The arena had never known silence like this.
The moment Aren and Ben ripped the stone pillar from the ground…Dragged it across the forest…And casually threw it into the lake 🌊—
The Sword-in-Water Tournament collapsed.
Teachers shouted at each other.Students screamed.Commentators argued mid-broadcast 📺.And Princess Rias looked one breath away from burning the forest down 🔥.
The crystal screens replayed it endlessly:
"Who's the boss?""You are.""Dig.""But we can't break the stone—""Break the ground."
The crowd didn't know how to react.
Shock.Fear.Admiration.
Some cried 😭Some cheered 🎉Some fainted 😵
Some quietly started writing:
"Ways to Exploit Academy Rules" 📝
🧠 Logic vs Tradition
Students rushed Aren.
"WHY DID YOU DIG THE WHOLE THING OUT?!"
Aren answered calmly:
"Instructions said remove the sword from the stone."
Pause.
"They did not specify direction."
A beastkin girl snapped:
"THAT'S NOT HOW THE TOURNAMENT WORKS!"
Aren shrugged.
"I read the rules."
A dwarf stomped forward.
"THIS VIOLATES THE SPIRIT OF THE EVENT!"
Aren lowered his gaze slightly.
"Spirit is not a rule."
Someone shouted:
"THAT'S ILLEGAL!"
Aren tapped the rulebook.
"Article Seven."
Pause.
"New methods not forbidden are allowed."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Because he was right.
🔥 Judges vs Reality
Inside the command tower—
Madness.
"HE EXPLOITED A LOOPHOLE!""THAT'S COMPETITION!""HE BROKE THE ARENA!""NO—HE BROKE THE GROUND!"
The head instructor tried to speak—
"WE MUST MAINTAIN DIGN—"
CRASH 🪑💥
A chair hit him.
🔥 Royal Reactions
Rias clenched her fists.
"That man…" she whispered.
"He just stole the stage."
Beside her—
Lyris stared into nothing.
"I trained for a month…"
"…and he wins by digging?"
Her soul quietly left.
🏆 Victory… and a Problem
Ben slammed Aren's shoulder.
"WE WON, BROTHER!!" 💪
The screens flashed:
Team Aren & Ben — VICTORY 🏆Reward: King-Level Privileges (30 Days)
The crowd erupted.
Then—
A blue crystal descended.
A staff member read shakily:
"By Academy law… any team that retrieves the sword intact from its original stone…"
"…may attempt extraction again in the final stage."
Ben blinked.
"…What does that mean?"
Aren looked at the lake.
"It means…"
Pause.
"We can win again."
The arena broke again.
Students screamed 😱Teachers panickedRias covered her faceLyris collapsed
Aren walked away.
🔥 Chaos After Victory
The lake still rippled.
Other teams still struggled.
Aren was already done.
One arrogant student pushed forward.
"YOU CHEATED! I'LL REPORT YOU—"
Aren grabbed him.
By the neck.
No anger.
No expression.
Just motion.
He walked to the lake.
"N–NO—WAIT—!"
SPLASH 🌊
Held him underwater.
Like laundry 🧺.
Ben gave a thumbs-up 👍
Aren lifted him halfway.
"You finished?"
"YES—YES—!"
SPLASH AGAIN 🌊
Then tossed him aside.
No one spoke after that.
⚖️ The Rule Arrives Too Late
The head judge stood, trembling.
"NEW RULE!"
"NO UPROOTING THE STONE!"
Applause.
Relief.
Aren shrugged.
"That is a future problem."
⚔️ The Sword Nobody Wanted
A judge approached.
Holding the glowing blade ✨.
"This sword enforces righteousness… honesty… purity—"
The crowd leaned in.
Aren blinked.
Then—
THREW IT INTO THE BUSHES 🌿
Silence.
The judge collapsed.
Rias covered her face.
"…Of course he did."
Aren nodded.
"It would alter my behavior."
Pause.
"Unacceptable."
🏁 Legend Confirmed
The announcement echoed:
"AREN AND BEN ROCKHOLD ARE THE WINNERS!"
The crowd roared 🎉🔥
Ben flexed 💪Rias stared 😏Lyris questioned reality 😵
And the Academy learned—
For the first time in its history—
A prestigious tournament…
Was won—
By digging a hole. 🕳️⚔️🔥