The main arena was deafening.
Thousands of spectators filled the stands—students, faculty, guild scouts in their expensive suits, even some media personnel. Camera drones circled overhead, broadcasting every match to screens throughout the academy and online streaming platforms.
This wasn't just about school rankings anymore. This was where careers began or ended.
I stood in Staging Area C with about fifteen other first-years, waiting for my bracket assignment to appear on the display screens.
The screens flickered, and the first-round matchups materialized.
I scanned the list until I found my name.
FIRST ROUND
- MATCH 7 Suho Park
(D → C-) VS Lee Jae-sung (C)
Arena: Stage 3
Time: 10:45 AM
Lee Jae-sung. C-rank. I didn't recognize the name immediately, but Suho's memories provided context after a moment.
Quiet kid. Second-year student. Wore glasses. Specialized in fire magic—a proper mage, not a hybrid fighter like me.
We'd never interacted directly in Su-ho's memories. No conflict, no connection.
Should be a straightforward match.
"Suho Park, Lee Jae-sung—report to Stage 3," the announcement system called.
I made my way through the staging area corridors. Other students gave me space, some whispering as I passed.
"That's him. The one who tried to kill Han Min-jae."
"Heard he beat two C-ranks off-campus."
"Probably cheated. How does a D-rank suddenly jump to C?"
I ignored them and emerged into the arena proper.
Stage 3 was one of six fighting platforms arranged throughout the massive space. Each stage was roughly twenty meters in diameter, surrounded by reinforced barrier walls that shimmered with protective magic. Enough space to fight, not enough to run indefinitely.
My opponent was already there.
Lee Jae-sung. Early twenties, slim build, wearing academy combat gear. Glasses—practical, reinforced ones meant for combat. His hands were already glowing faintly with mana, preparing spells.
But what struck me was his expression.
Pure, unfiltered hatred.
His eyes locked onto me the moment I stepped onto the stage, and I saw murder in them.
What the hell?
I activated [Isolation] instinctively, analyzing him.
[TARGET: Lee Jae-sung - C Rank]
Class: Fire Mage (Pure caster)
Rank: C
STATS:
├─ Strength: 32 (E+)
├─ Agility: 41 (D+)
├─ Endurance: 38 (D)
├─ Mana: 890/890 (B-)
├─ Intelligence: 68 (B)
SKILLS DETECTED:
├─ Basic Fire Manipulation (D) - Observation 0/10
├─ Fireball (D) - Observation 0/10
├─ Fire Shield (D) - Observation 0/10
├─ Flame Lance (C) - Observation 0/12
├─ [3 MORE SKILLS DETECTED]
EMOTIONAL STATE: Enraged, Vengeful
COMBAT INTENT: Lethal (actively suppressing killing intent)
Warning: Opponent's hostility exceeds normal tournament parameters
Lethal intent? In a school tournament?
The referee—a stern-looking B-rank instructor—stepped between us.
"This is a tournament match, not a deathmatch. Lethal techniques are forbidden. Killing blows are forbidden. The match ends when one fighter is incapacitated, surrenders, or I call it. Understood?"
"Understood," I said.
"Understood," Jae-sung spat, still glaring at me.
The referee looked at him carefully. "Lee Jae-sung. I'm warning you now—keep your emotions in check. This is an evaluation, not personal vendetta."
"I said I understand."
The referee didn't look convinced but stepped back. "Fighters, ready positions."
I moved to my starting mark. Jae-sung moved to his, twenty meters away.
The crowd's noise dimmed slightly as attention focused on our stage. I could see other matches beginning on the other platforms—flashes of magic, the clang of weapons, shouts of effort.
"BEGIN!"
Jae-sung didn't hesitate.
His hands blazed with fire. Three [Fireballs] materialized instantly—not one after another, but simultaneously. Advanced casting technique.
They shot toward me in a triangular formation.
I dove right, rolling. The fireballs hit the barrier behind where I'd been standing, exploding on impact.
[ISOLATION - ACTIVE]
Observing: Fireball (D) Progress: 1/10
Mana flow pattern: RECORDING
I came up from the roll to find Jae-sung already casting again.
"You piece of shit!" he screamed. "DO YOU EVEN REMEMBER ME?!"
[Flame Lance] It was essentially fire lance but consumed much less mana.
shot toward me—a concentrated spear of fire, much faster than the fireballs.
I sidestepped. It grazed my shoulder, burning through my uniform sleeve.
[MINOR DAMAGE]
HP: 676/676 → 651/676 Observing: Flame Lance (C) Progress: 1/12
"Remember what?!" I shouted back, genuinely confused.
"MY BROTHER!" Jae-sung's voice cracked. "You had him ARRESTED! Destroyed his life because he dared to stand up to you!"
His brother?
I frantically searched Su-ho's memories while dodging another volley of fireballs.
There—a fragment. Three months ago. Some guy had come to campus, demanding to see Su-ho. Civilian, no awakening. Said his younger brother was being bullied.
Su-ho had... beaten him. Badly. In front of witnesses. When the guy fought back in self-defense, Su-ho had pressed charges for assault. The man was arrested.
Oh god. Su-ho really was a monster.
"I didn't—that wasn't—" I started, but Jae-sung wasn't listening.
"My brother was the only family I had!" More fireballs. "He worked at a convenience store sixty hours a week to pay my tuition! And you had him arrested for DARING to ask you to stop bullying me!"
The fireballs were getting larger. More powerful. His emotions were feeding his magic.
"He lost his job! Got a criminal record! Can't find work now!" Jae-sung's hands trembled with rage and fire. "All because you're a spoiled brat who can't handle being told no!"
I need to end this. But how do I apologize for something Su-ho did without making it worse?
I couldn't. Anything I said would sound like excuses.
So I did the only thing I could: I fought defensively and learned.
[Flame Lance] came at me again. I watched it carefully with [Isolation], seeing the mana structure, the way fire mana compressed into a penetrating form.
[OBSERVATION PROGRESS]
Flame Lance: 3/12
Fireball: 4/10
Fire Shield: 2/10 (activated defensively)
Basic Fire Manipulation: Observing caster's control
I dodged, weaved, rolled. Never attacked. Just watched and learned.
To the crowd, it must have looked like I was scared. Running from a mage. The whispers started immediately.
"Is he even fighting back?"
"Look at him run. Pathetic."
"Maybe the rumors were wrong. Maybe he really is just D-rank trash."
Jae-sung grew more frustrated with each missed attack.
"STAND STILL AND FIGHT ME!" he roared.
He raised both hands. Fire gathered above him—not multiple small spells, but one massive technique.
[WARNING - HIGH-LEVEL SPELL DETECTED]
Skill: Inferno (C+)
Type: Area of Effect Fire
Magic Power: EXTREME
Mana Cost: 400 This will cover over half the arena
[Inferno]. A massive blast of pure fire magic.
Jae-sung's mana plummeted as he channeled everything into this one attack.
"You deserve to BURN!"
The fire erupted.
A gigantic wave of flame crashed across the arena stage. The barrier walls glowed red, straining to contain it. The heat was overwhelming even from a distance.
I activated [Fire Shield] a technique I'd recently acquired a few days ago when experimenting with fire manipulation.
A barrier of fire formed in front of me—weak, flickering, but present. The Inferno blast hit it and pushed. I was thrown backward, sliding across the stage floor, but the shield absorbed most of the damage.
[DAMAGE TAKEN: 142] HP: 651/676 → 509/676
Fire Shield: Shattered ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
The flames cleared. Smoke filled the arena. The crowd was shouting.
Jae-sung stood at the other end of the stage, breathing hard. His mana reserves were nearly depleted from that one massive spell.
But I was still standing.
And more importantly, I'd just observed [Inferno] from the inside.
[OBSERVATION COMPLETE]
Skill: Inferno (C+)
Progress: 10/10 (COMPLETE)
Understanding: 100%
Mana flow pattern: RECORDED Skill acquisition available
Acquire Inferno? [YES] / [NO]
I selected YES.
[SKILL ACQUIRED]
◆ Inferno (C+)
Type: AOE Fire Magic
Effect: Massive fire blast covering large area
Mana Cost: 350 (Optimized through analysis)
Power: Extremely high
Additionally: Through extensive observation of fire magic this match...
[SKILL EVOLUTION] Basic Fire Manipulation (E) → Intermediate Fire Manipulation (D) New capabilities unlocked: - Finer control over flames - Larger scale manipulation - Reduced mana costs for fire techniques - Can combine with other fire skills more efficiently
My fire manipulation had evolved mid-match.
Jae-sung tried to cast another spell, but his hands barely sparked. He was out of mana.
[TARGET STATUS UPDATE]
Lee Jae-sung
Mana: 1/890 (Critical depletion)
Stamina: 14% (Exhausted)
Status: Mana fatigue imminent
"No..." he gasped. "Not yet... I haven't..."
He took a step forward and collapsed.
Mana exhaustion. He'd burned through his entire pool trying to kill me.
The referee rushed forward, checking his condition. "Lee Jae-sung is unable to continue! Winner: Suho Park!"
The announcement echoed across the arena.
Scattered applause. Mostly confusion. Some jeers.
"He didn't even attack once!"
"Just ran around like a coward!"
"That's not a win, that's pathetic!"
I walked over to where Jae-sung lay unconscious. The medical team was already moving in with mana restoration potions.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly, knowing he couldn't hear. "For what Su-ho did to your brother. For what it cost your family. I can't undo it. But I'm sorry."
A medic looked at me strangely. "Sir, you need to clear the stage for the next match."
I nodded and left.
One win. Gained three new skills. Evolved my fire manipulation.
But it felt hollow.
ELSEWHERE IN THE ARENA - HYE-JIN'S MATCHES
Jung Hye-jin stood on Stage 1, barely breathing hard.
Her opponent—a C-rank combat fighter—lay unconscious at her feet. The match had lasted eighteen seconds.
"Winner: Jung Hye-jin!"
The crowd roared. She was a fan favorite—A-rank student, beautiful, powerful, the "Saint of Buffs."
But as she walked off the stage, she heard the whispers.
"Did you hear? She's been hanging out with Park Su-ho."
"That violent psycho? Why would she—"
"Maybe he's blackmailing her."
"Or she's just a slut."
The word hit her like a physical blow.
She kept walking, face neutral, but her hands clenched.
SECOND ROUND - HYE-JIN'S MATCH
Another opponent. Another quick victory. Thirty seconds this time—her buffed speed made her untouchable.
But the whispers followed her everywhere.
"Suho's slut."
"Can't believe the Saint would stoop so low."
"Maybe she likes bad boys."
"Or maybe she's just dumb."
Her friend Min-seo found her after the match. "Hye-jin, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Hye-jin said, smiling brightly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because people are saying horrible things about you and Su-ho."
"Let them talk. It doesn't matter."
But Min-seo could see the pain in her eyes.
THIRD ROUND - HYE-JIN'S MATCH
She fought harder this time. More aggressive. Her opponent, a B-rank second-year, actually lasted two minutes.
But when she won and walked off stage, someone in the crowd shouted it loud enough for everyone to hear:
"GO BACK TO YOUR BOYFRIEND, SLUT!"
Laughter. Not everyone, but enough.
Hye-jin's smile faltered for just a moment. Just a crack in the facade.
Then it was back, bright and fake.
BREAK PERIOD - AFTER ROUND 3
I'd won my second and third matches. Both against D-ranks who'd gotten lucky with the bracket draw. Quick, efficient victories this time—no need to drag things out.
I was looking for Hye-jin. Wanted to check if she was okay, congratulate her on making it to round four.
I spotted her near the competitor rest area, surrounded by a group of second-years. Her friends, maybe. Or people who used to be her friends.
I started walking over.
She saw me coming.
And immediately turned and walked the other direction.
What?
"Hye-jin!" I called out.
She didn't stop. Didn't turn around. Just kept walking, faster now.
I tried to follow, but her friends closed ranks, blocking my path.
"Leave her alone," Min-seo said coldly.
"I just want to talk—"
"You've done enough. Do you know what people are saying about her?"
I didn't. But I could guess.
"That's not my fault—"
"Isn't it? She defended you. Helped you. And now her reputation is destroyed because of you." Min-seo's eyes were hard. "So do her a favor and stay away."
They left before I could respond.
I activated [Isolation], focusing in the direction Hye-jin had gone even though she was out of direct sight now.
[TARGET: JUNG HYE-JIN - DISTANT SCAN]
Unable to perform detailed analysis at this distance
However... STATUS EFFECT DETECTED:
◆ Devil's Footprint
Type: UNKNOWN
Origin: UNKNOWN
Effect: [ISOLATION LEVEL INSUFFICIENT FOR DETAILS]
Warning: This is not a normal status effect
Warning: Effect appears to be active and spreading
Warning: Recommend immediate investigation
Additional observation:
Subject's emotional state: Severe distress (suppressed)
Physical state: Normal Mental state: Compromised
Devil's Footprint.
I'd never heard of that status effect. It wasn't in Su-ho's academy knowledge. Wasn't in Jin-woo's hunter experience.
But the system flagged it as dangerous. Spreading.
And Hye-jin had it.
What the hell is going on?
The announcement system crackled to life.
"Round four matchups will be posted in ten minutes. Competitors, please check your assignments."
I looked in the direction Hye-jin had gone, then at the status notification still floating in my vision.
Something was very, very wrong.
And I had no idea how to fix it.