The academy bell rang out like a tired echo, signaling the end of another day.
Students shuffled out of the grand stone building in scattered groups, some discussing training plans for the upcoming competition, others still reeling from the surprise announcement.
Leo Aetherwind moved through the hallway with the same relaxed confidence he always carried. His robes swayed with each step, a subtle hum of mana flowing through his body as he walked, the air around him a degree warmer than it should've been. Lesser students moved aside automatically—not out of fear, but out of instinct.
Behind him, clinging like a stubborn shadow, was Roxanne Bladecrest.
Again.
She had both her arms wrapped around one of his, pressing her body slightly into him with a childlike innocence that belied the mischief in her eyes.
"Leo~," she cooed, leaning closer. "You ignored me the whole class. That's not fair."
Leo didn't slow down.
His expression was unreadable—until he suddenly turned to her, gave her a light pat on the buttocks, and said in a low, amused tone, "That's for being a distraction."
Roxanne's face immediately turned crimson. Her eyes widened, and she stepped back a half pace in flustered panic, looking around to see if anyone had witnessed that.
"Y-You did that in class! Are you crazy!?" she hissed under her breath, lips trembling between a smile and embarrassment.
Leo tilted his head toward her, a smug look curling across his lips. With two fingers, he gently lifted her chin and leaned in close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin.
"Next time you hang off me like that," he said with a slow, wicked smile, "remember there are consequences."
Roxanne's lips parted slightly as if to argue, but she couldn't bring herself to respond. She huffed, turned around, and stomped off with puffed cheeks.
"Pervert!" she shouted behind her shoulder—but her voice lacked venom. If anything, it was almost playful.
Watching the interaction from a distance, Rio Bladecrest's expression twisted.
He strode quickly toward his sister but paused in front of Leo, locking eyes with him.
There was no hiding the fury in his gaze.
He didn't say anything. He didn't need to.
The message in his stare was clear: You've crossed a line.
Leo didn't flinch. He looked Rio up and down, unimpressed. His hands slid into his pockets, and he offered nothing more than a cold smirk and a slight raise of his chin.
That expression alone was enough to ignite Rio's blood.
What can you do?
That was the unspoken insult.
It stabbed deeper than any blade.
Rio's fists clenched. His body trembled—not from fear, but from frustration. He wanted to act. He wanted to punch that smirk off Leo's face, drag his sister away, and restore the dignity of their family.
But he couldn't.
Not yet.
Leo was already in the Greater Spellroot Realm, while Rio had just recently broken into Lesser Spellroot Realm. Even if he gave everything he had, he wouldn't last a dozen seconds in a fight.
Gritting his teeth, Rio turned away and rushed off after his sister.
Leo didn't even bother to watch him go.
He simply exhaled and turned to head home.
But another pair of eyes burned with quiet hatred from the side.
Alex.
Watching everything unfold, he felt the confirmation hit him like a hammer to the gut.
So I was right… He's forcing her. Controlling her. Maybe even her family. That girl doesn't belong with him. She's just pretending, trying to stay safe under his thumb…
Alex's breathing grew shallow. His eyes narrowed.
That bastard Leo… treating her like property…
Rage and helplessness swirled inside him, forming a cocktail of toxic obsession.
I'll save her. I'll break her free from him. I'll be the one she clings to.
He tightened the strap of his sword bag and took off at a sprint toward the direction of his home.
Unlike the others, Alex wasn't just some background character. He had talent—real talent. He was already at Peak Emberborn Realm, on the verge of stepping into the Lesser Spellroot Realm. His sword cultivation had advanced to the first stage—Sword Embryo Formation, something most students hadn't even approached yet.
If I train harder, if I push past my limits, I can break through tonight.
And when I do… I'll challenge Leo. I'll defeat him. I'll take her back.
His heart beat faster just imagining Roxanne's face lighting up in admiration as he stood tall after his victory. His face flushed again—this time not from lust, but from delusional hope.
Back in the courtyard, Selena was still at the academy entrance, her arms crossed as she stared at Leo's retreating figure.
Her jaw tightened.
Her nails dug into her sleeves.
That smug, careless man.
He had taken everything from her—her first kiss, her first time, and then he had the nerve to ignore her afterward like it never happened. Like she was just a fleeting indulgence.
And now?
Now he was getting grabby with Roxanne in public?
A heat burned beneath her skin—not just anger, but jealousy.
I won't let you get away with that, she thought, eyes narrowing.
Her thoughts spiraled fast.
Tonight… tonight I'll remind you who your first woman was. I'll tie you down, suck you dry, leave you crawling by morning.
She bit her lip in frustration, then glanced down at her thighs.
Stockings… what color? Red? Black? Maybe sheer white...
She turned and marched toward the dorms.
Tonight wasn't going to be about romance.
It was about marking territory.
---
Meanwhile, Leo had already returned to his estate.
The manor stood tall with clean-cut stone walls and dark-blue tile rooftops. Well-maintained gardens surrounded it, but Leo barely glanced at the scenery as he entered through the wide double doors and headed straight to his chambers.
His expression shifted slightly as he walked.
Gone was the smug amusement. Now, his gaze was focused, thoughtful.
Inside his room, he pulled off his outer cloak and let it fall across the back of a chair.
The competition… he thought. That's the true turning point. And this time, I'm going to interfere directly.
He sat down near the window and crossed his arms.
In the original timeline, a powerful sword master—a figure from the central empire—was meant to arrive during the final stages of the competition. He was supposed to take Alex as his disciple. That moment gave Alex his rise. It made him unstoppable.
Leo's eyes narrowed.
But this time… I'll steal that moment. I'll rewrite that path. It's no longer his.
He stood up again and walked toward the mirror, glancing at his reflection.
His aura surged for a moment—strong and unwavering.
Leo had already broken through to Greater Spellroot Realm, placing him well above the average students. And with his combination of long-range and short-range offensive techniques, few could stand against him in a one-on-one match.
Yet it still wasn't enough.
His enemies weren't just academy students.
They were future warlords, heirs to ancient legacies, cultivators destined to shatter continents.
He needed more.
And he had no intention of waiting for it.
My mother… she's already at Peak Calamity Realm. And my grandfather… still hidden in seclusion, resting at Peak Archon Realm.
Leo clenched his fist.
Once he breaks through… once he reaches the Lesser Eternal Realm, I won't need to hold back anymore. I'll have the backing to destroy anyone who stands in my way.
A knock came at the door.
He turned.
Anne entered—his personal maid.
She was dressed in her uniform, soft brown eyes blinking nervously as she carried a tray with snacks and tea.
"Master Leo… your refreshments," she said softly.
Leo gave her a faint smile and walked up to her.
He wrapped his arms around her petite frame without warning, pulling her close.
Anne's face turned pink instantly. Her grip on the tray wobbled.
"I-I brought the… the fruit you like…" she whispered.
Leo took one of the snacks from the tray and popped it into his mouth, still holding her gently.
"Good girl," he said casually, sitting down and pulling her into his lap.
Anne nearly dropped the tray from the sudden move, her whole body trembling slightly, but she obediently began feeding him piece by piece, her face glowing with embarrassment.
Anne sat quietly on Leo's lap, gently feeding him one fruit after another. Her eyes were lowered, cheeks warm, and heartbeat frantic. The room was silent except for the soft rustle of her maid outfit and the occasional clink of the porcelain tray.
Leo leaned back in the chair, one arm loosely wrapped around her waist.
He wasn't thinking about the fruit.
His thoughts were deeper—focused.
I've already acquired the Demonic Physique and Succubus Physique, both high-grade inheritances… just one of those would cost entire fortunes in the outside world.
And I still haven't even awakened their full potential.
His mind turned toward the System Panel, invisible to everyone else.
> [System Points: 30,000]
> [Current Draw Cost: 2,000 points per spin]
Five chances. Let's see what fortune gives me this time.
Leo exhaled slowly.
Anne, sensing the shift in his expression, tilted her head slightly. "Master Leo? Are you okay…?"
He gave her a small nod and didn't answer.
His eyes locked inward.
> [Would you like to use 2,000 points to spin the Arcane System Lottery?]
"Yes."
> [Spin 1 – Reward: Erotic Cultivation Manual Vol.3: 'Forbidden Practices in the Forest of Lust']
Leo blinked.
"…What the fuck."
Anne flinched slightly. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, not you."
Leo rubbed his temple.
A porn book. Seriously?
He sighed and went for the second spin.
> [Spin 2 – Reward: Diaper of the Dragon Hatchling]
Leo stared blankly.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Anne peeked up at him, confused.
"Master…?"
Leo didn't respond. He just glared at the invisible system screen, as if daring it to mock him further.
A diaper? For what? Am I supposed to go babysitting dragons now?
He went for the third spin.
> [Spin 3 – Reward: Dual Toothbrushes of Destiny – Can improve kiss compatibility by 1%]
Leo's face twitched.
"This system is fucking with me."
Anne shrank slightly. "L-Lord Leo… should I step out?"
Leo shook his head, letting out a breath between clenched teeth.
"No. Just… keep feeding me."
> [Spin 4 – Reward: Ancient Radio Player – Plays nostalgic music of past lives]
"…I'm going to burn this entire system."
He rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Anne placed another slice of fruit near his lips. He took it, chewing thoughtfully, clearly suppressing the urge to punch something.
Only one spin left.
He stared at the glowing panel.
"Alright. Last one. If this is another gag item, I'm uninstalling this broken feature."
He tapped to spin.
> [Spin 5 – Reward: Divine Sword Embryo – Sealed Form (Awakenable)]
There was a sudden pulse in his core.
A golden light burst behind his eyelids, a surge of heat rushing from his chest to his fingertips.
Leo's entire body tensed.
Anne gasped as he gripped her tighter—almost too tightly.
Then Leo's voice rang out, loud and clear.
"FUCK!"
The sudden shout startled Anne so badly she dropped the tray. Fruits and plates scattered across the floor.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to—!"
But Leo wasn't angry at her.
He stood up, pulling her up with him into a sudden tight embrace.
His eyes gleamed with fire and disbelief.
"Anne," he said, voice deep with excitement, "Do you know what I just got?"
She blinked rapidly. "N-No?"
Leo grinned from ear to ear, a look of rare thrill overtaking his usually composed face.
"The Divine Sword Embryo. A true-tier artifact foundation. It's beyond rare—it's myth-grade."
Anne looked stunned.
"T-That sounds important…"
"It is," Leo said firmly. "With this, my sword cultivation can match or even surpass Alex's path. His entire future was built around sword mastery. Now I've stolen the key to his growth."
He looked down at her again and pulled her into a sudden kiss—not with the hunger of lust, but with genuine joy.
Anne squeaked, her body stiffening for a moment before melting against him.
When he pulled away, her face was red all the way to her ears.
"I-I… I don't understand… but I'm happy if you're happy…"
Leo smirked.
"Stay with me for a bit."
He sat back down, placing her gently back onto his lap. His arm wrapped around her waist with more care this time.
The tray lay forgotten on the floor.
His eyes now sparkled—not from luck, but from clarity.
With the Divine Sword Embryo, my mid-range offense will become even more refined. If I sync this with my existing long-range mana constructs and close-range burst forms… my versatility will overwhelm anyone below the 3rd realm.
He leaned back.
Alex… your fate is no longer yours alone. The system may play tricks, but even it hands me gold between the garbage.
His gaze turned toward the distant horizon visible from his window.
The competition will be mine. And the mysterious sword master who arrives to find you? I'll make him choose me.
No more following the plot.
Now… I write it.
---
[End of Chapter 62]
---
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