*****
A figure leaped from the high branches with astonishing speed, descending directly toward Lyrium with a drawn blade.
A sigh escaped Ren’s lips.
"Bro has guts—directly jumping on the 1st rank like that."
The attacker was fast—too fast for an average student.
The gleam of their blade caught the sunlight as they twisted midair, aiming a decisive strike toward Lyrium’s exposed flank.
But Lyrium didn’t move.
He simply tilted his head slightly, his gaze locking onto the incoming opponent with a mixture of boredom and amusement.
His sword remained sheathed, his stance loose and relaxed.
The moment stretched, tension thick in the air.
And then—
CLANG—!
Steel met flesh in a sudden, resounding clash.
Ren had stepped in, his both hands raised, effortlessly deflecting the attack at the last second.
The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the surrounding foliage, rustling the leaves violently.
The attacker, momentarily thrown off balance, flipped backward and landed gracefully a few meters away, crouching low as they assessed the situation.
Now that they had stepped into the light, Lyrium got a better look at them.
Short, dark hair.
Lean but muscular frame.
A sharp glint of determination in their amber eyes.
They wore the standard combat attire given to all students participating in this event, but something about them stood out—the way they carried themselves, the confidence in their stance.
Definitely a skilled fighter.
Ren clench his hands, grinning.
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"Well, well. That was some entrance. You do realize you just tried to assassinate the guy who ranked first, right?"
The opponent said nothing, merely adjusting their grip on their blade, their eyes locked onto Lyrium.
Lyrium exhaled lightly, shaking his head.
"And here I thought I’d have some time to walk around before things got interesting."
His voice was calm—too calm—as if none of this concerned him in the slightest.
The enemy dashed forward without warning, closing the distance in an instant.
Their footwork was impressive—fast, precise. They launched into a rapid series of slashes, their blade slicing through the air with deadly intent.
But Lyrium still hadn’t drawn his sword.
He sidestepped effortlessly, each motion smooth and efficient, avoiding the attacks by mere inches.
His crimson eyes remained focused, tracking every movement with precise calculation.
Ren whistled.
"Damn, you’re just playing with them now, huh?"
The attacker gritted their teeth, increasing the speed and intensity of their strikes.
But no matter how fast or unpredictable they tried to be, Lyrium remained untouched—his movements fluid, almost lazy.
Then, in a single instant, he moved.
A sharp step forward.
A flicker of motion.
And his sword was finally drawn.
A single stroke.
The blade barely grazed the attacker’s weapon—yet the force behind it sent a tremor through their arm, making them stagger backward.
Lyrium’s sword glowed faintly with a violet hue, the power within it restrained but undeniable.
He tilted his head slightly, his voice carrying a cold edge now.
"You lost the moment you attacked me."
The enemy stiffened, sweat forming at their temple.
Their grip on their sword tightened, but their stance had shifted—hesitation creeping in.
Ren chuckled.
"I think they just realized the gap."
Lyrium sighed, lowering his sword slightly.
"I don’t feel like wasting time. Either surrender or keep going—though, if you choose the latter, I won’t be so patient next time."
A beat of silence.
Then, the attacker exhaled sharply and lowered their weapon.
"...Tch."
They took a step back, acknowledging defeat.
Ren grinned.
"Smart choice. Now, how about telling us your name?"
The opponent hesitated before speaking.
"Kai. Kai Verdan. Rank 15."
Lyrium sheathed his sword, his interest already fading.
"Let’s keep moving, Ren."
Kai clenched his fists as he watched them walk away, his pride wounded.
But in his heart, he knew—
The gap between them was overwhelming.
*****
"Hmph,"
Eugene finally spoke, breaking the silence. "That Kai kid… he’s also a noble, isn’t he? Rank 15?"
Alicia, without shifting her gaze, nodded slightly.
"Yes. Kai Verdan of House Verdan, a lower noble family. His ranking is based on his technical proficiency rather than overwhelming raw power. He specializes in fast strikes and counterattacks, but his biggest flaw…"
"…is that he hesitates at the wrong moments," Eugene finished, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "That fight proved it. He let his pride get in the way, but the moment he felt true fear, he backed down."
On the far left of the room, another instructor—Professor Graham Valance, a lean man with round glasses—let out a scoff.
"A common trait among young nobles who aren’t at the top. They struggle to balance their ego and instincts. The strong will fight to the bitter end, while those who aren’t truly confident in their abilities will retreat at the first taste of true defeat."
Eugene huffed.
"And Lyrium Blackwood… he barely even took that fight seriously."
All eyes shifted toward Screen 04, which replayed the last few moments of Lyrium’s duel.
The footage showed his fluid dodges, his effortless parries, and finally, the single swing that forced Kai to surrender.
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone took in the stark contrast between Lyrium and Kai.
One was an unshakable mountain, unbothered by his opponent’s assault.
The other was a leaf in the wind, swift but fragile.
"...He’s dangerous,"
Alicia finally murmured.
Graham raised an eyebrow.
"Lyrium?"
Alicia nodded.
"He doesn’t waste movement. Every step, every action is calculated. He has the instincts of a veteran, yet he’s only sixteen."
She leaned forward slightly, her piercing gaze locked onto the young swordsman on the screen.
"And the way he didn’t draw his sword until the very last moment—that speaks volumes."
Eugene smirked slightly.
"He wanted Kai to attack first. He observed. He tested his limits. And only when he was sure there was no threat did he bother drawing his blade."
A younger instructor, Sophia Elrain, leaned forward, her golden locks cascading over her shoulders.
"But the real question is: How does he compare to the other top-ranked students?"
Her eyes darted to another monitor, which displayed the current standings of Class 1-C.
Rank 1: Lyrium Blackwood
Rank 2: Margaret Windsor
Rank 3: Silas
Rank 4: Ren
Rank 5: Lily
Margaret Windsor’s name flashed in red, signaling that she was currently engaged in combat.
The screen next to it showed her effortlessly tearing through two opponents at once, her rapier moving like a streak of silver Lightning.
"Margaret Windsor is just as terrifying in a fight,"
Sophia noted.
"She doesn’t have Lyrium’s calm, effortless dominance, but her attacks are ruthless, efficient, and merciless. She fights like someone who wants to crush her opponents rather than simply defeat them."
"Of course,"
Graham chuckled, adjusting his glasses.
"She’s been raised that way. The Windsor family prides itself on producing exceptional warriors. Their children are trained to view every battle as a matter of life and death."
Alicia exhaled.
"Which makes this upcoming clash inevitable."
Eugene raised an eyebrow.
"You think Lyrium and Margaret will fight?"
"Not now," Alicia admitted,
"But soon. The moment Margaret sees Lyrium as a direct rival, she will challenge him. It’s in her nature."
Sophia smirked.
"And what about Silas?"
She pointed toward Screen 07, which displayed Silas, currently sitting on a tree branch with his arms folded, looking completely unbothered by the chaos around him.
"Silas…"
Eugene mused.
"Now, he’s an interesting one."
The screen zoomed in on Silas’s expression—his golden-brown eyes half-lidded, his posture relaxed but not careless.
His entire demeanor exuded confidence, but there was something different about him compared to the others.
"He doesn’t care,"
Alicia muttered.
Sophia raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Alicia crossed her arms.
"Unlike Lyrium and Margaret—who are both naturally competitive—Silas… doesn’t give a damn about his ranking. He’s here, but he’s not truly invested. He fights only when necessary, and even then, it’s almost as if he’s… waiting for something."
Eugene chuckled.
"The boy doesn’t even know it himself yet, does he?"
Graham nodded.
"He’s a wildcard. If something—or someone—pushes him in the right direction, he could become either the strongest of them all… or he could completely fade into irrelevance."
Sophia hummed.
"And the same could be said for Ren and Lily."
On the screens, Ren was seen weaving between enemies with his fist, his movements reminiscent of a rogue fighter, while Lily stood atop a rock, launching devastating water and rock-based attacks at her foes.
"They’re strong, but they lack the hunger that Margaret has,"
Alicia said.
"Ren enjoys the thrill of battle, but he’s too easygoing. Lily, on the other hand, is more tactical but not aggressive enough."
Eugene’s smirk widened.
"That’s why this event is perfect. It’ll force them to show their true colors."
A silence settled over the room as the instructors watched the battlefield unfold.
The rookies were proving themselves, but this was only the beginning.
Alicia turned her attention back to Lyrium’s screen.
He was now moving again, cutting through the jungle with purpose.
His crimson eyes gleamed with anticipation—as if he knew what was coming.
This arc… will change everything
*****
By the way the professors can access to their minds.. and VR’s. I means they already have enough technology to do that and They also has Mana.