Lewd System: Every Scream and Moan is EXP Chapter 295 : My Man (I Mean My Enemy, Obviously)

While gazing up at the sky over the shattered arena, Zharina pressed on. "I've never breathed a word to anyone about Master's fate. His disappearance. His tale. The Celestials. Nothing at all."

She drew in a deep breath.

"Hardly anyone in this world knows Celestials even exist. Even fewer grasp their corruption. But no one realizes these entities will spark the looming disaster. The apocalypse set to devour this entire realm."

Her voice grew firm. "I've never revealed my true ambition or why I came here to anybody else. Just you."

She hesitated briefly. "But why you? Truth be told, I lack a clear reason. Same as why I rooted for your victory."

Her eyes shifted to the clouds. "Perhaps I view you as the ideal force to purge the rot spreading through this academy. To guide it beyond my own limits. You see, I despised you at first. Craved your elimination. That haughty front you put on for all to see painted you as a danger—a menace to the academy I pledged to safeguard."

A faint grin touched her battered lips. "Yet that danger soon morphed into respect. After witnessing your recklessly bold antics piling up one by one."

Her tone deepened. "Master also dropped a single clue. He warned that vast upheavals in the academy herald the onset. Be it the calamity itself or its curing."

She tilted her head faintly toward Jax. "I sense the shifts began the instant you set foot here. The turmoil. The toppling of leaders. The power realignments. The influx of champions. It all signals one truth. This is the moment."

She went on. "I could be off base. Maybe I'm forcing optimism from chaos because of your wild nature. Even so, I need you battling this unseen war by my side."

Jax replied. "You're overrating me far too much. I don't serve anybody. Nor do I obey commands."

"That said, I guarantee one thing. Should those Celestials or their allies interfere in my business, I'll flip the script. The next vision your master's mother beholds won't foretell doom for this world. It'll target theirs directly."

Zharina's smile turned sincere.

Then she confessed. "I chose to throw the tournament your way. That's why I ditched the standard student duel setup for this format. I planned a deliberate defeat, staging it convincingly right at the end."

A quiet laugh escaped her.

"But that smug look on your face dared me not to yield. Not before I'd crushed your arrogance and your frame first. I aimed to concede seconds before your collapse, crowning you winner while ensuring you knew it stemmed from my mercy."

She met his eyes. "You robbed me of even that thrill. I yearned for more time to speak with you. But it looks like we must wrap this up."

Her gaze snagged on the arbiter striding their way over the wrecked arena.

"Now stand before they rule this a draw too."

The arbiter arrived and questioned if either professor could keep fighting or if he ought to call a draw and summon healers.

Zharina shook her head firmly. An unmistakable concession.

Jax battled to rise. Minutes dragged on. Up he went, only to tumble. Up again, down once more. At last, his legs bore him straight for one fleeting second. That solitary instant of balance convinced the arbiter he could persist.

Victory rang out. Jax crumpled back to his knees right away.

He eyed Zharina and remarked. "No need to look glum. Our conversations can pick up on our date."

Behind Zharina's smile burned a blaze of fury. "Don't fool yourself into thinking I've overlooked what you did to me earlier. I won't ever forget. You'll pay the price. I'll uncover your reasons too—be it some warped punishment scheme or whatever. But mark this: you'll beg on your knees."

Jax responded offhandedly. "Weren't those your exact words last time? Anyway, this round I might hold back a bit. I fancy acting submissive when the mood strikes, and a raging dragon as my domme sounds perfect."

Her shattered jaw spat curses at him with every syllable it mustered. But as he turned, a secret smile played on her face, unseen by him. She pondered, 'This rogue hides a ton behind that facade. I'll drag every last secret into the light soon.'

Meanwhile, Jax knelt there, watching his students charge across the ruined arena ground toward him.

Lilith. Seraphina. Even Elira, who least ought to display such emotion. Joyful tears trailed down all three faces as they rushed close and crashed into him with hugs from all angles.

Tears streamed down Elira's cheeks as she utterly abandoned her royal demeanor. "You did it, Professor! We have won!"

From a distance, Roxana shouted while positioned with Seris and Astrid. "I think we need to give him some air and healing support. He’s trembling."

Those words failed to pierce the ears of the three girls at all. They simply squeezed him harder.

In his mind, Echidna's voice rang out with eager curiosity. "Won’t you introduce me to these lovely ladies?"

Internally, Jax responded. "Why would I?"

"Hmpf."

That sulky huff forced him to yield. "Fine. These are my students who hold great respect for me. Just like most people do. Unlike a certain someone."

Echidna's tone switched to playful mockery. "You’re joking, right? About the first part at least. Because I can tell they aren’t looking at you like a teacher."

"You’re just imagining things."

His gaze swept over the figures lingering behind the clinging trio, landing on Astrid. Happiness and worry battled across her features. She pushed herself to the limit to stay composed, ensuring no suspicions about their bond would flare up. Arms folded tight, her attempt at 'casual indifference' was so laughably poor it warranted a special trophy.

Internally, Jax presented her to Echidna. "And that right there is my girl."

Unaware of the silent introduction buzzing in his head, Astrid piped up upon meeting his eyes. "What? Do you expect me to join that pile? Never in my life is that happening."

Lilith drew back just a touch and remarked. "Hey Astrid, you shouldn’t be this rude to Professor. Not after everything he’s done for us. Not after his victorious fight."

Astrid replied, arms remaining firmly crossed. "You girls are acting too weird. Getting all shocked and emotional over his victory. Wasn’t it obvious that my man would win the duel the moment it was announced?"

The phrase slipped from her lips before her thoughts could catch it.

All eyes snapped toward her.

Astrid's face flushed through shades that would shame a chameleon. She stumbled over a frantic backpedal, words racing to escape ahead of regret. "By my man I meant the person worthy to be my target. And my enemy. That’s what I meant. Obviously."

[A few hours passed]

Inside the infirmary, Jax lay recovering. Bandages and healing runes covered his form. The space stayed hushed, save for the gentle drone of mending spells repairing muscles ravaged by a full tournament's strain.

Suddenly, the door eased open. Only a narrow gap.

Astrid's head poked through. Her eyes darted around the room with caution. Inspecting each nook. Each cot. Ensuring beyond doubt that nobody else lurked there.

Once certain the area was deserted, she glided in and secured the door.