Zharina's assault on Draven continued without mercy.

"Look at yourself! What will you gain after suffocating her that way?"

Draven's face twisted with conflict. "But Professor, you aren't getting the full situation here. It's my father who wants us to work together. It's about politics, Professor."

His voice carried desperation.

"You know the assumptions that may follow due to the throne race and competition. If we rival each other publicly, it creates problems for the entire kingdom."

Zharina went silent for a moment. Thinking. Processing his words.

Then she spoke with disappointment dripping from every syllable. "So that's what it is, huh? Draven, I thought you were brave. I thought you would have fought for your freedom. For your sister's freedom."

She stepped closer to him. Her eyes burning with challenge.

"Do you like your father controlling you? Controlling your sister's choices? All for some peasants that you people rule over?"

Draven opened his mouth. "I—" But no words came out. His throat had seized. His arguments had crumbled before they could form.

Zharina pressed harder. "Tell me, Draven. Don't you want revenge for today? For whatever Professor Jax did and said to you? To me?"

His jaw clenched. Anger flooded back into his eyes. He nodded with visible fury.

"Then without you being courageous, without you raising your voice against your father, without telling him his move is wrong—" She paused for effect. "It can never happen."

Then she did something that made Draven's heart nearly explode. She placed her hands on his shoulders. Looked directly into his eyes with warmth he'd never seen directed at him before.

"I have faith in you, Draven. Not only for this, but for what follows after. I want you to fight by my side. Make me victorious in front of that egotistical professor."

She smiled. A genuine, beautiful smile that shattered whatever resistance remained in his heart.

"And I know you can do that. I know my favourite student won't disappoint me."

Draven blushed violently. His heart pounded against his ribs. Then his resolve kicked in with the force of a thousand suns.

"Don't worry about anything, Professor. You can count on me. Consider it done."

He turned his glare toward Jax. His voice hardened with determination. "I will let my sister join his team. And then I will personally crush them."

Jax watched the entire performance unfold. He observed the fool's face. Watched how completely he had been manipulated by the woman he loved.

Zharina had used his obsession perfectly. Whether she knew the depth of his feelings or not, she had weaponized them without hesitation.

For the first time in a very long while, Jax felt something close to sympathy for this poor soul.

Zharina's face shifted. The warm, encouraging smile she had shown Draven transformed into a teasing, victorious smirk directed at Jax.

"Is it okay now? You can have his sister. There won't be any consequences since my student will take care of the rest."

Her eyes gleamed with challenge. "But remember your words. Don't back down from the competition. And especially not from the bet."

Jax smiled internally. How perfectly these two fools had been manipulated. And how beautifully Zharina was playing her part, doing everything he would have to do. It was a perfect setup where both of them drowned while she acted as if she was the victorious one here.

Then a thought struck him. 'Bet? I didn't think about what I could gain from it.'

He considered the possibilities. 'Fuck her again and collect those sweet devotion points? Or maybe make her favourite student watch while I wreck her completely?'

He paused internally. 'No wait. I'm not an evil person.'

Immediately, memories of his past deeds came flooding in. Fucking Zinnia senseless. Roaming around everywhere with his dick buried deep inside Jennifer.

Defiling the good soul that was Aunt Katherine. Fucking Beatrix, the elf granny, and Nyara while their children watched from nearby. His actions in the dwarf village then with those twin sisters. Even those three girls who were involved in Adelina's suffering.

Jax reconsidered. 'Nah, those three girls definitely deserved it.'

Then he thought more carefully. 'Looks like I have improved somewhat. But I still need something to break both of them for their insolence today. Just not in a harsh way. Something lighter. More entertaining.'

An idea bloomed in his mind.

"I have decided."

Zharina looked confused. "Decided what?"

"For the bet reward, of course."

She went silent. Waiting. Her expression still carrying traces of smugness.

Jax spoke slowly, deliberately. "If I win, how about for a whole day—"

He paused. Watched with immense satisfaction as her smug expression washed away in an instant. Horror crept into her eyes.

She was clearly imagining what Jax might do to her for an entire day. What he had done to her in mere hours before.

Jax continued with a bright smile. "For a whole day, you and I will go on a date."

"I am going to tear you apart!" Draven hissed from behind Zharina.

Jax ignored him completely. "We will do things that couples do." He acted embarrassed and shameful, covering his cheeks like a maiden.

"Hand holding while walking down the streets. Standing so close our shoulders touch. Sharing drinks with a single straw while gazing into each other's eyes."

Then his face shifted from blushing to dead serious. "And don't you dare act like you're being forced. I know you want it too."

Zharina's shocked expression slowly transformed into a confident grin. She ignored all his provocations and said, "Oh sure. But for that, you have to win first."

Jax turned and started walking away. "I will try very hard this time. Got to secure my dating partner, after all."

Behind him, Draven took aggressive steps forward. Ready to beat him into the ground. But once again, Zharina's hand stopped him.

She watched Jax's retreating back with calculating eyes. "It's okay. Let him use up all his words now. He won't have any left later."

Draven looked at her with pure admiration. Worshipping her savageness. The poor fool had no idea he was just a pawn who had fallen into both their schemes.

Then Jax turned around from the distance. His voice boomed across the training grounds. "Professor! Proceed with the class for these weaklings like always! I don't have any interest in teaching them!"

Every student's attention snapped to him.

"I will just teach some students who seem worthy of me! Students who actually have potential!" His voice rose even louder. "Unlike these lowborns!"

The announcement was intentional. Calculated. He wanted everyone to hear.

Students erupted in rage. Others stood frozen in confusion. Murmurs and angry whispers spread like wildfire.

Jax ignored all of them.

He walked back to Seraphina and gave her the brightest smile she had ever seen on his face.

"Everything is done. You can send your application to me or drop it at my office. There won't be any consequences now."

She opened her mouth to ask questions.

Jax cut her off. "Don't ask me how or what happened. Just accept it. And just so you know, the brother who resisted you will come to you himself and tell you the same thing. You can even refuse his plea just to play with him."

His grin widened. "He would do anything for you to join my roster now."

Seraphina's eyes widened. "What have you d—" Then she recalled his words about not asking. She sighed deeply.

Jax's expression turned devilish. She realized something terrible had happened to her brother. She had seen him from afar. Broken. Angry. Cycling through emotions she had never witnessed before.

"Follow me," Jax said, already moving. "We need to take this tournament seriously now. There are many stakes on the line."

Without waiting for her reply, he started walking. She followed.

Jax raised his hand and signaled toward Lilith, who was standing tensely at the edge of the grounds. He gestured for her to join. She hurried over, falling into step behind him.

Then Jax spotted Elira Noct Varenis standing apart from everyone else. She held an elegant umbrella that shielded her from the sun.

Every other student maintained a safe distance from her, as if approaching would result in death.

Jax sighed internally. 'This must be another egoistic brat. Seems like I have to go to her myself.'

He approached with two students trailing behind him. Stopped directly in front of the vampire.

He scanned Elira openly. She looked at him for several seconds. Then her crimson eyes drifted to the students behind him. Without any reaction, she averted her gaze. Completely unbothered by his presence.

Jax's eye twitched.

Then he turned and screamed at the surrounding crowd. "Oi! Everyone who isn't part of my team! Get out!"

Students looked at him with confusion. Those who knew his reputation took immediate steps backward.

"This space is reserved for future champions! Extras can practice somewhere else!"

More confused murmurs.

"I said OUT! Don't make me repeat myself a third time!"

His killing intent flared briefly. A wave of pressure that made weaker students stumble.

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