The arena didn't return to normal.
Even after Kashikari left.
Students were still seated, but no one spoke loudly anymore. Conversations stayed low, cautious—like something might hear them if they raised their voices.
At the center of the arena, Ravel remained frozen for a few seconds longer.
Then—
His body dropped.
Not violently.
Just… empty.
Medics rushed in immediately.
"He's alive!"
"But his aura… it's unstable!"
"What did he do to him?!"
No one had an answer.
From above, Selvan didn't move.
But his eyes had narrowed slightly.
"That wasn't suppression."
Dorum stayed silent.
"That wasn't control either," Selvan continued. "It was removal."
A pause.
"As if the space around him rejected everything else."
Dorum finally spoke.
"…He's still holding back."
Selvan didn't respond.
But he didn't disagree.
Outside the arena, Kashikari walked through the corridor.
Same pace.
Same silence.
But something lingered behind him.
Not visible.
Not measurable.
But present.
Jinwi spoke again.
"You enjoyed that."
Kashikari didn't answer.
"Don't lie to yourself," Jinwi continued. "For a moment… you stopped holding back."
No.
A short pause.
I just didn't need to move.
Jinwi laughed quietly.
"Exactly."
At the end of the corridor, Nyari was waiting.
This time—
She didn't call out to him.
She just watched.
As he got closer, she stepped forward.
"…Kai."
Kashikari stopped.
"What was that?"
No accusation.
Just a question.
Kashikari looked at her.
Briefly.
"Nothing."
"That wasn't nothing."
Silence.
Nyari's grip tightened slightly around the book she was holding.
"I couldn't feel anything from you," she said. "Not even aura. It was like…"
She hesitated.
"…like you weren't there."
Kashikari didn't respond immediately.
Then—
"Maybe I wasn't."
Nyari's expression shifted.
Confusion.
Concern.
Something else.
"You're scaring people."
Kashikari looked past her.
"They're not wrong to be scared."
"And me?"
That made him pause.
Just for a second.
"You should be careful."
"That's not what I asked."
Silence again.
Jinwi whispered:
"She's getting closer."
Kashikari turned away.
"…You should focus on your own match."
And walked past her.
Back in the arena, the next matches had started.
But something had changed.
Every student who stepped forward—
Hesitated.
Even for a moment.
Because now they knew.
There was someone here…
Who didn't fight like them.
Didn't think like them.
Didn't even exist the same way.
Near the edge of the field, a name was quietly spoken.
"…Kashikari Lior."
Another student stepped forward.
Eyes sharp.
Calm.
Watching.
"Interesting."
He smiled slightly.
"Let's see how long you can stay quiet."
Far from the crowd—
Kashikari stopped walking.
Just for a moment.
Jinwi pulsed.
Slow.
Deep.
"Something is watching you now."
Kashikari's gaze shifted slightly.
"…Good."
A pause.
"Then it can learn."