There was another reason why Neo wanted to talk to Nathan alone.

"Give me your Shadow Spell."

"W-what?"

Nathan's glare was useless thanks to his teary eyes.

"You should know no family shares their Spell to the outsiders!

"I… I won't give it to you! I'd rather die!"

Nathan shivered, not from the pain, but from the thought of what would his family to do him if he leaked the Spell.

Neo could take him time increasing the pain to force the Spell out of Nathan.

However, he didn't like torturing people and he had a faster method.

"You'd rather die?"

Neo's smile sent chills down Nathan's spine.

The temperature plummeted.

Nathan's teeth clattered and he sensed something was wrong.

He looked below…

The darkness beneath Neo's feet moved

It wasn't a shadow.

Nathan would've detected it with his Shadow Affinity if it was.

"D-darkness element! Why can you use that accursed power?!"

The darkness stretched.

"What are you going to do to me!?"

"Nothing much," Neo answered. "But if you would rather die, I hope you will let me eat you."

Nathan was unable to retort.

He felt true fear for the first time in his life.

As someone who delved into a dark-type element, he knew what being devoured by Darkness meant.

"You wouldn't da-dare. The teachers won't let you."

"They don't care if students die. Why would they care if I consume a soon-to-be dead participant?

"Of course, if you were from a Great God Clan, they might've protected you. But I don't think you are?"

Nathan tried to get away from Neo's grip.

However, the pain made him unable to put strength into his limbs.

He soiled his clothes.

"Talk quickly. I don't have time to waste on you."

Neo's cold words made Nathan lose all hope.

He stopped struggling and opened his mouth.

"I have a Whisper-ranked Shadow Insect Summon Spell and an Echo-ranked Shadow Knight Summon Spell. It's…"

Neo listened to the explanation carefully.

After memorizing the details, he tried to use the Spell.

He failed miserably.

He couldn't sense his Shadow Affinity at all.

'I can't trigger the Spell since I haven't awakened my Shadow affinity yet.'

'tsk, I was hoping to use the Shadow Summons to help me in the battles.'

When Nathan saw Neo standing silently, he spoke,

"I… It's not a fake Spell. I swear if you give it to a Shadow User they will be able to use the Shadow Insect Summon Spell immediately.

"The Shadow Knight Summon Spell might need a bit of training—"

"What about the other Spell?"

Neo interrupted.

"…?"

"You kidnapped Felix right under our nose."

"I-It was my friend who did—Arghh!"

The Death Mark on Nathan's neck flared.

"It was me! It was me! So, stop!"

Nathan panted.

He explained.

The Spell, Shadow Snare, was a Whisper-ranked Spell.

When it hit the target, they were teleported to a pre-marked location.

Since it was the lowest-ranked Spell, the target could resist the teleportation.

"Why was Felix teleported if the Spell can be stopped?"

"Heh, you need to have some amount of strength to resist. How can he, the weakest demigod in the history, do that?"

Neo clicked his tongue.

Nathan and his friend targeted the weakest link of their group.

"Can you let me go?" Nathan asked. "I answered all of your questions."

Neo shook his head.

"I need you to use your Spells and help us rescue Felix."

"…! You said you didn't care about your friend!"

Neo didn't care.

But Arthur would definitely want to save Felix.

And the Zeus Clan would attack Neo because he took the first rank token.

One way or another, he was bound to clash with them.

It was better to go with Arthur.

When they finished the discussion, Arthur returned.

He had a pale face.

"I can't find Felix or anyone else."

"I see. Guess we will go meet the Zeus Clan members and get him back."

"…!? It's them!?" Arthur couldn't believe Neo. "They are students like us! How… how can do to these things?"

Morrigan was not the type to resort to cheap tricks.

The kidnapping must've been the plan of someone else from Zeus Clan.

"Bring that question up when we meet them." Neo patted Arthur's shoulder. "Let's go."

He turned to Nathan.

"Lead the way."

"…?"

Arthur was confused.

Before he could question, Neo answered,

"He had a change of heart and decided to join our side."

Nathan wanted to retort, but the slight pain from the Death Mark made him shut up.

He had no choice but to follow their orders.

…

Elderglen Valley

Northwest region of designated area for the Ranking Tournament

"What are you doing?"

Morrigan stared at the student, Daniel, bowing to her.

Her gaze shifted to Felix who was tied behind him.

"I've brought gift for the Zeus Clan."

Daniel let out a crafty smile.

"My friends and I were deeply offended when a certain someone dared to take the rightful throne from the genius of Montaigne Family.

"We decided something must be done. Thus, we, the devotee of the mighty Zeus Clan, fought them valiantly and captured a traitor following that wretched devil.

"With this trash bastard on our hand, we can easily defeat those losers who dared to covet the thrown of the ruler!"

Some of the Zeus Clan members cringed at his words.

However, Daniel continued to smile, proud of his achievement.

This was the moment of his life.

If he could get in their good graces, he would never have to worry about anything.

Morrigan stepped forward.

Her body disappeared and a faint noise of thunderbolt sounded before she reappeared before Daniel.

"Raise your head," she said.

Daniel was dazed when he laid his eyes on her.

Although he heard about the beauty of the Montaigne Family's genius, he felt the rumours underplayed her elegance.

The faint noise of thunderbolt echoed again.

A blow hit Daniel in the chest and he was smashed into the tree behind him.

The burnt smell and Daniel's blood-soaked coughs chilled Felix's heart.