When Louise reached the end of the rift, the Blood-Dark Flame was nearly extinguished.

Yet standing silently before it, she still felt that terrifyingly oppressive aura.

Even she struggled to resist it.

"Interesting."

She stepped back, distancing herself from the zone of strongest pressure. Color returned to her pale face as a cold smirk surfaced.

As a reincarnator—the most gifted royal a century ago—she understood what this flame represented.

Though time had dimmed it to near extinction, she sensed its tier absolutely surpassed her late emperor brother’s.

The aura within it was far more ancient than the current emperor’s.

Thus, only one truth remained—

"This scene must be the Star Devouring Demon Emperor’s combat technique, accidentally triggered."

She concluded.

No other explanation fit.

Louise suddenly exhaled in relief.

Her worries had been utterly unnecessary.

No student here could possibly possess such status and power.

Within Stellar Abyss Academy, the strongest hidden existence should be her alone—the reincarnated one.

Could any being more terrifying than a Demon Emperor have entered this academy?

Impossible.

"What a laughable thought..."

Her lips curled upward. She raised her hand toward the moon and sparse stars faintly visible through the clouds, then clenched her fist.

"The one who grasps sun, moon, and stars is me."

"Luluie? Salros? Mere minnows."

"The one who walks the path of kingship, invincible for centuries, praised by the Demon Race—it’s me, Louise!"

...

Rain washed away the darkness and bloodstains, leaving clear skies.

But that night—the world-splitting darkness and blooming flower of slaughter—was forever etched in everyone’s hearts.

Some believed the imperial prince had activated an heirloom guardian artifact.

Others thought it was the Star Devouring Demon Emperor’s relic resurfacing, like during the celestial upheaval days prior.

Yet perhaps they’d never guess the truth.

Compared to this, the fervor over talent assessments had cooled significantly.

All rounds of testing concluded.

The results were clear: Luyi, Salros, and Louise towered over every other participant.

"It seems Alices truly turns her fortune this time," Third Prince Serti murmured, scanning the latest reports. "Should we attempt to restore friendly relations with her?"

"...

Second Prince remained silent, his usual composure replaced by lingering unease.

Ever since that storm two nights ago, he’d been like this—utterly unlike his former self.

"Second Brother?" Serti prompted.

"Hm..." The prince snapped back, nodding absently.

"By the way, where’s Fourth Brother?" Serti’s question made the Second Prince’s heart lurch. "He’s vanished completely. He may be foolish, but shouldn’t we—?"

"Silence!"

The sudden snap froze Serti.

Turning, he saw his ever-gentle elder brother now glaring with a twisted expression.

"Never speak that name again—not before Alices, not before anyone!"

"Eh?" Serti’s confusion deepened. "Second Brother... has something happened to Fourth Brother these past days?"

"He’s vanished from this world."

"What?!" Serti’s eyes widened.

He understood the implication.

A royal death was no small matter—especially with Fourth Brother’s mother being that obsessive, fanatical woman.

"Is this connected to Alices and the Lost Bloodline?" he pressed.

The Second Prince didn’t answer, but his silence confirmed it.

"Even if we stay silent, that woman won’t let this rest, will she?"

"That woman... heh..." A cold laugh escaped the prince. "Do you truly think she holds any power here?"

"Huh?"

"What if I told you the Eighth Prince holds exceptional regard for that Lost Bloodline?"

"!"

"And before him, other princes—or families rivaling the royal house in strength—may have already made their moves?"

Finally, the Second Prince stood, ending the heavy discussion as he walked away.

Serti remained frozen, lost in thought.

...

Days passed in a blur.

Sunlight dried the rain. Skies cleared. The air turned crisp.

Walking the streets lifted spirits, banishing the gloom of stormy days.

Luyi and Alices arrived at the registration site for the second assessment.

Compared to that stormy night, Alices seemed brighter, chatting and laughing along the way.

Yet a faint trace of melancholy lingered in her eyes.

She knew her path forward—but accepting what happened that night still required time.

The first test measured bloodline and innate talent.

The second assessed combat potential.

Beyond bloodlines, physical prowess, reflexes, and magical resonance were vital metrics.

These would be proven through battles between new students.

Seeing the visibly thinned crowd, Luyi felt sudden relief.

"Many were eliminated during talent testing," Alices explained. "In this round, the lowest combat scorers risk disqualification too."

Though this warning was unnecessary for Lord Luyi.

In fact—

"Lord Luyi..." Alices whispered beside her.

"Yes?"

"For the second test..."

"Don’t worry. Fewer participants mean I won’t be overwhelmed." Luyi reassured her. *This time, I won’t panic. Or trip.*

No.

That answer was anything but reassuring.

"I meant... please show mercy during these fights," Alices added after a pause. "At least... spare their lives."

"...

*Am I really that terrifying?*

Luyi stared at her.

After a long silence, Alices nodded firmly.

Luyi: "...

"It’s Princess Alices!"

"And Miss Luluie!"

Since the talent assessment, they’d become the academy’s center of attention.

Eighth Prince, aloof and high-born, drew few approachers.

But Alices—already well-liked—gained even more popularity thanks to Luyi.

As for Louise, ranked third...

They barely knew her.

Overshadowed by the top two and often absent, she left little impression.

...

"Tch—"

The silver-haired girl stood high above, gazing down.

"Childish."

"Wasting time on welcomes instead of refining combat formulas in your head."

"I’m not jealous."

"Not one bit..."

Louise muttered coldly.

But her small hand, gripping the wall bricks until they nearly crumbled, betrayed her.

—As a princess, she’d once been the star everyone orbited.

Had she not lost focus during testing, she’d be basking in that adoration too.

"Just... the calm before the protagonist’s explosion," she sighed after a while, murmuring to herself. "Showing off during talent tests is boring. Crushing opponents effortlessly in battle—that’s what leaves a lasting shock. That’s the thrill! The emotional payoff!"

"I’m a reincarnator. My combat experience and technique mastery are peerless—only Domain Lords might rival me. Neither the princes nor Luluie possess this."

"So I’ll crush them here. Make them understand the gap between us and a reincarnator."

"They... will bow before my skirts!"