Abyrath's fist crashed into Adam's defenses first. The layered diamond-shaped barrier shattered, mana scattering like glass shards before being shredded by the pressurised water swirling around the titan's arm.

And the fist continued downward.

But when everyone thought the wall of layered threads would hold no better than the barriers, that the fist would crush Adam and his arrogant mouth, their eyes widened at the surreal scene.

The threads caved in with little resistance, tearing sounds filled the room, and sky-blue mana drifted to the ground. Yet, they saw Abyrath's fist slow a little more with each inch closing on Adam. Its face twisted too, as if... that monster of the deep was straining himself? Was it even possible? They didn't know, but they had surely never seen that happen.

"Tensile strength," a disciplinary committee member said from behind his desk, nodding in acknowledgement. "He built his threads to be flexible like rubber. And just like rubber, the more you pull on it, the harder it becomes. Clever."

Before Elliot's eyes could light up, and the breath he had been holding come out, the same committee member sighed. "But tensile strength won't hold against pressurised water, and Dorian's javelins. This fight is over."

As Elliot pressed his lips in a tight, quivering line, the javelins' drill-like stream tore through the threads. Simultaneously, the pressurised water spinning around Abyrath's arm moved to his fist. Both sawed through the wall, scattering the mana in a brutal display.

Desmond rolled his eyes beside him. "I told you to stay focused. That blue bastard passively enduring strikes? Bite me! That'll never happen."

Elliot focused on Adam's eviscerated defenses, his eyes widening like everyone else's. Even Abyrath's skull-like head shifted into something approaching a frown as his fist shattered the edge of the venue. Adam wasn't there.

Instead, only Astride gazed in his direction—the side of the venue, where he strolled toward Dorian with his hands tucked behind his neck. She had seen him leave the threads in a somber blur of flapping robes, then slow down, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. He muttered something under his breath, nodding or shaking his head occasionally until he felt Abyrath's glowing eyes lock onto him.

"Ah... guess I can't delay anymore. Let's go with this."

Lightning boots crackled at his feet as he propelled himself toward Dorian. The teenager waved his wand, hurling fifteen javelins. Brine formed beneath his feet, smoothly taking him out of Adam's path. Abyrath chased from behind to defend his invoker, its steps booming like storms.

But Adam's aim had never been Dorian, at least not yet. He halted where the summoning circle was dissolving. Nothing much remained of it. But since he would change almost everything, he didn't mind. Instead, his eyes curved into crescents as he put Leoric's chaos theory to the test.

He gripped the remaining mana of the circle like a piece of wood. Water, abyssal depths, volcanic regions—he replaced every symbol with rough zodiac figures using star mana. But one he drew clearer than the others. He had known it for a long time, from back when the old Orion joined Shepard in his betting spree. From the card.

Then, with a snap of his fingers, fire spheres appeared in the approaching javelins' trajectory. As they sizzled into steam, and to everyone's dismay, he began to chant.

"Oh, great lights of the heavens! You see me, don't you? Yeah—me, the best one under your endless glow! Stars, constellations—whatever you are up there—listen up! By the lion that hunts the sky, by the serpent that winds between worlds, by all twelve... or thirteen... who cares! I call you! Shine your fire down and open the way! Let your brilliance bend, twist, and form—something worthy of me, something that will light up a troubled boy's path. For his sake more than mine, even if I'd still prefer something stylish, heed my command, cosmic powers! Align, collide, or explode if you must—just answer!"

Everyone's eyes locked on him, their hands finding their sides and mouths. Some dropped to the ground, slapping their legs in boisterous laughs, while others shook their heads in hypocritical compassion. Who would answer such a chant? Someone must have kicked Adam in the head this morning if he believed an exorcist could invoke anything.

Amidst the mockery, tears streamed down Elliot's cheeks. The boy... it was him. Adam was doing this for him. To show him that there was always a solution. His knuckles trembled around Desmond's robes as he prayed: Please, anything, answer.

However, the circle's glow remained faint.

Dorian exploded into laughter, raising his palm to halt Abyrath. "I knew you were a fool, but I must apologise to every fool." He twisted his finger against his temple. "You are a mentally ill patient out of his cell, a clown who believes exorcists can encroach into invokers' territory without knowledge. No wonder you came in with Desmond. Weak and mad—the same breed."

While Desmond snarled from the audience, Adam's gaze sharpened on the circle.

The medium, the card. He didn't have it anymore; he had gifted it to Shepard with the rest of his deck. But he believed she or someone else would still answer. Her more than the others. After all, what medium did he need when everyone had an astrological sign depending on their time of birth? No, perhaps they didn't like his chant.

Dorian's voice cut through his analysis like a blade through silk. "Since you enjoy summons that much, Abyrath, send him to the infirmary."

The colossus of forged coral, volcanic stone, and living sinew resumed its approach, eyes narrowed with lethal intent.

Adam scratched his head in front of the magic circle. "Please?"

"The entire chant is an insult! A mere please won't cut it." Dorian snickered as the students doubled in their mockery.

Adam pursed his lips and rolled his eyes. "That just changes the order."

"What order? Hahaha."

Before Adam could answer Dorian, darkness devoured the room. Stars brightened the ceiling, grouping into patterns, forming constellations. And among them, one shone brighter than the others.