2025-10-20 12:59:16
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Strategies
The countdown blazed high above the arena.10… 9… 8…Still, Ronan Crowne was nowhere to be seen.Selene’s composure began to crack, a faint crease forming between her brows. Even Magnus and Garrick Crowne exchanged uneasy glances from their seats.Lucien folded his arms, a faint smirk curling on his lips.“He’s not coming,” he said coldly. “I know him. He’s a coward. Always has been.”“Don’t talk nonsense. You don’t know anything about him,” Selene said sharply.Calista seized the moment, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.“Why are you defending him again, Selene?” she sneered. “It’s obvious you’ve always had something with him.”Gasps spread through the crowd.Whispers followed like wildfire:“Calista is right! She defends him too much. That’s not normal.”<
Challenge for Calista
Magnus Crowne leaned closer to Garrick, his voice low.“I’m worried about Ronan,” he said. “He should’ve been here by now.”Garrick’s expression remained calm, though his eyes narrowed. “He’ll come. He must. If he doesn’t, we all bear the shame.”Magnus frowned deeply. “Everyone can see these new rules are unfair. If he chooses not to appear, I wouldn’t blame him.”Garrick shook his head slowly. “No. If he doesn’t show, they’ll call him a coward. And that would stain the Crowne name forever.”Magnus fell silent. He hated to admit it, but Garrick was right. Still, unease gnawed at him. Ronan’s absence stretched longer by the minute.Then the announcer’s voice boomed across the arena.“If the Rank 1 contender fails to appear, the tournament will proceed without him. His name will be removed from the challenger list, and his points will automatically be transferred to Rank 2 — Lucien Cross.”A murmur rippled through the audience. The announcer continued,“Any students who wish to forfeit
The New Rules
Morning sunlight spilled over Thalara’s Grand Arena. Crowds poured in from every corner of the academy. Students, instructors, elders, and even guests from outside packed the stands.This year was different. The stakes were higher, the rewards greater.The competitors had already gathered. Lucien Cross stood in the front row as the current second place of the Genius Ranking List.Aveline Westmere watched from the faculty row, with Principal Hadrian Voss seated beside her.Calista Sable sat among the students, craning her neck to spot Lucien, her heart restless.High above, Dorrian Blackthorne, The Minister of Education, The Martial Saint, was present.Below him were his children: Tristan Blackthorne, thirsting for revenge after his defeat to Lucien, and Selene Blackthorne, hoping to defend her place in the top ten while anxiously awaiting Ronan Crowne’s arrival.Magnus Crowne and Garrick Crowne was there too, among the elders of other clans.The crowd buzzed louder, hushed only when t
Hidden Schemes
That night, in her quarters at the faculty dormitory, Aveline sat before a dim lamp.The Nine Souls Pill alone will not bring Ronan down. He has the Crowne resources at his back. By tomorrow, he could be even stronger than today.“I must find something! Something that can make him lose! That arrogant bastard!”Aveline slammed her fist into the wooden desk, splitting it in two.Moments later, an idea struck her. She leaned back, lips curling into a cold smile.“Even Crowne resources have limits. Ronan Crowne will lose.”***When darkness settled over the academy grounds, Lucien arrived at the training hall.Aveline studied him, examining his aura. The potion worked well.“Good. Your condition is stable again. Now we begin.”Lucien looked around, hoping that Aveline would give him something to help with his cultivation. Other mentors had provided their students with resources for that — even low-ranked ones were useful. But there was nothing.“Mentor, without valuable resources, it is i
Conspiracy
Meanwhile, a private training room, Aveline Westmere sat opposite Lucien Cross.“Lucien, you must defeat Ronan Crowne,” she said. “You must be number one. Tomorrow is your last chance to take back the number one spot.”“I know. I will. But I need help,” he replied.“That is why you are here.” Aveline reached into the folds of her robe and placed a small jade vial on the table.“The Nine Souls Pill,” she said.Lucien’s eyes widened. “That is forbidden in the Genius Ranking battles. If I use it, my strength will not be counted as my own. It only boosts power for a short time. It does not show true ability.”“Which is why you tell no one,” Aveline answered. “For a brief window, your strength will multiply a hundredfold. Enough to face Ronan.”Lucien shook his head. “I want to beat him with my own power, not with tricks.”“Look at yourself,” Aveline snapped, losing a little patience.“You are battered and bleeding. Healing alone will take weeks without the special potion. To cultivate eno
The Rewards
Once the two elders had departed, Ronan cast a casual glance toward Lucien and Aveline standing not far away.His eyes narrowed slightly, though a faint smile touched his lips.He turned back to Hadrian, bowing politely.“Principal Hadrian, if you’ll permit, I shall return to my training.”“Good. Focus on tomorrow’s challenge. Leave the rest to us.”Hadrian quickly nodded in agreement.At this point, he wished for nothing more than to avoid another eruption between Ronan and Aveline.With a light smile, Ronan saluted once more and strode away from the challenge arena.Yet behind him, unseen by most, two pairs of eyes followed every step he took.Their gazes burned with venomous hatred, heavy with resentment and a murderous chill.There was no need to guess.Ronan instantly knew who they belonged to.Lucien and Aveline.Ronan’s lips curled into a cold sneer as he turned his back on the arena.They still dared glaring at him?One had challenged him with a reckless strike and lost, the o
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