But Varan… did not falter.
The overwhelming pressure of magic still weighed heavily on his body. His knees trembled, his breathing grew heavy, and the ground beneath his feet cracked…
But he did not kneel.
His body bent slightly… but suddenly—
With a deep breath, he straightened his back.
A faint cracking sound echoed beneath his feet.
Everyone froze.
"He's… still standing?!"
"Impossible…!"
Varan stood directly before the King.
His eyes burned with pride and fire.
With a voice firm and clear despite the pressure, he said:
"I… Varan of the Astralis family…"
He paused briefly, controlled his breath, and continued:
"Son of Ragnar Astralis… the one who summons the Emperor King."
For a moment… absolute silence.
Then—
The entire courtyard exploded with shock.
"Astralis?!"
"That family still exists?!"
"He's joking… right?!"
Some even stepped back, as if the name itself was a threat.
Varan raised his head, not retreating even a single step.
The pressure of magic was still upon him, but now it felt as if he himself had become a standing force.
With pride, he continued:
"The blood that flows in my veins… is not meant to kneel."
The King, who until now had been indifferent and dominant, slightly changed his gaze.
His eyes narrowed… a sign of faint surprise.
Varan took a step forward.
The ground cracked again beneath his foot.
"I…"
His voice deepened.
"I will never kneel… for a crime I did not commit… before anyone."
A surge of energy swirled around him.
The space between him and the King turned into an invisible battlefield.
Everyone was silent…
No one even dared to breathe.
This was no longer just a conversation—
This was a clash of pride and power.
Everyone was still in shock…
The whispers had stopped, as if time itself had paused.
But in the midst of that silence—
The school principal, an old man with a hunched posture but sharp, experienced eyes, calmly stepped forward.
His long white beard swayed with the wind created by the clashing energies.
He was… Elder Meridian Werkhart.
One of the oldest survivors of that land, and the only one who had stood beside the King for years.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
He lowered his head slightly, as if looking into a distant past…
And under his breath, softly and familiarly, he said:
"You still haven't changed… Arterius."
His voice was so quiet that only he heard it—
But that single sentence carried memories, wars, and years only the two of them knew.
His aged eyes glimmered for a moment.
"The same pride… the same ruthless pressure… the same king who never backs down…"
He raised his head again and looked at the scene—
At Varan, still standing…
And at the King, still like an unbreakable mountain before him.
His smile deepened slightly.
"But this one…" he murmured,
"This boy isn't from that family for no reason…"
The King smirked.
A short but heavy smile, full of meaning.
His eyes locked onto Varan as he said calmly yet forcefully:
"You… are the second person who has endured the release of my pure royal power."
For a moment—
Everything went silent.
Varan's eyes widened slightly.
"What…?"
But at that same moment, something ignited within him.
As if that sentence didn't weaken him… but awakened him.
The pressure around him suddenly changed—
His energy grew heavier, deeper, wilder.
A storm of magic swirled around him.
The ground beneath his feet cracked again.
One of the teachers said with a trembling voice:
"Do you feel that…? His power… increased!"
Another said in disbelief:
"That's impossible… under the King's pressure… he's getting stronger?!"
Murmurs rose:
"Who was the first person?!"
"Who could endure something like that?!"
"What kind of monster was that…?!"
Varan took a deep breath, his gaze still locked onto the King.
"Who… was the first?"
The King fell silent for a moment.
His eyes narrowed slightly, as if looking into a distant past…
Then he said calmly:
"Just like your father."
The impact of those words… was heavier than any magic.
Varan's body froze for a moment.
"My father…?"
Memories… names… shadows of a past always shrouded in mystery—
All shifted like pieces of a puzzle in his mind.
But this time, his gaze changed.
It was no longer just anger—
Pride, curiosity… and something deeper ignited in his eyes.
The energy around him trembled softly.
And under his breath, firm and calm, he said:
"Then… it's no coincidence…"
The King laughed again.
A short but heavy laugh that echoed through the air.
His aura changed… from a heavy pressure into something deeper, more terrifying.
With a gaze that pierced directly into the soul, he said:
"Let's see… if you can endure my true wave of power as well…"
This time—
Varan felt fear.
Cold sweat slid down his forehead.
For the first time… his body instinctively stepped back.
"This… is different…" he muttered.
The principal's eyes suddenly widened.
He stepped forward and said anxiously:
"Your true power…? No…"
He quickly turned toward the courtyard.
The students were still there—unaware, shocked, and defenseless.
"If he releases the main wave…" his voice lowered, trembling,
"The children will suffer internal bleeding from the pressure!"
Several teachers shouted in panic:
"We have to stop him!"
"This is no longer training!"
But—
The King had already made his decision.
With a shout like thunder, he raised his hand:
"Final seal… open!"
For a moment…
Everything went silent.
Then—
"Ting…"
A deep metallic sound, as if something within him had shattered…
Like a massive vault opening deep inside his body.
And then—
WOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A colossal wave of power crashed outward like an invisible storm.
The ground split, the air compressed, and breaths were stolen.
Students screamed:
"I can't… breathe!"
"My body… it's being crushed!"
Teachers fell to their knees.
Even Varan… lost his balance for a moment.
But at that exact moment—
Something… like a shadow…
Like the wind… in a white cloak—
"Whoosh!"
Passed in front of everyone.
"What was that?!"
"I didn't even see it…!"
And suddenly—
The principal stood before the King.
At a speed no one could perceive.
His eyes turned serious.
He pressed his thumbs together…
And said calmly, yet with authority beyond anything:
"Time Seal… complete halt."
Silence.
Everything—
Stopped.
The wind froze in the air.
Dust remained suspended.
Students were frozen in their fear… unmoving.
Even… the King.
His massive wave of power… stopped in that very instant.
Time… had stopped.
Only one person could move—
The old principal.
He took a calm breath, looked around…
And whispered:
"Sometimes… even a king must be stopped…"
The principal moved forward silently…
His steps made no sound on the frozen ground of time.
He stood before the King.
His face was no longer that calm old man—
His eyes were deep and serious.
He raised his hand…
And gently placed his thumb on the King's forehead.
A moment of absolute silence.
Then, in a quiet but authoritative voice, he said:
"Root Seal of Silence… subside."
The immense aura around the King trembled for a moment…
Like a flame being suppressed.
The principal took a short breath, lowered his hand…
And—
Clap!
With a short clap, space shattered.
Time resumed.
WOOOOOOOM!!!
But that massive wave… was no longer the same.
It compressed, broke apart, and dispersed like a restrained storm.
Students collapsed, gasping for air.
Teachers looked around in shock.
"What… what happened?!"
"Did time… just stop?!"
Varan stared ahead with wide eyes.
And in the midst of all the chaos—
The principal still stood before the King.
Calm…
Firm…
As if, for a moment, he was the only one who had stood against a king.
The King frowned, veins bulging on his neck.
He raised his hand… trying again to release his magic—
Nothing.
No light.
No wave.
Nothing.
He tried several times, but it was as if his power had been sealed somewhere.
Grinding his teeth in anger, he said:
"You damn old man…! Did you freeze my magic again with time stop?!"
His aura was still heavy, but no longer as wild as before.
Meridian Werkhart stood calmly.
Hands behind his back, gaze steady.
Without changing his tone, he said:
"You were destroying the school…"
He stepped forward slightly, his voice lower but more serious:
"And the children along with it."
Silence…
Varan was still stunned.
His gaze shifted between the King and the principal.
One teacher said with his mouth open:
"What…?!"
Another whispered in near panic:
"Mr. Meridian… stopped time?!"
Several voices rose:
"That's impossible!"
"Complete time stop?!"
"That magic is just a legend!"
An older teacher said with a trembling voice:
"No… if anyone could do it… only…"
He looked at the principal… and didn't finish his sentence.
Varan muttered under his breath, eyes still filled with shock:
"So what I saw… really happened…"
The King still stared at the principal, anger burning in his gaze—
But behind that anger… something like respect was hidden.
The principal took a calm breath and said in his usual composed tone:
"Sometimes… even a king must be stopped."