Path of the Extra

Kai felt a chill run down his spine as he instinctively leaped forward.

Spinning around, he realized his back had collided with something cold—a wall of ice.

He hadn't even noticed when the wall had formed, nor had he sensed any mana fluctuation from Azriel.

Kai's face grew grim as he quickly turned to face Azriel again, but before he could react—

Cra...Crackle—!

"Gah!"

Without warning, Azriel's fist slammed into Kai's solar plexus, sending him flying back into the ice wall, which shattered upon impact.

Crack—!

Kai stumbled towards the edge of the arena, crashing into the wall as students above looked on in shock.

Bam—!

Most of the spectators were first-year students, either barely awakened or still dormant.

All they saw was a streak of red lightning where Azriel had stood, followed by Kai crumpling to the ground, gasping for breath, his body wracked with violent coughs.

"He must be serious..."

Lumine remarked.

Celestina shook her head, her gaze fixed on Azriel, who stood coldly watching Kai struggle.

"He isn't."

Yelena and Lumine looked at her in confusion, while Nol, oblivious, continued watching Azriel with a bucket of food in hand, like a child engrossed in his favorite movie.

'His face isn't the same as it was at the banquet.'

Celestina thought, recalling the duel with Caleus.

This time, his expression wasn't blank.

'He's not suppressing his emotions.'

"...He's just toying with Cadet Kai."

*****

Step—!

Each step Azriel took echoed through the arena, drawing the attention of every spectator.

Step—!

No one wanted to miss his next move.

Step—!

When Azriel arrived in front of Kai, who was breathing heavily on his hands and knees, he simply looked coldly down at him.

He didn't attack. He didn't move. He just stared down at Kai.

The students watching were puzzled.

Why wasn't Azriel finishing him off?

It was clear Kai couldn't continue—he hadn't even had a chance to draw a weapon.

Azriel had reduced him to this state with a single punch.

It was also strange that the instructors hadn't called the match yet.

Kai, finally stabilizing his breathing, looked up at Azriel and glared.

"...Who was it?"

"What?"

Azriel remained unaffected by Kai's tone and asked again.

"Who told you to lie using my name?"

Kai gritted his teeth at the question.

"I don't kno—"

"Listen."

Azriel suddenly interjected.

"I'm giving you a chance here. Tell me the name, and I won't do anything to you. But make no mistake, I'm not afraid to get blood on my hands. No instructor will stop me until you either surrender—which you're too prideful to do—or until I beat you unconscious."

Azriel narrowed his eyes.

"And if you don't comply, I will make sure you end up in the infirmary... slow and painfully."

Kai merely grinned, flashing his teeth at Azriel.

"You said it yourself... I'm too prideful, so why the hell would I sell out his name?"

Azriel raised his eyebrows in curiosity.

"His?"

Kai's grin faltered as he realized his mistake.

'Unfortunately, I can't harm him too much...'

Normally, the instructors would have ended the duel by now, but since Azriel was both an apex and a prince, they were probably giving him some leeway.

Besides...

'I already know who it was anyway.'

Azriel didn't really need to hear the name from Kai's mouth since he had figured it out before even stepping into the arena.

What he was doing now was simply trying to rein Kai in.

'He could become an important asset in the future.'

That's why he wouldn't kill him outside the academy, even if Kai didn't give him the name.

Azriel, though concerned about his tarnished reputation and trying to rebuild it, wouldn't take a life over something like this.

But this was a good opportunity to get Kai under control.

Azriel crouched down, leaning in to whisper in Kai's ear.

"I could take your life the moment you step outside the academy. You know that, right?"

Kai's face hardened.

"Then I simply won't step outside the academy."

A smile appeared on Azriel's face.

"Have you forgotten about the Void Dungeon trip next week? We won't be on academy grounds then."

"...You still can't do anything. The instructors there won't let you."

Kai continued.

"Academy grounds or not, I'm still a student, and we're technically under the protection of the instructors."

Azriel's smile widened.

"Do you think you'll be under protection the entire time? Do you think the instructors will hold your hand 24/7 in the Void Dungeon? Tell me—do you want to take down Void creatures and get stronger, or would you rather hide behind an instructor's back, paranoid, not knowing when I'll come for you for the rest of your life?"

Kai hesitated, clearly troubled by the choice.

"You're a cadet wanting to be a hero. Don't let your pride rob you of that opportunity. I don't resent you and will simply let you go after you give me his name."

Kai looked into Azriel's eyes.

"You promise?"

Azriel nodded.

"You have my word."

After a few moments of silence, with the students watching in confusion, the stillness was abruptly broken.

"His... name is—"

"Seriously, I didn't think you'd bend under the pressure. Color me impressed!"

A voice suddenly cut through the arena.

Thud—!

Azriel turned to see the source of the voice landing gracefully in the arena.

The newcomer wore the academy uniform and had onyx eyes and obsidian black hair tied in a ponytail that reached his shoulders.

A wry smile was plastered on his face as he gazed at Azriel.

"Honestly, I might have underestimated you, Prince Azriel. Who would have thought you'd go this far? I assumed you wouldn't even enter the arena."

The students nearby exchanged puzzled looks and murmured among themselves about the new arrival.

"What's going on here?"

"I have no idea. Who is that guy?"

"Don't tell me the Apex is going to fight him now too."

"Wait, isn't that..."

Kai, visibly paling, managed to stand up with unsteady legs and took a few slow steps back.

This was something one wouldn't expect from a rank 9 student.

Azriel gave Kai a brief glance before turning his attention to the approaching student.

'He must have broken his pride.'

The newcomer stopped an arm's length away from Azriel, their faces now close.

The arena fell silent once more.

"...Vergil."