The Return Of The Exiled Villain

Just in a few minutes, the arena had turned into pure madness.

Dust clouds rose into the air as spells, weapons, and screams tangled together. Explosions of mana crackled like thunder, shaking the stone ground.

And right in the middle of it all, Gray's group had completely fallen apart.

"Oi! What the hell is he doing?!" Ronan shouted, slamming his gauntleted fists together as he blocked a burst of fire from an incoming mage.

The metal glowed from the heat, but he didn't even flinch; his eyes were locked on the faint blur that was Gray, cutting through enemies alone like a phantom.

"Wasn't this supposed to be a team battle?!" he yelled again, punching the ground.

The shockwave shattered a few nearby spells before he charged straight at another student, his fist landing square on their chest.

BAAM!

The poor student flew several meters back, their protective charm flashing red before vanishing.

Lira, a few meters away, swung her sword in a wide arc, deflecting two daggers before thrusting forward with precise strength.

Her expression stayed calm as ever, but her eyes flicked toward Gray.

"He's... fighting alone again," she muttered, parrying another strike.

"He always does that! He doesn't trust anyone to watch his back!" Selina's sharp voice came from behind, but strangely contained a hint of frustration.

Her hands moved fluidly through the air as streams of water burst from the ground, curling around her arms before she sent them flying forward.

The water solidified into spears that shot toward a group of mages hiding behind a broken pillar.

Swoosh!

BAM!

The mages barely managed to raise barriers in time, but Selina's water spears pierced through two of them, sending both students crashing to the ground.

"Selina's right," Selene added coldly.

She stood only a few steps away, her sword surrounded by a faint blue aura.

"He doesn't fight with people; instead, he uses them until he doesn't need them anymore. We should be thankful that he isn't using us, actually."

Lira frowned slightly at that, but said nothing.

"Hagh!" Ronan groaned, punching another opponent in the gut.

"Well, I don't care what kind of brooding loner act he's pulling; we're supposed to get the top score together! If he keeps hogging all the action, we're screwed!"

Lyra, who'd been quiet until now, finally spoke.

"...Probably... he thinks that we would only bother him."

Everyone turned for a moment, right as a flash of golden lightning erupted from her body.

CRRRAAACK!

The energy burst outward, forming arcs that split into smaller trails of light.

They shot through the battlefield, striking multiple opponents who were trying to ambush them.

Each one was hit with a shock that knocked them unconscious instantly.

"He told me once that his power is too difficult to use when he has teammates," Lyra exhaled, her sword humming faintly as the golden glow flickered around her.

Selene scoffed.

"That does sound like something he would say."

Fwip!

She swung her sword in a wide arc, releasing a crescent of aura that cleaved through a stone barrier and sent two students tumbling away.

Ronan spat out a bit of dust, straightening his back.

"Hah, well, I'm not letting him have all the fun. I'm going after him—"

But before he could move, a massive gust of wind cut across his path, forcing him back. Lira stepped forward, her sword glowing faintly.

"No," she said simply.

"You'll get caught up in his attack range. It's dangerous."

"You sure that's the only reason? You sound like you care about him, Lira~." Ronan blinked, then grinned.

Lira gave him a flat look, not even bothering to reply, before she leapt toward another wave of students charging their way.

Selina joined her from the side, summoning a wave of water that she froze midair before shattering it into ice shards that rained down on the enemies below.

"Focus!" she shouted, her hair fluttering as the water around her danced.

Ronan dashed in right after, his gauntlets glowing bright orange from compressed mana.

"Yeah, yeah! Team Gray, let's wreck 'em!"

He landed a punch so hard that it sent a student spinning midair before crashing into the dirt.

Selene stayed back, guarding their rear.

Her aura sword glowed brighter as she concentrated, before swinging it continuously, causing countless crescent blades of mana to shoot towards the other students.

Lyra watched all of them for a moment.

She could feel Gray's mana signature far ahead. He wasn't even in the same section of the arena anymore.

He was alone, cutting down anyone who dared to get close.

"…He's overdoing it again," she murmured.

"That's damned bastard..." Selina sighed.

"If he doesn't stop, he's going to burn himself out before this even ends," Lira finished off her opponent, wiping the dust from her cheek with the back of her hand.

"Then we'd better clean this up fast," Selene said, tightening her grip on her sword.

BOOOOOOOOM!

The ground shook violently. A shockwave burst across the arena, forcing everyone to brace themselves.

"What the—?!" Ronan stumbled back, shielding his face as dust and debris filled the air. When it cleared, everyone turned toward the source of the explosion.

Far ahead, where Gray was fighting, a blinding light still lingered, and from within it, a tall figure slowly emerged.

Long silver-gray hair flowed down her back, her black and crimson outfit fluttering in the wind.

Her scythe gleamed with dark light, and her gray eyes locked directly onto Gray's.

"…It's that hottie!" Ronan blurted, his voice breaking the stunned silence.

Selina smacked his arm.

"Idiot! That's Cassandra!"

The others froze immediately at her words. Even Selene's confident expression hardened, her eyes narrowing.

"So she's his opponent…"

Crackle!

A flash of golden lightning tore through the air, Lyra's aura flaring as she shot forward, faster than any of them could react.

Sparks exploded behind her as her golden sword hummed with electricity.

"GRAY!!" she shouted, heading straight for him.

But before she could even reach halfway.

Fwoooom!

Cassandra lifted her right hand, her scythe still resting lazily in her left. A massive wave of energy pulsed out, forming a perfectly circular barrier around her and Gray.

The barrier gleamed with shifting colors, twisting like liquid glass.

Lyra crashed straight into it.

THUD!

The impact sent a loud vibration echoing through the field, and Lyra was thrown back, flipping in midair before landing on her feet.

Her arm trembled slightly from the shock.

"FUCK!" she hissed, slashing at the barrier again.

Her golden lightning crackled violently against it and then rebounded with equal force, sending a faint jolt up her arm.

"Ghh, damn it!" she bit out, shaking her hand.

Ronan and the others finally arrived, skidding to a stop beside her.

"Whoa… that doesn't look like any normal barrier," Ronan said, his tone serious for once.

Selina frowned deeply, extending her hand.

Water rippled around her palm as she touched the surface of the barrier. Instantly, the water sizzled into steam.

"It's a mixed-element barrier," she muttered. "It's impossible to break without reaching the Grandmaster realm..."

Lyra's face darkened at her words, gritting her teeth tightly while looking at the barrier.

Ronan rubbed the back of his neck, looking frustrated.

"So what, we just stand here and watch while those two try to kill each other?"

"There's nothing we can do. That barrier would reflect anything we throw at it. If we push harder, we'll just get ourselves hurt." Selene's expression didn't change.

Lyra pressed a hand against the shimmering wall again, her golden lightning sparking weakly across its surface before dying out.

Her eyes softened, filled with reluctant understanding.

"…He'll be fine," she said quietly, though her tone wavered.

"He always fights alone… that's just how he is."

"Yeah. Guess we'd just get in his way anyway." Ronan gave her a small nod, still frowning.

Selina took a small step back, lowering her hand.

"Then we'll deal with the other students."

Selene looked up at the barrier once more, her sword resting against her shoulder as she spoke in a low voice.

"Whatever happens in there… that fight belongs to them."

The barrier soon darkened, and then, no one could pry inside of it. The professors easily could, but they decided not to, leaving some kind of suspense between them.

And inside of it, Gray had already unsheathed his sword as he slowly approached Cassandra, who maintained an expressionless face.

When he stopped just a few inches away from her, he reached out with his right hand and lightly pinched her nose.

"Did you wait long, Cass?" His voice turned surprisingly gentle.

At those words, Cassandra's cold expression instantly broke.

Her eyes trembled for a moment before she suddenly threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly, burying her face against his chest.

"You're finally back!" she said, her voice muffled and trembling slightly.

Gray didn't say anything and slowly patted Cassandra's back in a repeating cycle.

Then Cassandra pushed him back a little, standing on her toes before pressing her lips against his neck.

She stayed there for a moment, nibbling softly, her breath brushing against his skin.

Gray didn't resist her actions.

He just stood still, letting her do whatever she wanted.

"Mhm…"

After a few seconds, Cassandra finally pulled back and looked at his neck. A small smile appeared on her face as she nodded proudly, clearly admiring her work.

Gray glanced down at the reflection of his rapier, and sure enough, a faint red mark, a small hickey, rested just below his collar.

"Nihihi~"

Cassandra giggled mischievously at his deadpanned expression.

However, if she knew Gray's thoughts, she probably wouldn't be so happy.

'She's more attached to me than before… good. Even though that idiot version of me wasted plenty of time flirting with others, it probably made her jealousy grow stronger.'

He reached out and brushed her cheek gently, and Cassandra leaned into his touch with a faint smile.

Seeing how comfortable and happy she was like this...

...His eyes only turned colder.