33

The forest air was thick with tension.

Ashton's hands clenched into fists as he watched Emily standing beside Samael.

And worse—Samael was smiling at her.

A sharp, cunning smile.

Something inside Ashton burned.

He didn't like this.

Why?

He didn't know.

He didn't want to feel this way.

He shouldn't care who Samael stood beside. He shouldn't care at all.

Yet, the sight of Emily, standing so close, whispering to him…

It made his blood boil.

---

Samael turned to Emily, his golden-red eyes glinting with amusement.

"Oh, Emily," he said, voice smooth. "Did they break any rules?"

Emily faltered.

Samael's smile didn't waver as he continued, "Even if they did try to steal your points—" he tilted his head, "—this is a competition. Isn't that the point?"

Emily's expression twisted. "Samael, what are you—?"

"Why," he interrupted, voice laced with mockery, "would you assume I'd help you?"

Emily's breath hitched.

Samael took a step closer, his voice growing colder.

"And why would you assume I'd team up with you?"

His gaze flickered toward Ashton and Felix, and his voice sharpened.

"They're my friends."

His words echoed through the silent forest.

Emily's face darkened.

Samael's gaze locked onto hers, unwavering.

"So let me be clear with you, Emily," he said, his voice dropping into something dangerous.

"Don't target them."

The air grew heavy with his power.

"If you do," he warned, his golden-red eyes gleaming, "I won't hold back next time."

A tense silence.

Then—

Emily snapped.

Her crimson eyes blazed with fury.

"You're taking their side?" she spat. "I can understand your friendship with Felix—but why Ashton?"

She turned sharply toward Ashton, her face twisted with disdain.

"Do you even know what he is?" she demanded. "He's just a farming mage."

Her voice dripped with scorn.

"Even if his talent says S Rank, it's useless!" she sneered. "He's just a farming mage, Samael!

The forest was silent, yet the tension was suffocating.

Emily's furious words hung in the air.

"Why are you lowering your standards for him, huh? What's so special about him?"

Ashton's breath hitched.

His Farming Mage talent was now fully exposed.

So this is it.

Now Samael and Felix would finally see him differently.

They would finally realize he wasn't worth their time.

Ashton braced himself for their disappointment.

For their mockery.

For them to walk away.

But instead—

Samael moved.

His golden-red eyes burned with rage as he stepped toward Emily.

His voice was sharp as a blade.

"Don't. Dare. Target him."

Emily flinched.

Samael's expression darkened.

"Don't say another bad word about him. I will not tolerate it."

The sheer weight of his fury crackled in the air.

From the side, Felix's growl cut through the silence.

His blue eyes gleamed with anger.

"He's my friend, Emily," Felix said, his voice low but firm.

"I don't care if his talent is Farming Mage—I will not let you mock him."

Emily's hands curled into fists.

But Samael wasn't finished.

His golden-red eyes narrowed, and his aura surged.

"No one is allowed to mock Ashton."

The power behind his words was absolute.

His presence alone was crushing.

His rage was undeniable.

His golden-red eyes glowed fiercely.

His voice dropped into a dangerous tone.

"Is that clear, Emily?"

Emily bit her lip, her nails digging into her palms.

Samael's expression turned even colder.

"If not—then fight me."

His voice was a challenge.

His body radiated raw power.

"I'll show you who will win."

Emily's breath caught.

She had miscalculated.

Badly.