A look of irritation flashed across the young man's face. "Emma, are you looking down on us? You may be strong, but don't forget, we're not pushovers either. Don't make me talk to my father and have him speak to your family about how you're supposed to behave."

"Why don't you go ahead and do whatever you want, Frederick?"

Another girl stepped ahead. "Emma, I think you should consider your decision."

"I am not going to change my decision, Linda."

The young man, Frederick's jaw tightened. "I hope you don't regret it." With that, he turned around and walked away. Linda waited for a few seconds, then sighed and left as well.

Meanwhile, a girl sitting beside Emma had been watching the entire drama unfold. In truth, the whole class had been murmuring about it, but she stood out because she had been smiling the entire time, mischievously.

Once Frederick left, she leaned closer with a grin. "So it's really true, huh? You're actually switching teams. Is it because of some boy you suddenly fell for?"

Emma let out a helpless smile. "Seriously, Isabel? Why does everything have to be about crushes? I just want to change my current team, that's all."

Isabel — one of Emma's close friends — studied her with playful, probing eyes, as if trying to see through her soul. After a moment, she asked, "So it's not because of a boy?"

"Nope."

"Alright, I'll accept that… for now." She smirked. "So which team is it? What's their current ranking?"

"It has no ranking. It's a brand-new team. And I'm not even sure if he's managed to gather all five members yet."

"So there is a boy, it's a completely new team out of nowhere, and you're joining it, but not because of a boy? Good luck convincing anyone of that." She chuckled.

"I'm serious. There's nothing like that going on," Emma said, glaring in an attempt to look intimidating.

"Okay, okay, I'm scared," Isabel laughed dramatically, raising her hands. "So who's the boy, anyway?"

"He's a first-year. From normal Cultivator Class. His name is Derek."

Emma said it casually, but Isabel's eyebrows shot up. "He's what?" Her voice was so loud that half the class turned their heads.

Noticing all the stares, Isabel forced a smile. "Nothing, nothing." Then she leaned in close to Emma and whispered sharply, "Emma… have you gone crazy?"

Emma sighed softly. "Isabel, listen. He may be a first-year and only a cultivator… but you have no idea what he's capable of."

Isabella blinked. Then frowned. "Are you even hearing yourself?" she whispered harshly. "What can a cultivator do? Emma, you're in the top-ranked team. TOP. Do you understand what that means? If you leave, you'll lose not only the team's ranking but your personal ranking too. Your family will tear the academy apart when they hear about this."

"They can get angry if they want. I don't care." Emma crossed her arms simply, her tone strangely calm. "And that cultivation treasure for a month? It's not that big of a deal for me. I can survive without it. So it's final."

Isabella just stared at her. Then rubbed her temple.

"I can't believe this. I want to meet this boy."

Emma frowned. "…Why?"

"I want to meet him. And the entire team he gathered."

"Isabel..."

"No." Isabella raised a finger, her voice still low but filled with stubbornness. "I want to see what magic trick he used to hypnotize you. Because this..." she pointed at Emma's calm face, "... this is not normal. You don't abandon top teams because of 'instinct' or 'gut feeling.' Something is off."

Emma rolled her eyes. "You're thinking too much."

"No. I've decided. I'm meeting them. And it's final." Isabella said, mimicking Emma's earlier tone.

"…Fine. After class, I'm going to meet them. We're starting joint training from today anyway."

"Good," Isabella said with satisfaction. "I'll judge him myself."

Emma groaned. "You're unbelievable."

Meanwhile, whispers erupted instantly.

It started small — two students leaning closer to gossip.

"Emma left Frederick's team? The top team from last Ranker's Test?"

"She's gone crazy."

"She has to be. Why else would she leave guaranteed resources?"

"Maybe she thinks Frederick needs her more than she needs him."

"She's gotten arrogant."

Then it grew louder. Some students snickered. Some shook their heads in pity. Some mocked.

Others exchanged glances full of calculation.

If Emma were to abandon Frederick's team, their ranking would drop dramatically. The entire top-three formation would shift. Many team captains, whose teams were in the top ten but not among the three, started planning.

A quiet girl from the far corner, one of the top mages of the year, looked up from her book.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"If Emma is switching teams…" she murmured, "…she must have a reason. Something big must have happened."

Her words made two nearby students fall silent.

A small storm was brewing within the elite class, and Emma didn't even glance around to notice it.

Frederick, meanwhile, was sinking into rage. He had left the classroom. His footsteps echoed down the stone hallway like pounding war drums.

Linda hurried behind him, struggling to keep up.

"Frederick, calm down...."

"CALM?" he snapped, spinning around. His voice echoed dangerously. "She walks away after everything I built? After everything I gave her? Does she think she's too good for us now?"

Linda swallowed. "She didn't say that..."

"I carried her to the top three," he continued furiously. "Her ranking? Her recognition? She got all that because she stood beside me."

Linda looked uneasy, biting her lip. "Maybe she just wants a change....."

Frederick's laugh was cold and sharp.

"A change? So, she's bored with being at the top?"

He took a step closer to Linda, lowering his voice.

"This time, the test is going to be life-threatening. Housemaster Nicholas shared this information with me only. Students are bound to get hurt this time."

Linda stiffened. "Frederick..."

"I want to see her face," he said, eyes sharp with malice, "when that new team of hers collapses. When her new 'captain' fails."

He cracked his knuckles slowly.

"I will make every member of that team pay."

Linda looked at him in shock. "You're not serious..."

He gave her a chilling smile.

"Oh, I'm very serious."

Meanwhile, back at Yami's chamber.....

Wilson shut the door behind them as Derek took a seat in front of Yami.

The air felt heavy, like a storm was silently growing between them.

Yami exhaled a thick cloud of smoke before leaning forward.

"Start from the beginning."

Derek nodded and explained everything: That how he became so engrossed in fighting that he hadn't noticed how deep he had gone. Then his encounter with the C-class beasts. And then finally the giant serpent. How it left a core too.

Wilson's face lost color with every sentence.

'Even top third-years don't go into that part of the forest…' he thought in disbelief.

Yami remained silent until Derek finished.

Then...

He clasped his fingers and placed his elbows on the table.

"Derek… listen carefully." His tone was low, dangerous.

"You are becoming too strong too quickly. That speed attracts the wrong kind of attention — students, instructors… noble families."

He paused. Then continued. "You show your raw power in public, and someone will drag you into their dirty politics. Someone will try to claim you. Someone will try to eliminate you."

Derek stayed silent.

"And most importantly," Yami continued, eyes sharp, "never mention the beast core again. Not to your friends. Not to your team. Not to anyone. If people find out you can absorb cores to grow strong…"

His voice grew colder.

"…they will hunt you. The academy won't be able to protect you. Not even I can protect you if someone with high enough authority comes for you."

Derek already knew this and had no intention of sharing it with anyone anyway. He only shared with Yami because he already knew it.

"I understand." He said.

Yami watched Derek silently.

The boy wasn't arrogant. Wasn't loud.

Wasn't boastful. But the pressure he emitted naturally… The way he survived impossibly dangerous situations… The technique he used on Peter… His physical strength far beyond his cultivation… His ability to grow stronger without exploding…

This wasn't normal.

'This boy is a monster in human skin.' He thought as a chuckle left his mouth without him even noticing it. 'If he continues like this… he might outgrow even me.'

Finally, Yami regained his composure and started again after some time. "Derek."

"Yes, Master?"

"You must not reveal your full physical strength in the Ranker's Test. Not even accidentally."

Derek nodded.

"Stay away from legacy families."

Nod.

"Choose your teammates wisely."

Nod.

"And most importantly…" Yami paused, voice softening,

"…stay alive. Next time, even if you need to run. I don't care. Just survive."

Derek smirked. "I will."

Yami closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead.

"Visit me after returning to the house. I will have something ready that will help you hide your cultivation realm."

"Yes, master."

"Now, you can leave."

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