Grand Return System

Chapter 140: Before the Storm Breaks

Before the Storm Breaks

Selena’s lips parted slightly. Her voice remained calm, steady as still water.

"Gale Division... Lior."

The name settled between them.

Before the silence could linger too long, Harry leaned forward, eyes lighting up as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.

"I know this person. I saw him compete yesterday. This person’s hammer technique is very domineering. His cultivation is at least at seven stars of the Astral Realm. After analyzing his battle, this person’s favorite style is to crush his opponent with absolute strength. Sister Selena, you have to be careful..."

He spoke quickly, but not carelessly—there was real thought behind his words. His hands even moved slightly as he explained, as if replaying the fight in his head.

Selena didn’t respond immediately.

A soft breeze passed through the arena, brushing against her silver hair. Her blue eyes lowered for a moment, thoughtful... measuring.

Absolute strength...

A faint ripple stirred in her heart—but it wasn’t fear.

Just quiet anticipation.

"I understand," she said finally, her voice low but firm.

Harry straightened a little, clearly satisfied.

He was worthy of being the academy’s little prince of gossip. In just a few days, he had practically mapped out every major contender in the Martial Meeting. And somehow—between staring at beauties and running around—he still found time to gather useful information.

Not bad at all.

He puffed his chest slightly but unable to hide the smug thought rising in his mind.

I’m too excellent.

"Sister Rias, what about you?"

Harry turned, grin widening.

Rias frowned slightly, her brows knitting as she answered,

"Senior Sister Amaya of the Holy Water Division."

There was a pause.

Harry opened his mouth instinctively—

"Oh, then you don’t have any—"

"You’re looking for a beating."

Rias didn’t even let him finish.

Her palm came swinging without hesitation.

Harry’s expression changed instantly. He darted sideways like a startled rabbit, slipping behind Leon in one smooth motion.

"Senior, save me. Your student is going to kill me."

Leon didn’t even look at him.

His tone was calm, almost lazy.

"Alright. No matter who the opponent is, just do your best. Rias, don’t feel burdened. To those senior brothers and sisters, you’ve only been here for a month. It’s not embarrassing to lose."

Rias froze slightly.

"...Teacher, I understand."

Her voice was softer now.

But inside—

A small sting tightened in her chest.

Even Teacher thinks I can’t win...?

She bit her lip faintly.

Then reason caught up.

Amaya... seven stars of the Astral Realm.

She... barely one star.

The gap wasn’t just big—it was brutal.

Even with a Sacred Art, even with everything she had...

It would be hard.

Selena noticed the shift immediately.

She reached out, gently patting Rias’s head.

No words at first—just warmth.

Then, softly—

"You’ve already done well."

That was enough.

Rias exhaled slowly, the tightness in her chest easing just a little.

"...Mn."

—

By the time they reached the arena, the atmosphere had completely changed.

The space was smaller now—only four arenas remained at the center—but the crowd had doubled, tripled.

Voices overlapped.

Excitement buzzed like heat in the air.

On the main platform, Mike, Cultivator Tobias, and Shera were already seated.

Leon’s gaze swept across casually—

Then paused.

A familiar figure approached.

Blue robes swayed gently with each step. Sunlight traced the curve of her silhouette, catching on strands of long azure hair.

Maya.

Her eyes found him almost instantly.

For a brief second—

Something in her expression softened.

She stepped closer, a faint smile forming.

"Junior Brother Leon, where have you been these past few days? You didn’t even come to watch your student’s competition."

Her voice carried a hint of complaint... but more than that, something lighter. Warmer.

Leon smiled.

"I was in seclusion, so I was delayed for a few days."

He paused, gaze lingering on her just a moment longer than necessary.

"Why? Did Senior Sister miss me?"

Maya rolled her eyes almost immediately.

"Screw you. I’ll miss anyone but you."

But after saying that—

Her gaze flickered back to him, just for a heartbeat.

Watching.

Waiting.

How will he react...?

Leon only smiled faintly, unbothered.

That calmness...

That ease...

For some reason, it made her chest tighten slightly.

Then—

Her body suddenly stilled.

Her pupils shrank.

The air around Leon—

Subtle. Almost invisible.

But it was there.

A pressure.

A presence that didn’t need to announce itself.

This aura...

Her breath caught.

He’s... already at the peak of the Sage Realm...?

For a moment, her mind went blank.

Just a few days.

That’s all it had been.

And yet...

It felt like the distance between them had stretched into something unreachable.

Her expression dimmed, just slightly.

So fast...

Too fast...

She had once thought she could keep up.

Now—

She wasn’t so sure.

Still, she forced herself back to normal, pushing those thoughts aside.

"Junior Brother..."

Her voice lowered, leaning slightly closer.

"I heard that you angered Senior Brother Shera a few days ago. Did you notice that he seems to have become a different person now? He actually didn’t take the initiative to provoke you..."

Her eyes flicked subtly toward the platform.

Leon followed her gaze, brows knitting faintly.

"That old fellow... wouldn’t have any bad ideas, right?"

"Hard to say..."

Maya’s lips curved, a hint of mischief returning.

"If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to show my face so calmly after that. I’d probably hide for a hundred years."

She chuckled softly, clearly entertained by the thought.

Then, with a sideways glance at Leon—

"Just be careful. Don’t end up failing miserably."

Leon shook his head lightly.

There was no tension in him. No concern.

Just quiet certainty.

No matter what Shera planned—

It didn’t matter.

With his current strength...

Even ten Shera’s wouldn’t be enough.

His fingers flexed slightly at his side.

A faint ripple of power stirred—barely noticeable, but real.

It’s been a while...

A thought surfaced, simple and direct.

"I want to test my skill..."