Chapter 358: Inter-Academy Tournament (X)
She sat up slowly, rubbing her head with a small pout, but she didn’t look angry.
Instead, she looked at Gray with the same lovestruck expression, as if even being thrown aside didn’t bother her.
The atmosphere in the corridor changed instantly.
Gloria Academy’s students tensed up the moment they saw Gray.
Their weapons were already raised, but no one moved forward right away.
The fact that he was their enemy, and a very dangerous one, made them more grounded and cautious.
They knew Gray wasn’t someone they could rush at carelessly.
Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Gray. He didn’t speak immediately, but his grip on his sword tightened.
’...He’s stronger, much stronger than before... Zeups.’
{His power is being sealed by five different limitations... while every other student has a single one, he actually has five.}
{He’s dangerous, Adrian... very dangerous, even I cannot detect his full power, which means that he either that talented, or... he’s also a Vessel like you.}
’A vessel...?’ Adrian’s eyes sharpened slighly.
That thought that occurred to him, but seeing his own patron god confirming it, made him very cautious.
After all, if he could hide his power from Zeups, that meant that his god was either equally powerful or even more!
{Try not to fight him, and instead, focus on getting Maelis to fall in love with you! She’s extremely precious, even containing the Samsara Reincarnation Body!}
{If you manage to get her Primordial Yin, you’ll get the ability to resurrect your body through the Law of Reincarnation!}
’I’m already trying my best...’ Adrian rolled his eyes.
No matter what words he spoke, or whatever he did... she simply wouldn’t give him any suggestion of liking him a bit more.
It was as if she already loved someone... but from what he had investigated, she didn’t have any close male friends or a boyfriend.
The only person she was close to... was Gray, and he was her brother, so there was no way that she loved him as a man.
{...Just force her if needed.}
’ARE YOU CRAZY?! HER SISTER IS LITERALLY A SOVEREIGN POWERHOUSE!!!’ Adrian shouted inwardly.
{And? You’ll literally get the ability to reincarnate into whatever body you want if you die! That ability is more precious than anything else... besides, her older sister probably has some kind of special physique or bloodline. We need to meet her...}
Adrian rolled his eyes at Zeups’s words.
Instead, he glanced at Maelis, who stared at Gray with a complicated expression.
A small, happy smile appeared on her face for a split second when she saw him, but it quickly faded into something more serious.
She took a small step forward, standing beside Adrian.
"Gray..." she called out to him, her voice containing a hint of caution.
"I didn’t expect to see you here so soon."
Selene stood a little behind them, her light blue hair swaying as she watched Gray carefully. Her expression was calm, but her eyes showed clear wariness.
"You really came all the way here..." she said softly.
"Are you here to fight us?"
Selina also seemed to want to speak, but hesitated a little before shaking her head and averting his gaze from him.
Ronan also wanted, but his mouth was quickly shut as Claire literally muffed his mouth with both of her hands, knowing that he was about to say something dumb.
The other students in the group stayed silent, but their bodies were tense. No one wanted to make the first move.
Gray’s reputation, combined with the calm and dangerous aura he was giving off, made them instinctively more careful.
They knew that rushing him would only end badly.
And then, Adrian finally spoke in a cold tone,
"What do you want, Gray? If you came here to fight, we’re ready. But if you’re just here to talk... then say what you have to say."
Maelis glanced at Adrian for a moment before looking back at Gray. She didn’t seem as hostile as the others, but she was clearly on guard.
Gray didn’t reply yet and instead looked over all the other members.
Meanwhile, Mariinne, still sitting on the ground, looked between Gray and the Gloria group with sparkling eyes.
"My prince came to save me after all..." she mumbled happily, completely ignoring the dangerous atmosphere.
As soon as she said those words, multiple pairs of eyes landed on her body, causing her to shiver slighly.
"H-huh...?"
"I’m just passing by," Gray said calmly, cracking his neck slightly.
"But since I’m already here... I thought I’d take a look at how much you’ve all improved, and maybe... take the opportunity to steal some treasures."
The moment those words left his mouth, the students from Gloria Academy became visibly firmer.
Their grips on their weapons tightened, and their stances shifted into combat-ready positions.
Even the more hesitant ones now looked determined. Gray’s calm declaration had removed any remaining doubt; he wasn’t here as a friend or neutral observer.
Adrian’s eyes turned cold.
"If that’s what you want... then come."
He raised his sword slightly and gave the order without hesitation.
"Everyone, attack!"
The students moved immediately, without a single hint of hesitation.
Swooosh!
A wave of spells and weapon arts shot toward Gray from multiple directions. Fireballs, wind blades, ice spears, and physical strikes flew at him.
Several students charged forward with their weapons glowing, while others supported from the back with long-range magic.
Gray didn’t draw his rapier.
He simply looked down at his sleeves for a moment, then casually adjusted them with one hand, as if he was fixing his clothes before going for a walk.
Swip!
The first student reached him, a swordsman swinging a glowing blade at his neck. Gray didn’t even step back, but simply raised his left arm and blocked the strike with his forearm.
The sword clashed against his sleeve, but instead of cutting through, the blade stopped dead.
CLAAAAANG!
A dull metallic sound rang out as the student’s attack was completely nullified.
Gray’s right hand moved in the same instant.
He grabbed the swordsman by the collar and casually threw him to the side, sending him crashing into two other charging students.
Another student, a mage, fired a concentrated lightning bolt at Gray’s chest. Gray simply tilted his body slightly, letting the spell graze past his shoulder.
In the next second, he was already in front of the mage.
He didn’t punch hard as he simply placed his palm on the student’s chest and pushed.
Thud!
The mage flew backward and slammed into the wall, sliding down unconscious. The elimination magic hadn’t triggered yet, but it was clear he was out of the fight.
Two more students attacked from both sides, one with a spear, the other with dual daggers.
Gray stepped between them effortlessly.
He caught the spear shaft with one hand and twisted it, sending the wielder stumbling forward.
At the same time, he ducked under the dagger strike and lightly tapped the second student on the forehead with two fingers.
Bonk.
The dagger user’s eyes rolled back as he collapsed on the spot.
Swoop!
A girl tried to bind him with vine magic from behind.
Gray turned around, grabbed the vines with one hand, and pulled her forward before lightly flicking her forehead.
She dropped like a puppet with its strings cut.
"...When are you guys stepping in?" Gray spoke, tilting his head to the left to avoid an incoming flaming arrow.
When he said those words, everyone knew exactly who he was talking about.
The main group that had been holding back finally moved their attention toward him.
Cassandra, Maelis, Adrian, Leon, Lira, Selene, Selina, Katia, Claire, and of course, Ronan.
Cassandra, sitting on a large rock with her legs crossed, looked at Gray with her usual calm expression.
Her grey hair swayed gently in the breeze as her grey eyes met his. She didn’t stand up, and simply shook her head.
"I’m not fighting against you," she replied directly.
"You know that."
Gray gave her a small nod, as if he had already expected that answer.
Leon, standing a few steps away with his arms crossed, glared at Gray with open hatred. His jaw was tight, and his eyes were cold.
"You think you can just show up here and act like you own the place?" Leon spat.
"You left us. You turned your back on Gloria Academy. And now you’re here acting all high and mighty? Don’t expect me to hold back just because we used to be classmates."
Selene, on the other hand, looked at Gray with a soft but conflicted expression. There was clear affection in her eyes, but she also looked worried.
"Gray..." she said quietly.
"Do we really have to do this? I don’t want to fight you."
Selina stood beside her, her blue ponytail swaying as she looked at Gray with a small, warm smile.
"I missed you," she admitted honestly.
"But if you’re really here to fight... then I’ll do what I have to. Just don’t expect me to go all out against you."
Katia, the curse user, stayed neutral. She leaned against a broken pillar and spoke in her usual calm, slightly detached voice.
"I don’t have any personal grudge against you," she said. "But if Adrian orders it, I’ll fight. That’s all."
Claire gripped her weapon tightly. She looked at Gray with a mix of determination and something softer.
"I’ve gotten stronger since you left," she said.
"I want to show you. But... I still don’t want to hurt you."
Lira stayed silent for a moment.
She watched Gray with sharp, calculating eyes. Unlike the others, she didn’t show any strong emotions, positive or negative.
She simply looked at him like he was a dangerous variable she needed to analyze.
Ronan, of course, was the complete opposite. He was standing a little further back, waving his arms dramatically.
"Gray! Bro! Come on, man! We don’t have to do this! We’re still besties, right?! Remember all those times we fought together?! We can just talk this out like real men! Or... or we can team up and beat up Leon instead! He’s been acting all moody lately anyway!"
Gray stood there calmly as everyone spoke. His black eyes moved across the group one by one, reading their expressions and intentions.
He didn’t look angry. He didn’t even look particularly bothered.
He simply looked... bored.
After a few seconds, he lazily spoke again.
"So? Are you all going to attack together, or are you going to keep talking?"
The tension in the air thickened.
Adrian took one step forward, his sword gleaming under the dim light of the ruin.
"If you’re here to cause trouble," he said coldly.
"Then we’ll deal with you."
Gray’s lips curled up slightly into a faint, cold smile.
"Then come... I’m waiting."
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