In the private hall where the sparring match was taking place between Erin and Mai on one side…
and Lucas and Rin on the other.
After Erin delivered his strike that sent Lucas flying and left Rin in critical condition…
and then finally collapsed and lost consciousness; Mai was the only one left standing, with clear shock written all over her face—her expression practically saying, "What the hell is this?"
But she snapped out of it quickly, and fired an arrow toward Rin, who was kneeling on the ground. He didn't have the energy to move from his spot or dodge the arrow.
The arrow hit Rin right in the middle of his chest, and a white shield formed around him immediately.
Silence filled the place—silence broken only by Scarlett's stunned voice…
"T-The… winners are Erin Brown and Mai Fuji."
The signs of shock were obvious on her face. How could they not be, when she had just watched the two students ranked as first and second among the first-years… get defeated?
That wasn't the only reason she was surprised—rather, it was the way both of them had been defeated: from planning and strategy, to execution and confirmation, to absolute power.
"It seems the hidden jewels in this generation will be the key…"
Teacher Scarlett murmured in a low voice, unable to hide the joy and excitement in her tone.
At the same time, the look of happiness could be seen on Rin's face, along with that usual goofy smile of his—looking like a child who had found a new toy.
As for Lucas, he wore an expression of shock. How could he not, after seeing a character who wasn't even important in his novel… manage to defeat the protagonist of his story?
Mai, on the other hand, had an expression that shifted between shock and joy—shock at Erin's strength, and joy for the very same reason.
"Alright, students. I'll take Erin Brown to the medical clinic. As for the rest of you, you may head to the clinic as well, then continue what remains of your school day. Your injuries aren't that serious. Understood?"
Teacher Scarlett's voice pulled the three of them out of their daze.
"Understood!"
The three shouted in unison, then left the hall…
...
{Eren Brown POV}
I opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was an unfamiliar white ceiling. The distinct smell of medical alcohol and disinfectants made me recognize the place I was in immediately…
I'm in the clinic.
Well, that wasn't really a surprise. My energy level, control, and mastery of the Spear King Art hadn't reached the stage where I could execute the second strike and come out unharmed.
But it truly deserves to be called the Spear King Art—or the Yin and Yang Art. It was named that because the five strikes contain two fundamental elements: light and darkness.
Light in the first and third strike; darkness in the second and fourth. As for the fifth strike, it is a blend of light and darkness—the finishing move of Master Zero Max.
The moment I remembered Master Zero, a sharp shiver ran down my spine—no, through my entire body. How could it not, when I recalled the beating I took? He truly deserves to be the First Hero.
"It seems you've finally woken up."
A strange voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I raised my head immediately toward the source of the voice, only to find a breathtakingly beautiful woman.
She had blond hair that leaned toward silver, long enough to reach the middle of her back, gray eyes, and a charming round face…
She was wearing a gray formal suit that matched the color of her eyes perfectly.
"Erin Brown, correct? A first-year student holding rank 240, and a spear user."
I finally recognized her.
It's the academy director—Luna Heartline. One of the most mysterious characters in the novel, and one of the three current SS+ ranked humans. In the story, she rarely appears except during major tragedies to settle things… or in specific cases to help the protagonist and his friends.
She continued speaking, saying, "You're truly special. Not only did you defeat our top two first-year students, but you also use a five-star spear style… Master Zero's Spear King style."
I was shocked by what she said, and I began to remember her terrifying abilities. I felt slightly uneasy—who would like their secrets to be exposed as if they were nothing? I mean, her tone was indifferent, as if my secrets were child's play in her eyes.
I stayed silent for a moment, trying to gather my words, then opened my mouth. "What would make the academy director herself—one of the strongest humans alive—honor me with a visit?"
"I simply wanted to see the student who performed the miracle. Not only did you defeat the strongest two students in the first year… you did it while being nearly three sub-ranks below them."
"What can I say? I was just lucky. And besides… my sparring partner was exceptional."
"Student Mai Fuji. A student at the same level as Lucas, the second-ranked, and at the same time one sub-rank below Rin. A bow specialist… yet she practices a dangerous fist art. Shall I continue?"
Ah… she really knows everything.
"No… you don't need to."
I muttered, wondering what the hell this woman wanted from me. She truly makes me tense—especially her gray eyes that feel like they're staring into your depths…
Wait… she really is looking into my depths!
"That still doesn't explain why you wanted to see me."
Ms. Heartline fell silent for a moment, then spoke.
"I don't know."
I raised an eyebrow, and the shock on my face could be seen for a second before it returned to normal, as if nothing had happened…
"What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing for now. Originally, someone asked me to monitor you and help you if necessary… but it doesn't seem like you need help at the moment. Still, I'll give you a small piece of advice: enroll in magic classes. You need them right now."