Grand Return System

The Return of the Teacher

"But why should I be afraid of you?"

His words were overflowing with arrogance.

Both of them stood within the early stages of the Pinnacle Realm.

However...

After absorbing the power of the Strange Origin, Dario’s confidence had reached unprecedented heights.

Guardian Elder Smith no longer posed any threat in his eyes.

Unless...

Leon personally emerged from the pocket dimensions of the Martial Emperor Tomb.

Or...

Guardian Elder Zeon somehow crawled back out of his grave.

Otherwise...

There was no one he feared.

Guardian Elder Smith’s expression darkened slightly.

The air around him grew colder.

Just as he was about to respond—

Another voice echoed across the battlefield.

"If you’re not afraid of him..."

A brief silence followed.

Then—

"What about me?"

The voice came from the entrance.

It was ancient.

Calm.

Its echoes spread endlessly through heaven and earth, carrying the majesty of the Great Principle itself.

The moment those words rang out—

Every heart on the battlefield trembled.

An indescribable chill pierced into everyone’s soul.

A horrifying killing intent surged from the entrance of the Martial Emperor Tomb, sweeping across the battlefield like an endless winter.

Even the winds seemed to stop.

Even the clouds fell silent.

Every cultivator instinctively turned toward the source of that voice.

Among them...

Maya...

Selena...

And Rias...

Their eyes widened at the same time.

Hope instantly returned to their faces.

They looked toward the entrance of the Martial Emperor Tomb.

There...

A lone figure slowly walked out.

He wore midnight colored robes which featured intricate patterns of thin amethysts which danced playfully in the wind with his movements. His shoulder length long jet black hair billowed back as if it were to play tag along his shoulder. His eyes were purple with an air of understated authority.

Leon marched forward with an immortal air, each stride methodical, unhurried, as if nothing that happened on the battlefield was of concern to him.

It was from him that the immense, overbearing killing intent that had pierced everyone’s heart emanated. Seeing that figure familiar to them, hearts had completely collapsed. The despair they felt had finally collapsed. ’ Teacher... ’ Selena burst into tears the moment her gaze landed on him.

Her eyes were blue and she instantly started crying.

Her mouth was clamped shut, but the tears still spilled over as they continued to carve a trail down her cheeks. Little did anyone else know, the weight of expectation and suffering she endured while he was gone.

She had watched fellow students fall one after another.

She had witnessed Shera sacrifice his life to protect them.

She had stood before an enemy she knew she could never defeat.

Still...

She never retreated.

Now, the moment that familiar figure returned, all the fear and sorrow she had buried deep inside her heart burst forth at once.

Beside her, Rias was no different.

The grievance she had been suppressing for so long finally found an outlet.

Tears shimmered in her crimson eyes as she looked at the man slowly approaching from the entrance of the Martial Emperor Tomb.

Neither of them spoke another word.

They simply knew...

The man who always stood before them...

The man who could make decisions for them...

The man they trusted without hesitation...

Had finally returned.

"Leon!"

The instant he heard that name, Dario’s body stiffened.

He slowly turned around, his cold gaze locking onto the familiar figure emerging from the entrance of the Martial Emperor Tomb.

For a brief moment...

The battlefield seemed to fall silent.

Then, the hatred buried in the depths of his heart erupted like a volcano.

Every humiliation...

Every defeat...

Every scar upon his pride...

Had been inflicted by the man standing before him.

His grip on his sword tightened until his knuckles turned pale.

"You’ve finally decided to show yourself!"

Dario growled through gritted teeth.

His voice trembled with barely restrained rage.

Hatred had begun consuming what little reason he had left.

Leon continued walking forward.

Step...

After step...

His pace remained calm and unhurried.

Yet with every footstep, the surrounding air seemed to grow heavier.

An icy killing intent radiated from him without concealment.

His purple eyes rested on Dario, as cold as an endless winter.

He had never expected that his own negligence would allow Dario to escape.

Nor had he imagined that single mistake would bring such a devastating disaster upon Celestis Academy.

At this moment...

Leon was furious.

This was the first time his anger had reached such depths.

As he walked, his thoughts briefly returned to their previous battle.

He still could not understand how Dario had survived the First Mist Immortal Sword.

After reflecting upon it countless times, only one explanation remained.

The Strange Origin.

That mysterious power from the source of darkness had protected Dario at the critical moment.

Leon still knew too little about that terrifying force.

Because of that ignorance...

Dario had escaped with his life.

But this time...

That miracle would never happen again.

The next instant—

Leon disappeared.

His figure became a blur before instantly reappearing beside Shera.

He silently looked down at the motionless body lying before him.

A complicated expression crossed his face.

He had already witnessed everything while trapped within the Martial Emperor Tomb.

The violent spatial turbulence had delayed his return.

No matter how desperately he tried...

He had been unable to break free in time.

All he could do...

Was helplessly watch his Guardian Elder give his life protecting the academy.

A trace of regret flashed across Leon’s eyes.

If only...

If only he had confirmed Dario’s death before leaving.

None of this would have happened.

He slowly closed his eyes for a brief moment.

When he opened them again, the regret had transformed into absolute resolve.

Fortunately...

Headmaster Mike had acted in time.

A gentle stream of Mana still protected Shera’s soul, preventing it from dispersing completely.

There was still hope.

Leon slowly stood.

The instant he rose to his feet—

Boom!

A terrifying aura erupted from his body.

The heavens trembled violently.

The clouds churned.

The earth shook beneath everyone’s feet.

His overwhelming killing intent surged outward like an endless tidal wave.

There was no longer any need to conceal his true cultivation.

At this moment...

The full might of a Pinnacle Realm expert descended upon the battlefield.

"This..."

"A Pinnacle Realm!"