I regressed and became the Sword Ice King

Rhabanz Dreau was a calculating man. At least, he tried to be in critical situations.

There was always an effective way to carry out certain tasks. No matter how dangerous they were, he would head first charge into it, if he found any.

That was one quality he appreciated about himself, and one of the reasons the current situation played out.

Sitting on his floating chair with the least bit of interest laced in his expression.

He let his gaze rest on Cadwin.

His body was wrapped in bandages. At least, the parts that burned from his serial attempt. Which was most parts, including his face and limbs.

Of course, other than physical qualities, the rest of him had been healed. Fixed to what it once was before the explosion.

Serial Mana Explosions usually come with a quick death, including those who were targeted by the individual.

It breaks apart every molecule of the body. Combining layers of energy in every form to Mana to achieve the greatest result.

Fat. Protein. Glucose. Everybody's form of energy was being converted and reused for something diabolical in real time.

It was because of this that the body mass of the individual was an important key in the explosion.

In simple notes, the higher the body mass, the stronger and wider the explosion becomes.

Now, someone who subjected themselves to the initial steps of Self-Explosion tends not to be able to live long if the process is interfered with.

This means that Cadwin, who was stopped mid-process by Katherin at the time, was tethered to the afterlife more so than he was to live.

Anyone with simple Magic Biology would know this, and Phestus was one of those who did.

His expression had been a poker face until now, but the moment Cadwin had appeared through a Portal he wasn't even aware of. It had shifted into something else. Something guarded.

The Headmaster wasn't as simple as he made himself seem. He knew that, definitely, but this was something else.

This was a key piece that he had prepared for a situation that would arise like this.

'It's insane already that he was able to keep Cadwin alive, but this?' He thought to himself. Lost in the flow of ideas that rushed in his mind like a stream.

This was diabolical in a sense.

After all, there was a deep history between Cadwin and the System Uprisers. Katherin, Crown and Wisdom especially.

Enough history to make them reel back for a brief moment. Captivated by his presence, with confusion pricking its way to their skin.

Normally, making use of an old ally who tried to stop them at the time as a set piece in his games against them should be considered cheating.

His head tilted to the Headmaster. Watching, Observing. Letting his gaze settle with his.

The Headmaster looked up from his tea. He took his gaze head-on and let his lips curl into a smirk.

Phestus shivered under that gaze. A crawl that sent his spine freezing as he turned away.

'Hah…Mr. Headmaster, you're dangerous.'

"Cadwin?"

Katherin's voice echoed in the air. It pulled their attention back to the fare they had laid out for the System Uprisers. Katherin, especially as the leader of the Cult.

Laid before her, was a man who had stood by them during the trying times in the past.

A past that had forged their paths of thorns. Riddled them with trials and tribulations. Bolted in them, the reality of the world at such a tender age.

They had sworn to change it. To make themselves known to the world.

To stroke out the wrong that was brewing an inevitable prison of hate in the hearts of many.

Some towns suffered under the laws of the Greedy King.

Burned down. Destroyed. Taken for the mere purpose of satisfying the King's bottomless hunger.

It salvaged hate in the hearts of the young as they watched their kingdom burn to the ground.

Families. Friends. Childhood memories all turned to ash in the mix.

During those difficult times, they stood together and somehow, made it to the point where they stood.

The system was a method to change one's destiny. Its properties gave room for growth and development.

The growth that no Non-system user could ever dream of.

Because a weak human with a system had far more potential than a weak human without it.

The latter's fate was sealed in blood.

Whether they carried the blood of past warriors or mages, they were powerful reckonings to the world.

Well, none of the small details mattered now.

He stood in their presence, yes.

But was it truly Cadwin?

The question bloomed in her head as she called his name again– the third time.

"Cadwin."

The man slowly shifted his head. Ignoring Crown who groaned in pain as he lifted himself back to his feet.

His face was hidden in the wraps of white bandages. Fresh and clean of blood.

A tense silence hung in the air as he stared at her.

A moment for her to either recognize him for who he was or for what he had become.

Cadwin tilted his head to the side, glanced away and turned to the Headmaster.

Then, with one knee to the ground, he genuflected.

"You called, sir."

Katherin felt a pang in her chest. Sharp. Clean. Fresh.

Her lips shivered as she bit down on it with fervent rage.

Her mana spilt in shades of scarlet.

Eyes burning with crimson intent of a rageful spirit.

"RHABANZ!!!!" She screamed out at the top of her lungs.

The room stilled. A cold shiver ran down the entirety despite the escalating heat.

Cadwin flinched, and the Headmaster's gaze remained unphased.

He glanced at the bandaged man, and then the furious mage.

"If you have something against what I did. Then say it." He said.

Katherins words came as muffled gibberish at first. Increasing with the surge of mana that pooled from within her as she pointed her wand at the Headmaster.

"Not only did you not let him die in peace. But now, you brainwash him?"

Crown watched in silence.

A tint of horror etched in his face as he strained his muscles.

A slight groan escaped his lips.

"Ka–Katherin, be calm. We should not fight him with anger. It is what he wants." He cried out, but his words fell on deaf ears.

She simply pooled her mana to the top of her wand. Letting a ball of flame ignite from it, and increase in magnitude with intensity.

It surged, ambient tendrils stretching across its edges like the glowing sun.

Casting a brilliant glow to the interior of the room.

Her rage had been tested long enough, and the line had been crossed in a matter of seconds.

With gritted teeth, she glared at the Headmaster of the Academy.

Words hanging by a thread at the back of her throat. Unable to be sent forth for the last line.

Only emotions.

A far deadlier weakness than she realized.

The others simply watched in silence.

Keeping their thoughts to themselves. Waiting for what was to come, if it were to come.

This was what they wanted.

All the years of hiding and planning finally sealed up to what it was now.

That silence was a method of accepting it. The results of this battle would forge something new for the Homeric Academy for the gifted children.

It was going to be set in time. Or at least, supposed to.

–BOOM!

A terrible quake ran through the building. Damaging vibrations that shook a world that could not be reached through the Physical.

It caused the floating furniture to shake in the air. An intensified hum that rang with the spreading vibrations.

Reaching the entirety of the room in a gasp.

The people present flared their eyes in shock. An evident surprise that etched with their gazes as they snapped their attention towards one another.

The vibration had not just spread physically. In fact, it never did.

It was a simple mental play at work. An extension of concentrated mana packed beyond control.

An amount capable of causing drastic changes to the Earth's territory.

Territorial Spaces stood a chance to lose everything and everyone within it from a mutation of an overload of mana.

A concept only theorized but never practised because of its insane result.

The headmaster's gaze was stretched. Fatigue and worry played a solemn tone in his eyes as he glanced at Phestus.

"What was that?" Phestus asked with a rushed tone.

His hands landed on the table with a thud as he sprang up to his feet.

The mass of flames that Katherin had built up had been quenched by the insufferable influx of mana.

Ridding her from her attack into a state of daze.

She had been staring blankly at the floor before whipping her attention towards the Headmaster.

"What did you do?!" Her voice echoed. High pitched as she attempted to ignite the flames once more.

She couldn't.

At least not yet.

It was a moment of vulnerability for all those who used mana, and that was made evident as some of the furniture fell to the ground.

The hovering bookshelves crashed to the ground first.

The absence of mana makes itself boldly known.

The headmaster's expression shifted slightly as he caught notice of the descending shelves. Soon, the chairs and tables began to fall from the skies, and with the passing momentum. Something else began to descend. Something more.

He stood up in an instant. Jumping off the chair just as it began to descend as well.

Reaching the floor with a thump. A loud, metallic ring projected in the air. Loud and intense, like a stack of construction beams falling from the top of a building.

Those who heard it would ordinarily shift their attention to the source, but his subtle fall had gained more attraction than anything else in that room.

Now, the game was set. And better yet, evened.

Perhaps by a divine encounter or a mysterious advocate. But that didn't matter.

What mattered right now was the End Result.