Page 107

With the Goddess’s Wings, Isabel unleashed her ultimate technique.

A clash of the finishing moves: my Dragon Transformation combined with Lightning Caller versus hers.

After the collision of the two ultimate techniques,

Amid the thick smoke, Isabel and I faced each other.

The electricity forming my body dissipated.

Clang!

My horns and wings shattered and scattered.

The Dragon Magic Engraving forcibly dispelled my Dragon Transformation, suppressing the remnants of the Ancient Dragon.

Dragon Ascension is a risky technique for me.

If I'm not careful, I might fully turn into a dragon.

That’s why I must suppress the remnants of the Ancient Dragon even after using it.

As I caught my breath, my gaze fell on Isabel.

The Goddess’s Wings behind her were disintegrating.

“You hesitated to give it your all, didn’t you?”

Isabel flinched at my words.

When Isabel summoned the Goddess’s Wings, hesitation flickered in her eyes.

We are rivals.

But rivalries can take many forms.

Our relationship was one where Isabel challenged me, and I accepted her challenges in return.

As I mentioned before, our relationship is ambiguous.

It’s hard to clearly define what we mean to each other.

That’s why she unwittingly thought and wondered:

If she were to defeat me today, would this relationship break irreparably?

She feared losing her purpose and experiencing the same emptiness she felt the day she lost Lucas.

That fear made her hesitate, even as she summoned the Goddess’s Wings.

“Isabel, are you starting to understand now?”

So, I made sure Isabel saw it clearly.

Even with the awakening of the Goddess’s Wings,

I would not be defeated.

“No matter what you do, I won’t back down.”

That’s why I went all out, even using Dragon Ascension.

If I hadn’t, Isabel’s uncertainty would have never gone away.

Isabel stared at me with dazed eyes.

“So, look carefully.”

I can never be your Lucas.

“I’m not Lucas.”

But I can become someone different for you.

Isabel.

This world isn’t made up of just Lucas.

You can live on just fine without him.

Lucas would want that too.

A proud main heroine who leads everyone on her own two feet.

Isabel Luna.

That’s the true version of yourself you need to strive for.

“I am Hannon Irey.”

To engrave it into her mind, I thumped my chest firmly.

I can never be your childhood friend like Lucas was.

But I will always be the rival you aim for.

That’s my earnest vow.

The blank look on Isabel’s face slowly faded away.

She let out a faint laugh and raised her head.

“You’re right.”

A radiant smile, as bright as ever, spread across Isabel’s face.

“You’re not Lucas; you’re Hannon.”

Perhaps she had let go of some of her burdens.

Isabel will undoubtedly continue to grow from here.

And my role is to watch over her as she does.

‘You’d think so too, wouldn’t you, Lucas?’

Having devoted my life to Flame Butterfly, the game I played after quitting my athletic career,

I left Lucas’s words behind and turned away.

The 64th-round tournament was already a mess.

The outcome was irrelevant, but I knew I’d have no more opportunities to compete.

As I descended from the arena, a man stood in my path.

With flowing blue hair, he was the Blue Tower Master, leading the Imperial Mages and Knights.

Our eyes met.

His expression held many unspoken words, but he chose to remain silent for now.

“Detain him.”

At his command, knights advanced toward me.

Their intent was sharp as blades, radiating a killing aura.

It was clear they’d execute me at the slightest provocation.

As expected of the Empire’s finest Imperial Knights.

Even the lazy genius Ban was no match for them.

I calmly extended my wrists, allowing them to cuff me with magical restraints.

Using Ancient Dragon Magic in front of everyone.

It was only natural for them to take me into custody.

The Empire needed to demonstrate its strict enforcement of the prohibition against such magic.

But looking into the Blue Tower Master’s eyes, I already knew my fate.

The curiosity in his gaze said it all.

He saw me as a fascinating specimen, unlike anything he’d encountered before.

He wouldn’t let me die—after all, Dragon Ascension was a lost magic of the transcendent sage, Zerion.

The Blue Tower Master, obsessed with magic, would never let such an opportunity slip by.

“Hahaha! Boy, you’ve really outdone yourself this time.”

A melodic voice rang out.

The White Duke approached, her hair billowing behind her.

“Your Grace, the White Duke, please keep your distance…”

When the Imperial Knight tried to stop her, she glared, her eyes icy.

“Who dares to speak to me in such a manner?”

The Imperial Knight flinched.

The overwhelming pressure from the White Duke was on a different level entirely.

“I appreciate your concern, but do not block my path.”

“…Apologies, Your Grace. I overstepped.”

The knight immediately stepped back, and the White Duke nodded, satisfied.

“Prince Sweet Potato!”

A familiar voice echoed.

Turning, I saw Seron being restrained by the knights.

She flailed in mid-air, kicking her short legs furiously.

“Let me go! Why are you taking Prince Sweet Potato away? And why the handcuffs?!”

Seron shouted, not intimidated by the Imperial Knights.

She protested, unable to comprehend the situation.

I hadn’t expected her to stand by me even in this mess.

“Prince Sweet Potato, say something! You have no reason to be taken away!”

Seron struggled and yelled, desperately trying to defend me.

Click-clack—

“You’re right.”

A sound of footsteps.

The owner of the voice was a woman with jet-black hair flowing behind her.

The 3rd Princess, Iris Hysirion.

Under jet-black hair, ruby-colored eyes glimmered.

As soon as the Imperial Knights met her gaze, they all straightened their postures.

"Greetings to Her Highness, the Third Princess."

They were the Emperor’s blades, and as such, they owed the utmost respect to the Emperor’s daughter.

And she wasn’t alone.

Sharin, the daughter of the Blue Tower Master, accompanied her.

Since her father had personally come to the arena, she had decided to follow along in an attempt to mediate the situation.

When our eyes met, Sharin let out a short sigh.

Having helped me in this matter, she had no choice but to defend me unless she wanted to be entangled further.

Unintentionally, I had dragged her into this mess.

"You've all worked hard."

Iris said as she turned to the Imperial Knights holding Seron captive.

"I’d like you to release Seron. She’s a classmate of mine."

"Understood."

At her command, the knights promptly set Seron down.

Now that her feet were finally on solid ground, Seron quietly assessed the situation.

She realized that Iris herself had stepped in to help.

Iris then turned her gaze to the Grand Duke of Raksid Anubecia.

"Your Grace, I would like to hear your account of the situation. May I?"

The Grand Duke wasn’t someone a princess could deal with lightly unless she were Emperor herself.

Thus, Iris maintained the utmost courtesy.

Even so, she couldn’t entirely mask her subtle irritation.

"Hmm, Third Princess, the matter is simple. The boy tampered with the magic of an Ancient Dragon. According to Imperial law, those who handle such magic face immediate execution."

Iris hesitated, then looked directly at me.

Her brow furrowed slightly as a sigh escaped her lips.

"…There’s a reason for this. He was trying to help me when it happened."

My eyes widened in surprise.

I never thought Iris would stand up for me in this way.

If Iris takes my side…

The Imperial Court would find it even harder to punish me.

"Hmm, I wasn’t aware of that detail,"

The Grand Duke stroked her chin, intrigued.

"So, could it be said that the boy saved your life, Third Princess?"

"Yes, that’s correct."

"Well, well. I see."

Her lips curled into a smile.

It seemed the Grand Duke had already concocted a way to defend me using the Empire's Hero Exemption Law.

With an amused look, she turned to me.

"I thought so from the moment I first saw you. A bold young man indeed."

A weight lifted off my chest.

It seemed my life was no longer in jeopardy.

"But, Third Princess, there are too many witnesses here, including those from other kingdoms. We can’t simply let this slide."

Iris recognized her words as a mere formality, realizing the Grand Duke never intended to enforce the Empire’s harshest punishments.

Relieved, her expression softened.

As the conversation ended, the Blue Tower Master turned to his daughter.

"Sharin."

"Yes?"

Hearing her father’s call, Sharin straightened her posture.

"There’s something I need to discuss with you regarding this matter. Withdraw from the individual tournament and follow me."

Caught up in the Ancient Dragon’s magic issue, Sharin had no choice but to comply.

When I gave her an apologetic look, she nodded in understanding.

"Alright, fine."

She had little interest in the tournament anyway.

Without further comment, she agreed to her father’s demand.

"Uh, uh, is… is this okay?"

Seron, still confused by the situation, stammered in disbelief.

I was taken away under escort.

Isabel, though surprised, seemed reassured by my expression, confident I wouldn’t face any real harm.

As we exited the arena, my eyes locked with someone else’s.

A woman with blue hair glared at me, her face twisted in anger.

Her name was Eve.

The Unyielding Azure Flame.

She had planned to remove the Ancient Dragon’s magic from me during this international tournament.

But she hadn’t anticipated that I’d end up being taken away like this.

Although unintentional, this had turned our confrontation into an indefinite delay.

Even if her goal of removing the magic is out of reach now…

I had etched enough questions about my existence into Eve’s mind.

Until she found her answers, she wouldn’t let me go.

I exchanged a silent farewell with Isabel and was led out of the arena.

"Your Grace, Grand Duke."

I subtly called out to the Grand Duke walking beside me.

Sensing my intent, she gestured for the knights to give us some space.

"Speak."

Her commanding presence was unwavering.

This was someone I could trust with critical information.

"There are those in the arena today who intend to harm the Saintess."

I had witnessed everything with my own eyes that morning.

The individuals plotting her assassination were all present.

The Grand Duke’s ever-present smile faded in an instant.

"Since I am being detained, I wish to provide Your Grace with a list of the culprits."

"Well now,"

She let out a sharp exhale, spinning her cloak dramatically.

"Very well. How you came by such information, we’ll discuss later."

The confidence radiating from her was unmatched.

"Let this old hero wield her sword once more."

The living legend.

The Grand Duke, Raksid Anubecia.

For those targeting the Saintess, she delivered the most crushing blow imaginable.