The arena had never been this loud.
From the outer stands to the highest platforms reserved for instructors and visiting guild representatives, every seat was filled. Students who had once treated the tournament as nothing more than a stepping stone now sat in complete silence or erupting bursts of anticipation, their eyes locked onto the battlefield below. The air itself seemed charged, as if even the atmosphere understood that what was about to unfold would not simply decide a winner—it would define the strongest among them.
At the highest viewing platform, Yan Honglie stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze steady and sharp. Around him, several guild scouts whispered among themselves, their earlier composure long gone. They were no longer casually observing prospects; they were watching for someone who could shake the balance of future power.
"The Laborer… Lin Yi."
"The S-Rank Stormblade… Chen."
"Two extremes."
