Power of Runes

One week passed after the duel, and the news of Ash defeating Ray spread through the entire academy like wildfire.

At first, many students didn’t even believe it. How could Ray, the prodigy who had always stood at the very peak of their generation, be defeated? It sounded absurd, almost like a bad joke. But disbelief only lasted until the video of their battle began to circulate within the academy’s inner circle.

The footage didn’t spread beyond the academy walls, though—such was the strict control of the academy. They made sure no one outside could witness the overwhelming and destructive power displayed that day, because if they did, it would shake far more than just the academy’s reputation.

After that day, Ash became a name that carried weight... and fear. Even though he never threatened anyone, even though he wasn’t the type to flaunt his power, people feared him instinctively. That’s how humans were—they feared the unknown, the unexplainable, and Ash’s strength was exactly that. It was far beyond comprehension.

He was no longer just another student in their eyes. He had become something different, a figure they couldn’t hope to compete with, an existence that stood far above them.

Ash noticed the changes around him soon enough. Whenever he walked into a class, it felt as if all eyes turned toward him, silently whispering about the events of the duel. It wasn’t admiration... it was fear.

No one could properly focus on lectures when he was there. Some students stared at him openly, while others avoided his gaze, as if meeting his eyes might bring trouble. Their unease was almost suffocating, and it was beginning to distract even the instructors.

So, Ash did what he thought was best—he stopped attending most classes.

Of the five subjects he had chosen, three were purely theoretical, so he could easily study those on his own. As for the combat class, he simply didn’t attend anymore. Instructor Leonard, having witnessed Ash’s power firsthand, didn’t object.

Perhaps he knew there was no point in teaching someone who had already surpassed most of the academy’s students by miles. So, he daily sparred with Ash after all his classes were over.

The only class Ash still attended was Mana Manipulation, taught by Instructor Elva. That class was still useful to him. But the rest of his time? He spent it in the Academy’s Library, where the silence suited him and the shelves of books became his true battlefield.

Now that he had awakened his Soul Library, there was no limit to how much he could absorb and store within his mind. His brain was no longer bound by human constraints. He didn’t just read books anymore—he devoured knowledge. Even subjects he had previously ignored, he now studied with careful attention.