The hall that had once been filled with endless chatter and conversations gradually fell silent as the B-ranks entered.
The change was immediate.
No one needed to be told to quiet down.
The pressure coming from them was enough.
None of the B-ranks were openly releasing their energy, yet the atmosphere around them felt noticeably heavier. The C-ranks and D-ranks could feel it instinctively.
The difference.
The gap.
The reality of what it meant to stand a rank higher.
Warren glanced toward the gathering recruits before speaking.
"Alright, since they're here, let's get ready for the last two matches. Nel, prepare yourself. You're up first against the person who ranked second among the B-ranks."
Nel immediately straightened.
"Yes, sir."
Warren then turned toward Lucy.
"Right. Who won between the top of the B-ranks and the A-rank?" Warren asked.
Lucy answered calmly without hesitation.
"The A-rank did, of course."
Warren sighed.
"Right. Of course. That should've been obvious."
Nel walked forward carrying his spear, a serious expression firmly fixed on his face.
Michael watched him carefully.
Looks like Nel is really locked in.
His gaze shifted toward the B-ranks.
Guess he knows this too. It looks like almost all the B-ranks are stronger than both of us.
Michael tightened his grip slightly.
We both have to be serious here.
Warren looked at Nel.
"Looks like you're ready."
"Yes, I am."
Warren nodded before gesturing for him to follow.
The two of them headed toward the platform.
At the same time, a recruit from the opposite side began walking toward the arena.
As both fighters climbed onto the platform, they finally became visible to everyone.
Michael's eyes widened slightly.
His opponent's face was familiar.
Red hair.
Red eyes.
Kevin.
The same Kevin from his class.
Kevin is here too?
Michael stared in surprise.
And he's B-rank?
A strange feeling appeared in his chest.
Really... are there any other people from my school here?
On the platform, Warren stood between the two recruits.
"Are you both ready?"
"Yes, sir."
"Begin."
The moment the match started, Michael focused completely.
A match involving someone ranked higher than me...
His eyes sharpened.
I should pay close attention and see what I can learn.
Nearby, Lucy crossed her arms as she watched.
This should be interesting.
Nel moved first.
Yellow celestial energy surged through his body before coating his spear.
Without hesitation, he lunged forward.
Fast.
Direct.
Aggressive.
Yet Kevin didn't move.
He simply stood there calmly.
Then he lifted his weapon.
An axe.
A massive axe that looked larger and heavier than ordinary axes.
Michael narrowed his eyes.
Then something happened that immediately caught his attention.
Kevin entered a swinging stance.
From below.
Upward.
At first, it looked ordinary.
Then Michael noticed it.
The energy.
The flow was completely different.
Unlike Michael or Nel, who simply infused their bodies with celestial energy, Kevin's red energy moved with precision.
Purpose.
Control.
It flowed through specific pathways across his body.
Every movement was smooth.
Refined.
Efficient.
The energy wasn't leaking outward unnecessarily.
Very little of it was visible.
Yet somehow, it felt far more powerful.
The flow continuously shifted with each motion of his body, perfectly synchronized with the movement of the axe.
Watching it made Michael realize something uncomfortable.
Compared to Kevin...
The way he and Nel used energy looked crude.
Primitive.
Almost barbaric.
As the axe lowered toward the ground, Nel was still halfway across the distance between them.
Then the air changed.
Nel felt it immediately.
Every instinct in his body screamed danger.
His muscles tensed.
His heart pounded.
Move.
Move now.
But before he could—
Kevin moved.
The axe swept upward.
It never touched the ground.
Yet the moment it moved—
[Red Axe Technique: Ground Cleave]
A crimson wave exploded forward.
The arena shook violently.
Everything in front of Kevin was blasted away.
A massive trail of destruction carved across the platform, widening farther and farther as it traveled.
Dust exploded into the air.
Shockwaves swept across the audience.
Several recruits instinctively stepped backward.
Then silence followed.
As the dust slowly cleared...
Nel was already down.
His body lay motionless at the very end of the destruction path.
Warren looked at the scene calmly.
"Winner. Kevin."
A wave of shocked voices erupted throughout the crowd.
"What?!"
"That was instant!"
"He won already?!"
The match hadn't even felt real.
Medical personnel immediately rushed forward.
They carefully lifted Nel onto a stretcher.
Neon's face had gone noticeably pale as she hurried after them.
Michael watched them leave.
Part of him wanted to follow.
But he couldn't.
His match was next.
The damaged platform slowly began repairing itself, restoring the destroyed sections as though nothing had happened.
Michael stared at it silently.
The match didn't even last two seconds.
A chill ran through him.
And I'm about to face someone who beat him.
His mind replayed Kevin's attack.
That move...
His eyes narrowed.
So that was a technique.
For the first time, he truly understood the difference.
It's fundamentally stronger than what I've been doing.
The realization hit him hard.
But how do I acquire something like that?
Nearby, Lucy watched Kevin as he stepped off the platform.
"I thought I told you to hold back."
Kevin scratched his cheek.
"Calm down, Lucy. I was gonna hold back, but the guy looked strong. He was going to get me if I held back, so I decided it was best not to."
"I'm not angry."
Lucy shrugged.
"Well, it's okay. It still went as I expected."
But inwardly—
I knew it was going to end fast.
Her eyes lingered on the platform.
But that was faster than I thought.
Then her gaze shifted toward Michael.
I wonder how long Michael would last.
Behind them, some B-ranks began whispering.
"I knew those guys were weak, but isn't this too weak?"
Another laughed.
"I know. They're useless."
Lucy slowly turned her head.
Nothing more.
Just a look.
The two B-ranks immediately shut their mouths.
Lucy looked away again.
Well... it's not like they're wrong.
They are stronger than them.
Meanwhile, Warren walked over toward Michael.
"Don't worry about Nel. He's going to be okay."
"Yeah. I know."
Warren studied him.
"What about you?"
Michael looked up.
"I'm fine."
His voice was steady.
"I'll still do my best to win."
Then he smiled slightly.
"And if not... I'll try to make it tough at least."
For a moment, Warren simply stared at him.
Then he smiled.
A genuine smile.
He turned toward Greg.
Greg was watching the repair status of the platform.
After a few moments, Greg gave a small nod.
Warren looked back at Michael.
"Alright."
His smile widened.
"Let's go start the final match."
Michael nodded.
"Okay."
Together, they headed toward the platform.
Michael climbed the stairs and stepped onto the repaired arena.
Then he looked toward the opposite side.
And froze.
Brown hair.
Brown eyes.
A familiar face.
Thomas.
Michael's eyes widened.
Thomas is the top of the B-ranks?
He couldn't help but laugh inwardly.
Today is just full of surprises.
Warren stepped between them.
His voice echoed throughout the arena.
"The final match between the top of the B-ranks, Thomas, and the top of the C-ranks, Michael, will now start."
He looked at both of them.
"Are you both ready?"
"Yes, sir."
Michael lowered into his sword stance.
His blade pointed forward.
Focused.
Prepared.
Across from him, Thomas wore a seriousness that would shock anyone who knew him.
Then Thomas drew his weapon.
A pistol.
Michael blinked.
A gun.
Even D-ranks could block or deflect ordinary bullets.
Yet one look was enough.
This wasn't normal.
Brown celestial energy flowed through the weapon.
The pistol practically hummed with power.
Thomas calmly raised it.
Then pointed it directly at Michael.
I should probably use blue energy from the beginning.
Michael's expression hardened.
I can't afford to hold anything back.
Warren raised his hand.
Then—
"Begin!"
The instant the match started, Michael directed blue energy throughout his body.
He carefully concealed it beneath green energy.
A small amount entered his body.
More entered his eyes.
Thought Acceleration activated.
Time seemed to slow.
Michael was about to move—
Then his eyes widened.
A bullet was already there.
Almost touching him.
The moment he activated Thought Acceleration, he realized something terrifying.
Even with the world slowed down...
The bullet was still fast.
Incredibly fast.
Michael reacted immediately.
His sword moved.
He attempted to deflect it.
The instant the bullet collided with his blade—
BOOM!
A violent force exploded through his arms.
Brown celestial energy surged from the projectile.
It felt less like a bullet—
And more like being struck by a charging beast.
Michael gritted his teeth.
His feet slid backward.
The force continued pushing him.
Only after directing blue energy into his sword did he barely manage to knock it aside.
Even then, he was thrown several steps away.
But before he could recover—
Another bullet was already there.
This one was worse.
Faster.
Heavier.
Stronger.
There wasn't enough time to deflect it.
Michael immediately poured most of his energy into his sword and raised it to block.
The impact exploded through his body.
His arms screamed in pain.
The force launched him backward.
His body skidded violently across the platform.
The ground cracked beneath him.
Finally—
He managed to deflect the bullet upward.
But the damage was done.
The force slammed him into the arena floor.
His vision blurred.
His body felt heavy.
Exhausted.
Michael tried to stand.
His muscles refused.
Very little strength remained.
Then he looked down.
The watch on his wrist had turned red.
Warren glanced at it.
Then immediately made his decision.
"The winner... Thomas!"
The announcement echoed across the arena.
Michael slowly relaxed against the ground.
The medical team rushed toward him.
The sounds of the crowd became distant.
Faint.
Blurred.
As he stared at the sky above, a single thought remained.
I still have a long way to go.
His fingers tightened slightly.
I'm still weak.
Then determination burned quietly inside his chest.
But I'll be sure to surpass them.