Episode 9
Zeke ascended to the top floor, where the exclusive Platinum Floor Lounge was located.
Guided by a servant, he entered the lounge to find Reina Draker already seated in one corner.
Behind Reina stood a few upperclassmen affiliated with Turunga, their presence almost comical to Zeke.
‘What are they, a cartel or something?’ he thought, smirking inwardly.
To Zeke, it all seemed like child’s play.
At Reina’s gesture, the cadets from Turunga stepped back, allowing Zeke to take a seat across from her.
“Apologies. My family’s people can be a bit much,” Reina said.
Her hair, once shaved during her infancy, was now styled in a short cut. Clad in the Draker cadet uniform and wearing gloves symbolizing pureblood awakening, Reina looked every bit the quintessential Draker knight.
‘Impressive,’ Zeke mused, sensing the aura around her. He realized she had already opened her lower dantian and begun her aura cultivation.
Once again, Zeke was reminded that the Draker family was a den of prodigies.
“Why did you call me here?” Zeke asked directly.
His curiosity about the Knight of the Flash, the strongest among his peers in his past life, had led him to accept the invitation. But he had no intention of wasting time on trivial matters.
Just then, servants began bringing in the food.
Thick steaks were placed in front of both Reina and Zeke.
“We can talk over the meal,” Reina suggested.
Zeke was slightly taken aback by the sheer amount of steak in front of Reina.
‘Is she really going to eat all that by herself?’
Though he wasn’t a light eater, Reina’s appetite seemed to defy logic.
She cut into the steak, juices dripping, and devoured it with ease, finishing one piece in no time.
Noticing Zeke watching her instead of eating, Reina asked, “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. So, why did you call me here?”
Reina wiped her mouth with a napkin and looked at Zeke.
“Zeke Draker. I’ll get straight to the point. Accept Turunga’s sponsorship.”
Her words implied that he should become one of Turunga’s people.
Zeke clicked his tongue at her proposal.
“Is that all you wanted to say? I’m disappointed.”
“Graduating from the academy without a sponsor isn’t easy. Especially if you’re aiming for Valhalla.”
Valhalla.
The premier institution located in Atlas, the largest city at the heart of Midland, the central continent.
Like the academy they were currently in, Valhalla was also run by the Draker family.
Simply entering Valhalla guaranteed a bright future, as it was the top knight training institution.
Over 70% of the kingdom’s knight commanders in the central continent were Valhalla alumni.
And not all Draker bloodlines could enter Valhalla. Only the best of the best were admitted.
Zeke looked at Reina and said, “Do I look like I can’t get into Valhalla without a sponsor?”
All direct descendants, including Zeke, were half-siblings with different mothers.
For instance, Abel Draker, the second son, was sponsored by the Siemens family through his mother.
While other direct descendants had powerful maternal families backing them, Zeke had none.
His mother had passed away from illness when he was young, and her family was so obscure that he knew nothing about them.
Thus, receiving sponsorship from his maternal side was impossible.
Knowing Zeke lacked a sponsor, Reina had proposed Turunga’s support.
Reina continued eating her steak and spoke, “Turunga’s sponsorship isn’t a bad deal. Unless you already have another family in mind.”
Reina wasn’t wrong.
Turunga was one of the main vassal families supporting the Drakers.
Strength of Turunga.
Wisdom of Siemens.
Gold of Valdeck.
As one of the three families backing the Drakers, Turunga’s strength would undoubtedly aid Zeke’s growth.
However, Zeke firmly rejected Reina’s offer.
“No, it’s the same with any family. I just don’t see the need for a sponsor.”
Reina, who had been eating steadily, paused in surprise at Zeke’s outright refusal.
She hadn’t expected him to turn down her offer.
Zeke recalled his memories of Turunga.
‘Getting involved with Turunga could mean being shackled for life.’
Turunga was known for its tenacity.
With their unique organizational skills, Turunga was fiercely loyal and never let go of their targets.
There was a reason why the Turunga family had traditionally led the Draker’s infamous pursuit squad, the “Chusaldan.”
For Zeke, who planned to graduate quickly from the academy, gather what he needed from Valhalla, and leave the Draker family, Turunga was more of a chain than a supportive sponsor.
‘I’m curious about Turunga’s secret techniques, but the losses outweigh the gains.’
Having finished her steak, Reina looked at Zeke and said, “You never cease to surprise me, Zeke Draker.”
“There will be more surprises to come.”
As Zeke stood to leave, he paused and turned to Reina.
“Reina Draker. Let me give you some advice.”
Reina looked at him.
“Your swordplay is too rigid. Your strength lies not in brute force but in the flexibility of your body. Don’t force yourself to match the men. Embrace your elasticity, and you’ll become much stronger.”
Reina was taken aback by Zeke’s straightforward advice.
No one had ever given her such direct feedback, especially since she was renowned as a prodigy from a young age.
Having shared his insight, Zeke left the lounge.
Alone in the lounge, Reina pondered over Zeke’s words.
“Have I been trying to match the men?”
It was something she had never considered.
Turunga was synonymous with strength.
Naturally, Reina had followed that tradition.
‘Or perhaps, subconsciously, I was trying to match them.’
A true genius was different.
Reina immediately acknowledged her shortcomings.
She had quickly grasped the opportunity to become stronger.
She looked towards the lounge entrance where Zeke had disappeared.
‘Zeke Draker. What do you see that others don’t?’
The next day marked the start of the academy’s first semester.
Zeke was assigned to the “Special Class,” where the most elite students gathered.
As he walked through the campus, he took in his surroundings.
‘Ah, it’s been a while.’
In his past life, this place held only bad memories, but now, with his pureblood awakening, it felt like paradise.
‘Power and influence really do make a difference.’
Unlike the regular student buildings, the Special Class had its own separate facility.
Having never set foot there in his past life, Zeke climbed the stairs with curiosity.
At the top, the Special Class building came into view.
‘That must be it.’
Though smaller than the buildings housing thousands of regular students, it was still impressive, considering it was for only a few hundred special students.
As Zeke was about to enter, a voice called out to him.
“Zeke Draker.”
He turned to see Owen Siemens with a few other students.
Their uniforms bore the badge of the Siemens family.
It seemed they were cadets from the Siemens family.
They eyed Zeke warily, and he couldn’t help but scoff internally.
‘Already forming cliques, huh? This family’s rotten from the start.’
Looking around, Zeke noticed that most Special Class students had formed their own groups, big or small.
He was the only one standing alone.
Owen approached Zeke and spoke slowly.
“I invited you to dinner yesterday, but you didn’t respond. Did you not receive the message?”
Zeke replied, “No, I got it.”
Owen continued in a calm voice, “Then why didn’t you respond?”
Zeke retorted, “Do I have to reply every time you ask me to eat?”
At Zeke’s sharp tone, one of the upperclassmen from Siemens stepped forward.
The guy’s muscles bulged under his uniform.
“You’re being quite rude to the young master’s invitation.”
Zeke looked at him and asked, “And who are you?”
The upperclassman frowned and said, “Huh. A freshman who doesn’t know me? This is… unexpected.”
Not wanting to engage further, Zeke turned away.
That’s when it happened.
Whoosh!
A karate chop flew towards Zeke.
He instinctively reached out and caught it.
‘An aura?’
The chop was imbued with aura.
Zeke blocked it with his hand, deflecting the force, and quickly stepped back.
“How’s that? Awake now?” the upperclassman, who had attacked, smirked confidently, flexing his hand.
“My name is Durban Roswell. Here, they call me Durban the Slash. I’m here to teach you some manners on behalf of Young Master Owen.”
‘Durban the Slash?’
Zeke found it ridiculous that students, not even knights, were giving themselves titles.
He glanced at Owen, who stood behind Durban, observing without any intention of intervening.
‘So that’s how you want to play it, huh?’
Zeke was unimpressed by Siemens’ typical scheming from the shadows.
Zeke clenched his fist tightly and spoke with determination.
“Today, I’m your etiquette enforcer. Brace yourself.”
In an instant, Zeke’s figure vanished.
Whoosh!
Zeke weaved his way inside Durban’s defenses with swift, fluid movements.
Durban saw Zeke’s fist flying toward his abdomen and smirked confidently.
‘How cute. A freshman’s punch.’
He focused his aura on his abdomen.
With his steel-like abs reinforced by aura, his stomach became as hard as a metal plate.
A rookie’s punch would shatter against it, no doubt.
Whoooosh!
‘Huh?’
Durban doubted his ears.
Something sounded off.
Zeke’s fist, slicing through the air, landed squarely on Durban’s abdomen.
Boom!
Crack!
“Ugh!”
Durban felt as if his entire midsection had been ripped away.
Zeke’s onslaught didn’t stop there.
Closing the distance with quick steps, he circled around and delivered a low kick to Durban’s thigh.
Whoosh!
Boom!
The same explosive sound echoed.
“Ugh…”
Durban collapsed, unable to stand from the numbing shock in his thigh.
Zeke’s attack was so swift that Durban hadn’t even had a chance to shield his thigh with aura.
His face turned pale with fear.
‘Is it… broken?’
Zeke approached the fallen Durban, fists still clenched.
Panicking, Durban waved his hands.
“W-wait!”
But it was Durban who had picked the fight in the first place.
Zeke had no reason to show mercy.
“The mighty Durban? What a joke!”
Zeke stomped on Durban, whose ribs were cracked and thigh bone shattered, with methodical precision.
Owen and the other senior cadets watched Zeke’s beating in silence.
After thoroughly subduing Durban, Zeke pressed down hard on his injured leg.
“Aaaagh!”
Durban’s scream filled the special training ground.
Other cadet groups watched the scene with interest.
Zeke turned to Owen.
“Who’s backing Durban? Hurry up, I’m busy.”
Owen glanced at the fallen Durban and then turned away.
He addressed Zeke.
“Zeke Draker. You’re quite full of yourself.”
Zeke shot Owen a disdainful look.
“Spare me, you old geezer.”
Owen stared at Zeke for a moment before silently leading the other senior cadets from Siemens into the special training building.
Durban was left behind, groaning at Zeke’s feet.
Zeke clicked his tongue as he watched Owen’s retreating figure.
“Siemens guys are all the same—nothing but bad news.”
By then, Durban was dragging himself away, trying to escape.
Zeke watched him for a moment, then walked over and kicked him in the side once more.
“Aaagh!”
Durban’s scream echoed through the training ground again.