Lexa and Gorgon slowly approached, though they wisely stopped several meters away. Neither of them wished to step into whatever was unfolding. Vexion stood at the center of the corridor.
The pressure pouring from her body was enough to distort the surrounding mana, making the air feel unbearably heavy. Students several dozen meters away found themselves instinctively holding their breath. Others had already retreated.
Only those confident in their own strength remained to watch.
Standing opposite her was a young man. A demon. Two dark horns emerged from his forehead before curving backward in elegant spirals, a sign of an unusually pure bloodline.
He possessed a lean yet well-trained physique. Black cargo trousers hung loosely around his waist, while intricate black tattoos spread across his bare chest like living artwork.
Despite standing before Vexion... he refused to lower his head.
Vexion glanced around. A crowd had already formed and her brows furrowed.
Damn it...
Violence inside restricted sections of the academy was forbidden, she knew that. If she continued... there was a genuine possibility disciplinary action would follow.
Ordinarily... she wouldn't have cared.
But now... she represented Dante. If she caused trouble on the very first day, it could complicate matters for him. That alone restrained her.
Even so... the rage boiling inside her chest refused to disappear.
Ever since she had devoted herself completely to Dante—her body, her heart, even her future had all become his. Another man looking at her with naked desire...even continuing after she had already rejected him...
To her, it wasn't merely disrespect toward herself. It was disrespect toward her Master.
A part of her genuinely wanted to rip every bone from the man's body before tearing his head from his shoulders. Only reason restrained her. Barely.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Lexa. Even Lexa had activated one of her skills simply to comfortably withstand the overwhelming pressure Vexion was unconsciously releasing.
Realizing this... Vexion sighed. The oppressive aura rapidly receded. The crushing pressure vanished almost instantly. Students finally gasped for air.
Many immediately decided it was best to leave, unwilling to remain any longer. Others—particularly the stronger students—stayed. Watching with obvious curiosity.
Lexa rubbed her temples.
"Seriously... It's only the first day." She looked at Vexion with complete exasperation. "Why are you and Master always attracting trouble?"
Vexion snorted.
"You say that without understanding what this idiot did. And don't blame Master. He hasn't done anything...."
Lexa sighed.
"As yet."
The mention of Dante caused the corner of Vexion's lips to rise ever so slightly. 'I miss him.'
For just a brief moment... the terrifying woman disappeared. Only a girl thinking about the man she loved remained. Then she looked back at the demon. Her expression instantly froze over once more.
Lexa asked, "So... what happened?" The demon quietly wiped the blood trickling from his nose and lips before taking a slow breath.
"This lady..." He gestured toward Vexion. "I assume her name is Vexion, as you called her."
Lexa nodded silently.
"I approached her peacefully. I asked for her name. I invited her to join the faction I'm building. It seemed wiser to gather capable people now rather than compete for members later. I merely explained the advantages."
"And then..." He spread his hands. "She attacked me, without reason."
Vexion looked at him. Her eyes were frighteningly calm. "Without reason?"
The demon nodded. "Without reason."
Vexion took one slow step forward. "I rejected you. You continued. I rejected you again. You continued. I rejected you a third time. You still continued. I fail to see where your confusion comes from."
The demon frowned. "I was only trying to convince you."
Vexion nodded once. "I agree. You were." She looked directly into his eyes. "Tell me. What part of convincing me required staring at my breasts every few seconds?"
Silence.
The demon hesitated. "...I apologize."
Vexion's expression didn't change. "And my backside? You seemed rather interested in that as well."
The demon remained silent. Lexa inwardly sighed. She had already guessed as much. Beautiful women—especially exceptionally beautiful women—would always attract attention. That was simply reality. Some would be respectful. Others... would confuse persistence for charm.
It was precisely why Dante had insisted that both she and Vexion become overwhelmingly strong. Power wasn't merely for fighting monsters. Sometimes... it was necessary simply to preserve one's own dignity.
Vexion folded her arms.
"He repeatedly ignored my refusals. He continued speaking while openly looking at my body. And after making it perfectly clear I wasn't interested... he still attempted to convince me."
The demon frowned. "I wasn't forcing you. I only wished to prove I was worthy of your attention. Worthy of protecting you. Worthy of becoming your partner."
Vexion stared at him for several long seconds. Finally... she spoke. "I have already shown you more patience today than anyone else has received from me. In another place... in another time... you would've already lost your head."
The demon's own expression hardened. "Your skill may be stronger than mine. And I chose not to retaliate, however don't mistake restraint for weakness. What happened today won't simply disappear."
Vexion's lips curved into a cold smile. "Good. Then don't wait. No ten years. No five years. No revenge later. As my Master says... if you're going to threaten someone... do it now."
She pointed toward the academy's duel arena. "Let's settle it."
The demon's face remained composed. Inside... his thoughts were anything but calm.
I barely survived that aura... She wasn't even trying. How strong even is she? She's too young to be a Sage... She's definitely not a True Sage... An Enlightened Sage? Impossible. Why would someone like that even be a first-year student?
His instincts screamed at him. If we actually fight... I'll lose. He forced himself to remain calm. "I have no interest in pointless duels."
Vexion scoffed. "Don't be a bitch."
Lexa blinked. 'Master... you've really infected her vocabulary. I need to fix that.'
Ignoring Lexa's thoughts, Vexion continued. "I already belong to someone. My heart. My mind, body and life. They are all his. I chose that willingly. So for another man to continue pursuing me after I've rejected him... isn't merely disrespect toward me. It is disrespect toward the man I have devoted everything to. My pride, principles and loyalty. You trampled on all of them."
The demon stared at her. He was confused. Angry. And felt helpless. They all mixed together. 'All I did... was tell her she was beautiful, and that I wanted her as a woman. How did this become a matter of principles?'
Beside them, Lexa silently understood both sides. Unfortunately for the demon... he was trying to judge Vexion using ordinary common sense. That had never been possible.
Vexion didn't merely love Dante. She was obsessively devoted to him. A devotion so absolute that it bordered on madness. Someone like her could never be understood through ordinary reasoning alone.