Morning light filtered down the East Wing Yard, its wide open space crowded with students. Some sat cross-legged on the ground, others balanced on benches, and many stood shoulder to shoulder, necks craning for a better view. The air thrummed with excitement—rumors had spread since yesterday that Christoff challenged "that commoner." Everyone came to see blood.
Christoff was already at the center, smug as always. His arms crossed, his jaw tilted upward like he was addressing peasants. "Hmpf. I bet that nobody commoner won't even show up and just run away." He clicked his tongue, savoring the murmurs around him.
Then his gaze caught Euphelia among the crowd. His lips curved into a smirk. Once I humiliate Wyxro, she'll finally look at me properly. But his eyes trailed further, following where Euphelia's gaze pointed—not at him, but at a long bench.
Two girls sat there, clad in dark gray uniforms. One had crimson hair that fell in loose waves, amethyst eyes glinting like mischief itself. Beside her sat another with silver-pale hair, her mismatched eyes calm yet piercing as if she saw everything and nothing at once. Behind them stood a blonde boy munching happily on snacks, his voice loud enough to carry.
"Oi, Liora," Klyden said, leaning over the bench. "Do you think Christoff already rehearsed his losing face in front of the mirror?"
Liora burst into laughter. "If he did, then he better polish it more. He's going to need it!"
Keiya tilted her head, lips twitching. "You two are merciless."
"Merciless?" Klyden waved a biscuit. "No, no, I'm kind. I gave him free publicity. Now the whole academy gets to watch him trip over his own ego."
The nearby students snorted, unable to hide their laughter. Christoff's brows furrowed. He was about to fight their friend, yet they sat there unbothered, even mocking him.
At Euphelia's side, her sharp gaze fell on the crimson-haired girl. Her lips parted in realization. Keiya Anastasia Zheka... heir of the Zheka family, who rules the West. Her brows pinched. "Why is Lady Keiya here… watching a mere duel?" she whispered.
Before she could puzzle further, another stir ran through the crowd. A figure in regal uniform approached, making students murmur.
"Her Highness?"
"Is that really the princess?"
"What is she doing here—?"
Reiyell, the princess of Ravenscroft, crossed the yard with composed grace. She sat casually next to Keiya, greeting the group as if they were old friends.
"Is Wads late?" she asked, looking around.
Klyden shoved another snack in his mouth. "He still has three minutes. Don't worry. He likes dramatic entrances."
Christoff stiffened. His arrogance faltered for a beat. The princess herself came to witness me? His chest puffed up again. She must be scouting my ability.
And then, the "commoner" appeared.
Wads walked slowly, his black tunic catching the wind. He adjusted the gloves on his hands without hurry.
"Finally!" Christoff spat, voice booming. "I thought you would run away, commoner!"
Wads ignored him completely, which only made him grind his teeth harder. He stopped ten paces away, then yawned.
"Oh. Right." Wads muttered. His eyes flicked toward Reiyell.
Reiyell stood with a small smile. "I will serve as the formal witness to this duel. No time limit. No fatal injuries. The duel ends when one yields." She raised her hand, weaving a ward of shimmering silver light that enclosed the arena. The energy rippled like a dome—no one could interfere.
The crowd gasped at the sight.
"Woah, it's a royal ward!"
"We get to see this up close!"
"Begin," Reiyell declared, stepping back to sit beside Keiya.
Christoff immediately spread his arms. His aura flared, vibrations humming in the air. Dominion of Harmony. The ground quivered beneath his feet as invisible resonance swept outward. With a flick of his wrist, waves of vibrating force tore through the air, cracking stone tiles, shaking benches, and rattling bones.
BOOM. CRACK. BOOM.
The sound-shockwaves collided, dust and debris erupting around Wads.
Students covered their ears. Some screamed. The yard became a thunderous orchestra of destruction.
When the smoke cleared, every gaze shot forward—
And froze.
Wads stood in the same spot, hands in his pockets, completely unscratched. His expression? Bored.
"What the—he didn't move?" a first year stammered.
"Impossible… Christoff's Dominion can shatter armor!"
"Is he… mocking him?"
Even Euphelia's eyes widened. "That's… someone who's supposedly just a Top 10?"
Christoff's smugness cracked. Rage surged through him. He launched again, this time sharper—sonic blades screaming through the air, slicing trees, shattering stone. Reverberations crashed into the ward, shaking its boundaries. His attacks pierced like arrows, crushed like hammers, disoriented with echoing distortions.
But Wads did not move. His eyes followed the chaos as if watching a child tantrum.
"Uhh…" Julia whispered to Euphelia. "Is he… even trying to dodge?"
Euphelia's lips pressed tight. "No. And that's the terrifying part. He's not even playing yet."
Christoff roared, veins bulging. He raised his hands high, compressing every note of sound into a single, devastating crescendo. The resonance surged, condensing into a sonic quake that split the ground toward Wads.
KABOOOM.
The crowd staggered at the blast.
"Oh," Klyden said flatly.
Liora doubled over laughing.
When the dust settled—Christoff's eyes went wide.
Wads stood again, not only unhurt but holding a black sword in his right hand, the blade humming with dark energy.
"He slashed it?" Euphelia gasped. "That technique… that takes at least a Clarkeo level!"
"I thought he was only Yukereo?" Julia exclaimed.
The yard buzzed with wild murmurs.
Christoff panted heavily, sweat dripping. His arrogance had vanished, replaced with the creeping dread of prey cornered by a predator.
Then—Wads stepped forward.
The entire yard felt it. The immense pressure of gravity. Students gasped, clutching their chests, some even stumbling to their knees. Euphelia's breath hitched. "What an… immense deity power…"
But for Christoff, it was unbearable. His hands shook violently as he tried to summon another wave of resonance. Wads blurred forward—his strikes carrying impossible weight. Every blow rattled Christoff's barriers, breaking through vibrating shields as if they were paper. His knees buckled with each impact.
The crowd watched in awe. Wads moved with calm, effortless precision. Christoff struggled like a drowning man.
Finally, Wads raised his sword, gravity swelling around him like a storm.
Gravity Lexis.
The pressure crashed down. Christoff's body was slammed into the ground, pinned as if the earth itself betrayed him. His chest compressed, bones straining. He gasped, choking.
"I—I yield!" he cried.
Instantly, the crushing weight disappeared. The ward shimmered and dissolved at Reiyell's flick.
The yard exploded into cheers, the second years celebrating wildly.
Klyden whistled and clapped, laughing. Liora leaned back, clutching her stomach from laughter.
Wads exhaled, his blade dissolving into light and shrinking back into a black ring on his finger. He didn't look triumphant. He looked… disappointed.
"Tsk. A waste of time," he muttered.
Klyden caught his sulky expression and roared in laughter. "Pffft—oh gods, you're upset because you didn't get to test your new sword skills?"
The gossip swirled immediately.
"If he's that strong, why is he only Top 10?" Julia asked.
A sophomore smirked knowingly. "That's because the re-evaluation happens next week. Your information's outdated."
Gasps rippled.
Euphelia stared at Wads, heart pounding. She clenched her fists. That… wasn't a commoner's strength. That was the strength of someone who could stand at the very top.