The Aura Ascendant: A Knight's Unbroken Path

Headmaster Mensa shook his head as he realized that Captain Rygar was no longer thinking straight.

He actually suggested that Hayden could've come from the Iron Wastes.

It was an infamous place for rogue mages and their twisted experiments. There were already rumors that many missing children were brought into that place infused with artificial Aura to make them some sort of soldiers reshaped for battle.

Furthermore, Captain Rygar must've forgotten that if he accused Hayden of having come from such a wretched place, it means that he was also accusing him of being involved with them!

Mensa then looked at the man who also seemed to have realized what he had just said.

"Careful, Rygar," he said, his voice was low but it was definitely a lot more threatening now.

"You're accusing me of trafficking in dark arts. That's not just an insult—it's a declaration of war."

Rygar, realizing that he had messed up, paused for a moment…

However, since Laxus lost, there was nothing more to lose… He didn't back down as he was simply too prideful!

"Then prove me wrong. Let my physicians examine him."

Mensa laughed. It had a sharp, mocking sound and caught the crowd's attention...

They couldn't help but feel curious about the conversation between the two.

In the meantime, Headmaster Mensa couldn't help but look at Captain Rygar once again. It seemed that the man truly didn't want to lose his resources and wanted to find some fault to nullify their agreement.

"Ah, I see. You're not just a sore loser—you're jealous. Your precious Laxus, trained since birth, just got humiliated by a boy half his age, and you can't stomach it."

Hearing this, Rygar's face flushed with rage.

Mensa leaned in, and his next words were for Rygar alone.

"Here's my counteroffer: Get out of my academy. Take your bruised ego and your second-rate swordsman with you. And if I ever hear you suggest Hayden is anything but a natural talent again, I'll remind the world why they used to call me 'The Sundering Blade.'"

Mensa might be helpless against Magicians but if he faced against other Aura Knights… He was confident that he wouldn't be defeated so easily despite his age.

The fact that he had survived against Evil Sorcerers was already a lot to say.

For a heartbeat, Rygar looked like he might strike. Then—

He sneered and started stepping back.

"This isn't over, Mensa. That boy… he's wrong. And I will find out why."

With that, he turned on his heel, shouting at Laxus to follow.

Headmaster Mensa also didn't mind if Rygar would keep his word or not… After all, the news of Laxus' defeat would immediately spread throughout the whole region.

Once that happened, the Academy's prestige would be through the roof. With their popularity, sponsorships or various support to his Dawnspire Academy would come incessantly.

It was definitely a good thing that he gave Hayden the Knight's Heart Elixir! Perhaps, he could reward him with another one, just in case he had to use similar strength in his future battles.

"You've done really well, Hayden." Headmaster Mensa said as he was already considering what additional reward he could give to Hayden.

Just like that, the Stormcrests left the arena and the crowd parted before them like waves as they silently walked away.

Soon, Hayden approached the Headmaster as they showed the crowd how close they were.

"Rygar wouldn't let this go. The man was vindictive, and now he had a personal grudge. Although he wouldn't do anything to you personally, he might look for other challengers or even get rid of you to erase the source of his humiliation…" Headmaster Mensa said.

However, Hayden had a different opinion.

"I think if something happened to me, he would be the first suspect, and if he values his honor, he wouldn't dirty his name just like that. He's still an Aura Knight after all." Hayden said.

At this, Headmaster Mensa laughed as he didn't expect that Hayden would think that he knew better.

In any case, he had already warned him.

"Just be careful from now on."

***

In the meantime, at the highest tier of the arena, where the most elite students sat, Ulysses Montclair—Dawnspire Academy's undisputed top-ranked student looked at Hayden and Headmaster Mensa with a mysterious smile on his face.

During the duel just now, he had tracked every movement of Hayden.

Just from the first three exchanges in the duel, Ulysses didn't doubt Hayden's ability to win… He knew that Hayden was simply adjusting during the first exchanges, and he was right.

After all, ever since Hayden entered the academy and created a huge noise, he already started observing him secretly. To be exact, he would always time his break when Hayden was practicing in the training yard or doing various exercises to strengthen his physique.

He knew that Hayden wasn't simple.

"Fascinating." Ulysses muttered as he realized that Hayden's Aura was definitely at the level of Knight Candidate. However, it was perfectly controlled and he had barely noticed it, only because of his special eye as a part of the Montclair House.

As the crowd erupted to cheer Hayden's victory, Ulysses rose from his seat, and left the scene.

'His footwork is flawless. His counters are perfectly timed. But more than that… it's like he knows where Laxus will strike before Laxus does.'

Ulysses had seen precognition in battle before—elite knights who could read opponents through sheer experience. But Hayden was nine.

'Did the Headmaster teach him advanced Aura sensing in just a few weeks? Or… has he been training him in secret for years?'

The thought was disturbing since Hayden was too young... If Hayden had that level of innate talent, then the gap between him and the rest of the students was already insurmountable.

'His batch can only think of competing for second place.'

As soon as he left the arena, he immediately went to his private courtyard… It was a special privilege he obtained after being able to pay 5 Dawn Points per week.

In this courtyard, Ulysses would always practice the Dawn Swordsmanship that Hayden had modified and shown to the public!