Grand Return System

The Sword That Silences Dragons

"She finally drew her sword!"

A sudden cry raced across the open space, fast as flame on tinder. People looked up. Gaze after gaze snapped toward the sound. For once, even those old ones shifted in place, faces slipping out of stillness.

Out of nowhere, that knife showed up - and everyone there knew it right away.

The Amethyst Mist Sword.

A soft glow rose in Selena’s palm, the blade’s rim holding back a hush of light - like it paused before speaking after years of silence.

And yet -

Still, Selena stayed just as she was.

Breathe first. Wait before moving.

One move ahead.

Her wrist turned.

The blade turned - once. Again. A third spin. Then still.

Not every turn aimed at spectacle - each moved with care. As Lior struck, power curled past her steel, much like a stream skirting rock. Shifted off course, it lost strength. Gone bit by bit, as if never there.

It stayed under her control.

She dismantled it.

Opposite her, Lior clenched his jaw. Stillness followed. His face showed tension without a word. A breath held too long. Then nothing moved but the air between them.

Stillness there... a quiet distance -

Something slipped beneath his skin, slow and unseen.

"Still holding back...?"

The hammer felt heavier in his hand as his fingers pressed harder. He held on tighter without thinking.

Enough.

A spark leapt through the space near his shoulder. Flame snapped awake without warning.

Forward he stepped, a roar breaking loose as the swing followed

"Drake Manifestation!"

A heavy blow came from above.

Yet things kept moving. Still, they refused to pause.

A sudden rush of energy twisted upward, forming a huge fiery dragon skull at his back - the mouth stretching open, waves of warmth bending light like reality was coming undone.

The dragon roared.

And in that instant—

It lunged.

"This is—"

"Gale Division’s Earth-grade Sacred Art... Drake Manifestation!"

Shock spread instantly.

Even seasoned students stiffened.

They hadn’t expected this.

Not this early.

Not this decisively.

Lior wasn’t testing.

He was ending it.

Beneath the platform, Levis stayed still, his hand moving slow across facial hair, amusement just showing. A quiet grin pulled one corner of his mouth, eyes fixed ahead without blinking.

Confidence.

Pure and unapologetic.

"Drake Manifestation... Hehe... interesting."

Out came Leon’s voice, slow and loose, like it found something funny.

It was right there, no attempt to cover up.

His faint smile, quiet and hard to read, softened the sense of him observing a fight

As if his eyes were stuck on a scene he’d seen before, each moment unfolding just as expected.

Over by his side, Maya looked his way, her gaze tightening just a bit.

Still nothing - no hint of worry? Not even a trace?

Her gaze returned to the stage.

Then back to him.

Just what did you teach her...?

On the arena—

Selena was forced back.

The dragon’s momentum tore through the ground beneath her feet, pushing her into the air.

Her robes fluttered violently, silver-white hair dancing against the heatwave.

For the first time—

Her brows drew together.

Not fear.

Recognition.

He wants to decide it here.

Good.

So did she.

Her grip tightened.

The Amethyst Mist Sword rose slowly in front of her chest.

And then—

Silence.

A cold... suffocating silence spread outward.

The temperature dropped.

The flames twisted unnaturally, as if resisting something unseen.

Sword intent.

Pure.

Sharp.

Absolute.

"Drake Manifestation?"

Selena’s voice cut through the chaos—calm, steady... and cold enough to freeze bone.

"I’ll make sure..."

Her eyes locked onto him.

"...you can’t raise your head today."

She moved.

Not fast.

Not flashy.

Just one clean motion.

The sword swept across—

And the world followed.

A crescent arc of pale, chilling light tore forward, cutting through the burning air like a blade through silk.

The heat shattered.

The dragon roared—

And met the sword.

BOOM—

The arena exploded with sound.

Dust surged upward. Wind howled. Flames and frost collided, tearing at each other in a violent struggle that lasted only a breath—

—and then—

Silence.

A faint dragon’s cry echoed...

...and broke.

A figure fell from the sky.

Lior crashed down hard, the impact cracking the stone beneath him.

Lior crashed down hard, the impact cracking the stone beneath him. "Pfft—!"

Blood spilled from his lips.

His grip loosened.

The hammer slipped from his hand and struck the ground with a dull, defeated thud.

His vision blurred.

But he forced his eyes open—

Just enough...

To see her.

Selena stood where she had been.

Unshaken.

Untouched.

Like a sword immortal who had descended into the mortal world—

cold...

untouchable...

unreachable.

"...Impossible..."

His voice barely came out.

Below—

Levis shot to his feet.

The calm mask shattered completely.

His gaze locked onto Leon in the distance.

Teeth clenched.

But he said nothing.

Not a single word.

"...Moonlight Flicker strike..."

Shera muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing as he slowly turned toward Leon.

He had seen it clearly.

That strike—

It was born from the Amethyst Mist Sword technique.

Refined.

Evolved.

Deadly.

And far beyond what he remembered.

—

On the arena—

Selena lowered her sword slightly.

For a brief moment—

Her eyes flicked toward Lior.

Not mockery.

Not arrogance.

Just quiet acknowledgment.

"You fought well."

Her voice was soft now.

Almost gentle.

A stark contrast to the cold blade she had just unleashed.

"But strength alone..."

She paused, letting the silence settle.

"...is not enough."

Then she turned.

And walked away.

The match—

Was already over.

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Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Grand Return System* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!

With love,

Scoturn777

Creator of Grand Return System

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