Tap-tap-tap-tap...
After defeating Situ Sheng, Sharkai Bai continued down the scorching road with Xia Feina.
His trousers had been burned to tatters during the fight. Sharkai kept shaking his scorched right hand, wincing in pain. Rocks flung by the flames had also left deep gashes across his back.
Seeing the wounds on the boy’s back and his gritted-teeth expression, Xia Feina stopped walking.
“We should… just give up. There’s no winning this…”
“Hey! It’s way too late to quit now. And I’m not letting you die.”
Catching up to her, Sharkai flashed a grin, trying to comfort the guilt-ridden girl.
“Just stop it!!!! Next time, the Academy will send someone even stronger! Even if… even if I survive, what then?!!!”
Tears streamed down Xia Feina’s face as she buried herself against Sharkai’s chest, pounding his chest weakly. She couldn’t bear seeing him hurt for her sake.
“Tch. You troublesome brat! Are you dumping this on me too?! Your remaining life—you decide it yourself!”
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Sharkai endured her outburst before shouting back.
Xia Feina looked up at him through tear-filled eyes. This wounded boy was protecting her—a burden—while fleeing the Academy’s assassins. He might even die.
Yet Sharkai beamed at her.
“Heh. I told you, right? About saving your life… I don’t break promises.”
BOOM—!
The ground suddenly shook. Cracks spiderwebbed across the earth as rows of stone knights rose from the fissures.
“…What is this?”
When the tremors ceased, Sharkai lifted his head. He’d shielded Xia Feina by pinning her to the ground.
Before him stood rows of stone knights, perfectly aligned.
And behind them, atop a stone throne, a golden-haired girl glared down like a queen—at the battered white-haired boy.
“Come back with me.”
Dressed in Holy Carthus Academy’s S-rank mage uniform, her golden hair shimmered with fury.
More importantly—
She was the Cecilia Family’s genius. And Sharkai Bai’s fiancée.
“Snowlotus…?”
“You idiot! I turn my back for a second, and you run off with another girl?! I cooked a whole feast to celebrate your discharge! Do you ever consider my feelings?!!!”
Her voice dripped with rage.
“These are my makeshift troops. Come quietly, or I’ll make you regret it.”
“…Hah.”
Sharkai stood, fists clenched again.
He’d never imagined striking her.
Facing rows of stone knights and an S-rank Holy Carthus apprentice—
“You’re really furious this time.”
“OF COURSE I AM!!! Do you have any idea how I felt chasing you here?! Damn it, darling!”
No chance of winning. Not in his current state. Even Berserk Mode wouldn’t help against Snowlotus.
Still, for the girl behind him—whose life they’d steal—he charged the knights. He’d accepted this fate the moment he defied the entire Academy.
After shattering the first knight, the others surged toward him.
Dodging wildly within their circle—
The destroyed knights reformed from the earth moments later.
Exhaustion. Pain. Agony flooded Sharkai’s mind.
THUD!
The moment his One Hit Kill cooldown ended, Sharkai slammed his fist into the ground.
*If these knights are magic-made… then obliterating the entire magically-controlled ground beneath us should do it!*
Just as he’d guessed, the knights crumbled the instant his fist struck.
“You…!”
Snowlotus watched, stunned. Around her feet, colossal stone golems—far larger than the knights—rose from the earth.
“HOW LONG WILL YOU KEEP ACTING LIKE A CHILD?!!!!!!”
A giant fist crashed toward the tiny figure of Sharkai Bai.
THUD!
Trapped against the cliffside, Sharkai couldn’t dodge. The impact shattered bones he couldn’t count. Even a finger twitch sent searing pain through his body. He gasped sharply.
“Cough…!!”
Bleeding heavily, Sharkai forced himself out of the rubble, clinging to the cliff wall.
Glistening tears spilled down Cecilia Xuelian’s cheeks as she rushed to catch the swaying boy.
“…Sorry… If you were the one needing saving… I’d do the same…”
Wiping her tears, Sharkai murmured weakly.
“Damn it, darling! Do you think cheap excuses will work on me?!”
“Heh… Cut me some slack… I’m practically dead from your scolding…”
Truth was, the moment Cecilia Xuelian appeared, Sharkai knew she hadn’t come to stop him. At most, she’d drag his sorry self home to vent her fury.
*She’s my fiancée. We’ve shared a roof all semester.* Leaning against her shoulder, he smiled.
He saw right through the crying girl’s heart.
Cecilia had only meant to scold him lightly. But seeing him embrace another woman? Her jealousy erupted. She’d vowed to make him pay.
Yet watching him refuse to fall—her heart softened.
“Fine! Then I’ll cause chaos at the Academy too!!!”
“Whoa… Are you serious…?”
Cold sweat prickled Sharkai’s back at her reckless words.
“Listen. I’ll let you off this time. But after this—you’ll accept your punishment properly!”
“Cut me some slack… Hey…”
Sharkai’s eyes fluttered shut. He collapsed into Cecilia Xuelian’s arms.
