Chapter 646: The First Ranker

Third Person’s POV

Given the terrifying sensitivity Ethan had displayed the time he had met him, Dominic had little doubt that, under normal circumstances, his subconscious instincts would have immediately been drawn toward the two women by the overwhelming familial and emotional bond connecting them.

That inexplicable feeling of suffocation Ethan had experienced, and the faint dullness clouding his instincts, all of it had been nothing more than the effect of Dominic’s silent interference.

Without that tiny obstruction, Ethan’s gaze would have instinctively found Eleanor and Aurelia almost the moment he entered the academy square.

Recognition would have followed soon afterward.

And the instant that happened, everything Dominic had painstakingly arranged over the past day would have begun slipping beyond his control.

Not only would Ethan have reunited with the two women immediately, but he would also almost certainly have insisted on bringing both of them into the Glaciem Ice Abyss under his personal protection.

Dominic naturally couldn’t allow that.

Otherwise, how would he compete against that bitch Shixea?

How else would he slowly pull this extraordinary young man toward his own side?

After spending so much effort persuading Ethan to cooperate with him, merely relying upon empty promises would never be enough.

He needed leverage, real leverage.

Watching Ethan occasionally frown toward the gloomy sky while his soul fluctuations remained faintly chaotic beneath the subtle suppression, Dominic’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"He truly is a remarkable young man."

A faint trace of admiration appeared within his ancient eyes.

Even under the influence of his carefully woven soul interference, Ethan had still sensed that something was wrong.

If Dominic hadn’t intervened personally, he had little doubt that Ethan would have located Eleanor and Aurelia almost immediately through instinct alone.

That realization only made the old Headmaster value the mysterious young man even more.

It was at that very moment that another commotion erupted near the academy gates.

The lively chatter that had only just begun settling down immediately rose once more as countless heads instinctively turned toward the entrance.

Walking calmly through the crowd was a young man dressed in a sleeveless, tight-fitting open outfit that left his broad chest completely exposed to the cold air.

Unlike the impossibly tall Reed Ironstride, he wasn’t extraordinarily tall, standing only a few inches above Ethan.

Yet the moment one looked at him, height became the last thing they noticed.

His physique was overwhelming.

Every muscle across his body was perfectly sculpted, giving him the appearance of a wild beast that had been tempered through countless brutal battles.

His broad shoulders, thick arms, and well-defined abdomen radiated explosive power, while every movement he made carried an effortless confidence born from absolute faith in his own strength.

Shoulder length crimson hair rested casually behind his back, matching the fiery shade of his sharp red eyes.

A pair of slightly protruding canine teeth peeked out whenever the playful smile on his lips widened, giving him the appearance of an untamed predator who viewed the entire world as little more than his hunting ground.

Walking beside him was a breathtakingly beautiful young woman with long crimson hair cascading elegantly behind her.

The two chatted leisurely as though the thousands of admiring gazes surrounding them simply didn’t exist.

The instant they appeared, the academy square exploded into cheers.

"Look!"

"It’s Senior Leoric!"

"The number one ranker of the Purple Batch!"

"The Raging Beast himself!"

Excited voices echoed one after another.

"Kyaaa!"

"I have been waiting for Senior Leoric this entire morning!"

A young girl clasped both hands before her chest, her eyes practically turning into hearts,

However, another girl standing nearby immediately rolled her eyes on seeing her reaction.

"Heh... you idiot."

"Don’t you see who’s walking beside him?"

She pointed toward the crimson-haired beauty accompanying Leoric.

"That’s Senior Seraphina Emberheart."

"The third-ranked student of the academy."

"And more importantly, his lover."

She crossed her arms proudly before continuing,

"Forget her strength, her background alone is something you will never compare to, as she is a direct descendant of the Emberheart Marquis Family after all, the strongest Marquis Household in the entire Northern Glacial Region."

The first girl’s dreamy expression immediately collapsed.

"Cheh!"

"Who asked for your opinion, bitch?"

The second girl wasn’t about to remain silent either.

"What?"

"You want to fight slut?"

Within moments, the two had begun hurling insults at one another.

Their argument escalated with astonishing speed, as hair was pulled, and collars were grabbed.

Soon, alaps echoed repeatedly as the two girls completely abandoned every shred of dignity.

The surrounding students immediately retreated several steps, their expressions becoming increasingly awkward.

"What a terrifying species..."

One boy muttered under his breath.

Another silently nodded in complete agreement.

Meanwhile, Ethan’s crimson eyes quietly rested upon the newly arrived young man.

By now, Aria had already informed him about the identity of the serene blond-haired Edhan Icedust.

The excited reactions of the surrounding students had likewise revealed this red-haired youth’s identity.

Leoric.

The publicly acknowledged strongest member of the Purple Batch.

Ethan carefully observed him from head to toe.

Only then did he notice something particularly unusual.

Intricate crimson patterns stretched across Leoric’s chest, shoulders, back, and both arms.

At first glance, they resembled elaborate tattoos.

However, Ethan immediately recognized they were anything but ordinary.

Each pattern continuously emitted extremely subtle mana fluctuations that synchronized perfectly with Leoric’s heartbeat and breathing.

’They are spells...’

Ethan muttered inwardly.

More specifically, they were body-enhancement spells.

He had never encountered such magic before.

Had it not been for his own experience cultivating the Arctic Sovereign Immortal Body Manual, he probably wouldn’t have guessed their true nature either.

Unlike ordinary mages, who primarily strengthened themselves through elemental mana, Leoric had clearly devoted an enormous amount of effort toward tempering his physical body.

Every muscle beneath those spell patterns appeared refined to near perfection.

There wasn’t a single unnecessary movement as he walked, nor could Ethan detect even the slightest imbalance throughout his physique.

Everything had been trained meticulously.

"This fellow truly deserves his reputation."