novelraw Chapter 139: Before the Storm Breaks
Chapter 139: Before the Storm Breaks
Before the Storm Breaks
A few days had passed since the Martial Meeting began.
What started as scattered clashes across multiple arenas had now sharpened into something far more intense. The weak had already fallen. The lucky had already been exposed. What remained—
Were the true contenders.
Today...
Was the semifinal.
And across the entire Celestis Academy, the atmosphere had changed.
It was no longer excitement.
It was pressure.
------------
Deep within the Amethyst Summit Division—
Inside a quiet cave hidden behind layers of stone—
Mana spiraled.
It didn’t move wildly.
It flowed.
Like a silent storm held under control.
A faint glow pulsed in the darkness, circling slowly like a breathing entity. The air inside the cave trembled gently, as if even space itself was bending under the weight of that energy.
And at the center of it—
Leon sat.
Still.
Unmoving.
Like a calm eye within a raging cyclone.
His long black hair rested over his shoulders, barely shifting despite the dense mana currents swirling around him. His purple eyes remained closed, his breathing steady—so steady it almost didn’t feel human.
Then—
A shift.
A small one.
His fingers twitched.
The spinning mana slowed.
Not all at once—
but gradually, like a storm losing its edge, like waves settling after crashing against the shore.
The air, once tense and heavy, began to ease.
And in the next moment—
Leon slowly opened his eyes.
No sudden movement.
No sharp breath.
Just a quiet awakening—
As if everything had already been under his control from the very beginning.
Then he releases a small breath.
Sigh~
Then a violent surge erupted from the cave.
BOOM—
A hurricane of mana exploded outward like a storm breaking free.
The entire division trembled.
Trees swayed violently, leaves scattering into the air. Loose stones rolled across the ground. Even the distant buildings creaked faintly under the pressure.
It felt as if the world itself had taken a deep breath—
And finally exhaled.
"Phew..."
Leon let out a long breath.
The tension in his body loosened.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Peak of the Sage Realm..."
His voice was calm.
But the meaning—
Was anything but.
After several days of stabilizing, refining, compressing—
His mental state had finally reached its peak.
Clean.
Stable.
Complete.
Now...
Only one step remained.
His thoughts drifted briefly.
To the reward.
The Mana Guidance Fruit.
If he obtained it—
Everything would change.
"Just one push..."
He murmured softly.
"That’s all I need."
From Sage Realm...
To Pinnacle Realm.
From restraint—
To transcendence.
He slowly raised his hand, fingers curling slightly as he felt the energy flowing inside his body.
It was dense.
Heavy.
Far beyond ordinary cultivators of the same level.
Though he stood at the same realm—
His foundation...
Was terrifyingly deep.
Inside him—
Something stirred.
The second bloom.
Not yet open—
But close.
Very close.
A faint sign.
A quiet promise.
Leon narrowed his eyes slightly.
Still not enough...
Not yet.
The remaining power from those hundred thousand years of accumulation was still there—compressed, refined, held back.
It wasn’t gone.
It was waiting.
Waiting for the right moment to explode.
Leon stood up slowly.
His robe shifted lightly, the amethyst embroidery catching the faint light as he walked toward the exit.
Step by step—
The cave grew quieter.
The storm settled.
Until finally—
He stepped out.
-----------
"Teacher..."
"Senior..."
Fog lifted as the sun climbed above the trees. Light stretched slowly over the open field.
By the time we arrived, Selena stood near the steps, Rias leaned against the wall, while Harry paced slowly beside them.
Line by line, they held their place like old habits. Quietly settled, these figures waited without moving.
Selena took her place up ahead.
A breeze lifted her silver-white hair, each strand glowing faintly where light touched it. Calm blue eyes stayed fixed ahead, steady but not cold. Over her frame fell a white robe, tailored close at the waist. A soft-colored sash followed the gentle slope of her hips. She stood upright - not rigid, just sure.
Rias stood beside her.
Morning light catching the spill of her red hair as it runs down her back. Over her shoulders, crimson fabric clings close, shaped by the quiet rhythm of breathing underneath. From there, folds drape loose along her legs, moving slow with any slight shift. A glint lives in her eyes - clear, mischievous - but something else lingers just behind
A fire burned.
Back a step, Harry folded his arms, aiming for calm - yet his gaze darted, betraying the thrill he couldn’t mask.
Last week felt heavy. Things piled up fast. A quiet moment finally came yesterday. Tension slipped away like water down a drain. Breathing got easier after that.
Brutal.
And Leon—
Had missed all of it.
But honestly?
He didn’t care.
If it wasn’t his students—
It didn’t matter.
Looking at them now—
All three standing here, uninjured—
That was enough.
The top eight had already been decided.
And among them—
Two belonged to Amethyst Summit Division.
Selena.
Rias.
That alone had shaken the entire academy.
The remaining names...
Were no weaklings.
Amaya from Holy Water Division.
Shan from Secret Sword Summit.
Tyris from Black Sword Summit.
Blaise from Emerald Crest Division.
Lior from Gale Division.
Ysen from Fair Division.
Each one—
A peak figure among their generation.
All standing at Astral Realm.
Compared to them—
Rias was slightly behind.
Leon’s gaze briefly passed over her.
No disappointment.
Only calm judgment.
Top eight was enough for her.
But Selena—
His eyes lingered on her for a moment.
That one...
Must take first.
Not for pride.
Not for reputation.
But because—
She could.
Leon lifted his head, glancing at the sky.
The sun had risen just enough.
Perfect timing.
"It’s about time."
His voice was calm.
"Let’s go."
The three nodded instantly.
No hesitation.
They followed him down the path—
Toward the center.
Toward the stage where everything would be decided.
-------
The martial arena—
Was no longer the same.
The earlier chaos of multiple platforms had been stripped away.
Now—
Only four arenas remained.
Placed at the center.
Surrounded by a sea of people.
The crowd was dense.
Voices overlapped.
Excitement.
Tension.
Anticipation.
All mixed together.
"Wow... there are so many people."
Harry’s eyes widened slightly as soon as they arrived.
His usual carefree tone carried a hint of awe.
Rias rubbed her hands lightly, a small smile forming on her lips.
"The arena has shrunk..."
She said softly.
"How could there not be more people?"
Her gaze shifted toward Selena.
"Senior Sister... who is your opponent today?"
Selena didn’t answer immediately.
Her eyes were already on the arena.
Focused.
Quiet.
Then—
"Gale Division..."
Her lips parted slightly.
"Lior."
Harry’s expression changed slightly.
"I know him."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice a bit.
"I watched his match yesterday."
A pause.
His tone became more serious.
"That guy..."
"...his hammer technique is terrifying."
"He doesn’t play around. His style is simple—overpower his opponent completely."
Harry glanced at Selena.
"Sister Selena..."
His voice softened slightly.
"You need to be careful."