What's the pinnacle of power like, you ask? some say it's the Divine Crowns—for even their mere movements make the battlefield tremble.
What about the S-Class? They may not be as powerful as the Divine Crowns but they're still unfathomably strong in their own right not to mention they're almost close to finishing the summit.
But ask those wise enough to not measure classes alone, they'd all answer with the same name.
Leon Almirevane. An S-Class third year student.
There's a fine gap between the S-Classes and the ones that came before it, you'd have to become an absolute monster just like Ysinia and Zephan. And if you think breezing through it as an A-Class was difficult, you'd have to think twice.
But what about the gap between an S-Class and a Divine Crown? It's almost like Day and Night—a dream those only foolish enough to even try and reach.
Because guarding this summit is Leon Almirevane. Otherwise known as The Gatekeeper. A man whose appearance is befitting of his name, pale gold eyes and a beautiful long silver hair and with a body built for battle and only the best.
Even in my past life, there's no man that hasn't heard of that name even once. A monster capable of wiping out the army of demons with just a single flick of his finger—even right now, as a student, his power shouldn't be underestimated.
The pressure immediately shifted into something intense, the crowd of students once whispering and trying to stop Zephan was rendered into silence—even Zephan himself, as arrogant as he may be, dared not to even utter a single word of apology.
Even the lackeys, Finley, and I froze—our breathing so shallow it was barely there. This tension wasn't something we can describe alone and unlike Voswick, it was unbearable.
"Picking on a nobody, Zephan. How low do you intend to go? Getting pissed over insults from someone with the worth of a dust speck—how fragile is your ego?"
Leon walked close towards Zephan who started sweating buckets, a first for me—I wanted to laugh at it but how am I supposed to when fear overrides any emotion I have right now?
"...N-no..."
He said in a polite voice, voice barely above a whisper. After staring at Zephan for just a minute but felt like an eternity, he turned his eyes towards cowering Willis who looked like he was about to piss his pants.
"You pick fights with those beneath you but tremble the moment someone stands even slightly above. Pathetic. If you're so desperate to save face, challenge him in a Duel—but that's hardly a good reputation for your family name isn't it?"
Willis just broke down into buckets of sweat after and the moment Leon laid his eyes on me—I felt like even the urge to breathe was gone. I wanted to run away even if I'll be labeled as a coward, I still want to preserve my life.
Watching him kneel down on my level is extremely frightening with those menacing golden eyes staring straight into my soul and unlike Ysinia's, this looked more than just looking at me as a person.
"Does the speck of dust have anything to say to me? If not, then stop barking like you matter—especially when you can't even stand on your own without a savior."
A truth I couldn't even deny, striking harder than it should've been for me.
"I don't like it when a nobody barks, it always sounds like a nuisance."
With that final line, he stood up before turning to Zephan and Willis. There's absolutely no way I can make up anything in my mind right now for what else can I do? Leon was right. I'm just a barking dog without anything to prove.
"I tasked you two to clean the dummies in the outdoor arena and it resulted into this chaos?"
Both Finley and I turned our heads to that familiar voice, Professor Voswick's. Releasing a murderous aura so intense that the crowd of students immediately dispersed and ran for their lives.
Leon looked up at Voswick without flinching—clearly used to that overwhelming aura, as if it were nothing but a breeze.
"Almirevane. What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the higher floors?"
Voswick inquired, his arms behind his back yet making it clear that he's not tolerating Leon's behavior.
"I'm simply making sure that my juniors behave, I deeply apologize if it turned into something bothersome."
Leon said without stuttering on a single word, this man clearly isn't even intimidated by someone like Voswick. Watching them talk to one another felt like heaven and hell came face to face.
"This is the third time you've stepped out of bounds, Almirevane. I've overlooked your behavior for your entire time here for I know your intentions but this time, you're clearly overstepping your "authority"."
Voswick scolded, unafraid of showing his displeasure.
"This will be my last time. Once again, I apologize sincerely. However... if we overlook this matter and leave it unsettled, grudges will simply brew inside the juniors and eventually explode."
"What are you suggesting?"
"I suggest that we hold a formal Duel between these two."
Leon looked at me and Willis much to our surprise. But is he seriously expecting an F-Class student to fight against someone like Willis? He may not be much but he's still a B-Class!
That guy might be an asshole, but he's still B-Class! I'm nothing but dead weight compared to him!
Even Voswick seemed to consider it, judging from the way he glanced at me and Willis then Leon.
Then he closed his eyes, seemingly coming to a conclusion and from the looks of it, it wasn't going my way.
"The last day of the next week. Just enough time for both parties to prepare."
With that confirmation, my fate is completely sealed.
In my past life, this is where I would've backed off. I'd fake a cold, pretend to collapse, anything to escape. But look where that got me.
A faint grin appeared in Leon's face, he seemed to like where this is going. Seriously, since when this guy even got invested in people lower than him?
"One moment, Professor. I'd like you to consider Zephan as well—he was at the verge of killing this student."
Leon brought just when Zephan thought he was already fading into the background but it seems that he has no intention of letting him go.
"I think this attempt on casual murder should be already a violation of the academy rules so I'd like for you to consider his expulsion in this Duel as well."
Like a deer caught in headlights, Zephan raised his head at the verge of breaking down right there but Leon didn't allow him to.
Professor Voswick's eyes narrowed, his expression turning grim at that brazen mention of a murder within the academy grounds.
"... Is this true, Mr. Zephan?"
Zephan didn't want to answer. I could clearly see it in his face.
"Yes! He was choking Clovis to death!"
Finley answered after finally breaking through his own fear as Voswick raised an eyebrow. Leon seemed to notice him as well, looking a bit amused by his courage.
Zephan eyes widened at the revelation and attempted to charge towards Finley but Leon stopped him before he could do anything stupid.
"Are you sure that this is the absolute truth, Mr. Finley and swore that it isn't some made up lie just to defend Mr. Estelion here?"
"I swore it over my life!"
Finley didn't miss a beat. Why is he doing this? He shouldn't risk expulsion over this petty nonsense!
I wanted to object to the Duel immediately so that Finley wouldn't be a collateral in the matter but Voswick wasn't done.
"I see. Then Mr. Zephan, you will be suspended from any class involving live combat and will be placed under strict supervision by the Disciplinary Department until further investigation."
Voswick paused looking towards Finley.
"However, should Mr. Zephan be found not guilty, Mr. Finley — expect to be under fire."
He exclaimed in a low deep voice before looking towards Leon.
"We'll be taking Mr. Zephan now for serious disciplinary and questioning first, you could free him now, Mr. Almirevane. The rest of you, return to your classes."
With that, Leon lets go of Zephan while Willis scampered away immediately trying to get away from the situation as best as he can. Finley went to me urging me to stand up.
But I don't think I have the energy to.
This situation escalated from nothing into something I didn't even want, it's too early... I haven't even tested my abilities after my limiter broke and I don't it would be even enough to face someone like a B-Class even if that person is a coward.
Leon glanced at me before walking away but not without a few parting words of his own.
"Fight like your pathetic pride is worth something. I'm curious if an ant like you can crawl all the way to the summit—or just die halfway up."
But from the way he sounded, he's not even expecting it.
How did it come to this? I just wanted to have a nice life and not rot in that damned place again. I just wanted for it to be meaningful but why's every progress I make is met with a cruel come back?
Is my life that much of joke?
"Clovis. Let's go already."
Finley urged once more as Voswick disappeared along with Zephan, murmurs began rising once again as it seems that they're eavesdropping earlier from their classes.
I just simply stood up as my mind spiralled into more chaos. Why can't I have a single moment where I can have a win without having to deal with any consequence?
But I already knew that, as a soldier in the past—there's no way every battle is won without casualties.
Back when death was certain at each deployment, yet this time I'm afraid of humiliation and my chance to reach that desired life is flickering?
I stood up before exhaling as both Finley and I went back to our class in silence. There isn't kuch to say between us as I could already tell—we're both emotionally exhausted.
After that day ended, I slumped back into my bed finally letting my tense body ease up, staring blankly at the ceiling. The dull ache in my body didn't compare to the storm in my chest.
The Duel. One week from now. Maybe I could just forfeit and run away like I always used to do then wait for someone to save me... like what they always say.
But then... what would be the point of this second chance?
This whole first week was a nightmare for me, nothing went well within my plan so I'd have to rethink how should I proceed.
I don't think I could casually break my limiters again as it might put extreme stress on my body and not a lot of time to recover just to shorten the gap in power.
Especially when breaking my first limiter felt like I was blasted by the fiery pits of hell itself. Should I really push for a second try when Ysinia herself said that I almost died on my first try?
But then again I haven't tested my powers yet either so I wouldn't know its limits. I'd need something more... something far better—an answer.
An answer that I might've forgotten too quickly...
Before I could even begin to look for that answer, my eyes slowly closed as the toll of this day was just too much. I didn't have a proper rest to even clear my mind.
Right as darkness claimed my consciousness, deep inside my mind—I heard that ethereal voice calling to me again.
"So dramatic. One setback, and you fold easily like paper. Was this the same soul that was asking for a second chance saying that he could change it all? or was it all a lie?"