Defeating and killing Lion is already made it clear that he was strong.

It was the only thing Kai needed to really understand—that he could become stronger, much stronger than anything he imagined. Kai already proved to himself that he can achieve what his sister wanted from him.

No need to do it again.

Chester is a threatening individual, but he’s not in a rush to do anything.

All he needed to do was to focus on his next steps.

And that is to become the Red Prince.

Getting into a tussle with Chester would only put him into more danger with the Chancellor, which he didn’t want to do right now. Not when he was being watched closely. But there’s a limit to Kai’s patience.

Seeing how Chester ignores the safety of an innocent man made him lose it.

It clawed at his conscience, forcing the darker side of him to come out.

Kai’s aura flared even more, and the white part of his eyes was slowly consumed by the eternal darkness. He stared at Chester with a bone-chilling gaze and raised a finger, "I’m Lesser Angel Kai of Moros, and I challenge you, High Angel Chester of Perseus, to a duel."

A deafening silence enveloped the entire area.

Students who were watching the scene were caught by surprise by this.

None of them expected Kai to have the balls to go against Chester, one of the strongest, if not the strongest, High Angels in the freshman class. Someone who has never lost a single fight—from the very start of the academy until now.

On the contrary, not too long ago, Kai was beaten to a pulp by a mere Angel.

It was bold for him to even suggest this.

"Are you serious? Challenging me?" Chester chuckled in contempt, finding it amusing that a mere Lesser Angel dared to challenge him. "Haven’t you realized it already? Haven’t you seen it with your own two eyes? You and I... There’s a big gap in power between us.

"A gap that couldn’t be crossed no matter how hard you try," He added with a cold tone.

Being challenged openly like this in front of the others angered him inside.

Not because of the challenge itself, but because Kai actually believed he had a chance.

Everyone could see it in his eyes that he fervently believed he would win.

And that’s the most humiliating part about this situation for Chester.

"Kai, let’s think about this. Let’s not do something stupid." Bree rushed forward and planted herself before him; her hand catching his arm. She pressed close, shoulder to shoulder; her voice low and urgent. "You won’t be able to beat him easily. He’s trained—He does not make mistakes. Not to mention challenging a High Angel open like this, the academy will find fault in you. Just forget about this." Her grip tightened. "Let me handle it."

Bree looked into Kai’s eyes, but he didn’t look into her.

She sighed and turned around, flashing her brightest smile.

"Chester, there has been a slight misunderstanding."

"What misunderstanding? He challenged me. There’s no misunderstanding in that."

"I made a deal with him that I would grant him any wish he wanted as long as he’s the one who killed the Star Beast. Never thought he’d go this far—for it. I don’t want to cause unnecessary trouble like this. Can you please let it go?"

"Is that so?" Chester glanced at Kai and smirked inwardly. He grabbed the skull of the dead monster and showed it to Bree. "Since I am the one who killed the Star Beast, does that mean you’ll be granting my wish?"

"I only made the deal with the Le—" Bree paused and then swallowed back her words. "Fine, I’ll do—"

Swoosh—!

Before she could finish her sentence, a figure rushed past her with surprising speed.

Kai launched himself forward, unable to hold back the clawing ache inside his heart. Ignoring his safety or any other Angels’ safety is okay; this is their world. But ignoring the safety of an innocent, normal man is not okay.

So, he wanted to hurt Chester.

His hand wreathed in the crackling energy of his Dark Discharge imprint. He drove it straight for Chester’s face—with killing intent. And the speed he was showing was monstrous. For the first time, something flickered in Chester’s eyes—panic.

He wasn’t expecting Kai to explode with speed like this.

Something seized Kai’s wrist, stopping his hand from reaching Chester’s face.

No, it was a hand.

"What are you doing?" the bald professor looked down at Kai.

Kai turned his gaze toward the bald professor and blinked. Slowly, the darkness that had seized his sclera began to melt away, receding like a tide pulling back from shore. He registered the situation and knew the risk.

Caught in the act of attacking a High Angel is really bad, but he didn’t flinch.

Not this time.

"I challenged High Angel Chester to a duel," Kai said with a steady voice—and then gestured to all the students around who were watching from start to finish. "Everyone here can attest to that. This... I simply made the first move."

"Even so, you should know your place," the bald professor’s voice dropped lower. "You’re a Lesser Angel. Challenging an Angel would already be out of your league, but you even dared to challenge a High Angel?"

"What’s wrong with that?"

"You are not in the same strata. You can’t challenge a High Angel."

Kai gritted his teeth.

Every single time he did something, the world kept reminding him that he was nothing.

That he was simply a Lesser Angel.

That his only role in this dog-eat-dog world is to be the sacrifice.

"Listen to Professor Badwin," A voice came from above; it was Professor Evie who had now returned from the Second Sky. "A challenge can only be done between two students from the same strata. For you, a Lesser Angel, you can only make use of an official setting."

"I want to challenge Chester," Matilda raised her hand and stepped forward. "I want to have a duel with him."

Like Kai, she was also infuriated by what Chester did.

She also wanted to hurt Chester.

"Don’t act tough when you’re not."

Bam—!

Out of nowhere, a devastating strike landed on Matilda’s stomach and sent her immediately to her knees. She supported herself with one hand while the other clutched her stomach that felt like it caved in.

Chester came out of invisibility and looked down at her.

"Challenge me when you’re ready," He sneered in contempt. "Right now, you’re nothing."

Kai was surprised to see this.

It seemed like Chester had gone invisible, using the moment he was distracted by the professors to activate his helmet.

He wanted to check on Matilda, but the bald professor, Professor Badwin, stopped him.

Only when Chester walked away did he finally put his arm down.

"Even though you haven’t technically attacked a High Angel, I still need to punish you. Let’s have you do more during the sparring session," He said; it was mercy, as he normally would increase Kai’s weekly quota. "Don’t do this again. Know your place."

Professor Badwin walked away to inspect the damage done to the hive.

Above, Professor Evie looked at Kai with a peculiar gaze before flying away to do the same.

Kai went to check on Matilda, kneeling on one knee beside her.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I’m fine. Just... Just needed to catch my breath."

At first—he hadn’t expected Matilda to lose so badly against Chester. Then he remembered: unlike him and Chester, she hadn’t digested a Crystallized Teardrop of Argus. Even with her Halo active, her mind and body were struggling to keep up.

Since this was her first time going against a Star Beast, she wasn’t used to it yet.

This wasn’t because Chester was that much stronger than her.

Kai looked toward where Chester had gone.

Still... I think I also can’t beat him right now.

Now that the anger had melted away—Kai saw the situation for what it was: even if Chester accepted his challenge, victory was far from certain. Exhausted as he was after fighting non-stop against the Star Beast, Chester still radiated a quiet, dangerous air.

One that hinted at hidden tricks and unspent power simmering beneath the surface.

In order to beat Chester, Kai needed to grow even stronger.

Moments later, the professors told them about what had happened.

It was an uncalculated Sky Gate incursion—on the Second Sky, and the AAA had summoned the professors to deal with it simply because they were closest. Their experience in handling Sky Gates was unquestionable, and yet, one still managed to slip past them.

And that one managed to slip into the First Sky and landed here, on the hive.

Professor Badwin told them this incident should serve as a reminder of an Angel’s duty. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Then, surprising everyone, he praised them for how they had handled the situation.

He had expected casualties to be far higher, but they weren’t.

And for that, the students had done well.

Kai believed that this success, this better-than-expected result, was the reason why he only got a small punishment of becoming sparring dolls for more Angels instead of having his weekly quota increased.

It was the reason why Professor Badwin was in a good mood.

Once the time to return came, Kai and Bree were the first ones to start heading back.

After all, they don’t have families in the hive like the others.

Right outside the hive while waiting for the others, Kai glanced at Bree.

"Are you still going to fulfil whatever Chester wished?" He asked whisperingly.

"I think he forgot about it. But if he asked for it—then most likely," Bree answered, and then turned when she noticed the frown on Kai’s face. "I’m doing this to cover for you. It was your rashness that made me do this."

"But still... Are you really going to do it?"

"Yes, Kai. I’m going to do it. Why are you so troubled about it, anyway?"

"I saw how he looked at you," Kai’s forehead creased, remembering Chester’s greedy eyes as he stared Bree down. There was anticipation behind those eyes that troubled him. "He would really make use of this, I’m sure."

"Do you think I’m a whore?" Bree was at a loss for words, realizing why Kai was worried. "It would be stupid of him to ask that. In fact—I dare him to ask me to do those things. I will rip his balls and have them for breakfast.

"As a Supernal of my Patron God," She rested a hand on her chest. "My purity is significantly more important than everything. Even more important than my life. Once popped, it will give many benefits to the man who claimed me and me. So, I’m not going to give it up that easily."

"Ah... I see," Kai nodded, embarrassed to even think that way.

Just then, he paused, staring at her in surprise.

Wait a second... She did ask me to claim her that night. Don’t tell me—if I had actually made a move back then, she would have given it to me? Just like that?