The ground beneath my boots buzzed with barely restrained magic.
Floating screens hovered in the sky like predatory birds, focused on the shimmering battlefield below.
A crimson moon floated faintly over the coliseum as the gates to the massive combat zone creaked open.
’Pixia, do you feel that?’
(Yes. It’s the sound of 5,000 overconfident teenagers about to get emotionally devastated.)
I smirked.
The moment I stepped onto the platform, eyes turned.
Noble girls whispered. Elven instructors flinched. One fox-kin girl fainted. Again.
’Why do I feel like I should be charging ticket fees for my existence?’
(Because your arrogance has its own economy.)
Alicia walked beside me, arms crossed, crimson cloak fluttering behind her like fire. "Don’t look so smug."
Leon jogged up, already flustered. "S-so we’re a team, right?! I mean, yeah, we are, but I—just asking!"
I ruffled his hair. "Relax, Leon. We’ll carry you."
"I can carry myself!" he protested.
’That’s the spirit,’ I thought, as the arena gates trembled open.
I stepped onto the stone platform as the magical barriers around the arena began humming with energy. Alicia stood beside me, arms crossed, her red cloak fluttering in the breeze. Leon approached moments later, adjusting his gloves.
"You two ready?" I asked, cracking my neck.
Leon nodded. "I’ll try not to get in the way."
"Kid," I smirked, patting his shoulder. "You’re the elemental prodigy. Try not to outshine me too much."
Alicia scoffed. "If anyone’s outshining you, it’s me."
"Of course, my lovely flame."
(Host, you do realize this isn’t a triple date, right? It’s a 5,000-player brawl.)
’I’m aware. But if I don’t flirt at least once every ten minutes, I might combust.’
Above us, the announcer’s voice echoed across the sky.
[Third Person POV]]
"Cadets! This is the Battle Royale Phase! You may form teams, or fight alone. Only the last 1,000 standing will proceed to the Ranking Duels!"
"Begin!
The battlefield had erupted into chaos.
Dust, light, and mana clashed violently in the air as over five thousand cadets unleashed their might across the vast landscape conjured by the academy’s trial magic. Craters formed, trees shattered, and the sky itself trembled with raw energy.
But amid that madness, three figures moved like wolves among sheep—Ravin, Leon, and Alicia.
They weren’t officially a team. No one was. The battle royale allowed for alliances but never required them. And yet, something about the way they moved—backs to each other, reading each other’s tempo—felt more practiced than random.
Zephyra leaned back, sipping wine.
"Look at them," she mused. "Three little misfits. Yet they’re cutting through entire factions like weeds."
Synthia didn’t respond immediately. Her crimson eyes focused on the battlefield below.
"They’re not just misfits," she said. "They’re shaking the system. That’s dangerous."
Nivera appeared beside them, a ghost of a smirk on her lips. "Especially your Ravin. Gods, he’s delectable when he fights."
Synthia’s hand tightened on her armrest.
Zephyra chuckled. "Careful, Nivera. You’re starting to sound possessive."
"I’m always possessive," she purred.
[Back on the Battlefield – Leon and Alicia’s POV]
Leon gritted his teeth as a wave of arrows rained toward them.
"Elves again!"
Alicia spun and summoned a wall of fire-laced blood, dissolving the enchanted arrows mid-air. "That’s the third wave! They’re pissed because we took down their precious noble boy."
Leon raised his arm. Lightning and water spiraled around him as he muttered an incantation. Moments later, a storm dragon emerged from the clouds and lunged at the attackers, scattering them in fear.
Alicia exhaled, sparks dancing around her eyes. "We need to regroup with Ravin. We won’t last long like this."
Leon nodded. "Agreed. Where is he, anyway—"
[Ravin’s POV – Meanwhile, Somewhere Else]
’I swear, Pixia, this entire forest is just packed with nobles out for blood.’
(That’s what happens when your reputation becomes bigger than the arena. Also, Host, maybe don’t casually walk into vampire territory?)
’What—?’
Too late.
I stepped through a grove of black thorns and found myself surrounded by crimson mist.
Dozens of cadets dressed in elegant obsidian and red armor appeared like shadows. And in their center—
Princess Lirienne Nocthariel.
She stood with a calm, hungry smile, her emerald eyes glowing. Her gaze locked on me like a starving noble eyeing dessert.
"Ravin," she said sweetly. "I was hoping you’d wander this way."
(Host. Abort. This is not a test. This is a trap.)
Lirienne stepped forward. Her voice dropped, but before she could say anything—’Pixia...’
(Yeah?)
’Permission to flirt and flee?’
(Permission granted. RUN.)
I ran, not from fear, but to find a location where I would look cool and flirt easily.
[Back on Alicia & Leon – East Quadrant]
Elven soldiers formed a barrier around them, their faces grim and furious.
"You disgraced our noble house," one of them spat.
Leon stepped forward. "He tried to kill us. We defended ourselves."
"That doesn’t matter. You’re commoners."
Alicia’s eyes narrowed, fire flaring.
"Say that again."
They didn’t.
Because the next moment, the earth cracked as Alicia’s fire serpent and Leon’s storm eagle collided into the formation—sending the elf cadets flying like leaves in a hurricane.
[Observation Balcony – Zephyra & Synthia POV]
"He’s playing with vampires," Zephyra said lazily, swirling her drink.
"Idiot," Synthia muttered, arms folded.
Zephyra grinned. "But effective."
Synthia’s eyes didn’t leave the screen. "If Lirienne actually drinks from him..."
"He’ll probably flirt while bleeding."
"He would."
Zephyra leaned back. "Your student is turning the battlefield into a rom-com."
Synthia didn’t reply. Her nails dug into the armrest.
[Ravin’s POV – Still Fleeing, Kinda]
I void-stepped past one vampire who tried to grab my cloak.
"Touch me again and I’ll pour garlic oil in your shampoo."
Blood-mist curled like silk around me as more noble-born vampires descended from the trees, graceful as falling knives, fully surrounding me. And then—
She stepped through the mist.
Princess Lirienne Nocthariel.
Those emerald eyes locked onto mine, glowing like hunger wearing lipstick. Her every movement dripped elegance and murder.
"There you are," she purred, voice soft as poison in wine. "I was worried you’d run again before I got to say hello."
(Congratulations Host. You are now fully surrounded. I told you to run faster but no, you had to get caught.)
’Hey, now don’t blame me. It’s a perfect spot to farm some CP and maybe flirt a bit.’
"Hello? I thought this was your way of proposing," I quipped, casually resting my blade on my shoulder.
She tilted her head, her smile widening. "Proposal? That depends. Do your kind offer their necks before or after the ceremony?"
"Depends on how good the kiss is," I smirked.
Her eyes narrowed—amused, not angry. She took a deliberate step forward, the mist around her swirling like fabric clinging to her form.
"You smell... divine," she whispered. "Sweet, like ancient blood under moonlight. Would you like to be my personal goblet for the day?"
"Tempting," I said, stepping in close enough to see the veins beneath her porcelain skin pulse. "But if you want a taste, you’ll have to earn it."
A pause.
Then she leaned in, close enough to kiss, lips near my ear.
"I don’t bite on the first date..."
’Pixia?’
(Yes?)
’I think I’ll fall for her. Also possibly I’m in danger.’
(Same thing with you, but aren’t they the ones in danger?)
’Heh, you know me too well, for now let me play with them a bit.’
I leaned back, grinning. "Well, I’m not into relationships where I die at the end, so we’ll have to negotiate terms."
"I can be gentle. Sometimes."
I feigned a gasp. "Careful, Princess. Say things like that, and I might start thinking you’re falling for me."
She licked her lips. "Falling? Oh, dear Ravin. I’ve already descended."
(Affection +7. Lirienne Nocthariel: 39/100 CP Gained: +35,000
Title Unlocked: [Tempting Bloodbag] – You have successfully seduced a high-ranking vampire without bleeding (yet).)
With that, she lunged.
We clashed—her blade dancing with bloodlust, mine sparking with void energy. The earth cracked beneath us. I ducked under her strike, spun, and whispered behind her:
I locked blades with Lirienne, her eyes glowing brighter.
"You’re making me hungry," she whispered.
She pushed harder, trying to overpower me, but I kicked off a stone, flipping over her, and struck the ground.
’Pixia tell me the status,’
(You’ve officially pissed off three vampire nobles, impressed a royal princess, and earned +60,000 CP. Also, you’ve been flagged as "Blood Type: Irresistible.")
’Figures.’
Lirienne laughed again. "You’re fun. I think I’ll keep you."
"You know, if you wanted my attention, you could have done that without surrounding me with your lackeys."
She laughed, low and velvet-rich. "I had to make sure you don’t run away again."
( CP Gained: +10,000 from nearby vampire nobles watching your banter in horror aníd awe)
She slashed again, this time with enough force to tear open the stone platform.
I caught her wrist mid-strike, smirking.
"I don’t usually let people this close. Consider yourself special."
Her pupils dilated.
"You’re mine after this match," she whispered, fangs flashing slightly. "Blood, body, or both."
"I don’t belong to anyone, Princess," I replied, letting her go.
"But you can try."
With a flash of wind, I vanished—leaping to the top of a ruined pillar as she stared after me, eyes glowing.
"Catch me if you can," I called smirking.
"Oh, I will," she said, licking a cut on her lip. "And when I catch you... You won’t want to leave."
(Affection +5. Lirienne Noctharial: 44/100. CP + 5000)
(Host, I feel like she’s ready to marry you and murder you. Possibly at the same time.)
A/N: Tell me if you like this style of writing, and also, I wanted to announce that this is the last free Chapter of this novel, and after this, the Chapters will be locked. There are over 40k words available for free. Do tell me your reviews about this novel.}