That was the expected assumption…

Klein was supposed to be committed to the deal to "obtain" Luna, had accepted the conditions of unconditional support for the plans, was expected to let his group be incapacitated without real resistance or even help the attackers.

The arrangement had been clear. Klein's full cooperation in exchange for the arranged marriage that would restore Goldcrest prestige and give him access to Luna and the Heart.

Simple political transaction where everyone got what they wanted.

Except Klein was supposed to stay neutral here at minimum. Was supposed to let this happen without interference.

Then why?

They'd planned to knock out one of the kids in Ren's group and use him as hostage against Zhao. Force the professor to withdraw under threat of permanent harm to students.

Standard 'kidnapping as leverage' tactics. Exploit the teacher's obligation to protect his students, use that protection as the advantage to neutralize the most dangerous opponent.

But now things looked bad thanks to Klein's shenanigans.

The eight adults who were supposed to enter from all sides to attack Zhao were hidden in the side tunnels, all with one or more feathers buried deep in flesh. Some even already incapacitated before they could even approach.

Zhao hadn't been overwhelmed. Hadn't been distracted or delayed by superior numbers. Had instead demonstrated exactly why he was considered one of the academy's best combatants, neutralizing threats with precision while somehow still monitoring the entire battlefield.

The fifteen students were crumbling under Ren's insanely versatile attacks and Klein's unexpected defense.

And Jin, the leader, the motivator, the one who'd brought everyone together and couldn't even finish his speech of righteous vengeance...

He was on the ground like a sack of beaten meat, barely conscious, definitely not operational.

'If we want to turn this around we need everyone to concentrate on bringing down fast the Hunter or that insane genius...'

The Strahlfang watcher moved forward, emerging a bit from his hiding place. He approached where Klein could hear him, his voice low but loud enough to be heard over the combat sounds.

"Your contract will break if you keep this up."

Klein ignored him, launching another phantom cut that made the earth user retreat.

"They'd given you the opportunity with Luna to recover yourself, to save your family's name from disappearing thanks to that disaster," the watcher continued, his tone taking a desperate edge. His carefully constructed political leverage crumbling as Klein continued fighting. "But if you do this, then you won't be the representative in that marriage as we agreed. Haven't you realized this was for your benefit to be able to recover the former Goldcrest territory?"

The words were meant to remind Klein of everything he was throwing away. The political alliance, the restored prestige and the access to power that came with marrying into the Starweaver family, even in a fake arrangement.

Everything they'd been working toward for months. Everything that could restore what his family had lost.

All of it disappearing with every attack he launched in Ren's defense.

A feather passed between the watcher's legs.

It cut the crotch of his pants with perfect precision, the fabric separating cleanly. The man froze, feeling cold air against the suddenly exposed skin.

Another feather passed.

It cut his ear superficially, barely grazing but enough that warm blood began dripping down his neck. The sting was sharp, immediate, impossible to ignore.

The watcher fell silent, frightened, finally understanding that Zhao had been watching him and listening to every word despite fighting everyone.

Understanding that his threats meant nothing. That his political leverage had no power here and now because Zhao could kill them at any moment if deemed necessary.

Klein roared again.

This time the sound was different. Not just his lion's battle roar. It was rage, liberation, decision made and completely accepted. No words would change that anymore.

The roar of someone who'd been holding back for months, playing political games he hated, pretending to be someone he wasn't. All of that false persona shattering in a single moment of absolute clarity.

He cut the roots holding him with his claws, despite being burned by the acidic sap the plants secreted as defense. The flesh smoked where the acid touched, skin blistering and peeling, but he didn't care anymore.

The pain was temporary... Regret from inaction would be permanent.

He advanced toward the wood user, moving faster than he had the entire fight.

The kid tried to create more root traps, panic making him sloppy. Desperate attempts to restrain Klein again failed, like this he wasn't able to reestablish control over the battlefield.

And Klein was already too close. His fist connected with the wood user's stomach, all the weight of his lion arm behind the blow.

The impact lifted the kid off his feet. Expelled air from his lungs in an explosive gasp. He fell unconscious before touching the ground, his beast fusion dissipating as consciousness fled.

Klein straightened, breathing heavy, body burning from acid damage, and screamed with everything he had:

"I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!" 'Because I'm going to trust in Ren!'

The entire tunnel seemed to resonate with the words.

The declaration echoed off the silk-covered walls, amplified by the confined space until it felt like the earth itself was shouting Klein's choice. Like reality was acknowledging the weight of this moment, this decision that would define everything that came after.

The remaining attackers hesitated, seeing the absolute determination in Klein's eyes.

Seeing someone who'd made peace with his choice. Who'd burned his bridges and was now committed completely to the path he'd chosen, consequences be damned.

And that new Klein, standing over the unconscious body of the wood user, bleeding, burned, but completely resolved, felt something he hadn't felt in months.

Peace.

He'd chosen his side not just mentally, but with actions, physically.

Had crossed the line from careful neutrality into active commitment. From political calculation into genuine loyalty. From protecting his family's interests into protecting what was right.

The Goldcrest heir had finally chosen where he stood.

And he stood with Ren.

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