"I've seen what you and your accomplices have done to my student's home." Sebastian's eyes grew cold as he stared at Dean and the mayor.

"Godfrey has informed me how his mother's health came to this state. These are crimes, and they have punishments such as banishment to death zones or imprisonment, which would take a few decades off you."

The mayor's expression became ugly. "I almost forgot to ask. Has such a talented humanoid summoner gone through Readjustment Class? Because it doesn't look like it."

Sebastian's eyes narrowed. He knew very well the mayor was ready to push this threat in order to free herself.

"Very well then." Sebastian snapped his fingers. Instantly, the mayor and the director vanished, and she found herself in her house, walking toward her vehicle.

This was just after Christie Pendragon's call and Dean's response. Midway to the car, she froze.

Did she sleep off? That call was during the hours of nine p.m., but this was almost two-thirty a.m. in the morning!

While the same thing happened to Dean, Sebastian approached Godfrey. "Prepare, we'll be leaving Manhattan this morning. You and your mother."

***

Godfrey sat on a sofa, watching the news with rapt attention. The news anchor was speaking about the Amazon mayor who was arrested, and seeing the highlighted video of her unconsciously muttering 'How did you know?' to the officers that came to her house made Godfrey scowl.

Her terrified face was the photo used on the screen as the news anchor announced that, on the account of her crime against the pillar of Amazon City who had diligently served for two decades, she, Dean, and Mr. Scott were sentenced a few hours ago to banishment.

Apparently, they were to be banished to the Dead Desert, a region in a blue gate dungeon where not one single creature survives.

There wasn't an oasis, and the heat of the sun was said to be too hot for life to thrive. They were literally sent to starve and burn to death.

A smile crossed Godfrey's face at that judgment.

"I don't think anyone would try to kill your mother with a punishment like that on the line."

Godfrey turned to the speaker, his eyes landing on Victoria, who walked to the dining, arranging their breakfast.

As she set the food, his mother walked out of the kitchen in an apron. "How many times am I going to tell you to leave the sitting room? I'm the one doing the cooking today, and you're more interested in the screen."

Godfrey rose up, a warm smile spreading across his face as he watched both women looking radiant as the sun shone through the window behind them.

"It's just been two days. How many times will I tell you to rest?"

"Stop being paranoid! We are fine. Now come and eat—I prepared your favourite," Valentina replied, while Victoria took a bite of Godfrey's bacon, prompting the teen to take his plate further away from her reach with a glare.

As they sat down for breakfast, Godfrey glanced at his mother. "Manhattan has good hospitals. You can work in one of them."

Valentina chuckled. "Sounds like a good idea, but I want to enjoy this peace and quiet for a while. I have forgotten how serene it used to be when your father was alive."

"Also, working without end has drained me of my mana. I need to start storing from the start, it would allow me to bond with my summon. It's like we haven't grown since I haven't allowed him to enjoy nature like I once did," Valentina added.

Right after a calm breakfast and some rest, Godfrey found himself in the training room, facing off against Victoria.

"It's been a while since we trained like this. Ever since you awakened, you must have neglected your boxing skills. Tsk! I missed that kid who had a drive."

While Victoria was at ease, Godfrey wore a solemn expression, sweat beads already gathering on his temples. He had never won a fight against her.

And what Dean said about Victoria being one of the few top-class bodyguards was a valid response as to why she was unbeatable. If there were only ten of her kind, then she was definitely above professionals.

Watching her flash from left to right with such flawless footwork made his heart pound.

"Nothing to say, huh? Well, here I come." Victoria announced as she blurred forward, throwing six swift punches in one go, but to her amazement, Godfrey narrowly evaded all six.

She was certain Godfrey could not dodge it. Even if he managed one, definitely not all! Such a blow required defense as a counter, but Godfrey's reflexes were suddenly so outrageous that he dodged all six of her blows!

She was trained to become the predator of summoners, an Alpha bodyguard. When it came to hand-to-hand combat skills and the Modified Boxing Technique, she was considered the best of her bunch.

Godfrey's physical capabilities could now match a 6.5 high tier, yet even then, Victoria was certain such reflexes were beyond normal.

It had to be Echo.

And she wasn't wrong. Tapping into Tempest's lightning-fast reflexes made Godfrey able to react to anything even before his mind processed it.

Victoria launched a sweeping kick, to which Godfrey ducked. She followed with a punch, but he leaped back, steadied himself, and pushed through at that moment, throwing a straight, fast punch.

It stopped right before the tip of her nose. Her hair fluttered due to the wind.

"Good. You're definitely beyond your former self. Let's see what you can do when I also activate an Echo of my own." Victoria's eyes gleamed.

She blurred. Before Godfrey could think, her fist was inches away from his cheek, but his head leaned away, yet his skin hurt as her fist flew past.

Loud sounds echoed from the training room, followed by some quaking and rumbling that grew so intense, Valentina rushed from the upper floor, afraid of the building collapsing.

As the elevator that led underground opened, her eyes widened at the sight of web-like cracks created by fists on the solid cement wall; some pillars had been chewed off by blows and kicks.

She could even see imprints of their feet on the hard floor. The room, made to contain such intense fights, was on the verge of falling apart, and the culprits were frozen in a fight stance.

Victoria's leg was almost kissing Godfrey's head, but he blocked with one hand, throwing a blow that was inches away from her own forearm, which she raised up to block her head.

"I said I want peace and quiet! Godfrey, you are leaving for school tomorrow morning!"

***

The next morning, at Manhattan High, a good number of students watched the intense fight going on in the Sophomore classroom.

It was Dale and Orwen against Cecil, Siegfried, and Maldred. Dale slammed Cecil into a desk with a grunt while she hit him with her knee.

He took some steps back. Siegfried held his neck in a chokehold from behind while Orwen and Maldred clashed at another corner.

"I have had enough of you!" Dale bellowed, his eyes fixed on Cecil as he lifted Siegfried and slammed him on the ground.

Cecil launched a kick, but Dale braced it, head-bashing her. She fell backward but held herself after some steps, but it was clear handling Dale on her own without a mana suppressor proved tough.

"Dale's finally snapped. I mean, his beef with Cecil has been growing in the dark all this time. We all knew it would come to this," a bystander said.

Isolde, who sat at the back of the class, pulled off her earbuds with a frown while Snow watched with crossed arms and narrowed eyes.

"Are they not afraid of Manhattan's Queen?" a freshman watching from the window asked.

"Isolde isn't Manhattan's Queen anymore; Lilith now holds the title. She's also left Nexus Club and is currently at odds with them."

"What?!"

"My God! He's here!" A girl beside them held her mouth. The boys talking turned, their eyes widening as they watched the golden-haired sophomore walk through the corridor.

The gasps spread through the corridor. The moment Godfrey appeared at the door, the fight ceased as his presence swept throughout the room.

'Has he grown bigger?' Dale's eyes narrowed as he realized Godfrey was physically the same, but the aura he radiated had undergone a major shift. His whole being radiated authority.

He had returned different, and everyone could see it. Godfrey's eyes went straight to Snow, who by instinct raised his guard, as he could feel himself grow small at just a mere glance from Godfrey.

He felt heavily threatened, and this wasn't because Godfrey glared or had a furious expression. It was his summon and mind telling him that he was face to face with danger.

That glance had a statement: Weren't you supposed to be in charge?

The king was back, and he was found lacking in his duties. The realization that he felt this way toward Godfrey pierced his pride like a sharp knife.

....

A/N: We've crossed 1000 powerstones!!!!

Whoa!

1000! It's 1000!!

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