Grand Return System

Chapter 141: Flames Against Flowing Water

Flames Against Flowing Water

For a moment, they just looked at Maya without speaking. Then silence settled between them like dust after footsteps stop.

A silence sat between them, just for seconds. Then nothing moved.

Voices climbed through the roar filling the space - banners snapped above heads, while unseen threads of energy skittered across arms like morning chills. A hush never came close.

Out of nowhere, Maya stepped forward.

A quiet look crossed her face when she tucked a blue lock out of sight. Her voice came soft, like the moment meant no more than air

"Alright... Junior Brother, let’s go take our seats before the match starts."

He gave a small nod, steady like always.

"Of course."

Side by side they moved, heading for the main platform together.

Even though it was just a short walk, people still noticed them showing up. A few of the students looked their way, talking quietly between themselves. Not shouting - just low tones that carried through the air.

Leon didn’t care.

It was Maya who saw it - yet acted blind.

-

Farther along, someone had taken the front spots.

Midway through the room, Headmaster Mike held still, calm as stone weathered by endless seasons. Beside him, to the left, Cultivator Tobias watched closely, eyes cutting through silence. To the right sat Shera, quiet but present, her stillness speaking just as loud.

Her eyes stayed away from theirs.

Not even once.

Stiffness held his features still, the jaw clenched hard. Elsewhere looked more interesting than Leon, gaze locked away. Not a flicker suggested he saw him.

Leon and Maya approached.

"Headmaster."

Leon gave a slight nod.

Maya followed with a gentle bow.

Mike smiled faintly.

"Leon... Maya. You’re here."

His voice carried warmth—but beneath it, there was something else. A subtle weight.

Leon returned the smile.

"Just finished seclusion, so I came a little late."

Tobias turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing just a fraction.

"...You always show up when something changes, don’t you?"

His tone was half-joking.

Half-not.

Leon didn’t answer directly. He simply smiled.

Tobias stared at him for a second longer—

Then his expression shifted.

A flicker of surprise.

Mike felt it too.

The air around Leon... it was different.

Not loud. Not oppressive.

But deeper.

Denser.

Like standing near a still ocean that could swallow everything if it moved.

The two elders exchanged a glance.

No words.

But both understood.

He broke through again...

Maya noticed it too from the side.

Her fingers tightened slightly at her sleeve—but she stayed quiet.

Tobias exhaled slowly, then said,

"You... every time I see you, you’ve changed."

Leon chuckled softly.

"What can I do? Time doesn’t like to wait."

Mike shook his head, a faint smile appearing.

Shera—

Snorted.

A cold, dismissive sound.

He turned his face away completely, clearly unwilling to say a single word.

But the veins at his temple pulsed faintly.

He was holding it in.

Barely.

Leon glanced at him once—just once—

Then looked away, as if Shera wasn’t even worth a second thought.

That small, casual dismissal...

Only made Shera’s anger burn hotter.

—

The group took their seats.

The tension settled into something quieter, but heavier.

A few short exchanges followed—nothing deep, nothing important.

Just enough to pass time.

Then—

A bell rang.

Clear. Sharp.

The entire arena fell silent in waves.

The Martial Meeting...

Resumed.

A Referee Elder stepped forward, voice echoing across the arena.

"The first match of the semifinals—"

A pause.

Then—

"Amethyst Summit Division’s Rias... versus Amaya of the Holy Water Division."

The crowd stirred instantly.

Eyes turned.

Pressure rose.

Leon turned his head slightly.

His gaze landed on Rias.

He gave a small nod.

"Go."

Rias smiled gently.

There was no hesitation in her steps as she walked forward.

No fear.

No retreat.

She had already expected this.

And truthfully—

Reaching the top eight was already more than enough for her.

Among all of them, her cultivation was the lowest.

But still—

She came this far.

That alone was something to be proud of.

—

On the stage—

Rias stood tall, red robes swaying softly in the wind. The layered silk hugged her upper body before flowing freely down her legs, the contrast of red and white making her presence vivid... impossible to ignore.

Across from her—

Amaya.

Dressed in flowing aqua-blue, her posture calm, her expression gentle—but her aura steady and deep like still water hiding sharp currents.

Rias cupped her hands lightly.

"Senior Sister Amaya... please guide me."

Amaya smiled.

"Junior Sister... please guide me."

Her voice was soft—but her eyes held no carelessness.

She knew exactly who stood in front of her.

A student of Leon.

That alone was enough reason not to underestimate.

Above the stage, the Referee Elder raised his hand.

"Begin."

—

It started instantly.

No hesitation.

Rias moved first.

The moment her foot touched forward—

Flames erupted.

Inferno Lotus Art burst into existence, crimson fire blooming like a violent flower around her.

Heat surged.

Air distorted.

She struck out—

Floral Hand Strike.

Fast. Sharp. Direct.

Amaya didn’t panic.

Her wrist turned slightly, the soft sword in her hand flowing like water. A seal formed—

A ripple of water Mana spread outward.

The flames met the water.

Hiss—

Steam exploded into the air.

The clash didn’t break instantly.

Instead—

It stretched.

Burning against flowing.

Pressure against patience.

Rias pushed harder, her flames roaring, trying to overwhelm.

Amaya remained steady.

Layer by layer—

She dissolved the attack.

The fight intensified.

Each exchange sharper than the last.

Above—

Maya clenched her fists unconsciously.

"I’m so anxious... Amaya, you’re my Holy Water Division’s only hope. You have to work hard."

Her voice was low, almost a whisper.

Beside her—

Leon remained completely calm.

From the moment the fight started—

He already knew.

Rias wouldn’t win.

The gap wasn’t something willpower alone could bridge.

Still—

His eyes stayed on her.

Not cold.

Just... observing.

—

Then—

Something shifted.

Leon’s gaze drifted.

Toward the main seat.

Mike’s expression had changed.

Not much—

But enough.

At his side, Kevin had arrived quietly, leaning in to whisper something into his ear.

Mike’s brows furrowed.

The air around him grew heavy.

Tobias noticed instantly.

He turned.

Before he could ask—

From the other side, Rex Vine approached and whispered something into his ear.

Tobias’s expression darkened too.

Leon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"...What’s going on?"

He glanced at Maya.

She shook her head.

"I don’t know."

Then—

Footsteps.

Harry rushed over, slightly out of breath.

He leaned close to Leon and whispered,

"Senior... my father sent news."

Leon didn’t interrupt.

Harry continued, voice lower now.

"Last night... in the depths of the uninhabited area... an ancient turtle appeared."

He swallowed.

"...Carrying a coffin."

Leon’s eyes sharpened.

Harry’s tone grew tense.

"As soon as it appeared, the entire Forsaken Domain fell into chaos. The demonic beasts... all of them became restless. A bloody battle broke out—humans, beasts... even the beasts fighting each other."

His voice trembled slightly at the end.

"People are saying... there’s a treasure inside that coffin. That’s why they’re killing each other for it."

Silence.

Heavy.

Leon frowned.

"A treasure... an ancient turtle carrying a coffin..."

A thought surfaced.

Cold.

Sharp.

"...Could it be related to a Monarch’s tomb?"