Chapter 1

  The Fireguard Academy — the Eastern Continent's premier agent training center — was where the most promising youth gathered to become protectors of their homeland.

  On any given day, the academy’s courtyard would be buzzing like a hornet’s nest on the verge of a storm. Students clad in sleek training gear sprinted, sparred, and shouted battle cries as they pushed their limits.But today, all eyes were glued to the main gate, even the instructors were distracted.

  After all, it wasn't everyday that a living legend casually enrolled in a training academy.

  Rei Archlight.

  The "Looming Death of the Battlefield."

  The 18-year-old soldier who turned the tide of a century-long war by killing 1000 enemy soldiers alone, surviving 10 weapons embedded in his body—and walked out with only a scarred blind eye.

  And now? He was leaning against a wall like he’d just woken up from a nap.With gum in the mouth and lazy demeanor he looked more like a slacker than the man who once made a whole army retreat.

  Across the courtyard a girl streched her arms and sighed. Her long free hair swayed with her every step as she walked past the crowd of students. She was Sera Ardyn, the top student of the academy and daughter of the Chief of army of the continent's armed forces, she was quite literally military royalty.

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  She glanced at Rei with a flat expression.

  "So that's the guy everyone is making a fuss about?" she murmured "Doesn't look like much."

  Just then Rei yawned and walked forward— straight into her path. She bumped into his chest and stumbled backwards, slightly annoyed.

  "Watch it."

  "My bad," Rei said lazily smiling."Didn't see you there, princess."

  Before she could say something, a loud voice rang out.

  "Oi! Chain reaper!"

  A bulky student with a giant axe in his hands came towards Rei.

  "If you really are the strongest, prove it. Spar with me. Or are your war stories just bedtime lies?"

  Rei sighed. "Na, not interested."

  The crowd booed.

  Sera raised an eyebrow and turned toward him.

  “Maybe he’s not that strong after all,” she said, loud enough for Rei to hear.

  Rei paused.

  A vein popped on his temple.

  He cracked his neck, then looked up with a lazy grin that didn’t reach his eyes.

  “Tch. Fine.”

  He raised his fists. Empty-handed. Calm. Silent.

  The match began.

  The bulky student roared and charged, his axe swinging wide. Rei didn’t move until the blade was inches away. Then—

  BOOM.

  A fist connected to the student’s stomach. In a blur, the axe clattered to the ground. Before the crowd even registered what happened, the challenger was face-first in the dirt, gasping for air.

  Rei stretched his arms again.

  “Still think I’m weak, princess?” he asked, not even turning around.

  Sera stared, speechless for a split second. Then smirked.

  “Not bad… for a lazy guy.”