Asmodeus System: Stealing My Bully's Mother

The seventh day had finally arrived.

​The capital’s sky was clear and cloudless.

​However, inside the Zenithar Coliseum Arena, the air felt infinitely heavier than usual.

​The colossal, circular structure stood majestically at the heart of the academy, surrounded by tens of thousands of spectator seats now brimming with roaring cheers.

​The thundering roar of the crowd shook the stone walls.

​High nobles.

​Royal envoys.

​Academy instructors.

​And the entire student body of Zenithar.

​Everyone was present.

​Today was not merely an exam.

​It was the grand stage where aspiring mages and knights proved their worth.

​The place where reputations were forged.

​And where pride could be shattered in a single battle.

​In the dimly lit corridor leading to the VIP preparation area, the slow sound of footsteps echoed.

​Tap.

​Tap.

​Tap.

​Ethan Valen walked unhurriedly.

​Gone was the tattered uniform.

​Gone were the condescending glares.

​Today, he wore the dark silver uniform exclusive to VIP candidates, proudly displaying his newfound status in the academy.

​On his right index finger, the Ice Rose Ring gleamed with a faint blue light.

​The artifact had fully synchronized with his mana flow.

​The System chimed.

​Ding!

​[Host Status Stable]

​[Rank: Peak-Stage D]

​[Ice Rose Artifact Connection: 100%]

​[Ice Mana Synchronization Successful]

​Ethan read the translucent panel.

​A thin smile graced his face.

​His preparations were complete.

​Today was the day the entire academy would witness the rebirth of Ethan Valen.

​In the VIP Stands, the atmosphere was far more subdued.

​There were no cheers.

​There was no laughter.

​Only nobles sitting with utterly serious expressions.

​In the grand seat of honor, Isolde von Rosenberg sat with flawless posture.

​Her platinum blonde hair was perfectly styled.

​A dark blue formal gown elegantly draped her figure.

​In the eyes of everyone else, she was still the Vice Principal of Zenithar Academy.

​An immovable, unshakable Archmage.

​But deep inside...

​Isolde was anything but calm.

​Her hands gripped the armrests of her chair tightly.

​Her eyes continuously darted toward the competitors’ gates.

​Ethan.

​The young man’s very existence was now both a lethal threat and a constant reminder of the secret no one could ever know.

​"Just what are you planning to do today..."

​she whispered faintly.

​Up on the Student Council balcony, someone observed the arena with intense interest.

​Her fiery red hair fluttered in the wind.

​Her golden eyes glared sharply downward.

​Kaelia von Ashford.

​The Student Council President.

​The daughter of Duke Ashford.

​She rested her chin on her hand.

​A faint smile played on her lips.

​"Alright then, Ethan Valen."

​"I want to see."

​"Are you truly someone capable of shaking the very foundations of this academy..."

​"...or just a fleeting fluke."

​Her gaze never left the arena floor.

​But deep beneath the arena...

​Someone had completely lost control.

​The competitors’ waiting room was suffocating from an abnormally searing heat.

​A tournament official stood there, pale as a ghost.

​In front of him...

​Kurt von Rosenberg.

​Yet the figure standing there barely resembled the Kurt of the past.

​His Fire Aura had mutated.

​It was no longer pure.

​It was no longer stable.

​The signature orange hue of the Rosenberg family was now tainted with a horrifying, dark crimson.

​The mana veins on his arms were bulging grotesquely.

​His breathing was ragged and heavy.

​Every exhale carried a crushing pressure that made it hard for anyone nearby to breathe.

​"Young Master Kurt..."

​The official gulped.

​"The side effects of that elixir are extremely dangerous."

​"If you keep pushing yourself..."

​"You talk too much."

​Kurt’s voice was dangerously low.

​And dripping with malice.

​He clenched his fist.

​Dark flames erupted in his palm.

​"I only need one thing."

​"The very first match."

​"Put me up against Ethan Valen."

​The official froze.

​"But the official schedule—"

​Kurt’s flames violently flared.

​Not as an attack.

​Just a warning.

​The room was instantly crushed by the oppressive heat.

​"Change it."

​Kurt’s voice grew even colder.

​"I don’t give a damn about the rules."

​"I don’t give a damn about the risks."

​"He must fall right in front of me."

​The official nodded frantically.

​"Y-yes, Young Master."

​His hands trembled as he altered the match brackets on the magical parchment.

​Meanwhile, Kurt stared down at his own hands.

​The agonizing pain from the elixir continued to spread.

​But he didn’t care.

​The only thing left inside of him was one singular emotion.

​Hatred.

​"Ethan Valen..."

​he muttered.

​"Just you wait."

​DONG!

​DONG!

​DONG!

​The colossal arena bell tolled.

​The entire stadium fell dead silent.

​A senior instructor strode toward the center of the obsidian arena.

​His magic staff broadcasted his voice in powerful waves throughout the coliseum.

​"The Zenithar Academy Annual Magic Evaluation Exam..."

​He raised his staff high.

​"OFFICIALLY BEGINS!"

​Cheers erupted like an explosion.

​The entire arena shook.

​"And for our opening match..."

​The instructor’s voice echoed loudly.

​"We have an incredibly fascinating duel!"

​"On the left side of the arena..."

​"The contestant from Class F who recently earned VIP status!"

​"Ethan Valen!"

​The left gates swung open.

​Ethan walked out.

​Casual.

​Relaxed.

​Without leaking even a single ounce of mana pressure.

​His hands remained casually tucked in his pockets.

​Seeing this, several noble students immediately burst into laughter.

​"He’s still acting so arrogant."

​"Against Kurt?"

​"He’s going to be obliterated."

​And then—

​"And on the right side of the arena..."

​"The Class S Bronze Knight!"

​"The heir to the Duke Rosenberg family!"

​"Kurt von Rosenberg!"

​BOOM!

​The right gates exploded open.

​Flames spewed out.

​Kurt’s figure marched out.

​Every single step he took made the arena floor tremble.

​A dark crimson aura scorched the very air.

​The entire audience instantly fell silent.

​Even a few instructors shot up from their seats.

​"That aura..."

​"Something has changed."

​Up in the VIP stands, Isolde’s face instantly went rigid.

​She recognized that energy.

​And she knew.

​Kurt had made a terribly dangerous decision.

​In the center of the arena, Kurt glared at Ethan.

​His smile was brimming with absolute madness.

​"It’s time, Valen."

​"I’m going to wipe away every single humiliation you’ve ever handed me."

​Yet Ethan remained silent.

​He didn’t step back.

​He showed no fear.

​Instead, he simply lifted his chin.

​His gaze drifted first toward Isolde.

​Then shifted to Kaelia up on the Student Council balcony.

​A faint smirk appeared.

​As if to say—

​Watch closely.

​This is only the beginning.

​The instructor raised his hand.

​Mana flooded the arena.

​Ethan slowly drew a breath.

​"System."

​His voice echoed only in his mind.

​"Let the show begin."

​The Ice Rose Ring glowed brilliantly.

​SWOOOSH!

​The arena’s temperature plummeted drastically.

​A thin blue mist began to spread from beneath Ethan’s feet.

​Frost Pheromone began to flood the battlefield.

​The entire audience felt the shift.

​The air that had just been scorching hot...

​Now turned bone-piercingly cold.

​The instructor slashed his hand downward.

​"THE MATCH..."

​"BEGINS!"

​DONG!