I regressed and became the Sword Ice King

With a beam of light, the fifteen contenders appeared in the middle of the Field, their battered and bruised armours falling off their bodies in quick succession.

Raph was first, his battered onyx Armour falling off with ease as he stretched his muscles.

Sophie came next, her calm mask replacing the range of emotions that was once plastered on her face.

The battle had gone well, at least until the end.

The scene seemed to have left quite an impression on Team Gold, leaving them mesmerized and taken aback.

Their expressions were clouded in a mask of indifference, their thoughts spinning in overdrive at the scene.

On multiple occasions in that instant, they had seen it not twice or thrice but multiple times. Of course, that describes the number of times their lives flash before their eyes.

Elsie dropped her weapons, her gaze shifting to the sight around them.

It seemed the others had noticed as well: Darrell and Javier, Cricken and Rizzo, Dina as well, and, of course, Raph.

The Crowd seemed to be hailing Team Gold.

A bunch of people, large enough to fill up a stadium was surrounding them, their presence overwhelming the mix of emotions within them.

"I don't know what happened but Team Gold fought the best!"

"That was an exciting match! The Academy knows what it's doing!"

"Did you guys notice?! System and Non-system users fought together in harmony! Conquering the battlefield as they came!"

"The Dragon can't even be defeated by a single level 100! This is an incredible match-up!"

Words of encouragement exuded from the crowd and even students, something many had never witnessed.

Raph chuckled at the sight, their attention shifting to the floating man in the air.

His calm yet encouraging expression was etched on their minds.

'The Headmaster must be glad.'

He thought of recognizing the man with the monocular.

He heard slow footsteps beside him and turned towards the source.

"Sophie?" He muttered.

"The battlefield seems to be the easiest place to join hearts." She whispered, her attention drawn to the Visitors more so than him.

"Because when humans have a common enemy, they drop all differences and work together to stop it."

A smile formed on her lips, a tired and small one as she glanced at him.

Their eyes locked, breaths pacing, hearts clashing and minds joining.

It felt surreal, a familiar sensation that Raph could recognize quite easily.

He blinked once, then twice, and looked away, scratching the back of his head.

'Damn…this is bad.'

The result laid bare on the screens for all, a subtle yet meaningful difference.

TIME REMAINING; 00:03:16

TEAM GOLD; 2,810

TEAM SILVER; 2,670

TEAM BRONZE; 2,650

*****

Over at the Portal Gate, news of the victory had reached the Security Team.

Well, news tends to change form depending on who was telling it, and information could be added or cut out.

In this case, one couldn't exactly tell but Elsie got the impression that they had survived a dragon successfully.

She was at her post when she heard this news. Resting on one of the columns that supported the Remembrance Hall with relative ease.

Miranda soon joined her, excitement etched in her expression.

"Did you hear?! Your class was able to win against a Dragon!"

Elsie smiled with a smug, as she reciprocated a reply with a slow nod.

"Of course. This is my hubby we're talking about. This much is expected from him."

She giggled lightly, turning her attention to the gates when a commotion arose.

"what's that about?"

Miranda furrowed her brows as she turned towards the gate, her eyes widening in shock at the scene.

Sophie noticed her sudden change in expression, her gaze shifting between Miranda and the people surrounded by Knights at the gate.

"Wha–What is it?" She asked, her worry palpable.

Miranda remained silent, her gaze narrowing and her brain processing what she found impossible.

But with much delay, and their slow and precise approach towards the entrance of the Remembrance Hall, it was made evident.

She muttered as low as she could.

"The King is here."

Visitors that passed through the gate, together with Thalia of the Student Body had quickly entered the Academy's premises first.

Thalia, especially, seemed to be in a hurry, her glasses threatening to fall off with each stride she made.

Her thoughts reeled in, clashing with one another.

'What's that man doing here?! Does the King ever come here in person?! What is he thinking?! Is this man here for us again?! Why does he never leave us alone?!'

Each question brought room for more, and her head was toggled with them.

'I have to get to Rebecca and Raph immediately.'

While she rushed into the Academy, the Visitors rushed in for different reasons.

This was information even more saucy than the news of Class One surviving against a Dragon.

"The King has arrived!"

"The King is here?!"

"The King has come to watch the events?!"

News spammed with the wind, chaos ensuing slowly as it reached the visitors gathered in the Class One field.

Their expressions slowly shifted, their attention easily pulled away from Class One or any other event.

Now, the Visitors wanted to get a glimpse! Just a glimpse of the man who sits on the throne.

Of course, news reached Team Gold, their expressions turning to that of confusion, especially Raph.

His lips seemed to curl downwards and a new emotion took place in his chest. Hatred.

"What's that useless man doing here?"

His eyes widened at the statement; his gaze whipped towards Sophie, who still stood next to him.

Her expression seemed to have darkened, her lilac eyes showing shades of black, her fists clenched tightly into balls and her lips curled into a grin.

Not the type that one would make if they were excited or happy, but one of hate.

'Oh? This girl..' He thought to himself when he heard an eruption of sound above him.

He looked up, noting that the Headmaster was gone.

'Well, whatever he's here for. I hope the Academy will handle it with the right precaution.'

As news had reached the whole Academy by now, and it had been confirmed to be actual news and not a mere rumour.

Two figures were contemplating on what to do next, though what they contemplated on was highly different and clashing even.

Within the crowd of people who had come to watch the Event unfold, two familiar figures had joined in on the fun. Mila and Nicho.

As they were part of a Cult that had grown to degrees, changing their physical features, mana readings, and even status screens was an easy thing with the right artefact.

While Nicho was contemplating what to do next depending on Mila's decision, Mila was deciding whether or not she should go visit the King.

The two were locked in their usual heated arguments, yet their conversation wasn't loud enough to grab attention.

"Let me go. That stupid King should have a word or two from me."

"Are you crazy? Do you realize how many powerful individuals are within the Academy? We agreed to wait till backup arrives."

"Hah shit! You and this backup. You know, just last night, or was it not? You had the most exciting match of your life! Didn't you!"

"Hah geez, Mila. You're not a child. You need to know when to act."

Mila suddenly whipped her gaze towards Nicho.

The figures they took this time were clashing, with Mila being a male and Nicho being a female.

"What's so childish about teaching the King a lesson?"

"I didn't say it was childish, I meant that it isn't the right time for that. Let's just go back to the base and await our people. They'll be here soon."

A moment of silence descended between them, Nicho sighing heavily as a result.

He was well used to this by now. Once she makes up her mind, she goes with it.

It's one of the reasons that makes her both easy and difficult to work with.

"Be back soon. And avoid revealing your true identity. We can't risk it."

She snickered, her presence disappearing from the crowd in seconds before she had even offered a reply.

Nicho sighed, tilting his head downwards and walking into the crowd.

'I should get the backup prepared if she's about to get captured.'

There was a reason why the Executives, despite their powerful nature, worked together in groups.

It was so they could be there for each other, in case one was about to be captured or killed.

Their nature to always be there for one another was one of the reasons why it was difficult to apprehend this group.

*****

The King had indeed arrived, in all his adornment and glory.

He was surrounded by eighteen knights, all at the level of a hundred or higher if they were Non-system users.

Basked by this mighty protection and the weather's intricate designs, he had arrived at the Homeric Academy.

With steady steps, he walked down the stairway, his battalion of Knights making loud noises with their armoured suites.

He stopped mid-step, his gaze shifting upwards as a smirk formed on his lips.

"you still have that bad habit of meeting your guests while flying, Rahbanz."

The Headmaster remained motionless for a few seconds, his thoughts reeling in, his expression hardening and a question daring to slip.

But this wasn't his former classmate, this was the King. He had to hold his tongue; if not, his head would be gone and for the justification that he slandered the King.

"Come down here, you futile mutt."

Something snapped within the Headmaster, his gaze narrowing and his chest-beating rapidly as adrenaline shook his body.

"What do you want, Greedy King?"

The King smirked, a look of satisfaction imprinted on his face.

'Just what I needed.'

He stretched his hand forward.

"Get that Sland–OI! OI!! OI!!!

The ground quaked, and the knights quickly pulled out their weapons from the sheaths as their attention was pulled to the skies.

Far above the Headmaster, a figure stood, a mighty demonic presence fostering in the hearts of those who watched the scene.

The King's gaze narrowed as he grabbed onto his Knights while the atmosphere trembled from its unparalleled demonic surge of energy.

"You Filthy, Greedy King."

The figure stated, a cackle escaping his lips as dark red energy oozed out like lightning from his body.

"I have come for your head."