Several days passed.
Leo recovered slowly.
Everyone was astonished by the speed at which his injuries closed.
Master Ren would have called it troublesome.
Aelion called it suspicious.
Seth would probably call it awesome.
Leo sighed.
"...I miss Skycrest."
His room door opened.
Aelion entered.
"...You're awake."
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"...I have been for three days."
The Crowned Prince ignored him.
"...Good."
He turned to leave.
"...Wait."
Aelion paused.
"...What?"
Leo hesitated his cheeks reddened a bit.
Then.
"...Thanks."
Silence.
The prince glanced sideways.
"...For what?"
"For you ... Know... The last time we met ....
With Evangeline.."
Aelion remained quiet for several seconds.
Then a small chuckle left his lips.
"Evangeline is a has an eccentric personality...
But she's a good person....
Don't hurt her or you'll deal with me.."
His last words were said playfully but held a serious weight in them
"...You continue surviving.. now ..
And remember no ones defeating you but me ."
His silver eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Don't die before our rematch."
Leo smirked.
"...Wouldn't dream of it."
Aelion nodded once.
"...Good...
...You still owe me compensation for damaging the academy."
Leo stared blankly.
"...Seriously?"
"...Absolutely."
The prince left immediately afterward.
Leo burst into laughter.
*****************************
Later that evening.
Leo stood beneath the moonlit blossoms of the academy gardens.
The same place where so much had changed.
Footsteps approached.
Evangeline stopped beside him.
"...You're leaving tomorrow."
Leo nodded.
"...Yeah."
Even with what nearly happened thier relationship remained the same.
Silence followed.
Neither seemed eager to break it.
Eventually
"...Will you come back?" Evangeline asked softly.
Leo looked upward.
Toward the stars.
"...I'd like to."
He glanced toward her.
"...There are still a lot of things I want to understand."
Evangeline smiled faintly.
"...Then return."
A pause.
"...As a friend....or something else."
She last words had a mischievous edge to them
Leo hesitated.
Then smiled.
"...As a friend."
The moonlit charm she had given him rested securely against his chest.
He touched it lightly.
"...I'll keep this safe."
Evangeline's expression softened.
"...Good."
************************
The following morning.
The Skycresrt airship arrived.
Leo stood inside watching as Elavein became smaller and smaller.
"So an elven princess huh..".
A deep amused voice echoed lightly as a presence appeared beside Leo.
Leo's expression stiffened .
" I taught we talked about this Micheal"
Michael Chambers Leo's elder brother smiled before answering.
"We did"
" Then why are you still bringing it up" Leo said now frustrated by his brother.
Since Micheal and Aelion found Leo and Evangeline in his room Micheal hadn't stopped teasing him.
"Because it's fun of course" Micheal said and started chuckling.
After another round of teasing Michael's expression turned solemn.
"I can't believe that you actually fought and won against a world king... as a world saint no less.
The number of people who could do that can probably only be counted with both hands...."
His charming smile returned.
"And I'm one of them"
"Cocky bastard" leo replied with a cold face.
Both burst into laughter the next moment.
*****************************
The gates of Skycrest Academy stood tall beneath the afternoon sun.
Students crossed the expansive courtyard, instructors moved between buildings, and the distant sounds of combat echoed from the training grounds. Everything appeared as peaceful as it had been before the academy's students departed on their various missions.
Yet peace was rarely more than an illusion in a world where power determined how long someone could survive.
And today, several students were returning with a much clearer understanding of that truth.
"HOME!"
Alex's voice echoed across the courtyard.
He spread his arms dramatically as he walked through the academy gates, his muscular frame casting a long shadow over the paved path.
"Beautiful buildings! Beautiful weather! Beautiful academy food!"
Matthew glanced at him.
"You spent the entire journey complaining about the food."
"That was before I remembered how terrible the food outside was."
"You ate roasted monster meat for three days."
"And I survived! Doesn't that make me a hero?"
"No. It makes you someone with questionable eating habits."
Alex placed a hand over his heart.
"Your words wound me."
"Good. Maybe you'll finally learn something."
A few meters behind them, Leo chuckled.
The familiar bickering was oddly comforting.
Their various missions had taken them into dangerous territories, forcing them to confront opponents whose strength exceeded their expectations. Some had fought powerful Zodiac combatants, while others had encountered enemies whose abilities had pushed their limits.
But they had returned.
And for now, that was enough.
Leo glanced toward the main academy building a small smile playing on his lips.
"So, what's the first thing we're doing?"
"Reporting to Master Ren," Arthur answered.
Leo sighed.
"Right. Responsible student duties."
"You could try behaving like a responsible student for once."
"I've tried. It didn't suit me."
"Neither does intelligence, apparently."
Leo turned toward him.
"Was that an insult?"
"An observation."
"Good. I was worried you were getting sentimental."
Arthur ignored him and continued walking.
Sandra, who had been listening to their exchange, shook her head.
"You two haven't changed at all."
"That's because I'm perfect," Leo replied.
"And that's because he's delusional," Arthur added.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Then Leo noticed the person walking behind them.
Kevin.
He had returned around the same time as the others, but something about him felt different.
His posture was straighter. His eyes moved across the courtyard with a quiet attentiveness that hadn't been there before. He noticed the students gathering near the training grounds, the instructors standing beside the eastern entrance, and even the two guards exchanging words near the main building.
He seemed to be measuring everything.
When Alex shouted another ridiculous declaration about conquering the academy cafeteria, Kevin barely reacted.
Normally, he would have been the first to join the argument.
Leo slowed down.
"Kevin."
Kevin looked at him.
"What?"
"You've been quiet."
"So?"
"So, I'm beginning to suspect someone replaced you with a badly programmed imitation."
Kevin raised an eyebrow.
"Should I start shouting nonsense to reassure you?"
"That would help."
"Then I've got some bad news."
Leo studied him for another moment.
Kevin's expression remained relaxed, but his eyes were different.
There was a seriousness behind them that hadn't existed before their missions.
Leo knew that look.
He had seen it in people who had been forced to confront the possibility that their strength might not be enough.
"What happened out there?" Leo asked quietly.
Kevin looked toward the academy buildings.
"I fought... and I met him."
His last words were bearly picked up by leo.
"That's usually what happens on missions."
"Most of us encountered enemies who knew exactly what they were doing. They weren't reckless, and they didn't waste their abilities. Every movement had a purpose."
He paused.
"One mistake was all they needed."
Leo's expression became more serious.
"The Zodiac?"
Kevin nodded.
"They weren't just stronger than the other fighters. They understood how to turn a battle in their favour."
He looked down at his hands.
"I realised something during that fight."
"What?"
"Being powerful and knowing how to fight aren't the same thing."
Before Leo could answer, Kevin continued walking.
"Come on. Master Ren is waiting."
Leo watched him go.
For once, he didn't have a joke ready.
---
Master Ren's office was considerably larger than most rooms in the academy.
Bookshelves lined the walls, cultivation diagrams hung beside old maps, and a wide table occupied the centre of the room on it were reports from the students' missions.
When Leo's group entered, Master Ren raised his eyes from the documents.
"You're back."
"Disappointed?" Leo asked.
"Immensely."
Leo placed a hand over his chest.
"Your warmth brings tears to my eyes, Master."
"Save them for your next funeral."
Seth immediately stepped behind Leo.
"Why does it feel like you're being threatened?"
"Because he is," Arthur answered.
Master Ren gestured toward the empty seats.
"Sit down. We have much to discuss."
The group settled around the table.
For the next several minutes, the room filled with reports.
The students described their missions, the opponents they had encountered, and the difficulties they had faced. Some had fought ordinary Zodiac members. Others had encountered more dangerous fighters within the organisation's hierarchy.
The numbered agents.
Their accounts revealed a troubling pattern.
The Zodiac wasn't merely gathering powerful individuals.
Its members operated with coordination, specialised abilities, and a degree of preparation that suggested a larger organisation working toward a common objective.
Then the discussion reached the encounters involving the numbered agents.
Master Ren's expression grew more serious.
"Leo. Arthur. Seth. Kevin. Tell us what happened when you encountered them."
Arthur spoke first.
"Their combat abilities were considerably more refined than those of the other Zodiac fighters. They understood how to exploit openings and pressure opponents into making mistakes."
Seth leaned back in his chair.
"They also understood when not to fight. One of the most dangerous things about them was their ability to recognise when a battle stopped being advantageous."
Kevin nodded.
"They weren't interested in proving they were stronger. They were interested in achieving their objectives."
Leo rested his elbows on the table.
"And they were willing to abandon a fight if continuing it offered no benefit."
Master Ren listened without interrupting.
When the reports were complete, he folded his hands.
"That distinction is important. The Zodiac's ordinary combatants may be dangerous, but the numbered agents represent a different level of threat. Their abilities, experience, and discipline make them difficult opponents even for cultivators who possess superior raw power."
He looked around the table.
"You must understand something. Cultivation is not the only measure of a fighter's strength."
Alex raised his hand.
"Does that mean I can defeat someone stronger than me?"
"It means you can attempt to."
Alex lowered his hand.
"I preferred the previous explanation."
A few of the group chuckled.
Master Ren continued.
"Your cultivation rank measures your advancement along the path to power . It reflects the development of your energy, your ability to wield it, and the level of power you can ordinarily sustain."
He turned toward a diagram on the wall.
"The early stages establish the foundation. World Sensing allows a cultivator to perceive and interact with the world's energy. World Master represents a greater degree of control and integration. World Grand Master marks another significant advancement in the ability to wield that energy."
His gaze shifted toward Leo and Arthur.
"And then comes World Saint."
The room became quieter.
"At this level, cultivation becomes more than simply accumulating and controlling energy. A cultivator begins developing a deeper relationship with their own power. Their individual path becomes increasingly significant, and the abilities they develop can distinguish them from others who possess similar cultivation."
Leo listened carefully.
He had experienced the changes accompanying his own evolution, but he hadn't fully considered how those changes fit into the larger cultivation system.
Master Ren continued.
"World Saint is not a single, uniform level of strength. The difference between someone who has just entered the rank and someone approaching its peak can be considerable."
He glanced at Arthur.
"Take Arthur for example he has already reached the Peak World Saint."
Arthur remained expressionless.
Leo looked at him.
"Peak World Saint, huh?"
Arthur glanced back.
"Problem?"
"No. I'm just wondering how long you've been planning to announce it dramatically."
"I haven't announced anything."
"Your face did."
"Then perhaps your face should learn to mind its own business."
Sandra covered a small smile.
Master Ren continued before Leo could respond.
"Leo, on the other hand, has reached Middle World Saint."
Several students turned toward him.
Although his evolution had already been discussed, hearing the rank stated so plainly made its significance clearer.
Master Ren raised a finger.
"However, this does not mean Arthur is automatically superior to Leo in every possible battle. Nor does Leo's victory against a World King assassin mean that Leo possesses World King cultivation."
He allowed the words to settle.
"Cultivation rank and battle power are related, but they are not interchangeable."
He began listing the factors on his fingers.
"Energy reserves. Control. Technique. Combat experience. The nature of one's abilities. The ability to recognise and exploit weaknesses. The compatibility between opposing powers."
His eyes settled on Leo.
"And the ability to make decisions when everything begins going wrong."
Leo scratched his cheek.
"That last one sounds suspiciously specific."
"It is."
"Should I be worried?"
"Constantly."
Arthur let out a quiet breath that might have been a laugh.
Master Ren continued.
"A higher cultivation rank generally provides an advantage. Greater reserves, stronger attacks, better endurance, and more developed control can make an enormous difference. But a battle is not a mathematical equation in which the person with the highest rank automatically wins."
He looked toward Kevin.
"You have all encountered opponents who demonstrated this principle."
Kevin's expression tightened slightly.
"Yes, Master."
"Remember that lesson. Do not assume someone is harmless because their cultivation is lower than yours. And do not assume someone is invincible because their cultivation is higher."
Master Ren leaned back.
"Your encounters with the Zodiac have given you valuable experience. But experience is only useful if you learn from it."
His gaze moved across the group.
"You have grown stronger. Now you must learn to use that strength properly."
---
The training grounds were crowded by the time the group arrived.
Word of their return had spread through the academy, and several students had gathered to catch glimpses of the cultivators who had recently completed dangerous missions.
Some were curious about Leo's evolution.
Others wanted to hear about the Zodiac.
A few simply hoped to witness something entertaining.
They weren't disappointed.
"Arthur."
Leo's voice carried across the training ground.
Arthur stopped walking.
"What?"
"Let's fight."
Several nearby students turned.
Sandra blinked her eyes briefly.
Seth grinned wildly " This will be fun".
"Of course."
Arthur regarded Leo with mild interest.
"Why?"
"Because you look like you need to lose."
"Interesting. I was about to suggest the same thing."
Alex's eyes lit up.
"YES!"
He rushed toward the centre of the training ground.
"EVERYONE, GATHER AROUND! WE'RE ABOUT TO WITNESS HISTORY!"
Matthew grabbed the back of his shirt.
"Stop advertising our stupidity."
"Release me! The people deserve entertainment!"
Master Ren approached, his expression already suggesting regret.
"You're not destroying my training grounds."
Leo smiled.
"We'll be careful."
Arthur adjusted the grip on his odachi.
"Speak for yourself."
The two walked toward the centre of the arena.
Their expressions changed as they faced one another.
The teasing disappeared.
Neither intended to kill the other, but this wasn't going to be a meaningless exchange of blows.
Arthur wanted to see what Leo's evolution had accomplished.
Leo wanted to discover how much stronger Arthur had become.
And neither was willing to be disappointed.
Master Ren raised one hand.
"Controlled combat. No lethal attacks. The moment I determine that either of you has lost control, the match ends."
He glanced at Seth and Alex.
"You two will stand by."
Seth sighed.
"Why do I feel like we're going to regret agreeing to this?"
"Because you know Leo," Sandra answered.
"Fair enough."
Master Ren lowered his hand.
"Begin."
Arthur moved first.
His odachi flashed from its sheath.
CLANG!
Leo barely managed to raise his dual katanas in time.
The impact sent a tremor through his arms.
Arthur's next strike came from the opposite direction, forcing Leo to pivot and redirect the blade.
A third attack followed before Leo could regain his footing.
Arthur wasn't giving him room to breathe.
His movements were precise, economical, and mercilessly efficient.
Leo retreated three steps before twisting sideways, allowing the odachi to pass close enough to stir his hair.
"Trying to kill me already?"
"You asked for a fight."
"I was expecting a greeting!"
Arthur advanced.
Leo's blades swept upward.
Purple flames burst along their edges .
The weapons collided again, releasing a shock wave that scattered dust across the arena.
Arthur's boots slid backward.
Only slightly.
But everyone watching noticed.
Leo's grin widened.
"There it is."
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
"Don't celebrate too early."
Frost spread across the ground.
Leo jumped as a series of ice spikes erupted beneath his feet. He twisted in midair, using the momentum to bring one of his blades down toward Arthur's shoulder.
Arthur raised his odachi.
The blades met.
Leo landed and immediately followed with a sweeping strike aimed at Arthur's side.
Arthur stepped inside the attack.
His elbow struck Leo's chest.
Leo stumbled backward, coughing.
"Still talking?" Arthur asked.
Leo wiped his mouth.
"You really can't take a joke can you?."
Arthur disappeared into a burst of frost.
Leo's instincts screamed.
He turned.
The odachi struck his one of his blades from above, forcing him onto one knee.
Arthur pressed forward, his weapon vibrating with concentrated energy.
"Your reactions have improved," Arthur said. "But you're still relying too heavily on instinct."
Leo pushed against the blade.
"And you're still talking too much."
Purple flames erupted around his body.
The pressure between their weapons changed.
Leo twisted his blade redirecting Arthur's attack before stepping into the opening.
His fist struck Arthur's guard.
The impact forced Arthur to retreat several steps.
A murmur spread through the spectators.
Leo hadn't simply endured Arthur's attacks.
He had adapted and countered.
Sandra watched with particular attention.
She could see the difference in Leo's movements. His control had become more refined, and his attacks no longer wasted as much energy. He was beginning to combine his abilities with his physical movements instead of relying on them separately.
His evolution had changed more than the amount of power he could release.
It had changed how he fought.
Arthur seemed to reach the same conclusion.
His expression sharpened.
"Good.. very good"
He raised his odachi.
Frost gathered around the weapon, spreading outward in delicate patterns that resembled frozen branches.
Then Arthur attacked.
The next exchange was faster.
Leo blocked a horizontal strike, evaded a thrust, and countered with a burst of purple flames.
Arthur twisted his weapon, redirecting the attack before sending a wave of frost across the arena.
Leo's feet left the ground.
He twisted through the air, landing on one hand before springing backward.
The frozen ground cracked beneath him.
Arthur advanced.
Leo's eyes narrowed.
'He's controlling the battlefield.'
Arthur's frost restricted his movements, forcing him toward predictable routes. Every time Leo tried to create distance, Arthur used his superior positioning to close the gap.
It was an effective strategy.
And it was becoming irritating.
Arthur not only surpassed him in cultivation but also technique.
But fights weren't won only by technique but also power.
Leo's purple flames surged.
Instead of attacking Arthur directly, he swept his blades toward the ground.
A wave of destructive energy spread across the ice, breaking apart the frozen surface and disrupting Arthur's control of the immediate battlefield.
For the first time, Arthur's footing faltered.
Leo seized the opening.
He crossed the distance between them and swung both his blades toward Arthur's shoulder.
Arthur turned at the last moment.
The blade passed close to his uniform.
Arthur's odachi intercepted the weapon before Leo could complete his follow-up.
Their faces were only a short distance apart.
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
"You're getting better at this."
Leo grinned.
"I've always been talented."
"You're also unbearable."
"That's part of my charm."
Arthur pushed forward.
Their weapons separated with a sharp metallic ring.
Then Arthur released more of his power.
The temperature across the arena dropped.
Frost spread in every direction, climbing the surrounding barriers and forming intricate patterns across the ground.
At the same time a golden light shone brightly in his eye it's brilliance made the lingering world energy vibrate .
His cultivation pressure settled over the spectators.
Several students instinctively stepped backward.
This was the difference between merely reaching World Saint and reaching its peak.
Arthur's power wasn't simply greater.
It was more controlled, more concentrated, and more efficiently applied.
He had reached the point where even a small movement could carry enormous force.
Leo felt the pressure immediately.
His smile faded.
So this is what Peak World Saint looks like.
He strengthened his grip on his blades
Purple flames rose around him.
Space bent around his figure.
The opposing energies collided.
For a moment, the arena became a battlefield of frost , the golden light ,space and destruction.
Arthur attacked.
Leo met him head-on.
BOOOOM!
The shock wave rattled the protective barriers.
Arthur's odachi swept through the frost, while Leo's dual blades carved purple arcs through the air.
Neither was willing to yield ground.
Leo's unusual abilities allowed him to challenge Arthur's attacks, but Arthur's superior cultivation and refined technique continually forced him to adapt.
When Leo found an opening, Arthur exploited his next mistake.
When Arthur attempted to trap him, Leo disrupted the formation with his flames.
They weren't equal in cultivation.
But neither was this a one-sided contest.
The spectators watched in stunned silence.
Alex had stopped shouting.
Matthew had stopped pretending not to be interested.
Even Seth's usual expression of mild irritation had disappeared.
Arthur and Leo were pushing each other harder than anyone had expected.
Then Leo's purple flames surged.
The blade in his right hand struck Arthur's odachi with enough force to send a visible crack through the frozen ground beneath them.
Arthur's eyes widened slightly.
He slid backward.
Leo followed.
A second strike forced Arthur to raise his guard.
A third sent him skidding toward the edge of the arena.
For a heartbeat, the spectators thought Leo might actually overwhelm him.
Then Arthur planted his feet.
His odachi descended.
A concentrated wave of frost and golden light erupted from the blade.
Leo's released a burst of spatial energy that met it.
The collision shook the entire training ground.
KRAAAAAAASH!
The protective barriers flickered.
Cracks spread across the frozen earth.
And both fighters began gathering energy for another exchange.
"Enough!"
Seth's voice cut through the chaos.
Gravity crashed down across the arena.
Leo's movement slowed.
Arthur's next step became heavier.
Before either could resist, Alex charged between them.
"He's right that's enough!"
He slammed his feet into the ground and planted himself between their weapons.
Arthur stopped his odachi.
Leo halted his blades.
The last remnants of frost and purple flames dispersed into the air.
Silence followed.
Alex looked from one fighter to the other.
"Are you both insane?"
Leo lowered his weapon.
"That depends. Did I win?"
Arthur stared at him.
"You nearly lost your footing three times."
"But did I win?"
"You were one mistake away from being flattened."
"So you're admitting I almost won."
Arthur closed his eyes.
"I regret everything."
Seth released the gravity field.
"Next time, I'm letting you two continue until you learn something."
Alex shook his head.
"No, you aren't. You'd complain for the next three years if they damaged the arena."
"I would complain for five."
Master Ren approached the centre of the training ground.
His expression was stern, but his eyes revealed a measure of satisfaction.
"Both of you have improved."
Leo rested lazily against Arthur's shoulder much to his irritation.
"Thank you, Master."
"That wasn't permission to destroy the training grounds again."
Leo's smile disappeared.
"Understood."
Arthur sheathed his odachi.
Master Ren continued.
"Leo, your evolution has improved your control and overall combat potential. Your use of your abilities is becoming more deliberate, and you've learned to adapt under pressure."
He turned toward Arthur.
"Arthur, your control and technical execution are excellent. You have made considerable progress toward the limits of your current rank."
Arthur nodded.
Then Master Ren's expression became serious.
"However, neither of you should mistake this match for a definitive ranking of your strength. Different opponents, conditions, and abilities can produce different outcomes. Your next challenge will not necessarily fight the way your opponent did today."
He looked at both students.
"Remember that when you enter your next battle."
Leo glanced at Arthur.
"So, rematch?"
"No."
"Tomorrow?"
"No."
"Next week?"
Arthur walked away.
Leo watched him leave.
"He's afraid of losing."
Sandra approached and tapped Leo lightly on the forehead.
"He's afraid of having to listen to you."
"That's practically the same thing."
She shook her head, smiling.
For a moment, the tension of their missions seemed distant.
Then Master Ren spoke again.
"Since you've all returned, there's another matter we need to discuss.."
Immediately the rest of the group gathered waiting to hear what master Ren had to say.
" The academy has received an official announcement concerning the upcoming inter-academy cultivation tournament...The Aether world summit"
Alex's head snapped up.
"Tournament?"
Matthew sighed.
"Here we go."
Master Ren ignored them.
"The competition will bring together some of the most talented young cultivators from across the Empire, its neighbouring territories ,the sovereign factions and all the academies.
Participants will be tested through several stages, including assessments of offensive power, trials demanding survival and adaptability, and individual combat."
Leo's interest sharpened.
"Individual combat?"
"Among other things. The precise arrangements will be announced closer to the event."
Arthur folded his arms.
"And the purpose?"
"Several purposes. The tournament allows participating institutions to evaluate the next generation, establish alliances, and demonstrate their strength. For the students, it is an opportunity to test their abilities against opponents they would not ordinarily encounter."
Seth's expression grew thoughtful.
"Which means we'll be facing people who have trained under entirely different conditions."
"Precisely," Master Ren answered.
Sandra glanced at Leo.
" This is definitely going to be interesting."
Leo turned to Master Ren before saying.
"So basically anyone with enough strength can enter.. and almost everyone there would be a genius."
" Yes".
" Humm very interesting indeed...
I wonder where we all would stand in such a place.."
" I have a question " leo said to no one in particular " who is the strongest in our generation?"
" Charles Le Claire, the empires Crowned prince "
The reply came from Kevin had been silent at the back.
Everyone including master Ren nodded without hesitation.
A spark of battle intent spread amongst leo, Arthur, Seth and Kevin each wondering how they would fair against such a genius.