Back on the stage, the fight had escalated far past "opening bout."
Maximilian was a storm incarnate.
His axes burned brighter with every swing, flames roaring as he pushed his berserker fury to its limit. Each step shattered the arena floor, each strike carrying enough force to flatten buildings.
"RAAAAH!"
He charged again, axes spinning, fire spiraling around him like a living beast.
Yet—
Liliana didn't move.
Her barrier shimmered, layers upon layers overlapping, each one humming softly as it absorbed the impact. Max's blades slammed into it again and again, sparks and fire exploding outward—
—but the fortress held.
"Unbelievable!" the commentator shouted.
"MAXIMILIAN'S POWER IS OFF THE CHARTS, BUT HE CAN'T BREAK THROUGH!"
From the stands, I leaned forward slightly.
[She's not just blocking… she's measuring.]
And then—
Liliana smiled.
The barrier around her fractured—not shattered, but divided.
Dozens of translucent panels peeled away, floating into the air around Maximilian.
Max froze for half a heartbeat.
"…What?"
Liliana raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
"BARRIER ARROWS."
The panels shot forward.
Not like shields.
Like spears.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—!
The barriers slammed into Max from every direction, pinning his limbs, smashing into his shoulders, legs, and chest like colossal pillars.
"GAH—!"
The arena shook violently as Max was driven to one knee, flames sputtering wildly as the impacts stacked on top of each other.
"A SUDDEN COUNTER BY LILIANA!" the commentator screamed.
"USING HER DEFENSE AS OFFENSE—WHAT CONTROL!"
Dust filled the air.
When it cleared, Maximilian was still standing—
Barely.
Axes dug into the ground, breath ragged, flames flickering unevenly.
Liliana floated a few inches off the floor, hands clasped behind her back, barrier fragments orbiting her like a crown.
"Tsk tsk~" she said lightly.
"Did you really think brute force alone could reach me?"
Max lifted his head, teeth clenched, eyes burning with refusal.
"…I'm not done yet."
The crowd roared.
And I grinned.
[Yeah.]
[This is the kind of fight that changes rankings.]
A sound crawled out of Maximilian's chest.
Thump.
Quiet.
Heavy.
Thump—thump.
The arena microphones caught it, amplifying the noise until it echoed like a heartbeat pounding against the world itself.
The ground beneath Max began to vibrate.
Cracks spider-webbed outward from his feet.
THUMP—THUMP—THUMP—
Then—
BOOOOOOOM!
A shockwave detonated outward.
Barrier fragments shattered. Dust and debris were blasted into the air. The front rows of the audience instinctively raised their arms as the pressure slammed into the stadium shields.
When the dust cleared—
Maximilian stood transformed.
Golden war armor had manifested across his entire body, layered plates locking into place like a living machine. His frame expanded, muscles swelling, veins glowing faintly beneath the armor. The twin axes in his hands burned hotter, flames now tinged with gold.
He looked less like a student—
And more like a myth.
The commentator screamed over the chaos.
"H–HE'S ACTIVATED IT! FULL BODY ARMAMENT!"
Gasps erupted across the stands.
"That's a legacy technique—!" "War God Academy's trump card!" "He's not holding back anymore!"
Max straightened, towering now, each breath sending heat rippling through the air.
Liliana blinked.
Then laughed.
"He~ getting serious already?" she said lightly, spinning once as barriers reformed around her. "I was hoping you'd last longer."
Max didn't answer.
Inside his mind, calculations ran cold and clear.
[Three minutes.]
[That's all I've got.]
[End it.]
He took a single step forward.
The arena floor collapsed under his foot.
Flames roared.
And for the first time since the match began—
Liliana's smile thinned just a little.
High in the stands, I leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
[Ah… there it is.]
[When defense finally meets desperation.]
The war god advanced.
Liliana exhaled softly.
Then she closed her eyes.
The arena—no, the air itself—went still.
Her voice rang out, calm, reverent, carrying a strange authority that made even the crowd fall silent.
"The world within my hands," she chanted,
"no flaw shall fall upon it."
The barrier fragments around her began to glow—brighter, denser—symbols crawling across their surfaces like ancient runes.
"DOMAIN—"
"GATE OF VALHALLA!"
Her eyes snapped open.
The world shifted.
Golden light flooded the arena as towering translucent gates manifested behind her, massive and solemn, like something torn straight out of myth. Countless overlapping barriers layered themselves together, forming a divine fortress that felt absolute.
The pressure alone made weaker students gasp.
Silvia's eyes widened. "…A domain-type ability."
Jin clicked his tongue. "That's unfair."
Max didn't hesitate.
He roared, flames erupting violently from his armor.
"Then we'll see if you can block this!"
He leapt.
The jump cracked the arena floor, sending debris skyward as Max twisted midair, both axes raised high above his head.
"WAR GOD TACTICS—SHATTER!"
He brought them down.
The strike descended like divine judgment.
Fire, force, and fury compressed into a single point, tearing through the air with a deafening scream.
The axes collided with Liliana's domain.
KRRRRRRAAAAAAASH—!
Light and fire exploded outward.
Shockwaves rippled across the stadium, slamming into the protective shields hard enough to make them flicker. The golden gates trembled violently, fractures racing across their surface—
—but they didn't break.
At the same time, Max's armor screamed in protest, golden plates cracking under the strain as flames surged uncontrollably.
Both combatants were pushed back.
Max landed heavily, one knee gouging into the ground, axes embedded deep into the arena floor.
Liliana slid backward in midair, boots skimming invisible surfaces, barriers shattering and reforming around her.
Dust swallowed everything.
For several long seconds—
No one spoke.
Then the wind cleared.
Both were still standing.
Breathing hard.
Unyielding.
The commentator finally found his voice, almost hysterical.
"NO—NO CLEAR WINNER! BOTH ATTACKS COLLIDED HEAD-ON!"
The crowd erupted into chaos.
I leaned back, whistling softly.
"…Yeah," I muttered.
"This tournament's officially insane."
Two monsters stared each other down.
Three minutes on the clock.
And neither willing to give an inch.
Max's body trembled.
Then—
Splatter.
Blood spilled from his mouth, dark against the cracked arena floor.
"…Damn it," he growled under his breath.
"I reached my limit."
The golden armor flickered, plates dissolving into embers as the power sustaining it collapsed. His axes felt heavier than mountains, but his back stayed straight.
He lifted his head.
His eyes burned.
No fear.
No regret.
Only pure, undiluted fighting spirit.
Liliana watched him for a moment longer than necessary.
Then she smiled—not mockingly, but with genuine respect—and began walking toward him, her steps slow, deliberate.
"Truly worthy of being War God Academy's number one," she said softly.
She stopped a few meters away and extended her hand.
"Too bad~" she added lightly.
"You lost."
"…Wha—"
Before Max could finish—
THUD.
A semi-transparent barrier materialized behind him and snapped forward like a guillotine, striking the back of his head with pinpoint precision.
Max's eyes went wide for a split second.
Then his body went limp.
He collapsed face-first into the ruined floor, axes clattering beside him.
Silence.
A heartbeat passed.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The arena erupted.
Cheers. Screams. Applause so loud it felt physical.
The commentator practically screamed himself hoarse.
"WE HAVE A WINNER! HAILING FROM ZEPHYR ACADEMY—LILIANA!"
The screens replayed the final blow in slow motion as the crowd roared even louder.
"WHAT A MATCH! WHAT A DISPLAY! BOTH FIGHTERS PUSHED BEYOND THEIR LIMITS!"
Medical teams rushed in, lifting Max onto a stretcher as War God Academy students saluted him, pride clear on their faces despite the loss.
Zephyr Academy's section exploded with celebration.
Liliana exhaled and let her domain dissolve, the golden gates fading like mist.
She glanced once at Max being carried away.
"…Rest well, War God," she murmured.
Up in the stands, I laughed quietly.
"Yeah," I said, watching the crowd lose their minds.
"This is already worth the ticket."
And the tournament had only just begun.
Who would've thought the little princess had that kind of power?
Nice.
I watched as Liliana turned her back, Zephyr Academy regrouping around her, while War God Academy carried Max away like a fallen general. No bitterness. No shame. Just respect.
My grin widened.
Now that was entertaining.
I shifted my gaze away from the stage and looked at my own team.
Silvia stood with her arms crossed, eyes sharp, jaw set. Noah was quiet—too quiet—hands clenched like he was itching to punch something. Jin, on the other hand, looked like he'd just swallowed something bitter.
"Your fighting spirit seems to be surging?" I said lightly.
"Hehe."
The mood cracked—just a little.
Jin slowly turned his head toward me.
"…You seem to forget something," he said.
I raised a brow.
"The monster we really fear," Jin continued, voice low, "isn't even on the stage right now."
Silence.
The words settled like a curse.
Silvia stiffened first. A visible shiver ran down her spine.
Noah followed, swallowing hard, nodding once in grim agreement.
I blinked.
Then blinked again.
"…Oi."
I pointed at myself.
"That hurts, you know?"
Jin didn't laugh.
Neither did the others.
Their eyes were serious. Too serious.
Silvia exhaled slowly. "He's right. Liliana's strong. Max was terrifying. But…"
She looked straight at me.
"You're the only one here who scares everyone—including us."
Noah muttered, "Especially us."
I stared at them for a moment.
Then—
I laughed.
Not loud. Not wild.
Just… amused.
"Wow," I said, scratching my cheek.
"So that's how you see me, huh?"
I leaned back in my seat, eyes drifting back toward the arena where the next match preparations were already underway.
"Well," I said casually, "try not to hype me up too much."
A sharp grin tugged at my lips.
"Wouldn't want the whole tournament to end too fast."
Above us, the announcer's voice boomed again, calling the next fighters to the stage.
And somewhere in the crowd—
Eyes were already starting to turn toward Ragnarok Academy.
Toward us.
Toward me.
At the far end of the arena, where Hellfire Academy was seated, the atmosphere was… different.
No cheers.
No chatter.
Just tension.
A single figure sat among them, draped in a dark cloak that swallowed the light around him. His posture was relaxed, almost lazy—but the pressure he gave off was anything but.
He had been watching the entire exchange between Liliana and Maximilian without blinking.
A student beside him finally broke the silence.
"So," the student asked, voice cautious,
"what do you think?"
The cloaked figure let out a soft chuckle.
"A truly brilliant and wonderful fight," he said calmly.
"War God Academy and Zephyr Academy deserve their fame. They nurture excellent heroes."
Then—
His gaze shifted.
Not toward the stage.
Not toward the announcers.
But toward the seating area of Ragnarok Academy.
His eyes narrowed slightly beneath the shadow of his hood, locking onto one particular student.
"…However," he continued quietly,
"the storm has not yet stepped onto the battlefield."
The student followed his gaze.
"…Ragnarok?"
The cloaked figure smiled.
Meanwhile, at the opposite side of the arena, Cosmo Academy sat in absurd comfort.
Ornate chairs.
Polished gold trim.
Crystal wine glasses filled with deep red liquid.
The Ankers twins lounged like royalty observing a play.
The skinny twin swirled his glass lazily, eyes fixed on Ragnarok Academy.
"Brother," he said with a playful grin,
"it seems this tournament will be fun~"
The taller twin—massive, broad-shouldered, his presence dominating the space—snorted softly.
"Indeed it will be," he replied, lifting his glass.
"Give praise to these peasants."
His eyes gleamed with amusement.
"After all… it would be rude not to acknowledge our entertainment."
From across the arena, unseen by most—
Multiple gazes converged on a single point.
And sitting there, completely unaware—or perhaps pretending to be—
I yawned.
Huh.
Feels like I'm being stared at.
I shrugged.
Must be my imagination.
The announcer's voice thundered across the arena once more.
"AND NOW—THE NEXT MATCH OF THE SOLO DIVISION!"
Screens above the stadium flashed, shifting names and academy crests.
COSMO ACADEMY
VS
ZEPHYR ACADEMY
The crowd stirred immediately.
Zephyr had just taken the spotlight with Liliana's victory, while Cosmo's reputation as a noble-exclusive powerhouse carried its own weight. Expectations buzzed through the stands, though everyone knew—
Following that opening match wouldn't be easy.
Two students stepped onto the stage.
From Cosmo Academy, a sharply dressed combatant descended, energy rippling around him with refined control—every movement precise, almost rehearsed. His presence screamed privilege and elite training.
From Zephyr Academy, a tall girl with short silver hair took her place, her expression calm and unreadable, wind lightly swirling around her feet.
"Both fighters are ready!" the commentator announced.
"BEGIN!"
The moment the signal dropped, Cosmo struck first.
Crystalline constructs burst from the ground, forming elegant spears that shot forward in perfect formation. The Zephyr student responded instantly—gusts of wind twisting her body aside, redirecting the spears mid-flight.
The fight was fast.
Clean.
Technical.
Unlike the raw brutality of Maximilian and the overwhelming defense of Liliana, this was a battle of discipline.
Control versus finesse.
Cosmo's student layered abilities with practiced efficiency—barriers, feints, calculated pressure. Zephyr answered with fluid motion, slicing through attacks with compressed air blades, never wasting a step.
The crowd applauded.
Impressed.
But not enthralled.
"An excellent exchange of skills!" the commentator exclaimed.
"Both academies showing why they're top contenders!"
In the end, a single misstep decided it.
Cosmo's fighter feinted high—then locked Zephyr's ankle with a binding construct. Before she could recover, a polished energy strike slammed her into the arena wall.
The referee's barrier flashed.
"MATCH OVER!"
Cheers erupted—strong, loud, but lacking the frenzy from earlier.
"COSMO ACADEMY TAKES THE WIN!"
Applause followed, respectful and measured.
Back in the Ragnarok seats, Jin cracked his neck.
"Strong," he admitted. "But… yeah."
Noah nodded. "It didn't feel as dangerous."
Silvia adjusted her glasses. "They're efficient. Trained. But they lack desperation."
I leaned back, hands behind my head.
"Opening acts tend to hit harder," I said lazily.
"People fight differently when they've got something to prove."
Across the arena, Liliana watched the match with mild interest.
The Ankers twins sipped their wine, satisfied.
And somewhere in the shadows, the cloaked figure from Hellfire Academy remained still, eyes no longer on the stage.
But on us.
The real storm hadn't started yet.
And everyone, whether they knew it or not—was just warming up.