The grand hall was adorned with banners and shimmering chandeliers, casting a golden glow over the gathered students, professors, and distinguished guests. The air buzzed with excitement as the reward ceremony was about to begin, marking the end of the competition. Students stood in neat rows, dressed in their academy uniforms, their eyes fixed on the stage where the headmasters of each academy stood.Seraphina stepped forward, her sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered students. She had been selected to present the awards."Today, we recognize the achievements of the students," she announced. "Those who have demonstrated outstanding skill, courage, and resilience."Murmurs filled the hall as the first name was called."Dante."A hushed silence fell over the crowd before applause erupted. Dante, his midnight-black hair catching the light, strode forward with his usual composed expression. Though he was never expected to be the winner of this competition, his prowess was undeniable. He

Dante stepped outside to join his friends. Along with Adam and Gavin, he ventured into the forest to hunt for an animal they could use for the party.He could have done it in an instant, but he didn’t want to take the fun away from his friends, so they did it the old-fashioned way."So, have you gotten a girlfriend?" Adam asked."Not really," Dante replied, though he smiled as he thought of Aria."What about Vida? Has anything changed between you two?" Gavin asked."What do you mean by that?" Dante looked confused, not understanding what his friends were implying.Adam and Gavin exchanged glances, feeling pity for Vida. Even now, Dante remained oblivious to her feelings.As their hunt continued, Dante suddenly heard footsteps. His acute hearing as a swordsman allowed him to detect people marching toward the village, even from within the forest."We have to head back," Dante said, and his friends immediately followed him.Though he was confident that Lucian could handle any trouble, th

Just as Dante had hoped, he fully recovered within a week. Without wasting time, he went to find Lucian.The moment Lucian laid eyes on Dante’s mana pool, he muttered in astonishment, “Wow.”It was unlike anything he had ever seen—an unfathomable depth of power that defied all logic.“This is truly remarkable… What exactly is your awakened ability?” Lucian asked, his curiosity piqued.In response, Dante raised his hand, and the four elements—fire, water, earth, and air—manifested in his palm, swirling together in a mesmerizing dance.Lucian let out a scoff, shaking his head in disbelief. “And to think you’ll still advance beyond this… gaining access to even greater abilities.” He clenched his fists slightly, feeling his title as humanity’s strongest become a joke in comparison.Dante smiled. “According to my mother, I am the original… and Leon will never compare to me. Since even he has now gained access to other elements, it’s only a matter of time before I do as well.” He could alre

It had been four months since Dante and Lucian began their journey together. In that time, Dante had grown by leaps and bounds, far surpassing even Lucian’s expectations. Every day seemed to bring new revelations, new powers, and new feats.Dante had unlocked the mastery of lightning, metal, currently he is using earth and air to create a forcefield. Using his newly developed forcefield, he could deflect and block almost anything thrown his way. To Lucian, watching his progress was nothing short of awe-inspiring. He never imagined that Dante would rise so quickly."You're using your forcefield to make yourself untouchable during combat," Lucian said, observing Dante as he swiftly defeated an S-rank monster deep within the dungeon. The monster howled in agony, its massive form crashing to the ground with a loud thud."Yes," Dante replied, his voice calm yet thoughtful. "It’s still a far cry from your gravity ability, but I’m getting there." He wiped the sweat from his brow and examined

Sylvia Glades couldn't believe that the human champion stood before her, holding her in his arms. It had not even been five months since the competition, and ever since then, he had been all she could think about. She remembered watching him secretly during the party."Can you let me go now?" she stuttered, believing her heart would explode if she stayed in this position any longer."I don't know. I actually like the way we are," Dante said as he pulled her closer. Her scent, her skin, her innocence—everything about her drew him in.In truth, this wasn't the first time he had felt the urge to make a woman his. He had felt it with Aria too, but Aria was different. He saw her as a strong, independent woman, someone capable of leading and making her own demands. She was a bit shy, but still strong enough to go after what she wanted. The elf princess before him, however, was different. She had so much innocence, so much tenderness, that Dante felt like he was about to corrupt something pu