Inside the small house, six people were still waiting for their turn.

"Hey, boss. It seems they are pretty useless." The tiger guy looked at the bear. "I mean, I can hear the loud sound outside, but it has been around ten minutes."

"Don't worry. You have experienced it yourself, the power of the Zodiac. They are slightly delayed since they are still two top groups in the magic academy." The bear guy shook his head.

"I will wait for another five minutes. If they haven't brought all those brats here, I will take action." The tiger guy pointed at the unconscious Evan, whose face was filled with bruises and scars. "I will turn them like this guy before killing them."

"Suits yourself." The bear shrugged. "Just make sure you don't kill them first because we still need to catch Kai Carter."

"Fine." The tiger nodded and closed his eyes, waiting for the five minutes to pass.

To their surprise, their peaceful time suddenly disappeared as a powerful explosion blasted the entire building.

"Boom!"

The windows were shattered, and the door was pushed open. Inside the house, Evan's figure was visible for everyone, and Michelle shouted.

"Tasha!"

Even before she finished, Tasha already teleported right beside Evan and created another Teleportation Magic. The glowing pink magic circle startled everyone as they turned around only to find Tasha and Evan were about to escape. Tasha didn't forget to leave a smirk and a middle finger to them before returning to the group.

Without wasting a single second, Ria came to him and checked his condition. "Some internal injuries, but his life is not in danger. Other than the excessive external injuries, I think he will be fine after he wakes up and heals himself. I just hope there is no mental scar."

Isabelle fell on her knees after seeing Evan's condition and dropped her rifle.

The group was startled upon this abrupt reaction.

…

A few years ago,

In a certain classroom, Isabelle walked in with dead fish eyes.

"That is the youngest daughter of the Fisher Family… To think they produce such a waste…"

"That's right. She is only an E rank magician without any special skills."

"Her wind magic is also so-so."

"Without her family, she wouldn't even be able to enroll in this school."

The people started talking about her every time she sat down alone in the classroom. She had gotten used to this as she only had this little talent since small. She had accepted it as a part of herself.

Suddenly, a familiar guy in her head laughed and snorted at those people. "You are only jealous of her. If you want to have a luxurious life? Why don't you start practicing instead of spewing those bullsh*ts?"

"What did you say?"

"You—!"

He was an average guy with a gloomy expression. He was neither strong nor weak, but after that day, her life was indeed becoming easier. Most of those who talked behind her back threw their insults to that guy instead of her.

One day, she decided to call him out and asked. "Why did you do that? You wouldn't have this miserable life. You are Evan Young, right? I know you since our families are close, but do you think I need your family to do this for me?"

Evan shook his head. "I did it for myself, not you. So, you should go and not talk to me."

"You—!" Isabelle clenched her fists before she walked away. "Don't expect me to say thank you."

Evan leaned on the wall and sighed as he watched her back. "Your effort will certainly not go to waste. My strength can't shut them up, but if I simply become their target, you won't need to shoulder it all. I can see something in you that you can't even see in yourself and somehow gets charmed by it… Haha… I'm pathetic. I should search for a way to get stronger, strong enough to shut those people."

Not long after, they both got a mysterious invitation from the Government. All they wanted to get stronger, so they accepted it without hesitation.

They arrived in a certain laboratory and were surprised to see each other there.

"You?!" The two shouted at the same time, but the professor inside that place already called them before they could say anything.

Day after day, they were trained like crazy for the sake of creating a body capable of withstanding the pain coming from the blood. They didn't talk too much in this period and treated each other as a rival. The guy wanted the strength to protect the girl, while the girl wanted strength to say she doesn't need his protection.

A month later, it was the first injection they got. Both of them were fighting against the blood to show each other they had managed to beat the pain. Without realizing themselves, they had been relying on each other to overcome many things and finally started talking with each other.

After the injection succeeded, they still needed to train their physical prowess, magic, and other things to make sure they were fit to be a Zodiac. Isabelle was astonished by Evan's Healing Ability, while the latter was happy with her progress. The two often practiced together until they got discharged a few months later.

"Hey. We have succeeded in becoming a Zodiac. After this, I want to start anew and create a group. Do you want to join me?" Isabelle asked.

Evan shook his head. "After testing many things, I can't even summon attack magic. Even those professors have given up on me, so I won't join any group."

"Why? Your strength is far more important than any attack magic. Do you know that your Healing Ability can save many lives?"

"That's precisely the reason why I won't join a group. Besides, I will only be a burden if I join a group. Suppose I join you; you will only have four people fighting, not five. That's why I will only stay in the rear, helping those in need, including you. If you and your group have ever needed any help, just come to me, I will make sure you recover to full health." Evan smiled. However, there was a trace of sadness and disappointment in his eyes.

"Even after saying all those great things, why are you crying?" Isabelle gritted her teeth after seeing a tear coming out of his eyes. "You should join me. Our family is also having relationships from generation to generation. Even my brother is going to marry your sister sooner or later. That's why you should join my group. I will take care of you."

"That's also one of the reasons why I shouldn't join your group. I don't want to be a burden." Evan shook his head again.

"You bastard! Are you looking down on me? Is it because of my past record? I am too weak to even protect you?" Isabelle gnashed her teeth and grabbed his collar.

"No…" Evan tried to explain, but no words came to his mind, making Isabelle misunderstand again.

"You—! Just say it!" Isabelle's hands started shaking in anger. "Just you wait! I will create a powerful team, even without you. I will shut your mouth with that team. In the future, you are going to beg me to let you join my group."

"That's good." Evan closed his eyes and smiled.

Isabelle released him and pushed him away. "Just you wait! You are going to regret your choice today."

Evan fell on his butt and watched Isabelle walking away. He sighed and muttered to himself. 'You are a strong girl. I shouldn't be in your way lest I hinder your progress.'

After that, she created the Eagle Group and rose through the rank. Those who talked in her back didn't even dare to show their face in front of her again. Meanwhile, Evan, who lost his attack magic, became the target of ridicule.

Yet, Isabelle interfered every single time. Evan's title as a healer also gradually spread in the school, and the bullies stopped, while some even escaped from him.

Suddenly, Isabelle dragged him to talk with him alone. She shouted. "Why? Do you really not want to join my group that much?"

As long as he became even more famous, Isabelle's previous promise wouldn't be fulfilled. That was why to not hinder her progress, Evan decided to do this and became a loner. No one actually knew why he did this, and no one bothered enough to ask him about it.

Yet, Isabelle ended up crying that day and left him alone. After that, she finally got her fifth member, Tommy, and started acting coldly toward him. Even so, Evan still kept track of her progress from time to time, and he was happy with it.

It was only a few months ago where a transfer student finally changed their status quo. Evan suddenly decided to enter their group even though he rejected her every time she asked him. She was curious about Kai Carter, but she was more frustrated. She decided to fight Kai's group to prove that her group was stronger, and he should join her group instead of the new Lion Group.

Unfortunately, they lost that day. She knew she had lost the opportunity to ask him again, especially with the contract with Kai. She thought about giving up on him, but they had been getting together for a few missions, and the feelings couldn't go away.

Now that she saw him getting injured like this, all those feelings erupted.

"Who…" Isabelle grabbed her weapon and gradually stood on her feet. "Who beat him like this? Who?!"

Isabelle's roar echoed across the park as a green magic circle appeared underneath her. All the feelings in her heart finally burst out at this moment, especially...

ANGER!