The air in the arena felt heavier.
The students around him were completely focused on the combat. What had started as a simple training session now looked like a real fight.
Ragnar flexed his hands again.
His muscles were tense, and his posture made it clear that he didn't intend to back down.
"You're really strange, rookie," he said. "You can keep up with my movements even after the Beast Step."
Draven didn't answer.
He just kept his eyes fixed on his opponent.
Increasing pressure
Ragnar advanced again.
This time with even more aggression.
His steps were quick, almost silent.
He attacked with a ferocious sequence:
a side claw,
a straight punch,
a low kick.
Draven blocked the first blow.
Dodged the second.
But the low kick hit his leg, making him take a step back.
Ragnar seized the moment.
He tried to grab Draven by the shoulders to take him down.
But Draven reacted quickly.
He spun his body and escaped the grab.
Then, he counterattacked with a short punch to the Beastikim's chest.
The impact made Ragnar take two steps back.
The intensity increases
Now both were breathing harder.
The fight had already lasted several minutes.
Neither seemed willing to back down.
"Not bad," said Ragnar.
He grinned widely.
"I think I need to increase it even more."
Zayra frowned at that.
"Ragnar… don't do that."
But he completely ignored the warning.
The next attack
Ragnar advanced with even more speed.
His body seemed lower, more aggressive.
Draven noticed immediately.
This was not just another ordinary attack.
It was an attempt to end the fight.
Ragnar leaped forward, preparing a powerful claw strike.
Draven prepared to counterattack.
If that attack was blocked at the right moment, he could turn the fight around.
Interruption
- STOP!
The instructor's voice echoed through the arena.
In that same instant, the man appeared between the two combatants.
He had moved so fast that he seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
Ragnar stopped his strike just inches from Draven.
Draven also stopped his movement.
For a few seconds, no one said anything.
The instructor's warning
The instructor looked first at Ragnar.
— This is a training arena, not a battlefield.
Ragnar sighed and relaxed his posture.
— Understood.
The instructor then turned to Draven.
His eyes carefully analyzed the young man.
— For a student of the Iron Class… you did very well.
Draven replied calmly:
— It was a good training session.
Students' reaction
The students around began to talk amongst themselves.
— The newbie held his own against Ragnar…
— That never happens.
— Who is this guy?
Now many looked at Draven with curiosity.
Some even with respect.
Ragnar recognizes
Ragnar ran a hand through his hair.
Then he looked at Draven again.
— Next time — he said — let's finish this fight.
He extended his hand.
Draven observed for a moment.
Then he shook the Beastikim's hand.
— Of course.
Ragnar smiled.
— I knew you were interesting.
Silent observers
The instructor watched the scene.
But he wasn't the only one.
In one of the corridors above the arena, two academy teachers had also watched part of the fight.
"That boy…" one of them said.
"Yes," the other replied.
He continued watching Draven.
"We need to monitor his progress."
The beginning of a rivalry
Draven left the arena alongside Zayra.
She seemed pleased.
"Not bad for your first day of fighting at the academy."
Draven calmly replied:
"He's strong."
Zayra smiled.
"And so are you."
In the center of the arena, Ragnar still watched Draven walk away.
His feline eyes showed interest.
That fight wasn't over.
In fact…
it had only just begun.