𝒲𝒾𝓃𝓉ℯ𝓇 𝒲ℴ𝓃𝒹ℯ𝓇𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒹： 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓌 ℴ𝒻 𝓉𝒽ℯ ℱ𝓇ℴ𝓏ℯ𝓃 ℋℯ𝒶𝓇𝓉

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑈𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑠： 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 45

*
"I won't let myself be lead astray again. I should have known better than to trust, a friend. Blinded by the hopes of having dreams come true... now I know just what to do"

**
Savanaclaw Dorm - Spelldrive Stadium

Cheers echoed like thunder throughout the Spelldrive stadium. The Savanaclaw students howled in unrestrained joy as the broadcast replayed the chaotic stampede trampling Diasomnia. Laughter rippled through the dorm, loudest from Leona himself, seated lazily with one arm draped over the back of his throne-like seat. His smirk stretched wide, almost too pleased.

Moments later, Ruggie stumbled back into the dorm, panting and disheveled, barely able to keep himself upright.

"*Pant*... *pant*... Leona, I did it!" he wheezed, clutching his burning stomach as he half-collapsed beside the other students. Sweat clung to his fur, and his magical pen lay forgotten, still faintly glowing.

Leona raised a brow, surveying him with thinly veiled concern. "You look like hell. What happened?"

Ruggie coughed, grimacing. "Dunno for sure... but that damn potion... It had to be Azul's doing—pant—he must've sabotaged it..."

Leona's jaw clenched. 'That bastard...' "So he's playing dirty, huh?"

" Did you see the broadcast?" Ruggie asked weakly, a grin returning despite his trembling.

"Yeah." Leona nodded, a shadow falling across his face. "That was nice work, Ruggie. So long, Malleus and Isfrid." His voice dropped, fangs flashing. "This year, the throne is mine."

"Long live the king! Sha ha ha!" Ruggie crowed, raising a fist.

"Long live the King! Hooray!" the students echoed.

But the celebration screeched to a halt at the sound of measured footsteps.

"I believe we've heard enough." Riddle said coldly as he approached, red eyes blazing.

HBeside him stood Y/n, her expression unreadable—but ice cracked beneath her feet with every step. Her wings were neatly folded, her snowflake lashes lowered with simmering contempt. Vanitas trailed beside her, his gloved hand loosely holding the leash coiled around her tail. Noé walked on her other side, unusually grim.

Grim, Ace, Deuce, and Jack stood behind them.

"This is utterly shameful," Y/n said flatly, her voice laced with frost. "You've disgraced your dorm... and insulted mine."

Vanitas tilted his head with a dangerous smile. "Really now. All this effort for a cheap win? How unsightly. I'm almost impressed by your stupidity."

"?!" Savanaclaw students went rigid, stunned by the sudden appearance of the other dorms' most powerful.

Leona narrowed his eyes. "Well, well, if it isn't the Heartslabyul kids and our dear bunny with her parasitic herbivore (Vanitas) and the predator (Noé)." he smirked before his eyes adverted to Jack who stood behind them, perking an eyebrow in mild confusion. "And is that Jack? You transfer to Heartslabyul on us, frosh? I expected more from you." he asked with a scowl.

"I... I don't want to stand with you right now." Jack bluntly spat out as he scowled back at Leona. "Crippling promising athletes, even getting the public involved... What would even be the point of such a underhanded victory."