Two months slipped by in silence.
Robin spent them teaching Zara how to draw—while refining his own skills at the same time—and consolidating his cultivation.
With Theo in closed-door training to absorb the Major Law of Darkness, the burden on Peon increased sharply. He became responsible for food, supplies, and fetching rations from the treasury. Yet, as the days passed, Peon began to feel at ease in this new life. Realizing his master bore no ill intent toward his sister, and treated them both with dignity, he gradually let go of his anxiety. Instead, he resolved to serve faithfully.
But today was different. Today, Peon was busier than ever. Not only him—the entire institution simmered like a pot about to boil over.
For this was the day.
Exactly one year ago, Remus and his companions had pushed too far, provoking Robin's group until Robin snapped. In that moment, Robin had thrown Mila Bradley's name into the open, declaring that his younger brother, Caesar, would challenge Remus and his entire group one year later.
The news spread like wildfire. Anything involving Lady Mila spread. Gossip from the group's own members carried the story through the institution within days. Since then, no one had dared harass Robin's household—not out of respect, but because everyone was waiting to see the spectacle.
They all wanted to watch Caesar die.
Even Mila herself had heard the news, sneering: "He dared to buy himself a whole year by using my name. Does he think I'll intervene to save his brother just because he invoked me?"
Robin had irritated her terribly in their last meeting, making her feel like a small, ignorant girl before him—as if he had taken advantage of her. Now she saw this as the perfect chance to humiliate him.
Knock, knock, knock. Robin tapped on Caesar's door. "Are you ready?"
The door creaked open for the first time in ten long months.
Caesar emerged, a gleaming halberd in one hand and a fragment of his shattered halberd in the other. He looked taller, sharper, harder than before—and his aura spoke louder than his appearance.
He had reached the eighth level.
From a powerless mortal to the eighth level in barely a year and a half.
The sheer pressure radiating from him made Peon, watching from behind, stiffen in awe and unconsciously step back. It was the first time he had seen the one he had been delivering food to all these months.
"Ready," Caesar said simply.
"I trust you will not disgrace me. You will not disgrace the perfect Major Heavenly Law of Fire. And you will not disgrace yourself," Robin said, nodding. Without another word, he turned and walked out, Caesar and Peon following. Behind them, Theo remained locked in his seclusion, while Zara returned to her drawings.
The main square of the institution held a massive circular stage, fifty meters across, surrounded by stands with room for over a thousand spectators. Professors often used it to demonstrate techniques for students; even the head of the institution sometimes gave lectures here.
It was also where student duels took place. Normally, they were friendly exchanges. But grudges could be settled here too, if both sides signed a contract waiving the institution's responsibility.
For days, the head of the institution had been waiting for a letter from Lady Mila to cancel the fight. It never came. Even when he sent a guard to ask, her response was icy: "That little bastard hasn't begged me for his life yet. Wait until his brother loses a limb or nearly dies, then stop the fight."
And so the stage was set.
The stands overflowed with professors, students, guards, and even slaves. A professor stood in the center as referee, holding the signed contract of responsibility waiver. Nothing remained but the arrival of the fighters.
"Haha! I'm honored that my humble duel has drawn so many fellow disciples and professors. I promise you won't be disappointed!" Remus bellowed as he strode onto the stage. Behind him came his four young men and three young women—his group of nobles, children of barons and counts.
They seated themselves on the stage, waiting with feigned calm for the challenger. Though they tried to appear relaxed, unease gnawed at them. Smearing Mila Bradley's name in such a low-level duel had been dangerous from the start. Their only goal now was to crush Caesar quickly and quietly.
Then the murmurs began.
"Look—Robin's group has arrived."
Everyone turned as Robin approached, flanked by Caesar and Peon.
At first the professor on stage welcomed them lightly, but his words caught in his throat. Uncle Brown, Mila's representative, leaned forward, and the head of the institution nearly bolted upright.
Shock rippled through the professors, then the students.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!"
A confused junior in the stands asked, "Brother, why are you all so surprised?"
The senior beside him never looked away from Caesar as he whispered, "Caesar… he's at the eighth level."
The words struck like thunder.
"Impossible!"
"He was just a mortal when he entered a year and a half ago!"
"Eight levels in eighteen months? That's not human—it's monstrous!"
"My god… have I been cultivating wrong all this time?"
"Wait… the eighth level at thirteen years old? Isn't that even faster than Lady Mila?!"
No one knew who said it, but the words cracked across the square like lightning.
"…But Lady Mila started training at two years old, while Caesar was just a mortal until a year and a half ago…" someone murmured the truth on everyone's minds.
Uproar followed. Even the professors rose to their feet, unable to believe what they were seeing.
"Even Robin's reached the fifth level," someone noted.
But that thought was swept aside instantly. Compared to Caesar's meteoric rise, Robin was an afterthought.
Amidst the chaos, Caesar drove his halberd into the ground. The shock stilled the crowd. Then, in one smooth motion, he vaulted onto the stage, standing tall in its center. His halberd gleamed. His aura pressed down like a storm.
"This aura… it isn't supposed to belong to someone of the eighth level," one professor whispered, shaking his head.
"My god… are we witnessing the birth of an absolute genius?"