章 189: War of Flags I
The headquarters building was spartan in its design, no frills or extravagance. Just the essentials for a war camp masquerading as an academy event.
The meeting room was the heart of it—seats for twelve around a sturdy table, a whiteboard and markers for sketching strategies, and an air thick with anticipation. It was a room built for planning, not for comfort. The beds were laid out in rows, a hundred in total, separated by sex. The expressions of the noble students told me all I needed to know: this was far from what they were accustomed to.
Still, it wasn't all bad. We had showers and bathrooms, basic necessities that would keep us sane over the coming days. There was no luxury here, but at least we wouldn't smell like the battlefield after the first skirmish.
Each of us was equipped with communication earbuds and smartwatches, linked by various channels. These devices allowed for custom channels, a clever addition designed to encourage the inevitable alliances between academies. After all, this wasn't just a battle of strength; it was a game of trust, betrayal, and strategy. And, as they say, everything is fair in love and war.
Once we had settled in, the real work began. Jin and Ren, each leading their units, moved out to scout the wider area. They were systematic, covering ground like clockwork, searching for resources and, more importantly, vulnerabilities. If we knew the lay of the land, we could bend it to our advantage.
Meanwhile, the remaining units took on the terrain closer to us, mapping out the immediate surroundings. No stone unturned, no blind spot left unchecked. Every scrap of information mattered, because in this game, knowledge was just as valuable as firepower.
We had no illusions—this was a war of attrition and precision, and every detail, every corner, every rock could become a weapon. We just had to find the right way to wield it.
While the units busied themselves with their tasks, I began to plan. There were things I knew, things the others couldn't understand, things that wouldn't make sense if I simply laid them out in front of everyone. It was knowledge from a different world—knowledge from the novel.
The island we were on was shaped like a hexagon, and we were positioned in one of its corners. Opposite us, on the far side of the hexagon, lay Slatemark Academy—our strongest rivals. To their left, nestled in another corner, was Starcrest Academy. To their right, Gravehold Academy held its own fortress. The two closest academies to us, however, were the weakest: Frostspire and Serpentstone.
In the novel, under Rachel's guidance as Head Strategist, Lucifer made the decision to attack those weaker academies first. On the surface, it was a smart plan—cripple the weakest links and secure their flags early.
But of course, Jack Blazespout knew exactly what was coming. He didn't care about Frostspire or Serpentstone. Instead, he focused on capturing key strategic locations, using the chaos of the weaker academies' downfall to his advantage. He left them to their fate, knowing Mythos would sweep in and eliminate them, and in doing so, he conserved his strength while securing vital resources and positioning. That's how he won in the novel, outmanoeuvring even the best-laid plans with ease.
I furrowed my brow. Jack Blazespout was a genius in more ways than one—not just in combat, but in manipulation, something far more dangerous.
It was Jack who orchestrated Seol-ah Moyong's death under the noses of the professors. That was the moment that showed his true nature—cunning, cold, and willing to sacrifice anything or anyone. He had even played his father, a powerful duke, like a pawn on a board. The man had trusted his son, believed in him completely, only to meet his end at Jack's hands when the truth of his corruption came to light.
And here we were, facing that same terrifying mind. Jack was always ten steps ahead, every action calculated for maximum effect. This time, though, I knew his moves. I just had to be careful about how I used that knowledge without tipping my hand too soon.
This wasn't going to play out like the novel—not if I had anything to say about it.
Jack would adjust his strategy based on our movements, of that I was certain. He always had spies in place, and that included right here at Mythos Academy. It might sound impossible, given that the world's most powerful princesses and princes attended this academy, but some students had already betrayed us for Jack.
It wasn't his status as the son of a duke that secured their loyalty. No, it was pure, unrelenting blackmail.
Jack wasn't just a reincarnation of the Heavenly Demon for nothing. He'd earned a place of such influence that even the Cult Leader of the Order of the Fallen Flame bowed to him. His reach extended far and deep, particularly within the Slatemark Empire, where his network of spies and informants thrived. The Order had long manipulated nobles and those in power to further their dark goals, and Jack merely extended that influence to his own advantage.
He had informants feeding him information from inside Mythos itself. And the spy? Leon—one of the very people I suggested as a Strategist.
But it wasn't a mistake. I'd asked for Leon to be made a Strategist deliberately. The best way to lure a traitor was to give them the perfect bait.
And I already had the bait in mind: Jin Ashbluff.
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Opposite Mythos Academy's base lay the fortress of Slatemark Academy, nestled in the same ruins and surrounded by the same uncertainty. Slatemark had divided their ranks in a similar fashion, with seven unit leaders, each commanding thirteen students. Jack Blazespout, however, sat comfortably in the Commander's chair, his expression a picture of calm calculation. Elara Astoria was at his side, serving as the backbone of the entire operation, her support magic capable of bolstering all units at once.
Jack leaned back in his chair, eyes half-lidded as he waited for the scouting report. They hadn't yet established a communication link with the other academies; they'd have to physically meet before any custom channels could be set up. At the moment, they were operating blindly, unaware of the locations of the other academies or the terrain that lay between them.
But Jack was no fool. He didn't need direct intel to make a few educated guesses.
'Mythos Academy wouldn't be placed next to us,' he mused, a small, almost indifferent smile curling on his lips. It was too obvious. Mythos and Slatemark were the two strongest academies, and pitting them directly against one another from the start would be dull—a show of force too early, something the professors would surely avoid to keep the event interesting.
Supplies, though, were another matter entirely. The headquarters provided little to sustain them. Key areas would need to be secured if they wanted to last through this prolonged contest.
And then, there was Seol-ah Moyong.
Jack's eyes flickered with something colder, sharper. His mind turned to her. 'Should I eliminate her?' The thought was clinical, emotionless, like one weighing the pros and cons of removing a piece from a game board.
Seol-ah was here, right within his reach. It would be easy enough—dangerous, yes, but possible. He would have to tread carefully, though. There was always the Martial King to consider.
Magnus Draykar, a figure who loomed large in Jack's thoughts, like an ancient storm poised at the edge of the horizon. He knew the risks. He couldn't touch any of the Class 2-A students directly—Arthur Nightingale especially. Draykar had shown he was willing to threaten entire families for Arthur, and Jack had no desire to become the target of such wrath.
Even with the most flawless plan, Jack knew that Magnus would investigate. And a thorough investigation would unearth secrets that Jack couldn't afford to reveal—not yet, not while he still had the stain of black mana lurking beneath the surface, a stain he could barely keep hidden from the eyes of a Radiant-ranker like Magnus.
No, to move against Arthur or any of the other Mythos students now would be reckless. Suicide.
But Seol-ah…
The Moyong family was not weak, but they lacked the power and influence that could protect her from an invisible hand like his. If he was careful, if he eliminated every trace of his involvement, Magnus wouldn't look that closely. Jack could erase her from the competition and keep his black mana secret. The professors might investigate, but they wouldn't scrutinize the situation the way they would if Arthur or Lucifer were involved. Not for someone like Seol-ah.
It was a risk. But for Jack, every great move required a risk.
The faintest trace of a smile crept across his face, as cold and distant as the moon above. Yes, it was possible. All he needed was the right moment.
He let the thought simmer, turning it over in his mind, carefully weighing the cost against the reward.
There was a reason Jack was even considering this. He could feel it, an instinct buried deep, one that gnawed at the edges of his consciousness like a persistent whisper.
Seol-ah Moyong was dangerous.
Not yet, perhaps. But she would be. In time, she would become something far greater than anyone around her could see. It wasn't just a suspicion—it was the Heavenly Demon's soul within him, the ancient presence that stirred when it sensed a threat. The same silent warning that had flickered when he'd first seen Lucifer, when Arthur's name had reached his ears, was now vibrating faintly in the presence of Seol-ah.
The future had a way of revealing such things, and Jack had learned not to ignore those whispers. They were like threads of fate, small and barely visible, but capable of weaving destruction if left unchecked.
He let the thought roll around in his mind like a bitter taste on his tongue, then smiled, a slow, creeping smirk that barely touched his eyes.
"In the end, I will be the victor," he murmured to himself, his voice quiet, almost contemplative, but filled with a certainty that was as cold as it was unshakable.
It wasn't arrogance—at least, not in his mind. It was simply truth.
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