As soon as Cindy's match ended, Group 8 wasted no time and headed straight for the second arena, where Simon's duel was about to take place.
By the time they arrived, Group 7 was already seated in the stands.
"Yo, you guys made it," Rick said, waving when he spotted them.
Cindy dropped into a seat with a satisfied stretch.
"Of course we did. No way we'd miss this."
Knox, Claudia, and Merida took their seats as well, their attention already shifting toward the arena below.
And unlike the previous match—
this stadium was packed.
Far more crowded than before.
Spectators filled nearly every row, voices overlapping in a constant hum of anticipation. Some students were even standing along the edges, craning their necks just to get a better view.
The reason was simple.
This was not just any duel. This was a match involving one of the Special Entry No. 1 students.
Simon Polentia, he was the other Special Entry No. 1.
The one often mentioned alongside Knox.
"I knew it'd be crowded, but this is kinda insane," Cindy muttered, glancing around.
"Word spreads fast," Claudia replied calmly. "Especially when it's about someone like Simon."
Rick leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"Half of them are probably here to compare him to Knox."
"Or to see if he lives up to the hype," Meilyn added flatly.
Knox, meanwhile, simply looked around with mild interest, as if the situation did not concern him in the slightest.
"Hm... so this is the kind of attention you get, huh."
Rick shot him a look. "Don't act like you're not part of the reason."
Knox just smiled. "Me? I'm just an innocent slime~"
"No, you're not."
While the group exchanged light remarks, the noise in the stadium gradually grew louder.
Down below, the arena stood ready. All eyes were fixed on the entrance.
Waiting—
for Simon's match to begin.
Simon was the only one from Group 7 taking the test in the morning.
The others had come to cheer him on.
But—
"Where is he?!"
Meilyn stomped her foot lightly, clearly unable to sit still any longer. Cami also kept glancing around anxiously, her hands clasped together.
Simon's match was approaching fast.
And yet—
he was nowhere to be seen.
"...He's late," Claudia said, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Or he got lost," Cindy added.
"That's not helping," Meilyn snapped immediately.
Knox, who had been quietly watching the entrance, rested his chin on his hand.
Of course, he knew exactly where Simon was. After all, this was supposed to happen.
But instead of saying anything, Knox simply tilted his head slightly.
"Hm… that's weird."
Rick looked at him like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Weird? He's about to miss his own match!"
Knox blinked once, then shrugged lightly.
"Maybe he's doing some last-minute mental preparation~"
Meilyn frowned. "That's not the kind of thing you do when you're about to be called into the arena!"
Meanwhile, Knox only smiled faintly.
(Yeah… about that.)
Even so, the tension in the group continued to rise.
"Alright, you guys stay here." Rick stood up from his seat.
Knox followed right after, stretching lightly as if this was just another casual errand.
"Guess I'll go too," he said. "Would be awkward if our Special Entry No. 1 just disappears."
Rick snorted. "Yeah, no kidding."
The two of them headed out of the stands to look for Simon.
Meanwhile, another match in the arena had already ended.
The winning student raised both arms in celebration, while the loser, whose barrier gauge had dropped to zero, lowered their head in defeat.
The duel evaluation followed the same system as the Cyclops practical.
Both students wore Barrier Vests, which generated full-body protective shields.
Once the barrier gauge reached zero—
the match ended immediately.
The winner would start in the mid-tier squad. The loser would fall into the lower squad. And if they lost again while in the lower squad, they could be pushed down into the bottom tier, where expulsion from Kizen became a real possibility.
Because of that, the pressure on every student was immense.
The stands were packed.
Students were cheering, observing, analyzing, and gathering information. Not only students, but also adults from various factions of the Dark Alliance had taken seats in the arena.
Since Kizen students would one day lead the continent, it was only natural for organizations to scout talent early.
And right now, the attention of those observers in Arena 2 was focused on one thing.
"We're finally going to see this year's Special Admission No. 1."
"Simon Polentia, huh? Never heard that name."
"His background's unclear. Apparently, he was personally selected by Lady Nefthis."
"He's aiming for Summonology."
"Summonology? Seriously? They're putting Special Admission No. 1 there?"
While the adults quietly exchanged opinions and wrote down notes, the ones most restless were still Meilyn and Cami.
The two of them couldn't sit still, their eyes constantly moving between the arena and the waiting area.
Cindy leaned forward. "He better show up. I wanna see what he can actually do."
Merida, sitting beside her, spoke calmly. "...He'll come."
Claudia clasped her hands together. "Still… the timing is worrying."
Then—
an announcement rang through the stadium.
—Student Simon Polentia of Class A, student Haren Cork of Class G, please proceed to the arena.
Simon's opponent had already entered the field.
Cami tightened her grip on her hands, her voice trembling slightly. "Please, Simon… where are you?"
Meanwhile, Simon's opponent, Haren Cork, had already been waiting in the arena for quite some time.
—Student Simon Polentia of Class A, please proceed to the arena.
But Simon still hadn't appeared.
Now, the announcement echoed not only in Arena 2, but throughout the entire school.
They were searching for him.
"…Tch. Late? Just what you'd expect from a special admission brat."
Haren crossed his arms, irritation clear on his face.
The referee checked his watch.
"The schedule is being delayed. If Simon Polentia does not arrive within five minutes, he will be disqualified. This match will be awarded to Haren Cork."
Disappointed murmurs spread through the stadium.
Up in the stands—
"This doesn't make any sense!" Meilyn said, standing halfway.
Cami clasped her hands tightly. "Where is he…?"
Claudia frowned slightly.
"Rick and Knox should've found him by now…"
Cindy crossed her arms.
"If even those two haven't brought him back yet, then something's definitely wrong."
"…He'll come," Merida said calmly.
Meanwhile—
Rick and Knox were moving quickly through the corridors.
"Where the hell did he go?!" Rick muttered, clearly stressed.
Knox, on the other hand, looked far too relaxed for the situation.
"Hm… maybe try over there?"
Rick frowned. "What makes you so sure—"
"—Simon."
Before Rick could finish, Knox had already called out.
At the end of the corridor—
a familiar figure appeared.
Simon.
Slightly disheveled, breathing a bit heavier than usual, clearly having rushed.
Rick immediately ran up to him.
"Finally! What were you doing?! You're about to get disqualified!"
"No time," Simon replied shortly. "Let's go."
Rick grabbed his arm without hesitation.
"Yeah, no kidding—move!"
Simon staggered slightly—
but before he could lose balance, Knox casually supported him from the other side.
"Easy there," Knox said lightly. "You don't want to collapse before the match even starts, right?"
"…I'm fine."
"Mm, sure you are~"
With Rick pulling from one side and Knox steadying him from the other, the three of them moved quickly back toward the arena.
Despite the urgency, Knox's pace remained strangely composed.
Back in the arena—
"Time's up. This match will go to Haren Cork—"
"Wait a moment!"
Thud!
The waiting room door burst open.
Simon entered, this time supported on one side by Rick, and on the other by Knox.
"Ooh!"
"There he is!"
Relief spread through the stadium.
Up in the stands—
"Simon!"
"You idiot!!"
Cami and Meilyn shouted at the same time, their relief obvious.
Knox let go first, stepping aside with an easy expression.
"Alright, delivery complete~"
Rick clicked his tongue and released Simon as well.
"Don't ever do that again."
"…Yeah."
Simon straightened himself, then walked forward.
Stopping in front of the referee, he lowered his head.
"Sorry for being late."
"It's fine. Hurry and get ready."
They finished their handshake and stepped apart. The mana projector lit up, displaying their stats.
[Simon Polentia: 100%]
[Haren Cork: 100%]
"If either side loses consciousness or their barrier gauge drops to 0%, the match ends."
Both of them nodded and took their stances.
In an instant—
tension flooded the entire arena.
Up in the stands, Meilyn and Cami leaned forward, stretching their necks as they watched intently. Their eyes didn't leave Simon for even a second.
Rick, now back in the stands and still sweating slightly, finally made his way over and dropped into his seat.
"Rick! You really worked hard!" Cindy said.
"Knox as well, thank you, Knox!" Cami added quickly, looking relieved.
Knox gave a small wave, as if it had been nothing.
"Just a quick errand~"
"What happened with him?" Claudia asked. "Where was Simon?"
Rick brushed the dirt off his uniform with an annoyed sigh.
"Behind the arena."
"Huh?" several of them responded at once.
"I'll explain later," Rick said, leaning back. "Just watch first."
"…Mysterious," Merida muttered.
Below, in the arena, Simon closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Huuuu…"
The noise of the stadium seemed to fade away.
And when he opened his eyes again—
his usual sharp focus had returned.
Across from him, Haren lowered his stance even further, a crooked smile forming on his lips.
"Monster bastard."
The referee raised his arm high, and then brought it down.
"Match, begin!"
As the match began, Simon moved first.
With a quick motion, he pulled the imaginary lever.
Three skeletons armed with weapons emerged from subspace and positioned themselves around him.
Across the field, Haren immediately responded.
A magic circle formed behind his back and a demonic arm of Darkness burst out.
Black Hand.
From the very start, Haren chose to play it safe.
He kept his distance, carefully observing Simon while maintaining control of the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Simon did not advance.
Instead, he retreated.
Step by step, he moved backward, his skeletons maintaining formation as they followed him.
"Huh?" Rick frowned. "Why is he backing off?"
Cindy leaned forward. "Is he baiting him?"
Claudia shook her head slightly. "No… it doesn't feel like that."
Merida spoke calmly. "…He's setting something up."
Knox, resting his chin on his hand, smiled faintly. "Yeah. He's buying time."
Down in the arena, Haren frowned.
Simon continued retreating until he reached the very edge of the arena.
Behind him—
was the wall.
He had completely cut off his own escape route.
"…What is he doing?" Meilyn muttered.
Then, Haren attacked.
Jet Black (Darkness) Arrows formed midair and shot forward.
Simon reacted instantly.
Three shields emerged from subspace, and his skeletons grabbed them, rushing forward to block.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The impact pushed them back, but the attack was successfully defended.
"Good defense," Claudia said.
"But he's still not attacking," Cindy added.
"Of course he isn't," Knox said lightly. "He doesn't need to. Not yet."
Then, Haren raised his hand again.
A curse magic circle formed.
"Exhaust."
The black curse shot forward like lightning.
It passed through the skeletons and struck Simon directly.
"...Ugh!" Simon staggered. His body swayed.
The dizziness hit immediately.
From the stands—
"Simon!" Cami gasped.
Meilyn clenched her fists.
"Fight back already!"
But Simon didn't attack.
He kept dodging. Blocking. Enduring.
Black Hand lashed out again and again like a whip.
CRACK!
Two skeletons were blown away.
Boom!
Another strike barely missed Simon.
The fight became completely one-sided.
"…This is bad," Claudia said quietly.
Cindy frowned. "He's just getting beaten up."
Rick wiped sweat from his forehead. "…Something's off. Seriously off."
Merida's gaze didn't move. "…He's still preparing."
Knox smiled slightly. "Yeah. He hasn't started yet."
Meanwhile, below, Haren continued pressing the attack.
Another Exhaust was forming in his hand.
"Once this lands… it's over."
Simon, barely standing, looked like he might collapse at any moment.
And yet, he still didn't attack.
From the stands, even the professors were watching closely.
Bahil stood with arms crossed. "This is exactly as expected."
Beside him, Aaron watched silently.
Then, turned away.
"The match is already decided."
Bahil frowned slightly. "…Is it?"