CHAPTER 60: HIS MOTTO

"Make them fear you, living in your shadow forever." — Nero Adams

°°°

For a fleeting moment, a dark thought crossed Nero’s mind: ’I wish I could crush his limbs, torture him.’ But he quickly chastised himself. That would be too easy, too quick. He wanted Barak to suffer, to feel the weight of defeat. Today, he had crushed him, but Nero understood that someone like Barak would eventually rise again. This was only a setback.

Nero’s aim wasn’t merely a one-time victory; he sought to completely obliterate Barak’s spirit. If Barak hadn’t provoked him, perhaps he could have lived a relatively peaceful life. But now, having earned Nero’s ire, there was no turning back. The greatest revenge he could exact was to make Barak live in constant fear, forever in the shadow of his power. For Barak, this method was the most appropriate—an ongoing reminder of his failure and a psychological torment that would haunt him long after.

Nero’s strategy was meticulously calculated.

Suddenly he was brought out of his reverie by the voice of his teacher.

"Congratulations, Nero!" Balrog exclaimed, beaming with pride. "Your mastery of the Law is impressive. I knew you had it in you."

His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he continued, "Your strategy was brilliant. You didn’t just win; you demonstrated a deep understanding of your opponent’s psychology. You made Barak doubt himself, and that’s what led to your victory."

As they spoke, Barak was being carried off to the infirmary, having lost consciousness from the intensity of the fight and the psychological burden of everything that happened today.

"Remember, it’s not just about strength," Balrog advised, his tone shifting to one of mentorship. "It’s about how you use that strength to instill fear and respect in your opponents. You’ve started down a path that can lead to greatness, but keep your focus. This is just the beginning."

Nero nodded, absorbing Balrog’s insights. He understood that this victory was not the end but a stepping stone toward his ultimate goal, to have fun while better understanding himself.

Never provoke him if you want to live a peaceful life; his motto is to crush his enemies, with the most brutality possible.

On his way back to his seat, Nero was abruptly stopped by the princess, whose eyes shone dangerously. He felt goosebumps ripple down his spine; for some reason, the current princess seemed extremely formidable, her gaze reminiscent of a predator standing before its prey.

’I don’t like this,’ Nero thought inwardly, sighing as he wondered what the princess wanted.

"How can I help you?" he asked, his voice steady despite the unease settling in.

In response to Nero’s question, Elreth’s cheeks burned a vibrant red, reminiscent of a shy maiden in love. But she was neither shy nor in love.

With her most brilliant smile, she declared,

"Let’s fight later." Leaving those words hanging in the air, she spun on her heel to return to her seat, catching up with Azalea, who was trailing behind. Nero stood rooted to the spot for a moment, surprised, before shaking his head.

"Sure," he replied immediately. He was eager to test his strength against the strongest of the class. The prospect of battling her made his blood boil. Even though he had a better understanding of the Law of Fire and could control it perfectly, Nero had a feeling that he could learn something valuable from Elreth, a true genius. This could also be an opportunity to put her in her place.

There was also the possibility that such a confrontation might ignite more of her interest in him, but that was a risk Nero was eager to take. After all, life wouldn’t be exciting without a little risk.

Upon reaching his seat, Adam, who had been waiting, high-fived him. Nero responded with a smile.

"You didn’t disappoint me, I believe in you. You were so great that if I were a woman, I would have fallen for you," Adam threw out, recalling how some of the girls had looked at Nero after his victorious performance. He couldn’t help but sigh; this friend of his was truly dangerous. Once again, he was reminded of this fact. He better watch out, or he would end up stealing all the girls.

Seeing Adam lost in thought, it didn’t take a genius to guess what was going through this pervert’s mind. He must be labeling him as some kind of woman magnet, Nero thought, shaking his head with a subtle smile.

"Thank you for believing in me."

"Hmm!" Adam answered absentmindedly.

Nero shook his head, dismissing Adam’s lackluster response before shifting his focus to the remaining matches. The sixth bout wasn’t particularly thrilling, but the final one promised to be exciting. Two female knight cadets were set to face off, one wielding a rapier and the other a claymore. Both of them harnessed the Law of Fire, but neither displayed the exceptional mastery that Nero or Elreth had demonstrated.

As the match began, the atmosphere in the arena shifted; the crowd buzzed with anticipation. The rapier-wielder, a lithe and agile fighter named Mira, was known for her quick reflexes and cunning tactics. The claymore user, a more robust cadet named Kaela, was celebrated for her raw power and resilience. Despite their differences in style, both were formidable opponents.

The fight commenced with Mira darting forward, her movements fluid and graceful. She lunged with her rapier, aiming for Kaela’s midsection, but the claymore-wielding cadet was ready. With a swift step back, Kaela raised her weapon defensively, the blade shimmering with the faint glow of the Law of Fire. The two fighters met in a clash of steel, the sound ringing out like a bell across the arena.

The impact sent sparks flying, and the crowd erupted in cheers. Mira quickly twirled away, her agility allowing her to evade Kaela’s powerful swing. She then followed up with a series of rapid thrusts, each one aimed to find a gap in Kaela’s defenses. However, Kaela stood firm, using her strength to counter each attack with calculated parries.