Ancient Imperial Calendar Year 1809
A week had passed since the arena incident. Ricardo had rapidly become popular among the students.
For a week, the only topic that the boys and girls had been talking about was Ricardo.
Many people wanted to meet Ricardo and learn how he was so strong.
As a result of this process, Ricardo gathered all the students on the first floor into his group and surpassed his two brothers who were his age in the battle for the throne.
In the dead of night, Ricardo was lying in his bed, lost in thought, like a victorious commander who had achieved his goal.
"The first step of my plan is complete."
Ricardo had shocked his class by manipulating Tristan with magic, forcing him to harass Marilin, and then killing him in front of everyone. He had gained popularity throughout the Academy by defeating monsters in the arena and had managed to form his own group.
"Good. From now on, I have to train my group and strengthen myself as well as them. I can already see my brothers Ferlas and Karlmen as defeated, but showing my other brothers that I am already a threat was a bit dangerous. But I don't care. These kids are nothing but scarabs compared to the enemies in my previous life."
Ricardo woke up a few hours later. He heard the footsteps of a few students and drew his sword.
"Have I scared my brothers' assassins that much in the first few months?"
As the footsteps slowly approached his room and they started to push on his door, he was sure they were assassins. As he prepared to shed some blood with his sword, he remembered the rules of the academy: duels, tests, and murders outside the arena are forbidden except for self-defense.
"Hmm, right. The rules. Then, they should attack first."
Ricardo sheathed his sword with a slight smile on his face and waited for his opponents to enter the room. When the doors opened, two students entered with poison-coated daggers in their hands. Seeing Ricardo with a huge, terrifying smile on his face was enough to terrify them.
Ricardo thought of provoking his opponents to attack.
"What's wrong? Did you freeze, you motherfucking bastards?"
Unable to tolerate this provocation, one assassin went crazy.
"It's better to die than to be left under these words."
He said and attacked. Ricardo drew his sword and took his position.
"Now, this is self-defense."
Ricardo shattered his opponent's dagger with a single move, then punched him hard in the stomach. The assassin lost his breath, took deep breaths, and coughed violently. The other assassin lost his courage and tried to escape, but Ricardo caught the escaping assassin in a split second with his acceleration spell, threw him into the room, then closed the door and created a soundproof barrier around the room so that no one else could hear.
When the two assassins looked at Ricardo, they saw an expression on his face that said, "You're finished now." Ricardo cracked his fingers, fixed his hair, and looked at the assassins.
"If I were you, I would start bawling."
The assassins stood up and took positions for battle. Ricardo had expected this.
"I thought so too. Do you know what a Turvig proverb says? 'Beat those who don't understand words.' It is a very beautiful and meaningful saying."
After these words, Ricardo started punching the assassins quickly and hard. He punched them so much that he landed seven or eight blows per second. Both assassins fell to the ground.
"I really wonder which stupid brother of mine sent these two pieces of garbage."
Ricardo turned his aura into a rope and tied the assassins, then used a healing spell to heal them both and cast a water spell to wake them up, pouring cold water over both of their heads. The two assassins woke up in shock.
"W-what's going on?"
Ricardo grabbed both by the head.
"It seems you've come to your senses."
Ricardo took his desk and sat across from the two.
"I won't drag this out. Which brother sent you? Don't even think about loyalty, this or that nonsense. I put a soundproof spell on the room. I'll torture you both until morning, and no one would be able to hear you."
When the young assassins heard the word torture, like a cat that spilled milk, they started telling everything.
Ricardo thought, "Haaa, I thought they'd at least resist a little, idiots."
"Alright, let's review what we learned. Ferlas sent these two idiots. My mother said Ferlas was extremely jealous and couldn't stand anyone who was even slightly better than him. Apparently, my success in the arena and the attention he wanted being drawn to me had driven him crazy. Anyway, on the bright side, I have an excuse to get rid of him."
Ricardo looked at the two on their knees, trembling with fear. Both of them had dark blood-red hair and eyes, just like the rest of the academy. They were also his descendants.
"It is out of the question for me to leave those who tried to kill me alive. But killing my own grandchildren..." he thought to himself.
"What should I do? If I kill them, I won't receive any punishment for defending myself. On the other hand, if I want to ascend to the throne, I will eventually have to kill my brothers as well."
When the assassins saw Ricardo's indecisive state, they thought they had a chance to survive.
"PLEASE FORGIVE OUR LIVES, YOUNG LORD!"
"WE BEG YOU, FORGIVE US!"
"WE WILL DEVOTE OUR ENTIRE LIVES TO YOU, BE YOUR LOYAL DOGS—"
With one move, Ricardo cut off both their heads. No more words were needed.
"I knew that such things would happen the day I decided to join the throne war. I can't act like a child. Not when the God of Heaven and Earth has given me a new chance."
Ricardo lifted the silence spell, destroyed the aura ropes that bound the headless corpses, and left the room to call a Master.
The next day, everyone was talking about the assassination attempt. Although Ferlas, the perpetrator of the incident, denied it, everyone believed Ricardo due to his popularity. Ricardo was making moves to provoke Ferlas through his men.
Ferlas was furious and had lost a few of his men.
"Bastards! The day I take over the dynasty, I will wipe out all of you! I will slaughter your families before your eyes!"
As he passed by, he heard a few people talking.
"Young Lord Ferlas assassinated Young Lord Ricardo and failed."
Another person said,
"Well, if he's going to do this, why didn't he give the job to someone who could do it properly?"
Another person said,
"With this intelligence, how will he take over the dynasty?"
Hearing these words, Ferlas drew his sword.
"You bastards! How dare you talk about me like that? Do you want to die?"
The children there drew their swords to protect themselves, but there was no sign of fear in their eyes.
"Did we lie? You're not even worth a fingernail compared to Young Lord Ricardo."
Ferlas could not tolerate these words any longer. He attacked those in front of him. His sword, swung in anger, was repelled by someone else's sword.
"You want to kill me, brother? Come on, kill me if you can."
Ferlas's face was red with anger. Increasing the intensity of his attacks, gathering all the aura in his body into his sword and strengthening his arms with his mana, he tried to kill Ricardo, swinging his sword. He struck Ricardo's sword hard and fast.
Ricardo was not going to let Ferlas kill him either. He transferred enough aura to his sword to withstand Ferlas's aura. He strengthened not only his arms but his entire body with his mana, evading all of Ferlas's blows.
Ferlas's power was slowly starting to wear out. The first-year students surrounded them and watched what was happening with curious eyes.
"Do you see, Ferlas? All these people have gathered to witness your death. Be happy, because you will not die alone."
Ferlas stood up with his last strength and prepared for a finishing move.
"I did not survive all those assassination attempts to die at your hands. I swore to my mother, my master, and the others that no one would be stronger than me. No one can be stronger than me."
Ricardo made a mocking face.
"Hahaha, are you stupid? In this whole world, do you have any idea how many people have done what you did at this age, while they were still in their cradles? You would have sent my assassin to all of them, just like you sent one to me."
Ferlas went crazy after these words and attacked Ricardo. Ricardo added more aura to his sword, cast an acceleration spell, and made his first and last attack. Everything happened in seconds. Ricardo was behind Ferlas. Those who saw it couldn't believe their eyes.
"What happened? Wow, he was so fast."
Ferlas's stomach was cut from one end to the other. He fell to his knees and complained that he didn't want to die. Ricardo stabbed Ferlas's sword into his heart to end his pain and killed him right there.
The Academy Masters arrived at the scene. Without saying anything, they lifted the body and cleaned the blood that had splattered on the ground with magic. Turning to the curious eyes watching them in the square, they said,
"Everyone will be interrogated. Don't even think about running away."
When the investigation was over, the Masters made a final statement:
"Ferlas attacked to kill his brother Ricardo. Ricardo killed his brother while defending himself. The incident was recorded as Self-Defense. The student Ricardo will not be punished. Disperse."
As a result of this incident, one person was removed from the throne wars, leaving nine people.
That night, Ricardo called his childhood friend Marco to his room. When Marco entered the room, Ricardo covered the room with mana and created a soundproof area so that the conversations could not be heard by anyone from outside. Ricardo went straight to the point.
"Marco, I have almost taken control of the first classes. I want you to assassinate my brother Karlmen, who is the only obstacle in my way."
Marco was a little surprised by what he heard.
"Young Lord, I understand your request, but I do not think I am suitable for such a task that requires silence and meticulousness."
Ricardo stood up.
"Come here, Giskar."
The surroundings suddenly become pitch black, then the darkness disperses and Ricardo's contracted Shadow Spirit Giskar appears.
"It's been a long time, Sir."
Ricardo smiled slightly when he saw Giskar, whom he hadn't felt the need to call for a long time.
"It's been a long time, my old friend. I want you to meet someone. This is Marco, my childhood friend. Marco, this is my contracted Shadow Spirit, Giskar."
Marco saw a Spirit for the first time in his life. He stood up in surprise and admiration.
"I'm seeing a Spirit for the first time. This is even more wonderful than I imagined."
Giskar was thrilled with the young man who praised him. "Hm, they seem to get along well," Ricardo thought.
"Okay, guys, look here. I'm explaining the details of the operation. Giskar is a professional in hiding and research. Even if you kill someone in front of hundreds of people with him, no one can see you or Giskar. However, as a Spirit, you cannot kill anyone, you are aware of this. I don't want you to kill him anyway. Just hide Marco, that's enough."
The plan made sense to both of them. They nodded in agreement and took action.
Giskar made Marco invisible with his Spirit Art. The two secretly entered Karlmen's room. Giskar covered the room with dark energy. This Spirit Art was a technique similar to the spell Ricardo used to soundproof the room. Marco drew his sword and approached Karlmen with slow, silent steps. Just as he was about to stab his sword, Karlmen woke up. Marco tried to stab his sword, but Karlmen cast a wind spell and threw Marco off him.
"Who are you? Did Ricardo send you?"
Marco quickly got up from where he fell.
"You don't need to know. You're going to die anyway, Young Lord Karlmen."
Karlmen drew his sword, transferred his aura to his sword, and then spread his aura to his body and tried to make armor while Marco attacked. Giskar pulled a curtain over Karlmen's eyes with his Shadow Art. Blinded for a moment, Karlmen went into shock.
"I can't see! What's going on?"
Marco didn't miss the opportunity. He stabbed Karlmen in the heart with his sword. While Karlmen was taking his last breath in pain, Giskar secretly took Marco to Ricardo's room. After they arrived at his room, Marco knelt.
"My Young Lord, I have completed my duty and removed all evidence."
Ricardo stood up from where he was sitting, put his hand on Marco's shoulder, a proud smile on his face.
"You did a great job, Marco. With this, I will have control of all the first classes, while the upper classes will be divided among themselves. Marco, if there is anything you want, let me know, and if I can, I will give it to you."
Marco bowed his head.
"My Lord, when you become the head of the Dynasty in the future, take my sister as one of your wives."
Ricardo's mood darkened.
"If I were to marry Marilin, Marco, you know where this would end up, don't you? There will come a time when their sons will be targeted by assassins. They will watch their sons die. Do you realize what Marilin, who is so emotionally affected by the deaths of her relatives, will become when her own child is killed?"
Marco didn't know what to say when faced with these words. He only wanted his sister to marry Ricardo, who would be the next Dynasty Lord. However, when faced with these words, he was slowly starting to give up on this dream. When Ricardo realized that he could finally convince Marco to give up, he reached out his hand and said:
"Stand up, my friend. If you have another request, don't hesitate to say it. I also value Marilin; that's why I'm drawing a line between us anyway. It's getting late. Go to your room. Giskar will secretly take you to your room. Get some rest."
Marco stood up and greeted his Lord. Giskar used his Spirit Art to make Marco invisible and escorted him to his room. Ricardo put on comfortable clothes and went to bed.
"Two brothers. Two grandchildren from my own lineage. So, it seems my destiny is to be the killer of my grandchildren, huh?"
As his eyelids closed and he slowly fell asleep, another bloody day at the Blood Academy had ended, and a new one was coming.