Time Wasn't Enough, No Victor!

Sea Star, Red Line, RL0003 District.

Because this area belonged to the Winter Region, frigid winds howled and heavy snow fell year-round, with temperatures almost always below freezing.

Yet such a harshly unlivable place had been chosen as the campus of Celestial Holy Palace Academy.

At the same time,

as an academy specifically responsible for educating Celestial Dragons, its facilities were clearly far from exquisite.

They could even be called overly rough.

It was inferior to many private aristocratic academies in the kingdoms outside.

There were no fountains adorned with delicate sculptures, no lavish standalone villas, no rose-filled gardens or lush green lawns.

The entire campus centered around a twenty-story black castle, its roof blanketed in thick snow.

Black towers with different functions were scattered around it like stars, connected by long black stone paths.

Aside from that,

there were only broad, level open spaces and cold stone benches where people could rest in the freezing wind.

The entire campus gave off an impression of solemnity and weight.

Visually,

the black buildings, white snowflakes, and warm light spilling through the doors and windows formed a simple scene.

In such a place,

teenage boys and girls dressed in thin white uniforms, with the Golden Soaring Dragon Hoof printed on their right chests,

were following a black-clad figure across an open space. Braving the relentless biting wind and snow, they performed sets of punches and kicks. They appeared to be practicing some kind of martial art?

In another open space, somewhat older boys and girls held wooden swords as they engaged in one-on-one sparring matches under the watchful patrols of several black-clad instructors.

The children's cheeks were flushed red, their teeth clenched tight. It was easy to see how much they were suffering, yet no one complained or gave up.

Everyone's gaze