The moment Shura pulled the sword—
The chamber changed.
Like the air itself gained edges.
Then—
Killing intent.
Absolute.
It slammed into Shura.
For a split second—
He truly believed his head had been severed.
The sensation was real.
Cold steel across the neck.
Darkness rushing in.
His vision flickered.
"SHURAAAA!!"
Lior moved instantly.
He dashed forward—
But before he could reach him—
Shura kicked him.
Hard.
Lior was forced back several steps.
Lior's steps halted.
Not from the impact.
But from understanding.
"I can hold it," Shura said quietly.
Everyone froze.
Adrian's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?!"
Yura stepped forward instinctively.
But Shura didn't move.
The Presence struck again.
Invisible.
But this time—
His body reacted.
A thin line appeared across his shoulder.
Blood.
Another across his ribs.
Then another.
Like invisible blades carving into him.
Students gasped.
"He's going to die!"
"Stop him!"
Luna's eyes narrowed.
"…Nooo!!
Shura stood still.
Sword in hand.
Not even blinking.
Scar after scar formed across his body.
His bandages tore.
Fresh blood stained his clothes.
Adrian clenched his fists.
"Shura!! MOVE!"
Yura's voice cracked slightly.
"Why aren't you reacting?!"
The chamber did not move.
But Shura's body did.
Thin red lines bloomed across him
As if reality itself rejected his presence
His leg trembled.
But he didn't step back.
He didn't fall.
He didn't let go of the sword.
Then—
The attacks stopped.
Silence filled the chamber.
Shura's body swayed slightly.
For one terrifying moment—
He remained standing.
Then—
He collapsed.
Still gripping the sword.
Clara covered her mouth.
One student muttered angrily,
"He always causes trouble…"
"He never listens…"
"Even kicked Sir!"
Adrian snapped,
"Shut up!"
But his voice shook.
Yura knelt beside Shura.
"Hey."
No response.
She shook him slightly.
"Hey!"
Nothing.
Lior walked forward slowly.
He knelt beside Shura's body.
Placed a hand gently on his head.
And smiled faintly.
"Thank you."
Lior's eyes remained on Shura.
"You stabilized it."
"You knew."
Lior didn't answer directly.
He endured every strike.
Alone.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"…You stupid idiot."
Anger and worry mixed together.
Yura looked down at Shura's face—
And froze.
"…He's smiling."
They all looked.
Despite the blood.
Despite the unconscious state.
Shura's lips were curved slightly upward.
Like someone who solved a puzzle.
Luna frowned softly.
"Why would he do that?"
"Does he want to die?"
One student muttered bitterly,
"He even kicked his teacher…"
Lior's eyes darkened slightly.
Silence fell again.
Adrian looked at Lior sharply.
"You're hiding something."
Lior didn't deny it.
Lior looked at the invisible scars still lingering in the air.
"The Presence does not attack weakness."
He stood.
"It attacks certainty."
Yes.
The chamber was loud now.
Not with fear.
With anger.
"He could've killed Sir!"
"He kicked him!"
"He never listens!"
Adrian didn't speak.
He just stared at Shura being carried away.
One student scoffed,
"He thinks he's special."
Another snapped,
"Sir always defends him anyway."
Lior said nothing at first.
He simply watched.
Then—
"That is enough."
The room quieted slightly.
A student stepped forward.
"You always protect him."
Another added,
"He disrespected you."
"He attacked you."
Lior's eyes did not harden.
"They are leaving because of him."
No one understood.
"Leaving?" someone echoed.
But Lior didn't elaborate.
One student muttered bitterly,
"So you're defending him again."
Silence.
Lior looked at them.
Not angry.
Not disappointed.
Just distant.
"I am not defending him."
A pause.
"I am correcting you."
That shut a few mouths.
But resentment lingered.
Luna stepped forward.
Her voice was colder.
"He crossed the line."
Her eyes flicked toward where Shura had been taken.
"He kicked you."
This time—
There was no student noise.
Just tension.
Lior looked at her.
"Yes."
"And you're fine with that?"
A long pause.
The chamber had emptied.
Footsteps faded down the corridor.
Only Lior and Luna remained.
Luna's voice was still cold.
"He crossed the line."
"Yes."
"He kicked you."
"Yes."
A pause.
"And you're saying that doesn't matter?"
Lior's gaze shifted toward the doorway where Shura had been taken.
"It matters."
Silence stretched between them.
Then—
"He didn't kick me out of disrespect."
Luna's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then why?"
Lior answered calmly.
"Because the second descent would have crushed my legs."
Her expression changed.
"He redirected it?"
"Yes."
"He forced the shift of pressure."
A slow breath left her.
"And his?"
Lior's voice remained steady.
"The compression followed through."
"He absorbed the vertical collapse."
Luna understood now.
"…Something crushed them."
"Yes."
"He was standing on fractures."
A quiet stillness filled the space.
"He should not have remained upright."
Another pause.
"But he did."
Luna's anger thinned.
"He knew what it would cost?"
"No."
That answer was firm.
"He only knew that if he moved… it would continue searching."
Silence again.
Then Lior added quietly—
"He remained standing until it withdrew."
The weight of that sentence settled heavily.
From the hallway—
Unnoticed by them—
Adrian leaned against the wall.
He had come back.
He had heard enough.
Standing on fractures.
Remained upright.
His jaw tightened.
He looked down at his own hands.
"…Idiot."
But it wasn't frustration anymore.
It was something else.
Respect.
Inside the chamber—
Luna finally spoke, softer now.
"He still shouldn't have kicked you."
A faint shift crossed Lior's expression.
"He will answer for that."
Not punishment.
Acknowledgment.
Lior turned toward the exit.
"And ensure the others understand nothing."
Luna gave a slight nod.
Some things were not meant to be public.
In the corridor—
Adrian straightened from the wall before they stepped out.
His expression neutral again.
As if he had heard nothing at all.