~… Do not stop the match no matter what happens! That Jared Leonard… let him have what’s coming to him.~

This was the same instruction he had received concerning Jerry… all from the same Senior Lecturer! Klaus gulped and his heart sank while looking at Jared who had already turned in his direction for an answer.

“… You know… I can’t sanction this, but… I won’t stop you either.” The man spoke, stuttering for the first time on stage.

Jared’s face spoke of an untold maturity, so Klaus had no doubt the boy got the hidden message behind his words.

“You… understand, don’t you?”

A moment of silence prevailed and then Jared spoke.

“I do. This much is enough, professor. Just take Jerry off stage, so he doesn’t get caught up in the conflict.”

Jerry on the other hand, despite all the damage he suffered, had managed to stay conscious. He looked at Jared with a disbelieving expression. He wanted to tell him to ‘give up’, but those words could no longer come out of his lips. Somehow, he too wanted to see what would happen.

Jerry wanted to see if this would actually be the victory he craved for!

“Both of you should just stand back and watch the show!”

Klaus didn’t know where the boy’s confidence stemmed from. Even as the older man watched the younger boy turn his back in order to face the opponent, his heart ached. Was this truly the right thing to do?

‘Be careful, Jared… I can’t help you… you’re on your own.’

Once Jerry and Klaus were away from the stage, both watching the young boy in earnest, he took off his jacket, leaving only the shirt and shorts he wore on. Jared stole one last glance behind him, seeing Klaus and his guilty eyes, as well as Jerry, who was seated on a chair made by Klaus’ magic. He was being healed as well.

Jared leaked out a smile and nodded slightly, returning his focus to the front… where his enemy floated.

“Keep your eyes peeled, Jerry… I’ll show you how a Lower Class wins!”

******

A Few Moments Earlier

Edward and Ana had been watching the match with keen interest, same as everyone else. They were surrounded by Kuzon, Stefan, Maria, and basically other students who had participated in the Semi-finals, for some reason.

Even though the seat area was clearly meant for the Lower Class First Years, those from the Upper Class sat without reservation, all surrounding Jared Leonard and his friends. Amid chatter and side comments, they had been keenly watching this fight in particular… seeing as Jerry strived with all his might.

Then… they saw the whole thing take a sharp turn and Jerry nearing death. The more intuitive students already knew that Richard was taking things too far with his Spell.

‘Why isn’t Klaus Tallman stopping this…?’ Must have been what they thought within themselves.

“That guy is going to die soon…” Kuzon had commented nonchalantly.

From his tone, it was obvious that the boy couldn’t care less about what happened to their senior. The others who hadn’t noticed were surprised by Kuzon’s cruel remarks, but others weren’t fazed.

Jared, Edward, and Ana had been watching from the start with their enhanced vision, and listened to every word exchanged in the match. Of course, they were aware of how dire the situation was getting.

Kuzon tilted his head and stared curiously in the direction of one student in particular, Jared, and gave a slight smile upon seeing the completely neutral expression on his face.

“You don’t seem worried. What’s going on in your head?” The golden-haired genius asked the one who had lost to him in the Finals.

Edward and Ana also turned to Jared, surprised that the boy wasn’t even displaying the slightest bit of worry or rage even after watching Jerry being pressured to death… literally!

“J-Jared, I think we should stop the match somehow…” Ana mumbled with a nervous tone.

“How? You have no jurisdiction in the matter.” Stefan chimed in, also curiously staring at Jared for a response.

It was unusual for his rival to be quiet in times like this.

Ana bit her lip the moment Stefan mentioned the logical answer. In the end, they were merely spectators. Only the judges and moderator could stop a match, and the fact they hadn’t done so already spoke volumes.

“I don’t care! I’ll storm the place if I have to!” The one who spoke now was Edward.

His bulging eyes and gritted teeth showed that he was dead serious and meant every word. There was probably no one who was more agitated than him. After watching the match from the start to this point, how Jerry gave his all in the battle… how honorable he had been…

Those actions resonated deeply and made a deep impression on the young swordsman, making him want to stop any further unnecessary pain being inflicted on a hero… even if it warranted severe consequences!

“Really? Is that what the winner of the Martial Artist Division among us First Years is supposed to say?” Kuzon teasingly remarked.

“I don’t care! This is clearly-”

“Kuzon is right…” Jared Leonard’s voice sharply cut in, causing everyone to look in his direction.

After so long in silence, the boy finally spoke. But, the words he uttered were not what they expected. He was so calm and collected that those around had suspected it wasn’t Jared Leonard who was among them.

“B-but, Jared… I can’t watch as-”

Jerry was suffering, nearing death by the second. This was no time to argue!

Edward decided to put off any form of debate and simply follow his heart. Deep within him, the boy still respected his mentor and dear friend… even if he was not being his usual self. Still, Edward was a champion of justice and hard work! Jerry also represented that, and seeing a fellow in need while doing nothing to help was against his policy.

That was why… even though Jared was against it… he was going to plunge to the stage to stop the match.

“I have to try-”

WHOOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!

Before he could complete his sentence, a sharp gust of wind blew past Edward, as well as everyone on their seats… and descended directly for the stage.

Before the students could wrap their head around the phenomenon, they heard a loud BOOOM!

Looking below, their eyes bulged as the figure who once sat beside them was now standing on the stage platform, exuding an aura that only meant one thing…

… BATTLE!