Mart walked through the corridors of the Academy. The atmosphere was even worse than before, because the Republican Council had sent the recruited troops to the borders. Many were suffering because their relatives were among those recruits.

Mart knew a little about the matter because every time he practiced his cursed arts, he could hear the murmurs coming from the students' negative emotions. Although there was little negative energy capable of being refined into cursed energy, he preferred not to do so because he had read that he should listen to the negative murmurs until he consumed the cursed energy he had refined.

"I think it could be worse, if Isirid's grandfather hadn't announced that the Academy students had the right to abstain from participating in the war. In the end, he assured them that they would have his backing as Director and the support of some executives," Mart continued walking calmly, still thinking of ways to further hone his skills. He did not seclude himself because classes had not yet ended and he did not know how serious the war would be.

"Although the hero only grew exponentially stronger after graduating from the most prestigious academy in the Venrac Empire, I can no longer even consider him the only threat. I have also changed so many things that the humans and demon conspirators must have already taken action. Nothing suggests that chaos will begin earlier than expected or much later," were Mart's thoughts as he entered his room. He then went to the bathroom to shower and get ready to attend Academy classes.

••••

As the weeks passed, in the Human Empire, news of the war had become routine, leading humans to believe that the empire had the war under control.

...

At the Alexandrian Academy, Arian had spent his time consolidating his power until he reached the middle level of the second Spiritual Core.

For the professors, Arian was a prodigious student, worthy of entering Class A. However, to achieve this, he had to reach at least the high level of the second Spiritual Core. There were also professors who acted professionally when instructing him but avoided talking to him too much, as they did not forget that Arian was a fallen noble descended from a family destroyed by treason when the head of that family was accused of making a demonic pact with demons due to his ambition for power.

The situation regarding Arian's reputation had become a sensitive issue after war broke out on the border. Even so, despite the whispers and the dismissive treatment, he remained focused.

"Why don't you mind?" Mina asked Arian as they sat chatting on a bench under a tree that provided pleasant shade.

Arian took a bite of the sandwich he had bought at the cafeteria and then replied casually:

"It bothered me a little when I was in the orphanage, but then I got used to it and decided to move on. Luckily, despite his gloomy and solitary attitude, the director of the orphanage was very good at giving advice."

Mina sighed and then began to drink fruit juice from an elegant container.

When Arian finished eating his sandwich, Mina took Arian's bandaged hands and used some mid-level healing magic spells to soothe the wounds on Arian's hands.

"You need to be more careful when you train," she said.

"Yeah, you always say that," Arian replied in a gentle tone.

"Yeah, and it seems like you never listen to me," Mina added.

The two talked for a while until recess was over and they both returned to their respective classes.

••••

With only three hours to go before sunset, under a cloudy sky, the commanders of both sides watched the chaotic battles unfolding on the battlefield, above all, so as not to underestimate their enemies, because they knew that in an instant, a surprise and unexpected attack by an enemy in the midst of war could change the course of events.

...

Amidst the chaos.

Footsteps echoed on the floor stained with blood, flesh, and human and demonic debris.

Bang!

Cut!

Blood!

Amidst the chaos, a group of humans consisting of a wizard, a sturdy warrior, a swordsman, and a female wizard maintained their formation with great skill, all the demons that approached falling at the hands of spells and magical cuts.

"Warrior, stay alert, on the left!" exclaimed the wizard, who was using his magical perception to visualize the environment and thus guide his companions efficiently.

The warrior raised his shield to block a demonic spear that had pierced the formation after a demonic spell destroyed one of the magical barriers created by the group's sorceress.

The whole group seemed optimistic. They had survived for three days and received their rewards, and they avoided being too reckless, giving them a solidity that stood out among so many demon warriors and inexperienced sorcerers.

But those three days were not in vain. The assassins who were in charge of efficiently evaluating those rising talents set their sights on them.

The level of power of the wizard who led the group was low, and he was unable to perceive the swift demonic dart that struck his neck.

After feeling the sting, the human wizard saw a shadow receding, after which a pimple filled with a greenish substance grew on the wizard's neck, then on other parts of his neck. He quickly took a low-level magic potion that served as an antidote for weak poisons, but in this case, it only accelerated the reaction to the poison in his body.

Bang! Bang!...

Several pimples burst, leaving hollow, bleeding wounds on the wizard's body.

The sorceress was shocked to see her leader writhing on the ground. It didn't take long for the solid formation to break, and they all ended up dying after killing a few demons.

...

When the sun went down, the fighting had ceased on some battlefields. In others, they continued, but the result was almost the same: death and more death, and bodies of humans and demons that would not receive a proper burial.

That same night, through a magical communication crystal, Superior Commander Olbert Venzick ordered the commanders under his command to prepare for an immediate meeting.

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