Heavens EQUAL

The hall lay in ruins, and Alex's father let out a deep sigh. "If I hadn't used Goddess Uxil's protection, I could have died."

Alex's training was finally over. His father's expression turned serious. "From tomorrow, prepare to leave for the academy. Your mother sent me a letter; you don't need to bid her farewell again."

Only seven days were left before the academy's entrance. Alex's father continued, "Rest for today, and tomorrow, you'll depart. One more thing: the head maid won't be able to accompany you."

"It's okay, I have Lars," Alex replied.

His father nodded. "As you wish, I'll inform General Viscal to appoint him as your personal knight from today onwards."

Alex joked, "Can't you just demote him to a maid?"

His father chuckled. "Don't joke, Alex. No, I can't."

He paused, his expression turning solemn. "You'll meet your big brother at the academy, so don't worry. By the way, can you tell me... how do you think our family relations are?"

Alex raised an eyebrow. "I don't know I mean I having dementia, recently

His father smiled wryly. "Okay, okay. I will tell you So, your brother has always protected and cared for you, but his behavior changed after returning from the academy last time... I'm not sure what happened."

"So, try to resolve whatever issues you face, and please, don't fight a battle where only death awaits. As your father, I'm asking you this favor."

Alex's father paused, his expression serious. "There's something else I need to tell you. The assassin knight, Orcas, was appointed to fight you by an organization. And as for punishment, I've demoted him from Prime Minister to a maid."

Alex's eyes widened in surprise. "You couldn't kill him because of stepmother," he stated, his gaze flashing with anger.

His father corrected him, "Your second mother."

Alex slept soundly, exhausted from the previous day's events.

The next morning, Lars shouted from the door, "Sir! Second Prince, wake up!"

Alex groggily opened one eye to find Lars standing over him, a ridiculously cheerful grin plastered on his face.

"What's wrong, Lars? Did you finally crack under the pressure of serving a prince as awesome as me?" Alex mumbled, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Lars chuckled. "Good morning, sunshine! Today's the big day – we're off to the academy!"

Alex's eyes snapped open, and he sat up with a jolt. "Ahh! The academy! I'm going to be late! I'm going to fail! I'm going to..."

Lars laughed, holding up his hands in mock defense. "Whoa, easy there, Your Highness! We've got plenty of time. It's only 5 am."

Alex threw off his covers and leapt out of bed, his hair sticking up in every direction. "Plenty of time?! You call this plenty of time?! I need to shower, I need to dress, I need to..."

Lars laughed, dodging Alex's wild gestures. "Okay, okay! I get it! You're excited! But maybe try to contain your royal enthusiasm, huh?"

Alex chased Lars around the room, threatening to give him a royal wedgie. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?! You're loving every minute of my morning madness!"

Alex stormed off to the bath, leaving Lars nursing his sore backside. "That's what you get for waking me up at the crack of dawn!" Alex called out, grinning mischievously.

After a refreshing bath, Alex stood in front of the mirror, admiring his reflection. "Whoa, I've become ripped!" He flexed his muscles, impressed by the solid physique he'd built over the past few months.

But as he gazed at his face, he chuckled. "And yet, my face still looks like a cute, innocent kid." He struck a pose, making funny faces at himself in the mirror. "I'm like a deadly monster in a kindergarten kid's body!"

Alex's father shouted from the training hall. "Alex's carriage is ready! Where are you, little brat?"

Alex smiled wryly as he took slow steps towards the entrance, Lars struggling to keep up with the massive luggage on his back.

As they reached the main gate, Alex's father and the Second Queen were waiting. Ronika, his step-sister, stood beside her mother, looking sad.

"Father, take care of Ronika," Alex said, his voice filled with concern.

His father nodded. "I will take care of her."

Alex patted Ronika's head. "Don't be sad, little one. I'll be back in six months. Don't worry."

As he spoke, tears welled up in Ronika's eyes. "Yes, big brother, I'll wait for you."

Alex gave the Second Queen a warning glance, reminding her not to harm Ronika. The unspoken threat hung in the air: "Harm her, and I'll kill you."

With that, Alex's carriage departed for the academy, leaving his family behind.

Three days had passed since they left the royal palace, and Alex was growing restless. The endless streets and forests blurred together, and he longed for something more exciting.

Despite his frustration, Alex's thoughts turned to his family. He remembered his father's kind words, his mother's gentle smile, and Ronika's tears as he departed. Someone was manipulating events to tear his family apart, and Alex vowed to find and kill that person.

As he gazed out the window, Alex's mind wandered to the aura, a powerful force he was eager to unleash. His father had warned him that using aura could harm the environment and himself, but Alex was undeterred.

"I'll use it when I get the chance," he muttered to himself, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. "I want to kill some bandits. I wish they'd try to hijack this carriage."

Lars, seated across from him, raised an eyebrow. "You're thinking about using aura again, aren't you, sir?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Alex's eyes snapped back to Lars, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Maybe."

Two more days dragged by, and Alex's excitement had curdled into boredom. "Not a single bird has tried to hijack this carriage," he thought, exasperated. "I'm dying from this boredom."

Just as he was wallowing in his monotony, a sudden commotion erupted outside. A figure fell onto the dusty road, directly in front of the carriage horses.

The horses whinnied, rearing up in surprise, and the carriage lurched to a stop. Alex's heart skipped a beat as he leaned out the window, curiosity getting the better of him.

"What's going on?" he asked Lars, who was already jumping down from the carriage to investigate.

"Sir Alex, this is an old man who fell in front of our carriage," Lars reported, his voice laced with caution.

Alex's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene. "This is not an old man, Lars. We're in trouble."

Lars's expression turned grim. "The assassins... we've finally been hijacked."

The "old man" grinned, his eyes glinting with malice. "Oh, so your eyes are sharp, kid. What will you do? You'll die today at our hands. We'll avenge the member you killed from our organization."

Alex's senses went on high alert as he detected 30 assassins hiding in the forest, each with a skill level comparable to Rucus's.

"Ha! Finally, some excitement," Alex said, a fierce grin spreading across his face. "Lars, please wait inside the carriage."

Lars nodded, his hand on the carriage door. "Be careful, sir."

Alex jumped down from the carriage, his eyes locked on the assassins. "I'll take care of this. You just watch."

Alex stepped forward, his eyes glinting with anticipation. "So, you're thirty assassins, huh? I wish I could use aura, but it would ruin this beautiful forest. Let's see... fight as assassin versus assassin. I'll fight in your style. Let's see who kills who."

Alex's menacing laughter sent shivers down the spines of the assassins. They exchanged nervous glances, sensing that they were in for a surprise.

Lars, watching from the carriage, muttered to himself, "I think they're gonna die... let's watch the entertaining show."

The assassins charged forward, their daggers glinting in the sunlight.

Alex smiled, his eyes flashing with excitement. "Let's dance, my assassin friends!"

With a swift movement, Alex drew his dagger and plunged into the fray, his past-life experiences guiding his every move. The battle had begun, and only time would tell who would emerge victorious.

Alex swiftly descended into the forest, his feet barely making a sound as he employed the Shadow Steps technique.although it was just normal footsteps, He knew that at his current level, he could take down at least 100 assassins with ease. However, the challenge lay in the fact that he couldn't use his aura or magic.

All he had to rely on were his Moon Body Art and the wealth of experience. Alex's eyes gleamed with excitement as he navigated the forest, his senses on high alert.

He moved with precision, his Moon Body Art amplifying his physical abilities. Alex's past experiences guided his every move, allowing him to anticipate and counter his opponents' attacks with ease.

The assassins, unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows, continued their pursuit. Alex smiled to himself, knowing that he was about to give them a show they would never forget.

Alex's eyes narrowed as he set his mind on the task ahead. "I think I need to fight as an assassin. "This is fun" I'll take them down before they can even think about using magic or aura."

With a swift and silent movement, Alex closed in on his targets. His Moon Body Art amplified his speed and agility, allowing him to weave between the trees with ease.

The assassins, caught off guard, didn't even have time to react. Alex's dagger flashed in the sunlight, striking true time and time again.

One by one, the assassins fell to the ground,

!Thud!…

their bodies silenced before they could even cry out for help. Alex moved with deadly precision,

In mere moments, the forest was quiet once more, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.

As Alex stood tall, the afternoon sun casting a golden glow on his sweat-drenched face, his chest heaved slightly with each ragged breath. A triumphant glint sparked in his eyes as he locked gazes with the last assassin. "Finally, only you're left, old coot," Alex declared, his voice dripping with satisfaction!

The old assassin's eyes flashed with defiance. "You will die, Alex Agniverta! Our lord will kill you!"

With a sudden movement, the old assassin bit his own tongue, and his eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the ground.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so he decided to take the easy way out."

Lars approached, his expression grim. "Shall we proceed, sir?"

Alex nodded. "Yes, let's go. Carriage Knight, let's move!"

The carriage driver, still trembling with fear, nodded hastily. "Y-yes, sir!"

Alex grinned mischievously. "Oh, that was really fun, Lars! Why don't you try to put on a show for me next time?"

Lars chuckled. "Yes, sir! I'll improve myself and make sure to provide an entertaining performance."

As they approached the academy, the carriage driver called out, "Sir, we have arrived at the academy! And, sir, we're late! You don't have time; the ceremony is about to start."

Alex's grin faltered for a moment before he shrugged. "Well, I suppose fashionably late is better than boringly on time. Let's go, Lars!