The Magenta Resurgence

The tension in the SCORPIO training arena thickened as Rem quietly exited the sparring circle, giving Kael a glance that was unreadable—perhaps surprise, or something else entirely. The room fell into silence as all eyes turned toward the lone male of the class, the outcast among the 12 Beauties of the Era.

Kael stepped forward without a word, his boots echoing on the polished marble floor. The scar over his right eye still faintly ached, a reminder of the humiliation he'd suffered at Vaelion's hand. But today, he wasn't here to relive the past—he was here to show that he wasn't a joke.

Hailey, standing calmly at the center, tilted her head, her long black hair flowing behind her as her single visible crimson eye bore down on him. "So, the pig steps into the lion's den willingly," she said, smirking.

Kael didn't respond.

Marin Demo whispered to Elizabeth, "He's serious... Look at his stance. It's like he's fought life and death battles before."

Elizabeth Dragneel, arms crossed, her horn faintly glowing, narrowed her red-slit eyes. "That magenta aura… it's the same as the Cursed Sword locked deep in our Demon Kingdom treasury. How...?"

Across the arena, Seraphina Libra scoffed, her golden eyes locked on Kael. "Hmph. A fallen noble swinging around aura like he belongs here. Peasants really don't know their place."

But Kael didn't flinch at their words. As he closed his eyes, a hum pulsed through the air.

Hailey's smile dropped ever so slightly as a strange pressure began to build.

He opened his eyes—and then it happened.

A burst of magenta aura exploded from his body, spiraling like a tempest, howling with silent fury. Everyone watching felt their hearts skip a beat.

Even Hailey raised an eyebrow. "Not bad…"

Kael narrowed his eyes. "Let's begin."

Without waiting for a command, Hailey released a wave of Aura Glare, her killing intent condensed and refined into a sharp mental strike. It shot through the air like a lance of pressure. Many of the students had earlier crumbled under it—but not Kael.

His magenta aura flared in response, forming an instinctual mental barrier. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he resisted the paralysis, forcing a smile from Hailey.

"So you blocked my Aura Glare..." she muttered.

Erina Solstice whispered from the side, "Is he really just an aura user? His mental strength is unreal."

Liz Fenror, her tail flicking, narrowed her heterochromatic eyes. "He's...different."

The fight began in earnest.

Hailey dashed forward, her hand glowing blood red as she shaped it into a sharp aura blade. Like a flash of crimson lightning, she lunged at Kael with enough force to shatter stone. But Kael was ready. He met her attack with his own aura—raw and roaring, turning his blade to match her strike.

Clang!

The room shook.

Kael gritted his teeth, pushing back. Then, channeling all his aura into his sword, he shouted:

"Baskan Sword: First Form – Flurring Gush!"

The aura erupted from his blade like a cyclone, a fierce magenta whirlwind that surged toward Hailey. The shockwave cracked tiles, sent loose papers flying, and made even the other S-Class scorpio students rise from their seats.

But—

Hailey blocked it.

With a twist of her body and a sweep of her crimson blade, she cut through the technique, her aura outmatching his just slightly.

"You've learned a solid attack," she said, stepping in. "But..."

Her aura surged again—"Red Blade: Execution Form."

With a flash of red, she struck Kael's chest, sending him flying across the ring. He hit the ground hard, sliding until he stopped against the training wall.

The silence was deafening.

Seraphina looked surprised. "Even after all that, she barely tried."

"Hailey never praises anyone," whispered Yuel, the elf princess.

Hana Al Mira, who had been standing in the shadows near the wall, stepped forward silently.

As Rem hurried over to carry Kael to the infirmary, Hailey looked at her palm where Kael's magenta aura had briefly clashed with her own.

"…Not bad," she whispered.

At that moment, Hana finally spoke, her voice quiet but sharp.

"What do you think of him?" she asked Hailey.

Hailey turned to her, her expression unreadable. "He's reckless. Brash. Unpolished."

She looked again at the faint burn marks on her hand.

"But… he's worth watching."