Cough, cough—
Elizabeth coughed harshly as she looked up at Noah. Her gaze shaky filled with surprise and pain.
She had been forcefully ejected from his mind, and the backlash had hit her like a hammer.
Noah stood over her, eyes indifferent.
He had played long enough. It was time to be serious.
"I wonder, Saintess," he said calmly, "what happens when your power doesn't work on someone?"
At that moment, frost bloomed around him. So cold. So lethal. The temperature around them dropped drastically.
Elizabeth shivered, instinctively stepping back.
But Noah wasn't done.
In a single step, he ignored distance—appearing instantly before her.
Elizabeth yelped in surprise, but Noah's hand moved faster.
His palm pressed to her forehead—
His voice was extremely cold.
"Ice of Blood."
He activated the new skill gained after his A-rank breakthrough.
Elizabeth's eyes widened in shock and horror.
Her gaze—normally an absolute nightmare for anyone else—meant nothing against Noah's Limitless Aura. Useless.
Without her gaze, she is just another ordinary woman, she cannot fight. Not resist either.
Noah's ice power was a nightmare.
Her blood began to freeze.
Her circulation slowed. Her strength drained rapidly.
Her body grew numb. Weak.
She collapsed to the ground, eyes losing focus, consciousness slipping away.
She was on the brink of death.
But—just as she was about to fall fully into the void—
Noah stopped.
"Ahhh… ahh… ahhh…"
Elizabeth gasped desperately for breath. Her lungs fought to pull in air as she trembled on the ground.
The audience stared in confusion.
They had no idea what Noah had done.
No one did.
No one… except Damon, the professors, and the Dean.
And right now—they were watching with fascination. With excitement.
"Wow, wow, wow… who is this monster?"
A huge, bald man with a deep, booming voice said. His face full of excitement.
"Freezing someone's blood directly inside their body? That kind of ice control—what kind of talent does he have?!"
Another teacher, a woman with deep blue hair and matching eyes, nodded. Her eyes glinted fiercely while watching this fight.
"Right? That's no small feat. And the Saintess isn't normal either. To enter someone's mind like that… incredible."
The rest of the staff remained quiet, but all were in agreement.
These two were worth watching. But more than that, they are worth teaching.
"They're worth nurturing with care," one finally said.
"Right, Dean?"
All eyes turned toward the head of the table—a stunning woman in her thirties with flawless white hair and white piercing eyes.
Her figure was perfect, every movement graceful, her beauty otherworldly. But looked at her, the only thing you could think of is white.
You can't explain it, it's just the vibe she gave off.
She stared at the projection for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
"Yes. Indeed."
Her voice was smooth—filled with quiet, unshakable authority. But, it's as if multiple people were speaking at the same time.
Eerie. But strangely hypnotic and pleasing to the ears.
No one spoke after that. Their attention returned to the arena.
…
Noah looked down at Elizabeth's trembling figure.
"Do I have to tell you to forfeit?" he asked coldly.
Elizabeth gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with indignation but finally spat the words:
"I forfeit."
"WINNER: NOAH."
Noah didn't wait. He turned immediately.
But as he walked away, he left her with parting words:
"My offer is still on the table. I'll be waiting for you—
When you're desperate enough…
When you start losing your sanity day by day."
Cheers erupted throughout the arena.
They didn't know what he had done.
But he looked cool.
And that's what mattered to them.
…
"We're in the semifinals," Damon announced.
"The first duel will be between Elijah Stoneheart and Sophie Castria."
Elijah stood before Sophie, face solemn.
"BEGIN!"
He wasted no time.
"Is this the Emperor's will?" he asked sharply.
Sophie tilted her head innocently.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't act dumb."
Elijah's voice was laced with irritation.
"The Emperor promised me your hand in marriage. So why do I see you with another man? Showing him affection—publicly?"
From the stands, Noah grinned.
The crowd leaned in. Drama. And they loved drama.
But in the imperial palace, the Emperor was shaking.
His gaze was locked on Sophie through the projection—his fury barely contained.
He turned sharply toward Emily, who looked on in apparent surprise.
"You weren't aware of this?" Rome asked, voice trembling with rage.
But Emily… was no pushover.
Acting was her game.
"How could I know?" she replied, her voice shaky and filled with surprise.
"You know how arrogant she is. She never listens to me."
Rome fell silent—rage burning inside.
The humiliation was overwhelming.
"Contact Isac and Albert."
His voice was like ice. Cold.
"Tell them to take care of Sophie. Make her understand her duty."
His gaze turned deadly.
"Or I will act myself."
But Emily's eyes—hidden from him—were even colder.
'You want to touch my dear daughter? Dream on.'
The game had begun.
And the chess pieces were moving.
…
In the arena, Sophie stood tall and calm.
"I am my own person," she said clearly.
"I marry whoever I want. And I choose Noah Weaverheart—my childhood friend. My love. The one who's always stood beside me."
"I don't care if you're blessed or not. But stop looking at me like I belong to you."
Her voice turned colder. Sharp like thunder.
"Keep those eyes off me."
Elijah was silent for a moment, then spoke:
"Or what? Your dear husband will beat me up? Or will you?"
Sophie smiled coldly.
"I'm no match for you—for now."
She turned her back on him. Walking away.
"But don't get too confident. Noah will beat you. And when someone without a blessing does… I'll follow."
"I forfeit."
Her voice rang across the arena.
Clear. Defiant.
Elijah's jaw clenched.
He turned to Noah, whose grin was wide. Mocking. Confident.
"I'm waiting for you to beat me up, Noah," Elijah said coldly.
"Oh yeah," Noah replied with a laugh.
"Definitely. You should."
—End of chapter 39—