A small pale smile appeared on Northern's lips.
"Despite your arrogant front, you have well-polished instincts, something that could not have been gained without dancing at the edge of death every second."
The smile on his lips slowly transitioned into a grin.
"So, I take it that you know what it means to die?"
Northern's cold voice caused tingling tendrils of fear to curl around Nel, shuddering his entire being.
Nel was a personality created by the strain put on the brain-a personality created to propagate the true potential of a talent without emotional limitations.
Storing impacts of strikes was not easy; it required a durable mind, else the impact would take its toll on Lenn's mind before he could return it.
But Lenn was strong; in fact, he surpassed his family's expectations. He was able to handle the ability for an extensive duration.
This caused him to be favored and even be named heir. He was the strongest after his father.
However, because of how mentally strong he was, his mind began to tear apart from the strain of his talent abilities.
The impacts were dealt onto his head; he was just strong enough to endure it.
However, consistently enduring it while drowning in constant pain and an insufferable passion to become stronger, a version of himself that he wished for became reality from the strain.
When the strain of using his ability rose, Lenn slowly changed along with it. He noticed this after his first Milhwa festival.
As the strain rose, so did a new personality-something he had no control over. A different being... an alter ego.
And every time this being became reality, Lenn was incapable of remembering anything, while he also could not remember anything of Lenn, except their childhood memories that they both shared.
As time went on, with frequent combats here and there, the personality surfaced time and time again, proving himself to be a menace in the academy.
Defeatable only by two people.
Sadly, it was about to turn three.
Nel responded to none of Northern's words, unable to stop staring with a trembling and frozen expression, pearls of sweat stagnant over his face.
Northern placed his hands behind his back and began to move closer, his voice coming out like massive, unstoppable cracks striking the heart of an iceberg.
"Let me get something straight... even with the amazing ability you have, you would never be able to defeat Night Terror."
He paused and glanced down at Aster, who had been there the whole time, watching with a terrible expression on his face.
He had tried to run away earlier before Northern came, but his legs failed him.
When Northern came, he was glad and happy-until that moment Northern stretched out his hand.
It was so casual, but at the same time, his heart dropped tremendously, and the next second began to beat so fast he felt he would die from how rapidly it was racing.
Northern's reach was like a different kind of darkness, something primitive and dangerous. It was terrifying and frustrating that he could not make out what it really was.
Northern's gaze slid back to Nel, who stood tense, every muscle coiled with vigilance. Nel's eyes locked onto him, frozen and trembling with palpable fear.
"The only reason why you were able to defeat Night Terror was because I instructed him not to harm any student unless absolutely necessary, and even when it is, he must not injure them enough to threaten their life."
Northern stopped a few meters in front of Nel, standing where puddles of Night Terror's blood had formed.
He glanced at the graze of the wound on his shoulders.
"You thought you were able to dodge that attack?"
Nel's eyes skidded over to his shoulders for a moment before quickly returning to Northern.
"It was a strike that was never meant to hurt you from the beginning."
Northern raised his head.
"There's no way a brat like you would defeat my first summon," Northern's tone dripped with contempt.
Night Terror and he had a long history; in fact, he felt like Night Terror was stronger or at the very least had tremendous potential to be his strongest summon.
The monster had a terrifying affinity for combat and was still in his phase of growth.
Night Terror had never met an enemy that would render him inactive.
Northern bit down on his inner lips in regret that he had given him such a command.
He wished he had not, but also it was good that he did, else a core member of the disciplinary committee would be dead.
Now, he didn't think that was one trouble he would be able to avoid dealing with-both with the academy and the boy's family, whoever they were.
Nonetheless, despite it being a handicap, the thought that Night Terror got done in by a
broken brat made Northern feel bitter and hurt.
'I should make him stronger... focus more on his growth.'
What he wanted was, whether or not it was a handicap, he didn't want that to matter. What he wanted was for Night Terror to stand at the peak of whatever situation that battle entailed. There were no excuses for failure. The strong simply win. That was his will.
He clicked his tongue and glared down at the boy.
"Get out of my sight before I change my mind," Northern hissed, his words dripping with
Nel, with trembling legs, slowly staggered backward. He turned and walked forward, only to
Northern frowned whimsically, a menacing gleam rising in his eyes.
Nel began to turn slowly, but before completing the motion, his form vanished—a blur flying
Northern shifted his stance in an instant, his hand snapping up beside his head. The impact came a heartbeat later-Nel's foot slammed against his palm, the force rippling through the air with a crack that echoed like thunder, shaking the tension around them.
The broken boy's grin stretched wide, mischief flickering in his eyes as he shouted.
But before the word had fully left his lips, his body jerked violently backward, as if struck by
His grin twisted into shock, his limbs flailing as the momentum slammed him into the