"Against the Heavens: The Villain's Return"

The next morning after the grand tournament, the academy grounds were buzzing with uncontainable excitement.

From the moment the gates opened, countless students filled the courtyard, their voices rising like a storm of whispers, laughter, and hurried conversations.

Yet no matter what subject began a conversation, it all inevitably circled back to a single name — Leo Aetherwind.

The boy who had dominated the tournament.

The boy who had crushed his opponents with overwhelming strength and unshakable composure.

The boy who had become a name etched into every corner of the academy in a single day.

Leo's victory had not been a small or narrow one. It had been overwhelming, decisive, and absolute.

His battles had displayed a gap in strength that left both the winners and losers of past tournaments pale in comparison.

His final performance was etched into the minds of all who had witnessed it, and the pride of countless families paled before his brilliance.

Now, as students gathered in the courtyard, hallways, and classrooms, they exchanged one story after another about his techniques, his aura, and the sheer dominance that he had displayed.

> "Did you see the way he ended the last fight? It wasn't even close!"

"No one else could even compare. He's on another level!"

"Leo isn't just a strong student… he's someone destined for greatness."

Everywhere, the talk was the same. Every corner of the academy echoed with words of awe, admiration, and envy.

And at the center of it all — though he was not physically present yet — was Leo himself. His name traveled faster than footsteps, carried by admiration, curiosity, and jealousy alike.

Roxanne's Entrance

Among the many who arrived that morning was Roxanne Bladecrest, her steps confident and graceful as always.

Yet, unlike the ordinary students who whispered and gossiped, Roxanne carried with her an aura of pride. For she was not just another admirer of Leo. She was his fiancée.

But she was not alone. Walking beside her was her brother — Rio.

Rio's presence, however, contrasted greatly with his sister's. Where Roxanne's steps carried elegance and pride, Rio's were heavy, weighed down by invisible chains of disappointment and jealousy.

His eyes lacked their usual brightness, his posture sagged ever so slightly, and the aura around him seemed dimmed, like a bird whose wings had been clipped.

The truth was harsh.

Rio had also fought in the tournament. He had struggled, endured, and pushed himself against fierce competition. In the end, he had even achieved something commendable — second place.

Ordinarily, that would have been something to celebrate, something worthy of recognition and respect. Second place was, after all, no small feat.

But not this time.

Not when Leo's brilliance had overshadowed everything else.

Not when Leo's strength was so overwhelming that it erased the names of every other competitor from the minds of the spectators.

And so, even as Rio walked with his head lowered, his thoughts churned painfully.

Second place… yet no one remembers me. No one praises me. No one even cares that I reached the finals.

Because of him. Because of Leo. That bastard stole it all. My hard work, my recognition… everything was swallowed by his brilliance.

---

Roxanne's Dilemma

Roxanne, of course, noticed her brother's state. She saw the way his steps dragged, the way his eyes clouded, and the way his lips pressed into a bitter line. Her heart ached quietly.

For though she was Leo's fiancée, she was also Rio's sister.

And in that moment, the two roles clashed painfully inside her.

As Leo's fiancée, she should be proud, boastful even, thrilled at the glory he had brought. Yet as Rio's sister, she wanted nothing more than to reach out, comfort him, and tell him that his efforts too were worthy of recognition.

But she could not do both.

So, with a quiet sigh, Roxanne chose the path of a sister. She placed her hand lightly on Rio's shoulder, her voice soft yet steady.

"Don't let this weigh you down, Rio. You also fought well. You will also be recognized one day. Fame is not only for today. Your time will come. Believe in yourself."

Her words were simple, but they carried warmth.

For Rio, who had been drowning in the bitterness of being forgotten, her voice was like a fragile rope pulling him back from the darkness.

He clenched his fists tightly, his heart trembling between envy and relief. And slowly, slowly, her words sank into him.

Yes… yes, she's right. My sister hasn't abandoned me. She still supports me. She won't favor Leo over me. She still stands on my side.

That means I still have a chance. One day, I'll surpass Leo. One day, I'll take back everything he stole. My sister… she won't favor that bastard.

With this thought, Rio's expression lightened ever so slightly, his gloom replaced by a fragile determination.

The Gossip of Female Students

Yet, as if the heavens themselves sought to test this fragile balance, another voice entered the air.

Nearby, a group of female students were chattering loudly. Their eyes sparkled with excitement, their tones filled with admiration and longing.

"Did you see Leo yesterday? He was incredible!"

"I wish I could be with someone like him…"

"If only I could date him… ah, just imagining it makes my heart race!"

Their words cut sharper than blades.

For Roxanne, who already bore the weight of Leo's fiancée title, hearing such shameless admiration directed at her man was like pouring oil on fire.

Her composure cracked instantly, and flames of rage blazed in her chest.

Before Rio could react, Roxanne's voice rang out, sharp and furious.

"Silence, you fools! How dare you speak so shamelessly about Leo? Do you not understand? Leo is my fiancé! Only I am worthy of him! No one else! Remember that well!"

Her shout silenced the courtyard for a moment. The female students, startled and embarrassed, quickly looked down, their faces flushed with both shame and fear.

Roxanne stood tall, her eyes blazing with pride and possessiveness. In her chest, her heart hammered, but her words had been sincere.

Rio's Reaction

And beside her, Rio listened.

At first, his heart leapt. Yes! Yes, sister! Tell them! Defend your rightful place!

His jealousy toward the other female students melted, replaced by pride in Roxanne's fierce defense of Leo's bond with her.

Yes… you're right, sister. You should fight against those shameless girls. You must protect your place beside him. Yes… this is how it should be.

But then… Roxanne continued.

Roxanne's Boast

Her voice grew louder, filled with unshakable pride.

"Listen well! Leo is no ordinary man. He is the disciple of the Sword Emperor himself! Do you even understand what that means? No other swordsman can compare!

That is why no one remembers the second or third place fighters.

That is why all others are forgotten — because my Leo outshined everyone! He was brighter, stronger, and greater than all of them combined!"

She spoke with pride, but her words struck Rio like a thunderbolt.

Forgotten.

Overshadowed.

Worthless.

That was what her words meant.

Rio's breath caught in his throat. His fists trembled, his nails digging into his palm as his heart cracked further.

He had already been drowning in those thoughts himself — but hearing them from his sister's lips made the pain unbearable.

So even you… even you see me as nothing. Just another forgotten fighter. Just a shadow standing beside Leo's light.

He could not even respond. His lips opened, but no words came. His heart was too heavy.

Roxanne's Realization

It was only then, seeing the pain in her brother's eyes, that Roxanne realized her mistake.

Her lips froze. The proud fire in her voice vanished in an instant, replaced by silence and guilt.

She had spoken without thinking, too caught up in pride for her fiancé. But in doing so, she had trampled on her brother's heart.

Quickly, she bit her lip, cutting off her words. She forced herself into silence, her face paling as the weight of her mistake settled in.

Without another word, she turned away. Her footsteps were hurried, almost escaping, as she walked toward her class, her pride and dignity wrapped in fragile silence.

Behind her, Rio stood motionless. His eyes, filled with pain, stared at the ground, his heart caught between envy, jealousy, and silent resentment.

And so the morning continued.

The academy still buzzed with Leo's name, still sang songs of his strength, still whispered praises of his brilliance.

But for Roxanne and Rio, the day had already become something far heavier.

The heated commotion in the academy courtyard did not calm down easily.

Roxanne's words had already spread like wildfire, igniting whispers among the gathered students.

Selena, standing among the crowd, had quietly absorbed the entire scene.

She watched Roxanne defend Leo with a fierce voice, shouting that he was her fiancé and that no one else could claim him.

And though Selena did not say a word, her heart swelled with pride. She thought to herself that her man, Leo, truly was remarkable.

He was not only strong but had gained the recognition of the entire academy.

In her heart, Selena felt a strange sense of satisfaction, as though she was silently declaring: Yes, that is the man I chose. That is the man who belongs to me.

Her pride shimmered quietly, like a hidden flame, even though she stood still, her face calm.

But amid the growing admiration and chaos, there was one figure who could not feel pride or joy. Instead, the bitter sting of humiliation spread through his chest.

It was none other than the unlucky protagonist—Alex.

Alex had been standing among the crowd the entire time, blending in with the students who were gathered and whispering excitedly about Leo.

His fists were clenched tightly at his sides, nails digging into his palms. Every single word of praise for Leo was like a sharp blade carving into his chest.

He listened as students shouted:

"Leo is amazing!"

"He crushed the tournament!"

"No one even comes close to him!"

Each voice echoed in his ears with painful clarity, each word striking like a whip. His heart throbbed with resentment, so sharp that it almost made him breathless.

Why?

Why was Leo receiving all this admiration?

Alex had also fought bravely in the tournament. He had also stood on the battlefield and proven his skill. Yet… no one mentioned his name. Not a single person spoke of his performance.

He was forgotten.

He felt like the entire academy had conspired to erase him, to strip away the recognition he deserved.

And now, as he stood here, he could only watch helplessly as all the glory gathered around Leo.

This was supposed to be my place, Alex thought, his teeth grinding in frustration.

The cheers, the praise, the admiration—it should have been mine. Not his.

His mind spun in turmoil, and he felt his vision blur.

It was as if the blood in his veins boiled, like lava ready to erupt.

The humiliation from being ignored gnawed at his heart. It felt like countless knives stabbing him at once, and no matter how much he tried to suppress it, the pain only grew sharper.

The crowd's voices grew even louder. Their cheers rose like a storm.

Because at that moment… Leo appeared.

The moment Leo stepped into the academy courtyard, everything shifted.

All attention instantly turned toward him.

The students, who had been whispering and gossiping moments ago, erupted into chaos.

Girls squealed in excitement, their voices rising above the din.

"It's Leo!"

"He's even more handsome up close!"

"If only I could talk to him once…"

"I wish I could be with him!"

Their eyes sparkled with admiration, some even shining with infatuation. It was as though Leo's very presence pulled all light toward him, drowning out everyone else.

The boys, meanwhile, looked on with a mix of awe and envy. They could not deny Leo's strength after his overwhelming victory in the tournament. To them, Leo was a wall—impossible to climb, impossible to surpass.

For Alex, this sight was unbearable.

As he watched Leo walk into the courtyard and effortlessly draw every gaze, his eyes burned with hatred. His blood boiled hotter than ever before.

This was supposed to be me, he thought again, his rage intensifying.

The cheers, the girls' admiration, the respect from everyone… all of it should belong to me!

His vision turned red. His heart pounded violently in his chest. He could feel the bitterness spilling over, transforming into something darker. His eyes filled with bloodlust as he glared at Leo with an intensity that could have pierced through steel.

Leo, walking calmly through the courtyard, suddenly felt something.

He slowed his steps and turned his head slightly.

A wave of hostility, sharp and suffocating, had locked onto him. It was a malice so strong that it stood out even amidst the chaos of the students' cheers.

Leo's eyes narrowed.

His gaze searched, and in the sea of faces, he found the source.

Alex.

The boy he once called his best friend.

The boy who now glared at him with raw hatred in his eyes.

For a moment, the two locked gazes.

Alex's glare was fierce, his teeth clenched so tightly that his jaw trembled.

Leo, however, did not flinch. He looked directly at Alex, unshaken, almost calm.

Then, Leo spoke.

"Alex!"

His voice cut through the air like thunder.

The sound carried across the courtyard, silencing the crowd in an instant.

Every student froze.

Conversations halted.

Whispers vanished.

All eyes, which had been fixed on Leo, now shifted toward the direction of his voice.

And there, standing stiffly among the students, was Alex.

The sudden attention made Alex's body tense. His heart skipped a beat, and a wave of dread crept into his chest. He had a bad premonition, as though something terrible was about to happen.

Why… why did he call my name? Alex thought in panic.

Why now, in front of everyone?

His face stiffened, his throat dry.

He could feel the countless eyes staring at him, burning with curiosity.

And at that moment, Alex realized—Leo had just dragged him into the center of attention.

The very spotlight he had craved for so long… was now shining on him, but not in the way he wanted.

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End of Chapter

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