Isbilun family’s head and ten other people were sitting in the Headmaster’s chambers. They were served tea, but it was getting cold as they had not touched it.

"Headmaster, our family has regularly contributed to the academy’s development with donations, as well as other minor things." The Isbilun family head’s eyes held contained fury, but his voice was composed. "And now, my son is dead here."

The Headmaster sighed. "I understand your pain. But I am not lying. The student who killed your son is not here."

"Don’t try to hide or protect him, Headmaster." The Isbilun family head’s jaw clenched. "Otherwise, I will make sure this academy is razed to the ground even if it costs my life!"

The Headmaster’s eyes narrowed coldly.

But then he ruefully smiled and spoke. "I am not lying. However, that student will be here soon. The academy has decided to take its hands off this matter."

"You can wait in the arena for him."

The Isbilun family head and the others were surprised.

"Are you sure we can believe you?" the Isbilun family head asked with a frown.

The Headmaster took a sip from his teacup. "I have no reason to lie to you. The student himself wishes to settle the score and told the academy that he would handle this matter himself."

Suddenly, he looked up. "It seems he is here. Well, you can head to the arena now. I don’t want any damage occurring to the structures, or I may have to get involved."

The Isbilun family head and the others stood up. "Fine."

"Let’s go."

Meanwhile, Rudrean and Aelira landed on the mountain. Putting the spaceship back into the storage ring that Rudrean got from Isalyn, both of them flew towards the Headmaster’s pavilion.

The Headmaster saw the duo and blinked. ’Strange... they feel significantly stronger. But they just acquired an Arcane Path.’

"You came back fast." The Headmaster nodded. He did not ask them about their Arcane Paths. "Well, the Isbilun family is here. They are here with eleven Foundation Stage experts."

"Eleven ants, you mean." Aelira grinned as she rubbed her fist. "Because they will be crushed just like ants against us. That’s how powerful our Arcane Paths are."

Rudrean nodded. "Where are they?"

"At the place where you killed Renok. I’ve just notified the students to gather there again." The Headmaster smiled with anticipation and stood up. "Give us a good show."

The trio left and arrived at the arena.

All the students and seniors were gathered again.

Soon, the Headmaster arrived and took his seat as well.

Rudrean and Aelira arrived a few seconds later as all eyes turned toward them. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The Isbilun family head looked at them and recognized Aelira. When he looked at the young man next to her, his eyes turned murderous. ’So it’s him.’

The Isbilun family head did not have any siblings, so all people under him were those he had found and nurtured.

Out of eighteen Foundation stage experts, ten were here with him.

And all ten of them had Arcane Paths, but since none of them had ever entered a secret realm, they only had one slot filled.

However, the Isbilun family head had all four of his slots filled since he had gone into a secret realm one time by paying a good chunk of resources to a guild that had access to a secret realm and acquired several runes in one trip.

Rudrean and Aelira did not waste time and directly landed in the battle ring.

Cracking his knuckles, Rudrean indifferently said, "Whoever wants revenge, you may start."

The Isbilun family head took out a chair from his storage ring and sat down, fuming with anger as he commanded, "Break both of their limbs and bring them to me!"

The ten powerhouses entered the battle ring.

"Just a couple of kids, heh. Leave them to me." A bald man with a dragon tattoo took out a machete from his storage pouch, a lesser version of a storage ring with a smaller space.

His weapon glinted with shining gray lines, and mana surged through his body as he used Magic Suit, Body Enchant, and Expert Eyes.

In one blink, he vanished from his spot as the ground cracked where he had stood before.

In the next moment, he arrived next to Rudrean, his machete going for Rudrean’s knees, aiming to cut them at once.

’Wow, he’s so slow,’ Rudrean thought. ’Or I am just too fast now because of +100% action speed? Does this also include thought speed? Insane.’

Rudrean turned his head toward the man, looking at his eyes.

The machete was still far from reaching his knees in Rudrean’s perspective.

So in the meantime, Rudrean grabbed the bald man’s head.

The machete was still ten centimeters away from hitting Rudrean’s knees.

But before it could, flames burst out of the man’s eyes, nose, and ears, and in the next moment, the flames enveloped him entirely.

His Magic Suit barely protected him for half a second before he turned into a literal pile of ash right where he had stood.

The machete fell with a dull sound.

While everyone was in a complete daze, dumbfounded at what had just happened, Aelira spoke words that echoed loudly in the silence.

"Infernal Phalanx."

A massive magic circle ignited behind her. Dozens of fiery sigils layered over one another, rotating in opposing directions as molten-red light surged upward.

From those sigils, spears of condensed infernal flame erupted.

Each spear locked onto a target.

The remaining nine powerhouses reacted instantly.

"Defend!"

Magic Suits flared. Arcane Paths activated. Some leapt back, some rushed forward, some raised barriers.

But it was too late.

The first volley descended.

BOOM!

One man barely managed to raise a barrier before three spears pierced through it like paper and impaled his torso, burning him from the inside out. He screamed for less than a second before collapsing into charred remains.

Another twisted his body mid-air, dodging two spears, only for a third to curve unnaturally and punch through his spine. His body locked, then erupted in flames.

A third tried to sprint out of the ring. He made it three steps.

A spear dropped from above and nailed him to the ground.

"NO—"

BOOM!

Gone.

Two of them grouped, combining their defenses.

For a moment... they held.

Then five spears struck at once.

The shield shattered.

Their bodies followed.

Another tried to counterattack, launching a blade of energy toward Aelira.

It never reached her.

Three spears intercepted it mid-air, obliterating the attack before continuing forward and tearing him apart.

Half his body was gone, his Magic Suit flickering as he crawled, his eyes wide with terror.

"H-Help... I—"

A final spear descended.

Silence.

Ash drifted through the air.

"W-what the fuck?!"

"Insane!"

"I am not dreaming, right?!"

"What the fuck is that spell?!"

"Shooting homing spears that fast...f-fuck, how strong they are?!"

"All of them turned into ashes within two seconds of getting struck."

"The spears blow insane heat and flame into the target. They are fucking dead before they die..."

"What are you saying?"

Uproar ensued among the students.

’Strong! Insanely strong! Why are their parameters already in the realm of Core Genesis?!’ The Headmaster was shocked. ’That reaction speed of Rudrean, Aelira’s cast speed, and their magic power shouldn’t be that high... unless their Arcane Paths gave them that boost, but that’s...’

The academy’s Arcane Paths gave a boost of 20% to all parameters at most, and the first rune also didn’t give any sort of boost, just different active effects.

But the Arcane Paths of these two seemed to have...he couldn’t even guess.

Suddenly, Rudrean stretched his hand, pointing his finger at the Isbilun family head. "You’re the last one. Let’s finish this feud."

A small magic circle formed above the Isbilun family head and another right below his feet as he snapped out of his shock and quickly stood up.

"W-wai—"

BEEEEEEEEEE!

Before he could finish the first word, a pillar of crimson beam instantly increased the temperature of the surroundings and enveloped the Isbilun family head for one full second.

In the next second, the magic vanished... and so did the man.

Not even ashes remained.