stood calmly at the back, arms loose, eyes sharp. His presence was unsettling , like a blade still sheathed, promising disaster if drawn. The Central Academy students quickly realized that Raze was only responding when provoked. If they didn’t attack him, he would remain still.

For Kayzel, this was unbearable. His tongue clicked in frustration. Part of him ached to go after Raze, to test himself even without the pill, to see if he could match that power. But instinct, and strategy, told him otherwise. Raze standing idle was a gift. Why waste their strength challenging him directly? Better to eliminate the rest first, then overwhelm him with numbers.

Yet when Kayzel drifted closer to Raze, something unexpected happened. His body shivered. A tremor ran through him before he could stop it. And then, from the corner of his eye, he caught a blinding streak of lightning ripping toward his face.

Kayzel’s reflexes saved him. Mana surged through him as he twisted, his own control bending the spell just enough to fling it upward into the sky. But even with his speed, the force of the strike pushed him back across the ground, his boots scraping furrows into the dirt.

“Kayzel, careful!” a voice called out. Bones had stepped forward, his eyes locked on Raze. “Looks like these two have a grudge against us.”

Standing before them were Piba and Bones, faces set with grim determination. They hadn’t forgotten. They had been waiting for this moment. Now, it was their chance for payback.

The battlefield spread wider. Safa stayed near the rear, her role not to attack but to guide. Her god eyes shimmered, tracking movements invisible to others.

“Behind you!” she shouted.

Chiba spun on her heel, wind surging from her palms. A second blast of wind collided with hers, and fire flared between the currents. For a split second, a figure’s outline shimmered into view , Nannan. Her invisibility had been pierced, her ambush spoiled. Safa’s sight had unmasked her.

Beatrix, meanwhile, played the part of shield. She intercepted spells meant for her allies, her timing precise, her magic firm. She wasn’t seeking glory, but her presence kept the formation intact.

And then there was Dame. He stood calmly, hands loose, facing George.

George smirked, confidence blazing in his eyes. “Hah! My gravity magic may not have worked on the last one, but you’re no different. Let’s see how you handle this!” His hand swept downward, and invisible pressure slammed toward Dame.

But Dame didn’t budge. He stood unmoving, completely unaffected. It was as if George’s gravity hadn’t existed at all.

“…Hey,” Dame said, tilting his head with mild annoyance. “This is getting irritating. If you don’t stop, I’m going to whack you on the head.”

****

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