Chapter 237 - 236 : Preparations

Chapter 237: Chapter 236 : Preparations

Thirty seconds later.

The crimson blood domain vanished.

The suffocating pressure disappeared from the training grounds as suddenly as it had arrived.

For a brief moment, no one moved.

Then, the sound of ragged breathing filled the silence.

Across the vast training ground, the top-ranked students of Celestias Academy’s first, second, and third years lay sprawled across the stone floor. Some were flat on their backs, staring blankly at the sky. Others were curled on their sides, their hands pressed against their chests as though trying to make sure their hearts were still beating.

Many of them looked as though they had been only a breath away from death, their pale faces and battered bodies making it clear just how close they had come.

And, in truth, they had.

Their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

Cold sweat soaked through their clothes.

Their faces were pale, their eyes unfocused, and some were still gasping as though the air had not yet returned to their lungs.

The horrifying sensation of Arthur’s blood domain remained engraved in their minds.

Inside that crimson world, it had felt as if their own blood had turned against them.

As if the blood in their veins had frozen solid.

As if every breath was a struggle and every heartbeat was an invitation for death to claim them.

But not everyone had collapsed.

A small number of students had managed to endure the full thirty seconds.

Layla.

Jasmine.

Arina.

Arion.

Damian.

Victor.

And Aiden.

They remained conscious.

Barely.

Most of them were down on one knee or supporting themselves with shaking arms. Their breathing was uneven. Their faces had lost all color. It looked as though a single additional second inside the domain would have forced them to collapse as well.

Aiden remained on one knee, drawing deep breaths into his aching lungs.

His gaze moved from person to person.

He searched for his friends.

He did not even know whether all of them were still conscious.

’If I had not trained inside Sister’s domain yesterday,’ he thought, ’I would be lying on the ground too. I would have been completely helpless.’

Then Aiden looked forward.

Arthur stood several meters away.

His hands were folded behind his back.

His posture was relaxed.

His crimson eyes moved calmly over the students scattered across the training ground.

There was no visible exhaustion on his face.

No strain.

No pity.

Only a cold, judgmental calmness.

Aiden’s body trembled again.

Not from the remnants of the domain.

From Arthur’s eyes.

’Fuck,’ Aiden thought. ’Does he even live in the same world as me anymore? The gap between us is getting bigger and bigger.’

Beside him, Victor was still on one knee.

But unlike the others, a strange smile had appeared on his face.

It was wide.

Excited.

Almost perverted.

Aiden stared at him for a moment.

Then, despite how much his body hurt, he slowly shuffled a step away.

’Why is he smiling like that?’ Aiden thought. ’That bastard is seriously a crazy pervert.’

On the other side, Damian looked completely different.

His body was shaking.

Not because he was afraid.

Because he was furious.

His jaw was clenched so tightly that Aiden could hear his teeth grinding together.

Damian had fought Arthur before.

He had believed that Arthur had been serious.

Now he understood.

Arthur had been holding back.

Not a little.

A lot.

Damian’s pride had taken a devastating blow.

The students who had remained conscious began to understand something important.

They finally understood why Athena Emberfall had chosen Arthur as her trump card.

Why she had allowed a first-year to stand before them and command students older and more experienced than himself.

These academy rankers were selfish.

Proud.

Moody.

Difficult to control.

Each of them was a talented individual who had spent years being praised as a monster, a genius, or a future powerhouse. They did as they pleased. They ignored orders they disliked. They refused to listen to anyone who was not strong enough to force them.

They did not need a gentle leader.

They needed a monster.

Someone powerful enough to make them fear him.

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At the highest edge of the training ground, Athena stood on the roof of a nearby building.

Beside her was another woman.

She had long green hair that moved softly in the wind, beautiful green eyes, and a powerful presence that radiated from her without restraint. A sword hung at her waist, and despite her elegant appearance, the aura surrounding her made it clear that she was a warrior of frightening ability.

It was Sophia Evergreen.

Isabella’s master.

Sophia watched the scene below with a faint smile.

"Looks like you made the right choice, Headmistress."

Athena’s veil fluttered slightly in the wind.

A small smile appeared beneath it.

"To lead prodigies who are masters in their own right," Athena said, "you need a bigger monster. Someone who can instill both fear and trust in them."

Sophia looked down at the students.

"I do not know about trust," she said. "But I can definitely see fear in their eyes."

Her gaze shifted toward Arthur.

"I hope he earns their trust too."

Sophia then paused.

"Also, it looks like Arthur has already found a terrifying potential among the first years."

Athena’s eyes narrowed.

She followed Sophia’s gaze.

Arthur had stopped looking at the students who had collapsed.

His crimson eyes had widened slightly.

For once, even he looked surprised.

"What?" Arthur muttered. "That guy is seriously insane."

He stared toward the far side of the training ground.

"When did he become this good? Even I couldn’t do that."

Arthur’s gaze sharpened.

"That talent of his, Dimension Walker... it really is something else."

Among all the rankers, one person was still standing.

A dark-blue-haired boy stood with a wide smile on his face.

Aaron.

He was standing on both feet.

He was not on one knee.

He was not gasping.

He was not shaking.

Hell, it barely looked as though he had been affected at all by the thirty seconds of hell that had nearly broken everyone else.

The entire training ground went silent as everyone slowly turned toward him.

Arthur smiled.

"You monstrous bastard," Arthur said. "I only told you a little about your talent. How did you manage to negate the effects of my blood domain?"

Aaron gave him a shy smile.

"I did good, didn’t I, Arthur?"

Then he straightened his back and struck a proud pose.

"Praise me more."

Arthur’s expression became thoughtful.

"I have a faint idea about what you did. We will talk about it in detail later."

As Aaron nodded in excitement.

Everyone looked at him as if he were an idiot.

But beneath their reactions the disbelief and shock were genuine.

Aaron had endured a domain.

Not merely survived it.

He had seemingly negated it.

That was nearly unheard of.

A domain was not a simple technique.

It required enormous amounts of mana, mastery, understanding, and complete control over one’s own talent.

Normally, only those who had reached SS-rank possessed the mana reserves and strength needed to form a stable domain. Anyone who tried to force a domain before reaching that level risked being torn apart by their own power.

There were exceptions.

System users.

Those who could increase their attributes through points, receive unique rewards, and force their bodies beyond normal limitations.

Arthur himself was one such exception.

But Aaron had done something different.

He had resisted a domain without displaying the same overwhelming power.

That made his talent even more terrifying.

Arthur’s voice broke the silence.

"Alright, everyone. Stand up."

His eyes swept over the students on the ground.

"Nap time is over."

For several moments, no one moved.

Then, slowly and painfully, the students began to rise.

Some used their weapons for support.

Others helped their friends stand.

The second-years and third-years forced themselves to their feet, their bodies still shaking from the pressure they had endured.

Eventually, everyone stood in front of Arthur.

Arthur looked at them calmly.

"Except for Aaron, Arion, Layla, and a few others who didn’t give up even while they were on their knees," he continued, "all of you have failed."

The atmosphere froze.

Every student’s expression tensed.

The word expulsion immediately entered their minds.

Fear spread across their faces.

Julia stood among the first-years, her breathing still ragged.

Her eyes moved toward Aaron.

For the first time, she could not believe what she was seeing.

Her younger brother had surpassed her.

Not just in one small aspect.

He had done something that even the strongest rankers could not accomplish.

Isabella noticed the complicated expression on Julia’s face.

She gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

Julia did not say anything.

But she understood.

Arthur’s voice came again.

"If you ask me, all of you deserve to be expelled," Arthur said. "Except Aaron, Arion, Layla, and the first-years who endured it."

The students stiffened.

"You guys possess some of the most powerful talents and abilities in this academy," Arthur continued. "Yet you could not survive thirty seconds inside a domain."

Arthur’s smile was faint.

"And to make one thing clear, I did not even use it at full power."

The fear in the students’ eyes deepened.

Arthur’s gaze shifted toward the older students.

"Only two of the seniors managed to endure it."

His eyes landed on Arion and Layla.

"The rest of the second-years and third-years should be reported to Miss Athena. All of you should be expelled immediately."

A cold chill ran down the spines of the second-year and third-year rankers.

The second-years and third-years stepped forward at once.

Everyone except Arion and Layla.

They bowed deeply.

A large third-year boy, built like a fortress, spoke first.

"Please do not do that," he said. "We will do whatever you want from us."

A second-year girl with short black hair in a neat bob stepped forward as well.

"Please," she said. "Do not expel us. This academy is my only lifeline."

Then the rest of the second-years and third-years bowed together.

"Please give us another chance."

Arthur pretended to think.

He placed a hand beneath his chin.

Then a sharp smile appeared on his face.

"Alright," he said. "I will give you another chance."

Everyone looked up.

Arthur’s eyes became cold.

"In return, you will do whatever I say."

The students listened carefully.

"You will not question my methods," Arthur said. "You will not question my decisions. You will not question the way I handle things."

His voice carried across the silent training ground.

"You will follow my orders."

Arthur paused.

"And if you do that, I guarantee you victory."

His crimson gaze passed over every person before him.

"Not one of you will be expelled, and you will also receive your rewards from Miss Athena."

The second-years and third-years looked at one another.

They hesitated.

But they had little choice.

One by one, they nodded.

Then they answered together.

"We will do as you say."

Arthur smiled inwardly.

’Perfect.’

His gaze became colder.

’Who needs trust when I only need to control them as best as I can?’

Then Arthur looked toward the first-years.

"Layla and Diana, can you guys please come forward?"

Diana flinched.

Her face went pale.

Layla remained composed, but her eyes narrowed.

Still, both girls stepped forward.

They walked across the training ground until they stood before Arthur.