Kazimir sat atop the stone steps like a statue of war, the late afternoon sun catching in the sharp lines of his jaw. One elbow rested on his knee, his chin nestled against his palm, his eyes cast over the sea of new recruits standing at attention below.
His voice broke the silence—low, calm, and laced with disdain.
Kazimir: "This is the new generation, huh? I'm sure you've all heard about the countless deaths caused by the parasites. Entire nations collapsed. But do you know how many fell within the Astral Legion alone?"
A single hand rose among the recruits.
Kazimir's gaze shifted, and he gave a nod.
Kazimir: "Name?"
The recruit straightened his back, speaking with nervous resolve.
Shin: "Shin, sir."
Kazimir: "Go ahead, Shin."
Shin: "I wanted to ask… how many soldiers from the Astral Legion have died to the parasites… in total?"
A flicker of something unreadable passed through Kazimir's gaze.
Kazimir: "One hundred thousand. That's how many we've lost. But in the last six months? Not a single one."
His voice dropped to a heavy stillness.
Kazimir: "Because I've been out there. Every day. Making sure no one else dies."
Gasps echoed through the recruits.
Shin: "Six months straight…? Aren't you tired? I-I don't mean to doubt you, it's just—"
Before he could finish, Neve, seated among the Vandors, cut in with a firm but caring tone.
Neve: "He's right. Kazimir, take it easy. You've already done more than anyone should. The Blood Moon is coming. That's when we'll need you the most. Don't burn yourself out before then."
Kazimir stood slowly, brushing imaginary dust from his coat, and began to walk away in silence.
But a blur of motion cut through the hall—Ingress, his aura flaring like wildfire, lunged forward.
BOOM!
A sonic shockwave cracked through the air as Kazimir effortlessly blocked the incoming strike with his katana, lightning crackling down the blade.
Ingress: "You always act like you own this place—like the whole world revolves around you! I'm sick of it. Just because they call you the best doesn't mean you get to play god!"
The recruits froze in place, the tension slicing through the air like a razor. Jessie and the other Vandors stood from their seats. Riah's voice rang out like a war cry.
Riah: "Ingress, have you lost your mind?! He's exhausted—you're doing this now just to settle that grudge from the island?!"
Ingress: "Damn right I am. I never forgot what you did to me, Kazimir! Last year, you humiliated me—crushed me like I was nothing!"
His aura exploded again.
Ingress: "Fight me. Or are you too weak now? Let me drive my sword into your chest and repay that pain. Don't worry—Riah can just cry over your corpse or maybe raise you from the dead."
For the first time in public memory, Kazimir smiled—but it wasn't kind.
It was a twisted, bloodthirsty grin. His eyes lit with unstable power, violet lightning dancing across his irises like chaotic stars.
Kazimir: "I tried diplomacy. I tried to meet you halfway. But you—you're a lost cause. So fuck it. Let's fight to the death. Because I want you dead just as much as you want me dead, you fraud of a Vandor."
The room dropped into dead silence. Some of the new recruits looked like they might vomit from the sheer pressure.
Kamaki: "Oooohhhhhh gods. Kazimir… your words just moved something in my pants. I'm burning up here—and I'm still frozen in a block of ice."
With a roar, Ingress swung down again.
Kazimir vanished.
CRACK!
He reappeared beneath the swing, slamming a brutal kick into Ingress's chest. The impact blasted him clean through the wall, crashing directly into Kamaki and shattering the ice around him. Both went flying outside in a storm of rubble and frost.
Kazimir was already behind them, blade glowing.
Jessie and Neve bolted forward, swords drawn.
Jessie: "Kazimir, don't—!"
Neve: "Wait!"
Too late.
Flash.
Kazimir's Dimensional Leap activated, teleporting himself and Ingress to an isolated zone, far from any city, far from any interference.
Back in the hall, chaos loomed—until Riah stepped forward, fire swirling in her golden eyes.
Riah: "Listen up. You're all staying here. The assistants will handle your training until this is resolved. If you have a problem, take it up with them."
Kamaki (picking himself up): "With all due respect, ma'am… I'm too strong for assistants. I'm the top of the first-years. You'll need me."
Tyrone (deadpan): "Bro… do you even know who you're talking to?"
Kamaki: "Shut the hell up. Nobody asked for fashion advice from a dude in a Goofy Movie jacket."
Tyrone (stepping forward): "What the fuck did you just say? Look at you—looking like an off-brand villain from a rejected anime pilot."
Raijin (snorting): "Daaamn, he's on your ass."
Riah: "Enough." She pointed. "Tyrone, Lihanna, Gendai. You three—come with me."
Kamaki: "Wow. So I'm not included? Stupid bitch."
Everything stopped.
Riah's expression didn't change.
Riah: "What did you say?"
Kamaki: "I said—you're a little stupid-ass bitch. Are you deaf too?!"
BOOM.
She flash-stepped.
Before he could blink, her flame-covered fist crashed into his gut. Kamaki's eyes bulged, blood spurted from his mouth, and he collapsed to the ground unconscious, twitching.
Riah (coldly): "Watch your tone next time. Or you'll be kicked out of here before you even get a chance to embarrass yourself."
The hall remained frozen in silence. No one dared move.