Eugene didn't reply, his eyes lightly glancing below the ground, catching notice of his teammate's unconscious body. However, he paid it no heed—simply redirecting all his focus to Eldric.

It was all or never. It was his last chance—every other thing was irrelevant.

"How callous of you." Eldric chuckled. He raised his hand, pointing the silver sword in Eugene's direction. "Oh well, you did inherit mother's genes..."

Eugene suddenly clenched his hand tightly. His eyes turning cold. He brandished his spear as he replied with a hint of disgust.

"Don't you dare mention her, you utter filth."

"...What?" Eldric's face morphed into silent rage. He gritted his teeth, staring at Eugene's approaching figure. He forced his lips to curl up in a suffering smirk. "...You must've forgotten my posi—"

Eldric paused his words, his eyes widening in surprise. He took a step back, staring at Eugene's figure from the opposite distance.

Woosh—!

The wind calmly blew as it suddenly converged around Eugene's body. Eugene stopped, his feet on the ground, his eyes closing. He assumed an odd stance, moving his whole body with flexibility. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes once again—this time, his pupils containing unnatural tranquility within.

He had entered the realms of master once again, seeing the world in a different light.

In the realms of masters, everything near him—along with the spear was his weapon. The wind...his emissary, told him where to attack. The spear was weightless, like a feather.

"...Eldric, your status does not matter," Eugene replied coldly, his eyes staring at Eldric indifferently. He brandished his spear, moving it with precise mastery and art. "You can wear that false crown as much as you want, but in the end... you are but a temporary replacement."

Eldric stared at Eugene for a while, his eyes closing. He let out a long-suffering sigh, disrupting the tranquil calmness of the atmosphere. He chuckled, his head shaking.

"Oh, Eugene. Hahahahaha... My dear brother... unfortunately, we really do not get along well. It's really a pity."

Eugene stared at Eldric silently. Eldric returned the stare.

At that moment, both dashed in at each other—the sounds of blades clashing in against each other rang out, forming a rhythmic melody of clangs in the area.

Clang—! Clang—!

Eugene directed all his concentration in the battle. Carefully, but precisely swinging the spear in succession. His hand moved like a blur, launching never-ending attacks in different directions towards his opponents.

Clang—!

Eldric calmly blocked the attacks, his hand reacting to each swing with ease. He blocked the spear in every direction, completely deterring Eugene's advances. It was like a sparring match for him.

"In under normal circumstances, I would never lower myself to expend all my power to fight a weak Rank E..." Eldric chuckled mockingly. He manipulated the magical energy inside his body, reinforcing the sword on his hand heavily. "But... It's an exception for you, my dear brother. You officially angered me."

Eugene didn't reply, his hand moving swiftly as he attacked with the spear in all directions. His movements were getting faster and faster in each second, completely immersing himself from the battle.

Rumble—!

Eldric suddenly stomped his foot on the ground, causing a small rumble in the area. He drifted the sword in his hand. On his front, a spear suddenly appeared before him—in that instant, he moved his hand.

Woosh—!

The sword instantly appeared on the spear, blocking it from advancing. Eugene flinched, his body trembling as the spear vibrated intensely. The sword's immense force blew his body into the air, making his figure fly through the area.

Woosh—!

Eldric moved his body, instantly arriving at Eugene's body. He moved his hand, swinging his sword in a vertical arc at Eugene's body.

Woosh—!historical

Eugene tightly clenched his spear, manipulating the magical energy inside him. He landed his feet to the ground. Before the sword could touch his body, he suddenly twisted his hand as he thrusted the spear towards Eldric.

Swoosh—!

At that moment, the sword coming after Eugene stopped moving. On its blade, the shadow of a ferocious sea dragon faintly appeared, gazing at its opponent with arrogance.

Eldric smirked in arrogance, his hand stopping mid-air. He stared into Eugene's eyes directly.

In the same way as the sword, the spear suddenly stopped mid-air, the shadow of a sea dragon faintly appearing on its tip.

Eugene halted his attack, returning the stare towards Eldric. His eyes were cold and indifferent; as if nothing would ever faze him.

In that brief moment, a small deadlock occurred. But nay! It was not a deadlock—in this small exchange, both the two knew who had won and lost.

Despite looking like a tight matchup. Both of them knew that the difference in their strength was like night and day.. If Eldric manages to land a clean heavy strike over Eugene, the latter would immediately lose.

The only thing keeping Eugene in the battle was his own skill and greater speed. If somehow he loses that advantage, it was game-over for him. He would lose, without exception.

And in unfortunate circumstances, that was what exactly happened in this situation...

"I'm sure you don't need me to personally say it, right?" Eldric said, his lips curling into a smirk.

"...No." Eugene answered, his head lowering. He loosened his grip on the spear's handle. It was a deadlock—he had nowhere to go and avoid now. "Not at all."

"That's good!" Eldric brightly smiled in approval. "Then, how about you adm—"

Woosh—!

At that moment, Eugene suddenly clenched the spear tightly as he swung the spear in a vertical arc. He raised his head, staring at Eldric with a sneer.

"You..." Eldric spat out, his body leaning back as he narrowly dodged the spear. He instantly reappeared at Eugene's front, his hand moving as he swung the sword. "Father wouldn't blame me for this."

Woosh—!

Eugene widened his eyes, feeling the immense force of the sword connect to his body. His body trembled, convulsing from the pain. His mind temporarily blanked—he felt like his conscience had restarted. The moment his thoughts returned, his body was already engraved to the ground, covered by a blue orbit barrier.

...It didn't take long before the realization eventually hit him. He had lost—and failed.

'...No..'

Eugene thought in denial as he stared at the air vacantly. Before him, his older brother—standing tall with blonde hair and sapphire blue eyes, holding a striking similarity to him—glanced at him in silence.

'...It's all over.'

Eugene slowly closed his eyes, falling unconscious.

—

In the entrance, several men wearing black vested suits and black ties marched steadily. In their front, the leader of them — a bald-headed figure with an intimidating aura lead them along.

Larkinson stopped his body, his eyes glancing at the situation. In the corner parts of the area, two other students were waiting and hiding. In the near middle, two knocked down students lay on the ground.

"Ah... Head Deputy of Security," Eldric stepped out, his head bowing in respect. "I'm glad you came in speed. One of the students is in dire need of help."

Larkinson nodded, his fingers snapping. At that moment, the several men behind him moved—spreading throughout the entire area as they scurried to find the students.

"Do you have any idea what happened, Eldric?" Larkinson asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Zero. None at all." Eldric waved his hand in dismissal. "We could've asked my brother... but he's currently asleep right now."

"Hm.." Larkinson lowered his head, deep in thought. "What could have bugged the formations?"

Eldric remained silent, his body leaning over the walls as he stared at the sky. He smiled softly, his eyes closing.

At that moment, the several black vested suited men that followed earlier came back — this time carrying two fainted students on a stretcher as they stopped Infront of Larkinson.

Larkinson nodded, stepping forward as he approached one of the students. He walked towards the thin student, Ali's body. He stared at the student's body... It was charred black and veins pulsated throughout the student's skin. It was gruesome... luckily, however; the student was still alive.

Larkinson shook his head, shifting his eyes to the student's wrist. In one quick motion, he snagged the smartwatch on the student's arm.

"Let's see..." Larkinson muttered, his hand raising as he stared at the smartwatch intently. His eyes widened in surprise. "...The formation is tampered with. Something or someone messed with the formation. It was not the smartwatch bugging. Who in the hell would...?"

—No, a more alerting revelation was that there was someone that could tamper with Director Guinevere's formations...

Under everyone's gaze, Larkinson let out a long-suffering sigh. He shook his head, commanding the group of black vested men. "Take the students back to the academy, give them first-class medical aid treatment. Tell the medical staff that they need to keep the Sorcerer student alive..."

Larkinson paused for a moment, his eyes glancing towards the two other students in the area. Veena and Warringson.

"As for the group examination results... Team Eugene is officially disqualified from the exam. However, because of this accident, the academy didn't take note of... their points remain until the end."

Veena and Warringson widened their eyes in surprise. Eldric chuckled, his head shaking.

"That's all." Larkinson nodded, his back turning. "Alright, security. Hurry up. The students might die at this rate."