Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls-Chapter 114: One wrong step.

The arena was engulfed in an expectant silence as the professor stepped forward to the center, his footsteps echoing across the smooth floor. The man wore a slight smile, but anyone paying close attention to his eyes would notice the burning resentment hidden within.

"Welcome to Practical Mana Manipulation class. I am Klaus Blake," he began, his voice laced with a false cordiality. "Today, we will cover one of the most essential fundamentals of mana control. The ability to shape and use it efficiently can determine victory or defeat in real combat."

Kael remained silent, arms crossed, watching everything with a bored expression. Mana manipulation? He had mastered that long ago. Thanks to his grandmother's brutal training, he didn't even need basic techniques anymore. His mana flow was so refined that he didn't even require breathing to sustain it.

"Before we proceed, would anyone like to come forward and demonstrate their ability?"

Arthur was the first to stand, a confident smile on his lips. "I will."

The prince descended the steps from the stands and stopped in front of the professor, his presence exuding arrogance. He adjusted his posture and raised his hand, preparing to showcase his mana manipulation.

"Great," the professor said, his eyes gleaming with something almost imperceptible. "Let's see how much you truly understand about control."

Kael immediately noticed what was happening. The professor was manipulating the environment, making it harder to absorb mana in the area around Arthur. He was exponentially increasing the difficulty, but in a subtle way. To the other students, it would simply seem as if Arthur was failing due to a lack of skill.

Arthur furrowed his brow, his hands trembling slightly as he struggled to control his mana. Sweat began to form on his forehead, and his breathing grew heavy.

"What a disappointment..." The professor sighed theatrically, shaking his head. "If even a prince can't do something so simple, perhaps we should return to the basics."

Arthur clenched his teeth, his fists tightening in frustration, but he knew he couldn't argue without proof. With one last glance of irritation, he turned and returned to his seat.

Kael simply observed the scene, his mind working in silence.

"Now, we need someone for a little duel," the professor announced, a crooked smile playing on his lips. "Any volunteers?"

Elizabeth raised her hand without hesitation. "I will."

Kael glanced at her, raising an eyebrow.

"Interesting..." The professor nodded, crossing his arms. "Come forward."

Elizabeth stepped down into the arena, assuming a combat stance, her expression firm and unwavering.

The professor smiled, but the sadistic gleam in his eyes made it clear that this would be no simple exercise.

"Let's begin."

The attack came without warning—brutal and merciless. A projectile of dark mana roared across the arena, cutting through the air like a cannon shot. Elizabeth hastily raised a barrier, but the impact was devastating. Not only did her defense crack, but the sheer force sent her skidding several meters backward, her feet dragging against the stone floor.

She barely had time to stabilize her stance before the next attack came—this time, multiple blades of mana spinning like scythes, too fast to be completely avoided. Elizabeth conjured another defense, but one of the blades pierced through her shield and slashed the skin on her hand. The scent of burned flesh spread through the air.

She gasped, the pain throbbing like burning embers. But there was no pause.

The professor advanced, his hands glowing with chaotic energy. He unleashed a torrent of pure destructive force—a storm of raw energy that exploded like thunder upon striking Elizabeth's barrier.

The impact made her stagger, her knees nearly giving out. Her eyes widened as she realized—he wasn't just testing her endurance. He was trying to break her.

Then, the next attack came. And this time, she knew it would truly hurt.

That was when, in the blink of an eye, everything stopped.

The attack vanished the moment a shadowy figure appeared between her and the professor.

Kael was there.

He had moved so fast that no one even noticed until he was already standing at the center of the arena, unmoving like an unbreakable wall. His hand was raised, fingers slightly curled, holding the professor's mana sphere as if it were nothing.

The shock was immediate. The professor froze, eyes wide.

Kael lifted his gaze, cold and merciless.

"That's enough."

The silence that followed was almost tangible, heavy like lead.

Everyone in the stands held their breath, eyes wide at the scene. The impact of what had just happened still held them in a suffocating grip.

The professor remained still for a brief moment, his eyes betraying his surprise before he quickly regained his composure.

Kael, however, remained exactly as he was, his gaze as sharp as ice.

"Don't you think this is enough?" His voice sliced through the silence, cold and unforgiving.

The professor narrowed his eyes, forcing a smile that didn't reach them. "Oh? I was merely testing her limits."

"Testing her limits?" Kael repeated, stepping forward. His tone was almost curious, but there was a hidden threat behind every word. "Or just taking out your frustration on someone who can't fight back?"

The air grew suffocating, as if the very mana around them was reacting.

The professor opened his mouth to retort, but then he felt it—the weight of Kael's presence. Something invisible yet crushing pressed down on him, as if a mountain had settled onto his shoulders.

The most primal parts of the professor's instincts screamed in alarm.

Inside Kael's mind, Umbra whispered, its voice like an echo in the darkness.

"He's afraid."

Kael smirked slightly, a flicker of amusement shining in his golden eyes.

"Is that so?"

The professor took a step back. It was minimal, almost imperceptible. But Kael saw it. And that was enough.

He didn't need to say anything more. The silence spoke for him. The merciless gaze spoke for him. And in that moment, everyone in the room understood.

The professor, the man who had entered with arrogance and a vengeful desire, was now facing something far greater than he could handle.

Kael walked over to Elizabeth, who had fallen to her knees, her legs unable to support her after the shock of the combat. Her body trembled, and the pain still marked her expression, even though she tried to hide it.

Without saying a word, he kneeled before her and extended his hand. A soft, golden light enveloped his fingers as he cast [Basic Healing], dissipating the cuts and burns on her skin.

"Sorry." His voice was low, but firm.

Elizabeth lifted her gaze to him, surprised. "Why are you apologizing? It was my lack of skill that—"

"He was using you to provoke me." Kael interrupted her bluntly. His tone was sharp, making it clear that nothing more needed to be said about it.

Elizabeth blinked, processing the words. The professor hadn't just tested her limits—he had turned her into a pawn in his petty game against Kael.

"Can you stand?" He asked as soon as he finished healing her.

She tried, placing her hands on the ground to push herself up, but her legs were still trembling, fear resonating in every fiber of her body.

"I understand." Kael murmured.

Without hesitation, he slipped one arm around her back and the other under her knees, lifting her off the ground with ease. Her body stiffened for a moment, surprised by the sudden gesture.

"Wait, I can—"

Kael ignored any protest and leaped to the stands, landing softly in the spot where they had been sitting before. He gently placed her in the chair, as if she weighed nothing.

Elizabeth felt her face heat up, a blush unexpectedly creeping up her cheeks.

"I'll be right back." Kael said simply before turning on his heels and leaping back into the arena.

Kael landed softly back in the arena, his eyes sharp as blades, fixed on the professor.

Before advancing, he turned slightly and called, his voice cutting through the silence like thunder about to explode.

"Arthur."

The prince raised his eyes, surprised by the seriousness in Kael's tone.

"Call the Director."

It wasn't a request. It was an order.

Without waiting for a response, Kael raised his hand and began to remove the bracelet around his wrist. The black metal pulsed, as if resisting for a moment, before finally yielding.

And then—the world seemed to stop.

The atmosphere trembled.

The air grew dense, heavy.

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An overwhelming pressure emerged from Kael, like a storm awakening from its deep slumber. Black lightning bolts of condensed mana danced around him, crackling like chains of pure destruction. His body shuddered as he felt the power flowing unrestricted, a force he had grown accustomed to keeping sealed.

He took a deep breath, feeling the mana flood him like an unrelenting wave. He had almost forgotten... what it was like to be whole.

The students in the stands gasped, some instinctively backing away. The very ground beneath Kael's feet cracked with the weight of his presence.

He raised his gaze to the professor—no, to Klaus Blake, who was now involuntarily taking a step back, his face draining of color.

Kael gave a small, cold smile.

"From this moment on, under the authority granted to me by the Director..." His voice echoed throughout the arena, carrying an undeniable weight. "Klaus Blake is sentenced to death... for attempted murder against Elizabeth Borealis, the Princess. Daughter of the Emperor, Hadrian Borealis."