Everyone had their own destinies. We all had different paths in life. Our lives start at unequal points and end at different points. How far you go is decided by yourself and the circumstances that shape your immediate environment.

No matter how great you think you are, you are nothing but a product of your environment and therefore subject to its consequences.

"Amon… Amon…" His breath was heavy as he repeated the name like a chant.

Anger, grief, and humiliation raged within him, pushing him forward as he thundered through the savanna-like terrain scattered with trees, brown grass, and shrubs.

How far could he run if he didn't carry his hatred on his back?

Xander was raised on the principles of a proper noble, steadfast and honorable. It was this rigid and unchanging mentality that had driven him all his life; never once had Xander broken his beliefs.

What doesn't bend will surely break, and Xander was perhaps already broken, driven by his pursuits.

Revenge was driven by grief.

He continued across the region even though he knew Amon might have already moved away from that direction. Still, he ran forward to face his great enemy.

Raising his spear, he smashed it into the head of a monster that had risen from the grass.

It dodged the first strike, but he didn't even mind. The creature crashed into a barrier he had created behind it.

With a second thrust of his spear, he brought down the full weight of the Armor of Bound Colossus on its body, shattering its flesh and scattering blood all around.

Xander was undeterred. Turning around, he bit his lip. He wasn't getting anywhere, and that made him so frustrated with everything.

The light that had been a beacon leading him to Amon was long gone now.

Even if he reached there, could he beat Amon? Gritting his teeth, he took a step when a stern voice echoed behind him from the trees.

"Aren't you going to take the medallion from killing that monster?"

Xander paused. The calm tone came almost out of nowhere. He hadn't sensed her or even felt her gaze on him. She was a pro.

If she had ambushed him a moment earlier, he might have been caught by surprise.

A bit of a surprise, because Xander was a tank; a single attack wouldn't take him down.

Still, he turned his head toward the single tree in the open savanna, the closest one to him. Seated on one of its branches was a familiar young woman with dark hair and ringlet curls.

She carried a staff in her hand, a sign she was a mage-type.

Xander knew this young woman, how could he not? He was a noble of Valtheron, just like she was. But more importantly, she was the Student Council President of the Imperial Academy.

This was Emilia Highgon.

"What do you want?" Xander called out coldly, though such rudeness was unusual and unbecoming of him.

Emilia smiled, glancing at him with a soft expression.

"Hmm, I didn't expect such a response. Are all students of Aether Academy rude, or is it just you and that Damon Grey fella?"

Xander frowned. Why was he hearing Damon's name now anyway?

"What is your business with me? If it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get."

Emilia scoffed, the smile still worn on her exquisite face.

"I outrank you both as a fighter and as a student. I'm also older than you. Do you really think you stand a chance against me?"

Xander squeezed his spear. Of course he was aware of that. He was in the second class advancement, while Emilia was in the third. If anything, she was more powerful, more experienced.

She could easily fight above her rank.

But Xander didn't care about that. So what if she was experienced? So what if she could fight above her rank? He had the perseverance and grit of someone who had crawled through hell and battled a thousand horrors.

Xander had overcome actual hell by walking through three death zones. He didn't fear anything, not even those in the seventh class. The worst any of them could do was kill him, and he had seen and felt things far worse than death.

"Do you want to put that to the test, Lady Highgon?"

Emilia was pleasantly surprised by his reaction.

"How does Lilith Astranova keep you trouble children of Aether in check? You're all so violent."

Xander didn't want to turn his back to her, or he would have left. Still, Emilia didn't seem to care. She jumped down from the tree, landing lightly on the grass.

"Lord Ravenscroft, where are you off to in such a hurry, if you don't mind me asking?"

Xander was already irritated enough, so he barked out, "I'm going to kill Amon."

He turned around and began to walk away, ready to defend against any attacks from her.

Emilia took a step, then began to walk beside him.

"I didn't take you as someone who wanted the bounty on his head… or is this about Godric Ravenscroft?"

He paused, standing still for a moment. Emilia didn't say anything, she knew she had touched a nerve.

"Are you seriously rushing to your death? Think about it, Xander Ravenscroft. This was someone—or something—that killed your brother in his own chambers, under everyone's nose. Mind you, your brother was a war veteran. He died with little resistance."

Xander squeezed his fists as her words hit him like a hammer.

"Duke Ravenscroft didn't succeed in killing him. What chance do you stand? If I wanted to stop you, you wouldn't even get past me. How will you kill Amon alone?"

He gritted his teeth, his blue eyes shaking with anger.

"So what? So what! I still have to avenge my brother and kill the fiend!"

Emilia smiled faintly, touching her chest.

"Valid… so I'll help you."

He raised his head in surprise.

Her smile faded.

"We are heading for a world dungeon. This is the trial. I feel like Amon is the greatest and most powerful obstacle. We can't win if he leads the demons. We need to ally together, all of us."

She reached out her hand.

"Xander Ravenscroft, let's join forces… to kill this great enemy."

He glanced at her hand and took it slowly, looking into her eyes.

"You won't succeed in killing Amon," he said. "But suppose this is a start."

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