The words carried clearly across the reinforced platform and into the stunned silence of the arena.
Then the silence broke.
A wave of disbelieving noise rolled through the spectator stands like a physical force. Students who had been leaning forward in tension now stared with open mouths.
Some covered their faces.
Others let out short, incredulous laughs that bordered on hysteria.
"He's just toying with him…"
"That is Adrian... one of Gloria's strongest 2nd-years, and Gray is treating him like a training dummy."
"He's not even using any technique or even unsheathing his sword. Gray's literally beating a multi-elemental swordsman with his bare hands and is even complaining about being bored."
In the lower student sections, the commentary grew louder and more chaotic by the second.
A group of 3rd-years from a neutral academy kept replaying the last few exchanges in their minds, unable to reconcile the gap they were witnessing.
