The Central Training Arena was enormous.
Stone platforms surrounded a massive circular battlefield.
Hundreds of first-year students gathered around the arena floor.
Some looked nervous.
Others excited.
Lysander stood beside Taro near the back of the crowd.
Taro whistled.
"This place is huge."
The arena floor alone was larger than a football field.
Training weapons lined the walls.
Mana barriers shimmered faintly across the edges.
This place had clearly seen thousands of battles.
A group of instructors entered the arena.
Students immediately quieted.
Then the air changed.
Electric.
Heavy.
Powerful.
A woman stepped forward.
Long silver-blonde hair flowed behind her.
Golden eyes scanned the students calmly.
Lightning crackled faintly around her presence.
Seraphina Solari.
Student Council President.
One of the strongest students in the academy.
Her voice carried easily across the arena.
"Welcome to Eclipse Hunter Academy."
The crowd listened carefully.
"This academy exists for one purpose."
"To create hunters capable of surviving the gates."
She gestured toward the battlefield.
"You will fight."
"You will train."
"You will study."
"And many of you will fail."
Her gaze hardened slightly.
"The gates do not forgive weakness."
Silence filled the arena.
Then she continued.
"Your training will include combat, mana theory, monster studies, and artifact research."
"Strength alone is not enough to survive."
Her golden eyes moved across the crowd slowly.
When they passed Lysander again—
They paused.
Just briefly.
Then moved on.
"…Interesting."
She spoke the word quietly.
Too quietly for most people to hear.
But Lysander noticed.
Why does she keep looking at me?
Seraphina raised her hand.
"Before classes begin, we will conduct a simple evaluation."
The arena gates opened.
Training weapons were distributed.
"Each student will participate in a duel."
Excited murmurs spread through the crowd.
Dueling was the fastest way to measure skill.
Names began appearing on the arena screen.
Students stepped forward one by one.
Some fights ended quickly.
Others lasted several minutes.
Eventually—
The screen displayed a new name.
Lysander Vale
Opponent:
Taro Stormfang
Taro's ears perked up instantly.
"Oh!"
He grinned at Lysander.
"Looks like we're up!"
Lysander sighed quietly.
Of course.
The two stepped into the arena.
Students gathered around the edges.
Taro stretched his shoulders.
"No hard feelings, okay?"
Lysander nodded.
"Same."
Taro crouched slightly.
Wind mana began gathering around him.
The instructor raised a hand.
"Begin."
Taro exploded forward immediately.
His speed was impressive.
A wind-enhanced punch aimed directly at Lysander's chest.
Lysander moved smoothly.
Dodging.
Parrying.
Keeping his movements simple.
No Void Draw.
No lightning.
Just basic sword defense.
After several exchanges, Taro finally knocked the sword from Lysander's hand.
Lysander stepped back.
Hands raised.
"I yield."
The instructor nodded.
"Winner — Taro Stormfang."
Taro blinked.
"…That's it?"
Lysander shrugged.
"You're stronger."
The crowd lost interest quickly.
Just another E-rank student losing a duel.
But two people in the arena watched closely.
Leon Valerian.
And Elara Moonveil.
Leon scratched his head.
"…That guy again."
Elara's eyes narrowed slightly.
Her instincts whispered the same thought.
Something is wrong with him.