"WHAT?!" The cry erupted across the stands—even the main dais quaked with disbelief. Caesar's words were simply too outrageous.
Theoretically, anyone below the tenth level could attempt to study a law, but it was folly. They would waste years for nothing, unable to grasp even the basics. That was why no sane cultivator, genius or not, touched law cultivation before the tenth level. The only sensible path was to raise one's energy swiftly, then, once the foundation was solid, pursue the heavens.
But Caesar had just claimed mastery. That meant he had already comprehended at least sixty percent of a law's first level—something that should take years of grinding at the tenth.
Yet here he was: only a year and a half into cultivation, standing at the eighth level… and wielding law comprehension.
One word filled every mind present: Monster.
"You—you cheat! It's impossible for you to wield a law! And even if you did, it must be some weak, useless branch. Do you dare flaunt it before me?!" Remus shouted, face twitching.
"I suppose we'll see when you attack," Caesar answered, voice calm, eyes unwavering.
"You—Hyaaaa!" Remus could no longer contain himself. With sparks flying from his blade, he charged.
Caesar no longer concealed his strength. He lifted his halberd, and an intense white flame burst outward, expanding into a blazing circle two meters wide.
In an instant, everything within that ring was scorched—the tiles, the insects, even the very air shimmered and burned. Then, just as suddenly, the fire withdrew, climbing the shaft of the halberd until it condensed around the blade. Silent. Still. Like a candle's flame—but blinding white.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. This was the same glow that had shattered Bori in a single strike. Back then it had been too fast to see. Now, even staring at it directly, they still could not fathom what it was.
Remus himself froze in shock. But pride shoved him forward. With a scream, he brought his sword down with all his might.
Caesar met the strike head-on.
BOOM!
The collision detonated like thunder. A shockwave ripped across the arena, so hot the referee was forced to raise a barrier to protect weaker students.
The weapons locked for three long seconds. To Remus, it felt like three eternal hours. His treasured sword—one of the finest a young noble could wield—was melting. The white fire was eating through steel as if it were wax.
And not just the sword. His eyebrows and hair singed from the heat though he hadn't even touched the glow. Worse—his own Fire Shards technique, the sparks erupting from his blade, winked out the moment they touched that white flame.
This thing… it burns fire itself?!
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Remus screamed, stumbling back in horror.
But Caesar pressed, halberd swinging again. Blow after blow forced Remus into retreat. After two more clashes, his sword split clean in half. A lick of the white fire grazed him, burning through armor, clothes, and a thick layer of skin across his chest.
"AAAAARGH! Get away from me!" Remus collapsed to his knees, shrieking.
Caesar drove his halberd into the ground, then gestured toward Peon.
Peon instantly understood. He tossed Caesar the broken halves of his first halberd—the very weapon Remus had used to torment Theo.
Caesar caught the jagged piece and stalked forward.
"You… what are you going to do? I'm the son of Marcus Rufus! Break the contract and you'll regret it!" Remus stammered, voice thick with panic.
"Relax," Caesar said, lips curling into a cruel smile. "I haven't forgotten. I can't kill or cripple you… right?"
Terror swallowed Remus. He screamed for help. "STOP HIM! SOMEONE STOP THIS SAVAGE!!"
But no one moved. Not the professors, not the students, not even the referee. All feared becoming Caesar's enemy. The referee looked desperately to Felix Bradley, but Felix only shook his head, eyes cold.
The message was clear: even if Caesar kills him, I will stand behind him.
What happened next froze every heart.
Caesar seized Remus by the throat and lifted him off the ground. His voice thundered across the silent arena:
"Is bullying fun? Maybe I could've forgiven you if you'd only targeted me. But you made one mistake…
You touched my big brother!"
He spun Remus around, then, with brutal force, rammed the broken halberd shaft up his rear.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Remus's scream tore through the sky before he collapsed unconscious, consumed by pain and humiliation.
"Hmph." Caesar spat on the ground, yanked the halberd free, then leapt back to stand beside Robin.
Robin's eyes slid toward him, dry amusement in his voice. "You know, you could've demanded ten thousand coins or something useful."
"But you promised to make me strong enough to shove my halberd up his ass," Caesar muttered, scratching his head.
"It was an analogy! An analogy!! …Heh. Whatever. Let's go." Robin turned and strode away, Caesar and Peon following a step behind.
Just before leaving the arena, Robin stopped. His gaze swept the stunned crowd.
"I hope my little brother, Caesar Burton, has entertained you all." He laughed loudly, then walked out.
The silence deepened. Students, nobles, and even professors sat frozen, shaken not only by the savage act itself, but by the bizarrely casual exchange that followed.
Why does such a ruthless beast submit so utterly to his brother?
And Caesar's words—you promised to make me strong—echoed like thunder. Did Robin give him that terrifying white glow? How, when Robin was only at the fifth level?
Many left that day vowing never to tread near House 207.
And in the corner of the stands, a young woman with sharp brows watched Robin's group leave in silence, her frown carved deep.