They reached the eting point: a quiet grove behind the academy's alchemy building.
Amara stood there with her arms wrapped around herself but her expression turned uneasy as her violet eyes settled on Victor. She looked stunning as always, but her usual confident aura was dulled.
Victor kept his distance with a neutral expression. "So? What do you want?"
Amara glanced at Selene nervously, then back at Victor. "I... I think Derek was behind the fire incident. The gas, your room—everything."
Victor raised a brow with an unimpressed look. "You ca here to tell on the sa boyfriend you lied to about forcing myself on you?"
Selene stepped forward. "Yeah. You the bitch that turned everyone in this academy against him for your boyfriend but now you're snitching?"
Amara winced with guilt written across her face. "I didn't an for things to spiral like that. I never thought it would get that bad—Victor being ostracized... nearly expelled. I was scared. Scared of being seen as a cheater. And yes... I was wrong. I kissed you first, and then I twisted it because I panicked. I didn't know how to explain it to Derek."
Victor crossed his arms. "So you destroyed my reputation to save your relationship with a guy you now claim might've tried to kill ?"
Amara's lips trembled. "I didn't know Derek would take it this far. I always knew he had a bad side, but this? This is beyond anything I imagined. I wanted to co clean. I'm going to break up with him. And... I want us to be friends again."
She took a cautious step forward.
Selene instantly stepped between them. "Don't."
Victor raised his hand. "It's okay."
He stared at Amara with a straight expression. "I lost my father six months ago. You were one of the few people who stood by then. I held you in high regard, Amara. But after everything that's happened... things can never go back to how they used to be."
Amara's eyes welled up.
"I'm grateful for what you did for back then," Victor continued. "And if you want to stick around now, that's up to you. But I've moved past everything I felt. I spent a long ti crushing on you. I'm done with that now."
He gave her a small nod. "Thanks for the tip about Derek. I'll look into it."
Without another word, he turned around and began walking away.
Amara remained standing there with tears rolling down her cheeks as he disappeared around the corner.
Selene paused and looked back at her, then scrunched her face into a comically exaggerated pout and mockingly whispered, "Boohoo."
Catching up with Victor, Selene nudged him gently. "Hey... you okay?"
"Yeah," Victor voiced with a soft tone. "Just thinking."
"You really over her?"
"Yeah. It's gone."
Selene smiled. "Good to know."
Before he could react, she leaned in and kissed him softly on the cheek.
"Let the bitch cry over spilled milk."
Victor chuckled. "Be nice."
"Nah," Selene grinned.
Victor expression darkened slightly as he briefly turned quiet. "Still... if Derek really is behind that setup, he's going to pay."
Selene's smile faded and she nodded. "Leave that to . I'll dig into it. You focus on winning the Sword Legacy competition."
Victor glanced at her with a surprised look. "You'd do that?"
"Of course I would. Soone's got to make sure you don't walk into another trap."
He gave her a warm smile. "Thanks, Selene."
...
Later that night, Victor lay in bed as the dorm turned silent around him. Kairo had already wished him good luck for tomorrow's battle and gone quiet on his side.
Victor slipped the VR helt over his head while laying back and closing his eyes.
[ Logging into Ascendant Realms... ]
A transitional sound rang out as his consciousness dipped.
And the next mont, his eyes opened within the familiar yet distant realm of cultivation.
He was back.
...
...
(( The Next Morning ))
Morning sunlight filtered through the dorm windows, brushing Victor's face with its golden hue.
He stirred slightly before blinking his eyes open, greeted by the familiar ceiling of his room.
Though he had spent about three days within Ascendant Realms, perfecting the intricate art of seal reinforcent and array formations, only a single night had passed in the real world.
He sat up slowly as the feeling of days past still lingered in his bones despite the ti discrepancy.
The knowledge he had gained from the scrolls he'd been handed was vast and overwhelming even.
Yet, he felt more equipped to face the future.
Today was the final day of the Legacy Weapons Competition.
The excitent across campus was heightened as students moved in droves towards the academy's massive arena.
Victor finished getting ready swiftly and turned to Kairo, who sat cross-legged on his bed, deep in thought.
"Yo, you coming to the arena today? Final day," Victor questioned while grabbing his academy uniform jacket.
Kairo glanced up lazily. "I haven't watched a single one since it started. Been training."
Victor raised an eyebrow. "Damn, you couldn't even co cheer for ?"
Kairo smirked. "I've got better things to do with my ti than watch you wave your sword around. But… I might show up. Just to see if all that training you keep bragging about paid off."
Victor chuckled and shook his head. "Touché."
He left the dorm and headed toward the arena. The paths were crowded with students buzzing about the upcoming battles. A group of first-year girls spotted him from a distance and imdiately burst into squeals.
"It's Victor Revenant! Oh my god, it's him!"
So of them hurried over with flushed cheeks. Victor had technically beco so what famous since the competition started.
One particularly bold girl grinned mischievously and pulled out a pen. "Will you sign… here?" she asked while motioning toward her chest.
Victor blinked with a flustered look as he stared at her bouncy mounds. "Uhh—"
Before he could respond, Selene materialized beside him with a cold, venomous stare that could have frozen magma.
"He's mine! Buzz off!"
The girls' laughter turned into nervous giggles as they backed away.
"We're so sorry! We were just joking!" one of them squeaked as they all scampered off like frightened mice.
"Damn," Danny said as he joined them. "If looks could kill, we'd have a murder scene."
Victor laughed. "Yeah, remind never to make Selene mad."
Selene huffed but smirked. "Let's just get to the arena. You've got a title to win."
As they reached the packed stadium, the electric buzz of anticipation pulsed through the air.
Tens of thousands of students had co to witness the final day. Banners waved, cheers echoed, and the stands brimd with second and third years, instructors, and alumni, all eager to see the best of the first years clash one final ti.
The instructor for the warrior category stepped onto the center stage.
"Welco to the final day of the Legacy Weapons Challenge!" he began while sweeping his gaze across the roaring crowd. "You've seen strength. You've witnessed talent. But today... Today you will see the true warriors rise."
He gestured for the remaining five warrior contestants to step forward.
Victor, Elyra Vorn, Reed, a silent muscular youth nad Zack Morlen who had shocked many by reaching this far, and a brooding tall girl nad Mae who radiated dangerous calm.
They all stepped to the forefront.
The instructor continued. "We have five of you left. This poses a problem for versus matchups. So, before we proceed to the duels, a task will be presented. A task that will determine which one of you will be eliminated. The one with the lowest score will be dropped."
Murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire.
"This task," the instructor went on, "will test a very specific skill. Your rescue ability. Within the ti limit, you are to gain as many points as possible."
The terrain began to change once again...
A brilliant surge of blue light cascaded over the stage as the arena transformation matrix activated.
The rocks in the arena were swept away and replaced by the illusion of a partially destroyed city.
Cracked streets, crumbling towers, shattered windows, and scattered debris filled the new arena space.
Artificial flas flickered in corners, and columns of smoke curled skyward.
From above, it looked like the aftermath of a catastrophic war. A miniature ruin of chaos.
Instructor Elric voice bood across the loudspeakers as he proceeded to give a detailed explanation. "Warriors! For the final task before the Versus Battles, you are required to execute a series of search-and-rescue missions. You will be graded on speed, intuition, and power."
The crowd hushed and hung onto his every word.
"Sowhere in this terrain are over a dozen 'victims,' played by volunteer students from different classes. They will be trapped—under rubble, behind magical barriers, or in situations simulating collapse and disaster. Your goal is to rescue as many as possible within fifteen minutes. Each successful rescue is worth five points. The warrior with the lowest score will be disqualified from the Versus Phase."
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