After receiving a blessing from a Law and successfully creating a second core, Nero had become more sensitive to his surroundings. For some time now, he had felt hostility directed at him, and it was becoming bothersome. There weren’t many people who could harbor such feelings against him, aside from his half-brother Barak and his little crew. Even without checking, he knew the source of the hostility was them.
"He must be cooking something bad up," Nero thought, not particularly bothered by it. Instead, he decided to chat with Adam.
"Adam, tell me, how would you deal with someone whose reputation is starting to grow?"
At this sudden question, Adam, who had been meditating and performing a breathing exercise, snapped his eyes open.
"I think the easiest way would be to destroy his growing reputation through rumors. It doesn’t matter if you have anything on him or not."
"I thought so," Nero remarked with a smile, though something deadly lurked behind this seemingly normal expression. Adam shuddered for a moment before shaking his head; even without further explanation, he could guess that Nero was referring to Barak. His half-brother must be planning something awful. Humans are truly creatures of discord, Adam thought, but he decided to offer some words of advice to his friend.
"Never underestimate your enemy. In situations like these, it’s better to completely crush them to set an example for those who harbor vile intentions."
"Thank you for your advice. I’ve taken note of it, and you don’t have to worry; I’ll deal with it soon enough," Nero responded with a smile. Although he hadn’t initially planned on making a big deal during the upcoming mock battle, his mind had changed. He would thoroughly crush Barak. He had a strong feeling that Barak would be his opponent; their teacher had a bit of a nasty personality, and knowing their backgrounds, he would likely pit them against each other. This was an opportunity Nero wouldn’t miss. He intended to crush Barak’s self-esteem, trampling over him to the point of trauma. From that day forward, Barak would live in his shadow, and Nero would become his inner demon.
Imagining this scenario, Nero couldn’t help but grin, not bothering to hide it. His desire to crush Barak was palpable, sending chills down Adam’s spine.
"You look really dangerous right now, do you know that?"
"I know," Nero replied, finally managing to control his expression and emotions.
Finally, their teacher walked in and immediately announced the day’s schedule.
"Today, there will be a mock battle to test your skills. I’ve already decided who will be facing whom."
As soon as he finished speaking, he began writing in the air using Prana. With fourteen cadets in the current Knight class, they were divided into seven groups. As expected, Nero would be facing Barak.
Upon seeing the matchup, Barak wore a triumphant smile.
"I didn’t expect to get the opportunity to crush you myself so soon. You are finished," Barak declared to Nero, making a slicing gesture with his hand. It had never crossed his mind that he might lose; true, physically Nero was the strongest in the class, but physical strength wasn’t everything in a knight duel. With his ability to use primordial energy and the Law of Lightning, Barak felt confident he could crush Nero.
Nero remained passive in the face of Barak’s provocation, showing neither joy nor sorrow, which only fueled Barak’s irritation.
"Tch! Just wait," Barak scoffed, throwing out those third-rate villain lines. He began to strategize how he would completely crush Nero. Known for rarely displaying emotions, he believed he needed to provoke him into losing control and attacking recklessly.
’How about insulting his mother? That’s got to be his weak point,’ Barak thought inwardly, already concocting various insults. Humans are emotional creatures, and most are filial, disliking any slights against their parents. For Nero, who had experienced so much pain and loss, his mother was the one who had showered him with love before her untimely death. Insulting her would strike at a deep, vulnerable spot—like touching his reverse scale. Barak was certain that even Nero, who rarely showed emotions, would lose control and lash out if provoked in such a personal manner.
Barak imagined the satisfying scene: Nero’s face contorting with rage, his calm facade shattering as he charged at him. The thrill of knowing he could manipulate Nero’s emotions like a puppet filled Barak with excitement.
"It would be fun!" Barak grinned, eagerly anticipating their match.
Meanwhile, Adam, sitting beside Nero, wore an expression that suggested he’d just swallowed something unpleasant. Knowing who his opponent would be made it understandable—he’d be facing none other than Azalea Zephyr, the Elven princess.
Naturally, Elves and Dwarves didn’t get along, and while their hostility had diminished over the years, it still lingered, especially in this generation. Adam and Azalea had never seen eye to eye since childhood, when their parents attempted to maintain a semblance of courtesy in their relationship. Much like Elreth and Khione, Adam and Azalea shared a similar dynamic.
"Shit, why do I have to face that annoying bitch?" Adam complained, prompting a chuckle from Nero. Seizing the moment, he playfully slapped Adam on the shoulder, mimicking the way Adam often teased him.
"Don’t worry, I believe in you," Nero said, continuing to slap Adam’s shoulder. Nero couldn’t help but nod in understanding.
"I see why Adam loves slapping us on the shoulder. This can get addictive."
"You! This situation seems amusing to you, judging by the sly grin on your face," Adam shot back, glaring at Nero, who simply shrugged off the accusation.
"I’m innocent."
"Innocent my ass. Wipe that sly grin off your face and stop slapping my shoulder. It hurts like hell! Don’t use this opportunity to get back at me," Adam complained, narrowly dodging Nero’s next slap.
Nero’s hand froze in the air, pretending to act as if he had lost something important. Adam rolled his eyes at him, feeling the previous tension slowly dissipate.