"We just teamed up together for one mission, that's all," Mirabella answered.
Her voice was as cold as the high-altitude winds. In her past life, she had known the name Jessica, but the girl had been a distant star—someone Mirabella couldn't even get within twenty meters of. In this life, they were mere temporary allies in a failed expedition.
'I wonder, why am I worrying about her this much?' Mirabella exhaled, her gaze drifting toward the glowing Wisteria petals. 'Has Grace's annoying kindness finally started to infect me?' She shook her head lightly, clearing the intrusive thought.
"We aren't friends. Just one-time partners."
'The human race on Earth has lost a powerful fighter to amnesia and a new identity,' she mused, 'but I don't have the time to play therapist and help her recover her memories. I need to focus on my own path to the top.'
"Ok, that's all, right?" Nadia asked. Mirabella gave a sharp, decisive nod.
"Splendid." Nadia turned her green eyes toward Hayatobi, her smile sharpening. "Do you know about the competition next week? I assume you've heard about the new rules and the squad formations."
"Yes, I'm aware," Hayatobi replied, his voice heavy with the weight of the coming storm. "I plan to announce the details to the academy tomorrow morning."
He turned, snapping his fingers. A platform of golden mana hummed beneath their feet, and the three of them began to ascend, leaving the silent, manicured garden behind.
"Next week, we will know which academy truly holds the strongest students," Hayatobi added as they accelerated into the night sky, streaking back toward the Dragon Empire.
Below, Nadia Bauhinia sat perfectly still. The blonde "Old Hag" watched the three glowing streaks until they were mere pinpricks of light.
"Jessica," Nadia said, her voice devoid of its earlier warmth. "If you have the chance in this coming competition... kill that girl."
"Huh?" Jessica's eyes pulsed with a confused light. She stared at her teacher in genuine surprise.
"If you can't kill her, then cripple her. If you can't do either... then escape," Nadia commanded. She stood up, her aura suddenly cold and jagged.
'This is truly strange... I can feel Hitachi's progress, his raw, turbulent power. But that girl... I can't feel anything from her. It's as if she's shrouded in a dark, impenetrable fog.' She clenched her fists until her knuckles turned white.
'The other Empires must not be allowed to foster such anomalies, or the bridge of power will be shattered.'
She turned her gaze to Jessica. "Do you understand?"
"Yes, Teacher," Jessica nodded, her face returning to its mask-like serenity.
Nadia frowned, her eyes darting toward the roots of the Wisteria tree. She thought she felt a ripple in the spirit energy, a shadow that shouldn't be there. She shook her head.
'It must be my imagination.'
____
[Dragon Empire Academy Grounds]
WHOOSH!!
The air displaced violently as Hayatobi, Hitachi, and Mirabella reappeared in front of the monolithic training building.
"About the Glory Flag competition. What exactly is it about?" Mirabella asked, staring at Hayatobi's broad back.
"It seems I can't hide anything from you," he said, turning to face the two of them. The moonlight caught the silver in his hair. "Tomorrow, you will both have your answers. Get some rest."
He walked away into the shadows of the academy, his footsteps silent. Hitachi gave a long, weary sigh and walked off toward his dorm without uttering a single word, his new God-rank energy still crackling slightly around him.
{DING!}
Mirabella froze. A piercing chime echoed in her mind—the System's emergency notification. She pulled up the holographic screen, her eyes narrowing as a blood-red warning flashed across her vision.
{CRITICAL ALERT: SKILL SCROLLS CORRUPTED}
{Analysis: The gifted scrolls contain a hidden 'Spirit Parasite' curse.}
{Effect: Upon use, the host will gain the skill, but their spirit core will be permanently contaminated. This results in a 'Lethal Bottleneck' at Lv200. The host will never be able to ascend beyond this level.}
{Warning: Attempting to force a breakthrough while under this curse will result in immediate Core Implosion(Death).}
Mirabella exhaled a slow, cold breath. 'I knew she wouldn't change. The Nadia I remember from my past life is the same snake in this one. She must already viewed me as a target.'
She started walking toward her apartment, her black coat swishing in the night. 'She knew Hayatobi had two personal students, so she brought out exactly two scrolls. What a calculated move. Does Lord Hayatobi even know what he's holding?'
_____
[Hayatobi's Residence - 12:15 AM]
Hayatobi reached his private mansion on the academy's outskirts. Two elite guards bowed as they opened the heavy oak doors. He nodded and stepped into the warm, lit interior.
"Greetings, Master," a maid said, stepping forward to take his heavy traveling coat.
"Is Rose awake?" he asked, heading toward the grand staircase.
"The young Miss is finally asleep, sir," the maid, Lydia, answered respectfully.
"Good. And try to get some rest yourself, Lydia. It's been a long night."
"I will, Master."
Hayatobi entered his master suite and closed the door. He walked over to a heavy desk and placed the silver box on the surface. His expression shifted from the weary teacher to the lethal Master Teacher.
"That old hag... you really think I am a fool?"
He walked to a small cupboard beside his bed and brought out an ancient, ornate mirror crafted from spirit-glass. He placed the two golden scrolls directly onto the mirror's surface.
Instantly, the glass didn't reflect the room; it turned a deep, pulsating blood-red. A faint, hissing sound came from the scrolls.
"A forbidden curse... You're a snake, Nadia. A smart one, truly," Hayatobi whispered, his eyes burning with a sudden, terrifying silver light.
"But you don't know one thing about this old man: I don't just teach power; I know how to cleanse it." He took the two scrolls in his hand.
He channeled a surge of pure, white-hot spirit energy into the scrolls. A silent explosion of light filled the room, the "Spirit Parasite" shrieking as it was incinerated by his raw power. He placed the scrolls back on the mirror. This time, the glass glowed a calm, steady green.
He slumped down onto a couch, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. The purification had been taxing, even for him.
"That old hag..." He sighed, looking at the now-pristine scrolls. "Those two should be happy I'm their Master. They'll be waking up to Legendary-class skills tomorrow... I can't wait to see what they unlock."