In an instant, Kugo lunged forward—splitting the air with overwhelming force—his strike aimed straight at Al's exposed back.

"I don't give a damn about some baseless rumors about you! Don't think you'll walk away alive—die, brat!" he roared.

However—

BRUKK!!

A hand appeared out of nowhere, catching the blow effortlessly with a single palm.

The force dispersed through the air, rippling invisible energy across the room like a vibrating wave.

Kugo froze, his eyes widening in disbelief at what had just happened.

"W-What—?!"

He staggered a step backward, breath knocked out of him.

Meanwhile, Al—the very target of the attack—merely yawned softly.

"I suppose you couldn't stand this drama either," he murmured under his breath.

Between Al and Kugo now stood a man with neatly combed white hair, wearing a teacher's suit with a gleaming nameplate pinned to his chest.

Sebastian.

"Mr. Sebastian?!" the Principal exclaimed in shock.

Sebastian bowed politely.

"My apologies for interrupting your meeting, Principal."

He turned his gaze toward Al. For a brief moment, their eyes met—fleeting but heavy with meaning.

"However, it seems there's a troublesome situation here that requires immediate attention," he said in a cold, composed tone.

His sharp eyes locked onto Kugo.

Kugo was still stunned by what had occurred, yet his rage remained boiling. Energy flared wildly across his massive frame.

A towering man radiating scorching heat stood face-to-face with a slender man exuding icy composure.

Who is this guy? A martial artist too? Just like that brat? Why can't I sense any internal energy from him either? Are they connected somehow? No... that's impossible. But he just blocked my killing-level strike... with one hand!

Kugo's mind raced in disbelief.

"Who the hell are you?!" he barked furiously at Sebastian.

Sebastian ignored him entirely and addressed the Principal instead.

"Principal, what's going on here? Am I mistaken, or did this man just attempt to attack one of our students?"

Kugo, irritated by being disregarded, also turned toward the Principal.

"Who is he?!" he demanded.

The Principal, still shaken by Kugo's earlier outburst, snapped out of his daze under the weight of their questioning gazes.

He stepped forward nervously.

"Ah... Mr. Kugo, this is Sebastian—one of our teachers here," he explained.

"A teacher, you say?" Kugo muttered, disbelief flickering across his face. His deadly strike had just been stopped by a teacher.

The Principal nodded quickly in affirmation. Then he turned toward Sebastian.

"Sebastian, what are you doing here? Didn't my assistant tell you not to interrupt this meeting?"

Sebastian shook his head calmly.

"I was informed, just as the other teachers and staff were. However, there are important documents that require your immediate approval," he said, handing over a thick stack of files to the Principal.

"I came to report the decisions from both the Department of Education and the Police Authority. It concerns the HIHS facilities being approved as a venue for the national examinations. We're running out of time, so we'll need your confirmation as soon as possible," he explained clearly.

Then, his cold, keen eyes shifted toward Kugo.

"However, I did not expect... that your guest—who also happens to be one of our students' parents—would attempt to assault one of our pupils."

The Principal stiffened, visibly uncomfortable.

"Ah... I-I see, Sebastian," he stammered. "In that case, you may go—"

Sebastian interrupted, his voice cutting through like a blade.

"With this strange situation, I'm afraid I can't do that," he said firmly.

"This man attempted to harm one of our students, and you're simply standing there—silent, as if it means nothing. And now, you're asking me to leave? What's wrong with you, Principal?"

The Principal instinctively stepped back, his composure faltering under Sebastian's piercing words.

Behind him, Lefon and Darius also appeared tense, their expressions uneasy at Sebastian's sudden intervention.

This man... he's the talented instructor from abroad—the one sent by Alasia Foundation. Hmph... A teacher recruited by Alasia Foundation, and now he's defending that scholarship student from the same foundation. Is this really just coincidence?

Lefon thought grimly.

No... their backgrounds are far too distant for them to be connected. But why... why does this feel so strange?

Darius, too, was analyzing the scene silently.

He's a fighter too? Who exactly is this man? I think Rudi mentioned him once... praised him, even. Is he one of the school's most respected teachers?

He exhaled quietly.

Huff... lucky he came. Kugo nearly ruined everything.

Unfortunately, Kugo's murderous intent hadn't subsided in the slightest.

"You brat! If you want to live, stay out of this!" he roared at Sebastian. "This has nothing to do with you!"

His energy flared violently toward Sebastian, an intimidation attempt laced with killing intent.

But Sebastian didn't flinch—not even an inch.

"Is this arrogance and barbarity what the so-called elites are proud of? How could I possibly overlook such behavior—especially within an educational environment?" His tone remained composed, but his presence carried the weight of unshakable steel.

"You attacked an ordinary student using high-level martial arts techniques. Aren't you ashamed of yourself, Mr. Karagara?"

"Shut your mouth!" Kugo bellowed. "You have no right to lecture me!"

But Sebastian simply stood there, staring at him without the slightest trace of fear.

Kugo then took a deep breath, steadying his body as his fury boiled to the surface once more.

"So that means... you're choosing to stand against me," he said in a sharp, icy tone that cut through the silence.

The statement alone made the Principal, Lefon, and Darius freeze once again in utter shock.

Is he seriously going to cause more trouble? What an idiot! Darius cursed internally.

And without a shred of hesitation, Kugo lunged forward once more.

WOOSHH!

Black and yellow energy erupted from his body, enveloping him like a blazing storm. His hands spread wide open, fingers curled as if ready to crush his prey—a raging tiger preparing to devour a helpless rabbit.

But Sebastian… was not an ordinary man.

He moved as well.

With a motion so smooth it seemed almost effortless, he shifted his step sideways, slipping past Kugo's left arm, and seized his right arm in a swift, calculated grip.

GRAB!

Kugo's eyes widened. The movement had looked almost nonchalant, yet his arm was now completely restrained.

His feet pressed against the ground as he channeled strength into his core.

Muscles tensed along his left side as he attempted to swing his free hand, aiming straight for Sebastian's neck, which was slightly lower than his own.

The pivot of his stance shifted to his waist, his entire force concentrated into his left flank.

But Sebastian's counter was faster—precisely timed, almost as if he had anticipated every flow of Kugo's energy and motion before it even happened.

He ducked beneath Kugo's fist, his body flowing seamlessly like water, and then swept his leg low, targeting Kugo's now unstable footing.

THUD!

Kugo realized the danger and tried to leap backward, but it was too late.

Sebastian's grip on his right arm was unyielding—unyielding like steel forged in divine fire. The moment Kugo lost his balance, Sebastian capitalized instantly.

With a powerful twist, he pulled and rotated the man's arm sharply—

BRAKK!!

Kugo's entire body was slammed to the floor with brutal precision.

"Arghhh...!" he cried out in pain.

At that very moment, Sebastian released his hold, only to follow up immediately with a kick—one that struck Kugo's abdomen like a hammer blow, the casual swing of a man kicking a ball across a field.

BAM!

Kugo's body shot backward, crashing violently into the side wall. The impact was enough to make the air tremble, enough to hurt his body—and even more so, his pride.

The mighty martial artist, humbled—tossed around like a ragdoll by a literature teacher.

BRUGH!!

The crack of the wall echoed sharply, the sound traveling beyond the room. Fortunately, the area was relatively empty at the moment. Any louder, and the commotion would've drawn attention from the nearby staff.

Silence filled the space.

The Principal, Lefon, and Darius stood frozen—mouths slightly agape, eyes wide in disbelief.

Sebastian stood tall and unshaken, his posture calm, his breathing even. There was not the faintest hint of strain on his face, as though the entire scuffle had been nothing more than a warm-up stretch.

Meanwhile, Al clapped his hands softly from where he stood—his expression relaxed, eyes gleaming with faint amusement as he observed the exchange with analytical precision.

"Ohoo... what a nice show. Your movements are smoother than before. Haha." His voice echoed playfully in Sebastian's mind through telepathy.

Sebastian's lips curved in a faint smile.

"Thank you, Master," he replied telepathically, his tone calm but respectful. "But... what should I do about the aftermath of this incident?"

"Relax," Al answered lazily. "You're not like me—you're not under surveillance by the Global Magical Association. Besides, you didn't even use internal energy."

Sebastian nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"Understood, Master."

At the same time, the three men hurried toward Kugo.

"Kugo!" the Principal shouted, his voice trembling slightly.

Kugo was seated on the floor, wincing in pain. His body wasn't severely injured, but the ache in his muscles and joints was enough to make him grimace.

Who is this man? Kugo thought, his mind racing.

Did he just defeat me... without using internal energy? Since when has there been a martial master in this city? No—no, even across the entire eastern region of Indorosia, I've never once heard of a man like him!

His pride burned hotter than the pain itself.

No... it's not that he's stronger. I was just careless. I underestimated him. That's all. There's no way... no way I'll let myself be humiliated like this.

Grinding his teeth, Kugo pushed himself up, preparing to attack again.

Sebastian's expression remained calm—composed yet razor-focused—as he readied himself for the next movement, his stance unwavering.

And amidst that tension, Al quietly watched from afar, a faint smirk curving on his lips as he held a phone to his ear—his calmness contrasting perfectly with the chaos that unfolded before him.

A soft, knowing smile spread across his face.

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