Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Ancient Art
The academy had finally become quiet again.
After days of chaos, investigations, and lockdowns, life inside the High Pyramid slowly returned to its usual rhythm. Students once again filled the courtyards, training arenas, and libraries while discussions about the upcoming Grand Tournament spread through every corridor.
Inside Room 402, however, things were far from normal.
Qhuin sat atop Lina’s desk while staring toward the large terminal screen.
The registration numbers had already exceeded everyone’s expectations, more than a thousand first-year students from Classes A through F would participate.
The tournament wasn’t simply a competition anymore, it was a brutal competition.
A competition where nobles would establish dominance, commoners would fight for survival, and hidden factions would begin revealing themselves.
His ruby eyes slowly moved toward Lina, who was organizing her books while humming softly to herself.
Still innocent, still unaware of just how many eyes were beginning to gather around her.
Qhuin quietly observed her for a moment before opening another mental calculation, one spy was not enough.
Marcus’s cousin was useful, but if another terrifying event happened, there was a high chance he would collapse again.
That wasn’t enough to build a foundation, an empire could never rely on a single piece.
His gaze drifted elsewhere.
Chloe.
Lina’s support-class friend, a playful girl with the Frost-Whiskered Otter. The two of them had grown considerably closer over the past weeks.
Qhuin replayed every interaction inside his memory.
Chloe was loyal, kind, and protective, but she was also easy to intimidate.
That combination made her extremely valuable, but she couldn’t be recruited immediately. First, he would observe her.
Then he would determine whether she could become useful, in his previous world, empires were never built with force alone.
The greatest rulers understood people before controlling them. Qhuin turned his attention back toward Lina.
’Girl.’
Lina immediately looked up.
"Hm?"
’Training.’
Her shoulders instantly dropped.
"Already?"
’Did you expect greatness to arrive by sleeping?’
Lina pouted.
"I just finished classes."
’Excellent. That means you still have energy left.’
She let out a small groan.
"You’re impossible."
’And you are lazy. Grab the sword.’
Lina sighed before walking toward the corner of the room. She picked up the heavy steel broadsword and nearly lost her balance again.
Even after gaining monstrous physical abilities, her habits remained human, Qhuin jumped down from the desk and landed gracefully on the floor.
His black-and-white fur blended beautifully beneath the dim lights.
’Again.’
Lina took her stance.
’Lower.’
She lowered herself.
’More Lower.’
She lowered herself again.
’You are fighting gravity itself before you even face an enemy.’
Lina adjusted her posture.
Qhuin slowly circled her feet.
’Your body is strong, but strength alone is useless, most fools think overwhelming force wins battles, they are wrong.’
He stopped directly in front of her.
’Precision wins battles.’
Lina nodded.
’Today, I will teach you an Ancient Shadow-Blade Art.’
Her eyes widened. "The one you mentioned before?"
’Yes.’
He sat down and began explaining.
’This world trainers swing loudly, they waste energy, they announce every movement before it arrives.’
He looked toward her sword.
’Ancient warriors did the opposite.’
’They cut only where necessary, moving only when needed, with every strike intended to end a fight.’
Lina listened carefully.
’Begin.’
She stepped forward, and the blade sliced through the air, She adjusted with every word from Qhuin and she corrected herself.
Hours passed inside the room and eventually, a faint dark-red ring began appearing around her sword whenever she swung correctly.
Lina’s eyes widened.
"I did it."
’No.’
Her face fell.
’Huh?’
’You almost did it.’
She groaned.
"You’re so strict."
’Your body currently possesses enough strength to accidentally kill another student. Strictness is mandatory.’
Lina couldn’t even argue, she still remembered Nick, that single memory was enough to silence her.
The training continued until sweat soaked through her uniform.
Finally, Qhuin stopped her.
’Enough go meditate.’
Lina immediately sat down cross-legged. She closed her eyes and slowly guided mana throughout her body.
Her growing mana pool had become difficult to manage. Without proper circulation, it would become unstable.
Silence filled the room. Outside, the night breeze gently moved the curtains.
Qhuin jumped onto the windowsill, and his eyes scanned the academy.
The High Pyramid tower glowed under the moonlight while students slowly returned to their dormitories.
Then he smells something a scent. It was very faint, almost impossible to detect.
His nose twitched, holy mana and it was familiar. His gaze drifted toward one of the distant buildings.
The smell reminded him of Elizabeth, not her exact mana signature, but something else that carries the smell of Incense.
Some type of ritual material. He couldn’t identify it completely, but his instincts told him one thing. She was communicating with someone, or preparing something.
His expression remained calm. The academy was becoming crowded with hidden agendas.
The local vampires were searching for a parasite, Elizabeth was clearly involved in something secretive, Valerius continued hunting for answers.
And the Grand Tournament was approaching faster every day, and the web was tightening.
He looked back at Lina, and she remained immersed in meditation.
Completely focused,
’Good, she will improve at the rate’. Qhuin quietly melted into the shadow beside the curtain.
His body disappeared completely. Only his ruby eyes remained visible for a brief moment before they vanished too, and inside Lina’s subconscious, his voice echoed softly.
’Train harder, girl, the enemies around us are multiplying strength alone will not save us.’
’We will need allies and above all... we will need time.’
At that exact moment, Lina’s terminal suddenly lit up and a notification spread across the entire screen.
[Registration Closed.]
[First-Year Grand Tournament Participants Confirmed.]
[Total Registered Students: 1,400]
[Classes Involved A-F]
Qhuin silently stared out the window toward the distant academy walls.
Thirty days and that was all they had.
Thirty days to become stronger, thirty days to prepare.
Thirty days before this peaceful school transformed into a giant competition, and once Lina stepped into that arena...
Their real war would finally begin.
