Something that had everyone in the Venzula Empire at the edge of their seats had just occurred.

Kailen Darkhaven had slaughtered the crown prince of the Venzula Empire in a death duel.

The crown prince was unrivaled at the rank 5 novice stage Transcendent level in the empire.

However, Kailen Darkhaven had killed him effortlessly and in a domineering manner.

This meant that he was unrivaled at the rank 5 novice stage Transcendent level in the Venzula Empire.

Most importantly, a war between the academy and the royal family was imminent.

There was no way the royal family would take the death of the crown prince lying down.

And with the potential Kailen Darkhaven had just demonstrated, the academy would obviously do everything to protect him.

The clashes may begin as probing and covert skirmishes. But eventually, it would evolve into a large-scale conflict between the two powers.

Who would emerge victorious? Who would crumble into the annals of history?

And most importantly, what role would Kailen Darkhaven play during this war?

Everyone was looking forward to it.

Currently, the various powers across the empire were picking sides in their head.

When the time was right, they would reveal the side they had chosen to support.

****

Contrary to what many were expecting, empress Venzula Horus was not throwing a tantrum. Neither was she angry.

She didn’t even call a council meeting with the higher ups of the royal family.

She left matters to the higher ups of the royal family and entered into seclusion.

She was not the only one who was in seclusion. Principle Luther of the Venzula Empire Academy had done the same thing.

Both knew that in the upcoming war, numbers mattered, but the strength of a single powerhouse could determine everything.

They both wanted to break into the rank 1 intermediate stage Transcendent level before the war begun.

Another news rocked the empire during this period.

A competition between the academies of the four neighboring empires and the Venzula Empire Academy was about to happen a year from now.

It would be happening in the Meridian Oceanic Empire.

This competition would be happening to determine a specific number of participants that would be entering a special natural secret realm that had been discovered a while ago.

The Venzula Empire was not the only empire rocked by this news.

The Andromis Imperium Empire, The Meridian Oceanic Empire, The Solaris Dominion Empire and the Altair Empire were equally rocked by the news.

Preparations were being made for this upcoming competition.

****

Andromis Imperium Empire Academy.

Academy Council.

Staff Residential District.

Rector’s Peak.

In a conference room in a villa.

Several individuals were seated in the hall. They all had extraordinary bearings.

These were the academy higher ups.

A beautiful vampire was seated at the head of the table.

All gazes traced towards her.

She was the Rector of the Andromis Imperium Empire Academy.

Rector Regina.

"It seems the Venzula Empire Academy is more cunning than we anticipated. To think they would resort to such methods to make sure they also secure access to the secret realm," Rector Regina chuckled.

She was not offended. Just awed at the craftiness of the Venzula Empire Academy.

Several in the room nodded as murmurs spread across the room. They all shared the same thoughts.

"What amazes me is how they discovered the secret realm. The top ten on the Imperium Fate rankings made sure to get rid of all their personnel stationed at their base 300 light years away from the secret realm. So, how was this discovery made?" someone asked.

This was a question that was dawning on everyone’s mind.

"It’s obvious they most likely had their methods. The Venzula Empire Academy cannot be looked down on," Rector Regina said. "Anyway, the fact that they found out about the secret realm, and resorted to such methods, to the point of not announcing the massacre of their students implies they know that we are responsible for the deaths of their students but they are choosing to turn a blind eye to it because of the big picture. They are choosing peace and diplomacy over conflict. We should accept their goodwill and not push their buttons."

"Indeed."

"It seems we have to let this slide."

"I agree."

Murmurs of agreement spread across the room.

"Alright," Rector Regina nodded in satisfaction. "Since we all agree with my decision, let’s decide on who will be representing us in the competition."

****

Kailen Darkhaven focused on completing academy missions, making using of principle fragment towers and secret realms for cultivation.

During his academy missions, a lot of assassination ploys from the royal family were launched at him.

However, the Morgana Assassin Syndicate, protecting him from the shadows, did not stay idle. They neutralized the assassins of the royal family.

At other times too, the members of the Morgana Assassin Syndicate sustained injuries from the assassins from the royal family.

However, they managed to stop the royal family assassins from killing Kailen Darkhaven.

Many observing these altercations between the two powers sighed.

As they had expected, it was happening.

It was only a matter of time before a full scale war broke out between the two powers.

****

Somewhere in the 9th continent of the Venzula Empire, in an alleyway, Kailen was currently surrounded by a lot of corpses.

He had just completed a very difficult academy mission.

It had been a year since he killed the crown prince.

He was currently returning to the academy, when he was ambushed by royal family assassins in this alleyway. The number of assassination ploys he had encountered throughout this one year period were countless.

Several members of the Morgana Assassin Syndicate had just slaughtered these very strong rank 6 novice stage Transcendent assassins the royal family had sent after Kailen Darkhaven.

Kailen nodded towards the Morgana Assassin Syndicate members.

"Thank you."

"Pleasure is ours, sir." The assassins nodded and disappeared into the shadows, keeping watch over Kailen.

Kailen was aware that they guarding him was out of necessity, not from a place of heroism. To them, he was a valuable ally that could tip the scales to the side of the Venzula Empire Academy in the upcoming war between the two empires.

But still, they were putting their lives on the line for him. So thanking them was not something he felt should be withheld.

He could be cold and pragmatic, but he was not emotionless and mannerless.

He stared at the corpses on the ground.

"I can’t escape this war. If I leave the academy after getting to the rank 6 novice stage Transcendent level, it won’t change the fact that I’m still the enemy of the royal family. As a matter of fact, killing me will be much easier for the royal family," Kailen mused to himself.

"Better to be allied with the academy and make use of their backing to settle scores with the royal family. After that, I can focus on becoming a rank 1 intermediate stage Transcendent level powerhouse and leave the empire for better opportunities in the chaotic region to grow stronger. For now though, I should qualify to enter this secret realm in this upcoming competition and break through to the rank 6 novice stage Transcendent level.

The competition should be starting next week. With this mission I just completed, I’m currently first ranked on the heavenly Fate rankings. Regardless of who is replaced on the Heavenly Fate rankings, my ranking will be secure."

After these thoughts, Kailen melded with the void and disappeared.

It was time to return to the academy.