CHAPTER 26, THE ONE-SECOND VICTORY AND THE SHADOW OF THE REAL WAR
Morning arrived with a strange intensity over Hero Academy.
The sunlight spread slowly across the massive campus, reflecting off the tall glass structures and wide training fields, but today it didn't feel warm or comforting. Instead, it carried a quiet tension—something unspoken yet deeply felt by everyone present.
It was the first day of the Royal Battle.
Students had gathered in overwhelming numbers around the central arena. The massive circular battlefield stood at the heart of the academy, surrounded by tiered seating filled with eager eyes and restless energy. Transparent barriers of condensed mana shimmered faintly around the arena, ensuring that no attack, no matter how powerful, could escape beyond its limits.
Voices overlapped in every direction.
Excitement.
Fear.
Ambition.
Everyone wanted something today.
Some wanted recognition.
Some wanted revenge.
And some wanted to rise… no matter the cost.
Large digital screens hovered above the arena, displaying rankings in real time. Names shifted constantly as students checked their positions, calculating their chances, analyzing potential opponents.
Because today, strength alone wouldn't be enough.
Strategy, timing, and awareness would decide everything.
Among the crowd, Krrish walked forward calmly.
Unlike the others, he showed no visible excitement. His steps were steady, his expression unchanged, as if the entire event held no real meaning for him.
But inside his mind—
Nothing was calm.
Fragments of realization continued to connect.
The Demon Emperor.
The Death Dimension.
The truth behind the weakened Demon Kings.
He had already understood it.
The enemies he had fought before returning to this timeline… were not real.
Not completely.
They had only been fragments.
That meant one thing.
The real war had not happened yet.
And when it did…
It would be far worse.
Krrish's eyes narrowed slightly as he took his seat among the Royal Class.
"They're preparing," he thought.
"They wouldn't hide their true bodies unless they were planning something bigger."
A faint voice echoed within his mind.
The Black Shadow.
"You're finally seeing it clearly."
Krrish didn't respond immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on the arena below.
"They're stronger now," the Shadow continued. "Time flows differently in the Death Dimension. While the world here moved forward… they were growing."
A brief silence followed.
Then Krrish replied internally,
"Good."
The Shadow paused, slightly amused.
"You don't seem worried."
"I'm not," Krrish said calmly. "If they've grown stronger…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…then so have I."
At that moment, a powerful voice echoed across the entire academy.
The principal had appeared above the arena, standing mid-air with a commanding presence that instantly silenced the crowd.
"Today marks the beginning of the Royal Battle."
His voice carried authority.
"This is not just a competition."
"It is a test of your strength, your intelligence, and your will."
The students listened closely.
"You may challenge anyone within your class to rise in rank."
"And…"
His gaze shifted toward the Royal Class.
"If any student defeats a Royal Class member under fair conditions…"
A slight pause.
"They will take their place."
The crowd erupted.
This was the rule that made everything dangerous.
No one in the Royal Class was truly safe.
At any moment, their position could be taken away.
The first match was announced.
Two students stepped into the arena.
The battle began instantly.
Magic clashed against magic.
Wind blades sliced through the air.
Defensive barriers formed and shattered within seconds.
The crowd cheered loudly.
For most, this was intense.
For Krrish…
It was nothing.
His eyes followed the movements, but his mind was elsewhere.
Every movement below felt slow.
Predictable.
Weak.
"These levels…" he thought. "They're still far from what's coming."
The Black Shadow spoke again.
"You're not wrong."
"But don't underestimate them completely."
Krrish didn't reply.
Because deep down, he knew—
None of this mattered.
Not compared to what was approaching.
Several matches passed.
Some were close.
Some ended instantly.
Some students rose.
Others fell.
Then suddenly—
The digital screen changed.
A different kind of announcement appeared.
Royal Class Challenge.
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
The crowd grew louder.
Excited.
Tense.
Because this…
Was where everything changed.
Two names appeared.
KRRISH
VIKRAM
A wave of whispers spread instantly.
"Vikram challenged him?"
"He's serious…"
"They say Vikram hasn't lost a single fight this year."
"He's aiming straight for Royal Class…"
Krrish stood up.
No hesitation.
No reaction.
He simply walked toward the arena.
Each step steady.
Each movement controlled.
On the other side, Vikram stepped forward with confidence.
There was a smirk on his face.
His aura was strong—far above average students.
"I've been waiting for this," Vikram said, cracking his knuckles slightly. "Royal Class… belongs to people like me."
Krrish stopped a few meters away from him.
His expression didn't change.
"Then prove it."
The barrier around the arena intensified.
The announcer's voice echoed—
"Begin!"
Vikram moved instantly.
His speed was impressive.
Mana gathered around his fist, compressing into a dense force.
He aimed straight for Krrish's chest.
A direct, overwhelming attack meant to end the fight quickly.
The crowd leaned forward.
Watching closely.
But the moment his fist reached—
Krrish disappeared.
Completely.
Vikram's eyes widened.
"What—?"
Before he could react—
A voice came from behind him.
Calm.
Cold.
"You're too slow."
Krrish stood there.
As if he had always been there.
The entire arena fell silent.
No one saw the movement.
No one understood what had happened.
"Teleportation?"
"Impossible… that fast?"
"Did he even use mana?"
Whispers spread rapidly.
Vikram turned around instantly, swinging his arm again.
But this time—
Krrish didn't move.
He simply raised his hand slightly.
And touched Vikram's shoulder.
Just a light tap.
Nothing more.
For a brief moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
A shockwave exploded outward.
Vikram's body slammed into the ground with overwhelming force.
The arena shook.
Dust rose into the air.
Silence followed.
Complete silence.
The match had ended.
In a single move.
The announcer hesitated for a second before shouting—
"Winner… Krrish!"
The crowd erupted.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Excitement.
No one expected it to end like that.
Not so easily.
Not so completely.
But Krrish didn't react.
He didn't celebrate.
Didn't even look at his opponent.
Instead—
He lifted his gaze toward the sky.
For a brief moment…
His expression changed.
Just slightly.
Because far beyond the Human Realm—
Something had awakened.
Something far more dangerous than anything here.
The Demon Emperor had returned.
And this time—
Krrish could feel it clearly.
The pressure.
The darkness.
The inevitability of what was coming.
"This is just the beginning," he thought.
Behind him, the crowd continued cheering.
The Royal Battle had only just begun.
But for Krrish—
A far greater war was already approaching.