My Soul card is a Reaper

A couple of minutes ago;

As soon as the timer started and Claire charged forward, Neal didn't waste his time and immediately summoned his giant fire salamander.

Looking at them from the top of the Salamander, Neal spoke, "I'm going to change my terms. Forget about all. If even one of you remains standing for 3 minutes, I'll admit defeat."

As soon as his platinum-grade beast is out, Claire and Zona's Arcana spirits started to shake in fear. The only one that's completely calm is Leo as he is also a fellow platinum grade beast, although the opponent is a mid-rank-7.

"This damn brat…" Barton gritted his teeth in anger while staring at the beast.

He thought Neal would test their speed, reflexes, strength, and defense. However, the reality struck him hard. Instead of checking them whether they are worthy or not, Neal decided to go all out. He was angered at this traitorous disciple of his who was trying to crash his dreams once again. 

In reality, at first, Neal wanted to help out his master. That's why he proposed such a duel where he can report that the academy trained three such students who were capable of going against even a rank-7.

However, the fact that his ex-master left out Azzy when the prestige of school is on the line, made him go into a bad mood. But, since he knew his master's personality very well, Neal tried to be understanding.

However, Leonard's overconfidence displeased him so much that he decided to crush them. If he doesn't, how can he show his face and tell them that he wasn't able to even handle a rank-5 who was even suppressing his strength to peak-rank-4 and hiding his Arcana... If it wasn't humiliation, then, what is it…

Even if the old man is once his master and the Aclein Academy is once the place he studied, Neal doesn't want to let this arrogant prince think there's no one above him.

Very soon, the salamander started its attacks.

Forget about three minutes, the battle didn't even last for even a minute before Claire and Zona were out of the battle. Leo was able to hold on for a couple of minutes and dodge the attacks very effectively.

It forced Neal to use a soul skill of his and knocked him out before the time runs out.

After defeating them, Neal looked at his former Master and said, "Your students have lost. As per our deal, the venue for the Champions League will be shifted to… Hmm?"

He suddenly stopped talking, feeling the presence of two people. Both of them seem low-rank-5 at that. He looked in the direction of the source and was taken aback to find the familiar couple. "Mr. Azrael, Ms. Crescent?"

It was only upon hearing Azzy's name did Barton's thoughts were disrupted and he turned his head. "Azrael, what are you doing here?" He asked.

"We just finished morning practice and were on our way to the dorms." Azzy didn't hide the fact that he was training with Barbara at a place like Gravity room that was restricted to outsiders.

"Are they alright?" Azzy asked while his eyes were fixed on the unconscious Claire. Although he appeared calm on the outside, Azzy was inwardly worried for some reason.

"They were just knocked out and only have light injuries. Don't worry about it." Instead of Barton, Neal replied to Azzy.

Before anyone reacts to his statement, he further said, "It's good that the two of you are here. Now that I finished my job, there's no need to hide my identity any longer. Let me formally introduce myself. I'm Neal, an inspection officer deployed by WAMO.

I'm here to judge whether your academy is worthy of hosting the Champions League. Turned out that it is not. These so-called top geniuses of the academy weren't even able to stay conscious for even a minute when they faced a rank-7."

He then turned towards the Principal and continued, "The venue will be changed to Egrein Academy. However, you might want to discuss with Egrein Academy regarding the slot distribution. There's a high chance that all of the slots reserved for your academy will be taken away."

"Alright, I get it. You said too much. Just get lost…" Barton took out a card and applied it to the three unconscious students. The three of them started to float in the air. He then looked at Azzy and Barbara, "I'm taking them to the infirmary. You two can leave for your dorms."

Just then, Neal chuckled, "it seemed like you are giving up too soon, Master."

Suddenly, Barton's rank-8 aura exploded and he glared at Neal, "I already warned you not to call me that. Your business is finished here and so is your immunity. Now, before I lose control over my anger, get lost from my sight…" He growled.

Neal didn't take it to the heart and resisted the pressure from the rank-8 aura. 

On the other hand, Barbara started to feel suffocation. As she fell on her knees, Azrael caught her, and shouted, "Master, retract your aura. You'll kill Barbara…"

"Hmm?" Neal looked at Azzy in surprise as they found he appeared completely normal. He didn't know that the Reaper completely nullified the effects on Azzy.

Meanwhile, Barton was taken aback as the secret that he keeping from Neal is finally out because of his carelessness.

"I knew it from the first glance. You are an interesting fellow, Azrael." Neal commented with a smile. Barton's heart skipped for a moment upon hearing it.

"Master… I mean, Mr. Everglade, I understand why you intent on hiding a person with such potential. Still, I know how much you are looking forward to this tournament.

So, I'll give you one more chance. However, I have a condition. Instead of this arrogant and overconfident Prince, I want to battle Azrael and these two girls.

This time, I won't even attack. I'll give you five minutes. Before the time limit is over, if even one of them were able to land a hit on me, I'll consider this as my loss. What do you think?"

Before Barton reacts to it, Azzy suddenly asked, "If I managed to land a hit on you, then, will our academy host the tournament?"

Neal looked at him and nodded. However, Barton didn't let it happen.

"Azrael, what are still doing here? Return to the dorm." The old man turned deaf to what Azzy said earlier and ordered him to leave.

He then, looked at Neal in seriousness, "I don't have time to play with you. If you want to remove our academy's hosting rights, then, dream on. I'll not let that happen.

As I said before, now that you are finished your business, leave from here. As the Principal of this academy, I'm officially banning your entry. You have one minute. After that, I will take action considering you are an intruder."

"Do you want to be stubborn until the end?" Neal's voice suddenly turned cold.

From the start, he talked with Barton in patience and maintained respect given their past relationship. But after his good intentions were kept turned down over and over again, he realized that his master didn't have nothing but hatred towards him. Meanwhile, he also realized that Barton's obsession over his replacement even increased.

Neal's turned cold. He no longer cared what his former master feels. "You also wanted to hide him from the world as you did it with me? I can't believe that I have felt guilt for the past sixty-two years. But now, I'm saying it to you. I don't regret choosing someone else as my master."

"Are you finished?" Barton's voice also turned cold. "There are 12 seconds left."

"Fine, then…" Neal dismissed the salamander and left the academy, right away.

***

Claire slowly opened her eyes and found herself on the bed. As she turned her head, she found Leo was missing while Zona was still unconscious. Apart from her, she saw Barbara was sitting nearby her bed.

"You are finally awake." Barbara smiled as she stood up. "Azrael was busy with practice. So, I came in place of him."

Claire sighed, "Rank-7 Experts are really strong. I didn't even last a minute."

"Anyway, you should get prepared for the departure to Egrein Academy now that you three lost the challenge."

"Eh?" Claire was taken aback. "What does our battle has to do with me going to Egrein Academy?"

"Hmm? You don't know?" Barbara was even more surprised than her.