Chapter 80: Whispers of the Rotten Crown---"!!"The shriek tore through the silence, monstrous and guttural, echoing through the ruined battlefield like some cursed hymn. Chaollete Ashley's ears twitched at the sound. Her brow furrowed. That wasn’t a normal alien’s cry. Something was off.‘Was that him?’ she thought, the sound pulsing like a drum in her head. Her heart pounded. ‘Is Ryan struggling with those creatures? No... with how strong he's gotten, a few aliens shouldn’t even slow him down.’Her boots skidded across the ground as she narrowly dodged the fang-laden maw of another worm-like monstrosity slamming down from the treetops. Its flesh writhed and pulsed unnaturally, leaking black slime that sizzled against the dirt.“Tch!” she clicked her tongue and launched backward. Her grip on her sword tightened. She was distracted. The thing could’ve torn her in two if she’d hesitated a second longer.But it didn’t seem li

Chapter 82: Crimson Duel — Chaollete vs TinaThe great marble hall of Frexia Academy was ablaze with noise, tension rolling through the air like storm clouds heavy with lightning. Students pressed close against the railings, craning their necks to witness the duel unfolding in the arena below. Word of this unexpected clash had spread like wildfire, and now no one wanted to miss the spectacle.Ryan and Franca entered together, their footsteps echoing against the polished floor as they made their way toward the arena’s edge. Ryan’s eyes immediately locked onto the two figures standing inside the circle. His brows furrowed, lips parting in disbelief.“Wait… what the hell am I looking at? Why are Chaollete and Tina facing each other? This doesn’t make any sense,” Ryan muttered, voice tight with confusion.Franca, calm as always, folded her arms across her chest. “It seems Chaollete was the one who formally issued the challenge. According to the duel f

Chapter 84: The Crimson Judgment of Queen ChaolleteFranca’s eyes shimmered like two cold embers in the dim corridor, her lips curling upward with a knowing smirk as she sized up Ryan.“It seems, young master, that your training has barely scratched the surface,” she said softly, though her words struck like steel. “That girl’s talent… it isn’t just sharp. It’s terrifying. Her control, her calm judgment under pressure—she’s already walking the path most summoners dream of but never touch.”Ryan winced, forcing a crooked grin. “Tch, don’t rub it in. I get it. She’s a monster. But I’m not about to lose—not to her, not to anyone.”Franca chuckled, amused at his stubborn resolve. With a flourish, she raised a leather-bound case she had carried since they arrived. “In that case, young master, take this.”Ryan blinked, brow furrowing as he reached for it. “Eh? What is this?”“The item you requested,” Franca answered, her tone lilting with s

Chapter 86: Monstrous Talent — The Weight of GeniusThe sky above Frexia Academy’s training grounds was stained with hues of crimson and violet, the day already dimming into twilight. Students moved through the courtyards in small groups, laughter and chatter drifting like soft echoes between the marble pillars. Yet in a secluded corner, away from the noise, two figures walked in silence. Their footsteps were the only sound on the stone path.Ryan turned, sensing someone trailing him. His sharp eyes caught the pale figure waiting under the shade of a towering arch. The lamplight glowed faintly across Chaollete’s face, her long silver hair spilling like liquid moonlight across her shoulders. She wasn’t moving, simply standing there, eyes fixed on him with a strange intensity.“Chaollete?” Ryan tilted his head, his tone half curious, half amused. “You’re waiting for me? That’s new. But wait…” His expression shifted, brows furrowing as realization hit. “Since when did you know?”Chaollet

Chapter 88 – Chains That Bind the Elements“Aaaaaaaarghhhh!”The sound ripped out of Ryan’s throat like a wild beast’s roar. His entire body convulsed on the narrow bed, back arching so sharply it looked like his spine might snap in half. Sweat poured down his temples, soaking his shirt until the cloth stuck like glue to his skin.He had expected something intense. He knew absorbing a higher-class core would hurt more than the proto and juvenile ones. But this? This wasn’t pain. This was torture. His vision blurred as his eyeballs rolled upward, showing only the whites. His chest heaved up and down like a drowning man gasping for air.And the worst part—It felt like something massive and jagged was stuck in his throat, clawing at his trachea, trying to rip its way out from inside. His chest burned like fire, every nerve screaming bloody murder.Ryan had fought through wounds before. He’d endured the sharp agony of blades sinking into his body, his muscles tearing from overexertion, e